Comacchio Company

The Comacchio Company is a company founded on 3 October 1978 to protect the U.K oil fields in the North Sea from terrorism. It currently serves the mission of protect the country's Seaborne Nuclear Weapons whilst in port, and protecting the Coastal Nuclear Power Stations from terrorist attack. It is headquartered at HM Naval Base Clyde.

The jurisdiction of the Comaccio Company is the UK Mainland and Scottish islands.

The Comacchio Company's personnel currently consists of 300 men, whose average age is 22. The annual budget for the company is £2.1 million.

A group of Royal Marines initially set-up in the late 70's to protect north sea oil rigs from terrorism. The name of the group, Comacchio, was taken from a WW2 battle honour.

Initially the group comprised of around 300 men, based in Arbroath. From the early 80's the group's role expanded to include aspects of naval security, including the guarding of Britains Independent Nuclear Deterrent centred mainly on the West Coast of Scotland.

The group's personnel are highly trained, with emphasis on quick response and accurate shooting. They have their own small craft for waterborne movement. Guarding the nation's remaining nuclear deterrent is a full time and taxing duty.

The naming of Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines (FPGRM), formerly Comacchio Group RM, in March 2001 reflects the new diversity of the groups activities. The newly evolved FPGRM now deploys sub-units world-wide. The Group is some 431 strong which is made up of 3 rifle squadrons O, P and R plus HQ Squadron. FPGRM have now moved from Condor Barracks in Arbroath to the HM Naval Base Clyde, which is situated near Helensburgh on the West Coast of Scotland.

The original Comacchio Group was formed in 1980 and had a complement of about 300. The principal task, as it is today, is to guard Britain’s independent nuclear deterrent and carry out a number of other security related tasks.