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Peruvian Naval Infantry conducting exercises on the Amazon River.

Spanish and U.S. Marines, marched together in a change of command ceremony at Naval Station Rota, Spain (July 2002)

A marine is a member of an infantry force that specializes in naval operations such as amphibious assault. In some countries, a marine force is often part of a navy, but can also be under army or independent command.

Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included providing protection from war while at sea, reflecting the pressed nature of the ships' company and the risk of mutiny. Other tasks would include boarding of vessels during combat or capture of prize ships and providing manpower for raiding ashore in support of the naval objectives. Marine elements would also contribute to the campaign ashore, in support of the military objective.

With the industrialization of warfare in the 20th century the scale of landing operations increased; thus brought with it an increased likelihood of opposition and a need for co-ordination of various military elements. Marine forces evolved to specialize in the skills and capabilities required for amphibious warfare.

History[link]

Ancient Greek trireme

In the earliest days of naval warfare, there was little distinction between sailors and soldiers on a warship, as the oarsmen of Ancient Greek and Roman ships had to be capable of fighting the rowers of opposing ships hand-to-hand;^[1] though hoplites began appearing on Greek ships specifically for the boarding of enemy ships.^[2][3] The Roman Navy's two legions, I Adiutrix and II Adiutrix, were among the first distinct naval infantry units.^[4][5]

The first organized corps of marines was created when Charles V first assigned the naval infantry of the Compañías Viejas del Mar de Nápoles (Naples Sea Old Companies) to the Escuadras de Galeras del Mediterráneo (Mediterranean Galley Squadrons) in 1537, progenitors of the current Spanish Navy Marines (Infantería de Marina) corps.^[6][7]

Etymology[link]

The word marine is from the English adjective marine, meaning of the sea, via French marin(e), of the sea from Latin marinus ("maritime").

The word marine was originally used for the forces of England and exact one-word translations for the term do not exist in many other languages except for the Dutch word marinier. Typically, foreign equivalents are called naval infantry or navy infantry or coastal infantry. In French-speaking countries, two phrases exist which could be translated as marine, troupes de marine and fusiliers-marins; similar pseudo-translations exist elsewhere, e.g., Fuzileiros Navais in Portuguese. The word marine/marina means "navy" in many European languages such as Spanish, Dutch, French, Italian, German, Swedish and Norwegian.

Roles[link]

U.S. Marines conducting a live fire training exercise aboard an amphibious assault ship.

The principal role of marine troops is military operations in the littoral zone, operating from ships they are trained to land on and secure key points to around 50 miles inland.^{[citation needed]}

Marine units primarily deploy from warships using helicopters, landing craft, hovercraft or amphibious vehicles.

In addition to their primary role, marine troops are also used in a variety of other naval roles such as boarding operations, ship clean up, naval port security riverine, mess duty, and field day operations.

By country[link]

Argentina[link]

• The Argentine Marine Corps (Infantería de Marina de la Armada de la República Argentina or 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 (the Amphibious Commandos Group) and several security battalions and companies. The 5th Battalion of the Infanteria de Marina fought in the Falklands War (Spanish: Guerra de las Malvinas/Guerra del Atlántico Sur).

Australia[link]

• Several of the Colonial navies of Australia raised volunteer naval infantry and naval militia brigades in the second half of 19th century. The Victorian Naval Brigade was formed in 1859, the Sydney Naval Brigade in 1864 (later supplemented by the Naval Artillery Volunteers in 1897) and the Queensland Naval Brigade in 1873. Following the Federation of Australia they were combined into the Commonwealth Naval Militia. With the formation of the Royal Australian Navy in 1911 they were renamed the Royal Australian Naval Brigade. At its peak in 1915 it numbered 2,817 officers and men. The Naval Brigade was disbanded in 1920 and volunteers were absorbed into the Royal Australian Naval Reserve.
• The 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment of the Australian Army will be retrained as marines by 2014.^[8]

Bolivia[link]

• The Bolivian Naval Force includes about 2,000 naval infantry personnel and marines.

Brazil[link]

Brazilian marines demonstrate lane training.

• The Corps of Naval Fusiliers (Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais), with about 15,000 men, 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 brigade-sized Divisão Anfíbia (Amphibious Division).

Cambodia[link]

• The Royal Cambodian Navy created a force of 2,000 marines in 2007.

