This story has been rumbling on for a while.
There is nothing new in this as a role for the Army, indeed the RM has only really coveted the Commando role since WW2 - prior to that their infantry Arm was the RM Light Infantry. Several Army regts have accompanied the RN throughout history and engaged in 'ship to objective manoeuvre'. Indeed the Royal Green Jackets (who will amalgamate with the RGBWLI, DDLI and LI to for RIFLES in Feb 07) has a Naval Crown in its cap badge in commemoration of Nelson's Battle of Copenhagen in 1801 when a company of the Rifle Corps fought aboard ship. Even today, 3 Cdo Bde includes s whole host of Army units including RA and RLC.
The main question seems to be whether 1 RIFLES will form a fourth manoeuvre unit for 3 Cdo Bde or whether it will be restricted to a rear area function as appears to be the fate of the light role bns being assigned to the Army's Armd and Mech manoeuvre bdes (or, if one is to be controversial/realistic (delete on point of view) the entire 19 Lt Bde).
It is argued in other forums that the personnel in 1 RIFLES will not be up to the required standard to operate with the RM; however, that does not take into account that the RIFLES will comprise 8 bns of whom 5 bns will be regular. Amongst these other bns should be sufficient quality to fill a single Bn attached to 3 Cdo Bde. Especially when you consider that one of the regts that will form the RIFLES currently provides a significant amount of personnel to the SF community (including the infamous Mr A McNab).
So what is the 'so what' for this forum? Well, these will be more troops for a light-roled bde. Light-roled units (currently 3 Cdo Bde and 16 AA Bde, but soon to be joined by 19 Lt Bde) have traditionally required significant amounts of battlefield helicopters. Of course, this increase in the lift requirement is being offset by a rapid procurement of additional SH assets (especially as the NAO has highlighted that we don't have sufficient battlefield helicopters for the current requirement) - or maybe they will just have to walk/swim
