Republic of China Marine Corps

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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)
Republic of China Marine Corp (ROCMC) Logo.svg
Emblem of the Republic of China Marine Corps
FoundedDecember 1914; 107 years ago (1914-12)
Country Republic of China
Type
Role
Size10,000 active personnel
Part of Republic of China Navy (since 1924)
HeadquartersZuoying, Kaohsiung, Republic of China (Taiwan)
Motto(s)永遠忠誠
(Semper Fidelis)
Engagements
Commanders
Commandant of the Marine Corps of ROCMC(TWMC)ROCMC Lieutenant General's Flag.svg Lieutenant-General Wang Jui-lin
Insignia
FlagFlag of the Republic of China Marine Corps.svg

The Republic of China Marine Corps (ROCMC; Chinese: 中華民國海軍陸戰隊; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Mínguó Hǎijūnlùzhàndùi), also known colloquially as the Taiwan Marine Corps,[citation needed] is the amphibious arm of the Republic of China Navy (ROCN) responsible for amphibious combat, counter-landing and reinforcement of the areas under the jurisdiction of the Republic of China (ROC), including the 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]

Established in 1914 on the mainland, the ROCMC is considered an elite force within the ROC Armed Forces and is well known[by whom?] for its "Road to Heaven" stage in its 10-week amphibious training program.[2][3] The ROC Marine Corps' official motto is (Chinese: 永遠忠誠; pinyin: Yǒngyuǎn zhōngchéng), the Chinese translation of "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)(November 1, 2013, it was cut and reorganized to the Combat Support Group (戰鬥支援大隊))
    • Battalion HQ company (隊部連)(November 1, 2013, it was cut and reorganized to the Combat Support Group Support Company (戰鬥支援大隊支援中隊))
    • Health company (衛生連)
    • honor guard company (儀隊連)
    • Security Guard company (警衛連)
    • Shooting training team (射訓隊)
    • Logistics company (輜汽連)
    • 272nd Company of the Marine Corps Military Police (陸戰憲兵第二七二連)
    • Military band (軍樂隊)
  • 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 Taiwanese 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, Electronic Warfare Group, and Corps HQ Battalion[7]
    • Support Squadron (支援中隊), combined formerly the battalion HQ company (隊部連)
  • 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[]

President Tsai Ing-wen reviews a Marine Corps battalion in 2020

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
Tanks M60A3 TTS  United States [11][12]
Tanks M41 Walker Bulldog  United States
Armored fighting vehicles AAV-P7A1 amphibious assault vehicles  United States 36 currently on order
Armored fighting vehicles LVPT5A1 amphibious assault vehicles  United States
Armored fighting vehicles CM-25 AFV(CM-21 with 1 x TOW launcher)  Republic of China
Armoured fighting landing vehicle LVT-5 (LVTH-6, LVTE-1, LVTR-1, LVTC-1)  United States
Armoured fighting vehicles CM-24  Republic of China modified CM-21 ammo carrier
Armoured vehicle M998  United States
Artillery M101 howitzer  United States
Artillery M109 howitzer  United States
Anti-Tank BGM-71 TOW-2A/B  United States
Anti-Tank MK-153 SMAW  United States
Anti-Tank FGM-148 Javelin Anti-Tank Guided Missile  United States [13]
Anti-Tank M40A1 recoilless rifle  United States
Anti-Tank Kestrel (rocket launcher)  Republic of China [14]
SAM Stinger DMS(Dual Mount Stinger)  United States [15]
SAM MIM-72/M48 Chaparral locally upgraded FLIR by CSIST  United States [15]
Assault Rifle T65K2 assault rifle  Republic of China
Assault Rifle T91 combat rifle  Republic of China
Squad Automatic Weapon T75 squad machine gun  Republic of China
Sniper Rifle SSG-2000   Switzerland
Sniper Rifle T93  Republic of China
Automated grenade launcher Mk 19 grenade launcher  United States
Autocannon T-75 cannon 20mm  Republic of China
ASW and utility helicopter McDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender  United States
Tactical drone NCSIST Cardinal II  Republic of China
Fast assault boat M109  Republic of China [16]

Equipment gallery[]

  • ROCMC Humvee Carried T-75M 20mm Cannon Display at Keelung Naval Pier

  • ROCMC M60A3 TTS Display at Navy Fleet Command Ground

  • 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

  • ROC Marine Corps Special Service Company Operator with SIG MPX

Ranks[]

Main article: Republic of China Armed Forces rank insignia

Commissioned officer ranks[]

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group General/flag officers Field/senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
 Republic of China Marine Corps
  • v
  • t
 Taiwan-Marine-OF-9a.svg Taiwan-Marine-OF-8.svg Taiwan-Marine-OF-7.svg Taiwan-Marine-OF-5.svg Taiwan-Marine-OF-4.svg Taiwan-Marine-OF-3.svg Taiwan-Marine-OF-2.svg Taiwan-Marine-OF-1b.svg Taiwan-Marine-OF-1a.svg Taiwan-Marine-OF-1.svg
二級上將
Jī-kip siōng-chiòng 		中將
Tiong-chiòng 		少將
Siáu-chiòng 		上校
Siōng-hāu 		中校
Tiong-hāu 		少校
Siáu-hāu 		上尉
Siōng-ùi 		中尉
Tiong-ùi 		少尉
Siáu-ùi 		尉
Ùi 		軍校生
Jūnxiào shēng

Other ranks[]

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
 Republic of China Marine Corps
  • v
  • t
 Taiwan-Marine-OR-9.svg Taiwan-Marine-OR-8.svg Taiwan-Marine-OR-7.svg Taiwan-Marine-OR-6.svg Taiwan-Marine-OR-5.svg Taiwan-Marine-OR-4.svg Taiwan-Marine-OR-3.svg Taiwan-Marine-OR-2.svg Taiwan-Marine-OR-1.svg
一等士官長
Yīděng shìguānzhǎng 		二等士官長
Èrděng shìguānzhǎng 		三等士官長
Sānděng shìguānzhǎng 		上士
Shàngshì 		中士
Zhōngshì 		下士
Xiàshì 		上等兵
Shàngděngbīng 		一等兵
Yīděngbīng 		二等兵
Èrděngbīng

Gallery[]

  • 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. ^ a b Chen, Kelvin. "Taiwan Marines conduct air defense drill". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  16. ^ Strong, Matthew. "Taiwan's Marines unveil locally developed M109 assault boat". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 27 January 2021.

External links[]

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