Brazilian Marine Corps

The Brazilian Marine Corps (CFN; Portuguese: Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais,[1] lit. '"Corps of naval riflemen"') is the land combat branch and amphibious branch of the Brazilian Navy. The Corps is specialised in amphibious warfare, coastal reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, guerrilla warfare, raids, maritime interdiction and boarding operations. They are almost equivelant to the Portuguese Marine Corps and have similar capabilities to the British Royal Marine Commandos and American Force Recon.

Brazilian Marine Corps
Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais
The seal of the Brazilian Marine Corps
Founded1808 (1808)
Country Brazil
TypeNaval infantry
Size18,000
Part of Brazilian Navy
General-Command HQRio de Janeiro, Brazil
Nickname(s)CFN
Motto(s)Adsumus (English: Here we are)
ColorsRed and white         
AnniversariesMarch 7
EngagementsInvasion of Cayenne (1809)
Banda Oriental Conquest (1816)
War of Independence (1821–1824)
Confederation of the Equator(1824)
Cisplatine War(1825–1828)
Ragamuffin War(1835–1845)
Platine War(1851–1852)
Uruguayan War(1864–1865)
Paraguayan War(1864–1870)
Naval Revolt(1893-1894)
Araguaia guerrilla (1972-1974)
Operation São Francisco (2014)"U.N. missions"
Haiti (2004-present)
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief President Jair Bolsonaro
Commander of the NavyAdmiral Eduardo Leal Ferreira
Commandant General of the Marine CorpsAdmiral (MC) Fernando Antonio de Siqueira Ribeiro
Insignia
Flag
Coat of arms
Emblem

Mission

Deployed nationwide, along the coast, in the riverine regions of Amazon and in the Pantanal, in peacetime it provides for the security of Naval installations and aids isolated populations through civic action programs in the Naval Districts. Abroad, it provides security for the Embassies of Brazil in Algeria, in Paraguay, in Haiti and in Bolivia. It has participated in all of the armed conflicts in the Military history of Brazil, foreign and domestic.

The badge consists of a fouled anchor superimposed over a pair of crossed rifles. It is worn on the collar points of the dress and service uniforms and on the Ribbon Bonnet (Gorro de Fita).

History
Main articles: Invasion of Cayenne (1809), Battle of Riachuelo, and Siege of Humaitá

The Royal Brigade of the Navy

The Brazilian Marines trace their origin to 1808 when the troops of the Royal Brigade of the Navy (the Portuguese Marine Corps) arrived in Brazil (then a Portuguese colony) when Mary I of Portugal and her son Prince Regent John (later King John VI of Portugal) relocated themselves to the Portuguese South American territory during the Napoleonic Wars in Europe.

The baptism of fire: the conquest of Cayenne

In retaliation for the invasion of Portugal, Prince Regent, Dom João ordered the invasion of French Guiana, whose capital, Cayenne, was captured on January 14, 1809.

Historical campaigns
Brazilian Marines in the Battle of Riachuelo.

After Brazilian independence the force received many names and underwent various reorganisations. It was involved in several wars and campaigns: the War of the Independence of Brazil, conflicts in the River Plate basin, and the Paraguayan War. During the latter the Corps won distinction in both the Battle of Riachuelo and in the taking of Humaitá.

United Nations service

The CFN if has participated in the humanitarian actions promoted by UN in such diverse theatres of operation as Bosnia, Honduras, Mozambique, Rwanda, Angola, East Timor and currently in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

The Corps today
MOWAG Piranha is the main armored personal carrier in service with the CFN.

Staff and mission

With about 15,000 men, all volunteers, professionals in combat on land, air and sea, its mission is to guarantee the projection of the naval power on land, by means of landings from Navy ships and helicopters. The Corps is an integral part of the Navy, encompassing about one third of its manpower. Ranks are naval instead of Army, with the exception of Privates, who are called Soldados (Soldiers).

In the case of Brazil this is a complex mission, since the country has a territory of about 8,5 million km² (3.28 million sq. miles), a coast of more than 7,400 km (4,600 mi) with many oceanic islands, and a navigable waterways network of approximately 50,000 km (31,000 mi). This last one includes the Brazilian Amazon. To cover climates and natural landscapes so diversified as Pampas of Rio Grande do Sul, pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul, deserts of the Northeast region and Amazon rainforest, demands a training of the highest standards, agility and versatility. Therefore, there are units trained in demolition techniques, special operations, combat in forests, mountain and ice, and helicopter-transported operations.

Trained as a Fast Deployment Unit, recently, with the sending of Brazilian military observers, also integrating the Peacekeeping Forces of the United Nations, the Marines have made their presence in distinctive areas of conflict as El Salvador, Bosnia, Angola, Moçambique, Ruanda, Peru, Ecuador, East Timor and currently Haiti.

