Philippine Marine Corps

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=Philippine Marine Corps
"Hukbong Kawal Pandagat ng Pilipinas"


caption=Seal of the PMC
dates=November 2, 1950 – present
country=Republic of the Philippines
allegiance=
branch=Philippine Navy
type= Marine (Naval) Infantry
role=Naval support, naval combat support
size=10,000
command_structure=Armed Forces of the Philippines
garrison= Fort Bonifacio, Makati City, Philippines
garrison_label=
equipment=
equipment_label=
nickname=PMC, Philippine Marines
patron=
motto="Karangalan", "Katungkulan", "Kabayanihan"
"Honor, Duty, Valor"
colors=
colors_label=
march=
mascot=
battles=Communist Insurgencies
Islamic Insurgencies
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=
current_commander=Major General Orlando Buenaventura
current_commander_label=
ceremonial_chief=
ceremonial_chief_label=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
colonel_of_the_regiment_label=
notable_commanders=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label=
aircraft_attack=
aircraft_bomber=
aircraft_electronic=
aircraft_fighter=
aircraft_interceptor=
aircraft_patrol=
aircraft_recon=
aircraft_trainer=
aircraft_transport=The Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) (Filipino: "Hukbong Kawal Pandagat ng Pilipinas") ("HKPP") is the marine corps of the Philippines, and is part of the Philippine Navy.

History

Early Days

Although not as formally established as the Infanteria de Marina of the Spanish Navy, Filipino naval infantrymen during the Spanish colonial period (1565-1898) fought just as well against internal and external threats to the Philippine Islands, notably Moro and Chinese pirates, and Dutch naval forces.

The infant Philippine Navy was established during the Philippine Revolution (1896-1898), when General Emilio Aguinaldo formed the Revolutionary Navy. It then consisted of the pinnace "Magdalo" and several steam launches captured from the Spanish. The Navy refitted these for war and moved troops, arms, and supplies to the provinces. The Navy played a major role during the raid against the Spanish garrison and magazine on Bacoor Bay, which was the first amphibious assault by elements of the Revolutionary Navy.

During the American colonial period (1899-1941) and the Second World War in the Pacific (1941-1945), Filipinos served with distinction in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps. The first Filipino to die in the First World War was Private Tomas Claudio who was serving with the U.S. Marine Corps as part of the American Expeditionary Forces to Europe. He died in the Battle of Chateau Thierry in France on June 29, 1918. [citation
url=http://asianjournalusa.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=141&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=3692&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1028&hn=asianjournalusa&he=.com
title=America’s Thanksgiving and the Philippines’ National Heroes Day: Two Holidays Rooted in History and Tradition
author=Zena Sultana-Babao
publisher=Asian Journal
accessdate=2008-01-12] [Source: Philippine Military Academy] The Thomas Claudio Memorial College in Eastern Rizal, Philippines, which was founded in 1950, was named in his honor. [cite web
url=http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2007/01/25/SCAU2007012585502.html
title=Schools, colleges and Universities: Tomas Claudio Memorial College
publisher=Manila Bulletin Online
accessdate=2007-07-04
- cite web
url=http://www.tcmc.edu.ph/
title=Thomas Claudio Memorial College
publisher=www.tcmc.edu.ph
accessdate=2007-07-04]

Organization

The modern Philippine Marine Corps' was organized during the incumbency of President Elpidio Quirino. Armed Forces of the Philippines General Order No. 319 dated November 2, 1950 called for the organization of "A" Company, 1st Marine Battalion as a unit of the Philippine Naval Patrol. This marked the birth of the Philippine Marines. "A" Company was activated on November 7, 1950 at the Naval Operating Base in Cavite under the mandate of then Secretary of National Defense Ramon Magsaysay. [cite web | last = | first = | title =The Philippine Marine Corps:History | url=http://www.philippinemarinecorps.mil.ph/fhistory.html | accessdate = 2008-06-06]

Only volunteers were accepted into this unit. Forming the core of this organization were six officers and 206 enlisted personnel, mostly veterans of World War II. Its first commanding officer was LTSG Manuel Gomez, an alumnus of the Philippine Military Academy Class 41 and a graduate of Armor Tactics from Fort Knox in Kentucky.

The Corps was expanded to batallion strength on November 7, 1955, with two rifle companies and a Headquarters and Service Company under Lieutenant Commander Gregorio L. Lim, PN as its Battalion Commander. The 3rd Marine Company was activated on November 7, 1961. To provide the fire and anti-tank support for the Philippine Marine Battalion, as well as to provide ceremonial guard and security for VIP's, a weapons company was activated on April 10, 1966. The battalion was expanded to a force of nine rifle companies two years later.

pratly Islands deployment

The Marines were deployed in 1971 to the disputed Spratly Islands (known as the "Kalayaan" Islands in the Philippines), where they occupied eight of the islands. The covert operation was the initial use of the Marines in an operation of a strategic nature. The Marines stood watch over the remote islets, the largest of which is "Pag-asa" Island with an area of 32 hectares.

Further expansion

The Marine unit was re-designated as the Philippine Marine Brigade on February 21, 1972. The 2nd Marine Battalion Landing Team was activated on October 10, 1972, with 12 rifle companies. The Headquarters Service Group and a Combat Support Group were also activated. On July 1, 1972, the Philippine Marine Brigade became a major unit of the Philippine Navy. The following year, the 3rd Marine Battalion was activated and the Marine Training Group became an adjunct to the organization. On June 1, 1976, the Philippine Marine Brigade and the Marine Training Group were designated as the Philippine Marines and the Philippine Marine Training Center respectively.

