Royal Marine Corps (Chisei)

From Ordic Encyclopedia

Royal Marine Corps
王立海兵隊
Ōryū kaifeitai

Badge of the Royal Marine Corps
Founded 1864
Country  Chisei
Branch Chiseian Royal Navy
Type Marine Corps
Role Amphibious operations
Size 12,530 active personnel
1,100 reserve personnel
Insignia
Banner 150x

The Royal Marine Corps (王立海兵隊 Ōryū kaifeitai) are an elite amphibious light infantry unit that forms one of the four major operational branches of the Chiseian Royal Navy.

The Royal Marine Corps today are a key element of Chiseian rapid reaction forces. The Corps is organised into a light infantry brigade (2nd Royal Marine Brigade) and a number of seperate units, such as the Tokukō special operations unit and the Royal Marine Assault Group. The Corps operates in all environments and climates, though particular expertise and training is spent on amphibious warfare, polar warfare, mountain warfare and expeditionary warfare.

History

Missions

The Royal Marine Corps is tasked with:

  • maintaining order on board ships and the protection of naval vessels against attack
  • the protection of sensitive sites of the Navy (Naval bases, air bases, transmission stations etc.);
  • participating in land operations from the sea;
  • participating in Special Operations;

The Marine Corps should not be confused with the Royal Army Marine Troops or the Ever Victorious Army. Although both of the latter corps have historically served as marine and colonial infantry forces, and are trained to some degree for amphibious operations, they are land troops first and foremost, under Royal Army authority, while the Marine Corps is historically, organisationally and operationally tied to the Navy.

Organisation & structure

Marine taking part in close combat drills.

The operational capability of the Corps is chiefly divided into a number of battalion-sized "battle groups" (戦組 Sensho), of which five are designated as Marine infantry, as well as a number of regiments.

2nd Royal Marine Brigade

Operational command of the four Marine infantry battalions and their supporting regiments falls to the 2nd Royal Marine Brigade. As the main combat formation of the Royal Marines, the brigade has an organic capability, the Royal Marine Reconaissance Group, which provides intelligence and security for the Brigade headquarters in the field. The headquarters of the unit is located in the barracks of Inaopira base in Saramosir, Chisei. The manpower of the brigade is approximately 7,200 in total.

The units within the brigade are:

Independent elements

The independent elements of the Royal marines are:

  • Royal Marine Corps Training Center - This is the training unit for the entire corps. It is divided into three subunits.
    • Marine infantry training department - Provides basic training for initial marine recruits, and the All-Arms Marine Operations Course.
    • Marine specialist training department - Provides specialist training in various disciplines for Marines who may elect to join once qualified and experienced within the Marine infantry.
    • Command department - Provides training for Officers and NCOs of the Royal Marines.
  • Royal Marine Corps Fleet Protection Group - Responsible for the security of Chisei's maritime nuclear deterrent and other security-related duties. Strength of around 1,580. The Group also provides specialist boarding parties and snipers for roles such as embargo enforcement, counter-piracy and counter-insurgency duties.
  • Royal Marine Assault Group - Provides training in the use of landing craft and small boats, and serves as the parent unit for the four assault units permanently embarked on Royal Navy amphibious vessels as part of the rapid reaction force. About 1,800 strong.
  • Naval Action Force - Special forces unit that serves as the naval counterpart to the Royal Army Special Maneouvre Corps (White Lotus Unit) and the Peaceguard Special Enforcement Unit. Conducts clandestine maritime operations, including duties such as hostage rescue, counter-terrorism and counter-piracy. Operational command of the NAF falls with the Royal Special Forces Directorate. The Force has an active strength of three companies.

Composition

Personnel

The Royal Marine Corps are part of the Chiseian Royal Navy and are under the full command of the Admiral of the Fleet. The rank structure of the corps is similar to that of the Chiseian Royal Army with officers and other ranks recruited and initially trained separately from other naval personnel. On average, 1,900 recruits attend training courses at the Royal Marine Corps Training Center every year.

