Royal Thai Marine Corps

Royal Thai Marine Corps (ราชนาวิกโยธินแห่งราชอาณาจักรไทย)
File:Insignia of Royal Thai Marine Corps.svg Royal Thai Marine Corps insignia
Active	1959 – Present
Country	Thailand
Branch	Royal Thai Navy
Type	Marine (Naval)
Role	Marines
Size	36,000 men
Garrison/HQ	RTMC headquarters, Sattahip, Chonburi
March	"มาร์ชราชนาวิกโยธิน (Royal Thai Marine Corps march)
Anniversaries	July 30
Engagements	Franco–Thai War Pacific War Southern Insurgency
Insignia
Flag of the Commander of the Marine Corps

Thai marine royal guards (full dress) in the procession in the royal cremation of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana

The Royal Thai Marine Corps (Thai language: นาวิกโยธินแห่งราชอาณาจักรไทย) are the marines of the Royal Thai Navy. The Royal Thai Marine Corps was founded in 1932, when the first battalion was formed with the assistance of the United States Marine Corps. It was expanded to a regiment in 1940 and was in action against communist guerrillas throughout the 1950s and 1960s. During the 1960s the United States Marine Corps assisted in its expansion into a brigade. The Royal Thai Marine Corps saw action on the Malaysian border in the 1970s, and has now been increased to two brigades.

History

Historically, there was no distinction in Siam between soldiers and marines, with the army performing both functions. The first "Thahan Ma-Rine", meaning "Marine Soldiers", were formed in 1833, during the reign of King Rama III. "Ma-Rine" was simply a transliteration of the English word. The development of the modern Thai Marine Corps can be divided into three periods:

Early years

The Marine Soldiers of the 19th and early 20th centuries were few in number and served mainly as a royal honor guard that provided security for the King whenever he traveled around the country.

On March 2, 1913, however, the Ministry of the Navy reorganized the Marine Soldiers. The Marine artillery platoon was attached to the Operation Command Department of Ships and Fortresses, while the Marine infantry platoon in Bangkok was attached to the Vehicle Division of the Department of the Navy Amphibious Assault Group.

The Revolution in 1932 transformed Thailand from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. Shortly after, the Royal Thai Navy was reorganized, and the vehicle battalion became the Marine Corps Battalion of the Bangkok Navy Station. This is considered the first Marine Corps Battalion in Thailand.

Post 1932 Revolution (1932–1955)

The 2nd Marine Corps Battalion was established at Sattahip in 1937. Two years later, the 2nd Battalion was expanded into the Marine Corps Department. Shortly after that, a border dispute with French Indo-China turned violent, and the Marine Corps Department's "Chanthaburi Division" was engaged in action with the French Foreign Legion several times. During World War II, the Marine Corps sent troops to defend the southern border with Malaya and also guarded Phuket Province from possible attack.

After Imperial Japan's surrender in September 1945, Thai Marines helped disarm the Japanese Army at Baan Pong District in Ratchaburi Province. In 1950, when violence in Malaysia spilled over into Thailand, Marine Corps Troop 6 was sent to help restore the peace in Narathiwat Province.

Surprisingly, on June 29, 1951, the Thai government disbanded the Marine Corps Bureau, and the Marines were distributed into naval units. However, this was during the Korean War, and both the United States Military and the Royal Thai Navy urged Thailand to reconsider.

New Age (1955 – present)

Four years later, the Thai Government acknowledged that a Marine Corps could perform a useful role in national defense. On July 30, 1955, the government created the Marine Corps Department. In 1961, tensions flared over the disputed Preah Vihear Temple, situated on the Thai side of a high cliff on the Cambodian border but shown on French maps as being in the Cambodia. The Chanthaburi and Trat borders with Cambodia gave the Marine Corps Department its first assignment, safeguarding the coastline and southeastern border. Since 1970 the Marine Corps' Chanthaburi-Trat Task Force has been officially assigned the defense of this area.

During 1972 and 1973, Thai Marines were involved in the "Sam-Chai" anti-communist operations in Phetchabun Province and the "Pha-Phum" anti-communist operations in Chiang Rai Province. In 1973 and 1974, they took part in anti-communist operations in the southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.

