Royal Thai Marine Corps

The Royal Thai Marine Corps or RTMC (Thai: ราชนาวิกโยธินแห่งราชอาณาจักรไทย) are the marines of the Royal Thai Navy. The Royal Thai Marine Corps was founded in 1932, when the first battalion was formed with the assistance of the United States Marine Corps. It was expanded to a regiment in 1940 and was in action against communist guerrillas throughout the 1950s and 1960s. During the 1960s the United States Marine Corps assisted in its expansion into a brigade. The Royal Thai Marine Corps saw action on the Malaysian border in the 1970s, and has now been increased to four brigades.

Royal Thai Marine Corps
ราชนาวิกโยธินแห่งราชอาณาจักรไทย
Royal Thai Marine Corps insignia
Active30 July 1959
Country Thailand
Branch Royal Thai Navy
TypeMarines Combined arms
RoleGround warfare
Amphibious warfare
Size23,000 Active personnel[1]
Garrison/HQRTMC headquarters, Sattahip, Chonburi
Nickname(s)"Nor Yor" Marines
Motto(s)Once a Marine, Always a Marine
The Few, The Proud
MarchRoyal Thai Marine Corps march
AnniversariesJuly 30
Commanders
Commander-
in-chief		 Admiral Luechai Rutdit
Commander
of the RTMC		 Vice Admiral Ronnarong Sittinan

History

Historically, there was no distinction in Siam between soldiers and marines, with the army performing both functions. The first "Thahan Ma-Rine", meaning "Marine Soldiers", were formed in 1833, during the reign of King Rama III. "Ma-Rine" was simply a transliteration of the English word. The development of the modern Thai Marine Corps can be divided into three periods:

Early years
Sesquicentennial celebrations of The Revolution in 1932

The Marine Soldiers of the 19th and early 20th centuries were few in number and served mainly as a royal honor guard that provided security for the King whenever he traveled around the country.

On March 2, 1913, however, the Ministry of the Navy reorganized the Marine Soldiers. The Marine artillery platoon was attached to the Operation Command Department of Ships and Fortresses, while the Marine infantry platoon in Bangkok was attached to the Vehicle Division of the Department of the Navy Amphibious Assault Group.

The Revolution in 1932 transformed Thailand from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. Shortly after, the Royal Thai Navy was reorganized, and the vehicle battalion became the Marine Corps Battalion of the Bangkok Navy Station. This is considered the first Marine Corps Battalion in Thailand.

Post–1932 Revolution (1932–1955)

The 2nd Marine Corps Battalion was established at Sattahip in 1937. Two years later, the 2nd Battalion was expanded into the Marine Corps Department. Shortly after that, a border dispute with French Indo-China turned violent, and the Marine Corps Department's "Chanthaburi Division" was engaged in action with the French Foreign Legion several times. During World War II, the Marine Corps sent troops to defend the southern border with Malaya and also guarded Phuket Province from possible attack.

After Imperial Japan's surrender in September 1945, Thai Marines helped disarm the Japanese Army at Baan Pong District in Ratchaburi Province. In 1950, when violence in Malaysia spilled over into Thailand, Marine Corps Troop 6 was sent to help restore the peace in Narathiwat Province.

Surprisingly, on June 29, 1951, the Thai government disbanded the Marine Corps Bureau, and the Marines were distributed into naval units. However, this was during the Korean War, and both the United States Military and the Royal Thai Navy urged Thailand to reconsider.

New Age (1955–present)
Thai marines group in Communist insurgency in Thailand

Four years later, the Thai Government acknowledged that a Marine Corps could perform a useful role in national defense. On July 30, 1955, the government created the Marine Corps Department. In 1961, tensions flared over the disputed Preah Vihear Temple, situated on the Thai side of a high cliff on the Cambodian border but shown on French maps as being in Cambodia. The Chanthaburi and Trat borders with Cambodia gave the Marine Corps Department its first assignment, safeguarding the coastline and southeastern border. Since 1970 the Marine Corps' Chanthaburi-Trat Task Force has been officially assigned the defense of this area.

During 1972 and 1973, Thai Marines were involved in the "Operation Sam-Chai" anti-communist operations in Phetchabun Province and the "Pha-Phum" anti-communist operations in Chiang Rai Province. In 1973 and 1974, they took part in anti-communist operations in the southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat.

