Early years

Sesquicentennial celebrations of The Revolution in 1932

The Marine Soldiers of the 19th and early 20th centuries were few in number and served mainly as a royal honor guard that provided security for the King whenever he traveled around the country.

On March 2, 1913, however, the Ministry of the Navy reorganized the Marine Soldiers. The Marine artillery platoon was attached to the Operation Command Department of Ships and Fortresses, while the Marine infantry platoon in Bangkok was attached to the Vehicle Division of the Department of the Navy Amphibious Assault Group.

The Revolution in 1932 transformed Thailand from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. Shortly after, the Royal Thai Navy was reorganized, and the vehicle battalion became the Marine Corps Battalion of the Bangkok Navy Station. This is considered the first Marine Corps Battalion in Thailand.

Post–1932 Revolution (1932–1955)

Sesquicentennial celebrations of The Revolution in 1932

The 2nd Marine Corps Battalion was established at Sattahip in 1937. Two years later, the 2nd Battalion was expanded into the Marine Corps Department. Shortly after that, a border dispute with French Indo-China turned violent, and the Marine Corps Department's "Chanthaburi Division" was engaged in action with the French Foreign Legion several times. During World War II, the Marine Corps sent troops to defend the southern border with Malaya and also guarded Phuket Province from possible attack.

After Imperial Japan's surrender in September 1945, Thai Marines helped disarm the Japanese Army at Baan Pong District in Ratchaburi Province. In 1950, when violence in Malaysia spilled over into Thailand, Marine Corps Troop 6 was sent to help restore the peace in Narathiwat Province.

On June 29, 1951, the Thai government disbanded the Marine Corps Bureau, and Marine units were placed under the command the Army. This was in response to the Manhattan Rebellion in which part of the Navy (including Marines) rebelled against the ruling Army junta.^[2] However, this was during the Korean War, and both the United States Military and the Royal Thai Navy urged Thailand to reconsider.

Thai marines group in Communist insurgency in Thailand

New Age (1955–present)

Four years later, the Thai Government acknowledged that a Marine Corps could perform a useful role in national defense. On July 30, 1955, the government created the Marine Corps Department. In 1961, tensions flared over the disputed Preah Vihear Temple, situated on the Thai side of a high cliff on the Cambodian border but shown on French maps as being in Cambodia. The Chanthaburi and Trat borders with Cambodia gave the Marine Corps Department its first assignment, safeguarding the coastline and southeastern border. Since 1970 the Marine Corps' Chanthaburi-Trat Task Force has been officially assigned the defense of this area.

During 1972 and 1973, Thai Marines were involved in the "Operation Sam-Chai" anti-communist operations in Phetchabun Province and the "Pha-Phum" anti-communist operations in Chiang Rai Province. In 1973 and 1974, they took part in anti-communist operations in the southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat.

Royal Thai and US Marines eliminating hostile forces during a mock raid, 11 February 2011

Since 1975, Thai Marines have been assigned to Narathiwat as Force Reconnaissance Battalion. In 1977, they captured the communist camp at Krung-Ching in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, and remaining there until 1981.

Thai Marines today are responsible for border security in Chanthaburi and Trat provinces. They have fought communist insurgents in engagements at Baan Hard Lek, Baan Koat Sai, Baan Nhong Kok, Baan Kradook Chang, Baan Chumrark, and in the battle of Hard Don Nai in Nakhon Phanom Province.

Many Thai Marines have died serving their country, and they continue to do so today, especially in the southern border provinces currently affected by the South Thailand insurgency. A monument to their valor stands at the Royal Thai Navy base at Sattahip.

