{{Short description|Small boat used by the Royal Marines}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}} {{Use British English|date=December 2016}} {{Infobox ship <!-- warship classes --> |infobox_caption=<!-- caption: yes, nodab, or <caption text> --> |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image=539 Assault Squadron performing a beach assault MOD 45159524.jpg |image_caption=Royal Marine Offshore Raiding Craft }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/class overview |builders= Holyhead Marine Services |operators= |class_before= |class_after= |subclasses= |built_range= |in_commission_range= |total_ships_building= |total_ships_planned= |total_ships_completed= |total_ships_canceled= |total_ships_active=Several dozen CRC/ORC as of 2024 (troop-carrying and fire-support variants)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/royal-navy-responsive/images/navynews/archivepdfs/2020s/2023/navy-news-february-2023-issue-823.pdf |title=Royal Navy Fleet Poster |page=21 |date=February 2023|publisher=Ministry of Defence |website=Navy News |access-date=13 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609042122/https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/royal-navy-responsive/images/navynews/archivepdfs/2020s/2023/navy-news-february-2023-issue-823.pdf |archive-date=9 June 2023 |url-status=dead}}</ref> |total_ships_laid_up= |total_ships_lost= |total_ships_retired= |total_ships_scrapped= |total_ships_preserved= }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |type= Fast Assault Craft |displacement= Light Load 4760 kg inc fuel & 2 crew & armour, Full load 6000 kg |length= 9.1m |beam= 2.9m |draught= Light 0.56 m, Loaded 0.69 m |draft= |propulsion= Twin Steyr M0256K43 high speed diesel engines each developing 250Hp/184Kw at 4300rpm. |speed= Light load 39 knots, Full load 32 knots (ORC); "up to 40 knots" (CRC) |range= In excess of {{convert|200|nmi|km|lk=in}} (ORC and CRC) |complement= 12 Royal Marines (1 driver, 3 gunners, 8 fully equipped troops) |sensors= |EW= |armament= Fwd; single or twin GPMG. Aft 2 off; .50 cal, GPMG or 40mm grenade launchers, Gau mini gun |armour= Dynema ballistic protection to defeat 7.62mm x 39 Ball at 20m. (optional) |armor= |aircraft= |aircraft_facilities= |notes= }} }}

thumb|300px|Royal Marines Offshore Raiding Craft during exercise Corsican Lion in 2012. Note the two ORCs -top and bottom right- fitted with armour. The '''Offshore Raiding Craft (ORC)''' is a small, fast boat used by the Royal Marines for troop insertion, and patrols.<ref name="Amgram">{{cite web | url=http://www.amgram.co.uk/?portfolio=orc | title=9m Offshore Raiding Craft | publisher=Amgram|location=Shoreham-by-Sea |accessdate=26 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027025251/http://www.amgram.co.uk/?portfolio=orc |archive-date=27 October 2017}}</ref> The ORC is primarily used when undertaking strategic raiding missions, where speed and covertness is desired.{{According to whom|date=November 2015}} However, it is equally capable when conducting larger scale amphibious operations alongside the larger and more traditional LCACs, LCUs and LCVPs.{{According to whom|date=November 2015}} <ref name="Royal Marines Landing Craft">[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/the-equipment/commando/landing-craft Royal Marines - Landing Craft], royalnavy.mod.uk, Retrieved 15 June 2014</ref>

There are two variants of the ORC:<ref>{{cite web |title=Green men in a boat |magazine=Navy News |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/royal-navy-responsive/images/navynews/archivepdfs/2000s/2009/navy-news-march-2009-issue-656.pdf |access-date=13 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113205309/https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/royal-navy-responsive/images/navynews/archivepdfs/2000s/2009/navy-news-march-2009-issue-656.pdf |archive-date=13 January 2023 |page=24 |date=March 2009 |quote=...a new model of their offshore raiding craft (ORC) - the somewhat uninspiringly-named mid-console variant, but let's call it the gunboat as that sums up its role so much more graphically. The existing ORCs - the troop-carrying variant - are designed with the console (the bit where you drive the thing) at the back of the craft, with seats for up to eight men in front...In these new ORCs, the console sits in the middle, allowing the gunners to be arrayed to cover every angle; this gunboat lives up to that title}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=On land and sea - NATO's Marine forces |website=NATO Multimedia |url=https://www.natomultimedia.tv/app/asset/683182 |access-date=13 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113211451/https://www.natomultimedia.tv/app/asset/683182 |archive-date=13 January 2023 |date=11 January 2023 |quote=So the ORC is our jet boat and we’ve got two variants. We’ve got the troop carrying variant, which can take six people and deliver them onto a beach, and then we’ve also got the fire support variant and that’s our kind of protection while we’re out on the water.}}</ref> * Mid Console Variant (MCV), {{aka}} the Fire Support Variant * Aft Console Variant (ACV), {{aka}} the Troop Carrying Variant

== Commando Raiding Craft ==

In 2023, 23 of the original 35 ORC were reportedly donated to Ukraine. They were replaced in U.K. service by the upgraded Commando Raiding Craft (CRC). The CRC is fitted with three general purpose machine guns or .50 heavy machine gun mounts, as well as protection against enemy fire for the troops inside. The CRC has a speed of up to 40 knots, a range of 200 nautical miles and can be underslung from a helicopter or deployed from ships of various sizes. They incorporate a new configuration with driving position moved from the back to front for better manoeuvrability and employ a more sophisticated electronic suite for communications and navigation.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.naval-technology.com/news/uk-royal-navy-revamp-their-amphibious-landing-craft/?cf-view |title=UK Royal Navy revamp their amphibious raiding craft |date=8 February 2024 |website=Naval Technology |access-date=9 February 2024}}</ref>

==See also== *List of active Royal Marines military watercraft *Combat Rubber Raiding Craft

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/the-equipment/commando/landing-craft Royal Marines - Landing Craft] (royalnavy.mod.uk) *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umDdvRhTonE Video - HMS ''Bulwark'' - Offshore Raiding Craft] (YouTube.com)

Category:Amphibious warfare vessels of the United Kingdom Category:Landing craft Category:Royal Marines Category:Military boats

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