Chile[link]

Chilean Navy special forces seen here using the MP5N

• The Chilean 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, organized along the Chilean territory. Each unit has its own anti-aircraft guns, artillery and landing craft.

China, People's Republic of[link]

• People's Liberation Army Marine Corps

China, Republic of[link]

• Republic of China Marine Corps

Colombia[link]

• The 24,000-member Colombian Marine Corps is organized into a single division with four brigades (one counter-terrorist and three river brigades), each with several battalions plus numerous small security units. It is a part of the Colombian Navy.

Croatia[link]

• The Croatian Navy maintains a 200-man naval infantry corps headquartered in Split. The group consists of three companies divided between Pula, Šibenik and Ploče and the 4th Guards Brigade (based at Split), which was transferred to the Croatian Navy as a naval infantry unit in January 2002.^[9]

Cuba[link]

• The Cuban Revolutionary Navy (Marina de Guerra Revolucionaria or MGR) maintains a small marine battalion called the Desembarco de Granma.

Ecuador[link]

• The 5,000-man Ecuadorian Navy maintains a 1,700-man Naval Infantry Corps (Cuerpo de Infanteria de Marina) headquartered in Guayaquil. It was formed on 12 November 1962. It is organised into two security battalions, one in the Amazon River area and the other on the Pacific coast. There is also a commando battalion based on the Galápagos Islands.

Egypt[link]

• The 111th Independent Mechanized Brigade (formerly the 130th Marine Amphibious Brigade) of the Egyptian Army can conduct amphibious assault operations. There is also the 153d Commando Group with three Marine Commandos Battalions (515th, 616th, 818th) controlling 12 Marine Commandos Companies.

El Salvador[link]

• The El Salvador Navy included two 600-man Marine Infantry Battalions (Batallon de Infanteria de Marina or BIM), and a 300-man Naval Commando Force. The BIMs were located at La Unión and Usulatan.

Finland[link]

Finnish coastal jaegers in a landfall exercise

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

France[link]

Group of naval fusiliers of Toulon

• The Fusiliers Marins (Sailor-Rifflemen) are Navy sailors. They provide protection for the ships and installations, as well as military training. Out of their ranks come the navy special forces Commandos Marine (Naval Commandos.)

French Troupes de marine with Task Force Korrigan in Afghanistan, 2009.

• Troupes de marine ("Marine Troops", sometimes loosely translated as "Navy Troops"), they are a branch of the French Army renamed from the Troupes Coloniales. Troupes de Marine and the Foreign Legion are the only^{[citation needed]} units of the French army to have units permanently based in Africa, 1 regiment in Djibouti, 1 battalion in Senegal, 1 battalion in Ivory Coast (until 2009, now forming the core of Operation Unicorn), 1 battalion in Gabon, in addition they man bases in the French Overseas territories. The Troupes de Marine include infantry (Infanterie de Marine), including paratroopers and light cavalry, and artillery (Artillerie de Marine). They provide the ground combat elements of French amphibious task forces and are specifically trained for that purpose^[10]. The 9th Marine Brigade (9e Brigade Légère Blindée de Marine (9 BLBMa)) is twinned with the 3 Commando Brigade of the Royal Marines^[11], getting exchange officiers and sharing trainings and exercises.

Germany[link]

A German Navy boarding team member provides security for the remainder of his team as they board a local cargo dhow by fast rope to conduct a search of the vessel.

• The Spezialisierte Einsatzkräfte Marine (Naval Special Deployment Force) is a special operations formation of the German Navy. The battalion includes the Kampfschwimmerkompanie (German commando frogmen), the Minentaucher kompanie and a boarding-company. The unit is based at Eckernförde.
• The Marineschutzkräfte (Naval Protection Force), which is responsible for the protection of naval bases and facilities. The battalion is based in Eckernförde and is organized into five units: one staff & support company, three infantry companies and a military intelligence platoon.

Greece[link]

• The Greek 32nd Marine Brigade "Moravas" (32η Ταξιαρχία Πεζοναυτών Mοράβας) and the Amphibious Raider Squadrons (known as MAK) are naval infantry and maritime operations units maintained by the Hellenic Army and supported by the Hellenic Navy.

Honduras[link]

• The Honduran Navy established at least one 600-man marine infantry battalion (Batallón de Infantería de Marina or BIM) in 1982.

