Philippine Marine Corps


The Philippine Marine Corps is the marine corps of the Philippines, a naval infantry force under the command of the Philippine Navy. It conducts amphibious and expeditionary warfare, as well as special operation missions.

History

— LTSG Manuel Gomez's mission on the formation of the Philippine Marine Corps in 1950

On orders from President Elpidio Quirino and Ramon Magsaysay, then Secretary of National Defense, the Corps was organized on November 7, 1950, as A Company of the Philippine Fleet's 1st Marine Battalion and then headquartered in Cavite City, in Naval Base Cavite. Personnel from the United States Army and United States Marine Corps helped train the very first Philippine Marines in combat and amphibious duties in Fort Bonifacio in Makati City and in various other locations. Lieutenant Manuel Gomez was its first commandant, with then Lieutenant Gregorio Lim assisting him, with six other officers joining them, several of these officers being veterans of the Second World War.
Their hard work and training would pay off as the Marine Company conducted its first amphibious landing on April 19, 1951 in Umiray, Quezon, and took part in battle for the first time on June 4 of the same year in Nueva Ecija against communist rebels. These and other notable battles in various parts of the country, as well as overseas deployments to Korea, led to the Navy's decision to complete the 1st Marine Battalion with the raising of B Company in 1955 and the Headquarters and Service Company also in the same year, thus the marine battalion of one HQ company and two marine rifle companies, with now LCDR Lim in charge, was finally complete.
Further marine companies and a weapons company would later be formed to augment the expansion of the force in the 1960s, and the abilities even expanded to VIP protection, and would also see the raising of its very own drum and bugle corps. The Marines would see themselves in action in securing the Spratly Islands in 1971 and in combating Muslim separatist forces and a strong New People's Army in the following years as the force became the Philippine Marine Brigade with the formation of the 2nd and 3rd Marine Battalions, the Headquarters Service Group, the 1st Provisional Tactical Battalion which saw action in Mindanao against Islamic separatists, and the Marine Training Group, later the Philippine Marines Training Group.
To highlight these changes the force was, in 1976, renamed as the Philippine Marines.
As the 1980s arrived, the force expansion was accompanied by battles against both communists and armed Islamist rebels all over the country, and in 1986 even took part in the successful People Power Revolution. The latter years would also see them in action as one coup d'état after another was launched against the Corazon Aquino administration, all ending in failure. It also saw Rodolfo Biazon becoming the first and only Marine Corps general to head the Armed Forces as Chief of Staff after a fruitful term as Superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy, the first and only Marine Corps general officer to occupy the office so far in PMA history.
The 1990s would see further expansion as the force, as part of the Philippine Navy, became the Philippine Marine Corps in 1995 as the force turned 45 years old. The early 2000s would see the Marine Corps once more facing not just communists and Islamic militants but also terrorist groups as well.
The Marines are also seen in action in the 2013 Battle of Zamboanga city providing amphibious assault and fire-support for the Infantry forces. During the 2017 battle of Marawi they are also seen fighting against the Islamic state militants as their Vehicles like LAV-300s and V-150s are modified with Wooden planks to protect them against IEDs and RPGs.
On 2018, Filipino lawmakers were proposing a law to make the Marines as an independent branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, but the ties with the Navy would still remain. Defense Secretary Lorenzana has opposed this proposal.

Formation

The Philippine Marine Corps is organized into three maneuver brigades, a Combat Service and Support Brigade, and independent units such as the Marine Special Operations Group and the Marine Security and Escort Group. The three maneuver brigades provide administrative and logistical support to the units assigned to them, while the CSSB acts as a training and administrative command for the Field Artillery and Assault Armor battalions.
In addition, a number of Reserve Brigades are under the control of the Naval Reserve Command.

Leadership

The Philippine Marine Corps has twelve regular Marine Battalions. Three battalions are assigned to each of the three maneuver brigades and a single battalion is rotated back to the Marine headquarters for refit and retraining for at least six months up to one year before redeployment to operational areas in the southern Philippines.
Each of the twelve battalions is organized into three rifle companies and a headquarters and service company. The battalions are augmented with elements of other units, such as artillery, armored vehicles or watercraft, for specific tasks. These units, when supported with assets from the CSSB form the core of a Marine Battalion Landing Team. A combat engineer unit from the Naval Combat Engineering Brigade or Seabees can be attached for construction, survivability, mobility and countermobility support. Elements from the Marine Special Operations Group can also be attached for reconnaissance and unconventional warfare support to make it Special Operations Capable.
during a combat training exercise.

Marine Reserve Units

The 7th Marine Brigade was activated as a provisional unit of the Philippine Navy on October 22, 1996 pursuant to Section I General Order No. 229 ONA dated October 21, 1996 during the term of Vice Admiral Pio Carranza AFP as FOIC. PN. It was assigned to the Naval Reserve Command and placed under the operational control of the Commandant, Philippine Marine Corps.
The 7th Marine Brigade is the Main Active Reserve Force of the Philippine Marine Corps with 3 operational Marine Battalions Composed of active men & women from different backgrounds & experiences, that are integrated to the regular & special units of the Corps. Given the same training that enable the 7th MBde personnel to have interoperability with the rest of the Corps. Administrative control rest on the Naval Reserve Command, Philippine Navy while Operational is with the Philippine Marine Corps.

