Indonesian Marine Corps

Korps Marinir
Indonesian Marine Corps Coat of Arms
Active	15 November 1945
Country	Indonesia
Allegiance	President of Indonesia
Branch	Indonesian Navy
Type	Naval Infantry
Size	2 Divisions and 1 Independent Brigade
Part of	Indonesian National Armed Forces Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI)
Nickname(s)	KORMAR, Purple Berets
Motto(s)	Jalesu Bhumyamca Jayamahe (Sanskrit): On the Water and Land, We are Glorious
Colours	Purple
Anniversaries	15 November
Engagements	Various anti-guerrilla operations in Indonesia, including Aceh and East Timor
Website	www.marinir.tnial.mil.id
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief	President Joko Widodo
Minister of Defence	Ryamizard Ryacudu
Indonesian National Armed Forces Commander	General Gatot Nurmantyo
Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff	Admiral Ade Supandi
Commandant	Major General Bambang Suswantono

Indonesian Marines with their distinctive purple berets

The Indonesian Marine Corps (Indonesian: Korps Marinir) officially known as KORMAR or simply "Marinir", Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Laut, ("KORMAR", TNI-AL); officially translated as: Marine Corps, Indonesian Navy^[1] is currently an integral part of the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) and sized at the military corps level unit as the naval infantry and main amphibious warfare force of Indonesia. There are future plans to expand the Indonesian Marine Corps to become an independent, uniformed force. It is commanded by a two star marine general (note that it does not use the Admiral title). It has two divisions, which are:

• Pasukan Marinir I / "PASMAR I" (Marine Force I) based in Jakarta for operations in the western fleet of Indonesia
• Pasukan Marinir II / "PASMAR II" (Marine Force II) based in Surabaya for operations in the eastern fleet of Indonesia.

The two marine divisions (PASMAR I and II) are each led by a one star admiral (Brigadier General/Commodore).

The Indonesian Marine Corps was formally a special operations force for the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL), then named Korps Komando Operasi or "KKO" (Commando Operations Corps). It was actively involved in various confrontations and conflicts involving Indonesia during the past. Now it still forms as one of the biggest corps within the Indonesian Armed Forces especially the Navy and usually deploys troops to UN Peacekeeping missions abroad with other service branches of the Indonesian Armed Forces.

The Indonesian Marine Corps maintains a joint special operations unit, known as Detasemen Jala Mangkara or "DENJAKA" (Jala Mangkara Detachment) created on the 1st of December 1984, and draws operators from the Komando Paukan Katak, TNI-AL or "KOPASKA" (The Indonesian Navy's Frogman Commando Force) and Batalyon Intai Ampibi, TNI-AL or "YONTAIFIB" (Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion, Indonesian Marine Corps). This unit has conducted anti piracy and hostage rescue operations in the current pirating in Somalia.

History

The Corps Mariniers (CM), the predecessor of the marine corps was established on 15 November 1945 at Navy Base IV of ALRI (Angkatan Laut Republik Indonesia) in Tegal. The marine corps was initially formed as a training for Indonesian seamen who joined the Navy, in order to fight on the ground when there is an emergency. Marines eventually were forced to join guerrilla warfare on land due to lack of sea defense equipments. In other places, the Corps were widely known as the "ALRI Gunung" (Navy of the Mountains) because it is more frequent fighting in the jungle and the foot of the mountain, rather than at sea. But they are not included yet in the marine corps for this latest new corps at that time only exist in Navy Base IV in Tegal, not in other naval bases. The marine corps from Tegal sent troops to Semarang front of the Revolution 25 times to aid the People's Security Army (TKR) whose personnel were losing to the Dutch. In the midst of the revolutionary period, precisely on 17 March 1948 there have been a reorganization and rationalization of the marine corps. At that time, because the marine corps had a lot of combat experience on the ground, the government , through the Ministry of Defense, decided to separate it from the Navy.

