History of Marines in Timeline

Marines are military personnel trained for land and sea operations, specializing in amphibious warfare. Historically, they raided ashore, boarded vessels during naval combat, and maintained shipboard security. Modern marines engage in rapid response, humanitarian aid, special operations, and counter-terrorism. In most countries, marines are part of the navy, like the UK's Royal Marines or Russia's Naval Infantry. However, they can also be part of the land army, such as the French Troupes de Marine, or an independent military branch, like the US Marine Corps or the Ukrainian Marine Corps.

1900: Troupes de marine under War Ministry orders

In 1900, the Troupes de marine were placed under the command of the War Ministry and renamed Troupes Coloniales (Colonial Forces).

1911: 1911 Revolution

Following the 1911 Revolution and the collapse of the Qing dynasty's rule over China followed by its puppeting by the Empire of Japan

1911: Renaming to Royal Australian Naval Brigade

In 1911, With the formation of the Royal Australian Navy the Commonwealth Naval Militia were renamed the Royal Australian Naval Brigade.

1914: Establishment of Republic of China Marine Corps

In 1914, the Republic of China Marine Corps was established in mainland China following the 1911 Revolution and is the amphibious branch of the Republic of China Navy.

1915: Peak of the Naval Brigade

In 1915, the Royal Australian Naval Brigade reached its peak, numbering 2,817 officers and men.

1917: Mutinied sailors of Petrograd

In 1917, the Stavka ordered formation of naval infantry brigades from surplus ship crew or shore duty sailors, building on the visuals of the mutinied sailors of Petrograd.

1919: Origin of 32nd Marine Brigade

In 1919, the 32nd Marine Brigade's origin can be traced back as the 32nd Infantry Regiment.

1919: Battalion Creation and Operation

In 1919, the Meredessantpataljon, a short-lived infantry battalion of the Estonian Navy, was created from the crews of Estonian surface warships, operating from March to June in 1919, and primarily used on the Southern Front during the Estonian War of Independence.

1920: Disbandment of the Naval Brigade

In 1920, the Royal Australian Naval Brigade was disbanded and volunteers were absorbed into the Royal Australian Naval Reserve.

1921: Soviet Naval Infantry Participation in Kronstadt Mutiny

In 1921, prior to World War II, members of the Soviet Naval Infantry took part in the mutiny against the Soviet government by the Baltic Fleet garrison on the Kronstadt island fort on the back end of the Russian Civil War. The mutiny was quickly put down by Soviet forces with retaliation against the rebels by the Soviet government resulting in their eventual execution.

1921: Kronstadt mutiny

In 1921, some Soviet Naval Infantrymen who previously aligned with the Bolsheviks during the civil war, took part in a mutiny against the Soviet government on the Kronstadt island fortress.

1931: Japan's invasion of Manchuria

Following the 1911 Revolution, in 1931 Japan started the invasion of Manchuria as part of Japan's imperial expansion into China.

1932: Foundation of Royal Thai Marine Corps

In 1932, the Royal Thai Marine Corps was founded, when the first battalion was formed with the assistance of the United States Marine Corps.

1932: Creation of Regimiento de Infanteria de Marina Riachuelo

In the final stages of the Chaco War from 1932–1935, the three-battalion sized Regimiento de Infanteria de Marina Riachuelo was created for Paraguayan Marine Corps.

1932: Japan carved out the state of Manchukuo

Japan's 1931-1932 invasion of Manchuria as part of Japan's imperial expansion into China, the Japanese carved out the state of Manchukuo from the former territories of Manchuria for former Emperor of Qing China.

1935: Reappearance of Argentine Marines

Between 1935 and 1938, the Argentine marines reappeared in the form of five battalions of Marine Infantry, serving both on board ship and in coastal defense fortifications.

1936: Establishment of Rifle Companies

In 1936, the modern Colombian Marine Corps dates from the establishment of two rifle companies.

1940: Expansion to a Regiment

In 1940, the Royal Thai Marine Corps expanded to a regiment.

1940: Battle Honor: Rotterdam

The Korps Mariniers' colors include the battle honor Rotterdam from 1940.

1942: Battle Honor: Java Sea

The Korps Mariniers' colors include the battle honor Java Sea from 1942.

1946: Service During Civil War

From 1946 to 1958, the Colombian Marine Corps saw service during the civil war between Conservatives and Liberals and provided volunteers for service in the Korean War.

1947: Battle Honor: Java and Madoera

The Korps Mariniers' colors include the battle honor Java and Madoera (1947–1948).

November 7, 1950: Formation of the Philippine Marine Corps

On November 7, 1950, the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) was formed. It is considered the first and foremost unit to be involved in any amphibious or seaborne clashes.

October 13, 1954: Establishment of the Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps

On October 13, 1954, the Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps (VNMC) was established by Ngo Dinh Diem, then prime minister of what was then the State of Vietnam.

1958: Designation change to Troupes d'Outre-Mer

In 1958, the designation of Troupes Coloniales was changed to Troupes d'Outre-Mer (Overseas Forces).

1960: Foundation of Cambodian Marine Corps

In 1960, the Cambodian Marine Corps, or Corps de Fusiliers-Marins Khmères (CFMK), was founded.

1961: Reversion to Troupes de marine

In 1961, the designation of Troupes d'Outre-Mer reverted to the original Troupes de marine.

November 1962: Formation of Ecuadorian Naval Infantry Corps

On November 12, 1962, the Ecuadorian Navy formed the Naval Infantry Corps (Cuerpo de Infantería de Marina), headquartered in Guayaquil.

