Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade (Japan)
Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade | |
---|---|
水陸機動団 Suirikukidōdan | |
![]() Official ARDB insignia. | |
Active | April 7, 2018[1] – present |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Type | Marines |
Role | Amphibious warfare |
Size | |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Major General Shinichi Aoki[4] |
The Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade (水陸機動団, Suirikukidōdan)[5] is a marine unit of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) responsible for conducting amphibious operations. It incorporates the former Western Army Infantry Regiment, which was the dedicated amphibious warfare unit of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.
The ARDB is based at Camp Ainoura in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture.[6]
History[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/6D-1_%28%E5%8D%94%E5%90%8C%E8%BB%A2%E5%9C%B0%E6%BC%94%E7%BF%92%E3%83%BB%E7%9D%80%E4%B8%8A%E9%99%B8%E8%A8%93%E7%B7%B4%29_R_%E6%95%99%E8%82%B2%E8%A8%93%E7%B7%B4%E7%AD%89_23.jpg/220px-6D-1_%28%E5%8D%94%E5%90%8C%E8%BB%A2%E5%9C%B0%E6%BC%94%E7%BF%92%E3%83%BB%E7%9D%80%E4%B8%8A%E9%99%B8%E8%A8%93%E7%B7%B4%29_R_%E6%95%99%E8%82%B2%E8%A8%93%E7%B7%B4%E7%AD%89_23.jpg)
In light of tensions over the Senkaku Islands and the decision for putting the Chinese Coast Guard under military control,[7][8] Japan started the process of creating an elite marine unit. This brigade was designed to conduct amphibious operations and to recover any Japanese islands taken by an adversary.[9][10]
In 2006, Japan devised a plan to respond to this threat as outlined in the Defense Programs and Budget of Japan. Thus Japan prepared an amphibious force with the necessary know-how, acquired amphibious and other vehicles for such warfare. Prior to this, training was conducted with the U.S. Marine Corps such as "Iron Fist" and the integrated exercise "Dawn Blitz" in which the JSDF participated.[11]
In the Rim of the Pacific Exercise of 2014, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force participated for the first time with amphibious warfare training between the U.S. Marine Corps and the GSDF for multilateral exercises. In Japan, joint exercises are also conducted by inviting the U.S. Marine Corps at JGSDF Camp Soumagahara (Gunma Prefecture) and training with the dispatch of GSDF members to the U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa Prefecture.[12]
In 2016, 300 WAIR soldiers were sent to Camp Pendleton for marine training.[13] They were also trained to prepare for the ARDB's establishment.[13]
On April 7, 2018, Japan activated its first marine unit since World War II.[14] The marines of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF)'s Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, gathered at a ceremony activating the brigade at JGSDF's Camp Ainoura in Sasebo.[15] The Brigade is trained to counter invaders from occupying Japanese islands along the edge of the East China Sea that Tokyo considers vulnerable to attack.[14]
50 ARDB soldiers were deployed for the first time in an overseas training exercise with American and Filipino marines in Operation Kamandag in October 2018. This was the first time that Japanese armored vehicles were on foreign soil since WW2.[16] The marine unit also dispatched 300 soldiers to participate in Exercise Talisman Saber in July 2019, training in amphibious landings at Queensland, Australia along with Australian soldiers and American and British marines.[17][18] The ARDB suffered its first casualty when a 38-year old JGSDF soldier, Suguru Maehara, with the rank of Sergeant 1st Class, was killed in a vehicular accident during joint exercises with US and Filipino troops on 7 October 2018. The vehicle he was riding in collided with another vehicle in Subic Bay.[19]
On March 10, 2021, 55 recruits passed the training course for the ARDB, including two women.[20] The two women, Sergeant First Classes Azusa Unno and Misaki Hirata, had participated in the unit's 16th training session.[21]
Future[]
The ARDB was reported to be set to establish a third regiment, to be located at Kyushu by fiscal year 2023.[22] These "regiments" are battalion size units.