Indonesian marine corps battling Permesta insurgents, 1950–1960s

Corps Mariniers was then merged into the Diponegoro Division of the army by the name of Samudera Regiment and was divided into five battalions. Marine soldiers who wishto remain in the navy must submit a written request to the Minister of Defence and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. On October 9, 1948, the Minister of Defense ratified Decree No. A / 565/1948, declaring the establishment of the marine corps. Nevertheless, the acceptance of new personnel only started after the Round Table Conference (RTC) in 1949. Selection reception was held at the main naval base in Surabaya. Approximately 1,200 recruits were selected to join the new naval amphibious forces. After being examined, it turns out 95 percent of the 1,200 people who received it are personnel are formerly part of the Corps Mariniers established in Tegal. Of all the personnel of the Korps Komando Operasi Angkatan Laut (KKO AL) listed in its 1950 personnel roster, 90 percent of the personnel were veterans of the Corps Mariniers of 1945. Therefore, the existence of marine Corps formed in 15 November 1945 as mentioned in the previous paragraphs, jis ustified as the forerunner of the Navy Marine Corps today.^[2]

The marine crops has been active in various military operations in Indonesia. One of the largest amphibious military operations would have been Operation Jayawijaya in which thousands of marines were planned to land on Biak in 1963 as a part of the Trikora Campaign to take West Irian from Dutch control. The operation was aborted as a consequence deals preceding the New York Agreement.^[3]

At the height of the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation, Harun Hj Mohd Said and Usman Ali (hereinafter known as Usman Harun), two members of the Marine Corps were dispatched to Singapore using rubber boats. Their main task is to infiltrate and sabotage the interests of Malaysia and Singapore. In practice, these operations are only able to blow up the MacDonald House and cause civilian and non-military casualties. In that incident, 20 fruit shops around the hotel was heavily damaged, 24 pieces sedan vehicles were destroyed, 30 people died, 35 people suffered serious injuries and mild. This incident is known as the MacDonald House bombing. Usman and Harun were unable to escape from Singapore and was eventually arrested and sentenced to death by the Singapore government.^[4]

In 1999 a plan was proposed to expand the Kormar from its strength of 13,000 troops. Based on this plan, every Kormar's base would have three combat brigades: the Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery and would be supported by one Combat Support Regiment and one Administration Support Regiment. The expansion will create three Kormar bases: Surabaya for Eastern area command, Jakarta for Central area command, and Rate Island in Lampung for Western area command. Now the Indonesian Marine Corps has an estimated 29,000 troops in two Marine Forces (PASMARs) and one independent infantry marine regiment, when combined equal to one over-strength infantry division, which includes its own sizeable mechanised amphibious and artillery units.

Following a reorganisation introduced in March 2001, the corps consisted of the 1st Marine Corps Group (1,3,5 Battalions) at Surabaya, and the Independent Marine Corps Brigade (2,4,6, Battalions) at Jakarta (JDW 11 April 2001). The 8th Bn was formed in January 2004 and the 9th Bn was due to be formed in April 2004. They were planned to be part of a new group that would include the 7th Bn and support elements. (JDW 18 February 2004, p. 18) The same Jane's Defence Weekly story (Robert Karniol, 'Indonesia Reinforces Marines') said the Marine Corps leadership is reported to have ambitions for the service to expand to at least two full divisions. However it was reported that the army was opposed, 'perhaps reflecting its leadership's concern over influence.'

Organization

Indonesian Marines

Marine Corps Headquarters in Central Jakarta

Indonesian Marines Color Guard

Indonesian Marines Taifib snipers

Indonesian Marines demonstrating to USMC Marines

Currently the power of the Marine Corps of the Navy is divided into 2 Marine Forces (Pasmar 1) in Sidoarjo and (Pasmar 2) in Central Jakarta, each is headed by a One Star Marine General. Each Pasmar oversees the Marine Infantry Brigade, the Marine Combat Support Regiment ("Menbanpurmar"), the Marine Artillery Regiment ("Menartmar") and the Marine Cavalry Regiment ("Menkavmar"). The current 3rd Marine Infantry Brigade covers 10 Marine Infantry Battalions. The elite unit of the Marine Corps of the Navy is called the Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion ("Taifib") and the Navy's anti-terror unit called the Jala Mengkara (Denjaka) Detachment. Kopaska is Indonesian Navy's elite frogman unit.

