Armada Argentino: 2300AD
Infantería de Marina Introduction The
Infantería de Marina (IM) is Argentina’s marine force and
is internationally regarded as one of the world’s crack fighting forces.
An integral part of the Armada, the IM has a number of roles including
conventional, amphibious, arctic, security and special operations. There
is also a small detachment on the world of Montaña.
The IM are a highly trained and motivated professional force who will
be at the forefront of any conflict with the British in the South Atlantic
and also have a role in close littoral warfare against the Brazilians.
Narrative
The
Southern Ocean is not a place for half-baked plans and half measures
at the best of times. In winter it an environment every bit as hostile
as many alien worlds. The platoon of Argentine Marines huddled in the
back of the bucking Bruja transport aircraft impressed me with their competence
and they looked well equipped to operate in the frozen islands skirting
Antarctica. I, on the other hand, was shivering uncontrollably already.
There
were reports of intruders on one of the islands off the Antarctic Peninsular
and the platoon was tasked to move from Esperanza to investigate. One
of the officers asked me if I’d like to come along, as perhaps it would
make a good story. I agreed, and now I was sat shivering in the hold
alongside thirty heavily armed amphibious commandos in an ugly transport
travelling mere metres above the waves below. The
loadmaster waved me up to the flight deck where she helped me into a
spare flight helmet. One of the crewmen then showed me the tactical
display. The fact we were flying directly towards a British naval squadron
came as a major shock. “They
are on our way, so we will say hello!” If he seemed unconcerned, I certainly
wasn’t! In spite of the warmth of the flight deck I suddenly became
very cold again. Minutes later we passed a kilometre south of the British
ships, their blood-red hulls starkly visible even through the squalling
snow. A businesslike combat drone, white ensign discrete on its body
close to recessed missiles, flew in formation with us. Our
visit to the neighbours completed we flew on to our target, an uninhabited
but disputed island. We quickly located a newly established base camp,
its vehicles and heavy equipment showing up on radar and thermal displays.
The pilot took the Bruja low over the camp,
close enough to see the Union Flag snapping above brightly coloured
tents and shelters. Shortly after he had the plane on the ground and
the marines deployed from the rear ramp. A
delegation came from the camp to meet us – scientists from the British
Antarctic Survey and a Royal Marines officer discretely at the rear
of the party. It was all very polite, both sides states their claims
under various Treaty clauses and agreed to disagree. It would spark
another round of high-level recriminations but unless the Argentines
wanted to use force there was no way to evict the British. There had
been times when these meeting weren’t so polite and blood spilled on
the pristine snow. Today
the blood of the Argentine and British marines wouldn’t be shed, but
the tension was evident behind the diplomatic niceties.
Southern
Comfort? Antarctica and Power Politics Le
Temps International, August 2296 John
R. Young 1ta
Fuerza de Infantería de Marina ‘Rio Plato’ Comando
de la Fuerza No.1 Batallón
de Infantería de Marina No.3 Batallón
de Infantería de Marina No.6 Batallón
de Aero Tanques No.1 Batallón
de Aero Tanques No.4 Batallón
de Artillería de Campaña No.1 Batallón
Comando y Apoyo Logístico No.1 Batallón
Antiaéreo No.1 Batallón
de Comunicaciones y Información No.1 Compañía
de Ingenieros No.1 Agrupación
de Comandos Anfibios No.1 Destacamento
Naval Buenos Aires 2da
Fuerza de Infantería de Marina ‘Flote del Mar’ Comando
de la Fuerza No.2 Batallón
de Infantería de Marina No.1 Batallón
de Infantería de Marina No.2 Batallón
de Aero Tanques No.2 Batallón
de Artillería de Campaña No.2 Batallón
Comando y Apoyo Logístico No.2 Batallón
Antiaéreo No.2 Batallón
de Comunicaciones y Información No.2 Compañía
de Ingenieros No.2 Agrupación
de Comandos Anfibios No.2 Destacamento
Buzos Tacticos No.2 (Armada) 3er
Fuerza de Infantería de Marina ‘Austral’ Comando
de la Fuerza No.3 Batallón
de Infantería de Marina No.4 Batallón
de Infantería de Marina No.5 Batallón
de Infantería de Marina No.7 Batallón
de Aero Tanques No.5 Batallón
de Artillería de Campaña No.3 Batallón
Comando y Apoyo Logístico No.3 Batallón
Antiaéreo No.3 Batallón
de Comunicaciones y Información No.3 Compañía
de Ingenieros No.3 Agrupación
de Comandos Anfibios No.3 Destacamento
