Namibian Marine Corps
Combat body created in 2016
| Namibian Marine Corps | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 22 July 2016 – present (7 years, 8 months) |
| Allegiance | Constitution of Namibia |
| Type | Amphibious infantry |
| Part of | Namibian Navy |
| Garrison/HQ | Walvis Bay, Namibia |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-In-Chief | Hage Geingob |
| Minister of Defence | Frans Kapofi |
| Namibian Navy Commander | Rear Admiral Alweendo Amungulu |
| Commandant | Captain Olavi Shipunda |
Military unit
The Namibian Marines Corps is the Naval Infantry 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-month infantry specialization course.[2] The Marine Amphibious Commandos Special Operations Course 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
- Marine Corps Infantry Battalion
- Service Support Company
- Provost Company
- Brass Band
- Amphibious Special Operations Unit
- Operational Boats Unit
- Operational Diving Team
Rapid Reaction Force
A Light infantry unit responsible for protection of static, forward and naval bases.[5]
Marine Corps Infantry Battalion
The Marine Corps Infantry Battalion is the unit responsible for undertaking armed marine 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:
- Quartermaster
- Finance
- Medical
- Transportation
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 special operations capability to the Navy.
Operational Boat Unit
Conducts small boat patrols 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 counter-terrorism to explosive ordnance disposal.
Deployments
Marines Corps infantry are deployed on Namibian Navy vessels and shore installations.
Marine Corps equipment
Rifles
Name | Photo | Type | Calibre | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AK-47 |  | Assault Rifle | 7.62×39mm |  Soviet Union |
| AK-105[7] |  | Assault Rifle | 5.45x39 mm |  Russia |
| AK-103[7] | Assault Rifle | 7.62x39 mm | Russia | |
| Norinco CQ-A |  | Assault Rifle | 5.56×45mm |  China |
Submachine-guns
Name | Photo | Type | Calibre | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vityaz-SN[7] |  | Submachine gun | 9x19 mm | Russia |
| FAMAE SAF |  | Submachine gun | 9x19 mm |  Chile |
Machine-guns
Name | Photo | Type | Calibre | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PKP Pecheneg[7] |  | Machine gun | 7.62x54 mm | Russia |
| RPK[7] |  | Machine gun | 7.62x39 mm | Soviet Union |
| Kord machine gun[7] |  | Machine gun | 12.7×108mm | Soviet Union |
Grenades and Grenade Launchers
Name | Photo | Type | Calibre | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AGS-30[7] |  | Grenade Launcher | 30 mm | Russia |
| GP-34[7] |  | Grenade Launcher | 40 mm | Soviet Union |
Anti-Tank Weapons
Name | Photo | Type | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| RPG-7 |  | Grenade Launcher | Soviet Union |
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
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Namibian Marine Corps
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marine Commandant | Commander | Lieutenant commander | Lieutenant | Lieutenant (junior grade) | Ensign | Midshipman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- Non-commissioned officers/Other ranks
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Namibian Marine Corps
|  |  |  |  |  |  | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 2 | Chief petty officer | Petty officer | Leading seaman | Able seaman | Seaman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gallery
-
Naval officers and marines of the Namibian Navy -
Marines aboard a Navy Interceptor -
Air Force Mi-17 carrying out exercises with Namibian Marines
External videos
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Namibian Marines tackling an obstacle course | |
| A video of the Marines performing tactical demonstration |
References
- ^ "Ministry of Defense". Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ a b Marketing, Intouch Interactive. "Dungeon inquiry deferred - Local News - Namibian Sun".
- ^ "54 Namibian marines graduate". 15 December 2014.
- ^ Lotto, S (December 2013). "Marine Corps Undertake Section Commander Course". NDF Journal. 50: 13.
- ^ a b "54 Namibian marines graduate". 15 December 2014.
- ^ "- The Namibian".
- ^ a b c d e f g h Defence Web. "Namibia receives Russian small arms". defenceweb.co.za. defenceweb. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ^ "Denel vehicles and weapons going to Namibia". 19 January 2017.
