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Branch of the Thai armed forces From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Royal Thai Marine Corps or RTMC (Thai: ราชนาวิกโยธินแห่งราชอาณาจักรไทย) are the marines of the Royal Thai Navy. The Royal Thai Marine Corps was founded in 1932, when the first battalion was formed with the assistance of the United States Marine Corps. It was expanded to a regiment in 1940 and was in action against communist guerrillas throughout the 1950s and 1960s. During the 1960s the United States Marine Corps assisted in its expansion into a brigade. The Royal Thai Marine Corps saw action on the Malaysian border in the 1970s, and has now been increased to four brigades.
Royal Thai Marine Corps | |
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ราชนาวิกโยธินไทย | |
![]() Royal Thai Marine Corps insignia | |
Founded | 2 March 1913 |
Country | ![]() |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Type | Marines |
Size | 23,000 active personnel[1] |
Garrison/HQ | RTMC headquarters, Sattahip, Chonburi |
Nickname(s) | "นย." "Nor Yor" Abbreviation of Marines |
Motto(s) | กาย ใจ ชีวิต มอบเป็นราชพลี
Body Heart Life Give is Royal Sacrifice, เป็นนย. สักครั้งไซร้ จักฝังหฤทัยจนวายปราณ Being a Nor Yor (Marine) Once Will Be Remembered Until Death. (Once a Marine, Always a Marine). |
March | Royal Thai Marine Corps march |
Anniversaries | July 30 |
Commanders | |
Commander- in-chief | ![]() |
Commander of the RTMC | ![]() |
Insignia | |
Flag | ![]() |
Historically, there was no distinction in Siam between soldiers and marines, with the army performing both functions. The first "Thahan Ma-Rine", meaning "Marine Soldiers", were formed in 1833, during the reign of King Rama III. "Ma-Rine" was simply a transliteration of the English word. The development of the modern Thai Marine Corps can be divided into three periods:
The Marine Soldiers of the 19th and early 20th centuries were few in number and served mainly as a royal honor guard that provided security for the King whenever he traveled around the country.
On March 2, 1913, however, the Ministry of the Navy reorganized the Marine Soldiers. The Marine artillery platoon was attached to the Operation Command Department of Ships and Fortresses, while the Marine infantry platoon in Bangkok was attached to the Vehicle Division of the Department of the Navy Amphibious Assault Group.
The Revolution in 1932 transformed Thailand from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. Shortly after, the Royal Thai Navy was reorganized, and the vehicle battalion became the Marine Corps Battalion of the Bangkok Navy Station. This is considered the first Marine Corps Battalion in Thailand.
The 2nd Marine Corps Battalion was established at Sattahip in 1937. Two years later, the 2nd Battalion was expanded into the Marine Corps Department. Shortly after that, a border dispute with French Indo-China turned violent, and the Marine Corps Department's "Chanthaburi Division" was engaged in action with the French Foreign Legion several times. During World War II, the Marine Corps sent troops to defend the southern border with Malaya and also guarded Phuket Province from possible attack.
After Imperial Japan's surrender in September 1945, Thai Marines helped disarm the Japanese Army at Baan Pong District in Ratchaburi Province. In 1950, when violence in Malaysia spilled over into Thailand, Marine Corps Troop 6 was sent to help restore the peace in Narathiwat Province.
On June 29, 1951, the Thai government disbanded the Marine Corps Bureau, and Marine units were placed under the command the Army. This was in response to the Manhattan Rebellion in which part of the Navy (including Marines) rebelled against the ruling Army junta.[2] However, this was during the Korean War, and both the United States Military and the Royal Thai Navy urged Thailand to reconsider.
Four years later, the Thai Government acknowledged that a Marine Corps could perform a useful role in national defense. On July 30, 1955, the government created the Marine Corps Department. In 1961, tensions flared over the disputed Preah Vihear Temple, situated on the Thai side of a high cliff on the Cambodian border but shown on French maps as being in Cambodia. The Chanthaburi and Trat borders with Cambodia gave the Marine Corps Department its first assignment, safeguarding the coastline and southeastern border. Since 1970 the Marine Corps' Chanthaburi-Trat Task Force has been officially assigned the defense of this area.
During 1972 and 1973, Thai Marines were involved in the "Operation Sam-Chai" anti-communist operations in Phetchabun Province and the "Pha-Phum" anti-communist operations in Chiang Rai Province. In 1973 and 1974, they took part in anti-communist operations in the southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat.
Since 1975, Thai Marines have been assigned to Narathiwat as Force Reconnaissance Battalion. In 1977, they captured the communist camp at Krung-Ching in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, and remaining there until 1981.
Thai Marines today are responsible for border security in Chanthaburi and Trat provinces. They have fought communist insurgents in engagements at Baan Hard Lek, Baan Koat Sai, Baan Nhong Kok, Baan Kradook Chang, Baan Chumrark, and in the battle of Hard Don Nai in Nakhon Phanom Province.