India[link]

• The Indian Navy has an elite special operations unit called "MARCOS" (Marine Commandos). They form a special/covert operations and counter-terrorism unit specializing in sea-based land warfare. Also, they provide support to Indian Army units in specialized areas, such as preventing infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir's Wular lake. This unit was established in 1986, and is reputed to have a strength of 2000 personnel.
• The Indian Army maintains the 340 Independent Infantry Brigade (Amphibious) subordinate to 12 Corps (Jodhpur, Rajasthan) of the South Western Command.

Indonesia[link]

• The Indonesian Marine Corps (Korps Marinir TNI AL), is a part of the Indonesian Navy established on 15 November 1945, consists of:

1. Two Marine Forces ("Pasukan Marinir"), a unit similar to a division but with a light smaller troops; led by a Marine Brigadier General. 2. Three Marine Infantry Brigades (with nine Marine Infantry Battalions). 3. Two Marine Cavalry Regiments (with Marine Amphibious Tank and also Amphibious Artillery-bearer Landing Craft Battalions). 4. Two Marine Artillery Regiments (with Marine Rocket, Howitzer and Gun Battalions). 5. Two Marine Combat Support Regiments, each consists of Marine Engineer, Military Police, Base Defense, Motorized Transportation, Amphibious-Recoinassance and also Logistic Battalions. 6. Two Marine Bases in Jakarta and Surabaya. 7. Two Marine Hospital. 8. An anti-terrorism unit called "Detasemen Jala Mangkara" (litterally "Sea Ghost Detachment").

Iran[link]

• At the fall of the Shah in the Iranian Revolution of 1979, the Imperial Iranian Navy had three battalions of marines. That force has since expanded to 2,600 personnel, two marine brigades each of three marine battalions. These two brigades have also been reported as three marine battalions in the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (which may be part of the Iranian Army).
• The Navy of the Revolutionary Guard Corps maintains several units which may perform marine-type functions to include at least one 5,000 man brigade of three or four marine battalions.^[12] They also have a Takavar Naval Commando Battalion

Iraq[link]

The Iraqi Navy is a small force with 800 sailors and six platoons of marines designed to protect the shoreline and inland waterways from insurgent infiltration. The navy is also responsible for the security of offshore oil platforms. The navy will have coastal patrol squadrons, assault boat squadrons and a marine battalion.^[13] The force will consist of 2,000 to 2,500 sailors by 2010.^[14]

Israel[link]

• The Givati Brigade functions as the amphibious force and is one of the infantry brigades in the Israel Defense Forces.

• Shayetet 13 is the elite commando unit of the Israeli Navy. It is tasked with performing special operations at sea, sea-to-land missions, maritime intelligence gathering, and counter-terrorism operations.

Italy[link]

An Italian Marine sets security for his team to safely board a cargo to conduct a search of the vessel

Italian Navy

• The San Marco Regiment is a marine unit of the Italian Navy (Marina Militare).
• COMSUBIN (Commando Raggruppamento Subacquei ed Incursori Teseo Tesei) is the elite combat frogman force of the Navy and one of the Italian special forces.

Italian Army

• The Serenissima Regiment is the marine infantry unit of the Italian Army (Esercito Italiano). Its soldiers are called Lagunari.

Japan[link]

The JSDF has brigades operated similar to marines:

• JGSDF 13th Brigade
• JGSDF Western Army Infantry Regiment (Ranger), in Sasebo

South Korea[link]

• The Republic of Korea Marine Corps is the marine corps of the Republic of Korea. Though theoretically it is under the direction of the Chief of Naval Operations, the Marine Corps operates as a distinct arm of the South Korean forces, unlike most other marine branches, which generally operate as part of the country's navy. It was founded as a reconnaissance force just prior to the start of the Korean War. The ROKMC also saw combat during the Vietnam War while stationed in Da Nang, occasionally fighting alongside US Marines and Navy SEALs.

