Namibian Marine Corps

Namibian Marine Corps
Active 22 July 2016 – present
(2 years, 2 months)
Allegiance Constitution of Namibia
Type Amphibious infantry
Role
Part of Namibian Navy
Garrison/HQ Walvis Bay, Namibia
Commanders
Commander In Chief President Hage Geingob
Minister of Defence Penda ya Ndakolo
Namibian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Peter Vilho
Marine Corps Commandant Captain (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 gradual establishment of the Namibian Navy. 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 Namibia by a combination of Namibian 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; its courses last a year.[2][3]

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.[4]

  • Rapid Reaction Force
    • Marine Corps Infantry Battalion
    • Service Support Company
    • Provost Company
    • Brass Band
  • Amphibious Special Operations Unit
  • Operational Boats Unit
  • Operational Diving Team

Rapid Reaction Force

Light infantry unit responsible for protection of static, forward and naval bases consisting of:

Marine Corps Infantry Battalion

The Marine Corps Infantry Battalion is the unit responsible for undertaking armed marine operations. A full marine battalion has been raised initially from a single company.[5]

Service Support Company

Service support company provides direct and indirect sustainment services to the Marine Batalion as it conducts operations. Support service offered by the sub-unit includes but not limited to:

  • Quartermaster
  • Finance
  • Medical
  • Transportation

Provost Company

The provost company is responsible for the policing of Navy service personnel.

Brass Band

The performs musical duties for military functions and any other apolitical functions for the general public.

Amphibious Special Operations Unit

The elite commandos respond to asymmetric threats and conduct Special Operations Forces activities.[6]

Operational Boats Unit

Conducts small boat patrols.

Operationl Diving team

Clearance diving and disposal of hazardous materials.[6]

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.[6]

Deployments

Marines Corps infantry are deployed on Namibian Navy vessels and shore installations. As of November 2017 A company sized sub-unit of Marines has been deployed to Lesotho under the SADC preventive mission known as SAPMIL.[7]

Marine Corps equipment

Rifles

Name
Photo
Type
Calibre
Origin
AK-47 Assault Rifle 7.62×39mm  Soviet Union
AK-105[8] Assault Rifle 5.45x39 mm  Russia
AK-103[8] Assault Rifle 7.62x39 mm  Russia
Norinco CQ-A Assault Rifle 5.56×45mm  China

SubMachine-guns

Name
Photo
Type
Calibre
Origin
Vityaz-SN[8] Submachine gun 9x19 mm  Russia
FAMAE SAF Submachine gun 9x19 mm  Chile

Machine-guns

Name
Photo
Type
Calibre
Origin
PKP Pecheneg[8] Machine gun 7.62x54 mm  Russia
RPK[8] Machine gun 7.62x39 mm  Soviet Union
Kord machine gun[8] Machine gun 12.7×108mm  Soviet Union

Grenades and Grenade Launchers

Name
Photo
Type
Calibre
Origin
AGS-30[8] Grenade Launcher 30 mm  Russia
GP-34[8] 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 peace time rank 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 be 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.

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 1Warrant Officer Class 2Chief Petty OfficerPetty OfficerLeading SeamanAble SeamanSeaman

Warrant Officers

  • Warrant Officer Class 1
  • Warrant Officer Class 2

Senior Ratings

  • Chief Petty Officer
  • Petty Officer

Junior Ratings

  • Leading Seaman
  • Able Seaman
  • Seaman

External Videos

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

References

  1. ↑ http://www.mod.gov.na/pages/news_marine.html
  2. 1 2 Marketing, Intouch Interactive. "Dungeon inquiry deferred - Local News - Namibian Sun".
  3. ↑ "54 Namibian marines graduate". 15 December 2014.
  4. ↑ Lotto, S (December 2013). "Marine Corps Undertake Section Commander Course". NDF Journal. 50: 13.
  5. ↑ "- The Namibian".
  6. 1 2 3 "54 Namibian marines graduate". 15 December 2014.
  7. ↑ Helfrich, Kim. "SADC preventive mission in place in Lesotho - defenceWeb". www.defenceweb.co.za.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Defence Web. "Namibia receives Russian small arms". defenceweb.co.za. defenceweb. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

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