Key statistics

1972
First Recorded Activity

First Attack

Profile Last Updated

How to Cite

Crenshaw, M., & Robinson, K. (2025). Mapping Militants Project. Rice University. https://doi.org/10.25613/G0K4-WF70
Mapping Militants Project. “Red Hand Commando.” Last modified . https://mappingmilitants.org/node/502/

Profile Contents

Narrative

Narrative of the Organization's History

Organization

Leadership, Name Changes, Size Estimates, Resources, Geographic Locations

Strategy

Ideology, Aims, Political Activities, Targets, and Tactics

Interactions

Foreign Designations and Listings, Community Relations, Relations with Other Groups, State Sponsors and External Influences

Maps

Mapping relationships with other militant groups over time in regional maps

Main Tabs Group

Overview
Formed: 
January 1, 1972
Disbanded: 
January 1, 2009

Red Hand Commando (RHC) was a small loyalist paramilitary group. Its chief aim was to maintain Northern Ireland as part of the UK, and to oppose by force the republican movement that aimed to make Northern Ireland part of a unified Ireland free of British control. RHC was closely allied to the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), one of the largest loyalist paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland. The two groups had separate command structures but shared weapons and moved together on major political issues, jointly engaging in the peace process and ultimately decommissioning their weapons in 2009. The UVF and RHC together are believed to be responsible for over 500 deaths in the course of the modern Northern Ireland conflict, mainly of Catholic civilians.

Organization

Vertical Tabs

Strategy

Vertical Tabs

Interactions

Vertical Tabs