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The Royal Netherlands Marine Corps (RNLMC) is the oldest corps of the Netherlands armed forces. Founded in 1665, the RNLMC took more than 300 years to establish a permanent form of cooperation with its original adversary, the British Royal Marines. As part of a combined NATO amphibious force, it is ready for action wherever NATO requires. The RNLMC can be ready within 48 hours to carry out United Nations peacekeeping missions, as well.
History of the Corps: Admiral Michiel de Ruyter recommended the creation of a special corps of Marine soldiers at the beginning of the second naval war with England in 1665. The founding of the RNLMC, on 10 December 1665, marked the beginning of a glorious period of Dutch maritime history, and the new Corps lived up to its expectations.
The first commander of the RNLMC, Admiral Willem Joseph van Ghent, commanded the naval squadron that sailed up the Thames River estuary in June 1667, as far as Gravesend and up the Medway to Rochester. The Marines formed the nucleus of an assault party that inflicted damage to the coastal batteries and the principal English men-of-war anchored off Rochester. A few weeks later, Dutch Marines once again landed on English soil and attacked Fort Harwich. This time, however, the expedition was not so fortunate. According to reports, the Marines had to retreat because the warships could not approach close enough to give sufficient naval gunfire support. This marked the first time British Royal Marines and Dutch Marines met in battle.
In June and August 1673, the Dutch fleet fought a combined English-French fleet. The Dutch Marines distinguished themselves particularly well in the battle of Kijkduin. At the same time, a unit of Dutch Marines embarked in a naval squadron and occupied “Nieuw Amsterdam”—later called New York—until Holland and England signed the 1674 Westminster Peace Treaty.
Later, Holland and England became allies. British and Dutch Marines fought side by side at Gibraltar in 1704 and off Barcelona, Spain, in 1705.
The RNLMC’s readiness for action was evident during the last century, both in the southern Netherlands during the Belgian revolution, and in the East Indies archipelago during “pacification” campaigns. The first international campaign of this century followed the Boxer Rebellion in China, when an embassy guard detachment was stationed in Peking. In 1934, a detachment of Marines went to the German Saarland (then occupied by France) as part of an international mili
tary force to serve during the P'eb‘s^ ,t. In May 1940, the Marines foughtin** terdam, and elsewhere, and defeats attempt by German forces to croS* as Maasbridges, bridges crossing the Y River as it rolls towards the mouth o North Sea. During the 1944 Norman invasion, a company of Marines *° as part of Holland’s Princess Irene gade. After the war, the Corps vvaS panded and a separate Marine was formed, trained, and equipped u the auspices of the U. S. Marine C° The brigade participated in several c ^ paigns in East Java, Indonesia. 1° the RNLMC’s strength was reduced- ^ it remained in action until 1962, Or ' in the former Netherlands New Gu> ^ Netherlands Security Policy: In t e termath of a neutral foreign policy >n 1930s, and the occupation by peu, forces in World War II, Holland s.s^ed rity policy since 1945 cannot be vie separately from that of adjacent c tries. The Netherlands 1984 de white paper states: cati
“The Netherlands defence eff° ( 0f only be significant in the contt*jSa- the North Atlantic Treaty Orgae is tion (NATO). The Atlantic Alim'' g( indispensable for the prevents ^ war and control of existing ttn* n0eS and hence the government con
regard NATO as the foundation of security of the Netherlands.”1
^aeekggping operations to be an impor-
and flnstrurnent for crisis management 0r the restoration of stable relations. (jn- Netherlands’s contribution to the Up ec* Nations for this purpose is being Wif1raded- ,n 'he future, the Netherlands that ®1Ve preference to dispatching units
Peaci
Th -
N|e(,,e _ Royal Netherlands Navy: The c°nt:
have the special skills needed for ^keeping operations. e(, e Royal Netherlands nU,7,
. ^rlands 1984 defense white
Urthermore, the government finds eacetoa„:
•ant
( . paper
ritva'ns lhc government’s view on secu- the P°licy antl the armed forces’ plans for **** 1984-1993. In the plans, the c0p a Netherlands Navy will, as before, citrate on protecting the lines of ^D^UniCati°n ’n Western Europe, with ■A,SwS'S on antisubmarine warfare def '• The plans also provide for the (Ann?6 0p tbe Netherlands Antilles stati a’ ®ona're> Curasao, Saba, St. Eu- ^-ar hk an<^ southern St. Maarten) in the tiinbean- At the conclusion of the plan- apj hCr'°d, the fleet will be refurbished six Na7 lhen w'll have 22 frigates, shin SUbniar'nes, two combat support iCo N maritime patrol aircraft, 30 hel- a mine counterforce equipped Mar' minehunters and minesweepers, a ne Corps, and a number of supporting elements, including the hydrographic service. Naval peacetime strength stands at 23,500, including civilian personnel.3 The Royal Netherlands Marine Corps:
After the 1962 campaign in former Netherlands New Guinea, the Corps entered a relatively tranquil period. Its duties were mainly to perform small exercises in the Netherlands, protecting Dutch interests in the Caribbean, guarding naval air stations, and forming landing detachments on board English destroyers and the Royal Netherlands Navy’s last aircraft carrier, Karel Doorman. Even though the Socialist Party considered disbanding the Corps in the late 1960s, the RNLMC’s position was not in danger politically. Still, there was a need to give the 2,800 officers and enlisted Marines a more useful mission.