Field Artillery Battalion

The Field Artillery Battalion is currently organized into a Headquarters and Service Company and several howitzer batteries which are attached to the maneuver brigades to support their operations. It is equipped with the M101A1 howitzer, the OTO Melara Model 56/14 pack howitzer and the Soltam M71A1 155 howitzer. The unit also provides a limited air-defense capability through a token number of Bofors 40 mm L/60 guns, Oerlikon 20mm guns and M2 Browning guns, either in truck-mounted or towed configuration.

Assault Armor Battalion

The Assault Armor Battalion contains a Headquarters and Service Company, an Armor Maintenance Company, an Assault Amphibian Company, and a Light Armor Vehicle Company. It is tasked with providing the maneuver brigades with armored assets to support their operations. The unit's inventory consists of LAV-150s, LAV-300s, LVTP-5s and LVTH-6s, AAV7A1. None of the LVTP-5s are currently in service but the Marines have been able to recondition four of the LVTH-6s for their use.

Marine Special Operations Group

The Marine Special Operations Group, formerly the Marine Force Recon Battalion, was first activated on August 19, 1972
The Force Recon Battalion is organized into a Headquarters, Service and Training Company and four Recon Companies, numbered 61st, 62nd, 63rd, and 64th. Each of these companies is attached to a Marine Brigade to serve as quick maneuvering force. It specialises in sea, air and land operations, like its counterpart in the Naval Special Operations Group of the Philippine Navy, ranging from reconnaissance, close combat, demolition, intelligence and underwater operations in support to the overall naval operations.

Marine Security and Escort Group

The Marine Security and Escort Group is responsible for security on naval facilities, vital government installations and protection of VIPs. The unit also fills most of the PMC's ceremonial duties, and mounts the honor guard at the Rizal Monument in Rizal Park, Manila.

Marine Drum and Bugle Team

The Marine Drum and Bugle Team is the prime musical unit of the Philippine Marine Corps and the only Drum and Bugle Corps in the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines that provides marching band and musical services in support of the ceremonial and morale activities of the Corps. This is patterned along the lines of the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and is stationed at Marine Barracks R. Brown in Makati City.

Marine Scout Snipers

The Marine Scout Snipers is the very first unit in the Armed Forces of the Philippines dedicated exclusively to sniping and marksmanship. The Scout Snipers are notable for being able to effectively hit and neutralize targets at using only 7.62 mm rounds. The Marine Scout Snipers are renowned for the development and manufacture of their own weapon, the Colt M16A1 based Marine Scout Sniper Rifle.

Philippine Marine Corps Marine Silent Drill Platoon

Also headquartered in Makati City, this is the premier military drill team of the Corps and one of 4 such units in the AFP, patterned after the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon. Like its US counterpart it does a unique silent precision exhibition drill using the M1 Garand rifles with fixed bayonets demonstrating the Corps's professionalism and discipline in all events where it is a part of.

Major equipment

Infantry weapons

Anti-tank and Assault Weapons

Night Vision Equipment

PictureModelOriginTypeVersionIn ServiceNotes
AN/PVS-14Monocular Night Vision DeviceM914Aunknown
AN/PVS-7Binocular Night Vision Device–unknown
Night Optics Argus D-740Night Vision Weapons SightD-740unknownused on Night Fighting Weapon System Rifles
Night Optics Gladius D-760Night Vision Weapons SightD-740unknownused on Night Fighting Weapon System Rifles
Litton M845Night Vision Weapons SightM845 Mk.IIunknownused on Night Fighting Weapon System Rifles
AN/PEQ-2Target Pointer/Illuminator/Aiming Light–unknown

Communication equipment

PictureModelOriginTypeVersionIn ServiceNotes
AN/PRC-150 Falcon IIManpack Combat RadioRF-5800H-MPunknownIntroduced in 2004. 15 units received in 2005, more units delivered in 2008 and 2011.
AN/PRC-152 Falcon IIIHandheld Combat RadioRF-5800V-HHunknownIntroduced in 2004. 103 units received in 2005, More units delivered in 2008 and 2011.

Armored vehicles

PictureModelOriginTypeVersionIn ServiceNotes
AAV7A1 Amphibious Assault VehicleKAAV7A184 units delivered on May 9, 2019 next 4 units delivered by August 2019. All 8 in active service as of September 23, 2019, plans to acquire up to 16 units more are being considered.
LVT-5Amphibious Fire Support VehicleLVTH-64Previously out of service, refurbished and recommissioned in 2006 with armor upgrades.
CommandoArmoured personnel carrierV-15018Delivery starting 1975, at least 18 known in service and 12 refurbished in 2007.
LAV-300Armored personnel carrier & Fire Support VehicleV-300 APC
V-300 FSV		12
10		Introduced in early 90s. 23 in service as at 2012, 1 FSV destroyed in enemy action.
M35 Armored Gun Truck/
Armored Gun TrucksM35 Gun TruckunknownSeveral M35 2 1/2-ton cargo trucks were converted to armored gun trucks by the PMC using armor plating from decommissioned LVT-5, acting as armored personnel carriers or armored escort vehicles.

