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Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade

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Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade
水陸機動団
Suirikukidōdan
Official ARDB insignia.
Active
  • March 27, 2018 – present
  • April 7, 2018 - Present (First units activated)
Country Japan
Branch Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
TypeMarines
RoleAmphibious warfare
Size
  • 2,100 (From establishment)[1]
  • 2,400 (2020)[2]
  • Eventually would have 3,000 soldiers[3]
Part ofGround Component Command
Commanders
Current
commander		Major General Shinichi Aoki[4]

The Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade (水陸機動団, Suirikukidōdan)[5] is a marine unit of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) responsible for conducting amphibious operations.

The ARDB is based at Camp Ainoura in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture.[6]

History

[edit]
Members of the 6th Division (Japan) conduct a landing training by LCAC in 2012.

In light of tensions over the Senkaku Islands and the decision for putting the Chinese Coast Guard under military control,[7][8] Japan started the process of creating an elite marine unit. This brigade was designed to conduct amphibious operations and to recover any Japanese islands taken by an adversary.[9][10]

In 2006, Japan devised a plan to respond to this threat as outlined in the Defense Programs and Budget of Japan. Thus Japan prepared an amphibious force with the necessary know-how, acquired amphibious and other vehicles for such warfare. Prior to this, training was conducted with the U.S. Marine Corps such as "Iron Fist" and the integrated exercise "Dawn Blitz" in which the JSDF participated.[11]

In the Rim of the Pacific Exercise of 2014, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force participated for the first time with amphibious warfare training between the U.S. Marine Corps and the GSDF for multilateral exercises. In Japan, joint exercises are also conducted by inviting the U.S. Marine Corps at JGSDF Camp Soumagahara (Gunma Prefecture) and training with the dispatch of GSDF members to the U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa Prefecture.[12]

In 2016, 300 WAIR soldiers were sent to Camp Pendleton for marine training.[13] They were also trained to prepare for the ARDB's establishment.[13]

On March 27, 2018, groundwork for the creation of the ARDB was completed.[14]

On April 7, 2018, Japan activated its first marine unit since World War II.[15] The marines of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF)'s Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, gathered at a ceremony activating the brigade at JGSDF's Camp Ainoura in Sasebo.[16] The Brigade is trained to counter invaders from occupying Japanese islands along the edge of the East China Sea that Tokyo considers vulnerable to attack.[15]

150 ARDB soldiers were deployed for the first time in an overseas training exercise with American and Filipino marines in Operation Kamandag in October 2018.[17] This was the first time that Japanese armored vehicles were on foreign soil since WW2.[18] The marine unit also dispatched 300 soldiers to participate in Exercise Talisman Saber in July 2019, training in amphibious landings at Queensland, Australia along with Australian soldiers and American and British marines.[19][20] The ARDB suffered its first casualty when a 38-year old JGSDF soldier, Suguru Maehara, with the rank of Sergeant 1st Class, was killed in a vehicular accident during joint exercises with US and Filipino troops on 7 October 2018. The vehicle he was riding in collided with another vehicle in Subic Bay.[21]

On March 10, 2021, 55 recruits passed the training course for the ARDB, including two women.[22] The two women, Sergeants First Class Azusa Unno and Misaki Hirata, had participated in the unit's 16th training session.[23]

In March 2024, the 3rd Regiment was formally activated at Camp Takematsu in Nagasaki.[24] Minister of Defense Minoru Kihara presented the regimental flag to commanding officer, Col. Takada.[24] These "regiments" are battalion size units.

Future

[edit]

Inter-operability will be a key component of ARDB operations with the JGSDF planning to establish a significant aviation capability at Saga Airport, sixty kilometers from the ARDB's base at Camp Ainoura. The aviation element is to be based in Kyushu starting in 2025 and is to consist of 17 V-22 aircraft and about 50 Black Hawk and Apache Longbow helicopters.[25]

Organization

[edit]
The Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade activation ceremony

The ARDB is composed of the following:[26][27]

  • Brigade HQ
  • 1st Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment (Location in Camp Ainoura)[2]
  • 2nd Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment (Location in Camp Ainoura)[2]
  • 3rd Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment (Location in Camp Takeuchi)
  • Artillery Battalion
  • Reconnaissance Battalion
  • Engineer Battalion
  • Combat Landing Battalion
  • Logistic Support Battalion
  • Signal Company
  • Amphibious Rapid Deployment Training Unit

Key executives

[edit]
Major General Shinichi Aoki, Commander of the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade
Official name Rank Full name Assigned date Former post
Commander of the Amphibious Mobile Brigade and Commander of Aiura Garrison Major general Takanori Hirata (平田隆則) December 20, 2019 Deputy Chief of Staff of the Western Army (Japan)
Deputy Commander Colonel Yūji Hirata (平田雄嗣) March 23, 2019 2nd Soda Education Team Leader
Senior staff Colonel Seiji Uesono (上薗誠司) March 27, 2018 General manager, Regional Liaison Coordination Division, General Affairs Department

Equipment

[edit]
AAV7 equipment for the ARDB

Infantry weapons

[edit]

ARDB forces are equipped with light infantry weapons, including:[28]

U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey aircraft work with Japan to deliver earthquake relief supplies.

