Philippine Marine Corps

Philippine Marine Corps Hukbong Kawal Pandagat ng Pilipinas
Seal of the PMC
Active	November 2, 1950 – present
Country	Republic of the Philippines
Branch	Philippine Navy
Type	Conventional-Special Warfare, Internal-External Defense
Role	Direct Actions, Naval Combat & Support
Size	7,000
Part of	Armed Forces of the Philippines
Garrison/HQ	Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, Philippines
Nickname	PMC, Philippine Marines. "The Few The Proud The Marines" The Best In Soldiery.
Motto	Karangalan, Katungkulan, Kabayanihan "Honor, Duty, Valor"
Engagements	Communist Insurgencies Islamic Insurgencies, Counter Insurgencies-Terrorism, Civilian Military Operations
Commanders
Commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps	Major General Rustico Guerrero, AFP

The Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) (Filipino: Hukbong Kawal Pandagat ng Pilipinas) (HKPP) is the marine corps of the Philippines, and is part of the Philippine Navy.

History

The Corps was organized on November 7, 1950, as a Marine Company of the Philippine Fleet and then headquartered in Cavite City.

Formation

Philippine Marines 8th Marine Battalion Lading Team, push forward after splashing ashore in an amphibious assault vehicle during an amphibious assault training exercise

The Philippine Marine Corps is organized into three maneuver brigades, a Combat Service and Support Brigade (CSSB), a Headquarters for 7th Marine Brigade(R)NCR, and independent units such as the Force Recon Battalion (FRBn) and the Marine Security and Escort Group (MSEG). The three maneuver brigades provide administrative and logistical support to the units assigned to them, while the CSSB acts as a training and administrative command for the Field Artillery (FABN) and Assault Armor (AABN) battalions.

Marine Battalions

The Philippine Marine Corps has twelve regular Marine Battalions. Three battalions are assigned to each of the three maneuver brigades and a single battalion is rotated back to the Marine headquarters for refit and retraining for at least six months up to one year before redeployment to operational areas in Southern Philippines.

Each of the twelve battalions is organized into three rifle companies and a headquarters and service company. The battalions are augmented with elements of other units, such as artillery, armored vehicles or watercraft, for specific tasks. These units, when supported with assets from the CSSB and the Philippine Navy form the core of a Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT).

A Philippine Marine Corps instructor teaches the U.S. Marines a style of Philippine Martial Arts known as Pekiti-Tirsia Kali during a combat training exercise.

7th Marine Brigade (NCR) is the Main Active Reserve Force of the Philippine Marine Corps with 3 operational Battalion Composed of active men & women from different backgrounds & experiences, that are integrated to the regular & special units of the Corps. Given the same (MOS) training that enable the 7th MBde personnel to have interoperability with the rest of the Corps. Administrative control rest on the Naval Reserve Command (NCR), Philippine Navy while Operational is with the Philippine Marine Corps (MC9).(Always Faithful, Always Ready,Shadow Warriors)

Field Artillery Battalion

The Field Artillery Battalion (FABN) is currently organized into a Headquarters and Service Company and several howitzer batteries which are attached to the maneuver brigades to support their operations. It is equipped with both the M101A1 howitzer and the OTO Melara Model 56/14 pack howitzer. The unit also provides a limited air-defense capability through a token number of Bofors 40 mm L/60 guns.

Assault Armor Battalion

The Assault Armor Battalion (AABN) contains a Headquarters and Service Company, an Armor Maintenance Company (Armor Mnt Co), an Assault Amphibian Company (AAV Co), and a Light Armor Vehicle Company (LAV Co). It is tasked with providing the maneuver brigades with armored assets to support their operations. The unit's inventory consists of LAV-150s, LAV-300s, LVTP-5s and LVTH-6s. None of the LVTP-5s are currently in service but the Marines have been able to recondition four of the LVTH-6s for their use.

