TL;DR
Royal Marines commandos are amphibious infantry — exposed to small arms, support weapons, landing craft engines, amphibious vehicle noise, and the operational environments of some of the most demanding deployments in British military history. Former and serving Royal Marines can bring a hearing loss claim against the MoD where hearing protection was inadequate. Compensation ranges from £8,560 to £133,810 under the [Judicial College Guidelines](https://www.judiciary.gov.uk/publications/guidelines-for-the-assessment-of-general-damages-in-personal-injury-cases/) (17th Edition, 2024). No minimum service period. No win, no fee. The MoD settlement scheme closes **the scheme deadline that applies to your circumstances**.
This page covers Royal Marines in the commando role — the amphibious infantry who form 3 Commando Brigade. It is distinct from the general Royal Marines hearing claims service page, and addresses the specific noise sources of commando operations and amphibious warfare.
What noise sources do Royal Marines commandos face?
Royal Marines hearing loss arises from a combination of infantry weapons noise and the distinctive noise environment of amphibious and commando operations:
Small arms and support weapons. Royal Marines train and fight with SA80 A2, the L110A3 light machine gun, GPMG, 81mm mortar, and anti-tank weapons — the same weapons as Army infantry. Range training, live fire exercises, and operational contact all generate the same impulse noise levels. Commando units conduct their weapons training at high intensity, including in specialist environments such as the ranges at CTCRM Lympstone and Commando Training Centre courses at Dartmoor and Scotland.
Landing craft. Landing Craft Utility (LCU Mk10) and Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVP Mk5) are the primary amphibious assault craft of the Royal Marines. Both are diesel-powered vessels generating significant engine and exhaust noise in an open or semi-enclosed hull. Marines embarked in the well deck of an assault ship or in the craft itself during transit and beach landing are exposed to this sustained noise. Coxswains and crew had the highest continuous exposure.
Assault ships and amphibious vessels. HMS Albion, HMS Bulwark, and earlier vessels in the amphibious fleet generated shipboard machinery noise in crew accommodation, vehicle decks, and working spaces. Royal Marines embarked for extended periods — as during the Falklands campaign or preparations for operations — accumulated shipboard noise exposure alongside their land-based training noise.
Amphibious vehicles. The Viking BVS10 articulated amphibious vehicle, used extensively in Afghanistan by 3 Commando Brigade, generates continuous engine and track noise comparable to wheeled and tracked military vehicles. Marines travelling in Viking over extended distances in Helmand Province accumulated vehicle noise exposure on top of their other noise doses.
Commando Helicopter Force. 3 Commando Brigade's integral aviation support is provided by 847 Naval Air Squadron and the Commando Helicopter Force. Royal Marines who trained and operated regularly with commando helicopters — whether as passengers in Lynx, Merlin, or Sea King, or in the JHF(A) helicopter assault role — accumulated rotor and turbine noise exposure during embarkation, transit, and amphibious operations.
Falklands, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan. Royal Marines have been consistently deployed to operational theatres involving weapons contact, IED blast, and other acute noise events. The cumulative operational noise dose of a career that included any of these deployments substantially increases lifetime noise exposure.
The amphibious dimension of Royal Marines hearing claims
The hearing loss claim available to a Royal Marine is built on the same legal principles as any other military hearing claim — MoD duty of care, breach, causation — but the specific evidence reflects the amphibious context. Service records include deployments aboard assault ships, training at CTCRM and specialist commando courses, landing craft activity, and operational tours.
When gathering evidence for a Royal Marines hearing loss claim, the solicitor will look at the full service picture: not just weapons range records but also shipboard deployments, landing craft operations, and commando helicopter activity. This broader evidence base distinguishes a well-constructed Marine claim from a generic infantry submission.
Who can make a Royal Marines commando hearing loss claim?
Any former or serving Royal Marine — across all commando units, specialist troops, and supporting arms — who developed hearing loss or tinnitus linked to service noise is potentially eligible. This includes:
- Royal Marines in rifle companies of 40, 42, and 45 Commando
- Support weapons troops (mortars, MILAN, Javelin)
- Recce Troop and Mountain Leader specialists
- 539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines (landing craft operators)
- Comacchio Group and Fleet Protection Group (guard and security roles in high-noise environments)
- Royal Marines attached to SBS or SFSG
There is no minimum service period.
Compensation amounts
Awards are assessed under the Judicial College Guidelines (17th Edition, 2024).
| Condition | Compensation range |
|---|---|
| Total deafness (no tinnitus) | £110,750 to £133,810 |
| Complete loss in one ear (with complications) | £38,210 to £55,570 |
| Severe NIHL with severe tinnitus | £36,260 to £55,570 |
| Moderate NIHL and tinnitus | £18,180 to £36,260 |
| Mild tinnitus with some NIHL | £15,370 to £18,180 |
| Mild NIHL or mild tinnitus alone | Around £14,300 |
| Slight tinnitus with slight NIHL | £8,890 to £15,370 |
| Slight loss or tinnitus alone | Up to £8,560 |
Special damages — hearing aids, lost earnings, private treatment — are assessed in addition. See our compensation amounts guide.
Time limits and the MoD settlement scheme
Standard limitation: three years from your date of knowledge. Courts retain Section 33 discretion for late claims. MoD settlement scheme deadline: the scheme deadline that applies to your circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
Does landing craft service count as occupational noise exposure?+
Yes. Landing craft diesel engines are a recognised noise hazard. Coxswains and crew with regular duty on LCUs and LCVPs accumulated sustained engine noise exposure that is fully compensable where hearing protection was not provided or enforced.
I am a Royal Marines veteran of the Falklands. Is it too late to claim?+
Almost certainly not. The three-year limitation period runs from your date of knowledge — when you connected your hearing deterioration to service. Many Falklands veterans have made successful claims in recent years once they understood the legal basis. Courts also retain Section 33 discretion for claims where delay is explained by late date of knowledge.
Can I claim for IED blast noise from Afghanistan separately from weapons training noise?+
They form part of the same claim. All noise exposure across your service — training, exercises, and operational tours — is included in the evidence. There is no need to separate individual sources; the total cumulative dose is what the medical evidence assesses.