Buzos Tacticos No.3 (Armada) Destacamento
Naval Río Gallegos Destacamento
Naval Austral Fuerza
de Infantería de Marina de Reserva Comando
de la Fuerza de Reserva Batallón
de Infantería de Marina No.8 Batallón
de Infantería de Marina No.9 Batallón
de Aero Tanques No.3 Batallón
de Artillería de Campaña No.4 Batallón
Comando y Apoyo Logístico No.4 Batallón
Antiaéreo No.4 Batallón
de Comunicaciones y Información No.4 Compañía
de Ingenieros No.4 Agrupación
de Comandos Anfibios No.4 Attached
Fuerza de Comandos Batallón
de Comandos Anfibios No.1 Agrupación
de Armada de Montaña Destacamento
Naval Montaña 1ta
Fuerza de Infantería de Marina ‘Rio Plato’ 1
FIM is a brigade sized force based in the northern outskirts
of Buenos Aires on the shore of the Rio de la Plato. The force is the
IM’s high intensity warfare force with littoral combat as its speciality.
The force is equipped with modern HAFVs and
is designed to operate on the ocean flank of the Ejército, specifically
in countering the operations of Brazilian marine Littoral Warfare Groups.
It can also operate very effectively as a conventional hovermobile
brigade alongside the Ejército in conventional operations. 1
FIM exercises almost daily on the Rio Plato, however unlike
its Brazilian counterparts the force is almost entirely shore based
and operates without integral amphibious assault shipping. The force
has an excellent combat record as it has played a leading role in the
Argentine efforts in all three Rio Plato Wars. The force provided the
last rearguard before Buenos Aires in the 1st Rio Plato was before being
overwhelmed by the Brazilians gave a fine account of itself. It gained
a full measure of revenge in the 2nd and 3rd Rio Plato Wars and the
force is regarded with respect by the Brazilians.
2da
Fuerza de Infantería de Marina ‘Flote del Mar’ 2
FIM is the Armada’s amphibious ready force which has a dual
role in potential operations against British South Atlantic territories
and the Brazilian littoral or ocean lines of communication with Africa.
The South Atlantic is no place to rely solely on long range hovermobile
operations so the force includes a mixture of light infantry and mechanised
elements. It is located at the Base de Infantería
de Marina Baterías at Puerto Belgrano. 2
FIM works hand in glove with the Armada’s Escuadrilla Anfibia and its attached
WIG assault craft and tilt-rotor transports. The 2 FIM
works on the assumption that the Armada will probably not have ocean
superiority for long and practices both rapid raiding and unsupported
operations on remote islands. The 2 FIM sees
itself as an elite even within the IM and levels
of physical fitness and close combat training are very high. The
2 FIM saw limited action against the British in the South Atlantic
Crisis, seizing some outlying islands before being withdrawn. It became
involved in main force actions in both the 1st and 2nd Rio Plato Wars
but was held in reserve during the 3rd Rio Plato war in response to
British and Brazilian movements in the South Atlantic.
3er
Fuerza de Infantería de Marina ‘Austral’ The
3 FIM is based in the very south of Argentina at Río Gallegos and Río Grande with
elements in the Argentine Antarctic territories and is responsible for
the defence of these areas. As a result the force is much less of an
integrated combat force than 1 or 2 FIM. There
is always one infantry battalion deployed in Antarctica and BAT 5 is
located at Esperanza at the tip of the Antarctic Peninsular. The
whole of the force is Antarctic trained and has specially modified equipment
and techniques to operate in this harsh area. In times of emergency
the balance of the force can be quickly flown in to marry up with pre-positioned
equipment stores. The force is trained to operate with vehicles or on
foot and versatility is a key characteristic. The 3 FIM
comes in to frequent contact with their British neighbours and exchanges
of fire, and casualties, are not uncommon. Most marines and officers
of the IM will serve with the 3 FIM at some
stage in their careers. Fuerza
de Infantería de Marina de Reserva The
FIMR is the IM’s force of active reservists. It is not organised
as a fighting formation but rather to supply reinforcements to 1 FIM, although BIM 9 is fully arctic trained and tasked to
support 3 FIM. The marines assigned to FIMR undergo frequent training and are regarded as being very
capable and needing little workup training. However their relatively
small numbers mean the IM does not have the same depth of reserves as
the Ejército. Attached
Fuerza de Comandos The
Ba Cdo Anf
is the IM’s contribution to the strategic special
forces of the Fuerza de Comandos.