On the other side of the North Sea, the same situation existed for the British Royal Marines. After World War II, a new relationship developed between the United Kingdom and its former colonies. A reduction in the armed forces resulted. Consequently, upon Great Britain’s withdrawal from the Far East and Middle East in 1969, the British Government offered to assign 3,500 Royal Marines to NATO. The offer was accepted and 45 Commando Royal Marines (a battalion-size unit) was assigned to act as emergency
The Royal Netherlands Marines are coming—and not always by sea. Dutch Marines parachute into action in Norway, facing page, during a live-fire NATO exercise; they disembark from British Royal Navy helicopters, below, during mountain training in Scotland; and they even fly in the Dutch Navy’s helicopters, left.
ROYAL NETHERLANDS NAVY (B. D. DE HAAS)
reinforcement for the armed forces of Norway.
This development was greatly welcomed by the RNLMC. On both sides of the North Sea, it was understood that cooperation between the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps and the British Royal Marines was the only way to use the manpower and material of the two small corps efficiently. In 1972, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the two governments, and RNLMC forces were assigned to the United Kingdom/ Netherlands (UK/NL) Landing Force for NATO operations. Cooperation and integration between the two corps have developed to such an extent since 1972 that organization, equipment, and training are basically identical. The UK/NL Landing Force is the first permanent form of binational cooperation between two NATO amphibious forces.
During times of conflict or war, the UK/NL Landing Force (roughly a brigade-size unit) is under the command of the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic when at sea. By its amphibious nature, it is a mobile force and thereby not dedicated to a single deployment area, for example, northern Norway. Plans to withdraw the Canadian Air-Sea-Transportable Brigade from Norway have renewed political interest in the issue of
Scotland for mountain and coJ<
ROYAL NETHERLANDS MARINE CORPS (B. D. DE HAAS)
The Royal Netherlands Navy’s new amphibious landing dock ship (right) will ease the Dutch Marines’ troop transport problems, but it remains for the Marines on the ground to carry the day. Dutch Marines maintain their edge by training (clockwise, from above): “ski-joring”; manning the gun of a landing craft; firing a Dragon; and taking aim in northern Scotland.
force dedication. Dedication to one deployment area is not desirable from a military point of view. It can deprive an amphibious force of its flexibility and make its deployment too predictable.
The RNLMC has a current strength of roughly 3,000 officers and enlisted men. About 85% of the Corps consists of regular personnel; and 15% are conscripted national servicemen. Nearly all officers and noncommissioned officers are regulars, with initial terms of service of seven years and four years respectively. This high percentage of well-trained personnel enables the Corps to expand its ranks quickly by calling up approximately 4,000 reserves, when necessary. The Corps is augmented by men from the fleet: medical, dental, logistic, religious, and administrative personnel. There are no female Marines.
The largest unit in the RNLMC is an Amphibious Combat Group (ACG). An ACG is a battalion-size light-amphibious infantry unit with light-supporting arms. The ACG is not vehicle-dependent for it has no tanks, helicopters, or armored amphibious vehicles. Small landing craft usually support amphibious operations.
In mountainous terrain the group operates on foot, or on skis and snowshoes. In peacetime, two ACGs are operational. In wartime, a third will be mobilized.
Within the UK/NL Landing Force, the RNLMC elements are;
► The 1st Amphibious Combat Group— trained for operations in mountainous and arctic regions
► The Whiskey Company—from 45 Commando, the cold weather company; small, but parachute-capable
► The Special Boat Section—trained in amphibious reconnaissance and underwater demolition in arctic waters in winter
► The Landing Craft Detachment— trained to support amphibious operations with their assault landing craft
The 2d Amphibious Combat Group is stationed at Marine and naval barracks, and naval air stations in the Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. It also can be deployed as a NATO force for operations in moderate climates only.
