Brazilian Marine Corps

Brazilian Marine Corps
Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais
Brazilian Marine Corps seal.
Active 1808 - present
Country Brazil Brazil
Branch Brazilian Navy
Type Naval infantry
Size 15,000
Part of Navy
Ministry of Defence
General-Command HQ Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Motto Adsumus (Here we are)
Colors Red; White
Anniversaries March 7
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief President Dilma Rousseff
Commander of the Navy Admiral Eduardo Leal Ferreira
General-Commander of the Marine Corps Admiral Fernando Antonio de Siqueira Ribeiro

The Brazilian Marine Corps (Portuguese: Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais; CFN)[1] is the land combat branch of the Brazilian Navy.

Mission

Deployed nationwide, along the coast, in the riverine regions of Amazon and in the Pantanal, in peacetime it provides for the security of Naval installations and aids isolated populations through civic action programs in the Naval Districts. Abroad, it provides security for the Embassies of Brazil in Algeria, in Paraguay, in Haiti and in Bolivia. It has participated in all of the armed conflicts in the Military history of Brazil, foreign and domestic.

The badge consists of a fouled anchor superimposed over a pair of crossed rifles. It is worn on the collar points of the dress and service uniforms and on the Ribbon Bonnet (Gorro de Fita).

History

The Royal Brigade of the Navy

The Brazilian Marines trace their origin to 1808 when the troops of the Royal Brigade of the Navy (the Portuguese Marine Corps) arrived in Brazil (then a Portuguese colony) when Mary I of Portugal and her son Prince Regent John (later King John VI of Portugal) relocated themselves to the Portuguese South American territory during the Napoleonic Wars in Europe.

The baptism of fire: the conquest of Cayenne

In retaliation for the invasion of Portugal, Prince Regent, Dom João ordered the invasion of French Guiana, whose capital, Cayenne, was captured on the 14th of January 1809.

Historical campaigns

Brazilian Marines in the Battle of Riachuelo.

After Brazilian independence the force received many names and underwent various reorganisations. It was involved in several wars and campaigns: the War of the Independence of Brazil, conflicts in the River Plate basin, and the Paraguayan War. During the latter the Corps won distinction in both the Battle of Riachuelo and in the taking of Humaitá.

United Nations service

The CFN if has participated in the humanitarian actions promoted by UN in such diverse theatres of operation as Bosnia, Honduras, Mozambique, Rwanda, Angola, East Timor and currently in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

The Corps today

MOWAG Piranha is the main armored personal carrier in service with the CFN.

Staff and mission

With about 15,000 men, all volunteers, professionals in combat on land, air and sea, its mission is to guarantee the projection of the naval power on land, by means of landings from Navy ships and helicopters. The Corps is an integral part of the Navy, encompassing about one third of its manpower. Ranks are naval instead of Army, with the exception of Privates, who are called Soldados (Soldiers).

In the case of Brazil this is a complex mission, since the country has a territory of about 8,5 million km² (3.28 million sq. miles), a coast of more than 7,400 km (4,600 mi) with many oceanic islands, and a navigable waterways network of approximately 50,000 km (31,000 mi). This last one includes the Brazilian Amazon. To cover climates and natural landscapes so diversified as Pampas of Rio Grande Do Sul, pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul, deserts of the Northeast region and Amazonian Rainforest, demands a training of the highest standards, agility and versatility. Therefore, there are units trained in demolition techniques, special operations, combat in forests, mountain and ice, and helicopter-transported operations.

Trained as a Fast Deployment Unit, recently, with the sending of Brazilian military observers, also integrating the Peacekeeping Forces of the United Nations, the Marines have made their presence in distinctive areas of conflict as El Salvador, Bosnia, Angola, Moçambique, Ruanda, Peru, Ecuador, East Timor and currently Haiti.

On March 30, 2014 security forces in Rio de Janeiro occupied since the dawn of day, the set of Shantytown Tide in the North Zone of Rio. Region is being prepared to receive the Pacifying Police Unit (UPP), Brazilian Marine Corps also provide support with 21 armored vehicles and 500 men.

