RM Condor
RM Condor is a principal Royal Marines base situated approximately 2 miles northwest of Arbroath in Angus, Scotland.[1][2] It functions as the operational headquarters for 45 Commando Royal Marines, a light protected mobility commando unit specialized in amphibious assaults, rapid deployment, and multifaceted missions encompassing direct action raids, urban operations, and humanitarian assistance.[3][1] The base also accommodates elements of 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, including 7 (Sphinx) Battery, providing fire support integration for commando forces.[1] Originally commissioned in 1938 as HMS Condor, a Fleet Air Arm shore establishment for torpedo bomber training during the Second World War, the site featured an airfield that supported intensive pilot and observer instruction amid wartime demands.[4][5] Following postwar transitions, the facility was repurposed for Royal Marines occupation in 1971 upon 45 Commando's relocation from Plymouth, marking the commencement of its enduring role in sustaining Scotland's amphibious warfare capabilities.[6][5] Over subsequent decades, units from RM Condor have participated in pivotal operations, including the 1982 Falklands War, Northern Ireland deployments, and interventions in Afghanistan, underscoring the base's strategic significance in British defense posture.[6][7]