Utility vehicles

PictureModelOriginTypeVersionIn ServiceNotes
AM General HMMWVLight Utility VehicleM998A1
M1038A1
M1025A1		unknownDivided into several variants and series
Maxi-AmbulanceLight Utility VehicleM1152423 delivered to AFP in November 2011, PMC received 4 units.
Delta Mini Cruiser1/4-ton Light Utility VehicleM1777unknownDivided into several variants and series, including short and stretched utility and armed variants, and modified variants for specialized units.
M1511/4-ton Light Utility Vehicle and Weapons CarrierStandard–In Service, several carrying M40 106mm recoilless rifle.
KM-45 Series1 1/2-ton Utility Vehicle
Field Ambulance		KM-450
KM-451		<50
12		651 purchased by AFP on 2007, 61 units shared by Navy/Marines and Air Force
60 km-451 field ambulance purchased by AFP in 2012, 12 went to the Marines.
Freightliner M2Utility TruckM2 106 Crew Cab6Hauler for Riverine Patrol Boat trailer, each with RPB trailer.
M35 Truck2 1/2-ton Utility VehicleM35–Divided into several variants and series. More delivered in 2013.
KM-250 Series2 1/2-ton Utility VehicleKM-250–
M939 truckHeavy Utility VehicleM923–Several delivered to AFP in 2013, several units for the Marines.
KM-500 Series5-ton Utility VehicleKM-50012155mm Artillery prime mover. 1st batch of 6 delivered 2012.
LARC-VAmphibious Support VehicleLARC-V5Most refurbished in 2006.
GKN AquatrackAmphibious Support VehicleAquatrack2Introduced in the mid 1990s. Originally owned by the Office of Civil Defense but under PMC stewardship.

Artillery

Anti-Aircraft

Unmanned Aerial Systems

Watercraft

PictureModelOriginTypeVersionIn ServiceNotes
Riverine Patrol BoatSmall unit riverine craft40' x 10'8" SURC6Similar but larger version of the SURC used by the US Marines produced by Silver Ships Inc., purchased under FMS worth $6.5 million and introduced in September 2013
Combat Rubber Raiding CraftCombat Rubber Raiding CraftCRRC>25Similar to the CRRC used by the US Marines produced by Zodiac Marine. 25 units were handed over by the US military on June 2017 Prior to that several more already in service with PMC from previous acquisitions.
Coastal craftSpecial Operations CraftSOC– Similar, longer, but less gunned SOC-R used by the US Marines, being built locally and for delivery by 2019. For use by the Marine Special Operations Group

Future

The Philippine Marines share the traditions of both the US and Spanish marine units especially in the uniform and rank system. But the Corps has its own traditions as well.

Official traditions and customs

Core Values and Motto

Karangalan, Katungkulan, Kabayanihan are not just the Marine Corps motto but also the main Core Values of the Philippine Marines of today, emphasizing the kind of values that service personnel of the PMC will always live on everyday.

PMC Seal

The seal incorporates the sun with its eight rays from the Flag of the Philippines, the anchor symbolizing the naval heritage and bond of the Corps as it is a part of the Philippine Navy, the closed loop rope symbolizing the links of Marines to one another and to show that a Philippine Marine once will be a Philippine Marine always, and the scroll showing the Marine Corps motto and Core Values: Karangalan, Katungkulan, Kabayanihan. As with the USMC, blue represents the naval heritage while the official Marine Corps colors of scarlet and gold are also present, forming the base of Marine Corps guidons, and all three form the basis for the battle color as opposed to the latter two which is the USMC color basis.

Battle Color of the Philippine Marine Corps

The battle color, maintained by Marine Barracks Rudiardo Brown in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, Metro Manila, is in navy blue with two golden scrolls, one indicating the name of the corps at the top and the other, surrounding the anchor and the sun, indicating the Marine Corps motto and core values, all in red lettering. The battle color incorporates both the anchor and the sun with eight rays from the seal, but also includes the three stars of the national flag symbolizing the Philippines's three major island groups above the anchor. The color is similar to the one used by the USMC during the First World War.

The BRP Sierra Madre

The Sierra Madre BRP is a Philippine Navy vessel that was stranded voluntarily off the island of Ayungin, in the heart of the South China Sea, in 1999. It has since been occupied by a dozen Filipino Marines, all of whom take turns the 5 months in order to assert the rights of sovereignty and jurisdiction of the Philippines on the island against the Chinese demands. The history of the building and its occupants was put on the spotlight on March 29, 2014, when journalists were able to take pictures of the Chinese Coast Guard attempting to block a Philippine civilian ship bringing supplies to the Sierra Madre Marines.

Works consulted