Organizational Command Structure

1st Marine Force

Pasmar I

• • 1st Marine Infantry Brigade located in Sidoarjo
    1. Brigade HQ
    2. 1st Marine Infantry Battalion
    3. 3rd Marine Infantry Battalion
    4. 5th Marine Infantry Battalion
  • 1st Marine Artillery Regiment
    1. 1st Marine Air Defense Artillery Battalion
    2. 1st Marine Howitzer Battalion
    3. 1st Marine Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion
  • 1st Marine Cavalry Regiment
    1. Regiment HQ
    2. 1st Marine Amphibious Landing Vehicle Battalion
    3. 1st Marine Amphibious Tank Battalion
    4. 1st Marine Artillery Carrier Amphibious Vehicle Battalion
  • 1st Marine Combat Support Regiment
    1. Regiment HQ
    2. 1st Marine Motorized Transport Battalion
    3. 1st Marine Communication and Electronics Battalion
    4. 1st Marine Supply and Equipments Battalion
    5. 1st Marine Combat Engineers Battalion
    6. 1st Marine Medical Battalion
    7. 1st Marine Military Police Battalion
  • Marine Base Surabaya
    1. Headquarters and HQ Services
    2. Transport Detachment (Denang)
    3. Supply Detachment (Denbek)
    4. Maintenance Detachment (Denhar)
    5. Marine Band Detachment Surabaya (Densik)
    6. General Maintenance Detachment (Denpum)
    7. Public Relations Detachment (Denpum)
    8. Ewa Pangalila Marine Hospital
  • V Marine Base Defense Battalion
  • VI Marine Base Defense Battalion
  • VII Marine Base Defense Battalion
  • VIII Marine Base Defense Battalion
  • IX Marine Base Defense Battalion
  • X Marine Base Defense Battalion
  • XI Marine Base Defense Battalion
  • XIII Marine Base Defense Battalion
  • XIV Marine Base Defense Battalion
  • 1st Marine Taifib Battalion, Special Forces (1st Marine Force)

2nd Marine Force

Pasmar II

• • 2nd Marine Infantry Brigade, located in Cilandak, South Jakarta
    1. 2nd Marine Infantry Battalion
    2. 4th Marine Infantry Battalion
    3. 6th Marine Infantry Battalion
  • 2nd Marine Artillery Regiment
    1. 2nd Marine Air Defense Artillery Regiment
    2. 2nd Marine Howitzer Battalion
    3. 2nd Marine Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion
  • 2nd Marine Cavalry Regiment
    1. 2nd Marine Amphibious Landing Vehicle Battalion
    2. 2nd Marine Amphibious Tank Battalion
    3. 2nd Marine Artillery Carrier Amphibious Vehicle Battalion
  • 2nd Marine Combat Support Regiment
    1. 2nd Marine Motorized Transport Battalion
    2. 2nd Marine Communication and Electronics Battalion
    3. 2nd Marine Supply and Equipments Battalion
    4. 2nd Marine Combat Engineers Battalion
    5. 2nd Marine Medical Battalion
    6. 2nd Marine Military Police Battalion
  • Marine Base Jakarta
    1. Transport Detachment (Denang)
    2. Supply Detachment (Denbek)
    3. Maintenance Detachment (Denhar)
    4. Marine Band Detachment Jakarta (Densik)
    5. General Maintenance Detachment (Denpum)
    6. Public Relations Detachment (Denpum)
  • I Marine Base Defense Battalion
  • II Marine Base Defense Battalion
  • III Marine Base Defense Battalion
  • IV Marine Base Defense Battalion
  • XII Marine Base Defense Battalion
• 3rd Marine Infantry Brigade Bandar Lampung
  1. 7th Marine Infantry Battalion
  2. 8th Marine Infantry Battalion
  3. 9th Marine Infantry Battalion
  4. 10th Marine Infantry Battalion
• 2nd Marine Taifib Battalion, Special Forces (2nd Marine Force)

Independent units:

• Combat Scout team (Regu Pandu Tempur)
• Indonesian Naval special forces: Denjaka, Taifib (Marines), and Kopaska
• Marines Hospital, located in Cilandak, Jakarta
• Marine Corps Training Command located in Grati, Pasuruan, East Java

Special Units

Taifib

Taifib member during training exercise

Batalion Intai Amfibi or Taifib is the Marine Corps' Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion, which also has capabilities as Para-Commandos. They were officially formed on 18 March 1961 as marine commandos. Set at battalion strength, "Taifib" is the elite amphibious reconnaissance unit of the Indonesian Marine Corps. It was first used in the Irian Jaya (Papua) during Operation Trikora in April 1962. Starting from November 1971 it was called "Batalyon Intai Amphibi" ("Yon Taifib") or Amphibious Recon Battalion. To become a Yontaifib troop, a candidate is selected from the Marine Corps who has already fulfilled the thorough mental and physical requirements, and who at least has actively served the corps for two years. The certification of amphibious reconnaissance is so difficult that the passing rate of these candidates in each class is only ten percent.