Organization

The Corps headquarters is located in Fortaleza de São José, Ilha das Cobras, Rio de Janeiro.

Structure Naval Fusiliers Corps

Fleet Marine Force

The Fleet Marine Force (Força de Fuzileiros da Esquadra (FFE)) consists of the following units:

Regional

"Marine Groups" (Grupamentos de Fuzileiros Navais (GptFN) are subordinate to the Naval Districts (Distritos Navais), for the security of naval installations, as well as performing operations in support of the Naval District where they are assigned, while the 7th Marine Group is also tasked for public duties in the Brasilia area. They are located in the vicinity of the local Naval District headquarters. The 8th Naval District does not possess any such group. GptFNs are small-sized Marine battalions.

Musical support is rendered by the Central Band of the Marine Corps in Rio (1st ND), the Brasilia Marine Corps Band and the Marine Drum and Bugle Corps (7th Naval District) and by the Marine Bands of each of the other Naval Districts save for the 8th ND.

Methods

To fulfill its missions, the Marines land off the ships of the Brazilian Navy, be it using landing boats, amphibious vehicles or helicopters. For this they count on the support of the navy and/or sea and air support.

On land, it operates its normal way, which include tanks, field artillery, antiaircraft artillery, combat engineering, communications and electronic warfare.

Training

To fulfill its missions, fusiliers must pass a rigorous physical training program, normally with many runs, calisthenics, sleep deprivation, swimming while holding their breath, practice shooting with diverse armaments, especially metal rings, rappeling and, in some cases, combat.

Uniforms

The Brazilian Marines wear the variation of the Brazilian Lizard Pattern, known as navy lizard . Vest's: The marines for a long time used the IBA "Interceptor body armor" in woodland, but they are now being replaced by Eagle industries Maritime Ciras with Woodland Cover, and Black for SOF. For the Comandos Anfibios is also issued a green version and black version of the WTC Recon Plate Carrier. Boot: They use Atlas Atalaia combat boots, in coffee brown.

Gallery

Main Equipment

Tank

Equipment Origin Type Versions In service Notes Photo
SK-105 Kürassier  Austria Light tank SK 105A2S
4KH7FA		 16
01		 Planned more 22 vehicles for the future.

Infantry fighting vehicles

Equipment Origin Type Versions In service Notes Photo
M113  United States Armored personnel carrier M113A1
M125A1
M577A1
XM806E1
M113A1G		 24
02
02
01
01		 Upgrade to finish in 2013. Planned more 42 vehicles for the future.
Mowag Piranha 8x8   Switzerland Armoured personnel carrier/reconnaissance Piranha IIIC 30 Delivery Process. Planned more 42 vehicles for the future (or the new Guarani).
AAV-7A1  United States Armoured personnel carrier/Assault Amphibious AAV-7A1
LVTP-7A1
LVTC-7A1
LVTR-7A1		 39
09
02
02		 Brazil plans to buy 26 additional AAV-7 assault amphibious vehicles, and to upgrade those it currently operates to the same RAM/RS standard. Planned more 78 vehicles for the future.
AV-VBL 4x4  Brazil Light Armored Vehicle 03 Vehicle auxiliary support groups artillery rocket.

Artillery

Equipment Origin Type Versions In service< Notes Photo
Astros II  Brazil Multiple Launch Rocket System ASTROS FN 06 One battery being ordered. Two more in the future (one complete group: tree batteries).
M114  United States Howitzer M114A1 06 155mm. Study in progress for replacement by M777 howitzer.
L118 light gun  United Kingdom Howitzer L118 18 105mm. Planned to acquire 30 more.
Soltam K6  Israel Mortar K-6A3 06 120mm
M29 mortar  United States Mortar M29 A1 100 81mm
Brandt  France Mortar Brandt ? 60mm
Bofors L70  Sweden Autocannon AA Bofors 40 mm 06 40mm. Using the radar Bandvagn 206

Anti-aircraft missiles

Equipment Origin Type Versions In service Notes Photo
Mistral  France MBDA missile systems Surface-to-air missile 24 systems Using the radar Bandvagn 206
RBS 70  Sweden MBDA missile systems Surface-to-air missile 12 systems
Pantsir-S1  Russia Surface-to-air missile 0 future acquisition in developing of 1 battery.

