Pakistan Marines
Encyclopedia
The Pakistani Marines (Urdu
: ), are the Marine Corps and amphibious
corps service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The Pakistani Marines are a special military operations service branch of the Pakistani Navy and part of Pakistani Armed Forces, responsible for providing force projection from the sea, using the mobility of the Pakistani Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces
. It is one of seven uniformed services of Pakistan. It was founded in 1990 and is about 2,000 men strong, with plans to grow to brigade strength by 2015.
The Marines are an elite special operations force similar to the United States Marine Corps
(USMC) and the United Kingdom
's Royal Marines
. During the training of the Pakistani Marines at Marines training school, the Marines occasionally conduct their exercises with the U.S. Marine Corps. As their close association with the Pakistani Navy, the Pakistani Marines share the same ranks with the Pakistani Navy but the military codes are the same as in the Pakistani Army. In 2010, Marines, with a close coordination with the Army, Navy, and Air Force, were working around the clock to rescue villagers trapped by the country's worst deluge
in 80 years.
. However, after the loss in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
, the force was disbanded in 1974 in order to re-organize the Pakistani Navy. Once the Navy was improved, the Marine Corps was re-established on April 14, 1990.
The acting Commander
M. Obaidullah was designated as First Commander Officer of the Marine Corps. It was decided to establish the Marine Battalion at Fort Qasim
which was at that time under the operational control of PNS Himalayas. As a first step, PNS Qasim
was commissioned as training Camp Depot Unit on November 25, 1990. The commissioning crew consisted of 80 officers, 67 sailors from general service and 43 Marines. Since the Corps' establishment, Marines had performed their assigned task with utmost dedication and alacrity.
During the last decade, threat on the South-Eastern border increased manifolds, warranting an immediate response. Estimating the type and quantum of threat, the Pakistani Navy proposed deployment of a sizable force in the creeks. 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.
is the naval base for the Pakistani Marines. It is responsible for general administration and logistics requirements of the Marines. Its roles include:
Marines had been trained as naval infantry covering both aspects of sea and land warfare. Marines are provided comprehensive training in unarmed combat, close-quarter battle, security duties, swimming, small-arms handling and infantry tactics. Marines regularly avail various basic and advance courses at Army Institutions.
Marine Training Center (MTC) is on its path to attain self-sufficiency in training domain. Initially only basic Marine-specific courses were designed and conducted at the MTC. However, with the expansion of Marine set-up and its professional ambit, the MTC also raised its instructional level and scope of courses. At present, basic and mid-career level training of Marines is being conducted on a regular basis. Apart from Marines' training, courses of varied nature for PNP, General Service CPOs/ sailors, civil organizations and foreign trainees are also conducted at the MTC.
The MTC has always been alive to the training of its manpower in accordance with the dictates of the times. The undermentioned basic and professional courses are regularly conducted at the MTC.
Small Arms
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
: ), are the Marine Corps and amphibious
Amphibious warfare
Amphibious warfare is the use of naval firepower, logistics and strategy to project military power ashore. In previous eras it stood as the primary method of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy-held terrain...
corps service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The Pakistani Marines are a special military operations service branch of the Pakistani Navy and part of Pakistani Armed Forces, responsible for providing force projection from the sea, using the mobility of the Pakistani Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces
Marine Air-Ground Task Force
The Marine Air-Ground Task Force is a term used by the United States Marine Corps to describe the principal organization for all missions across the range of military operations. MAGTFs are a balanced air-ground, combined arms task organization of Marine Corps forces under a single commander that...
. It is one of seven uniformed services of Pakistan. It was founded in 1990 and is about 2,000 men strong, with plans to grow to brigade strength by 2015.
The Marines are an elite special operations force similar to the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
(USMC) and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
. During the training of the Pakistani Marines at Marines training school, the Marines occasionally conduct their exercises with the U.S. Marine Corps. As their close association with the Pakistani Navy, the Pakistani Marines share the same ranks with the Pakistani Navy but the military codes are the same as in the Pakistani Army. In 2010, Marines, with a close coordination with the Army, Navy, and Air Force, were working around the clock to rescue villagers trapped by the country's worst deluge
2010 Pakistan floods
The 2010 Pakistan floods began in late July 2010, resulting from heavy monsoon rains in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan regions of Pakistan and affected the Indus River basin. Approximately one-fifth of Pakistan's total land area was underwater, approximately...
in 80 years.
History
Pakistan established a Marine Battalion and Amphibious Wing on June 1, 1971, consisting of a Marine Battalion and an Amphibious Wing to support operations in former East PakistanEast Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
. However, after the loss in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan. Indian, Bangladeshi and international sources consider the beginning of the war to be Operation Chengiz Khan, Pakistan's December 3, 1971 pre-emptive strike on 11 Indian airbases...
, the force was disbanded in 1974 in order to re-organize the Pakistani Navy. Once the Navy was improved, the Marine Corps was re-established on April 14, 1990.
