3rd Battalion 12th Marines

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 3rd Battalion 12th Marines


caption= 3/12 Insignia
dates= February 1, 1944 - present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= USMC
type= Artillery
role= Provide fires in support of 3rd Marine Division
size=
command_structure= 12th Marine Regiment
3rd Marine Division
current_commander= LtCol C.L. Williamson
garrison= Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= "Warriors of the Pacific"
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= World War II
* Battle of Guam
* Battle of Iwo Jima
Vietnam War
Operation Desert Storm
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=

3rd Battalion 12th Marines (3/12) is an artillery battalion comprising three firing batteries and a Headquarters Battery. The firing battaries are all on 6 month rotations in Okinawa from the 10th Marine Regiment and the 11th Marine Regiment (known as the Unit Deployment Program (UDP)). The battalion is stationed at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan and its primary weapon system is the M198 Howitzer with a maximum effective range of 30km. The battalion is currently transitioning to the M777 lightweight howitzer. The battalion utilizes the Unit Deployment Program to fill its three firing batteries with detachments from artillery units across the Marine Corps.

Mission

Provide direct support of the 3rd Marine Division in time of conflict. That support may come in the traditional fashion of artillery support to maneuver forces, or by providing batteries to serve as provisional rifle companies. They also have the secondary mission of being the primary providers of Civilian Military Operations (CMO). CMO is defined as the activities of the commander that establish, maintain, influence, or exploit relations between military organizations, Government and civilian organizations and the civilian populace.

Current units

* Headquarters Battery
* Three rotating batteries from the 10th and 11th Marine Regiments

History

ee also

* List of United States Marine Corps battalions
* Organization of the United States Marine Corps

Notes

References

:Marine Corps

;Web
* [http://www.3dbn12thmar.com/ 3/12's official website]