It is drawn from the cream of the IM most of who have already served
with an Ag Cdo Anf
before joining the Ba Cdo Anf.
As a force it specialises in amphibious and antarctic
operations and is often confused with the Buzos
Tacticos. Agrupación
de Armada de Montaña The
Ag Arm Mont is the small naval force deployed on the colony world of
Montaña. The IM has a company sized detachment here which
is responsible for the defence of shore facilities and providing embarked
detachments. Comando
de Infantería de Marina The
Infantería de Marina is an administrative part of the Armada, and holds
a similar position to the other arms of the navy such as aviation and
submarines. The CIM is responsible for the
recruitment, training, doctrine and administration of the IM from its
base at Puerto Belgrano. Operationally elements
of the IM are assigned to the tactical control of other forces. In the
case of 1 FIM it works closely with the VIIta
Cuerpo de Ejército, 2 FIM
the Armada’s Escuadrilla Anfibia
and 3 FIM the Armada’s Comando
Antártico. FIMR
is always under the command of the CIM, although sub-units can be assigned to the active FIMs. 1ta
Fuerza de Infantería de Marina ‘Rio Plato’ 1
FIM has many organisational similarities with
an Ejército Brigada Aero-Blindada however it has extra resources due to its independent
role. 1 FIM is a ‘square’ formation with four
combat units, two BAT and two BIM, which are
combined arms task forces. The whole FIM is
both hovermobile and armoured. It has substantial anti-aircraft
assets in addition to field artillery and a strong logistic element.
It also has a company of commandos in the reconnaissance role. 2da
Fuerza de Infantería de Marina ‘Flote del Mar’ 2
FIM is designed to operate from amphibious
assault shipping. It has a single combined arms battlegroup
in BAT2 and two light role infantry battalions which can be moved by
air or sea and have their own light ACVs.
However conditions in the South Atlantic are such that these light ACVs
are used only for operations on-land and have only limited over sea
capability. Like the 1 FIM, 2 FIM
has a greater than normal array of support elements. It also has a team
of Buzos Tacticos combat divers as
well as amphibious commandos. 3er
Fuerza de Infantería de Marina ‘Austral’ 3
FIM is fairly similar to 2 FIM in having one combined arms battalions and three light
infantry battalions. The 3 FIM infantry are
versatile and capable of deployment by land, sea or air. It also has
control over the security detachments for the southern Armada ports.
Batallón
de Infantería de Marina Nos.1, 2, 4, 5, 7 & 9 These
BIMs are light infantry forces attached to
2 FIM, 3 FIM and
FIMR. They are versatile light infantry forces capable of being sent
into action on amphibious assault craft, tilt-rotors, in light ACVs
or on foot. The BIMs are relatively conventionally
organised with 3 infantry combat companies and a command company. The
infantry companies have three rifle platoons, a support weapons platoon
and a combat walker platoon. The aim is for them to be integrated and
self-supporting combat elements. These units are air assault, but not
parachute capable. Batallón
de Infantería de Marina Nos.3, 6 & 8 These
BIMs are all-arms combat groups built around the AVBI-89 and ATAB-2
HAFVs. The BIM have three combat company
and a command and support company. Two of the combat companies are infantry
heavy and one tank heavy. The infantry heavy companies have three rifle
platoons each with 4 AVBI-89s, a tank platoon with 4 ATAB-2s and a support
weapons platoon with two mortar and two anti-tank AVBI-89 variants.
