Portuguese Marine Corps

The Portuguese Marine Corps ( _pt. Corpo de Fuzileiros) are the amphibious infantry of the Portuguese Navy. They are in charge of amphibious operations, coastal reconnaissance, boarding operations, defence of naval assets and humanitarian missions.

Organization

The Marine Corps is made up of an administrative command - "Comando do Corpo de Fuzileiros" (Marine Corps Command); an instruction unit - "Escola de Fuzileiros" (Marines School); and a base unit - "Base de Fuzileiros" (Marines Base). The operational units of the Marines, stationed at the Marines Base, are:

* 1st Marine Battalion;
* 2nd Marine Battalion;
* Naval Police Unit;
* Special Actions Detachment;
* Fire Support Company;
* Tactical Transports Support Company.

Based at the Marines School is the "Unidade de Meios de Desembarque" (Landing Assets Unit).

When needed, several elements of the operational units can organize themselves into a task-force for amphibious assaults called "Batalhão Ligeiro de Desembarque" (Assault Light Battalion).

History

The Portuguese Marines ( _pt. Fuzileiros) have their direct origin in the oldest permanent military unit of Portugal, the Terço of the Armada of the Crown of Portugal, created in 1621. To notice, however, that already since 1585 specialized troops existed to provide artillery and riflemen in the Portuguese warships. The Terço of the Armada soon was considered an elite unit, being also responsible for the bodyguard of the King of Portugal.

In the beginning of the 18th century the force was reorganized, being organized in two regiments: 1º and 2º Regiments of the Armada. Later a Regiment of Naval Artillery was added.

In the end of 18th century, in the reign of Queen D. Maria I, all the regiments of the navy, are casting in the new Royal Brigade of the Navy, which started to include three divisions: Riflemen, Artillerymen and Ballasters. In 1808, when Napoleón occupied Portugal, the Royal Brigade embarks, in its majority, with the Royal Family for Brazil, giving there origin to the Marines Corps of Brazil.

In middle of the 19th Century, militarization of the staff of the Portuguese Armada is given to it all. Until then the sailors military were not, alone being the Officers and the members of the Real Brigade. With this militarization he is determined to leave to keep a permanent unit of navy infantry, being been extinct the Real Brigade. From this date, the forces of navy infantry are organized with the military sailors (that they start to receive trainings from infantry) removed of the garrisons of the ships, whenever the necessity exists to carry through amphibious operations. Thus the some Battalions and Forces of Navy are organized who participate in the diverse colonial campaigns in the 19th and 20th centuries , as well as in World War I.

In 1924 he comes back to be created a permanent unit of navy infantry, the Brigade of Naval Guarda that however is extinct in 1934.

The naval infantry return to only exist with character of permanence from 1961 with the beginning of the Colonial War. In this height the Detachments of Special Marines (Destacamentos de Fuzileiros Especiais (DFE)) for missions of amphibious assault and the Company of Fuzileiros Navais (CFN) for patrolling and naval defense of boats and installations are created. During this war and up to 1975 more than 14,000 marines fought in Guinea-Bissau, Angola and Mozambique.

Up to 1975 a unified Marine Corps Command did not exist, being that diverse DFE and CFN were dependents of the some Naval Commands and Maritime Defense of the areas where they acttivated. In this year the Marine Corps is created, of which all had started to be dependents the units of riflemen, giving a substantial autonomy to that force.

Motto: "Braço às armas feito" ("Arm made of weapons")

"Fuzileiros" Beret Badge: [http://www.agbmorais.com/images/crachas-exercito/portugal-varios/marinha-fuzileiro-insignia_boina.bmp]

"Fuzileiros Especiais" Course Badge (unofficially used by regular "Fuzileiros" on civilian clothes and/or police uniforms): [http://www.agbmorais.com/images/crachas-exercito/portugal-varios/marinha-esp_fuzileiro.bmp]

Marine ("Fuzileiros") Corps Command: [http://www.agbmorais.com/images/crachas-marinha/cmd_corpo_fuz.jpg]

Marine ("Fuzileiros") School: [http://www.agbmorais.com/images/crachas-marinha/escola_fuz.jpg]

Note

The Brazilian Marine Corps ("Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais do Brasil") traces its history to 1808 when the troops of the Royal Brigade of the Navy arrived in Brazil (then a Portuguese colony) when Mary I of Portugal and her son and regent John VI fled Europe during the Napoleonic Wars.

Equipment

Light weapons:

* Glock 17 9mm pistol;
* MP5 9mm submachine gun;
* Walther MPK submachine gun, known as the PMW or "Pistola Metralhadora Walther";
* G3 7,62mm assault rifle;
* G36 5,56 mm assault rifle (DAE);
* M4 Carbine and M203 40mm grenade launcher (DAE);
* AW50 12,7mm sniper rifle (DAE);
* MG3 7,62mm general purpose machine gun ;
* MG4 5,56mm light machine gun (DAE);

Mortars:

* 120mm heavy mortar;
* 81 mm medium mortar;
* 60mm fast mortar;

Anti-Tank weapons:

* Carl Gustav recoilless rifle;
* MILANATGW.

Half Amphibians:

* LDM100 Class Landing craft ;
* LDM400 Class Landing craft;
* LARC-5 Amphibious Vehicles;
* Zebro class inflatable boat;
* PandurII 8x8 (due to be delivered soon).

See also

* Portuguese Navy
* Special Actions Detachment
* Sapper Divers Detachments
* List of Portuguese naval ships
* Portuguese Naval Aviation
* Portuguese Colonial War

External links

* [http://www.marinha.pt Portuguese Navy]