Marine Corps

Information about Marine Corps

British Royal Marines in a Rigid Raider assault watercraft

Marines (from the English adjective "marine", meaning "of the sea", from Latin language mare, meaning sea, via French adjective marin(e), "of the sea") are, in principle, seaborne land soldiers that are part of a navy. However in some countries Marines are no longer part of the navy (notably the United States Marine Corps which has become an independent armed force falling only administratively under the navy).

The exact term "marine" does not exist in many other languages. Typically, foreign equivalents are called "naval infantry" (e.g. as in Spain, Germany, and Russia). In French-speaking countries, two terms exist which could be translated as "marine", but do not translate exactly: troupes de marine and fusiliers-marins; similar pseudo-translations exist elsewhere, e.g. Fuzileiros Navais in Portuguese. The word marine means Navy in many European languages such as French, German, Dutch and Norwegian.

Historically, Marines served on board warships, assisted the crew in battles, boarded enemy ships, conducted small coastal raids, protected the officers from mutiny by the crew, protected ports and naval bases, and served as a landing force.

As a result of their mixed land and naval role, Marine forces are mainly specialised in amphibious assaults using infantry, armour, aircraft, and watercraft.

Roles

Today, Marines are primarily a naval amphibious force. Operating from ships, they are trained to land on and capture a section of coast-line.

Marine units primarily deploy from warships, in a variety of ways. This includes landing by hovercraft, landing craft, boat and amphibious vehicle units on amphibious-support ships and by aircraft units from aircraft carriers or amphibious-support ships.

Embarked Marines parties serve on warships to assist with bridge watch-keeping, fire-fighting, ship security and the provision of boarding parties to board other vessels.

They are also used for coastal or riverine boat patrols and security of naval bases.

In modern warfare, most Marines usually form an elite force, of highly-mobile troops, usually tasked with short rapid deployment and intervention missions; however some forces are capable also of sustained warfighting missions.

For example the United States Marine Corps, is a part of the United States Department of the Navy and the largest Marine force in the world, is often used in situations that do not involve naval elements, such as general land warfare. It has the capability to be used as a spearhead for major military offensives or as a stop-gap when a military requirement arises, performing military operations until more permanent forces arrive.

Founding dates of early Marine units

1537 - Infanteria de Marina (Spain) and Argentina
1621 - Fuzileiros Navais (Portugal) and Brazil (Brazil traces their history to 1621 but uses 1808 as their official birthday).
1622 - The Troupes de marine (France) were founded in 1622 (officially titled compagnies ordinaires de la mer) as land forces under the control of the navy, notably for operations in French colonies, especially French Canada. An interservice command, the troupes de marine were transferred to the army in 1967.
1627 - Fusiliers Marins (France) - 1627, Cardinal Richelieu founded the Régiment de la Marine as part of the French Navy
1664 - Royal Marines (United Kingdom) - formed officially as part of the Royal Navy in 1755. However, it traces its origins back to 1664, when British soldiers first went to sea to fight the Dutch as the Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot and soon becoming known as the Admiral's Regiment.
1665 - Royal Netherlands Marine Corps ()
1775 - United States Marine Corps {Originally as the Continental Marines}
1808 - Fuzileiros Navais (Brazil)
1818 - Cuerpo de Infanteria de Marina (Chile)

National Marine units

Argentina

The Naval Infantry of the Armada of the Argentine Republic (Infantería de Marina de la Armada de la República Argentina, IMARA) is a part of the Argentine Navy. Argentine Marines have the same rank insignia and titles as the rest of the Navy. It is composed of a Fleet Marine Force (one Marine Battalion, plus artillery, air defence, communications, logistics, engineer and vehicle units), a Southern Marine Force (2 Marine Battalions), a River Operations Battalion, a Special Forces Unit and several Security Battalions and Companies.The 5th Battalion of the Infantaria de Marina suffered substantial casualties when attacked by the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards in the Falklands War/Malvinas Guarre.

Brazil

The Corps of Naval Fusiliers (Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais), is subordinate to the Brazilian Navy. The Marine Corps is composed of an Operational Brigade and some Guard and Ceremonial Duty Battalions.The main unit is the division-sized Divisão Anfíbia (Amphibious Division).

Chile

The Corps of Naval Infantry (Cuerpo de Infanteria de Marina) is a branch of the Chilean Navy. They specialise in performing amphibious assaults, and belong to the Chilean Special Forces Unit, along with the Combat Divers. The Corps is composed of four units, organised along the Chilean Territory. Each one with their own anti-aircraft guns, artillery and landing craft.

