Philippine Marine Corps
Philippine Marine Corps Hukbong Kawal Pandagat ng Pilipinas | |
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File:Pmcseal.gif Seal of the PMC | |
Active | November 2, 1950 – present |
Country | Republic of the Philippines |
Branch | Philippine Navy |
Type | Marine (Naval) Infantry |
Role | Naval support, naval combat support |
Size | 10,000 |
Part of | Armed Forces of the Philippines |
Garrison/HQ | Fort Bonifacio, Makati City, Philippines |
Nickname(s) | PMC, Philippine Marines |
Motto(s) | Karangalan, Katungkulan, Kabayanihan "Honor, Duty, Valor" |
Engagements | Communist Insurgencies Islamic Insurgencies |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Major General Orlando Buenaventura |
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
Early Days
Although not as formally established as the Infanteria de Marina of the Spanish Navy, Filipino naval infantrymen during the Spanish colonial period (1565-1898) fought just as well against internal and external threats to the Philippine Islands, notably Moro and Chinese pirates, and Dutch naval forces.
The infant Philippine Navy was established during the Philippine Revolution (1896-1898), when General Emilio Aguinaldo formed the Revolutionary Navy. It then consisted of the pinnace Magdalo and several steam launches captured from the Spanish. The Navy refitted these for war and moved troops, arms, and supplies to the provinces. The Navy played a major role during the raid against the Spanish garrison and magazine on Bacoor Bay, which was the first amphibious assault by elements of the Revolutionary Navy.
During the American colonial period (1899-1941) and the Second World War in the Pacific (1941-1945), Filipinos served with distinction in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps. The first Filipino to die in the First World War was Private Tomas Claudio who was serving with the U.S. Marine Corps as part of the American Expeditionary Forces to Europe. He died in the Battle of Chateau Thierry in France on June 29, 1918.[1][2] The Thomas Claudio Memorial College in Eastern Rizal, Philippines, which was founded in 1950, was named in his honor.[3]
Organization
The modern Philippine Marine Corps' was organized during the incumbency of President Elpidio Quirino. Armed Forces of the Philippines General Order No. 319 dated November 2, 1950 called for the organization of "A" Company, 1st Marine Battalion as a unit of the Philippine Naval Patrol. This marked the birth of the Philippine Marines. "A" Company was activated on November 7, 1950 at the Naval Operating Base in Cavite under the mandate of then Secretary of National Defense Ramon Magsaysay.[4]
Only volunteers were accepted into this unit. Forming the core of this organization were six officers and 206 enlisted personnel, mostly veterans of World War II. Its first commanding officer was LTSG Manuel Gomez, an alumnus of the Philippine Military Academy Class 41 and a graduate of Armor Tactics from Fort Knox in Kentucky.
The Corps was expanded to batallion strength on November 7, 1955, with two rifle companies and a Headquarters and Service Company under Lieutenant Commander Gregorio L. Lim, PN as its Battalion Commander. The 3rd Marine Company was activated on November 7, 1961. To provide the fire and anti-tank support for the Philippine Marine Battalion, as well as to provide ceremonial guard and security for VIP's, a weapons company was activated on April 10, 1966. The battalion was expanded to a force of nine rifle companies two years later.
Spratly Islands deployment
The Marines were deployed in 1971 to the disputed Spratly Islands (known as the Kalayaan Islands in the Philippines), where they occupied eight of the islands. The covert operation was the initial use of the Marines in an operation of a strategic nature. The Marines stood watch over the remote islets, the largest of which is Pag-asa Island with an area of 32 hectares.
Further expansion
The Marine unit was re-designated as the Philippine Marine Brigade on February 21, 1972. The 2nd Marine Battalion Landing Team was activated on October 10, 1972, with 12 rifle companies. The Headquarters Service Group and a Combat Support Group were also activated. On July 1, 1972, the Philippine Marine Brigade became a major unit of the Philippine Navy. The following year, the 3rd Marine Battalion was activated and the Marine Training Group became an adjunct to the organization. On June 1, 1976, the Philippine Marine Brigade and the Marine Training Group were designated as the Philippine Marines and the Philippine Marine Training Center respectively.
