Republic of China Marine Corps

Republic of China Marine Corps
中華民國海軍陸戰隊
Zhōnghuá Mínguó Hǎijūnlùzhàndùi
Flag of the Republic of China Marine Corps
Founded December 1914 (1914-12)
Country  Republic of China
Type Marine combined arms
Role Amphibious and expeditionary warfare
Size 9,000 active
Part of  Republic of China Navy (since 1924)
Headquarters Zuoying, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Motto(s) "Forever Loyalty" modeled after the USMC's "Semper Fidelis".
Engagements Chinese Civil War
Vietnam War
Commanders
Commander of the Republic of China Marine Corps Lt. General Chen Tzi-feng
Insignia
Emblem

The Republic of China Marine Corps (ROCMC; Chinese: 中華民國海軍陸戰隊; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Mínguó Hǎijūnlùzhàndùi), also officially called the Chinese Marine Corps, is the amphibious arm of the Republic of China Navy responsible for amphibious combat, counter-landing and reinforcement of the main island of Taiwan, remote islands, defense of ROCN facilities, and also functions as a rapid reaction force and a strategic reserve.

Organization

Marines at Zuoying Naval pier

The Marine Corps Command (海軍陸戰隊指揮部) is subordinate to the Navy GHQ, the General Staff, the Minister of Defense, and the ROC President.

Current organization

  • Marine Corps Command
  • Corps HQ Battalion (隊部營)
    • Amphibious Armor Group (登陸戰車大隊)
      • 4 Amphibious Transport Squadrons (運輸中隊), 24+ tracks per squadron. 1st(AAV-7), 2nd(AAV-7), 3rd(LVT-5), 4th(LVT-5).
      • 2 Amphibious Artillery Squadrons (砲兵中隊), mortars, 1st(LVT-5) and 2nd(LVT-5).
    • Amphibious Reconnaissance and Patrol Unit, ARP (zh-tw:海軍陸戰隊兩棲偵搜大隊): nicknamed "Frogmen" and regarded as the ROC Military's counterpart to US Navy SEALs, over half of the 600 troops of this unit are aboriginal Taiwanese
      • 3 Reconnaissance Company(偵搜中隊)
      • 1 Special Service Company(特勤中隊)
      • 1 Underwater Demolition Company(爆破中隊)
      • 1 Support Company(支援中隊)
    • Combat Support Group (戰鬥支援大隊), combined formerly the Beach Logistics Group and the Communications, Information, and Electronic Warfare Group[1]
  • Wuchiu Garrison Command (烏坵守備大隊)
  • Armed Force Joint Operation Training Base (三軍聯合作戰訓練基地)

Former organization

  • Marine Corps Command
    • 66th Marine Brigade 'Vanguard' (陸戰六六旅「先鋒部隊」), Taipei area, receiving M60A3TTS to replace M41 tanks[2]
    • 77th Marine Brigade 'Iron Guards' (陸戰七七旅「鐵衛部隊」), Garrison brigade, CCK and other area all over Taiwan
    • 99th Marine Brigade 'Iron Force' (陸戰九九旅「鐵軍部隊」), Kaohsiung

History

ROC Marine personnel
ROC Marine Frogmen

The ROC Marine Corps were formed from the former Navy Sentry Corps in December 1914. In 2004, the ROCMC redeployed a brigade near the Taipei area to defend against a possible PRC decapitation strike.

The Marine Corps used to be 2 divisions, 66th and 99th divisions, in size, when its doctrine focused on retaking mainland China. Since its transition to a defensive posture, the ROCMC has been downsized.

The ROC Marine Corps' official motto is "永遠忠誠" (Forever Loyalty), modeled after the USMC's "Semper Fidelis".

Equipment

ROC Marines with a Kurstal rocket launcher
Type Make/Model Origin #
TanksM60A3 TTS United States[3][4]
TanksM41 Walker Bulldog United States
Armored fighting vehiclesAAV-P7A1 amphibious assault vehicles United States54
Armored fighting vehiclesLVPT5A1 amphibious assault vehicles United States84
Armored fighting vehiclesCM-25 AFV(CM-21 with 1 x TOW launcher) Republic of China
Armoured fighting landing vehicleLVT-5 (LVTH-6, LVTE-1, LVTR-1, LVTC-1) United States
Armoured fighting vehiclesCM-24 Republic of China
Armoured vehicleM998 United States
ArtilleryM101 howitzer United States
ArtilleryM109 howitzer United States
Anti-TankBGM-71 TOW-2A/B United States
Anti-TankMK-153 SMAW United States
Anti-TankFGM-148 Javelin Anti-Tank Guided Missile United States[5]
Anti-TankM40A1 recoilless rifle United States
SAMStinger DMS(Dual Mount Stinger) United States
SAMMIM-72/M48 Chaparral locally upgraded FLIR by CSIST United States
Assault RifleT65K2 assault rifle Republic of China
Assault RifleT91 combat rifle Republic of China
Squad Automatic WeaponT75 squad machinegun Republic of China
Sniper RifleSSG-2000  Switzerland
Sniper RifleT93 Republic of China
Automated grenade launcherMk 19 grenade launcher United States
AutocannonT-75 20mm
ASW Naval utility helicopterMcDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender United States

See also

References

  1. ↑ "ROCMC's new Combat Support Group". Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  2. ↑ "ROCMC's 66th Brigade Receiving New Tanks". Retrieved 2010-11-23.
  3. ↑ "ROCMC M41 tanks". Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  4. ↑ "ROCMC's 66th Brigade Receiving New Tanks". Retrieved 2010-11-23.
  5. ↑ "ROCMC open base 2010". Retrieved 2010-10-09.
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