1962: Battle Honor: New Guinea

The Korps Mariniers' colors include the battle honor New Guinea from 1962.

1964: Myanmar Navy Raises Naval Infantry Battalion

In 1964, the Myanmar Navy raised a naval infantry battalion of 800 men.

1967: Reorganization of the 32nd Marines Regiment

In 1967, the 32nd Infantry Regiment was reorganized and designated as a naval infantry unit under the banner of the 32nd Marines Regiment.

1967: Myanmar Navy Raises Second Battalion

In 1967, the Myanmar Navy raised a second naval infantry battalion.

1968: Reorganization of Infantería de Marina

In 1968, the Infantería de Marina was reorganized as a separate corps within the Argentine Navy.

1970: Reorganization under Khmer National Navy

After Lon Nol’s coup of 1970, FARK was reorganised to be Khmer National Armed Forces (FANK) and the naval infantry came under the jurisdiction of the Khmer National Navy (MNK).

1970: Cambodian Marine Corps Active During Civil War

During the Cambodian Civil War, from 1970 to 1975, the Cambodian Marine Corps was active, but effectively disbanded by the end of the Cambodian–Vietnamese War.

November 1971: Formation of 307th Marine Infantry Battalion

In November 1971, the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion was formed as the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion for the defence of the Danube Delta and Romanian Black Sea shore.

May 1975: Disbandment of the Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps

In May 1975, the TQLC (Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps) was disbanded as a result of the fall of Saigon, marking the conclusion of the Vietnam War.

1979: Establishment of the South Africa Marine Corps

In 1979, the South Africa Marine Corps was established as a subbranch of the South African Navy, with the primary purpose of protecting harbors.

1979: Expansion of Iranian Marines

Since the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the number of marines in the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN) has expanded to 2,600 personnel.

1982: Establishment of Honduran Marine Infantry Battalion

In 1982, the Honduran Navy established at least one 600-man marine infantry battalion (Batallón de Infantería de Marina or BIM).

1982: Deployment of IMAP Detachments

Since 1982, IMAP detachments have been deployed under army command in counter-insurgency operations.

1985: Establishment of RFM

In 1985, the RFM (likely referring to a Marine force) was established with approximately 7000 soldiers.

1989: Disbandment of the South Africa Marine Corps

In 1989, the South Africa Marine Corps was disbanded following a major restructuring of the Navy at the end of the South African Border War.

April 14, 1990: Re-establishment of Pakistan Marines Corps

On April 14, 1990, the Pakistan Marines Corps of the Pakistan Navy was re-established at a division-level size with about 3,600 men.

1991: Croatian Navy Forms Naval Infantry Companies

During the Croatian War of Independence from 1991 to 1995, the Croatian Navy formed naval infantry companies.

1992: Battle Honor: Cambodia

The Korps Mariniers' colors include the battle honor Cambodia (1992–1993).

1993: Foundation of Ukrainian Marine Corps

In 1993, the Ukrainian Marine Corps was founded from a unit of the former Soviet Naval Infantry.

2000: Disbandment of Bornholm Infantry Regiment

In 2000, the Bornholm Infantry Regiment, formerly the Marineregimentet, was disbanded.

2007: Creation of Cambodian Marine Force

In 2007, the Royal Cambodian Navy created a force of 2,000 marines known as the 31st Naval Infantry Brigade.

2010: Status of Polish Marine Unit

As of 2010, there are no plans by the Polish Army to create an active marine unit, even though the 7th Coastal Defense Brigade carries out limited-scale exercises of amphibious assaults.

2010: Iraqi Navy Force Size

By 2010, the Iraqi Navy was expected to consist of 2,000 to 2,500 sailors and 800 marines.

2011: UAE Marine Battalion Merged into Presidential Guard

In 2011, the UAE Marine Battalion was merged into the United Arab Emirates Presidential Guard.

2012: Amphibious Light Infantry Role for 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment

From 2012, the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment specialized in amphibious warfare, taking on an amphibious light infantry role within the Australian Defence Force.

April 2014: Formation of German Navy Sea Battalion

On April 1, 2014, the Sea Battalion (Seebataillon) of the German Navy was formed in Eckernförde, succeeding the Naval Protection Force.

2015: Subordination of 307th Marine Infantry Regiment

In 2015, the 307th Marine Infantry Regiment became subordinated to the Romanian Danube Flotilla.

November 2016: Establishment of Sri Lanka Marine Corps

In November 2016, the Sri Lanka Navy established its Sri Lanka Marine Corps, with training assistance from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit of the United States Marine Corps.

February 2017: Functionality of Sri Lanka Marine Corps

On 27 February 2017, the Sri Lanka Marine Corps became functional after the first group of members consisting of 6 officers and 158 sailors graduated from training.

2018: Reformation of Croatian Naval Infantry Company

In 2018, a new naval infantry company, ~160-strong (Satnija mornaričko-desantnog pješaštva) was formed again as a part of the Navy Flotilla and is located in Ploče.

2018: Formation of Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade

In 2018, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force formed the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, the first unit of its kind created since the demilitarisation of Japan after World War II.

2019: Proposals for Canadian Arctic Amphibious Capability

Since 2019, several authors have proposed the creation of a Canadian Arctic amphibious capability in Canadian professional military journals.

May 2023: Elevation of Ukrainian Marine Corps

On 23 May 2023, the Ukrainian Marine Corps was elevated into a service branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

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