On March 30, 2014 security forces in Rio de Janeiro occupied since the dawn of day, the set of Shantytown Tide in the North Zone of Rio. Region is being prepared to receive the Pacifying Police Unit (UPP), Brazilian Marine Corps also provide support with 21 armored vehicles and 500 men.

Organization

The Corps headquarters is located in Fortaleza de São José, Ilha das Cobras, Rio de Janeiro.

Structure Naval Fusiliers Corps

Fleet Marine Force

The Fleet Marine Force (Força de Fuzileiros da Esquadra (FFE), literally Squadron Riflemen Force) includes the expeditionary component of the corps and consists of the following units:

  • 1st Amphibious Division (Divisão Anfíbia (DivAnf)) of brigade size with three marine infantry battalions (Batalhão de Fuzileiros Navais (BFN) as its main fighting force, along with the following:
    • Command and Control Battalion (Batalhão de Comando e Controle),
    • 1st "Riachuelo" Marine Infantry Battalion (BFN)
    • 2nd "Humaitá" Marine Infantry Battalion (BFN)
    • 3rd "Paissandu" Marine Infantry Battalion (BFN)
    • Marine Artillery Battalion (Batalhão de Artilharia de Fuzileiros Navais)
    • Marine Armoured Vehicle Battalion (Batalhão de Blindados)
    • Marine Tactical Air Control and Air Defence Battalion (Batalhão de Controle Aerotático e Defesa Antiaérea)
    • Governor's Island Marine Base (Base de Fuzileiros Navais da Ilha do Governador),
  • Reinforcement Troop (Tropa de Reforço (TrRef)) located in Ilha das Flores in São Gonçalo (RJ), composed of the following:
    • Marine Engineer Battalion (Batalhão de Engenharia de Fuzileiros Navais),
    • Marine Logistic Battalion (Batalhão Logístico de Fuzileiros Navais),
    • Amphibious Vehicles Battalion (Batalhão de Viaturas Anfíbias),
    • Police Company (Companhia de Polícia)
    • Landing Support Company (Apoio ao Desembarque)
    • Isle of Flowers Marine Base (Base de Fuzileiros Navais da Ilha das Flores),
Amphibian operations with CLAnfs.
    • Landing Troop Command (Comando da Tropa de Desembarque (ComTrDbq)), located at Duque de Caxias (RJ) - provides the means to command, control and administer the Command of the Fleet Marine Force and to also local units
  • Marine Special Operations Battalion "Tonelero" (Batalhão de Operações Especiais de Fuzileiros Navais (Batalhão Tonelero)) A unit similar to US Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance, formed in 1957 and structured for high risk operations. Its mission is to destroy or damage prominent objectives in heavily defended areas, capture or rescue personnels or equipment, seize installations, obtain information, mislead and produce psychological effects.
  • Rio Meriti Marine Base (Base de Fuzileiros Navais do Rio Meriti (BFNRM)), located in Duque de Caxias (RJ)
  • ships detachments

Regional

"Marine Groups" (Grupamentos de Fuzileiros Navais (GptFN) are subordinate to the Naval Districts (Distritos Navais), for the security of naval installations, as well as performing operations in support of the Naval District where they are assigned, while the 7th Marine Group is also tasked for public duties in the Brasilia area. They are located in the vicinity of the local Naval District headquarters. GptFNs are small-sized Marine battalions.

Amphibious operation in river.

Music
Musicians of the Marine Pipes, Drum and Bugle Corps

Musical support is rendered by the Central Band of the Marine Corps and the Marine Pipes, Drum and Bugle Corps in Rio de Janeiro (1st ND), the Brasilia Marine Corps Band (7th Naval District) and by the Marine Bands of each of the other Naval Districts.

Central Band of the Marine Corps

The Central Band of the Brazilian Marine Corps is the concert band unit of the CFN. Also known by its other name, the Symphonic Band of the CFN, it is the premier band of the CFN and is the senior most concert band in the armed forces. Their performances are marked by a balanced mix of popular and classical, as well as instrumental and sung songs. It is composed of two officers (the Director of Music and Bandmaster) and 118 military musicians who are NCOs. The band was created in the 1970s and belongs to the Band Company of the Naval Battalion, located at São José Fortress on Cobras Island, Rio de Janeiro.[3]

Pipes, Drum and Bugle Corps

The Pipes, Drum and Bugle Corps is the official marching band of the CFN and one of the only field bands in service in the Brazilian Navy. Although it is based in Rio de Janeiro, it has taken part in all parades held in the federal capital of Brasilia, since 1960. It is notable for its use of the bagpipe, bugles, marching percussion, and the Turkish crescent in its ranks. The BMPDC has been deployed to many countries in its 100-year history, such as the United Kingdom to take part in the Coronation of Elizabeth II and France in 2005 for the Bastille Day military parade. It has also taken part in many domestic events such as the 2011 Military World Games and the 2016 Summer Olympics. The pipe portion of the BMPDC has been trained by pipe units and institutions in the United Kingdom such as the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming.

