Pakistan Marines

The Pakistan Marines (Urdu: پاکستان میرینز); reporting name PM; (Urdu: پی ایم‎), also known as Pakistan Marine Corps[3] or simply as Marines, is an expeditionary and amphibious warfare uniform service branch within the Pakistan Navy, consisting of the naval officers and other personnel to perform their duties within the Marines.[4] The Pakistan Marines are responsible for providing force projection from the sea, using the mobility of the Pakistan Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces.[5]

Pakistan Marines
پاکستان میرینز
Official emblem of the Pakistan Marine Corps
Founded1 June 1971[1]
Country Pakistan
Branch Pakistan Navy
TypeMarines
RoleAmphibious warfare
Size1,500 (est.)[2]
Part ofMinistry of Defence
Marines Headquarters (MHQ)Manora Fort, Qasim Marine Base in Karachi Coast, Sindh, Pakistan
Nickname(s)PM
Motto(s)And hold fast Allah's path and do not be divided
AnniversariesNavy Day: 6 September
Engagements
Commanders
Commander-in-ChiefPresident Arif Alvi
Chief of Staff of Marines (CSM)Vice admiral Faisal Rasul Lodhi
Notable
commanders		Commander M Obaidullah
Arm BadgeMarines
Flag

In the Pakistani military leadership structure, the Marines are the expeditionary and amphibious branch within the Navy, often working closely with the Pakistan Army for training, executing expeditionary operations and logistics purposes.[4]

Initially established and commissioned on 1 June 1971 in East-Pakistan, there were headquartered in PNS Dacca to oversee the amphibious operations expeditionary tactics to provide the defence of East Pakistan from the Indian Army but failed to make any significant impact that led to their decommissioning in 1974.[2][6]

On 25 November 1990, the Marines were re-organized and recommissioned under Cdr. Obaidullah–since then they have been a component of the Navy, conducting expeditionary operations with the special forces of army and the navy.[6] The Marines are primarily tasked with quick response and marine reconnaissance objectives to guard the coastal and amphibious regions of the country, and receives training at the School of Infantry and Tactics by the Pakistan Army's instructors.[4]

In 2010, Marines, in close co-ordination with the Pakistan Army, Navy, and Air Force, were working around the clock to rescue villagers trapped by the country's worst deluge in 80 years.[7]

History
Main article: Military of East Pakistan
See also: Bangladesh Liberation War, Indo-Pakistani war of 1971, and Indo-Pakistani Naval War of 1971

The Pakistan Marines traces their history back to Eastern Pakistan when the infantry battalion, dedicated towards the amphibious operations with the Pakistan Army, was commissioned in the Navy on 1 June 1971.:76[3] Initially, the Marines were modeled based on the British Royal Marines and were aimed towards conducting independent expeditionary and amphibious operations in a geographical region that was essentially a dead-level plain, which made it difficult for the Pakistan Army to conduct mechanized operations, though an ideal theatre for amphibious ground forces.[2]

The Marines were initially tasked to counter the Indian Army in Chittagong and Khulna with only four patrol boat and improvised imported amphibious vehicles.[2] Due to lack of training, misunderstanding of the amphibious terrains, operational capabilities, the Marines failed to produced any significant results to counter the insurgency that resulted in their decommissioning in 1974.[2]

The battalion of Pakistan Marines landing and ashore off a landing craft utility during a training exercise in support of Operation Bright Star.

Nonetheless, the Marines continued to exists in its rudimentary form until 1988 to meet the meet fundamental security requirements of Pakistan Navy offshore establishments in the country.[8] Following the introduction of the Mistral weapon system in the Navy, the Marines were re-commissioned under Cdr. Obaidulla (PN. Service number 1558) with Manora Fort at the vicinity of the PNS Qasim serving its first forward base on 14 April 1990.[8][1]

Per Navy's request, the Pakistan Army undertook the training of the new Marines personnel at the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul and later at the School of Infantry and Tactics in Quetta, aiming to raise an infantry unit to guard the offshore establishments of the Navy.:159[9]

Initially, the Marines objectives were to provide security and cover to the offshore establishments of the Navy while aiding the federal government using the Navy's mobility.[8] Headquarters of the Marines was relocated from the PNS Himalaya (Navy's only boot camp) to the Manora Fort in the PNS Qasim that was renamed as Marine Base Qasim in 1994.[8] The commissioning Marines consisted of eighty commissioned officers, sixty seven chief petty officers from general service and forty three Marines.[8] Its first battalion was activated in September 1971.[8]