Since 1975, Thai Marines have been assigned to Narathiwat as Marine Corps special forces. In 1977, they captured the communist camp at Krung-Ching in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, and remaining there until 1981.

Thai Marines today are responsible for border security in Chanthaburi and Trat provinces. They have fought communist insurgents in engagements at Baan Hard Lek, Baan Koat Sai, Baan Nhong Kok, Baan Kradook Chang, Baan Chumrark, and in the battle of Hard Don Nai in Nakhon Phanom Province.

Many Thai Marines have lost their lives serving their country, and they continue to do so today, especially in the southern border provinces now facing an Islamist insurgency. A monument to their valor stands at the Royal Thai Navy base at Sattahip.

Organization

• RTMC division headquarters;
• 3 Marine infantry regiment, with 9 Marine battalions (one battalion designated King's Guard),
• 1 Marine artillery regiment, with 3 Marine artillery battalions and 1 antiaircraft artillery battalion
• 1 assault battalion
• 1 reconnaissance battalion (formed in 1965, including wardogs and V-150 armored vehicles).

Equipment

Small arms

Name	Type	Caliber	Origin	Notes
M16A1/A2/A3	Assault rifle	5.56mm	United States	Standard marine rifle.
M4A1/A3	Assault rifle	5.56mm	United States	Standard marine rifle.
AR-15	Assault rifle	5.56mm	United States
G36C	Assault rifle	5.56mm	Germany	Used by recon.
CQ M-311	Assault rifle	5.56mm	China
Sago Defence Tikka	Sniper rifle	.223inch/.338inch	United States
M249	Light machine gun	5.56mm	United States
M60	General-purpose machine gun	7.62mm	United States
M2 Browning	Heavy machine gun	12.7mm	United States

Rocket, grenade, and missile systems

Name	Type	Quantity	Origin	Notes
M203	Grenade launcher	?	United States
Armbrust	Anti-tank weapon	?	Germany
M47 Dragon	Anti-Tank Guided Missile	?	United States
BGM-71 TOW	Anti-Tank Guided Missile	?	United States	Use in Humvee.
M40A2	Recoilless rifle	?	United States
QW-18	MANPAD	?	China

Utility vehicles and prime movers

Name	Type	Quantity	Origin	Notes
Humvee	Utility vehicle	?	United States	RTMC use M998,M1097A2,M997,M1025,M1045A2,M966.
M151	Utility vehicle	?	United States	RTMC use M151A2,M718A1,M825.
M151A2 mod	Amphibious vehicle	?	Thailand	Improve to Amphibious vehicle.
M813	Prime Mover	?	United States	RTMC use M54A2,M543A2.
M35 2-1/2 ton cargo truck	Prime Mover	?	United States	RTMC use M35A2,M50A2,M49A2,M109A2.
Isuzu	Prime Mover	?	Japan/Thailand	RTMC use SBR,TXD 4x2,TSD 4x4,TWD 6x6,HTW,FTR 4x4.

Armoured fighting vehicles

Name	Type	Quantity	Origin	Notes
AAV-7A1	Armoured personnel carrier	36	United States	Variants include: AAVP-7A1, AAVC-7A1, AAVR-7A1.
BTR-3E1	Armoured personnel carrier	12	Ukraine
V-150 Commando	Armoured car	24	United States
Type 69-ll	Main battle tank	5	China

Field artillery

Name	Type	Quantity	Origin	Notes
M101A1 mod	105 mm towed howitzer	6	United States	Improve the Nexter LG1 caliber.
M101A1	105 mm towed howitzer	30	United States
GC-45 howitzer	155 mm towed howitzer	12	Austria
GHN-45 A1 APU howitzer	155 mm towed howitzer	6	Austria
M19	60 mm motar	?	United States
M224	60 mm motar	?	United States
M29A1	81 mm motar	?	United States
M120	120 mm motar	?	Israel

History equipment

Armoured fighting vehicles

Name	Type	Quantity	Origin	Notes
LVT	Amphibious vehicle	16	United States
M3 Half-track	Half-track armored personnel carrier	12+	United States

Field artillery

Name	Type	Quantity	Origin	Notes
M1A1	75mm Pack Howitzer	16+	United States

See also

• United States Marine Corps
• Marine Force Recon

External links

• Official website
• English Information on the Royal Thai Marine Corps