Campaigns

From the 1970's to the 1980's, over 300 amphibious and ground operations were conducted by the Marines in Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan. Among these campaigns were the Liberation of Marawi, Siege of Camp Seit, Battle of Punai, Battle of Sibalo Hill, Labangon Encounter, Operation "Pamukpok", Operation "Maso", Operation "Batikus", Operation "Kahil", Battle of Tarawakan and the Battle of Karundong.Fact|date=June 2008

On November 7, 1995, the Philippine Marines was renamed the Philippine Marine Corps. The Corps has evolved from a company of volunteers to three Marine Brigades and one Marine Reserve Brigade, ten Battalion Landing Teams, a Combat Support Brigade, one Reconnaissance Battalion, a Training Center, Headquarters Battalion and Marine Security Escort Group.

Organization

The Philippine Marine Corps is organized into three maneuver brigades, a Combat Service and Support Brigade (CSSB), a headquarters for a reserve brigade, and independent units such as the Force Recon Battalion (FRBn) and the Marine Security and Escort Group (MSEG). The three maneuver brigades provide administrative and logistical support to the units assigned to them, while the CSSB acts as a training and administrative command for the Field Artillery (FABN) and Assault Armor (AABN) battalions.cite web | url = http://www.philippinemarinecorps.mil.ph/ | title = Philippine Marine Corps (official website) | accessdate = 2006-06-25]

Marine Battalions

The Philippine Marine Corps has eleven active Marine Battalions designated 1st to 11th. Two to four battalions are assigned to each of the three maneuver brigades and a single battalion is rotated back to the Marine headquarters for refit and retraining for at least six months up to one year before redeployment to operational areas in Southern Philippines. These units, when supported with assets from the CSSB and the Philippine Navy form the core of a Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT).

Field Artillery Battalion

The Field Artillery Battalion (FABN) is currently organized into a Headquarters and Service Company and several howitzer batteries which are attached to the maneuver brigades to support their operations. It is equipped with both the M101A1 howitzer and the OTO Melara Model 56/14 pack howitzer. The unit also provides a limited air-defense capability through a token number of Bofors 40 mm L/60 guns.

Assault Armor Battalion

The Assault Armor Battalion (AABN) contains a Headquarters and Service Company, an Armor Maintenance Company (Armor Mnt Co), an Assault Amphibian Company (AAV Co), and a Light Armor Vehicle Company (LAV Co). It is tasked with providing the maneuver brigades with armored assets to support their operations. The unit's inventory consists of LAV-150s, LAV-300s, LVTP-5s and LVTH-6s. None of the LVTP-5s are currently in service but the Marines have been able to recondition four of the LVTH-6s for their use.

=Marine Force Reconnaissance Battalion=

The Force Recon Battalion (FRBn) is organized into a Headquarters, Service and Training Company and four Recon Companies, numbered 61st, 62nd, 63rd,and 64th. Each of these companies is attached to a Marine Brigade to serve as quick maneuvering force. The FRBn is the main special operations unit of the Philippine Marine Corps.

Marine Security and Escort Group

The Marine Security and Escort Group (MSEG) is responsible for security on naval facilities, vital government installations and protection of VIPs. The unit also fills most of the PMC's ceremonial duties.

Marine Drum and Bugle Team

The Marine Drum and Bugle Team (MDBT) is the prime musical unit of the Philippine Marine Corps and the only Drum and Bugle Corps in the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines that provides band and musical services in support of the ceremonial and morale activities of the Corps.

Marine Scout Snipers

The Marine Scout Snipers (MSS) were the first unit in the Armed Forces of the Philippines dedicated exclusively to sniping and marksmanship. The Scout Snipers are notable for being able to effectively neutralize targets at 800 meters using only 5.56 mm rounds. The Marine Scout Snipers are also known for the development and manufacture of their own weapon, the Colt M16A1 based Marine Scout Sniper Rifle.

Equipment

Vehicles

*flagicon|United States V-100 [http://www.timawa.net/pmc.htm Timawa.net: Philippine Marine Corps] ]
*flagicon|United States LAV-300
*flagicon|United States Humvee
*flagicon|United States LVTH-6
*flagicon|United Kingdom GKN Aquatrack
*flagicon|United Kingdom LARC (Lighter, Amphibious, Resupply, Cargo)
*flagicon|Philippines A number of locally modified up-armoured trucks (Talisman Gun Truck)
*flagicon|Philippines Marine Multi-purpose Vehicle

mall arms

*flagicon|United States M16 rifle
*flagicon|United States M60
*flagicon|Belgium FN Minimi
*flagicon|Germany Heckler & Koch MP5
*flagicon|Germany Heckler & Koch PSG1
*flagicon|United States M14 Rifle
*flagicon|United States M21
*flagicon|United States Remington 870
*flagicon|Philippines Floro MK-9
*flagicon|Philippines MSSR rifle

Anti-tank weapons

*flagicon|United States M67 recoilless rifle
*flagicon|Germany Armbrust

Artillery

*flagicon|Sweden Bofors 40 mm gun
*flagicon|Italy OTO Melara Mod 56
*flagicon|United States M101 howitzer
*flagicon|Switzerland Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon

See also

* Marine Corps
* Philippine Navy
* Philippine Army
* Philippine Air Force
* Armed Forces of the Philippines
* Military History of the Philippines

External links

* [http://www.philippinemarinecorps.mil.ph/ Official website of the Philippine Marine Corps]
* [http://www.timawa.net/ Opus224's Unofficial Philippine Defense Page]
* [http://www.hueybravo.net/ Manokski's ORBAT]
* [http://www.marforrescent.com/ Official Web Page of 51st Marine Reserve Battalion, Marine Forces Reserve Central)

References

Gallery