As part of the first combat assignment, the Marines were deployed at the Sir Creek region during the last decade, threat on the South-Eastern border increased manifolds, warranting an immediate response.[10][11][12]

Estimating the type and quantum of threat, the Pakistan Navy proposed deployment of a sizable force in the Sir Creeks region. The then-Rear Admiral Shahid Karimullah vigorously pursued the case of an additional battalion and its phase-wise development plan. Since its inception, Creeks Battalion is deployed in its designated Area of Responsibility.[13]

On 28 March 2013, Pakistan Navy commissioned the third battalion of Pakistan Marines in order to further strengthen the defense of the Gwadar Port and to enhance the security of vital Pakistan Navy assets and installations along the western coasts of Pakistan.[14]

Organization

Marines Headquarters
Main articles: Manora Fort, Karachi and PNS Qasim
A vintage cannon in the Manora Fort installed by the Royal Marines during the World War II.

The headquarters of the marines were initially set up in the Naval Base Dacca in East Pakistan in 1971 but relocated in the Karachi after the third war with India.[9] In 1990, the Marines were organized in PNS Himalaya initially, but the organizational command was relocated in Manora Fort located in the PNS Qasim that was renamed as Qasim Marine Base in 1995.:50[15][2][16] General military administration and logistics for the Marines are operated from the Qasim Marine Base in Karachi.[17]

The Marines maintains and control the inter-services liaison communication between the Army and the Marines from the Marine Base Qasim, overseeing the military training and instructions on the weapon system provided by the Army instructors and weapon system specialists.[18]

Marines bases, camps, and battalions

The Pakistan Marines operations are primarily controlled from the Qasim Marine Base but are stationed in Joint Army-Marine Base Sir Creek, Army Base Ormara, Gwadar Marine Camp and Marine Base Punjab.[19][20] Since 1998, the Army helped Navy to raise six infantry battalions (approximately ~800 personnel),[8] commanded by an officer with rank of Commander (Lt-Col. in army):[8]

BattalionsGarrison/HeadquartersArea of responsibilityCommissioned Date
1st Marines Battalion[8]Joint Army-Marines Base Sir CreekSir Creek/Kori11 August 1999
Marines Amphibious Wing[2]Qasim Marine BaseKarachi Coast1 July 2002
1st Creek Battalion[21]Marines Base SujawalThatta District13 May 2008
2nd Marines Battalion[22]Marine Base QasimKarachi district17 October 2012
3rd Marines Battalion[23]Marine Base GwadarPort of Gwadar29 March 2013
21st Air Defence Battalion[24]Marine Base OrmaraGwadar coast/Ormara7 July 2017

Personnel

Leadership and training
The Pakistan Marine unit members dressed in operational camouflage uniforms with their U.S. counterparts in 2009.

The Commander Coastal Areas (COMCOAST), designated as the Chief of Staff Marines (CSM), is the highest-ranking officer in the Marines, usually at a rank of three-star, reporting directly to the Chief of Naval Staff.:73[25]

The recruits and candidates are directed to attend the Pakistan Naval Academy in Karachi in order to gain commissioned in the Marines, where the candidates pass out in courses relating the military history and training, which is conducted at the PNS Himalaya– a bootcamp of the Navy.[6] Following commissioned, the marines officers and personnel are directed to attend the Marine Training Center (MTC) located in the Qasim Marine base for learning the art of infantry and combined arms warfare, usually instructed by the army specialists.[6] At the MTC, the Marines completes the Basic Marines Course that included the instructions on comprehensive physical training in unarmed combat, close-quarter battle, security duties, swimming, small-arms handling and infantry tactics.[26]

After passing the basic military training course, the Marines are directed to attend the Pakistan Army's School of Infantry and Tactics in Quetta where they are trained together with the army soldiers.[4] Since 1999, the Marines have been instructed to operate the Mistral missile system, ordnance, and special security courses to protect naval bases on coastal areas.[27][4]

The Marines formations and personnel wears the camouflage uniforms when deployed to an operational environment but otherwise they wear Navy dress uniforms in public and international ceremonies.[4]

Commissioned officers and Enlisted rank

The Marines are the branch within the Navy, therefore, using the same ranks and insignia as equivalent to the Pakistan Navy as contrary to the U.S. Marines in the United States and the Royal Marines in the United Kingdom.:76[3]

Structure of the Commissioned officer rank of the Pakistan Marines
Pay gradeO-9O-8O-7O-6O-5O-4O-3O-2O-1
Insignia