At their height during the Second Escar-Varunan War, over 180,000 people served in the Royal Marines. However, as a consequence of postwar austerity, changing strategic priorities and the end of the navy-dominated Conciliar Government, the Corps was cut to around 30,000 active personnel by 1954. The introduction of the 1956 National Service Act, as well as competition with the Ever Victorious Army for the expeditionary role, further hastened the reduction and reorganization of the marines into the elite light infantry force it is today. As of 2019, the Royal Marine Corps has 12,530 active personnel and 1,100 reserve personnel. It is an entirely volunteer force with above-average requirements for the fitness and ability of its recruits. Unlike the EVA, the RMC only accepts fully naturalised Chiseian citizens. Only about 45% of active Marine recruits are new recruits to the military - most are in fact transfers from other arms of the armed forces, or from the reserve.

Royal Marine Reserve

The Royal Marine Reserve is the reserve force of the Royal Marine Corps. It consists of 1,100 trained ranks distributed among five units located within Chisei. About 10 percent of the force are working with the Regular Corps on long-term attachments in all of the Royal Marines regular units. All the volunteers within the RMR must pass through the same rigorous commando course as the regulars. Recruits may be civilians with no previous military experience or may be former regular Royal Marines. Over a period of 12–15 months, RMR recruits are required to attend training at their units, one evening a week and usually two weekends a month. In addition, when not training with the RMR they must work on their physical fitness in their own time.

At the time of the founding of the Reserve in 1952, most of the personnel were veterans of the Second Escar-Varunan War, having transferred from the regular army or other marine units to counter the Arshavati threat. Most reservists today however do not have any prior combat experience, and thus their transition from civilian life is more difficult.

There are currently five Royal Marines Reserve units within Chisei. These units are located throughout the country situated within or near major cities. Each of the main units acts as Headquarters for a number of smaller satellite detachments that spread out into the surrounding area to recruit locally in nearby population centers. The main units are currently headquartered in Amagishi, Wanshu, Tamagake, Sougen and Inaopira.

Equipment

Royal Marines in Masuka during the 2010 Masukan War.

Infantry

The basic infantry weapon of the Royal marines is the Type 05 carbine. Precision support fire is provided by the Chiotanne 89 designated marksman rifle and the Type 4 sniper rifle - both developed specifically for the Corps. The Yamataian 5.5mm Morita Type 38 is the standard-issue, squad-level light machine gun, while the 7.7mm Type 28 GPMG and 12.7mm Gonshi Type 3 HMG provide heavier support. The Zusean K09 is the standard-issue pistol, while the Dotsch MP7 is in use primarily with the Naval Action Force and Fleet Protection Group. Other weapons include the ATGW 441 anti-tank missile and the KM2001 combat knife.

Vehicles

The Royal Marines do not maintain any heavy armoured units, instead, they operate a fleet of lightly armoured and highly mobile vehicles intended for amphibious landings or rapid deployment. The primary armoured vehicle of the marines is the Yamataian Type 65 So-Wo all-terrain armoured vehicle. Other lighter vehicles include variants of the KGMT Jiyūsha (due to be replaced by the Kyuyuba Type 28) and the Type 21 series of medium tactical vehicles.

Artillery

Field artillery support is provided by the organic Royal Artillery Marine Group, a unit of the Royal Army Artillery Corps with marine certification, chiefly using the towed Type 16 howitzer. As of 2020, plans have been made to expand the RMC's firepower with the addition of a second organic RAMG, potentially equipped with the Type 32 self-propelled rocket system.

Aviation

The Marine Helicopter Force of the Royal Naval Air Corps provides aviation support to the Royal Marines. The unit currently employs the Funmyou JH-1Y medium-lift utility helicopter and Funmyou H-22 Misago tiltrotor. In addition the wider NAC and the Royal Army may provide Kyuyuba NC-51 Shirasagi and Funmyou NC-47 Komadori heavy lift helicopters for particular missions and logistical purposes.

Vessels

The primary landing craft in use by the Royal Marine Corps are the KYK hovercraft and the JSRG. The Corps also maintains a varied fleet of other military watercraft, such as the Combat Swimmer Delivery Vehicle and small raiding/boarding craft.

See also