Myanmese Naval Infantry
A naval infantry battalion of 800 men was first raised by Burma's Navy in 1964, followed in 1967 by a second battalion. Some sources claim that two more battalions may have also been raised by Myanmar, but sources generally agree that the increase in Navy manpower was not matched by an increase in Naval Infantry personnel. As of 2007 the "Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World" reported that the Myanmese Navy had a total approximately 13,000 personnel, including 800 naval infantry. Janes reports that "One Naval Infantry Battalion of roughly 800 personnel is believed to be in existence" as of late 2010, but wiki claims Navy personnel number 19,000 (including two naval infantry battalions). Myanmar's military units are notoriously understrength [or over-officered, depending on one's perspective], so there may well be two or four "battalions" of naval infantry, amounting to a "battalion strength" formation of about 800 troops.
The primary mission of Myanmar's Navy is patrolling the country's rivers and inshore waters in support of the army's counterinsurgency operations. Since it took power in September 1988, the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLSORC) took a number of steps to expand the armed forces. Though the navy did not benefit from this policy as much as the other services, over the first five years of SLORC rule total Navy manpower levels jumped from about 7,000 to 15,000.
Burma did not gain independence with a strong marine or naval infantry tradition. During World War II, British forces in Burma included some Royal Marines, who harassed invading Japanese forces, giving the main Allied forces time to withdraw. The British Royal Marines in Burma received only a few weeks training for their Commando work with a makeshift fleet of river craft. After the departure of Force Viper in 1942, the Royal Marines did not return to Burma until the fall of 1943, when 42 and 44 Commandos transferred to the East under 3rd Commando Brigade. They saw soem of the most strenuous fighting of the war in 1944 and 1945 to enable the liberation of Burma to be completed successfully. No US Marine units served in Burma in WWII.
The naval infantry were deployed mainly to the Arakan and Tenasserim areas, and to the Irrawaddy delta, to assist in counter-insurgency operations, but also performing other security duties. In the summer of 2006 it was reported that India had starting training Myanmar's marines on her territory. India's long, shared border with Burma and the threat of insurgents in the northeast justified India's cooperation with the Burmese regime. India made itself clear that it did not support Burma's terrible human rights practices, saying they need to pursue national reconciliation.
Myanmar's Navy has a total of 5 Landing Craft Utility [LCU] and LCM 3 Landing Craft Mechanized. The navy is primarily focused on patrolling the country's rivers and inshore waters supporting army counter-insurgency operations. Most of the country's population centers in the Irrawaddy delta are reported to have at least one armed landing craft assigned. The Irrawaddy and Salween rivers as well as the 400 km (216 n miles) of the Arakan coast and 600 km (324 n miles) of the Mergui Archipelago, with over 800 offshore islands, provide ample opportunity for using amphibious craft. With the small naval infantry force dedicated to counter-insurgency operations, it seems probable that any amphibious landing in strength would be conducted by army troops. Due to the paucity of suitable craft these landings are likely to be unopposed administrative landings prior to overland manuver, that is, in American parlance, operational manuver from the sea. The army operates a number of its own landing craft and small boats for riverine and coastal operations but, where required, is closely supported by the navy in counter-insurgency operations.With its amphibious light tanks, armored support for amphibious operations would come from one of the Army's 10 armored battalions.
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