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
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
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
-
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
-
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
Italy
Japan
Republic of Korea
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
Norway
Norwegian Coastal Rangers.
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
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).
Sweden
Republic of China (Taiwan)
Thailand
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
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.
United States
- 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.
Germany
- During the Imperial German era, the three German Seebatallione [1] provided shipboard troops to the German
Navy. These forces also served in the German colonies as regular infantry.
France
Japan
Portugal
Portugal raised numerous companies of Special Marines called Fuzileiros Especais, both at home and in her African colonies,
for the war to save her colonial possessions.
The Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps (VNMC) was established by President
Ngo Dinh Diem of South Vietnam on October 13, 1954.
United Kingdom
- The Royal Navy has since its beginning formed naval landing parties of seamen for action ashore, this being later formalised
into the Naval Brigades. These brigades would often dismount guns from their parent
vessels for use ashore, these guns often being the only artillery available. The most famous example of this being the guns
accompanying the forces relieving Ladysmith.
- The Corps of Colonial Marines was a British Marine Corps formed during the
mid 1840s to serve in the remaining British America colonies (mainly the
West Indies). The Colonial Marines were controlled by the Royal Marines as an auxiliary force. Initially recruited from freed or escaped slaves from the United
States and later from local inhabitants, these units were either disbanded or absorbed by the West India Regiment.
- In the First World War, the shortage of ground forces for the Western Front in 1914 led to the creation of the Royal Naval
Division, composed of two brigades of sailors and the brigade formed by the Royal Marines. The Division was part of the
Royal Navy but for command purposes was integrated into the army's command structure. The
sailors were initially disappointing as infantry, but eventually developed into one of the better divisions. The division
participated in the defence of the Belgian city of Antwerp in late 1914, and then served with
heavy casualties at the Battle of Gallipoli. At different times the Division
included various army units. The division ceased to exist after the end of the First World War.
Fictional Marines
Because of the elite nature of many marine corps and their equivalents throughout the world, the term "marines" is often used
to designate elite military units in fiction, regardless of the technical accuracy of this name.
See also
References
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