Equipment...

[DipZ]

Is it allowed in the royal marines to have your own equipment? eg Balaclavas, Vests, Weapons etc

[Artist]

Most of what cannot be seen can be your own kit. I.E. Vests Nicks and suchlike.

A knive is allowed to be carried on your webbing or was when I was in but as for any other weapons no. Remember it is a disciplined force and not a Cowboy Outfit. Arnold Swastika (Boss of California) and Sly Stallone would just not fit in!

Artist

[Jesse]

DipZ,

Yes, Marines are allowed to use all their own kit. The only exception is their personal weapons.

Jesse

[druadan]

I assume that only applies generally after pass-out? I know as you progress through training, and depending on your training team, you can use more and more of your own 'gucci' kit, but presumably no free reign until you've got the beret?

[bigbart]

I don't know about Royals, but that's the way the Army do it. You have to learn to use the issued kit first, so you can't use your own until you get to your unit.

[sneaky beaky]

No - is the short answer. You use the stuff you are issued with!
You will certainly not be allowed weapons. (What weapons are you thinking of?) There was an article in today's press, about a sailor who bought an air pistol on board a nuclear submarine. He is about to be court martialled and probably dismissed from the service.
As for balaclava's. You are not likely to be employed abseiling into the Iranian Embassy! At least not initially!! So they are likely to be a tad superfluous.
Sneaky

[DipZ]

Im not sure whether to believe you sneaky, cus you retired in 1982 lol thinks have changed now


Anyways, thanx for that guys. I have seen marines with C7s/M16+203s though, so im guessing they are issued.

[Tunny]

I have seen marines with C7s/M16+203s though, so im guessing they are issued.

hehe, i doubt they bought them from the shop

[DipZ]

hehe

[CrouchmasterT]

Anyways, thanx for that guys. I have seen marines with C7s/M16+203s though, so im guessing they are issued.

The only photos i've seen of Royal Marines with rifles other than the SA80 are of SBS or possibly mountain leaders, what would be the point of handing out different rifles? it would just make life harder, with the different calibers and different tools required to strip them. Plus we use 5.56 mm rounds because its the NATO standard (i think).

[CrouchmasterT]

Also, why are you worried about what rifle you have? and a balaclava???
I'm sure the issued kit will do the job just fine.

It sounds like all you want to do is dress up and play super soldiers?

[Maroon]

I can't speak for the Gyrine fraternity but I know we had to do all our basic with issued kit, as in theatre, if your kit goes tit's up for any reason, the QM doesn't exchange "Gucci" kit. Once in Battalion alot of the guy's went their own way with how they sorted their webbing, usually 2 ammo pouches followed by as many 44 water bottle pouches you could fit on a 58 patt belt.

As for choice of weapons, it depended on what the job was, we used HK53's in Belfast and 203's for rural work, we also carried 9mm's alot....

Horses for courses as the saying goes...

[DipZ]

Nice

[Peds]

A lot of the publcity media of the Marines I've seen shows them with weps other than the SA80, a poster of an amphibious landing with M16s and MP5s for example.
But as said, it could just be SBS and ML.

[bigbart]

Also, why are you worried about what rifle you have? and a balaclava???
I'm sure the issued kit will do the job just fine.

It sounds like all you want to do is dress up and play super soldiers?

But what about better quality boots, gloves etc. I know a lot of soldiers in the Army use their own boots on exercise etc. Can Royals use their own?