Vehicles

[edit]

The ARDB is also equipped with US and Japanese-made military vehicles and aircraft such as:[28]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Japan's ARDB: The marine unit piquing China's interest". 8 July 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "3番目の新編部隊めぐり3市が名乗り 水陸機動団：朝日新聞デジタル". 朝日新聞デジタル. 4 October 2020.
  3. ^ Mizokami, Kyle (10 April 2018). "Japan Activates First Amphibious Unit Since World War II". Popular Mechanics.
  4. ^ "Japan's new marines make their debut, but much preparatory work remains to be done". 8 April 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-04-08.
  5. ^ "防衛省・自衛隊｜平成29年版防衛白書｜コラム｜＜解説＞自衛隊初の本格的な水陸両用作戦部隊「水陸機動団」の新編". Mod.go.jp. Archived from the original on 2019-01-08. Retrieved 2019-01-11.
  6. ^ "The Meaning of Japan's New Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade Launch". thediplomat.com.
  7. ^ "Japan boosts its military option: The Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade | Modern Tokyo Times". 7 April 2018.
  8. ^ Harold, Scott W.; Bansho, Koichiro; Hornung, Jeffrey W.; Isobe, Koichi; Simcock II, Richard L. (2018). "U.S.-Japan Alliance Conference Meeting the Challenge of Amphibious Operations" (PDF). RAND National Defense Research Institute.
  9. ^ Gady, Franz-Stefan Japan’s Elite Amphibious Assault Force Trains With US Marines The Diplomat Retrieved December 11, 2016
  10. ^ Slavic, Erik Japan preparing amphibious force: it looks a lot like a Marine brigade November 4, 2016 Stars and Stripes Retrieved December 11, 2016
  11. ^ "Defense Programs and Budget of Japan" (PDF). Mod.go.jp. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  12. ^ "陸自「水陸機動団」準備着々／創設まであと１年・離党防衛強化へ米海兵隊と訓練". 産経新聞朝刊. March 20, 2017.
  13. ^ a b Fuentes, Gidget U.S. Marines Teach Japanese Forces How to Fight From the Sea in Expanded Iron Fist Exercise January 25, 2016 USNI News Retrieved December 11, 2016
  14. ^ "The Meaning of Japan's New Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade Launch".
  15. ^ a b Kubo, Nobuhiro Japan activates first marines since WW2 to bolster defenses against China. April 7, 2018. Reuters. Retrieved August 2, 2018
  16. ^ Asia Times staff (9 April 2018). "Japan's new marine unit in East China Sea upsets Beijing". Asia Times.
  17. ^ "Amid rising tensions with China, Japan just sent armored vehicles to foreign soil for the first time since World War II". 6 October 2018.
  18. ^ Slavin, Erik (18 September 2015). "Japan enacts major changes to its self-defense laws". Stars and Stripes. Tokyo. Archived from the original on June 19, 2018.
  19. ^ "Japan's new marine unit gets a workout during Talisman Sabre drills Down Under". Stars and Stripes. Archived from the original on 2019-07-25. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
  20. ^ "Australian troops lead the way during Talisman Sabre amphibious-assault practice". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
  21. ^ "SDF member taking part in joint drill with U.S., Philippine troops, dies after crash". The Japan Times. 7 October 2018.
  22. ^ INC, SANKEI DIGITAL. "女性隊員初の訓練課程修了 長崎、陸自水陸機動団で". 産経フォト. Archived from the original on 2021-03-10.
  23. ^ "陸上自衛隊 水陸機動団の拠点 相浦駐屯地で修了式 初めての女性隊員2人も【長崎県佐世保市】". Archived from the original on 2021-03-21. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
  24. ^ a b Mahadzir, Dzirhan (April 1, 2024). "Japan Stands Up Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, Electronic Warfare Unit for Defense of Southwest Islands". USNI News. Archived from the original on April 17, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  25. ^ Inaba, Yoshihiro (11 September 2023). "Japanese V-22 Lands On JMSDF Vessel For The First Time". Naval News. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  26. ^ "防衛省・自衛隊：防衛省ウェブサイトのＨＴＴＰＳへの切り替えのお知らせ". www.mod.go.jp. Archived from the original on 2018-04-30. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  27. ^ https://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/gcc/ardb/230-station.html
  28. ^ a b "主要装備品の紹介" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2018-04-30. Retrieved 2018-08-15.
  29. ^ "防衛省・自衛隊：陸上自衛隊の水陸両用車の車種決定について" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2015-01-09. Retrieved Oct 23, 2022.
  30. ^ "水陸両用車AAV7" (in Japanese). Retrieved Oct 23, 2022.
  31. ^ "FIRST LOOK: Japan's New Type 20 Rifle". The Firearm Blog. 18 May 2020.
  32. ^ a b "Iron Fist 2018 Ramps Up Training as Japan Readies 1st Amphibious Unit". 15 January 2018.
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