MARCOS
 | The neutrality of the style of writing in this article is disputed. |
| MARCOS (India) | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1987 - Present |
| Country |  India |
| Branch | Navy |
| Type | Special Forces |
| Nickname(s) | The Crocodile |
| Operations | Operation Cactus, Operation Pawan, Kargil War, Raid on LTTE in 1987, Operation Black Tornado, Operation Cyclone |
| Equipment | AK-47 and variants, Colt M16A2, INSAS 5.56 mm, Tavor assault rifle, HK MP5 sub-machine gun and 7.62 mm SLR assault rifle, H-3 Sea King and Chetak helicopters, Cosmos CE-2F/X100 two-man submarines. |
MARCOS (also known as Marine Commando Force (MCF)) is an elite special operations unit of the Indian Navy. "MARCOS" is short for "Marine Commandos", and MCF is an acronym for "Marine Commando Force".
Origins
Along with the Para Commandos of the Indian Army, the initial MARCOS group was planned along with the establishment of the NSG counter-terrorism unit in 1986. The first unit was called the Indian Marine Special Force, and was later renamed as Marine Commando Force (MCF) in 1991.
They are also locally known as the Dadiwali Fauj (Hindi for Bearded Army) since they are the only unit of the Indian armed forces that permits non-Sikh recruits to maintain beards.
When the Marine Commando Force came into being in 1987, along with NSG, it was a very secretive organization, a reputation it has maintained till now. Legend has it that no officer ever reveals he is with the MARCOS; even wives of these naval commandos never knew a thing about it. The usual cover was a ‘sub-mariner’ or simply a ‘diver’. Their operations are still a very closely guarded secret, as is their training. They have struck terror into terrorists in Kashmir where the enemy has nicknamed them magarmach (Hindi for Crocodile).
Strength and operations
The MCF is rumoured to have a current strength of 2,000 personnel.
Operations undertaken:
- Operation Pawan (Hindi for Wind): part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka in 1988.
- Raid on an LTTE base at Guru Nagar on October 18, 1987.
On the night of 21 October 18 MARCOS operators including Lt. Singh boarded two Gemini rafts off the coast of Jaffna City and towed two wooden rafts of explosives into a channel leading to the city's Guru Nagar Jetty. Avoiding mines, eight men and two officers shifted to the wooden rafts and paddled to the jetty then fixed demolition charges to the jetty and LTTE speedboats. The commandos were detected but laid down suppressive fire and detonated the explosives before retreating to the Geminis without taking casualties. Two nights later, commandos swam back into the harbour amidst heavy patrolling by the LTTE to destroy the remaining speedboats. They were again detected and sustained minor injuries. These actions helped recapture Trincomalee and Jaffna harbours from the LTTE. For leading these actions the 30 year old Lt. Singh became the youngest officer to receive the Maha Vir Chakra Award.
- Operation Cactus: part of Indian Navy contingent defending the democratic government of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom of the Maldives from a coup. The force carried out a highly successful operation to crush a coup in the Maldives. When some 50 mercenaries escaped with more than 25 hostages, including a minister, in a ship, the MCF was pressed into service and successfully seized the ship.
- The MARCOS are in action at the Wular Lake in Kashmir, one of Asia's largest fresh-water lakes, where they have achieved great success and stopped most of the infiltration by terrorists. The lake used to be a major infiltration route for terrorists.
- Kargil War. Covert operations behind enemy lines.
- Protecting offshore oil rigs and platforms
- In its first ever action in Gulf of Aden, MARCOS thwarted an attempt by pirates to capture the Indian merchant vessel MV Jag Arnav on November 11, 2008.[1]
- Operation Tornado: MARCOS stormed Nariman Building on morning of 27 November 2008 during the 26 November 2008 Mumbai attacks [2]
Training
 |
The training is much tougher and they can operate in any environment – deep sea, on the ocean, in jungle, and even hostage rescue and urban combat.
The first two months is the weeding out phase. More than 60% are sent back. Those that go on are trained in every aspect of modern warfare and in every situation. This includes firing lying down, standing, running full-sprint, even backwards and looking into a mirror – with a reaction time of 0.27 seconds.
The real killer is the “death crawl” – an 800-metre struggle through thigh-high mud, loaded with 25 kg of gear and after a 2.5 km obstacle course that most soldiers would fail. After that, when the trainee is “half-dead” and clinging to his raw nerves, he has to undergo the final test – shooting a target 25 metres away, with his buddy standing next to it. If the exhausted hands tremble, his buddy is history. [citation needed]
This is where many give up. They just cannot take the shot. Around 10% eventually don the MARCO patch on their right sleeve. And live the life of a hero – in anonymity.[3]
The MARCO is an expert in every kind of weapon, from knives and crossbows to sniper rifles, handguns, and bare hands. To top it, he is both the paratrooper and a combat diver.
Activities
Candidates use the Israeli undercover special warfare units called Mistaravim (Hebrew for "Those who pretend to be Arabs").
During 2003 the MCF participated in training exercises called Exercise Balance Iroquois 03-1/Vajra Prahar, with American Special Operations Forces in Mizoram [1].
During September 2005, the MCF participated in the joint US/Indian naval exercises called Malabar 05.[2]
Bases
The MCF currently operates out of the naval bases at Mumbai INS Abhimanyu, Kochi, and Visakhapatnam.
Plans are underway to set up a commando training facility for amphibious operations at the naval academy in Goa on the lines of the Indian Army's Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS) in Warangte, Mizoram. The Naval Academy is eventually to be shifted to Ezhimala in northern Kerala.[3]
Equipment
- Small Arms: AK-47 and variants, Colt M16A2, INSAS 5.56 mm, Tavor Assault Rifles, HK MP5 sub-machine gun and 7.62 mm SLR assault rifle. Have been known to use crossbows and bolts. Were seen using SIG 552 rifles during the hostage crisis in Mumbai in November 2008.
- Transport: H-3 Sea King and Chetak helicopters, Cosmos CE-2F/X100 two-man submarines
Notes
- ^ "Navy foils Indian ship's hijack attempt off Aden". Times of India.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|accessdaymonth=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "MARCOS - Bravehearts who rescued Mumbai's hostages". The Hindu.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|accessdaymonth=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ http://ibnlive.in.com/news/marine-commandos-kings-of-all-special-forces/79320-3.html
References
- De Lionis, Andres. "Marine Commandos: India's Flexible Elite", Jane's Intelligence Review, 8:230-232, May 1996
- "Naval marine commandos bag gallantry awards for operations against ultras", Indian Express, March 10 2000
- Bharat Rakshak, an Indian defence analysis website