Republic of China Marine Corps

The Republic of China Marine Corps (ROCMC or TWMC; Chinese: 中華民國海軍陸戰隊; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Mínguó Hǎijūnlùzhàndùi), also known as the Taiwan Marine Corps, is the amphibious arm of the Republic of China Navy (ROCN) responsible for amphibious combat, counter-landing and reinforcement of the main island of Taiwan, Kinmen, and the Matsu Islands, and defense of ROCN facilities, also functioning as a rapid reaction force and a strategic reserve capable of amphibious assaults.[1]

Not to be confused with the People's Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps, the marine force of the People's Republic of China (PRC).
Republic of China Marine Corps
中華民國海軍陸戰隊
Zhōnghuá Mínguó Hǎijūnlùzhàndùi (Mandarin)
Chûng-fà Mìn-koet Hói-kiûn-liu̍k-chan-chhui (Hakka)
Emblem of the Republic of China Marine Corps
FoundedDecember 1914 (1914-12)
Country Taiwan (Republic of China)
TypeCombined arms
Marine
RoleAmphibious and expeditionary warfare
Size10,000 active
Part of Republic of China Navy (since 1924)
HeadquartersZuoying, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Motto(s)"永遠忠誠" ("Semper Fidelis")
Engagements
Commanders
Commander of the Republic of China Marine Corps Lt. General Chen Tzi-feng
Insignia
Flag

ROCMC is considered an elite force within the ROC Armed Forces and is well-known for its "Road to Heaven" stage in its 10-week amphibious training program.[2][3] The ROC Marine Corps' official motto is "永遠忠誠", the Chinese translation of the USMC's "Semper Fidelis". The ROC Marines trains with the USMC though these are generally classified, unofficial, or officially considers either side as "observers."[4][5][6]

Organization

The Marine Corps Command (海軍陸戰隊指揮部) is subordinate to the Navy GHQ, the General Staff, the Minister of Defense, and the ROC President.

Current organization
  • Marine Corps Command
  • Corps HQ Battalion (隊部營)
    • Amphibious Armor Group (登陸戰車大隊)
      • 4 Amphibious Transport Squadrons (運輸中隊), 24+ tracks per squadron. 1st (AAV-7), 2nd (AAV-7), 3rd (LVT-5), 4th (LVT-5).
      • 2 Amphibious Artillery Squadrons (砲兵中隊), mortars, 1st (LVT-5) and 2nd (LVT-5).
    • Amphibious Reconnaissance and Patrol Unit, ARP (zh-tw:海軍陸戰隊兩棲偵搜大隊): nicknamed "Frogmen" and regarded as the ROC's military counterpart to the U.S. Navy SEALs, over half of the 600 troops of this unit are aboriginal Taiwanese.
    • Combat Support Group (戰鬥支援大隊), combined formerly the Beach Logistics Group and the Communications, Information, and Electronic Warfare Group[7]
  • Wuchiu Garrison Command (烏坵守備大隊)
  • Armed Force Joint Operation Training Base (三軍聯合作戰訓練基地)
  • Marine Corps Command
    • 66th Marine Brigade 'Vanguard' (陸戰六六旅「先鋒部隊」), Taipei area, receiving M60A3TTS to replace M41 tanks[8]
    • 77th Marine Brigade 'Iron Guards' (陸戰七七旅「鐵衛部隊」), Garrison brigade, CCK and other area all over Taiwan
    • 99th Marine Brigade 'Iron Force' (陸戰九九旅「鐵軍部隊」), Kaohsiung

History

The ROC Marine Corps were formed from the former Navy Sentry Corps in December 1914.

During the Second Sino-Japanese War, the ROC marines saw little in amphibious warfare for the Japanese dominated the seas & thus saw combat in the same form as the regular infantry.

Likewise, during the civil war, the ROC marines were either absorbed as regular infantry units, or played as supporting role. However, in 1947, the ROC Marine Corps was reconstituted & saw action Mawei, Fujian.[9]

The Marine Corps used to be 2 divisions, 66th and 99th divisions, in size, when its doctrine focused on retaking mainland China. Since its transition to a defensive posture, the ROCMC has been downsized towards a focus as a small rapid reaction force, a strategic reserve, and has learned skills compatible with guerrilla warfare operations. The Marine Corps is by design trained and equipped for transport by the ROC Navy to conduct amphibious assaults to defend Taiwan's outlying islands and Taiwan's coasts.

