Argentina Marines

The Naval Infantry Command (Spanish: Comando de la Infantería de Marina, COIM), also known as the Naval Infantry of the Navy of the Argentine Republic (Spanish: Infantería de Marina de la Armada de la República Argentina, IMARA) and generally referred to in English as the Argentine marines are the amphibious warfare branch of the Argentine Navy and one of its four operational commands.

Argentine Navy Infantry
Infantería de Marina de la Armada de la República Argentina
IMARA insignia
Active1807-present
Country Argentina
Branch Argentine Navy
TypeMarines
RoleAmphibious Warfare
Size5,500
Part ofArgentine Navy
Motto(s)PATRIAE SEMPER VIGILES
(Always vigilant for the Fatherland)
MarchMarcha de la Infantería de Marina
(Marine march)
Anniversaries19 November 1879
Commanders
CurrentRear. Adm. Pedro Eugenio Galardi[1]

The Argentine marines trace their origins to the Spanish Naval Infantry, which took part in conflicts in South America in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Argentine marines took part in various conflicts of the nineteenth and twentieth century, notably the War of the Triple Alliance and the Falklands War. The marines (represented by the 5th Naval Infantry Battalion) are considered to have been among the best Argentine combat units present in the Falklands. The most recent war in which Argentine naval infantry took part was the Gulf War of 1990.

Today Argentine naval infantry are frequently deployed on UN peace-keeping missions.

History

The Marines trace their origins in Spanish Naval Infantry, at the time of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. After the Argentine War of Independence, it was under joint administration of the Argentine Army and the Argentine Navy. A 1946 law placed the marines solely under the jurisdiction of the Navy.

Battles and interventions
Under Spanish dominion
During independence
  • seizure of Martin Garcia Island in 1814.
  • Landing in Monterey, California, now part of the United States (1817–1818): 200 men commanded by Hipólito Bouchard, 130 of whom were armed with guns and 70 with lances, disembarked one league from the fort of Monterrey, in a creek hidden from the heights. The fort resisted only very weakly, and after an hour-long battle the Argentine flag was raised.
Argentine confederation
Argentine Republic
Argentine Marines AAV in the Falklands patrolling Port Stanley, 1982.

Present

IMARA routinely train in joint exercises with similar units of Brazil, Chile and the United States.[2]

Current deployments
2009: Training on USS Oak Hill

IMARA has two Infantry Companies deployed in Haiti and Cyprus under the auspices of MINUSTAH[3] and UNFICYP respectively in joint operations with the Argentine Army and Argentine Air Force. A small platoon was also deployed in Serbia/UN Province Kosovo (NATO KFOR mandate), attached to Argentine Engineers Company, which was in turn attached to the Italian Brigade.

Several Marine Officers and NCO's are routinely deployed as military observers for the UN.

Structure

Argentine Marines have the same rank insignia and titles as the rest of the Argentine Navy, and are trained in the same institutions for officers and NCOs. Until the 21st century the Marine Corps Basic School provided post-graduate officer and basic enlisted training.

Fleet Marine Force (FAIF)

The FMF was formerly called the Brigada de IM No. 1 ( English: 1st Marine Brigade )

  • 2nd Marine Corps Battalion
  • 1st Amphibious Vehicles Battalion
  • Amphibious Engineers Battalion
  • Command and Logistical Support Battalion
  • 1st Communications Battalion
  • 1st Field Artillery Battalion
  • Anti-aircraft artillery Battalion
  • Amphibious Commandos Group (APCA)

Southern Marine Force (FAIA)

The SMF was formerly called the Fuerza de M No. 1. (English: 1st Marine Force)

River Operations Unit
  • 3rd Marine Corps Battalion

Marine Security Forces
  • Navy General Staff Security Battalion
  • Puerto Belgrano Naval Base Security Battalion
  • 15 Security Companies at Marine and Naval Air Bases.

Equipment
Main article: List of weapons of the Argentine Navy
  • Marines from Argentina line up in formation alongside U.S. Marines during the largest amphibious assault exercise in Latin America, UNITAS 45-04
  • LVTP7 of the Argentine Marine Infantry (IMARA), locally known as VAO (Vehiculo Anfibio a Orugas)
  • Panhard ERC 90 of the Argentine Marine Infantry (IMARA).
  • LARC-5 and Humvee of the Argentine Marine Infantry (IMARA), locally known as VAR (Vehículo Anfibio a Ruedas).

See also

References
  1. http://www.armada.mil.ar/pag.asp?idItem=212
  2. Videos from Ops: Intercambio Sur, Anfibio, UNITAS, etc Archived 25 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  3. (Video Haiti), YouTube
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