Campaigns
From the 1970's to the 1980's, over 300 amphibious and ground operations were conducted by the Marines in Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan. Among these campaigns were the Liberation of Marawi, Siege of Camp Seit, Battle of Punai, Battle of Sibalo Hill, Labangon Encounter, Operation "Pamukpok", Operation "Maso", Operation "Batikus", Operation "Kahil", Battle of Tarawakan and the Battle of Karundong.[citation needed]
On November 7, 1995, the Philippine Marines was renamed the Philippine Marine Corps. The Corps has evolved from a company of volunteers to three Marine Brigades and one Marine Reserve Brigade, ten Battalion Landing Teams, a Combat Support Brigade, one Reconnaissance Battalion, a Training Center, Headquarters Battalion and Marine Security Escort Group.
Organization
The Philippine Marine Corps is organized into three maneuver brigades, a Combat Service and Support Brigade (CSSB), a headquarters for a reserve brigade, 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.[5]
Marine Battalions
The Philippine Marine Corps has eleven active Marine Battalions designated 1st to 11th. Two to four 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. These units, when supported with assets from the CSSB and the Philippine Navy form the core of a Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT).
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.
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. The FRBn is the main special operations unit of the Philippine Marine Corps.
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 band and musical services in support of the ceremonial and morale activities of the Corps.
Marine Scout Snipers
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![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Philippine_Marine_Sniper.jpg/150px-Philippine_Marine_Sniper.jpg)
The Marine Scout Snipers (MSS) were the 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 neutralize targets at 800 meters using only 5.56 mm rounds. The Marine Scout Snipers are also known for the development and manufacture of their own weapon, the Colt M16A1 based Marine Scout Sniper Rifle.
Equipment
Vehicles
V-100[6]
LAV-300[6]
Humvee
LVTH-6[6]
GKN Aquatrack[6]
LARC (Lighter, Amphibious, Resupply, Cargo)[6]
A number of locally modified up-armoured trucks (Talisman Gun Truck)[6]
Marine Multi-purpose Vehicle
Small arms
M16 rifle
M60
FN Minimi
Heckler & Koch MP5
Heckler & Koch PSG1
M14 Rifle
M21
Remington 870
Floro MK-9
MSSR rifle
Special Operations Assault Rifle (SOAR)
Anti-tank weapons
Artillery
See also
- Marine Corps
- Philippine Navy
- Philippine Army
- Philippine Air Force
- Armed Forces of the Philippines
- Military History of the Philippines
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Official website of the Philippine Marine Corps
- Opus224's Unofficial Philippine Defense Page
- Manokski's ORBAT
- [http://www.marforrescent.com/ Official Web Page of 51st Marine Reserve Battalion, Marine Forces Reserve Central)
References
- ^ Zena Sultana-Babao, America’s Thanksgiving and the Philippines’ National Heroes Day: Two Holidays Rooted in History and Tradition, Asian Journal, retrieved 2008-01-12
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(help) - ^ Source: Philippine Military Academy
- ^ "Schools, colleges and Universities: Tomas Claudio Memorial College". Manila Bulletin Online. Retrieved 2007-07-04.
- "Thomas Claudio Memorial College". www.tcmc.edu.ph. Retrieved 2007-07-04. - ^ "The Philippine Marine Corps:History". Retrieved 2008-06-06.
- ^ "Philippine Marine Corps (official website)". Retrieved 2006-06-25.
- ^ a b c d e f Timawa.net: Philippine Marine Corps
Gallery
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Philippine Marines in formation
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Philippine Marine amphibious landing
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Philippine Marines in Balikatan training excercises
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AAVs carrying Philippine Marines