Royal Thai and US Marines eliminating hostile forces during a mock raid, 11 February 2011

Since 1975, Thai Marines have been assigned to Narathiwat as Force Reconnaissance Battalion. In 1977, they captured the communist camp at Krung-Ching in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, and remaining there until 1981.

Thai Marines today are responsible for border security in Chanthaburi and Trat provinces. They have fought communist insurgents in engagements at Baan Hard Lek, Baan Koat Sai, Baan Nhong Kok, Baan Kradook Chang, Baan Chumrark, and in the battle of Hard Don Nai in Nakhon Phanom Province.

Many Thai Marines have lost their lives serving their country, and they continue to do so today, especially in the southern border provinces currently affected by the South Thailand insurgency. A monument to their valor stands at the Royal Thai Navy base at Sattahip.

United Nations Peacekeeping Operations

Organization

Royal Thai Marine Corps Headquarters
The 1st Marine Battalion, King's Guard
Royal Thai marines conduct amphibious assault at Hat Yao Beach in Thailand
Marine Service Support Regiment
Royal Thailand Marines during Exercise Cobra Gold 2011
  • Royal Thai Marine Corps Education Command[2]
  • RTMC: Marine Division[2]
    • RTMC: 1st Marine Regiment
      • RTMC: 1st Infantry Battalion King's Guard
      • RTMC: 2nd Infantry Battalion
      • RTMC: 3rd Infantry Battalion
    • RTMC: 2nd Marine Regiment
      • RTMC: 4th Infantry Battalion
      • RTMC: 5th Infantry Battalion
      • RTMC: 6th Infantry Battalion
    • RTMC: 3rd Marine Regiment
      • RTMC: 7th Infantry Battalion
      • RTMC: 8th Infantry Battalion
      • RTMC: 9th Infantry Battalion King's Guard
    • RTMC: Marine Artillery Regiment
      • RTMC: 1st Artillery Battalion
      • RTMC: 2nd Artillery Battalion
      • RTMC: Air Defense Artillery Battalion
      • RTMC: 4th Artillery Battalion
    • RTMC: Marine Service Support Regiment
      • RTMC: Medical Battalion
      • RTMC: Dental Battalion
      • RTMC: Maintenance Battalion
      • RTMC: Transport Battalion
      • RTMC: Marine Assault Amphibious Vehicle Support Company
      • RTMC: Marine Band Platoon
    • RTMC: Marine Assault Amphibian Vehicle Battalion
    • RTMC Reconnaissance Battalion also known as (Force Recon Marine/Marine Special Force)
    • RTMC: Marine Tank Battalion
    • RTMC: Marine Combat Engineer Battalion
    • RTMC: Marine Signals Battalion
    • RTMC: Marine Military Police Company
  • RTMC: Marine Security Regiment[2]
  • RTMC: Marine Psychological Company[2]
  • RTMC: Marine Task Forces[2]