The tank-heavy platoon has three tank platoons, an infantry platoon
and a support weapons platoon. Batallón
de Aero Tanques Nos.1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 The
BATs all share a common organisation, and
are all-arms combat units similar to BIMs
3, 6 & 8. The BATs have two tank heavy
companies, one infantry heavy companies and a command and support company
as described above.
The
IM recruits entirely from volunteers and is the last all-volunteer force
in the Argentine Fuerzas Armadas. Prior to
conscription young Argentines can indicate that they wish to serve in
the IM rather than the other armed forces. The IM is always substantially
oversubscribed and even a fairly stringent administrative pre-selection
always produces too many candidates. Consequently the available places
are filled by a competitive selection procedure run at BIM Baterías
at Puerto Belgrano. Those who have just completed
conscripted service in other forces can volunteer to join the IM. They
are run through the same selection procedure. Selection
at BIM Baterías is tough and aimed at producing
physically fit candidates of above average intelligence. Indeed many
observers draw comparisons with the selection run by the British Royal
Marines and find there are many similarities. If the candidate successfully
completes selection they will be enrolled into the IM, if not they will
be given their second choice of service as a conscript. Many go on to
join the IVta División
Paracaidista and eventually re-attempt selection. Initial
service in the IM is on a three year contract. This is extendable in
additional three year contracts which can take the marine up to 30 years
of service. Potential officers are selected from the ranks and are dispatched
to the Escula Naval Militar
for further training. Each
member of the IM has a reserve commitment for 3 years after leaving
the active force in the FIMR. FIMR members train for at least one month a year and retain
a useable set of military skills. There is a further commitment of up
to six years in the general reserve which may be called up in time of
war.
Basic
training in the IM is conducted primarily at BIM Baterías and is a challenging 8 months in length. The marine
then spends another 3 months obtaining specialist skills depending on
the FIM which they are to be deployed to;
either armoured, amphibious or Antarctic. They will then spend at least
a year with one of the BIM’s before being able to transfer to one of
the other units. This means that IM support and logistics soldiers all
have a firm grounding of infantry skills. Much
of the training undertaken by non infantry soldiers is run in conjunction
with the Ejército. This exposure to the Ejército allows the IM to make
best use of training resources, but it also results in the IM being
seen as somewhat arrogant by their Ejército colleagues. As
the IM is a long service professional force many of its members are
able to gain considerable and wide ranging training across a range of
disciplines. Training is constant in the IM and marines are constantly
encouraged to attend a range of courses and many have a clutch of somewhat
obscure qualifications which frequently prove useful. Cross training
with the Mexican marines is commonplace, especially for units of 1&
2 FIM. Jungle training in Mexico is a great break from the cold
and wet of the South Atlantic for most of the marines. The
IM is very well regarded for the quality of its Antarctic training which
is run in Tierra del Fuego and the Antarctic
Peninsular. They run a series of graded courses for marines, NCOs and
officers. The common thread in these is the strenuous physical nature
of the course as well as the survival skills that must be acquired.
The IM contributes its Comandos Anfibios to the Fuerza de Comandos. Potential members of the Cdo Anf and the Armada’s Buzos Tacticos are put through a single selection process and there is much commonality of training.
The
IM is robustly and unrepentantly an elitist force. It sees itself as
the best Argentina has to offer and is not backwards about letting the
other parts of the Argentine military know it. While there is a strong
streak of machismo in the IM this is tempered with utter egalitarianism;
there is no room for time servers and the incompetent in the IM. Indeed
the internal competition in its ranks is fierce and unrelenting. As
the IM is a long service volunteer force it is able to deploy a great
number of experienced marines even in junior positions. This means the
tactical quality of its small unit operations is very high, indeed they
are regarded with utmost respect by Brazilian and British units who
have crossed swords with them in the past. The
quality of the NCO and Officer leadership in the IM is also notably
high. NCO and officer training is open only
to those who have proved themselves in the ranks and is very strenuous.
The IM would rather a junior officer position be filled by a competent
NCO than an officer who doesn’t have the ‘right stuff’. This general quality and high standards has however led to a situation where thinking ‘outside the box’ is relatively rare. Questioning of doctrine and IM training tends to frowned upon and several prominent critics from the officer corps have had their careers cut short. The accent is very much on evolution rather than revolution within the IM, thankfully not much is wrong at the moment.