Methods
Brazilian Marines Corps SOF

To fulfill its missions, the Marines land off the ships of the Brazilian Navy, be it using landing boats, amphibious vehicles or helicopters. For this, they count on the support of the navy and/or sea and air support.

On land, it operates its normal way, which includes tanks, field artillery, antiaircraft artillery, combat engineering, communications and electronic warfare.

Training

New recruits to the Corps must pass a rigorous physical training program, normally with many runs, calisthenics, sleep deprivation, swimming while holding their breath, practice shooting with diverse armaments, especially metal rings, rappeling and, in some cases, combat simulations, and when they passed all these then they achieve primary qualification as soldiers of the Corps and thus capable to fulfill the missions and responsibilities assigned to the Corps.

Uniforms

The Brazilian Marines wear the variation of the Brazilian Lizard Pattern, known as navy lizard. Vest's: The marines for a long time used the IBA "Interceptor body armor" in woodland, but they are now being replaced by Eagle industries Maritime Ciras with Woodland Cover, and Black for SOF. For the Comandos Anfibios is also issued a green version and black version of the WTC Recon Plate Carrier. Boot: They use Atlas Atalaia combat boots, in coffee brown.

Ranks
Equivalent
NATO code		OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
 Brazil
(Edit)		 No equivalent
Almirante Almirante-de-esquadra Vice-almirante Contra-almirante Capitão-de-Mar-e-Guerra Capitão-de-Fragata Capitão-de-corveta Capitão-tenente Primeiro-tenente Segundo-tenente Guarda-marinha
Equivalent
NATO Code		OR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
Brazil
(Edit)		 No equivalent No equivalent No equivalent
Suboficial Fuzileiro Naval
(Warrant Officer)		 Primeiro-Sargento Fuzileiro Naval Segundo-Sargento Fuzileiro Naval Terceiro-Sargento Fuzileiro Naval Cabo Fuzileiro Naval Soldado Fuzileiro Naval
  • Brazilian marines pose for a photographer on board the Brazilian battleship Minas Geraes, likely taken during the ship's visit to the United States in early 1913.
  • Brazilian marines protection in response to chemical emergencies
  • Brazilian Marines in the red gala uniform titled "Garança"
  • Brazilian marines demonstrate lane training
  • Marines corps in riverine operations.
  • Brazilian AAV amphibious vehicle in action
  • Landing ship dock amphibious vehicles.
  • Rocket artillery in Brazilian Marines Corps
  • Marines on patrol boat for river
  • Brazilian naval infantry
  • Brazilian Marines in landing exercise
  • Members of the Brazilian Marine Corps Special Operations Battalion
  • Members of the Brazilian Marine Corps
  • Two members of the command amphibious operations
  • SOF Brazilian Marines
  • Marines in operation of law and order in Rio de Janeiro
  • SK-105 Kürassier.

Main Equipment

Tank
Equipment Origin Type Versions In service Notes Photo
SK-105 Kürassier  Austria Light tank SK 105A2S
4KH7FA		 16
01

Infantry fighting vehicles
Equipment Origin Type Versions In service Notes Photo
AAV-7A1  United States Armoured personnel carrier/Assault Amphibious AAV-7A1
LVTP-7A1
LVTC-7A1
LVTR-7A1		 21
22
03
03
M113  United States Armored personnel carrier M113A1
M125A1
M577A1
XM806E1
M113A1G		 24
02
02
01
01
Mowag Piranha 8x8   Switzerland Armoured personnel carrier/reconnaissance Piranha IIIC 30
AV-VBL 4x4  Brazil Light Armored Vehicle 03 Vehicle auxiliary support groups artillery rocket.

Artillery
Equipment Origin Type Versions In service< Notes Photo
Astros II  Brazil Multiple Launch Rocket System AV-LMU
AV-RMD
AV-PCC
AV-MET
AV-OFVE		 6
3
1
1
1		 Known as ASTROS FN to Marine Corps
M114  United States Howitzer M114A1 06 155mm. Study in progress for replacement by M777 howitzer.
L118 light gun  United Kingdom Howitzer L118 18 105mm.
Soltam K6  Israel Mortar K-6A3 06 120mm
M29 mortar  United States Mortar M29 A1 100 81mm
Brandt  France Mortar Brandt ? 60mm
Bofors L70  Sweden Autocannon AA Bofors 40 mm 06 40mm. Using the radar Bandvagn 206