Miscellaneous

Equipment

Small arms
Royal Thai Marine prepare for amphibious assault training during CARAT, 2013
Royal Thai Marine engages targets during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012
Royal Thai marines conduct amphibious assault during Cobra Gold, 2011
Royal Thai Marine land ashore during an amphibious assault as part of CARAT 2011
Name Origin Type Caliber Notes
Pistol
M1911 Thailand
 United States		Semi-automatic pistol.45 ACP[4]
Star Bonifacio Echeverria Thailand
 Spain		Semi-automatic pistol.45 ACPRoyal Thai Army Ordnance Department Star Bonifacio Echeverria model M mod.[4]
Colt Commander United StatesSemi-automatic pistol.45 ACP
.38 ACP		Colt Combat Commander.[4]
Smith & Wesson Centennial United StatesSemi-automatic pistol.38 ACP[4]
Star Bonifacio Echeverria SpainSemi-automatic pistol.38 ACPmodel M mod.[4]
Carl Walther PPK GermanySemi-automatic pistol.38 ACP
9×19mm Parabellum		[4]
Browning Hi-Power BelgiumSemi-automatic pistol9×19mm ParabellumFabrique Nationale Browning High Power.[4]
Assault rifle
M16A1/A2/A3 Thailand
 United States		Assault rifle5.56×45mm NATO[4]
M4A1/A3 United StatesAssault rifle5.56×45mm NATO[4]
Bushmaster M4 United StatesCarbine5.56×45mm NATO[4]
Colt AR-15 United StatesCarbine5.56×45mm NATO[4]
IWI Tavor IsraelAssault rifle5.56×45mm NATOIWI TAVOR TAR-21[5]
IWI X95 IsraelAssault rifle5.56×45mm NATO[4]
Heckler & Koch G36 GermanyAssault rifle5.56×45mm NATOUsed by recon.[4][6][7][8][9]
CQ M-311 ChinaAssault rifle5.56×45mm NATO[4]
Shotguns
Remington Model 870 United StatesShotgun12 gauge[4]
Remington Model 1100 United StatesShotgun12 gauge[4]
Sniper rifle
Sako Defence Tikka FinlandSniper rifle5.56x45mm
.338 Lapua		[4]
Machine guns
Madsen M-50 DenmarkSubmachine gun9×19mm Parabellum[4]
Micro Uzi IsraelSubmachine gun9×19mm ParabellumMicro Uzi[10]
M249 United StatesLight machine gun5.56x45mm[4]
M60 United StatesGeneral-purpose machine gun7.62x51mm[4]
M2 Browning United StatesHeavy machine gun12.7x99mm[4]

Rocket, grenade and MANPAD
Royal Thai Marines on various components and functions added to an M-16 equipped with M203 grenade launcher
Name Origin Type Notes
Rocket, grenade and MANPAD
M203 United StatesGrenade launcher[4]
Armbrust GermanyAnti-tank weapon[4]
M47 Dragon United StatesAnti-Tank Guided Missile[4]
BGM-71 TOW United StatesAnti-Tank Guided MissileUse in Humvee.[4]
M40A2 United StatesRecoilless rifle[4]
QW-18 ChinaMANPAD[4]

Combat vehicles
Royal Thai Marines storm ashore in an amphibious assault vehicle during Cobra Gold 2007
Royal Thai Marines prepare for amphibious assault training (CARAT), 2013
BTR-3E1
Name Origin Type Quantity Notes
Combat vehicles
Type 69-ll ChinaMain battle tank5[4]
AAV-7A1 Thailand
 United States		Armoured personnel carrier36Variants include: AAVP-7A1, AAVC-7A1, AAVR-7A1. Upgraded locally by Chaiseri to match with the BAE Systems's AAV7A1 RAM/RS standard.[4][11]
BTR-3E1 Thailand
 Ukraine		Armoured personnel carrier12[4]
HMV-150 Commando Thailand
 United States		Armoured personnel carrier24HMV-150 has an 8.9 liters Cummins ISL engine with a new automatic transmission Allison 4500 with six gears, which were upgraded done by Panus Assembly.[12][4][13]
DTI Black Widow Spider ThailandArmoured personnel carrier1 (+4)[14]
Phantom 380-X ThailandArmoured personnel carrier1[15]

Logistic vehicles
Isuzu Forward
Name Origin Type Notes
Logistic vehicles
Humvee United StatesUtility vehicleRTMC use M998, M1097A2, M997, M1025, M1045A2, M966.[4]
M151 United StatesUtility vehicleRTMC use M151A2, M151A2 mounting TOW, M718A1, M825.[4]
Ford Ranger Thailand
 United States		Utility vehicle[4]
M35 2-1/2 ton cargo truck United StatesTruckRTMC use M35A2, M50A2, M49A2, M109A2.[4]
Isuzu Forward Thailand
 Japan		TruckRTMC use SBR,TXD 4x2,TSD 4x4,TWD 6x6,HTW,FTR 4x4.[4]
M813 United StatesTractor unitRTMC use M54A2,M543A2.[4]

