ROC Marines

The Republic of China Marine Corps (ROCMC; ), also known colloquially as the Taiwan Marine Corps, 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.

Established in 1914 on Mainland China, the ROCMC is considered an elite force within the ROC Armed Forces and is well known for its "Road to Heaven" stage in its 10-week amphibious training program.
The ROC Marine Corps' official motto is (), the Chinese translation of "''Semper Fidelis''". The ROC Marines trains with the USMC though these are generally classified, unofficial, or with trainees officially considered by either side as "observers."

Organization

The Marine Corps Command () 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 ()(November 1, 2013, it was cut and reorganized to the Combat Support Group ())
** Battalion HQ company ()(November 1, 2013, it was cut and reorganized to the Combat Support Group Support Company ())
** Health company ()
** honor guard company ()
** Security Guard company ()
** Shooting training team ()
** Logistics company ()
** 272nd Company of the Marine Corps Military Police ()
** Military band ()
* Amphibious Armor Group ()
** 4 Amphibious Transport Squadrons (), 24+ tracks per squadron. 1st (AAV-7), 2nd (AAV-7), 3rd (LVT-5), 4th (LVT-5).
** 2 Amphibious Artillery Squadrons (), mortars, 1st (LVT-5) and 2nd (LVT-5).
* Amphibious Reconnaissance and Patrol Unit (): 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.
**3 Reconnaissance Company ()
** 1 Special Service Company () ()
** 1 Underwater Demolition Company ()
** 1 Support Company ()
* Combat Support Group (), combined formerly the Beach Logistics Group and the Communications, Information, Electronic Warfare Group, and Corps HQ Battalion
** Support Squadron (), combined formerly the battalion HQ company ()
* Wuchiu Garrison Command ()
* Armed Force Joint Operation Training Base ()
*Marine Corps Command
** 66th Marine Brigade 'Vanguard' (), Taipei area, receiving M60A3TTS to replace M41 tanks
** 77th Marine Brigade 'Iron Guards' (), Garrison brigade, CCK and other area all over Taiwan
** 99th Marine Brigade 'Iron Force' (), Kaohsiung

History

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.

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.

Equipment

Equipment gallery

File:ROCMC Humvee Carried T-75M 20mm Cannon Display at Keelung Naval Pier 20140327b.jpg, ROCMC Humvee Carried T-75M 20mm Cannon Display at Keelung Naval Pier
File:ROCMC M60A3 TTS Display at Navy Fleet Command Ground 20170715a.jpg, ROCMC M60A3 TTS Display at Navy Fleet Command Ground

File:BGM-71 TOW and M2 Machine Gun on ROCMC CM-25 Top 20151024.jpg, BGM-71 TOW and M2 Machine Gun on ROCMC CM-25
File:M109A2-155公釐自走砲車.png, M109A2-155
File:ROCMC M8 Motor Boat Catching Divers in Sea 20151024b.jpg, ROCMC M8 Motor Boat catching divers in sea
File:ROCMC Special Force Team Standing behind 66th Brigade Recuritment Booth 20140906.jpg, ROCMC Special Forces Team standing behind 66th Brigade Recruitment Booth
File:10.10 總統出席「中華民國中樞暨各界慶祝108年國慶大會」(48874882432).jpg, ROC Marine Corps Special Service Company Operator with SIG MPX

Ranks

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Other ranks

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

Gallery

File:Seven ROCMC M8 Motor Boats Circled around Exercise Water 20141123.jpg, Seven ROCMC M8 motor boats circled around Exercise Water
File:ROC Marines Rowing Inflatable Boat to Sea in Zuoying Naval Pier 20151024a.jpg, Marines at Zuoying naval pier
File:Cimg09531ze4.jpg, ROC Marine Corps personnel
File:10.10 國慶大會中表演的海軍陸戰隊 (30195765696).jpg, ROC Marine Corps frogmen
File:Republic of China Marine Corps Chikwondo，2009.jpg, Chikwondo, 2009

See also

* Republic of China Navy
* People's Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps

References

External links

{{ROC Military

China, Republic of
Marines
Military units and formations established in 1914
1914 establishments in China