Many Thai Marines have died serving their country, and they continue to do so today, especially in the southern border provinces currently affected by the South Thailand insurgency. A monument to their valor stands at the Royal Thai Navy base at Sattahip.
Name | Origin | Type | Notes | |||
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Rocket, grenade and MANPAD | ||||||
M203 | ![]() | Grenade launcher | [5] | |||
Armbrust | ![]() | Anti-tank weapon | [5] | |||
M47 Dragon | ![]() | Anti-tank guided missile | [5] | |||
BGM-71 TOW | ![]() | Anti-tank guided missile | Use in Humvee.[5] | |||
M40A2 | ![]() | Recoilless rifle | [5] | |||
QW-18 | ![]() | MANPAD | [5] | |||
Name | Origin | Type | Quantity | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Combat vehicles | ||||||
VN-16 | ![]() | Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle | 3 | 3 ordered in June 2020[13] at approximate cost of US$13 million for the Royal Thai Marine Corps and delivered in May 2021. | ||
AAV-7A1 | ![]() | Armoured personnel carrier | 36 | Variants include: AAVP-7A1, AAVC-7A1, AAVR-7A1. Upgraded locally by Chaiseri to match with the BAE Systems's AAV7A1 RAM/RS standard.[5][14] | ||
BTR-3E1 | ![]() | Armoured personnel carrier | 12 | [5] | ||
HMV-150 Commando | ![]() | Armoured personnel carrier | 24 | HMV-150 has an 8.9 liters Cummins ISL engine with a new automatic transmission Allison 4500 with six gears, which were upgraded done by Panus Assembly.[15][5][16] | ||
First Win | ![]() | Armoured personnel carrier | 6 | [17] | ||
DTI Black Widow Spider | ![]() | Armoured personnel carrier | 1 (+4) | [16] | ||
Phantom 380-X | ![]() | Armoured personnel carrier | 1 | [18] | ||
R600 | ![]() | Armoured personnel carrier | 2 | [16] | ||
Sea Tiger AAPC | ![]() | Infantry Fighting Vehicle | 2+ | [19] |
Name | Origin | Type | Notes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Logistic vehicles | ||||||
Humvee | ![]() | Military light utility vehicle | RTMC use M998, M1097A2, M997, M1025, M1045A2, M966.[5] | |||
M151 | ![]() | Military light utility vehicle | RTMC use M151A2, M151A2 mounting TOW, M718A1, M825.[5] | |||
Ford Ranger | ![]() ![]() | Pickup truck | [5] | |||
M35 2-1/2 ton cargo truck | ![]() | Military truck | RTMC use M35A2, M50A2, M49A2, M109A2.[5] | |||
Isuzu Forward | ![]() ![]() | Truck | RTMC use SBR,TXD 4x2,TSD 4x4,TWD 6x6,HTW,FTR 4x4.[5] | |||
M813 | ![]() | Military truck | RTMC use M54A2,M543A2.[5] | |||
Name | Origin | Type | Quantity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Howitzer | ||||
M758 ATMG
(variant of the ATMOS 2000) |
![]() ![]() | 155mm Self-propelled howitzer | 6 + 6 on order | [20] [21] |
GC-45 howitzer | ![]() | 155mm towed howitzer | 18 | [5] |
M101A1 mod | ![]() | 105 mm towed howitzer | 6 | Improve the Nexter LG1 caliber.[5] |
M101A1 | ![]() | 105 mm towed howitzer | 30 | [5] |
GIAT LG1 | ![]() | 105 mm towed howitzer | 15 | [22] |
Mortar | ||||
M120 mortar | ![]() | 120 mm Mortar | Unknown | [5] |
M29A1 mortar | ![]() | 81 mm Mortar | Unknown | [5] |
M19 mortar | ![]() | 60 mm Mortar | Unknown | [5] |
M224 mortar | ![]() | 60 mm Mortar | Unknown | [5] |
Name | Origin | Type | Quantity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
LVT | ![]() | Amphibious landing craft | 16 | [5] |
M3 Half-track | ![]() | Half-track armored personnel carrier | 12+ | [5] |
Name | Origin | Type | Quantity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
M1A1 | ![]() | 75mm Pack howitzer | 16+ | [5] |
Personnel of the RTMC use the uniform, ranks and insignia used by the personnel of the Royal Thai Navy, but with exceptions, such as:
Equivalent NATO Code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | Cadet Officer | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Officer ranks |
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จอมพลเรือ | พลเรือเอก | พลเรือโท | พลเรือตรี | พลเรือจัตวา1 | นาวาเอก | นาวาโท | นาวาตรี | เรือเอก | เรือโท | เรือตรี | นักเรียนนายเรือ | |
Admiral of the Fleet | Admiral | Vice Admiral | Rear Admiral | Commodore or Rear Admiral (lower half)1 |
Captain | Commander | Lieutenant Commander | Lieutenant | Lieutenant Junior Grade |
Sub Lieutenant | Midshipman | |
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