Anti-aircraft missiles
Equipment Origin Type Versions In service Notes Photo
Mistral  France MBDA missile systems Surface-to-air missile 24 systems Using the radar Bandvagn 206
RBS 70  Sweden SAAB missile systems Surface-to-air missile 12 systems Using the radar Saber M-60

Radar
Equipment Origin Type Versions In service Notes Photo
Saber Radar  Brazil Saber M-60 Air defense radar 01
Bandvagn 206  Sweden B206 Radar 01 Using the MBDA missile systems

Unmanned aerial vehicle
Equipment Origin Type Versions In service Notes Photo
Carcara UAV  Brazil UAV 40
Carcara II  Brazil UAV 02
Horus FT-100  Brazil UAV 05

Vehicles
Name Type Quantity Origin Notes Photo
Agrale MarruáLight Utility Vehicle450 Brazil
Land Rover DefenderLight Utility Vehicle257 United Kingdom
Land Rover WolfLight Utility Vehicle100 United Kingdom
Land Rover DiscoveryAdministrative Vehicle60 United Kingdom
Toyota BandeiranteLight Utility Vehicle270 Brazil
Unimog4x4 and 6x6Truck248 Germany
MBB 1720 4x4Truck200 Brazil
MBB 1725/42 4x4Truck122 Brazil
MBB LAK1418 4x4Truck? Brazil
M35 Reo 6x6Medium Truck56 United States
Volvo NLTruck? Brazil

Motorcycle
Name Type Quantity Origin Notes Photo
Harley-Davidson Road King PoliceEscort Motorcycle? United Statesused by Battalion of Naval Police

Individual weapons and equipment

Pistols
OriginModelCaliberTypeImage
 Austria Glock 17 9×19mm (Used by SOF) Pistol
 Brazil Taurus PT-92 9×19mm (Standard issue) Pistol

Submachine guns
OriginModelCaliberTypeImage
 Italy/ Brazil Beretta M12 9×19mm (Standard isse) (Known as MT-12) Submachine gun
 Germany MP5 9×19mm (Used by SOF) Submachine gun
 Israel Mini-Uzi 9×19mm (Used by SOF) Submachine gun

Rifles
OriginModelCaliberTypeImage
 United States M16A2 5.56×45mm Assault rifle
 United States M4 5.56×45mm Carbine
 United Kingdom Parker Hale M85 7.62×51mm sniper rifle
 France PGM Hécate II 12.7×99mm sniper rifle

Machine guns
OriginModelCaliberTypeImage
 United States M2 Browning machine gun 12.7×99mm Heavy machine gun
 Belgium/ Brazil FN MAG M971 7.62×51mm Medium machine gun
 Belgium FN Minimi 5.56×45mm Light machine gun

Grenade launchers
OriginModelCaliberTypeImage
 United States Mk19 40 mm Grenade launcher
 United States M203 grenade launcher 40×46mm Grenade launcher

Anti-armor
OriginModelCaliberTypeImage
 Sweden AT4 84mm (To be replaced by the national ALAC) Anti-tank weapon
 Brazil ALAC (Arma Leve Anticarro) 84mm (Going into mass production in 2012. Replacing the AT4) Anti-tank weapon
 Sweden BILL 130mm Anti-tank missile
 Brazil MSS-1.2 130mm Anti-tank missile

Historical equipment
Equipment Origin Employee year QTD Notes Picture
EE-9 Cascavel  Brazil 1979-2000 06 Armoured car
EE-11 Urutu  Brazil 1976-2000 05 Armored personnel carrier
EE-34  Brazil 1970-1996 50 Pickup
EE-14  Brazil 1970-1999 ? Truck
DUKW  United States 1970-1987 34 Amphibious transport
Ford GPA  United States 1950-1985 ? Amphibious transport
Mosquefal  Brazil 1968-2000 ? Rifle
FN FAL  Belgium/ Brazil 1970-2000 ? Battle rifle
Browning BAR  Belgium/ United States 1945-1970 ? Battle rifle
Madsen machine gun  Denmark/ Brazil 1946-1980 ? Light machine gun
INA Model 953  Brazil 1950-1990 ? Sub machine gun
Mekanika Uru  Brazil 1970-1990 ? Sub machine gun

See also
  • Marines
  • Naval infantry

References
  1. Trevor Nevitt Dupuy (1993). International military and defense encyclopedia, Volume 1. Brassey's (US). p. 137.
  2. CCSM (2018-01-25). "Futuras instalações do Grupamento de Fuzileiros Navais de São Paulo são apresentadas ao Comando Geral". Marinha do Brasil (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  3. https://www.marinha.mil.br/cgcfn/?q=sinfonica_cfn_minasgerais
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