Pakistan Marines

The Pakistan Marines traces their history back to Eastern Pakistan when the infantry battalion, dedicated towards the amphibious operations with the Pakistan Army, was commissioned in the Navy on 1 June 1971.^:76[3] Initially, the Marines were modeled based on the British Royal Marines and were aimed towards conducting independent expeditionary and amphibious operations in a geographical region that was essentially a dead-level plain, which made it difficult for the Pakistan Army to conduct mechanized operations, though an ideal theatre for amphibious ground forces.[2]

The Marines were initially tasked to counter the Indian Army in Chittagong and Khulna with only four patrol boat and improvised imported amphibious vehicles.[2] Due to lack of training, misunderstanding of the amphibious terrains, operational capabilities, the Marines failed to produced any significant results to counter the insurgency that resulted in their decommissioning in 1974.[2]

The battalion of Pakistan Marines landing and ashore off a landing craft utility during a training exercise in support of Operation Bright Star.

Nonetheless, the Marines continued to exists in its rudimentary form until 1988 to meet the meet fundamental security requirements of Pakistan Navy offshore establishments in the country.[8] Following the introduction of the Mistral weapon system in the Navy, the Marines were re-commissioned under Cdr. Obaidulla (PN. Service number 1558) with Manora Fort at the vicinity of the PNS Qasim serving its first forward base on 14 April 1990.[8][1]

Per Navy's request, the Pakistan Army undertook the training of the new Marines personnel at the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul and later at the School of Infantry and Tactics in Quetta, aiming to raise an infantry unit to guard the offshore establishments of the Navy.^:159[9]

Initially, the Marines objectives were to provide security and cover to the offshore establishments of the Navy while aiding the federal government using the Navy's mobility.[8] Headquarters of the Marines was relocated from the PNS Himalaya (Navy's only boot camp) to the Manora Fort in the PNS Qasim that was renamed as Marine Base Qasim in 1994.[8] The commissioning Marines consisted of eighty commissioned officers, sixty seven chief petty officers from general service and forty three Marines.[8] Its first battalion was activated in September 1971.[8]

As part of the first combat assignment, the Marines were deployed at the Sir Creek region during the last decade, threat on the South-Eastern border increased manifolds, warranting an immediate response.[10][11][12]

Estimating the type and quantum of threat, the Pakistan Navy proposed deployment of a sizable force in the Sir Creeks region. The then-Rear Admiral Shahid Karimullah vigorously pursued the case of an additional battalion and its phase-wise development plan. Since its inception, Creeks Battalion is deployed in its designated Area of Responsibility.[13]

On 28 March 2013, Pakistan Navy commissioned the third battalion of Pakistan Marines in order to further strengthen the defense of the Gwadar Port and to enhance the security of vital Pakistan Navy assets and installations along the western coasts of Pakistan.[14]

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  The Pakistan Marines in parallel steps march down the beach from a landing craft utility during the Bright Star in Alexandria in Egypt in 2009.
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  The U.S. Marines's 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit alongside the Pakistan Marines demonstrating an amphibious assault from a landing craft utility during the Bright Star in Alexandria in Egypt in 2009.
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  Pakistan Marines (in Blue camouflage uniform) observing forward with the U.S. Marines in Alexandria in Egypt in 2009.
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  The Pakistan Marines receiving standing orders from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit during the exercise, Bright Star, conducted in Alexandria in Egypt in 2009.
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  Pakistan Marines conducting an amphibious assault in Alexandria in Egypt in 2009.
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  Pakistan Marines and U.S. Marines from Battalion Landing Teams take up firing positions after exiting a landing craft utility and provide security for landing forces during a training exercise in support of Bright Star in Alexandria in Egypt in 2009.
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  Pakistan Marines and U.S. Marines from the Battalion Landing Team (BLT) come ashore off a landing craft utility during a training exercise in support of Bright Starin Alexandria in Egypt in 2009.
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  Pakistan Marines (center) in training at the School of Infantry and Tactics in Quetta with the Pakistan Army soldier (left).
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  A Pakistan Marines operated Griffon 2000TD hovercraft patrolling off the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant at the Paradise Point in Pakistan in 2006.

• Pakistan Army
• Joint Army-Marines Base Sir Creek

• Marine and SSG homepage
• Pakistan Marines on globalsecurity.org