In 2004, the ROCMC redeployed a brigade near the Taipei area to defend against a possible PRC decapitation strike.

Since its formation the ROC Marine Corps has received training from the United States Marine Corps, from 1979 to 2020 that training was conducted secretly however in 2020 the annual month long training exercise held with trainers from the USMC’s Marine Raider Regiment was conducted publicly.[10]

Equipment
Type Make/Model Origin Ref
TanksM60A3 TTS United States[11][12]
TanksM41 Walker Bulldog United States
Armored fighting vehiclesAAV-P7A1 amphibious assault vehicles United States
Armored fighting vehiclesLVPT5A1 amphibious assault vehicles United States
Armored fighting vehiclesCM-25 AFV(CM-21 with 1 x TOW launcher) Republic of China
Armoured fighting landing vehicleLVT-5 (LVTH-6, LVTE-1, LVTR-1, LVTC-1) United States
Armoured fighting vehiclesCM-24 Republic of Chinamodified CM-21 ammo carrier
Armoured vehicleM998 United States
ArtilleryM101 howitzer United States
ArtilleryM109 howitzer United States
Anti-TankBGM-71 TOW-2A/B United States
Anti-TankMK-153 SMAW United States
Anti-TankFGM-148 Javelin Anti-Tank Guided Missile United States[13]
Anti-TankM40A1 recoilless rifle United States
Anti-TankKestrel (rocket launcher) Republic of China[14]
SAMStinger DMS(Dual Mount Stinger) United States
SAMMIM-72/M48 Chaparral locally upgraded FLIR by CSIST United States
Assault RifleT65K2 assault rifle Republic of China
Assault RifleT91 combat rifle Republic of China
Squad Automatic WeaponT75 squad machine gun Republic of China
Sniper RifleSSG-2000  Switzerland
Sniper RifleT93 Republic of China
Automated grenade launcherMk 19 grenade launcher United States
AutocannonT-75 cannon 20mm Republic of China
ASW and utility helicopterMcDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender United States
Tactical droneNCSIST Cardinal II Republic of China
Fast assault boatM109 Republic of China[15]
  • ROCMC Humvee Carried T-75M 20mm Cannon Display at Keelung Naval Pier
  • ROCMC M60A3 TTS Display at Navy Fleet Command Ground
  • ROC Marines with Kestrel rocket
  • BGM-71 TOW and M2 Machine Gun on ROCMC CM-25
  • M109A2-155
  • ROCMC M8 Motor Boat catching divers in sea
  • ROCMC Special Forces Team standing behind 66th Brigade Recruitment Booth
  • Seven ROCMC M8 motor boats circled around Exercise Water
  • Marines at Zuoying naval pier
  • ROC Marine Corps personnel
  • ROC Marine Corps frogmen
  • Chikwondo, 2009

See also

References
  1. "Bolstering Taiwan's Last Line of Defense".
  2. "ROC Military: Taiwan's Top Tier". 2014-10-21.
  3. "The 'Road to Heaven,' one of Taiwan's most brutal military training events".
  4. "Pasadena Salutes Returning Marine Corps Battalion with City Hall Ceremony". PasadenaNow.com.
  5. "Taiwan marines trained with US forces in 2017".
  6. "Reports alleging US Marines conduct training".
  7. "ROCMC's new Combat Support Group". Archived from the original on 2011-01-12. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  8. "ROCMC's 66th Brigade Receiving New Tanks". Archived from the original on 2011-04-29. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
  9. Forever loyal:The ROC Marine Corps in the Cold War era
  10. Everington, Keoni. "US Marines officially training in Taiwan for 1st time since 1979". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  11. "ROCMC M41 tanks". Archived from the original on 2010-12-04. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  12. "ROCMC's 66th Brigade Receiving New Tanks". Archived from the original on 2011-04-29. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
  13. "ROCMC open base 2010". Archived from the original on 2012-02-14. Retrieved 2010-10-09.
  14. "Kestrel Rocket". www.ncsist.org.tw. NCSIST. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  15. Strong, Matthew. "Taiwan's Marines unveil locally developed M109 assault boat". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
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