North Korea[link]

• The NKPA's Light Infantry Training Guidance Bureau has two or more amphibious light infantry/sniper brigades. These brigades are believed deployed to Wonsan on the east coast and Namp'o and Tasa-ri on the west coast. In organization and manpower, they are reduced versions of the regular light infantry brigades with a total strength of approximately 5,000 men organized into ten battalions. Each battalion has about 400 men organized into five companies each. Some amphibious brigade personnel are trained as frogmen.^[15]

Mexico[link]

• The Mexican Naval Infantry (Spanish: Infantería de Marina) of the Mexican Navy consists of 20,000 marines spread in a brigade of three battalions, plus a battalion attached to the Presidential Guard Brigade, three regional battalions with headquarters in Mexico City, Acapulco and Veracruz, and thirty-five independent companies (mainly In Celaya) and detachments distributed among ports, bases and zonal headquarters. The marines are responsible for port security, protection of the ten-kilometer coastal fringe, and patrolling major waterways. The marines have light arms, heavy weapons and armored amphibious vehicles. The Navy has ceded most of its riverine responsibilities to the Army, and has reduced the size of the marine force, putting them back aboard ships where they play a vital role in drug interdiction and boarding of suspect vessels in territorial waters.

Myanmar[link]

• The Myanmar Navy raised a naval infantry battalion of 800 men in 1964, followed by a second battalion in 1967. Two more battalions may have also been raised. They were deployed mainly to the Arakan and Tenasserim areas, and to the Irrawaddy delta, to assist in counter-insurgency operations, but also performed other security duties.

Netherlands[link]

• The Royal Netherlands Navy naval infantry unit is the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps (Korps Mariniers), founded in 1665 as an infantry regiment to the Dutch Navy. Today, it is a brigade approximately 3500 marines strong, consisting of three marine infantry battalions (one of which is in Aruba and Curaçao), one amphibious combat support battalion and one logistical battalion. The Dutch Marine Corps is an elite light infantry unit, operating as a rapid-reaction force, deployable anywhere in the world within 48-hours notice. Dutch Marines train in all possible geological and climate conditions for their role. Enlisted marine recruit training lasts 30 weeks, and marine officers train up to five years (including naval academy time).

Norway[link]

• The Coastal Ranger Command (Kystjegerkommandoen or KJK) of the Norwegian Navy is an amphibious unit trained to operate in littoral combat theatres, as naval infantry and coastal artillery.

Pakistan[link]

Pakistani and U.S. Marines come ashore during a training exercise

• The Pakistan Marines division of the Pakistani Navy was re-established on April 14, 1990 with about 2000 men and plans to expand the force significantly by 2015. The marines are based at PNS Qasim naval base. The Pakistan Marine Corps assisted in the recovery efforts following the country's floods in 2010.

Paraguay[link]

• The Paraguayan Marine Corps (Cuerpo de Fusileros Navales) is a battalion-sized organization consisting of four company sized brigades.

Peru[link]

• The Peruvian Naval Infantry (Infantería de Marina del Perú) consists of around 3,000 naval infantrymen and includes an amphibious brigade of three battalions and local security units with two transport ships, four tank landing ships, and about forty Chaimite armored personnel carriers. Since 1982, IMAP detachments have been deployed, under army command, in counter-insurgency operations.

Philippines[link]

Philippine Marines push forward during an amphibious assault training exercise.

• The Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) has a strength of about 10,000 men divided into three brigades. The Philippine Marine Corps is considered the shock force of the armed forces and is the first unit to be involved in any amphibious or seaborne clashes.

Poland[link]

• The Polish Navy maintains several naval infantry units responsible for port and coastal security.
• The Polish Army maintains the 7th Coastal Defense Brigade, which bears traditions of the disbanded 7th Coastal Defence Division (the Blue Berets), therefore it is sometimes referred to as the Marines of Poland. However, as of 2010 there are no plans by the Polish Army to create an active marine unit. Therefore, the 7th Brigade carries out only limited-scale exercises of amphibious assaults.

Portugal[link]

• Since 1621, the Portuguese Navy has maintained a naval infantry corps, which is currently known as Corpo de Fuzileiros. The Portuguese Marine Corps consists of about 1500 men, including two naval infantry battalions, a naval police unit, a special operations unit and several support units (logistical, fire support, landing craft, etc.).

Romania[link]

• The 307th Marine Battalion (Batalionul 307 Infanterie Marină) is the light infantry/reconnaissance unit of the Romanian Naval Forces. It is located in Babadag, Tulcea County, and was formed in the mid 1970s for the defence of the Danube Delta and Romanian Black Sea shore.