The Venezuelan Bolivarian Marine Corps are known as the Bolivarian Marine Infantry or formally as the Marine Division "General Simon Bolivar" (División de Infantería de Marina General Simón Bolívar) and is part of the Venezuelan Navy. Its motto: Por la Patria y por la Armada (For the Fatherland and for the Navy).
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The Venezuelan Marines trace their history back to the combined marines corps of Gran Colombia which was formed in 1822 and was dissolved in 1829 following Venezuela's secession from Gran Colombia. This was surprising as the Marine Corps of the Confederation largely consisted of Venezuelans. The Marines' most notable engagement in this era was the Battle of Lake Maracaibo (1823).
The Venezuelan marines were formed at Puerto Cabello on 1 July 1938 when a company was formed to provide ships detachments. A second company was formed on 8 December 1939 and a third in 1943. They were then merged into the Naval Infantry Battalion (Batallone de Infanteria de Marina -BIM) Simon Bolivar, headquartered at Puerto Cabello, on 11 December 1945. This is looked upon as the official anniversary of the marines. In February 1946 a second BIM General Rafael Urdaneta was raised at Puerto Cabello and the original BIM became the 1st battalion and was then moved to Marquetia. Marine headquarters was then located in Caracas. The third Battalion Mariscal Jose Antonio de Sucre was then formed in 1958 at Carupano. In the late 1970s the Amphibious Assault Company, equipped with LVTP-7 and the Marine Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company, equipped with M-42 Dusters, were raised. The 4th Battalion General Francisco de Miranda was formed in the early 1980s and initially consisted of the Amphibious Assault Company and the Marine Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company.[1]
In June 1962, 2d BIM at Puerto Cabello mutinied. The mutiny was put down by the navy and other marines.
Between 1975 and 1994 the marines underwent two new adjustments to its organization. On 11 December 2000, by presidential decree, the Marine Infantry were honored with the name Gen. Simón Bolívar Marine Division. On 15 October 2003 the Naval Police Command Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho was integrated into the Marines.
On 5 April 2005, the Corps of Engineers, was activated and placed directly under the General Command of the Navy by Presidential Resolution No. DG-031,764 dated 21 July 2005. In turn, the Naval Police Brigade "Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho Antonio José de Sucre" wa reestablished as the Naval Police Command ceasing its dependence on the Division and remained attached to the Naval Operations Command.
Headquartered in Meseta de Mamo, Vargas, the estimated numerical strength of this unit is of approx. 20,000 men and women. Its mission is to "enlist and direct its units in order to form the disembarking force and/or support of amphibious or special operations; executing naval safeguarding and environmental policing, as well as actively participating in the national development".
Vice Admiral Diego Guerra Barreto is the current commandant.
1st Marine Brigade General Carlos Soublette
2nd Marine Brigade RADM José Eugenio Hernández
5th Marine Riverline Brigade LTCDR José Tomas Machado
6th Marine Border (Riverine) Brigade General in Chief José Antonio Páez
7th Border (Riverine) brigade Brigade General Franz António Risques Irribarren
Each border/riverine command consists of the following:
These units have a base of operations and five naval outposts with a Marine company and no less than 6 assault and river combat speedboats each.
Naval Construction Brigade RADM José Ramón Yépez
9th Naval Police Brigade "Grand Marshal of Ayacucho"
Naval Reserve Brigade
Naval Infantry's equipment is the same standard issue as the rest of the armed forces, excluding Special Forces armaments. Armored units and heavy equipments of the Naval Infantry is the following:
Armor
Artillery and anti-aircraft batteries
Tactical and transport land vehicles
Speedboats and launches
Other models in service include Caroní, Manapiare, Caimán, 22 Apure/Apure II assault launches, (all designed and made in Venezuela) and US Coibas.