Title Vice-Admiral Rear-Admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant-Commander Lieutenant Sub-Lieutenant Midshipman
AbbreviationV-Adm.R-Adm.Cdre.Capt.Cdr.Lt-Cdr.LtS-Lt.Mdshp
NATO CodeOF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1
Rank Hierarchy 3-star Admiral 2-star Admiral 1-star Admiral
Structure of the Chief Petty Officers in Pakistan Marines
Pay gradeCPO-1CPO-2CPO-3OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1OR-1
Title Master Chief Petty Officer Fleet Chief Petty Officer Chief Petty Officer Petty Officer No equivalent Leading Rate No equivalent Able Seaman Tech-I Ordinary Rate Tech-II No equivalent
Insignia
AbbreviationMCPOFCPOCPOPONELHNEABT-IODT-IINE
NATO CodeOR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1OR-1

Service awards


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See also

References
  1. "Pakistan Navy Chronology of Important Event from 1947 to June 2012". www.paknavy.gov.pk. ISPR Navy. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  2. Pakistan Marines (Global Security.org). "Pakistan Marines". Global Security.org. Pakistan Marines (Global Security.org). Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  3. Waters, Conrad (2011). Seaforth World Naval Review 2012. Palo Alto, CA, USA: Seaforth Publishing. p. 200. ISBN 9781783466320. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  4. "Pakistan Marines". Pakistan Navy promotional video (Only available in Urdu). Pakistan Navy Directorate for Public Press Release. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  5. (Iiss), The International Institute of Strategic Studies (14 February 2017). The Military Balance 2017. Routledge, Chapman & Hall, Incorporated. ISBN 9781857439007.
  6. PNS Qasim. "History". Pakistan Navy's Navy Inter-Services Public Relations (Naval ISPR). Navy Inter-Services Public Relations (Naval ISPR). Archived from the original on 4 July 2006. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  7. Amid the Pakistan floods: 'A village slowly drowning'
  8. "Marine Badges: Pakistan". www.marinebadges.com (in Russian). Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  9. Siddiqa-Agha, A. (2001). Pakistan's Arms Procurement and Military Buildup, 1979-99: In Search of a Policy. Springer. ISBN 9780230513525. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  10. Anis, Mohammad (14 April 2018). "Pakistan Navy set to strengthen coastal defence". The News International. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  11. "Naval chief visits forward posts adjoining Sir Creek". www.pakistantoday.com.pk. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  12. "Passing-out parade of 29th batch of Pak Marines". News International. 10 August 2008. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  13. "PNS Qasim". paknavy.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 27 June 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  14. "Pakistan Navy commissions 3rd Pak Marines battalion at Gawadar". The News Tribe. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  15. Indian Defence Review. Lancer International. 1995. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  16. Anwar, Dr Muhammad (2006). Stolen Stripes and Broken Medals: Autobiography of a Senior Naval Officer. Author House. ISBN 9781467010566. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  17. Pns Qasim Archived 2006-07-04 at the Wayback Machine
  18. Khiyal, Lt-Cdr. Roshan (3 December 2010). "Pakistan Marines" (watch.tv) (in Urdu). Karachi, Pakistan: ISPR Marines. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  19. "'Pak Marines pride of nation'". www.thenews.com.pk.
  20. "Pakistan Navy Marines' 21st Air Defence Battalion assigned to Ormara". Quwa. 16 July 2017.
  21. etl.al, staff (13 May 2008). "KARACHI: Creek battalion commissioned in Sujawal". DAWN.COM. Karachi, Sindh, Pk. Dawn Newspaper. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  22. Independent writers, reporters (17 October 2012). "Navy commissions 2nd Pak Marines Battalion and inducts air defence assets | Pakistan Today". www.pakistantoday.com.pk. Karachi, Sindh, Pk.: Pakistan Today. Pakistan Today. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  23. reporters, et,al. (29 March 2013). "PN commissions 3rd Pak Marines Battalion". The Nation. Jiwani, Balochistan, Pakistan: The Nation. The Nation. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  24. "Ground Breaking Ceremony of 21st Air Defence Battalion" (PDF). Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  25. Waters, Conrad (2011). Seaforth World Naval Review 2012. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 9781783466320. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  26. "Passing Out Parade of 55th Basic Marines Course (BMC)". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  27. "IAF's Atlantique Kill Picture Gallery - Vayu Sena". vayu-sena-aux.tripod.com. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
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