Royal Thai Marine Corps

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
ราชนาวิกโยธินไทย
Royal Thai Marine Corps insignia
Founded	2 March 1913
Country	Thailand
Allegiance	King of Thailand
Branch	Royal Thai Navy
Type	Marines
Size	58,000 active personnel
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	Admiral Adung Phan-iam
Commander of the RTMC	Vice Admiral Samornpoom Chantho
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:

Early years

 

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.

Post–1932 Revolution (1932–1955)

 

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. However, this was during the Korean War, and both the United States Military and the Royal Thai Navy urged Thailand to reconsider.

 

New Age (1955–present)

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.

•   United Nations Iraq–Kuwait Observation Mission
  • 1st Combat Engineer Company in Iraq
•   United Nations Operation in Burundi
  • 1st Combat Engineer Company in Burundi
•   United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur
•   United Nations Mission in Sudan
  • 1st Force Reconnaissance Company in Sudan
  • 1st Armored Company in Sudan

Royal Thai Marine Corps Headquarters

 

 

 

 

• The Royal Thai Marine Corps uses the Subskimmer

Small arms

Name	Origin	Type	Caliber	Notes
Pistol
M1911	United States   Thailand	Semi-automatic pistol	.45 ACP
Star Bonifacio Echeverria	Spain   Thailand	Semi-automatic pistol	.45 ACP	Royal Thai Army Ordnance Department Star Bonifacio Echeverria model M mod.
Colt Commander	United States	Semi-automatic pistol	.45 ACP .38 ACP	Colt Combat Commander.
Smith & Wesson Centennial	United States	Revolver	.38 ACP
Star Bonifacio Echeverria	Spain	Semi-automatic pistol	.38 ACP	model M mod.
Carl Walther PPK	Germany	Semi-automatic pistol	.38 ACP 9×19mm Parabellum
Browning Hi-Power	Belgium	Semi-automatic pistol	9×19mm Parabellum	Fabrique Nationale Browning High Power.
Assault rifle
M16A1/A2/A3	United States   Thailand	Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO
M4A1/A3	United States	Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO
Bushmaster M4	United States	Carbine	5.56×45mm NATO
Colt AR-15	United States	Carbine	5.56×45mm NATO
IWI Tavor	Israel	Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO	IWI TAVOR TAR-21
IWI X95	Israel	Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO
Heckler & Koch G36	Germany	Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO	Used by recon.
Heckler & Koch HK416	Germany	Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO	Used by recon.
FN SCAR	Belgium	Automatic rifle	5.56×45mm NATO	Used by recon.
CQ M-311	China	Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO
Shotguns
Remington Model 870	United States	Pump action Shotgun	12 gauge
Remington Model 1100	United States	Semi-automatic shotgun	12 gauge
Sniper rifle
Sako Defence Tikka	Finland	Sniper rifle	5.56×45mm .338 Lapua
Machine guns
Madsen M-50	Denmark	Submachine gun	9×19mm Parabellum
Micro Uzi	Israel	Submachine gun	9×19mm Parabellum	Micro Uzi
M249	United States	Light machine gun	5.56×45mm
M60	United States	General-purpose machine gun	7.62×51mm
M2 Browning	United States	Heavy machine gun	12.7×99mm

Rocket, grenade and MANPAD

Name	Origin	Type	Notes
Rocket, grenade and MANPAD
M203	United States	Grenade launcher
Armbrust	Germany	Anti-tank weapon
M47 Dragon	United States	Anti-tank guided missile
BGM-71 TOW	United States	Anti-tank guided missile	Use in Humvee.
M40A2	United States	Recoilless rifle
QW-18	China	MANPAD

Combat vehicles

Name	Origin	Type	Quantity	Notes
Combat vehicles
VN-16	China	Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle	3	3 ordered in June 2020 at approximate cost of US$13 million for the Royal Thai Marine Corps and delivered in May 2021.
AAV-7A1	United States	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.
BTR-3E1	Ukraine	Armoured personnel carrier	12
HMV-150 Commando	United States	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.
First Win	Thailand	Armoured personnel carrier	6
DTI Black Widow Spider	Thailand	Armoured personnel carrier	1 (+4)
Phantom 380-X	Thailand	Armoured personnel carrier	1
R600	Thailand	Armoured personnel carrier	2
Sea Tiger AAPC	Thailand	Infantry Fighting Vehicle	2+

Logistic vehicles

Name	Origin	Type	Notes
Logistic vehicles
Humvee	United States	Military light utility vehicle	RTMC use M998, M1097A2, M997, M1025, M1045A2, M966.
M151	United States	Military light utility vehicle	RTMC use M151A2, M151A2 mounting TOW, M718A1, M825.
Ford Ranger	United States   Thailand	Pickup truck
M35 2-1/2 ton cargo truck	United States	Military truck	RTMC use M35A2, M50A2, M49A2, M109A2.
Isuzu Forward	Japan   Thailand	Truck	RTMC use SBR,TXD 4x2,TSD 4x4,TWD 6x6,HTW,FTR 4x4.
M813	United States	Military truck	RTMC use M54A2,M543A2.

Field artillery

Name	Origin	Type	Quantity	Notes
Howitzer
M758 ATMG (variant of the ATMOS 2000)	Israel   Thailand	155mm Self-propelled howitzer	6 + 6 on order
GC-45 howitzer	Austria	155mm towed howitzer	18
M101A1 mod	United States	105 mm towed howitzer	6	Improve the Nexter LG1 caliber.
M101A1	United States	105 mm towed howitzer	30
GIAT LG1	France	105 mm towed howitzer	15
Mortar
M120 mortar	Israel	120 mm Mortar	Unknown
M29A1 mortar	United States	81 mm Mortar	Unknown
M19 mortar	United States	60 mm Mortar	Unknown
M224 mortar	United States	60 mm Mortar	Unknown

Armoured fighting vehicles

Name	Origin	Type	Quantity	Notes
LVT	United States	Amphibious landing craft	16
M3 Half-track	United States	Half-track armored personnel carrier	12+

Field artillery

Name	Origin	Type	Quantity	Notes
M1A1	United States	75mm Pack howitzer	16+

• Mercury Man is a 2006 Thai superhero martial arts action film. It is directed by Bhandit Thongdee with martial arts choreography by Panna Rittikrai of Ong-Bak, Tom-Yum-Goong and Born to Fight. Thai marines is control Afghan terrorist group in movies.

Personnel of the RTMC use the uniform, ranks and insignia used by the personnel of the Royal Thai Navy, but with exceptions, such as:

• Personnel of the RTMC wear combat helmets as part of their ceremonial uniforms instead of sailor caps or peaked caps (except officers who wear peaked caps)
• Usually, Marines wear naval style insignia on the chest marks in their combat uniforms
• Marines wear in semi-formal situations the Navy's khaki dress uniform

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
	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
	1Rank on paper, not actually used in the Royal Thai Navy.

Equivalent NATO Code	OR-9		OR-8	OR-7	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-1
Enlisted ranks								No insignia
	พันจ่าเอกพิเศษ	พันจ่าเอก	พันจ่าโท	พันจ่าตรี	จ่าเอก	จ่าโท	จ่าตรี	พลทหาร
	Master Chief Petty Officer	Senior Chief Petty Officer	Chief Petty Officer	Petty Officer 1st class	Petty Officer 2nd Class	Petty Officer 3rd Class	Seaman	Seaman apprentice

• Royal Thai Navy
• Air and Coastal Defence Command
• RTMC Reconnaissance Battalion
• Royal Thai Naval Air Division