Due to an error the Fleet left Portsmouth without its main supply of ammunition, and were not resupplied until the Fleet docked in Rio de Janeiro midway through the voyage. In 1788 a detachment of four companies of marines, under Major Robert Ross, accompanied the First Fleet to protect a new colony at Botany Bay ( New South Wales).

Major General John Tupper His Majesty's Marine Forces They also served in the American War of Independence, notably in the Battle of Bunker Hill led by Major John Pitcairn. During the rest of the 18th century, they served in numerous landings all over the world, the most famous being the landing at Belle Île on the Brittany coast in 1761.

This attitude persisted well into the 1800s. It was not until 1771 that the first Marine was promoted to colonel. This meant that the furthest a Marine officer could advance was to lieutenant colonel. Initially Marine field officer ranks were honorary sinecure positions awarded to senior Royal Navy officers. On 5 April 1755, His Majesty's Marine Forces, fifty Companies in three Divisions, headquartered at Chatham, Portsmouth, and Plymouth, were formed by Order of Council under Admiralty control. The Royal Marines trace their origins back to 28 October 1664 when the Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot was formed at the grounds of the Honourable Artillery Company. Main article: History of the Royal Marines The Corps has close ties with allied marine forces, particularly the United States Marine Corps and the Netherlands Marine Corps (Dutch: Korps Mariniers). The Royal Marines have seen action across many conflicts but do not have battle honours as such, but rather the 'Great Globe itself' was chosen in 1827 by King George IV in their place to recognise the Marines' service and successes in multiple engagements in every quarter of the world. The Royal Marines trace their origins back to the formation of the 'Duke of York and Albany's maritime regiment of Foot' on 28 October 1664, and the first Royal Marines Commando unit was formed at Deal in Kent on 14 February 1942 and designated 'The Royal Marine Commando'. The Royal Marines also known as the Royal Marine Commandos, are the United Kingdom's special operations capable commando force, one of the five fighting arms of the Royal Navy, and provide the majority of Special Boat Service (SBS) personnel, and a company strength unit to the Special Forces Support Group (SFSG).

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