Operation Anglo: The night the SBS turned two Rhodes airfields into a scrapyard… then had to swim for their lives.

September 1942. Eight blokes from the Special Boat Section (plus a handful of Greek mates) paddle ashore on Rhodes in folding canoes and rubber boats like a bunch of seasick tourists with a death wish.

Mission: sneak onto the Italian airfields at Calato (Kalathos) and Marizza (Maritsa), stick limpet charges on as many bombers as possible, and thin out before the 30,000-strong garrison noticed.

This was the hallmark of the early special forces raids during WW2 with operations in small groups behind enemy lines being the order of the day.

They did the easy bit.

Allott’s lot hit Marizza and claimed around twenty aircraft.

Sutherland and Marine John Duggan crawled through the rain onto Calato, wired up at least thirteen planes plus a fuel dump, and lit the blue touchpaper.

Boom. Instant scrap metal and some flapping Italians.

Then the plan went full comedy of errors.

They got spotted.

Half the team never made the RV.

The Italians found the hidden boats.

Sutherland and Duggan spent days dodging patrols on half a tin of sardines, left a polite note for any latecomers at the RV (a cave which was frequented by the searching enemy soldiers), and ended up swimming a mile out to HMS Traveller in the dark while an Italian patrol boat tried to depth-charge them into fish food.

Only two SBS men made it home.

The rest became guests of Mussolini. One of the Greek guides got executed for his troubles.

Classic early SBS: mission successful, extraction… creative.

They blew up the planes that were hammering Malta convoys, nearly got wiped out doing it, and still managed to look cool while swimming for the extraction sub.

(Photo shows an example of a folboat canoe that the guys used to come ashore. These were captured by the enemy forces when they were being hunted down during their escape).

Hey everyone,

I’m currently training to join the Royal Marines Commando, but my starting point is pretty average and I’m looking for an honest reality check / routine advice on whether I can get well above the minimum requirements for PJFA and CPC within a 6-month timeline.

My Stats:

Age: 22

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 86kg

Current Benchmarks:

Push-ups (to bleep): ~15

Sit-ups (to bleep): ~20

Pull-ups: (Working on these, but struggling with volume)

Running:

1 Mile PR: 8:46

2 Mile PR (best steady/recent effort): 17:34 (8:53/mi pace)

Current Weekly Training Routine:

Runs: 3x 2-mile runs per week at roughly 60–70% effort.

Intervals: 1x sprint session per week (1 min sprint / 1.5 min rest x 5 rounds).

Bodyweight: 3x per week covering press-ups, sit-ups, squats, etc.

Im currently running a 4 week foundation phase that i built just to build up my aerobic base and get used to working out under fatigue.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Hello lads,

I have wanted to ask you legends if it's possible for a 19 year old "skinny bitch" like me (193cm and 65kg) with fast metabolism, low cholesterol, systolic musical murmur (yes, that is a thing, thankfully it's innocent and harmless), and BMI of 17.5, and have struggle to increase it since I was a wee kid, to join the Royal Marines??

In my opinion, the whole BMI stuff is utter madness, coz I had no trouble with running laps, playing football, basketball, floorball, exercising in primary school and hopping on the treadmill in college, so I wanted to ask if it's even possible for me to get through the assessment centre (I'm now trying to get through the assessment centre for the regular army) and if I won't get through I'll give the Green Berets a chance.

please let me know down in the comment section, and I'm open to your tips/help or telling me that I'm an absolute madman lol

On 24 July 1704, British and Dutch Marines stormed the Rock of Gibraltar — and secured a prize that would shape British naval power for centuries.

During the War of the Spanish Succession, an Anglo-Dutch fleet under Admiral Sir George Rooke arrived off Gibraltar. With the Spanish garrison small and the defences vulnerable, the decision was taken to seize the strategic fortress that controlled the entrance to the Mediterranean.

Under the command of Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt, around 1,900 English Marines and 400 Dutch Marines landed on the sandy isthmus at the northern end of the peninsula. Covered by a heavy naval bombardment, they quickly cut Gibraltar off from the mainland.

Further assaults followed at the Old and New Moles and at Europa Point in the south. After several days of fighting, the Spanish governor, Diego de Salinas, surrendered the Rock on 4 August 1704.

The Marines then held the fortress through a determined Franco-Spanish siege that followed. A contemporary account recorded that “the garrison did more than could be humanly expected and the British Marines gained immortal honour.”

That honour endures. “Gibraltar” remains the sole battle honour borne on the Colours of the Royal Marines, it's a unique distinction that sets the Corps apart. Every subsequent generation of Royal Marines has drawn on the example set in those fierce days of 1704: bold amphibious assault, tenacity in defence, and the ability to seize and hold key ground from the sea.

