Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade

Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade
水陸機動団
Suirikukidōdan
Activation ceremony of the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade on 7 April 2018.
Active 7 April 2018[1] – present
Country  Japan
Branch  Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Type Marine brigade
Role Amphibious operations
Size ~ 2,100[1]
Eventually would have 3,000 soldiers[2]
Commanders
Current
commander		 Major General Shinichi Aoki[3]

The Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade (水陸機動団, Suirikukidōdan)[4] is a marine unit of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) responsible for conducting amphibious operations. It incorporates the former Western Army Infantry Regiment, which was the dedicated amphibious warfare unit of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.

The ARDB is based at Camp Ainoura in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture.[5]

History

Members of the 6th Division (Japan) conduct a landing training by LCAC in 2012.

In the beginning of the 21st century, the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as China) began expanding its military power towards other countries to match its increasing national power. China set its defense line as a neighboring country as shown on the First island chain (Daiichi Archipelago Line). In line with this, the People's Liberation Army of China promoted the expansion of nuclear submarines and naval ships including the maintenance of aircraft carriers. Ships of the Chinese maritime security authorities have often encroached into what Japan believes to be their territorial seas around the Senkaku Islands. Until then China conducted landing training mainly for a potential invasion of Taiwan, but the Senkaku Islands also became subject to threats.[6]

In light of tensions over the Senkaku Islands, Japan started the process of creating an elite marine unit. This brigade was designed to conduct amphibious operations and to recover any Japanese islands taken by an adversary.[7][8]

In 2006, Japan devised a plan to respond to this threat as outlined in the Defense Programs and Budget of Japan. Thus Japan prepared an amphibious force with the necessary know-how, acquired amphibious and other vehicles for such warfare. Prior to this, training was conducted with the U.S. Marine Corps such as "Iron Fist" and the integrated exercise "Dawn Blitz" in which the JSDF participated.[9]

In the Rim of the Pacific Exercise of 2014, the Japan Ground Self Defense Force participated for the first time with amphibious warfare training between the U.S. Marine Corps and the GSDF for multilateral exercises. In Japan, joint exercises are also conducted by inviting the U.S. Marine Corps at JGSDF Camp Soumagahara (Gunma Prefecture) and training with the dispatch of GSDF members to the U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa Prefecture.[10]

In 2016, 300 WAIR soldiers were sent to Camp Pendleton for marine training.[11] They were also trained to prepare for the ARDB's establishment.[11]

On 7 April 2018, Japan activated its first marine unit since World War II. The marines of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF)'s Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, gathered at a ceremony activating the brigade at JGSDF's Camp Ainoura in Sasebo, on the southwest island of Kyushu, Japan. The Brigade is trained to counter invaders from occupying Japanese islands along the edge of the East China Sea that Tokyo considers vulnerable to attack.[12]

150 ARDB soldiers were deployed for the first time in an overseas training exercise with American and Filipino marines in OP Kamandag.[13]

Organization

Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade
  • Brigade HQ
  • Combat Landing Battalion
  • Artillery Battalion
  • Reconnaissance Battalion
  • Engineer Battalion
  • Signal Company
  • Logistic Support Battalion
  • 1st Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment
  • 2nd Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment
  • 3rd Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment (to be formed)
  • Amphibious Rapid Deployment Training Unit

Equipment

AAV7 equipment for the ARDB

Infantry weapons

ARDB forces are equipped with light infantry weapons, including:[14]

U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey aircraft work with Japan to deliver earthquake relief supplies.

Vehicles

ARDB are also equipped with US and Japanese-made military vehicles and aircraft such as:[14]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Japan activates first marines since WW2 to bolster defenses against China". Yahoo.com. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  2. ↑ https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a19725306/japan-activates-first-amphibious-unit-since-world-war-two/
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ "防衛省・自衛隊｜平成29年版防衛白書｜コラム｜＜解説＞自衛隊初の本格的な水陸両用作戦部隊「水陸機動団」の新編". Mod.go.jp. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  5. ↑ https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/the-meaning-of-japans-new-amphibious-rapid-deployment-brigade-launch/
  6. ↑ YOMIURI ONLINE 中国軍が尖閣奪取訓練、昨秋に実施…米海軍協会 2014年2月20日
  7. ↑ Gady, Franz-Stefan Japan’s Elite Amphibious Assault Force Trains With US Marines The Diplomat Retrieved December 11, 2016
  8. ↑ Slavic, Erik Japan preparing amphibious force: it looks a lot like a Marine brigade November 4, 2016 Stars and Stripes Retrieved December 11, 2016
  9. ↑ "Defense Programs and Budget of Japan" (PDF). Mod.go.jp. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  10. ↑ "陸自「水陸機動団」準備着々／創設まであと１年・離党防衛強化へ米海兵隊と訓練". 産経新聞朝刊. March 20, 2017.
  11. 1 2 Fuentes, Gidget U.S. Marines Teach Japanese Forces How to Fight From the Sea in Expanded Iron Fist Exercise January 25, 2016 USNI News Retrieved December 11, 2016
  12. ↑ Kubo, Nobuhiro Japan activates first marines since WW2 to bolster defenses against China. April 7, 2018. Reuters. Retrieved August 2, 2018
  13. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.nl/japanese-armored-vehicles-first-military-exercise-on-foreign-soil-2018-10/
  14. 1 2
  15. 1 2 https://news.usni.org/2018/01/15/iron-fist-2018-ramps-training-japan-readies-1st-amphibious-unit
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