Marine Force Reconnaissance Battalion

Main article: Philippine Marine Corps Force Recon Battalion

Philippine Marine rushes up a small ditch while the unit of USMC provides communication during the Balikatan Exercise

The Force Recon Battalion (FRBn) is organized into a Headquarters, Service and Training Company and four Recon Companies, numbered 61st, 62nd, 63rd,and 64th. Each of these companies is attached to a Marine Brigade to serve as quick maneuvering force. It specialises in sea, air and land operations, like its counterpart in the Naval Special Warfare Group of the Philippine Navy, ranging from reconnaissance, close combat, demolition, intelligence and underwater operations in support to the overall naval operations.(Swift Silent Deadly)

Marine Security and Escort Group

The Marine Security and Escort Group (MSEG) is responsible for security on naval facilities, vital government installations and protection of VIPs. The unit also fills most of the PMC's ceremonial duties.

Marine Drum and Bugle Team

The Marine Drum and Bugle Team (MDBT) is the prime musical unit of the Philippine Marine Corps and the only Drum and Bugle Corps in the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines that provides marching band and musical services in support of the ceremonial and morale activities of the Corps. This is patterned along the lines of the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and is stationed at Marine Barracks R. Brown in Taguig City.

Marine Scout Snipers

The Marine Scout Snipers (MSS) is the very first unit in the Armed Forces of the Philippines dedicated exclusively to sniping and marksmanship. The Scout Snipers are notable for being able to effectively hit and neutralize targets at 800 metres (2,600 ft) using only 5.56 mm rounds. The Marine Scout Snipers are renowned for the development and manufacture of their own weapon, the Colt M16A1 based Marine Scout Sniper Rifle.

Philippine Marine Corps Marine Silent Drill Platoon

Also headquartered in Taguig City, this is the premier military drill team of the Corps and one of 4 such units in the AFP, patterned after the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon. Like its US counterpart it does a unique silent precision exhibition drill using the M1 Garand rifles with fixed bayonets demonstrating the Corps's professionalism and discipline in all events where it is a part of.

Major Equipment

Armored Vehicles	Type
V-150	Armored Personnel Carrier
LAV-300	Fire Support Vehicle
Humvee	Utility Vehicle
LVTH-6	Fire Support Vehicle/Amphibious Vehicle
GKN Aquatrack	Amphibious Vehicle
LARC-V (Lighter, Amphibious, Resupply, Cargo)	Amphibious utility / transport
A number of locally modified up-armoured trucks (Talisman Gun Truck)	Gun Truck
Marine Multi-purpose Vehicle	MMPV
Small Arms	Type
M16A1 rifle	Assault Rifle
TAR-21	Assault Rifle
M60	General Purpose Machine Gun
FN Minimi	Light Machine Gun
M14 Rifle	Battle Rifle
M21	Sniper Rifle
Barrett M95	Sniper Rifle
Remington 870	Shotgun
M3 Grease Gun	Sub-machine gun
Floro MK-9	Sub-machine gun
MSSR rifle	Sniper Rifle
M1911 pistol	Semi-automatic pistol
Anti-tank weapons	Type
M67 recoilless rifle	Recoilless Rifle
Armbrust	Anti-tank
Artillery	Type
Bofors 40 mm	Autocannon
OTO Melara Mod 56	Pack Howitzer
M101 howitzer	Howitzer

Marine Bases

• Marine Barracks Rudiardo Brown (Marine Base Manila), Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, Metro Manila
• Marine Barracks Gregorio Lim (Marine Base Ternate), Ternate, Cavite
• Marine Barracks Arturo Asuncion (Marine Base Zamboanga), Zamboanga City
• Marine Barracks Domingo Deluana (Marine Base Tawi-Tawi), Tawi-Tawi
• Camp Gen. Teodulfo Bautista, Jolo, Sulu

See also

• Marine Corps
• Philippine Navy
• Philippine Army
• Philippine Air Force
• Armed Forces of the Philippines
• Military History of the Philippines

References

Notes

External links

• Official Website of Philippine Marine Corps
• Opus224's Unofficial Philippine Defense Page
• Manokski's ORBAT
• Official Web Page of 8th Marine Reserve Brigade (Marine Forces Reserve Central, Philippine Marine Corps