China

China's People's Liberation Army Marine Corps.

Finnish coastal jaegers in a landfall exercise

Finland

Finnish Uusimaa Brigade (Swedish: Nylands brigad) in Ekenäs is part of the Finnish Navy and trains the Finnish costal jaegers. The detachment is the only Swedish-speaking unit in the Finnish Defence Forces.

France

Three branches of the French armed forces could possibly be translated as "marines":

Troupes de marine

Main article: Troupes de marine

The Troupes de marine ("naval troops", often roughly translated as "marine troops") are despite the name, now an arm of the French Army. The arm is dedicated to service overseas, in practice particularly in Africa. The troupes de marine include infantry (Infanterie de Marine), artillery (Artillerie de Marine), and tanks (Chars de Marine).

The modern troupes de marine have a special mixed heritage as descendants of a merger between the older troupes de marine (once part of the navy) and the former French Colonial Forces.

The troupes de marine were founded in 1622 (officially titled compagnies ordinaires de la mer) as land forces under the control of the navy, notably for operations in French Canada. Many of the current regiments of the troupes de marine are in fact descendants of the Troupes Coloniales (Colonial Troops), which merged into the troupes de marine in the 1960s.

Fusiliers Marins

Main article: Fusiliers Marins

The French Navy (Marine Nationale) includes the Fusiliers Marins, (FUSMAR) who protect naval bases and serve on capital ships. Currently the Naval Fusiliers consists of 14 Companies of Fusiliers and a small commando battalion (Fusiliers/commandos, FUSCO). They are under the common command of the FORFUSCO.

Fusiliers marins translates literally as "sea fusiliers".

Commandos de Marine

The Commandos de Marine (literally "Naval Commandos", sometimes loosely translated as "Marine commandos") are an elite special operations unit of the French navy which is closely linked to the Fusiliers Marins. commando battalion

Greece

32nd Regiment of Marines "Moravas" (32η Ταξιαρχία Πεζοναυτών Mοράβας) is a unit of naval infantry maintained by the Hellenic Army. The unit is based at Volos in Thessaly; landing craft and other nautical gear are furnished by the Hellenic Navy.

Indonesia

Korps Marinir TNI AL Indonesia Marine Corps, component part of the Indonesia Navy Force established on 15 November 1945.

Italy

The Italian Navy (Marina Militare) has a Marine unit, the San Marco Regiment, based in Brindisi.
The Italian Army (Esercito Italiano) has its own Marine infantry unit, the Serenissima Regiment, based in Venice. Its soldiers are called Lagunari.

Japan

Special Naval Landing Forces were the Empire of Japan's marine corps. Japan no longer has marines per se.

Republic of Korea

Republic of Korea Marine Corps -better known as the "ROK Marines" the second largest Marine force in the world after the United States Marine Corps.

Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea

The Korean People's Navy has a two or more Special Forces brigades.

Mexico

The Mexican Navy (Armada de Mexico)- Infantería de Marina

Netherlands

The Royal Netherlands Navy (Koninklijke Marine) naval infantry unit is the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps.

Norway

Norwegian Coastal Rangers.

The Royal Norwegian Navy (Den Kongelige Norske Marine) unit responsible for naval infantry and ISTAR operations (equivalent to other countries' Marine corps) is the Norwegian Coastal Ranger Command (Kystjegerkommandoen).

Paraguay

The Paraguayan Marine Corps (Cuerpo de Fuzilieros Navale) is a battalion sized organization consisting of four company sized brigades.

Philippines

The Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) has a strength of about 9,000 men divided into three (3) brigades. The Marine units include three (3) infantry manoeuvre brigades, each composed of three (3) tactical infantry battalions with one (1) infantry battaliion in reserve and one (1) heavy weapons battalion (composed of the 105 mm Howitzer, 106 mm recoilless gun, along with amphibious vehicles (LVT) and various armoured units). Two (2) of the Marine battalions have specialised roles: the Force Reconnaissance (Recon) battalion is used for rapid airlift to troubled areas. This Recon Battalion is also trained in shipboarding attacks. The Marine Guard battalion is deployed in urban warfare and in defence of installations. The Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) is also considered the shock force of the Armed Forces and is the first unit to be involved in any amphibious or seaborne clashes.