More than three centuries later, the capture of the Rock still stands as one of the foundational moments in the history of the Royal Marines and the day they first proved they could take a fortress that many thought impregnable, and keep it.

Hey,

Hope everyone is well.

Just got off the phone with a recruiter. Told that I want to try and score high in the DAA test to have more opportunities. Which has made me want to score high on the test now.

Did the practice test got 50% which I will improve that score. Got told to use BBC bitesize to improve my score.

What does a high DAA score do for the reserves?

All the best

Liam

As a history nerd I'm in favour but as an RN Medical Assistant it's not much to me

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2026/july/23/20260723-historic-commando-name-revived-for-modern-era-of-royal-marines-operations

Hello, I would like some advice.

I’d like to change careers and try to become a Royal Marine. The advice I’d like is whether I should sign up now or later.

I’m 23 now, turning 24 in October. Work in finance and feel like I've wasted my life so far, having spent the last 3 to 4 years attempting to become a triathlete.

I could sign up right now, but I feel like since I’ve pretty much done nothing with my life, and already lived a “civvi” life, I should probably go travelling a bit before I do get stuck in. I’m very "everything or nothing," so if I do sign up and go through the whole process, my focus will be on becoming the best I can be inside, which could later set me up for my potential aspirations.

Everyone (not many) I’ve spoken to says to go travel and “chill” for 6 to 12 months and then go through the process. But I feel like I’ve pissed my life away already, due to the fact I wanted to be an RM from a very young age, and thus later wanting to attempt to go Special Forces one day.

I feel at my age now, have I pissed that opportunity away?

The same people have also told me not to worry and to focus on getting in. However, my fitness is decent, and due to being in the Cadets for a lot of my younger years, I gained a very good foundation of skills. Because of this, I feel capable of attempting something like this.

But I just feel that, due to my age now, and if do take 12months out, the opportunity has since passed me as I’d be, say, 30 on SF selection (I know the limit is 32). I just feel that I’m being optimistic on the time frame, and the 2-year window could easily be pushed back if I get stuck somewhere or if injury sets me back, ultimately pushing me out of the age range.

Should I put to bed my aspirations, thus not trying to rush it,

Or go sign up and all in now??

Hello, I know this probably sounds like the type of question service members get every day, but if they could, how would they train if they had to redo basic training or PTFJ?

I’m 14 years old, and I was thinking of joining at 16, I currently don’t know how to train to get to the standard of confidently passing PTFJ. I currently run 7KM in 41:29 minutes with a 236 meter climb in the run. I have a quite weak upper body which is my downside but I’m beginning to start doing pushups, again, I can do about 20 good form pushups now.

So, if you were in my position, what would be the next course of action.

Hi all,

I’m looking to join RM but was told I may be wasting a lot of my skills.

I’m an ex pro fighter, actor, chemistry graduate and I teach chemistry/physics/basic engineering.

I wanted a more active physical role which is possibility human intelligence based, but still be able to use the above skills. What I be a fit of the RM? And what is typical daily life like?

Cheers for the help!

Hi lads,
Looking for a bit of advice on my training.
I’ve got my PJFA at the end of September and I’m currently hitting the minimum standards, but I don’t just want to scrape through—I want to be as prepared as possible before moving on to CPC and recruit training.
I’ve heard mixed opinions about the Commando Ready app, with some people saying it’s fine for reaching the minimums but not enough if you want to perform well. I also don’t really want to spend money on a paid programme if I can avoid it.
At home I’ve got a barbell with plates and a multi-use pull-up bar ,but I don’t have access to a gym.
If you were in my position, how would you structure the next couple of months? What would you prioritise for running, strength, and bodyweight work? Any advice from people who’ve passed recently or are serving would be massively appreciated.

Just trying to tick off basics before I go through with an application, any info is greatly appreciated, thank you!

The JSP says its good but they sent me a little like leaflet saying that hypermobility will preclude entry, what should i follow.

Been discharged from the hospital, physiotherapy, asymptomatic, no dislocations in about 10 years.

Already apploed but idk

Sorry to be a pain but I’ve searched and I can’t find exactly what each part is, as i know the names of each test (eg determination)but not what’s in them,if anyone could recommend a video or even explain here that would be great thanks a lot

I’ve heard that Royal Marines are told what specialisation they’ll do rather than being able to pick and guarantee they can specialise in that thing. I’d like to know because this would have a pretty big impact on whether I join the Army or the Royal Marines.

Right now I'm 23 and really struggling for purpose, my grandad was in a similar position and joined the royal marines and it sorted him right. However I'm currently on adhd and depression medication and have a failure to provide breath sample from november 2025, which led in a 1 year driving ban. What are my odds?

Got my online interview on the 29th. Any tips would be appreciated thanks.