San Marco Marine Brigade


The "San Marco" Marine Brigade is an amphibious formation of the Italian Navy established on 1 March 2013, reorganizing the Navy Landing Force. It has its command in Brindisi. They are the marines of the Italian Navy.
It is a joint formation, framed within the amphibious projection force, whose Commander is the same Admiral who serves as Commander of the San Marco Brigade.

History

The formation was previously the San Marco Battalion and later became the San Marco Regiment in the 1990s.
A joint Italian-Spanish landing force was established on 23 November 1996, in order to operate in international combat theaters on behalf of NATO.
The SILF was structured in the form of an amphibious brigade, consisting of two manoeuvre units, one being "San Marco" Regiment, of marine infantry, artillery, anti-armour and air defense weapons, reconnaissance and demolition, engineers, helicopters and air support, IFVs and assault vehicles.
On 1 October 1999, the Landing Force of the Navy was created, under the command of a Rear Admiral, stationed in Brindisi Naval Base and formed in two regiments: the "San Marco" Regiment and the "Carlotto" Regiment, both controlled by a Captain, and the Landing Craft Group, commanded by a Commander.
The Landing Force was renamed from 1 March 2013 as "San Marco" Marine Brigade, still being based in Brindisi, but consisting of three regiments, totalling about 3,800 marines. It is commanded by an Admiral, reporting directly to the Commander in Chief of the Italian Navy Fleet Command.

Organization 2020

The brigade is organized as follows:

San Marco Marine Brigade

The San Marco Marine Brigade and the Navy's 3rd Naval Division form together with the Italian Army's Cavalry Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli" the Italian military's National Sea Projection Capability.
The brigade is transported by the navy's 3rd Naval Division, co-located with the brigade in Brindisi, which consists of the following ships: