ROYAL Marines landing craft training facilities will move out of Poole by the end of next month, it has been confirmed.

The Ministry of Defence says 90 permanent staff from the Hamworthy base will relocate to Devonport when 10 (Landing Craft) Training Squadron Royal Marines moves to the Royal Navy’s new £30million training centre in July.

Commandos of 539 Assault Squadron, previously based at Turnchapel, have already completed their final move to the newly named RM Tamar centre at HM Naval Base Devonport.

Ten armoured offshore raiding craft sped up the River Tamar into the new base last week.

RM Tamar is the new name of the major project combining operational and training units of small boats, landing craft and hovercraft operated by Royal Marines.

One building at RM Tamar is the headquarters of both 539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines and 10 (Landing Craft) Training Squadron Royal Marines.

Colonel Garth Manger, commanding officer of 1 Assault Squadron and Royal Marines Tamar, said: “The official handover of Royal Marines Tamar from a building site to an operating amphibious base is fantastic.

“RM Tamar is the first of the navy’s centres of specialisation and has been delivered on time and in budget.

“It offers defence, the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines a modern, bespoke amphibious operating base capable of delivering support to worldwide operations, training and maintenance in a ‘onestop amphibious shop’.”

The MOD say RM Tamar creates a “centre of excellence” for amphibious capability with 300 military personnel who will be based within the North Yard of Devonport dockyard.