San Marco Marine Brigade
| San Marco Marine Brigade | |
|---|---|
Badge of Italian naval riflemen
|
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| Active | 2013-Present |
| Country |  Italy |
| Allegiance |  NATO |
| Branch | Italian Navy |
| Role | Naval infantry |
| Size | ca. 3,800 |
| Garrison/HQ | Caserma “Carlotto”, Brindisi, Italy |
| Nickname(s) | Marò |
| Patron | St. Mark |
| Motto | "PER MARE, PER TERRAM" |
| March | "Pace armata" (by V. Musso) |
The "San Marco" Marine Brigade (Italian: Brigata Marina "San Marco") is an amphibious formation of the Italian Navy established on 1 March 2013, reorganizing the Navy Landing Force.[1] It has its command in Brindisi.
It is a joint formation, framed within the amphibious projection force, whose Commander is the same Admiral who serves as Commander of the San Marco Brigade.
Contents
History
A joint Italian-Spanish landing force (SILF - Spanish Italian Landing Force) was established on 23 November 1996, in order to operate in international combat theaters on behalf of NATO.
The SILF was structured in the form of an amphibious brigade, consisting of two manoeuvre units, one being "San Marco" Regiment, of marine infantry, artillery, anti-armour and air defense weapons, reconnaissance and demolition, engineers, helicopters and air support, IFVs and assault vehicles.
On 1 October 1999, the Landing Force of the Navy was created, under the command of a Rear Admiral, stationed in Brindisi Naval Base and formed in two regiments: the "San Marco" Regiment and the "Carlotto" Regiment, both controlled by a Captain, and the Landing Craft Group, commanded by a Commander.
The Landing Force was renamed from 1 March 2013 as "San Marco" Marine Brigade, still being based in Brindisi, but consisting of three regiments, totalling about 3,800 marines.[1] It is commanded by an Admiral, reporting directly to the Commander in Chief of the Italian Navy Fleet Command (CINCNAV).
With the Lagunari regiment of Italian Army form the Forza di proiezione dal mare (Landing projection force), reporting to the Chief of the Defence Staff.
Organization
The brigade is organized as follows, in January 2016:[2]
- Headquarters and Headquarters Service Command
- Command Support Battalion - assets directly employed by the Commander:
- Reconnaissance Company, which performs advanced force and reconnaissance operations
- C4 Company, which ensures the preparation and management of telecommunications networks
- Technical Support Company
- 1st San Marco Regiment - amphibious landing force:
- Command Battalion
- Command Company with a Air Support Element team
- Signal Company
- Parachutist Diver Company
- Combat Engineer Platoon
- HUMINT Platoon
- 2x platoons with Supporting Arms Liaison Team
- 1st Assault Battalion Grado
- 1st Assault Company
- 2nd Assault Company
- Fire Support Company
- 2nd Assault Battalion Venezia
- 3rd Assault Company
- 4th Assault Company
- Fire Support Company
- 3rd Combat Support Battalion Golametto
- Command Platoon
- Logistic Company
- Tactical Transport Company
- Medical Company
- Command Battalion
- 2nd San Marco Regiment - maritime interdiction operations and embarked protection teams:
- Command Platoon
- Naval Operations Battalion
- 2x Naval Operations Companies
- Interdiction and Protection Battalion
- Force Protection Company
- Port Protection Company
- 3rd San Marco Regiment - naval installation protection and recruit training:
- Installation Protection Battalion North
- Installation Protection Company Liguria protecting the military harbor and arsenal in La Spezia
- Installation Protection Battalion Central-Rome protecting the Navy General Staff in Rome
- Installation Protection Battalion South
- 1st Honor Company
- National Emergency Company
- Installation Protection Battalion North
- Caorle Training Battalion
- Formation Company
- Specialization Company
- Landing Craft Group - manages smaller vessels and fast landing craft: "MEN" and "MTM" for transporting tracked or wheeled vehicles and "MDN" transports for transporting personnel:
- Propulsion and hull Section
- Beach organization Section
- Naval Section
Equipment
The brigade can now rely on three LPD amphibious assault ships, built specifically for the San Marco by Fincantieri: the two San Giorgio-class ships: the San Giorgio and the San Marco and the improved and enhanced San Giusto (L 9894).
Air support for the Brigade employs Agusta-Westland AW-101 and Agusta-Bell AB 212, grouped in the "Reparto Eliassalto", formerly Amphibious Fight Team of the 4th Helicopters Group, located in Station Aircraft Grottaglie.
The mechanized support is provided by AAV-7A1 armoured amphibious vehicles and fighting vehicles, as well as other light vehicles.