Royal Thai Marine Corps Headquarters

The 1st Marine Battalion, King's Guard

Royal Thai marines conduct amphibious assault at Hat Yao Beach in Thailand

Marine Service Support Regiment

Royal Thailand Marines during Exercise Cobra Gold 2011

Small arms

Name	Origin	Type	Caliber	Notes
Pistol
M1911	United States  Thailand	Semi-automatic pistol	.45 ACP	[5]
Star Bonifacio Echeverria	Spain  Thailand	Semi-automatic pistol	.45 ACP	Royal Thai Army Ordnance Department Star Bonifacio Echeverria model M mod.[5]
Colt Commander	United States	Semi-automatic pistol	.45 ACP .38 ACP	Colt Combat Commander.[5]
Smith & Wesson Centennial	United States	Revolver	.38 ACP	[5]
Star Bonifacio Echeverria	Spain	Semi-automatic pistol	.38 ACP	model M mod.[5]
Carl Walther PPK	Germany	Semi-automatic pistol	.38 ACP 9×19mm Parabellum	[5]
Browning Hi-Power	Belgium	Semi-automatic pistol	9×19mm Parabellum	Fabrique Nationale Browning High Power.[5]
Assault rifle
M16A1/A2/A3	United States  Thailand	Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO	[5]
M4A1/A3	United States	Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO	[5]
Bushmaster M4	United States	Carbine	5.56×45mm NATO	[5]
Colt AR-15	United States	Carbine	5.56×45mm NATO	[5]
IWI Tavor	Israel	Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO	IWI TAVOR TAR-21[6]
IWI X95	Israel	Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO	[5]
Heckler & Koch G36	Germany	Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO	Used by recon.[5][7][8][9][10]
Heckler & Koch HK416	Germany	Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO	Used by recon.[5][11][8][9][10]
FN SCAR	Belgium	Automatic rifle	5.56×45mm NATO	Used by recon.[5][12][8][9][10]
CQ M-311	China	Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO	[5]
Shotguns
Remington Model 870	United States	Pump action Shotgun	12 gauge	[5]
Remington Model 1100	United States	Semi-automatic shotgun	12 gauge	[5]
Sniper rifle
Sako Defence Tikka	Finland	Sniper rifle	5.56×45mm .338 Lapua	[5]
Machine guns
Madsen M-50	Denmark	Submachine gun	9×19mm Parabellum	[5]
Micro Uzi	Israel	Submachine gun	9×19mm Parabellum	Micro Uzi[6]
M249	United States	Light machine gun	5.56×45mm	[5]
M60	United States	General-purpose machine gun	7.62×51mm	[5]
M2 Browning	United States	Heavy machine gun	12.7×99mm	[5]

Rocket, grenade and MANPAD

Name	Origin	Type	Notes
Rocket, grenade and MANPAD
M203	United States	Grenade launcher	[5]
Armbrust	Germany	Anti-tank weapon	[5]
M47 Dragon	United States	Anti-tank guided missile	[5]
BGM-71 TOW	United States	Anti-tank guided missile	Use in Humvee.[5]
M40A2	United States	Recoilless rifle	[5]
QW-18	China	MANPAD	[5]

Combat vehicles

Name	Origin	Type	Quantity	Notes
Combat vehicles
VN-16	China	Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle	3	3 ordered in June 2020[13] at approximate cost of US$13 million for the Royal Thai Marine Corps and delivered in May 2021.
AAV-7A1	United States	Armoured personnel carrier	36	Variants include: AAVP-7A1, AAVC-7A1, AAVR-7A1. Upgraded locally by Chaiseri to match with the BAE Systems's AAV7A1 RAM/RS standard.[5][14]
BTR-3E1	Ukraine	Armoured personnel carrier	12	[5]
HMV-150 Commando	United States	Armoured personnel carrier	24	HMV-150 has an 8.9 liters Cummins ISL engine with a new automatic transmission Allison 4500 with six gears, which were upgraded done by Panus Assembly.[15][5][16]
First Win	Thailand	Armoured personnel carrier	6	[17]
DTI Black Widow Spider	Thailand	Armoured personnel carrier	1 (+4)	[16]
Phantom 380-X	Thailand	Armoured personnel carrier	1	[18]
R600	Thailand	Armoured personnel carrier	2	[16]
Sea Tiger AAPC	Thailand	Infantry Fighting Vehicle	2+	[19]

Logistic vehicles

Name	Origin	Type	Notes
Logistic vehicles
Humvee	United States	Military light utility vehicle	RTMC use M998, M1097A2, M997, M1025, M1045A2, M966.[5]
M151	United States	Military light utility vehicle	RTMC use M151A2, M151A2 mounting TOW, M718A1, M825.[5]
Ford Ranger	United States  Thailand	Pickup truck	[5]
M35 2-1/2 ton cargo truck	United States	Military truck	RTMC use M35A2, M50A2, M49A2, M109A2.[5]
Isuzu Forward	Japan  Thailand	Truck	RTMC use SBR,TXD 4x2,TSD 4x4,TWD 6x6,HTW,FTR 4x4.[5]
M813	United States	Military truck	RTMC use M54A2,M543A2.[5]

Field artillery

Name	Origin	Type	Quantity	Notes
Howitzer
M758 ATMG (variant of the ATMOS 2000)	Israel  Thailand	155mm Self-propelled howitzer	6 + 6 on order	[20] [21]
GC-45 howitzer	Austria	155mm towed howitzer	18	[5]
M101A1 mod	United States	105 mm towed howitzer	6	Improve the Nexter LG1 caliber.[5]
M101A1	United States	105 mm towed howitzer	30	[5]
GIAT LG1	France	105 mm towed howitzer	15	[22]
Mortar
M120 mortar	Israel	120 mm Mortar	Unknown	[5]
M29A1 mortar	United States	81 mm Mortar	Unknown	[5]
M19 mortar	United States	60 mm Mortar	Unknown	[5]
M224 mortar	United States	60 mm Mortar	Unknown	[5]

Armoured fighting vehicles

Name	Origin	Type	Quantity	Notes
LVT	United States	Amphibious landing craft	16	[5]
M3 Half-track	United States	Half-track armored personnel carrier	12+	[5]

Field artillery

Name	Origin	Type	Quantity	Notes
M1A1	United States	75mm Pack howitzer	16+	[5]