The Netherlands equipment policy focuses on improving standardization and interoperability. Whenever possible, the RNLMC procures British Royal Marines equipment, but some equipment differences remain. For example, the RNLMC is equipped with the Dragon antitank system, the Stinger antiair missile, the 120mm. mortar, and the FN 762-mm. rifle, but the British Royal Marines use the Milan antitank system, the Javelin air- defense missile, the 105-mm. light gun, and the new SAR 80 5.56-mm. assault
(e.g., windproof and wetproof cookers, tents), most radio equip01 arctic rations, and oversnow vehic however, are identical. jj
Training: The assumption that a ^ able to operate under the physical mental demands of arctic conditio11^ northern Norway could operate W e other part of the world proved to be in 1982, during the Falklands Cod ^ Mountain- and arctic-trained ^
units deploy each autumn to n0^vet
weather operations. In winter, they . ploy for three months to northern Not" for arctic operations and ski trainingSupporting the NATO role is the nl‘*l j mission of the RNLMC, but national peacekeeping duties are not forgotten- The Royal Netherlands Navy. ^ Royal Netherlands Air Force, and Pv sonnel of the 2nd ACG are respond gf for the maritime and territorial detens the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba ine Caribbean. One frigate, two man1 patrol aircraft, and 400 UK/NL therefore are permanently stationed 0 seas. yt
Within the Royal Netherlands Na • RNLMC responsibilities include P )■ cal, military, and ceremonial train visual helicopter direction, and keep
a(](|.and order on board navy ships. In l0n> Marine Band and Fifes and j n's are regarded as a group of travel-
^ ambassadors.
gCe 0cl°ber 1987, RNLMC person- pro^u*Pped with Stinger antiair missiles c°nilY a'r defense for the ships of the Groulned Netherlands/Belgium Task anj ^28.2, conducting minehunting
sian ^"^sweeping operations in the Per- p. Qulf.
M,;al|y. the RNLMC provides the Unit Str^ Justice with a counterterrorist of. Spec>ally trained to combat all forms ^ rr°rist actions.
er,, S mentioned, the Netherlands Gov- tl(lnsCn' considers peacekeeping operate hnportant. When requested by
have o'ted Nations, the armed forces can teCo bO Marines, one frigate, three light porr na'ssance helicopters, a light trans- avaii a'rcraft, and a military police unit daysa“'e within 48 hours. Within four anotp force can be augmented by a conn! Marines, more frigates, and a Cqat support ship. In principle, such lonBrnrn‘trnent of forces would last no P^r than six months.
Unite^ Marines now serve with the njZa.. Nations Truce Supervision Orga- a0d '°n 'n Israel, Syria, and Lebanon, Obsg^11*1 the Multinational Force and rvers monitoring the situation between Egypt and Israel.
► Amphibious Shipping Issue: The 1972 Memorandum of Understanding agreed that the United Kingdom would provide shipping for the UK/NL Landing Force. The replacement of the two British helicopter carriers (LPHs) HMS Hermes and HMS Bulwark by the Invincible-class ASW carriers, may have produced, in theory, greater lift for amphibious forces. However, as the former Commandant General of the Royal Marines, Sir Steuart Pringle stated, these ships are unlikely to do more in a time of tension than quickly land a force, and then revert to their ASW role. This would leave the landing force coast bound, without the means to redeploy by sea.4
Furthermore, Great Britain’s assault ships, HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid, are aging and will need replacement in the 1990s. British Defence Secretary George Younger stated in December 1986 that the feasibility studies about extending the service life of the two ships versus constructing a new-design ship are under way. Parallel studies are examining helicopter lift and the aviation support ship concepts.
Amphibious ships require extensive command, control, and communication facilities to coordinate the air and surface aspects of this specialized type of warfare. Consequently, they are too valuable to carry the bulk of war supplies. Merchant ships taken up from trade (STUFT) are more suitable for this purpose. They are being hired in peacetime and will be commandeered in wartime. Within the UK/NL Landing Force, nearly one-third of the amphibious task force is STUFT.
Amphibious shipping is a matter of great concern in the Netherlands. The Navy’s Admiralty Board is developing a concept for a landing ship dock (LSD)- type amphibious ship. Built in a Dutch shipyard, this new ship will be able to transport an ACG for longer periods at sea and will have well deck and flight deck capabilities. When the LSD is available in the 1990s, the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps will be able to operate true to its motto. Qua Patet Orbis— “Wherever the World Extends.” 'The Netherlands Defence White Paper 1984, Ministry of Defence, The Hague, 1984, p. 6.
2Ibid., p. 11.
3Ibid., p. 17.
4Jane’s Defence Weekly, 4 February 1984, p. 141.
Captain van der Til is a graduate of the Royal Naval Academy Den Helder, and in 1978 was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps. He currently is posted in the Marine Headquarters at Rotterdam, where he serves as public information officer.