Namibian Marine Corps Explained

Unit Name:Namibian Marine Corps
Allegiance:Constitution of Namibia
Type:Marines
Command Structure:Namibian Navy
Garrison:Walvis Bay, Namibia
Role:Amphibious warfare
Anti-tank warfare
Artillery observer
Bomb disposal
Close-quarters combat
Desert warfare
Force protection
Internal security
Jungle warfare
Naval boarding
Raiding
Reconnaissance
Riverine warfare
Commander1:Nangolo Mbumba
Commander1 Label:Commander-In-Chief
Commander2:Frans Kapofi
Commander2 Label:Minister of Defence
Commander3:Rear Admiral Alweendo Amungulu
Commander3 Label:Namibian Navy Commander
Commander4:Captain Olavi Shipunda
Commander4 Label:Commandant

The Namibian Marines Corps are the marines of Namibia and is part of the Namibian Navy and the Namibian Defence Force.

History

The Marine Corps are a recent addition to the Namibian Defence Force due to the gradual establishment of the Namibian Navy. The first Marines were trained in Brazil in 2005. The Marine Commandant is subordinate to the Commander of the Namibian Navy. The current Marine Corps Commandant is Captain Olavi Shipunda.[1]

Training

Aspirant Marines are trained in Namibia by a combination of Namibian instructors and the Brazilian Military Advisory Team (BRAZMATT) based in Walvis Bay at the Naval Training School. The first course to complete before induction as a marine is the Marines Soldier Formation Course which lasts for five months, after completion induction into the marine corps takes place and the marine is promoted to the rank of able seaman. Marines specializing in infantry are required to complete a six months infantry specialization course.[2] The Marine Amphibious Commandos Special Operations Course (MACSOC) is the toughest course in the corps and has a one-in-two failure rate; its courses last a year.[2] [3]

Force Structure

During the corps' infancy, the Navy Chief of Naval Support indicated that the short-term goal was to have a force consisting of a Marine Corps Infantry Company, Service Support Company, Provost Company, and Brass Band. However due to operation requirements, a Marine Battalion with its own organic rapid Reaction, Operational Boats Unit, and Operational Diving Team are envisioned.[4]

Rapid Reaction Force

A marine light infantry unit responsible for protection of static, FOB and naval bases.[5]

Marine Corps Infantry Battalion

The Marine Corps Infantry Battalion is the unit responsible for undertaking amphibious warfare operations. A full marine battalion has been raised initially from a single company.[6]

Service Support Company

Service support company provides direct and indirect sustainment services to the Marine Battalion as it conducts operations.Support service offered by the sub-unit includes but not limited to:

Provost Company

The provost company is responsible for the policing of Navy service personnel.

Brass Band

The band performs musical duties for military functions and any other apolitical functions for the general public. The band emulates the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and the 5 bands of the Royal Marines Band Service. The Brass Band performs at many important events every year, and is considered an integral part of state funerals, state arrival ceremonies, state dinners, parades, and other social events. Although it is a band in the Namibian Navy, it is a separate unit from the navy's flagship ensemble, the Namibian Navy Band.

Amphibious Commandos Unit

Provides amphibious warfare and maritime special operations capability to the Navy.

Operational Boat Unit

Conduct riverine patrol and naval bording with small boats particularly in the riverine areas of the Zambezi Region's Zambezi River and Chobe River.

Operational Diving Unit

It is a clearance diving unit that specializes in the disposal of hazardous materials.[5] Its role varies depending on the situation, with duties ranging from counterterrorism to explosive ordnance disposal.

Deployments

Marines Corps infantry are deployed on Namibian Navy vessels and shore installations.

Marine Corps equipment

Rifles

AK-47Assault rifle7.62×39mm
AK-105[7] Assault rifle5.45×39mm
AK-103Assault rifle7.62×39mm
Norinco CQ-AAssault rifle5.56×45mm

Submachine guns

Vityaz-SN140pxSubmachine gun9×19mm
FAMAE SAFSubmachine gun9×19mm

Machine guns

PKP PechenegMachine gun7.62×54mm
RPKMachine gun7.62×39mm
Kord machine gun140pxMachine gun12.7×108mm

Grenades and grenade launchers

AGS-30Grenade launcher30 mm
GP-34Grenade launcher40 mm

Vehicles

Ranks and insignia

Marine Corps ranks are based on Commonwealth Navy ranks.

The highest peacetime rank a commissioned officer can attain in the Marine Corps is captain. Career progression in the force for Marine officers is possible well beyond the rank of Navy captain. A Marine officer can be posted outside the Marine unit and progress up the ranks to the singular appointment of Chief of Defence Force. The highest rank an enlisted member can attain is Warrant Officer Class 1, but the highest appointment they can hold is the Namibian Defence Force Sergeant Major.

Commissioned officers
Non-commissioned officers/other ranks

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ministry of Defense . 19 February 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121018083539/http://www.mod.gov.na/pages/news_marine.html . 18 October 2012 . dead .
  2. Web site: Dungeon inquiry deferred - Local News - Namibian Sun. Intouch Interactive. Marketing.
  3. Web site: 54 Namibian marines graduate. 15 December 2014.
  4. Lotto. S . Marine Corps Undertake Section Commander Course . NDF Journal . 50 . December 2013. 13.
  5. Web site: 54 Namibian marines graduate. 15 December 2014.
  6. Web site: - The Namibian.
  7. Web site: Defence Web. Namibia receives Russian small arms. defenceweb.co.za. defenceweb. 18 June 2016.
  8. Web site: Denel vehicles and weapons going to Namibia. 19 January 2017.