Namibian Marine Corps

Namibian Marine Corps
Active 22 July 2016 – present
(7 years, 5 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

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.

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. 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.

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.

  • 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

Marines from the Operational Boat Unit on parade in downtown Windhoek on 20 March 2015 during Namibia's Independence celebrations

A Light infantry unit responsible for protection of static, forward and naval bases.

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.

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. 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 Assault Rifle 5.45x39 mm Russia
AK-103 Assault Rifle 7.62x39 mm Russia
Norinco CQ-A Assault Rifle 5.56×45mm China

Submachine-guns

Name
Photo
Type
Calibre
Origin
Vityaz-SN Submachine gun 9x19 mm Russia
FAMAE SAF Submachine gun 9x19 mm Chile

Machine-guns

Name
Photo
Type
Calibre
Origin
PKP Pecheneg Machine gun 7.62x54 mm Russia
RPK Machine gun 7.62x39 mm Soviet Union
Kord machine gun Machine gun 12.7×108mm Soviet Union

Grenades and Grenade Launchers

Name
Photo
Type
Calibre
Origin
AGS-30 Grenade Launcher 30 mm Russia
GP-34 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
    Naval officers and marines of the Namibian Navy
  • Marines aboard a Navy Interceptor
    Marines aboard a Navy Interceptor
  • Air Force Mi-17 carrying out exercises with Namibian Marines
    Air Force Mi-17 carrying out exercises with Namibian Marines

External videos

External videos
video icon Namibian Marines tackling an obstacle course
video icon A video of the Marines performing tactical demonstration