Portugal

Since 1621 the Portuguese Navy maintains a naval infantry corps, presently named Corpo de Fuzileiros. The Portuguese Marine Corps includes many men, including two naval infantry battalions, a naval police unit, a special operations unit and several support units (logistical, fire support, landing craft, etc.).

Russia

The Russian Naval Infantry (Морская пехота). The Russian Naval Infantry, (Russian: Морская пехота) are the amphibious forces of the Russian Armed Forces. The naval infantry includes the 55th Division of the Russian Pacific Fleet, the detached brigades of the Northern and Baltic Fleets and of the Caspian Military Flotilla, and the detached regiment of the Black Sea Fleet. SPUTNIK is the name of the Arctic Ocean Northern Fleet Marine Main Naval Base.

Spain

The Spanish Marine Infantry (Infantería de Marina), the oldest Marine force in the world, was established on February 27, 1537 by Charles V when he permanently assigned the Compañías Viejas del Mar de Nápoles (Naples Old Sea Companies) to the Escuadras de Galeras del Mediterráneo (Mediterranean Galley Squadrons).

Turkey

SAT commandos of the Turkish Navy

The Turkish Navy maintains several Marine and Special Operations units. Marine Amphibious Brigade (Deniz Anfibe Piyade), several commando detachments and two special operation forces:
Marine Amphibious Brigade - (Deniz Anfibe Piyade) consisting of 4500 men in a Headquarters, three Amphibious battalions, an M 48 Patton tank battaliion, an artlillery Battalion, a support battion and other company sized units.
Su Altı Taaruz-(S.A.T.) (Underwater Attack); The missions of Su Altı Taaruz (SAT) include acquisition of Military intelligence, Amphibious Assault, Counter terrorism, and VIP protection; and
The other special forces unit is Su Altı Savunma (Underwater Defense).

Ukraine

Marine Corps (Ukraine), founded in 1993 from a unit of the former Soviet Naval Infantry.

United Kingdom

The Royal Marines (RM) of the United Kingdom were formed in 1664 and are a part of the Royal Navy. The Royal Marines provide a commando brigade (3 Commando Brigade RM); The Fleet Protection Group RM (a naval security unit responsible for guarding Britain's naval nuclear weapons, and other security duties); a commando training centre, for providing basic training to new personnel, specialist trade courses and commando training ; a landing craft and boat-training group which is also a parent unit for three landing craft units deployed on amphibious-support ships; a naval Special Forces unit (the Special Boat Service) and a naval band service.
The British Army also has units of commandos which serve with the Royal Marines. Although not part of the Royal Marines, these army commandos serve in combat engineer, field artillery, electrical and mechanical engineer and logistics units attached to 3 Commando Brigade. 1st battalion the Rifles is due to join the Brigade on 1 April 2008.^[1]

United States

The United States Marine Corps (USMC), was originally established as the Continental Marines on November 10, 1775 at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is a part of the Department of the Navy, but no Navy officers are part of the USMC chain of command; the most senior USMC member is the Commandant of the Marine Corps, who reports directly to the Secretary of the Navy. The USMC is a separate branch of the armed forces and is currently the largest Marine force in the world.
Because the USMC has developed into its own service, yet still a part of the Department of the Navy, a naval force called the Naval Expeditionary Combat Command was created in 2005 to support the U.S. Army and Marine Corps in operations more traditionally identified with Marines or soldiers. The U.S. Air Force also provides combat support via Individual Augmentees.
The USMC shares many traditions, emblems and uniforms with the United Kingdom's Royal Marines.

Uruguay

The Uruguayan Marine Corps (Cuerpo de Fusileros Navales) FUSNA is a battalion sized organization consisting of four company sized brigades

Venezuela

The Infantería de Marina of Venezuela is a sub-division of the Venezuelan Navy which forms part of the National Armed Forces of the BRV. Headquartered in Meseta de Mamo, Vargas, the estimated numerical strength of this unit is of approx. 8,000 men and women. Its mission is to "enlist and direct its units in order to form the disembarking force and/or support of amphibious or special operations; executing naval safeguarding and environmental policing, as well as actively participating in the national development".

Historical Marine forces

Ancient Rome

The Roman Navy was known to use marines and naval personnel were trained for raiding and also proved at least one legion for service on land.

Confederate States of America

The Confederate States Marine Corps (CSMC), a branch of the Confederate Navy, was established by the Confederate Congress on March 16, 1861.

Gran Colombia

The Confederation of Gran Colombia Marines were formed in 1822 and were disbanded in 1829, Personnel were mostly from Venezuela.