The acting Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
M. Obaidullah was designated as First Commander Officer of the Marine Corps. It was decided to establish the Marine Battalion at Fort Qasim
Qasim fort
The Qasim Fort is a small fort constructed in the 18th century by the Talpur dynasty when the port of Karachi traded with Oman and Bahrain.The fort was stormed by the British in 1839 because of the strategic location of Karachi...
which was at that time under the operational control of PNS Himalayas. As a first step, PNS Qasim
Port Qasim
The Port Muhammad Bin Qasim , also known as Port Qasim, is a seaport in Karachi, Pakistan, on the coastline of the Arabian Sea. It is Pakistan's second busiest port, handling about 35% of the nation's cargo...
was commissioned as training Camp Depot Unit on November 25, 1990. The commissioning crew consisted of 80 officers, 67 sailors from general service and 43 Marines. Since the Corps' establishment, Marines had performed their assigned task with utmost dedication and alacrity.
During the last decade, threat on the South-Eastern border increased manifolds, warranting an immediate response. Estimating the type and quantum of threat, the Pakistani Navy proposed deployment of a sizable force in the creeks. The then-Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
Shahid Karimullah
Shahid Karimullah
Admiral Shahid Karimullah, TI, SI, HI, NI, SJ, L'd'H LM, is the former four-star naval officer who, as Chief of Naval Staff , commanded Pakistan Navy from 2002 to 2005. He is one of the most decorated military officer of the Pakistan Defense Forces who later served as Pakistan's ambassador to Saudi...
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.
Pakistani Marines Headquarters
PNS QasimPNS Qasim
The Pakistan Naval Station Qasim, or PNS Qasim, is the major naval special operations base for the Amphibious Special Operations Forces in the Pakistan Navy. PNS Qasim, the garrison of Pakistan Marines, is served as the logistic base for the Marines which is responsible for general administration...
is the naval base for the Pakistani Marines. It is responsible for general administration and logistics requirements of the Marines. Its roles include:
- Act as logistics base for Marines.
- Operational readiness of all segments of Marines.
- Defense of designated operational area in Creek.
- Provision of security coverage to VA/VPs of PN and sensitive projects of national importance.
- Aid to civil power and rendering of assistance in case of natural calamities.
- Provision of Air Defense cover to designated PN units and Karachi complex through deployment of Mistral Missiles, and Air Defense Balloons.
- Responsible for conduct of basic and mid-career course for Marines.
- Maintain liaison with other PN and Army Institutions for coordinating various courses of instructions.
- Supervision/career management of Marines.
- Ceremonial duties.
Marine Training Center
The Marine Training Center was established in 1990 to impart basic and advance training to Pakistani Marines and is equipped with modern training aid facilities to facilitate the conduct of various basic and advance-level courses.Marines had been trained as naval infantry covering both aspects of sea and land warfare. Marines are provided comprehensive training in unarmed combat, close-quarter battle, security duties, swimming, small-arms handling and infantry tactics. Marines regularly avail various basic and advance courses at Army Institutions.
Marine Training Center (MTC) is on its path to attain self-sufficiency in training domain. Initially only basic Marine-specific courses were designed and conducted at the MTC. However, with the expansion of Marine set-up and its professional ambit, the MTC also raised its instructional level and scope of courses. At present, basic and mid-career level training of Marines is being conducted on a regular basis. Apart from Marines' training, courses of varied nature for PNP, General Service CPOs/ sailors, civil organizations and foreign trainees are also conducted at the MTC.
The MTC has always been alive to the training of its manpower in accordance with the dictates of the times. The undermentioned basic and professional courses are regularly conducted at the MTC.
- Basic Marine Course
- Basic Marine Officer Course
- Leading Marine Qualifying Course
- Petty Officers Marine Qualifying Course
- CPO Marine Qualifying Course
- Guard/VIP Escort Course
- Pakistan Navy Police Basic & Refresher Courses
Facilities
Marine Training Center is equipped with modern training aid facilities to facilitate the conduct of various basic and advance-level courses. Training aids include computer lab, library, gymnasium, assault course, watercrafts, models of weapons and instructional movies.Ranks
The Pakistani Marines use the same ranks as the Navy. The ranks are listed below:| PM Officer Ranks | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Admiral Admiral Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"... (4 Star) |
Vice Admiral Vice Admiral Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral... (3 Star) |
Rear Admiral Rear Admiral Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"... (2 Star) |
Commodore Commodore (rank) Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always... (1 Star) |
Captain Captain (naval) Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel.... |
Commander Commander Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval... |
Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander... |
Lieutenant Lieutenant A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank... |
Sub Lieutenant |
Midshipman Midshipman A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya... |
|
| Uniform insignia | |||||||||||
| PM/PN Sailor Ranks | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Master Chief Petty Officer | Fleet Chief Petty Officer | Chief Petty Officer | Petty Officer | Leading | ||||||
| Uniform insignia | |||||||||||
Equipment
Vehicle & Weapons- 12 Griffon 2000TD hovercraft
- M252 mortar
- FGM-172 SRAW
- Anti-tank guided missile
- Jackal (MWMIK)
- PT-76
- Zubr class LCAC
Small Arms
- Browning Hi-Power 9mm Semi-automatic pistol
- Glock 17 9mm Semi-automatic pistol
- SIG P226 9mm Semi-automatic pistol
- Uzi 9mm Sub-machine gun
- HK MP5 9mm Sub-machine gun
- AKM Assault rifle and its variants
- AK-103 Assault Rifle
- AKS-74U Compact assault rifle
- Colt M16A2 5.56mm NATO Assault rifle