WEB SPECIAL - Major General Fry

ROYAL MARINE IN KEY COALITION ROLE

Photo of Major General Fry by Tony Carney.

In an unprecedented move, the UK has appointed a Royal Marine as the commander of a naval task force. Major General Rob Fry is also Deputy Coalition Joint Forces Maritime Component Commander in the Middle East. Here he talks to Iain Ballantyne about his new job and the growing importance of UK amphibious forces.

Nothing could better illustrate the fact that the UK’s Royal Marines have moved centre stage in the War Against Terrorism than a 1,700-strong Commando Battle Group being deployed to fight in Afghanistan at virtually the same time as the Corps’ most senior officer was appointed deputy commander of all Allied maritime forces. Major General Fry agreed it was a remarkable state of affairs: “The Royal Marines have, since the Falklands War of 20 years ago, gone from being the Royal Navy’s amphibious ‘family firm’ to being Britain’s force of choice in the 21st Century.”

In the late 1990s Maj Gen Fry was the Director Naval Staff in the UK Ministry of Defence, over-seeing the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) that re-orientated Britain’s defence strategy towards the projection of power from the sea. With two new assault ships due to commission soon, a helicopter carrier already in service and a host of other amphibious vessels being built, the Royal Marines are finally getting the full range of ships they need to do the job.

Photo of Royal Marines embarking on Operation Condor in Afghanistan by LA Phot Lee Madden, Royal Navy.

Maj Gen Fry observed: “In ten years time the Royal Navy and Royal Marines will have a capability for operations from the sea against land that is unprecedented in modern times.”

Maj Gen Fry has moved from being Commandant General Royal Marines (CGRM), the ‘tribal head’ of the RMs, to become the UK’s Commander UK Amphibious Forces (COMUKAMPHIBFOR). He is one of two deployable 2 Star UK maritime commanders, the other being Rear Admiral James Burnell-Nugent (the RN’s Commander UK Maritime Forces) whom he succeeded in the Middle East. The most senior British naval officer in the region also serves as the second-in-command of the Coalition maritime forces because, in terms of capability and forces committed to front line operations, the UK is the next most important after the USA.

“There are other nations that are qualified to do the job,” acknowledged Maj Gen Fry.

“But the UK was there early, it committed key elements to offensive operations and it has a well-established close working relationship not only with the USA, but also the other members of the Coalition. It has to be said that all the nations participating are making an important contribution. On a personal level, although the appointment of a Royal Marine in such a role is unprecedented, I am confident of being able to carry out the job. As a Royal Marine I come from an ideal background, being well versed in operations at sea and on land.”

Maj Gen Fry feels the campaign in Afghanistan has been remarkable for the high level of contribution from maritime forces.

“I don’t think there can have been a more testing deployment,” he said. “Naval air power and amphibious troops have been launched from platforms several hundred miles away from the main battleground and have achieved a decisive impact on events.”

Maj Gen Fry believes the Royal Marines have come of age.

“This is not just a good patch for amphibious forces,” he said. “It will last. The Royal Marines have grown into their time. The UK’s amphibious forces represent a capability that perfectly matches the national strategic requirements of today.”