Field artillery
ATMOS 2000
Name Origin Type Quantity Notes
Howitzer
ATMOS 2000 Thailand
 Israel		155 mm Self-propelled howitzer+(6)[16]
GC-45 howitzer Austria155mm towed howitzer12[4]
GHN-45 A1 APU howitzer Austria155mm towed howitzer6[4]
M101A1 mod United States105 mm towed howitzer6Improve the Nexter LG1 caliber.[4]
M101A1 United States105 mm towed howitzer30[4]
Mortar
M120 mortar Israel120 mm Mortar[4]
M29A1 mortar United States81 mm Mortar[4]
M19 mortar United States60 mm Mortar[4]
M224 mortar United States60 mm Mortar[4]

History equipment

Armoured fighting vehicles
LVT of Royal Thai Marine
Name Origin Type Quantity Notes
LVT United StatesAmphibious vehicle16[4]
M3 Half-track United StatesHalf-track armored personnel carrier12+[4]

Field artillery
Name Origin Type Quantity Notes
M1A1 United States75mm Pack howitzer16+[4]

Combat Engagements
  • Mercury Man is a 2006 Thai superhero martial arts action film. It is directed by Bhandit Thongdee with martial arts choreography by Panna Rittikrai of Ong-Bak, Tom-Yum-Goong and Born to Fight. Thai marines is control Afghan terrorist group in movies.

Rank structure
Main article: Military ranks of the Thai armed forces

Personnel of the RTMC use the uniform, ranks and insignia used by the personnel of the Royal Thai Navy, but with exceptions, such as:

  • Personnel of the RTMC wear combat helmets as part of their ceremonial uniforms instead of sailor caps or peaked caps (except officers who wear peaked caps)
  • Usually, Marines wear naval style insignia on the chest marks in their combat uniforms


Equivalent
NATO Code		OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1Cadet Officer
Officer
ranks
จอมพลเรือ พลเรือเอก พลเรือโท พลเรือตรี พลเรือจัตวา1 นาวาเอก นาวาโท นาวาตรี เรือเอก เรือโท เรือตรี นักเรียนนายเรือ
Admiral of the Fleet Admiral Vice Admiral Rear Admiral Commodore
or
Rear Admiral
(lower half)1		 Captain Commander Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Lieutenant
Junior Grade		 Sub Lieutenant Midshipman
Equivalent
NATO Code		OR-9OR-8OR-7OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-1
Enlisted
ranks		 No insignia
พันจ่าเอกพิเศษ พันจ่าเอก พันจ่าโท พันจ่าตรี จ่าเอก จ่าโท จ่าตรี พลทหาร
Master Chief Petty
Officer		 Senior Chief Petty
Officer		 Chief Petty
Officer		 Petty Officer
1st class		 Petty Officer
2nd Class		 Petty Officer
3rd Class		 Seaman Seaman apprentice

See also

Notes
  1. บำรุงสุข, สุรชาติ (18 July 2019). "เปิดข้อมูลอำนาจกำลังรบไทย". www.matichonweekly.com. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  2. http://www.marines.navy.mi.th/index.php/main/index www.marines.navy.mi.th/index.php/main/
  3. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Fast+on+water.-a0173229618
  4. armedforce, thai (26 September 2019). "royal-thai-navy-ยุทโธปกรณ์ในกองทัพเรือ". thaiarmedforce.com. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFHwYaOKZAE
  6. "From the picture is Royal Thai navy Recon Force Duties for security in southern Thailand. Use Hk G36C with EoTech 552, An/peq15 and an/pvs7 night vision goggles". Archived from the original on 2014-04-27. Retrieved 2014-04-27.
  7. "Royal Thai special force หน่วยรบพิเศษของไทย [HD]". YouTube. 10 October 2012.
  8. "DVIDS - Images - Multinational Recon Marines hone live-fire skills [Image 2 of 8]". DVIDS.
  10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFHwYaOKZAE
  11. https://aagth1.blogspot.com/2019/10/blog-post.html
  12. Administrator. "HMV-150 4x4 APC based on US V-150 Thailand navy Panus assembly 10807171 - weapons defence industry military technology UK - analysis focus army defence military industry army". www.armyrecognition.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  13. https://aagth1.blogspot.com/2019/03/v-150-remote.html
  14. https://aagth1.blogspot.com/2019/03/v-150-remote.html
  15. http://weaponandtechnology.blogspot.com/2018/08/2-phantom-380x-by-panus.html
  16. https://www.janes.com/article/92704/d-s-2019-thailand-expands-artillery-production-projects
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