Royal Marines and the protection of home waters

Speed moves from distant contingencies to Royal Marines duties at home, noting that 41 Commando had begun a Northern Ireland tour after 40 Commando completed a year there. The Royal Navy also supported the wider security force in Northern Ireland. A newly formed Royal Marines unit was tasked with responding to incidents on offshore oil and gas installations and regularly exercised that mission. Extended economic zones, fisheries, and major offshore investment had expanded Britain's peacetime maritime-security burden. Island-class patrol vessels and Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft supplied persistent surveillance, while the Marines provided a rehearsed intervention force when observation alone was insufficient.