The
IM uses the Armada’s naval rank structure. They are divided in to enlisted
and commissioned ranks: Enlisted
ranks
Commissioned
ranks
The
IM utilises standard Argentine Ejército equipment and weapons by and
large. In particular it uses all the standard infantry equipment except
for operations on Antarctica where conventional firearms are used due
to problems with battery life on gauss and laser weapons in the extreme
cold. The
IM uses standard Ejército vehicles modified to its unique littoral requirements.
In particular the hover vehicles like the ATAB-2 and AVBI-89 have been
modified with increased fuel tankage, water
proofing and emergency flotation equipment. The IM has no integral air
vehicles as its requirements are dealt with by the Armada’s CANA
air arm. Combat
uniforms are based on those of the Ejército and include ballistic fatigues
and inertial combat vests with in built load bearing elements and an
emergency flotation bladder. For Antarctic and amphibious operations
the IM has a special combat suit which combines cold weather gear with
immersion equipment. The IM has access to the new Sistema
del Combate de Infantería
de Marina Mk.7. SCIM-7 is a state of the art dismounted combat system
which is significantly more advanced than that used in the Ejército.
Dress
uniforms for the IM are based on those of the navy to which the IM belongs.
However these have been modified over the years to give the IM its own
distinctive appearance.
Vicealmirante
Eduard Duarte Eduard
Duarte is the current commander of the Comando
de Infantería de Marina. Duarte is a working
class boy from the rough end of Rosario. A tough, intelligent boy he
volunteered for the IM rather than serve in the Ejército. He was quickly
picked out from the ranks for commissioning, and as a junior officer
he commanded an armoured platoon of the 1 FIM
in the 3rd Rio Plato War, racking up a significant number of kills.
His progress up the ranks was steady and assured, as a commander Duarte
was literally head and shoulders above his peers. He
commanded the 3 FIM at the height of the ‘Cold
War’ against the British on Antarctica in the 90s, notably outmanoeuvring
his opponent on several occasions. He has also served on the joint staff
and has now returned to command the IM. Duarte is the stand-out commander
of his generation and holds a position of immense moral authority. Very
few of his colleagues and no politician is willing to challenge his
position openly. He is married with three grown up children, all of
who have followed him into the IM. Capitán
de Corbeta Maria Harrison Maria
Harrison is a company commander in BAT5. Harrison is from a long established
and wealthy Anglo-Argentine family from Buenos Aries. Her decision to
join the IM was one of several acts of rebellion against her parents.
Tall, athletic and aggressive Harrison has made her way in the macho
environment of the IM by being harder and more competent than most of
the men she has come to command. She currently commands an Antarctic
specialised armour company in the Antarctic Peninsular and is an accomplished
tank officer. She has sacrificed her personal life and several budding
relationships for her career, a decision she regrets not at all.
Cabo
Segundo Lino Páez Lino Páez is a twenty five year old grupo commander in BIM1, a unit of 2 FIM. He is from Puerto Belgrano on the Atlantic seaboard. His original attempt to join the IM failed and he served as a conscript with the Div Parac IV and on completing his term he tried again for the IM and succeeded. He has now served two years and made his mark as a competent, confident soldier. He has just married his childhood sweetheart and has a child on the way.
Background
Skills To
join the IM the character must be an Argentine and have an Endurance
of 12. Argentine marines are enlisted after completing tertiary education.
They chose their background skills from the normal Core Skills list
but will have between 2 and 4 extra points to spend on Academic Skills
and will start their career at the age of 20, 21 or 22. Those who join
after service in other services must pass a turning point. Career
Skills Initial
Skills: Combat Rifleman - 4, Heavy Weapons - 1, Melee - 2, Hover
Vehicle - 1, Survival - 1, Tactics - 1 and First Aid-1 (Ground Vehicle
- 1, Swim - 1 if not chosen as Background Skills) Specialist
Skills: If in specific units the following skill levels apply rather
than those above. 1 FIM
Heavy Weapons – 2 and Hover Vehicle – 2. If
in 2 or 3 FIM Survival – 2 and Melee – 3.
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