Organization[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/US_Marine_Corps_photo_180407-M-OP674-016_BLT_1%EF%BC%8F1_Marines_work_alongside_JGSDF_during_Japanese_Amphibious_Rapid_Deployment_Brigade%E2%80%99s_unit-activation_ceremony.jpg/220px-thumbnail.jpg)
The ARDB is composed of the following:[23]
- Brigade HQ
- 1st Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment (Location in Camp Ainoura)[2]
- 2nd Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment (Location in Camp Ainoura)[2]
- 3rd Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment (being formed)
- Artillery Battalion
- Reconnaissance Battalion
- Engineer Battalion
- Combat Landing Battalion
- Logistic Support Battalion
- Signal Company
- Amphibious Rapid Deployment Training Unit
Key executives[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/US_Marine_Corps_photo_180407-M-OP674-023_BLT_1%EF%BC%8F1_Marines_work_alongside_JGSDF_during_Japanese_Amphibious_Rapid_Deployment_Brigade%E2%80%99s_unit-activation_ceremony.jpg/220px-thumbnail.jpg)
Official name | Rank | Full name | Subsidiary announcement date | Former post |
---|---|---|---|---|
Commander of the Amphibious Mobile Brigade and Commander of Aiura Garrison | Major general | Takanori Hirata (平田隆則) | December 20, 2019 | Deputy Chief of Staff of the Western Army (Japan) |
Deputy Commander | Colonel | Yūji Hirata (平田雄嗣) | March 23, 2019 | 2nd Soda Education Team Leader |
Senior staff | Colonel | Seiji Uesono (上薗誠司) | March 27, 2018 | General Manager, Regional Liaison Coordination Division, General Affairs Department |
Equipment[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/US_Marine_Corps_photo_180407-M-OP674-190_BLT_1%EF%BC%8F1_Marines_work_alongside_JGSDF_during_Japanese_Amphibious_Rapid_Deployment_Brigade%E2%80%99s_unit-activation_ceremony.jpg/220px-thumbnail.jpg)
Infantry weapons[]
ARDB forces are equipped with light infantry weapons, including:[24]
- Hirtenberger M6C-210 Light mortar
- L16 81mm mortar Medium mortar
- M120 RT Heavy mortar
- Minimi 5.56mm Light Machine guns
- Howa Type 20 Assault rifles[25]
- Howa Type 89 Assault rifles
- M24 SWS Sniper Rifles
- Minebea PM-9 Machine pistol
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/U.S._Marine_Corps_MV-22B_Osprey_aircraft_work_with_Japan_to_deliver_earthquake_relief_supplies._%2825936524984%29.jpg/220px-U.S._Marine_Corps_MV-22B_Osprey_aircraft_work_with_Japan_to_deliver_earthquake_relief_supplies._%2825936524984%29.jpg)
Vehicles[]
ARDB are also equipped with US and Japanese-made military vehicles and aircraft such as:[24]
- Assault Amphibious Vehicle AAV7A1 RAM/RS[26]
- Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey MV-22B[26] Tiltrotor aircraft
- Combat Rubber Raiding Craft
- Komatsu LAV
- Mitsubishi Type 73 Light Truck
- Toyota Type 73 Medium Truck
See also[]
- Imperial Japanese Navy Land Forces — Historical units
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Japan activates first marines since WW2 to bolster defenses against China". Kyodo News. Retrieved 2019-01-11.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "3番目の新編部隊めぐり3市が名乗り 水陸機動団:朝日新聞デジタル". 朝日新聞デジタル.
- ^ Mizokami, Kyle (10 April 2018). "Japan Activates First Amphibious Unit Since World War II". Popular Mechanics.
- ^ Tanaka, Miya (8 April 2018). "Japan's new marines make their debut, but much preparatory work remains to be done". The Japan Times.
- ^ "防衛省・自衛隊|平成29年版防衛白書|コラム|<解説>自衛隊初の本格的な水陸両用作戦部隊「水陸機動団」の新編". Mod.go.jp. Retrieved 2019-01-11.
- ^ "The Meaning of Japan's New Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade Launch". thediplomat.com.
- ^ "Japan boosts its military option: The Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade | Modern Tokyo Times". 7 April 2018.
- ^ https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/conf_proceedings/CF300/CF387/RAND_CF387.pdf
- ^ Gady, Franz-Stefan Japan’s Elite Amphibious Assault Force Trains With US Marines The Diplomat Retrieved December 11, 2016
- ^ Slavic, Erik Japan preparing amphibious force: it looks a lot like a Marine brigade November 4, 2016 Stars and Stripes Retrieved December 11, 2016
- ^ "Defense Programs and Budget of Japan" (PDF). Mod.go.jp. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ "陸自「水陸機動団」準備着々/創設まであと1年・離党防衛強化へ米海兵隊と訓練". 朝刊. March 20, 2017.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Fuentes, Gidget U.S. Marines Teach Japanese Forces How to Fight From the Sea in Expanded Iron Fist Exercise January 25, 2016 USNI News Retrieved December 11, 2016
- ^ Jump up to: a b Kubo, Nobuhiro Japan activates first marines since WW2 to bolster defenses against China. April 7, 2018. Reuters. Retrieved August 2, 2018
- ^ staff, Asia Times (9 April 2018). "Japan's new marine unit in East China Sea upsets Beijing". Asia Times.
- ^ Slavin, Erik (18 September 2015). "Japan enacts major changes to its self-defense laws". Stars and Stripes. Tokyo. Archived from the original on June 19, 2018.
- ^ "Japan's new marine unit gets a workout during Talisman Sabre drills Down Under". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
- ^ "Australian troops lead the way during Talisman Sabre amphibious-assault practice". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
- ^ Author, No (7 October 2018). "SDF member taking part in joint drill with U.S., Philippine troops, dies after crash". The Japan Times.
- ^ INC, SANKEI DIGITAL. "女性隊員初の訓練課程修了 長崎、陸自水陸機動団で". 産経フォト.
- ^ https://www.fnn.jp/articles/-/154251
- ^ NEWS, KYODO. "GSDF, U.S. agreed in 2015 to station amphibious unit in Okinawa". Kyodo News+.
- ^ "防衛省・自衛隊:防衛省ウェブサイトのHTTPSへの切り替えのお知らせ". www.mod.go.jp.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-04-30. Retrieved 2018-08-15.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ "FIRST LOOK: Japan's New Type 20 Rifle". The Firearm Blog. 18 May 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Iron Fist 2018 Ramps Up Training as Japan Readies 1st Amphibious Unit". 15 January 2018.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade. |
- Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Brigade
- Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
- Amphibious landing brigades
- Military units and formations established in 2018
- 2018 establishments in Japan