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Namibian Marine Corps

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Namibian Marine Corps
Active 22 July 2016 – present
(8 years, 2 months)
AllegianceConstitution of Namibia
TypeAmphibious infantry
Role
Part ofNamibian Navy
Garrison/HQWalvis Bay, Namibia
Commanders
Commander In ChiefPresident Hage Geingob
Minister of DefencePenda ya Ndakolo
Namibian Navy CommanderRear Admiral Peter Vilho
Marine Corps CommandantCaptain (naval) Appolos Haimbala

The Namibian Marines Corps is the Naval Infantry of the Republic of Namibia and is part of the Namibian Navy and the Namibian Defence Force.

History

The Marine Corps are a recent addition to the Namibian Defence Force due to the setting of the Namibian Navy which took a while. The first Marines were trained in Brazil in 2005. The Marine Commandant is subordinate to the Commander of the Namibian Navy. The current Marine Corps Commandant is Captain Appolos Haimbala.[1]

Training

Aspirant Marines are trained in Brazil or by a combination of Namibian Brazilian trained instructors as well as the Brazilian Military Advisory Team (BRAZMATT) based in Walvis Bay. The first course to complete before induction as a marine is the Marines Soldier Formation Course that lasts for five months, after completion induction into the marine corps takes place and the marine is promoted to the rank of able seaman. Marines specializing in infantry are required complete a six-month infantry specialization course.[2] The Marine Amphibious Commandos Special Operations Course is the toughest course in the corps and has a one-in-two failure rate and its course's last a year.[3][4]

Force Structure

Navy Chief of Naval Support indicated that the short-term goal is to have a force consisting of Marine Corps Infantry Company, Service Support Company, Provost Company and Brass Band. A Marine Battalion with own organic rapid Reaction, Operational Boats Unit and Operational Diving teams is envisioned.[5]

  • Marine Corps Infantry Company
  • Composite units
  • Service Support Company
  • Provost Company
  • Brass Band

Marine Corps Infantry Battalion

Marine Corps Infantry Battalion is the unit that is responsible for undertaking armed marine operations. A full marine battalion has been raised initially from a single company.[6]

Composite units

Marines from the Operational Boat Unit on parade in downtown Windhoek on 20 March 2015 during Namibia's Independence celebrations
  • Rapid Reaction Unit

Light infantry unit responsible for protection of static, forward and naval bases[7]

  • Amphibious Special Operations Unit

The elite commandos responds to asymmetric threats and conducts Special Operations Forces activities[8]

  • Operational Boats Unit

Conducting small boat patrols

  • Operational Diving Team

Clearance diving and hazardous material disposable.[9]

Deployments

Marines Corps infantry are deployed on Namibian Navy vessels and shore installations

Marine Corps equipment

Rifles

Name
Photo
Type
Calibre
Origin
AK-47 Assault Rifle 7.62×39mm  Soviet Union
AK-105[10] Assault Rifle 5.45x39 mm  Russia
AK-103[11] File:AK-103 Assault Rifle.JPG Assault Rifle 7.62x39 mm  Russia

SubMachine-guns

Name
Photo
Type
Calibre
Origin
Vityaz-SN[12] Sub Machine gun 9x19 mm  Russia

Machine-guns

Name
Photo
Type
Calibre
Origin
PKP Pecheneg[13] Machine gun 7.62x54 mm  Russia
RPK[14] Machine gun 7.62x39 mm  Soviet Union
Kord machine gun[15] Machine gun 12.7×108mm  Soviet Union

Grenades and Grenade Launchers

Name
Photo
Type
Calibre
Origin
AGS-30[16] Grenade Launcher 30 mm  Russia
GP-34[17] Grenade Launcher 40 mm  Soviet Union

Anti-Tank Weapons

Name
Photo
Type
Origin
RPG-7 Grenade Launcher  Soviet Union

Ranks and Insignia

Marine Corps ranks are based on Commonwealth Navy ranks.

The highest rank in peace time a commissioned officer can attain in the Marine Corps is Captain. Career progression in the force for Marine officers is possible well beyond the rank of Navy Captain.A Marine officer can get posted outside the Marine unit and progress up the ranks to the singular appointment of Chief of Defence Force. The highest rank an enlisted member can attain is Warrant Officer Class 1 but the highest appointment they can hold is the Namibian Defence Force Sergeant Major.

Commissioned officers

Flag Officer Ranks

  • Vice-Admiral
  • Rear-Admiral
  • Commodore/Rear Admiral(JG)

Marine Commandant is always a Captain(Navy)

Senior Officers

  • Captain(Naval)
  • Commander
  • Lieutenant Commander

Junior Officers

  • Lieutenant
  • Lieutenant Junior-grade
  • Ensign

Non-commissioned officers/Other ranks

NCO Insignia
Warrant Officer Class 1 Warrant Officer Class 2 Chief Petty Officer Petty Officer Leading Seaman Able Seaman Seaman

Warrant Officers

  • Warrant Officer Class 1
  • Warrant Officer Class 2

Senior Ratings

  • Chief Petty Officer
  • Petty Officer

Junior Ratings

  • Leading Seaman
  • Able Seaman
  • Seaman

Naval Officers,men and marines of the Namibian Navy Marines aboard a Navy craft Air Force Mil Mi-17 Carrying out exercises with Namibian Marines

External

External videos
video icon Namibian Marines tackling an obstacle course
video icon A video of the Marines performing tactical demonstration

References

  1. ^ http://www.mod.gov.na/pages/news_marine.html
  2. ^ http://www.namibiansun.com/local-news/ready-serve-and-protect.74870
  3. ^ http://www.namibiansun.com/local-news/ready-serve-and-protect.74870
  4. ^ https://www.newera.com.na/2014/12/15/54-namibian-marines-graduate/
  5. ^ Lotto, S (December 2013). "Marine Corps Undertake Section Commander Course". NDF Journal'. 50: 13.
  6. ^ http://www.namibian.com.na/Namibia-marine-corps-commissioned/43387/read
  7. ^ http://www.newera.com.na/2014/12/15/54-namibian-marines-graduate
  8. ^ http://www.newera.com.na/2014/12/15/54-namibian-marines-graduate
  9. ^ http://www.newera.com.na/2014/12/15/54-namibian-marines-graduate
  10. ^ Defence Web. "Namibia receives Russian small arms". defenceweb.co.za. defenceweb. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  11. ^ Defence Web. "Namibia receives Russian small arms". defenceweb.co.za. defenceweb. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  12. ^ Defence Web. "Namibia receives Russian small arms". defenceweb.co.za. defenceweb. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  13. ^ Defence Web. "Namibia receives Russian small arms". defenceweb.co.za. defenceweb. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  14. ^ Defence Web. "Namibia receives Russian small arms". defenceweb.co.za. defenceweb. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  15. ^ Defence Web. "Namibia receives Russian small arms". defenceweb.co.za. defenceweb. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  16. ^ Defence Web. "Namibia receives Russian small arms". defenceweb.co.za. defenceweb. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  17. ^ Defence Web. "Namibia receives Russian small arms". defenceweb.co.za. defenceweb. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
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