32nd Marines Brigade (Greece)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 32nd Marines Brigade


caption= Coat of Arms of the 32nd Marines Brigade
dates=
country= Greece
branch= Hellenic Army
type= Marines
role=
size= 5 Battalions
command_structure= I Infantry Division
garrison= Volos, Thessaly
patron=
motto= Θαρσείν χρη ("Courage is necessary")
battles= Greco-Turkish War, Greco-Italian War, Greek Civil War
anniversaries= Foundation in 1919The 32nd Marines Brigade ( _el. 32η Ταξιαρχία Πεζοναυτών , 32 ΤΞΠΖΝ) is the Marines unit of Greece. They are based at the port town of Volos in Thessaly, and are intended for use among the numerous small islands off the Greek coast. Unlike other countries, the Greek Marines form part of the army, while the landing craft and naval equipment are provided by the Hellenic Navy.

History

The 32nd Marines Brigade was established in 1988 after the reorganization of the Special Forces Command.

The unit traces its ancestry to the 32nd Infantry Regiment, formed in Preveza in 1919, then belonging to the VIII Infantry Division. It took part in the Greco-Turkish War and later in the Greco-Italian War during the Second World War. After the occupation of Greece by the Germans, it was disbanded. In 1959 the Regiment was raised anew as the 132nd Light Infantry Regiment and moved to Attica as a reserve unit, but in 1967 was reorganized as a Marines unit under the name 32nd Marines Regiment.

In January 1988, after the disbandment of the unified III Special Forces Division, the unit was enlarged to brigade size. It is currently placed under the II Army Corps as part of the Greek Rapid Reaction Force.

Structure

* HQ Company (ΛΣ/32ης ΤΞΠΖΝ)
* 505th Marines Battalion (505ο ΤΠN)
* 521st Marines Battalion (521ο ΤΠN)
* 575th Marines Battalion (575ο ΤΠN)
* 3rd Marines Armoured Squadron (3η ΙΜΑ)
* Marines Artillery Battalion (32η ΜΠΠ)
* Marines Engineer Company (32ος ΛΜΧ)
* Marines Light Air Defence Battery (32η ΠΕΑ/ΑΠ)
* Marines Signal Company (32ος ΛΔΒ)
* Marines Support Battalion (32ο TYΠ)

References and links

ee also

*Hellenic Army
*Structure of the Hellenic Army
*Formations of the Hellenic Army

External links

* [http://www.mod.gr/ Hellenic Ministry of Defense - Official Site]
* [http://www.army.gr/ Hellenic Army General Staff - Official Site]