Denjaka

Jala Mangkara Detachment personnel

Detasemen Jala Mangkara or Denjaka is the special operations and counter-terrorism forces of the Indonesian Navy. This is a combined detachment formed from selected personnel of the Navy's Underwater Special Frogmen Unit (Kopaska) and the Marine Corps' Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion (KIPAM aka. Taifib). The unit was formed in 1984 by the Chief of the Indonesian Armed Forces to counter maritime strategic threats including terrorism and sabotage. Despite the specific reason for its formation, as in the case of any other special operations forces around the world, the detachment is also fully trained in conducting reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, and clandestine behind-enemy-lines operations. Denjaka's primary task is to develop anti-terrorism, anti-sabotage and other clandestine operations capabilities in support of maritime counter-terrorism, counter-sabotage and other special operations as directed by the chief of the armed forces.

Marine Corps Training Command

The Marine Corps Training Command (Komando Latih Marinir) located in Grati, Pasuruan, East Java oversees the following:

• Special Forces Training Center (Pusat Latihan Pasukan Khussus - Puslatsus)
• Amphibious Forces Training Center (Pusat Latihan Pasukan Pendarat - Puslatpasrat) trains Marines in:

1. Amphibious operations
2. Shooting Coordination Exercise
3. Personnel Embarkation and De-embarkation Exercise
4. Materialistic courses

• Marine Combat Training Centers (Pusat Pelatihan Tempur Marinir):
  • 03 - in Grati, Pasuruan
  • 04 - in Purboyo, Malang
  • 05 - in Baluran, Situbondo
  • 06 - in Antralina, Sukabumi
  • 07 - in Lampon, Banyuwangi
  • 08 - in Teluk Ratai, Lampung
• Amphibious Landings and Combat Readiness Training Center (Pusat Latihan Pendarat Amfibi & Kesiapan Tempur)

List of Commandants

Heavy equipment

Name	Image	Role	Origin	Versions	Quantity	Notes
Tanks
PT-76		Medium tank	USSR	PT-76B	70[6]	All re-gunned with Cockerill 90mm with assistance from private company and received improved fire control system and engine upgrade. Not all operational.
Armoured vehicle
AMX-10P		Infantry fighting vehicle	France	AMX-10P Marine (90mm, 20mm & 12.7mm variants)	54[7][8]
BTR-50		Amphibious armoured personnel carrier	USSR	BTR-50PK	70[7]	All upgraded with new engine, radio system and smoke grenade launchers on some vehicles.[9]
BMP-2		Infantry fighting vehicle	Slovakia	BVP-2	40[10]
BMP-3		Infantry fighting vehicle	Russia	BMP-3F BREM-L	54[7][8]
LVT7		Armoured personnel carrier	United States	LVT-P7A1	10[11]	All donated from South Korea.
K-61		Amphibious vehicle	USSR	K-61 (PTS)	Unknown	[12]
PTS		Amphibious vehicle	USSR	PTS-10	Unknown	[13]
BTR-4		Armoured personnel carrier	Ukraine	BTR-4M BAU Parus module BTR-4M RCWS turret	5[14][15]	Another 50 vehicle planned[16]
BTR-80		Armoured personnel carrier	Russia	BTR-80A	12[17]	Currently deployed by Indobatt Contingent on UNIFIL mission in Lebanon.
Artillery
RM-70		Multiple Rocket Launcher	Czechoslovakia  Czech Republic	RM-70 Grad RM-70 Vampir	17	9 RM-70 Grad acquired around 2003, 8 new RM-70 Vampir acquired in 2016[18][19]
Type 90B MLRS		Multiple Rocket Launcher	China	Type 90B	4 [20]
LG1		Howitzer	France	LG1 Mark I	20

Gallery

Indonesian Marine Corps LIAZ truck  LVT-P7A1  BTR-80A  Indonesian Marines MRL

Light Weaponry

Pindad SS-1

FN Minimi

• SS1-R5 Raider
• SS1-M1
• Pindad SS2
• Denel NTW-20
• Pindad SPR
• FN Minimi
• FN MAG
• Vz. 58
• AK-47
• AK-101
• M4
• MP5
• RPG-7
• 9K115-2 Metis-M

See also

• Kopaska
• Kesatuan Gurita
• Denjaka

References

External links

• Indonesian Marine Corps official website
• Indonesian Marine Corps parade