Royal Marines afloat
By the beginning of the 20th century the RMA and RMLI were beginning a period of re-establishment within the fleet. Changes in the technology of warfare threatened the traditional roles of the Royal Marines.
By 1880s the warship had altered beyond comparison with alterations in design, steam ousting sail, enormous guns in barbettes and turrets replacing the smaller cannons.
The range of battle had increased and, coupled the advent of machine and the small calibre quick firing gun in the late 1870s, the Royal Navy did not require the ‘Royals’ to defend the ships in the same way. This led to a reduction in numbers.
Additionally, in days of the old sailing ship the Navy would charge Royal Marines with the command of boats. When the Navy introduced mechanical propulsion into small craft, the involvement of the Marines reduced again.
Their activities became increasingly restricted and limited with many Royal Marine Officers on board ships having no explicitly defined duties. At the same time, however, they were reproached by Captains and the Admiralty alike for not being useful enough.
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Royal Marines afloat
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The move into gunnery
The move into gunnery
At the turn of the 20th century a typical battleship would hold a detachment of 103 Royal Marines - 50 RMLI and 53 RMA. Their roles aboard ship were to man armaments, provide guards of honour and act as sentries and wardroom attendants.
The Royal Marines would otherwise share in the ship’s general evolutions and drills. They performed an hour’s arms drill and bayonet practice on the quarterdeck. They were also required to help coal ship, usually in handling the sack barrows.
By the advent of the Dreadnought battleships and battlecruisers gun crews from the RMA would also operate one of the main ships’ guns. The RMLI would operate a portion of the secondary armament.
The Royal Marine Band Service also had a role at action stations of operating the Transmitting Stations, a key component of the fire control systems.
To learn more about the Royal Marine Band Service, follow the link to the Naval Life of Royal Marine Bandsman A C Green.
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Royal Marine Artillery
Royal Marine Artillery
The Admiralty decreased the size of Royal Marine detachments as advances in naval engineering science caused the employment of more and more stokers aboard ship.
These advances made it clear that the Royal Marines would have to re-train in order to ensure their own existence. Towards end of the 19th century, the reduction of the size of Royal Marine detachments led to a reduction in numbers for the Corps.
Officials rationalised that if they did not reduce the numbers within the two Corps, then the decreased time at sea and the increased time on land would not be beneficial to the training and ability of the men.
The increased size of the fleet after the Naval Defence Act of 1889, however, made it impossible to man the guns of the fleet from naval resources alone. Many ship’s captains began to employ Marines at the guns and ensure their regular training. The Royal Marine Artillery had already begun to expand into ship’s gunnery.
By 1826 the RMA were receiving regular instruction. In 1859 the RMA built the first Royal Marine sea service battery at Fort Cumberland.
The Sea Service Battery re-created the atmosphere of a ship's battery with curved floors and guns positioned as they would on a broadside in order to teach the Marines how to operate in such an environment.
Over time, the RMA replaced the old guns with newer equipment in order to keep pace with developments in naval gunnery.
In 1896 they added a machine gun battery and by 1898 they replaced muzzle loading guns with two 6-inch quick firing guns and one 4.7-inch quick firing gun.
In 1913 a new battery, a mechanical turret that simulated the movements of a ship, was fitted with 12-inch gun that was more in line with the big guns now fitted to most modern battleships.
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Royal Marine Light Infantry
Royal Marine Light Infantry
Due to the declining role of the Royal Marine Light Artillery, they also began to branch into gunnery, although not to the same standard of the RMA.
By 1901 the RMLI trained at Whale Island. The Admiralty began to recognise the needs of the fleet and the relative redundancy of the RMLI. This Admiralty Circular Letter informs the fleet of its plans to allow a number of 4 and 6-inch guns to be manned by Royal Marine Light Infantry.
The Admiralty Circular letter below, dated 19th December 1902, also indicates the changing role of the Royal Marines in the Fleet. It suggests jobs that the Royal Marines could do whilst on board - although duties covered would still be at the discretion of the ship's captain.