Radar

Equipment Origin Type Versions In service Notes Photo
Saber Radar  Brazil Saber M60 Air defense radar 01
Bandvagn 206  Sweden B206 Radar 01 Using the MBDA missile systems

Unmanned aerial vehicle

Equipment Origin Type Versions In service Notes Photo
Carcara UAV  Brazil UAV 40
Carcara II  Brazil UAV 02

Vehicles

Name Type Quantity Origin Notes Photo
Agrale Marruá Light Utility Vehicle 450  Brazil
Land Rover Defender Light Utility Vehicle 257  United Kingdom
Land Rover Discovery Administrative Vehicle 60  United Kingdom
Toyota Bandeirante Light Utility Vehicle 270  Brazil
Unimog4x4 and 6x6Truck 248  Germany
MBB 1720 4x4 Truck 200  Brazil
MBB 1725/42 4x4 Truck 122  Brazil
MBB LAK1418 4x4 Truck ?  Brazil
M35 Reo 6x6 Medium Truck 56  United States
Volvo NLTruck ?  Brazil

Motorcycle

Name Type Quantity Origin Notes Photo
Harley-Davidson Road King Police Escort Motorcycle ?  United States used by Battalion of Naval Police

Individual weapons and equipment

Pistols, assault rifles and other infantry equipment

Weapon Origin Type QTD Notes Picture
M16A2  United States Assault rifle +12,000 Will be replaced by IMBEL IA2
M4  United States Carbine +500 Used by SOF. Will be replaced by IMBEL IA2 carbine. 269 more were ordered.
Taurus PT92  Brazil Pistol ? License-built Beretta 92 by Forjas Taurus.Designated as M975.
Glock 17  Austria Pistol +300 Used by SOF.
Taurus MT-12  Brazil Submachine gun 1,900 SMG, license-built Beretta Model 12.Designated as M972.
Mini Uzi  Israel Submachine gun +400 Used by SOF.
Parker Hale M85  United Kingdom Sniper rifle ? Used by SOF.
PGM Hécate II  France Anti-materiel rifle ? Used by SOF.
FN M2HB  United States Machine gun ? Machine gun 12.7×99mm
MK19 Mod3  United States Grenade Launcher 40×53mm ? Used in some amphibious vehicles AAV-7
FN MAG  Belgium Machine gun 2,000 Light Machine gun 7.62×51mm
FN MINIMI  Belgium Light machine gun 399 Light Machine gun 5.56×45mm
AT4  Sweden Anti-tank weapon 500+ Being replaced by IMBEL ALAC
ALAC  Brazil Anti-tank weapon 100 Replacing the AT-4
BILL  Sweden Anti-tank missile 16 systems Being replaced by MSS-1.2
MSS-1.2  Brazil Anti-tank missile 24 systems Replacing the BILL

Historical equipment

Equipment Origin Employee year QTD Notes Picture
EE-9 Cascavel  Brazil 1979-2000 06 Armoured car
EE-11 Urutu  Brazil 1976-2000 05 Armored personnel carrier
EE-34  Brazil 1970-1996 50 Pickup
EE-14  Brazil 1970-1999 ? Truck
DUKW  United States 1970-1987 34 Amphibious transport
Ford GPA  United States 1950-1985 ? Amphibious transport
Mosquefal  Brazil 1968-2000 ? Rifle
FN FAL  Belgium/ Brazil 1970-2000 ? Battle rifle
Browning BAR  Belgium/ United States 1945-1970 ? Battle rifle
Madsen machine gun  Denmark/ Brazil 1946-1980 ? Light machine gun
INA Model 953  Brazil 1950-1990 ? Sub machine gun
Mekanika Uru  Brazil 1970-1990 ? Sub machine gun

See also

References

  1. ↑ Trevor Nevitt Dupuy (1993). International military and defense encyclopedia, Volume 1. Brassey's (US). p. 137.

External links

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