Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais do Brasil

The Brazilian Marine Corps, circa 2303

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

The Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais do Brasil, the Brazilian Marine Corps, is an integral part of the Brazilian land and maritime military establishments.  After suffering extensive losses during the 3rd Rio Plata War contesting the Argentinean drive into the southern Brazilian metroplex, the CFNB has been rebuilt and substantially reorganized.  Like the rest of the Brazilian military, the CFNB looks to the south and the inevitable resumption of conflict with Argentina. 

 

 

INDEX

 

Order of Battle

Organization

Divisions and Separate Brigades

Aviation Groups

Selected Unit Organizations

Ranks

Personnel

Culture

Uniforms and Equipment

Glossery

NARRATIVE

 

TBC

 

ORDER OF BATTLE

 

Comando do Brasil, CFNB

 

1a Divisão de Fuzileiros Navais “Lagoa Mirim”

10a Brigada de Comandos Sub-superficie [Salvador, Bahia]

50a Brigada de Selva [Manaus]

51a Brigada de Montanha (-) [Teresópolis, RJ]

2o Grupo Aérea de Apoio Especial

 

I Corpo Anfíbio

4o Batalhão do Comandos Anfibios “Riachuelo”

            16o Regimiento de Carros Combate (tracked CCT-90)

            1o Grupo de Artilharia de Costa

            16o Grupo de Artilharia Autopropulsado

           

2a Divisão de Fuzileiros Navais “Caiena”

3a Divisão de Fuzileiros Navais “Rio Acaray”

1o Grupo Aérea de Corpo

Comando do Provincia, CFNB

4a Divisão de Fuzileiros Navais [Provincia do Brasil]

Centro do Bello de Montanha

2/51a Brigada de Montanha

4o Grupo Aérea Mixto

Comando de Reserva, CFNB

11a Divisão de Fuzileiros Navais (Recolocação de Perdas Combate)

44a Brigada Anfíbia (Provincia do Brasil)

 

II Corpo Anfíbio

            5o Batalhão do Comandos Anfibios

            17o Regimiento de Carros Combate (tracked CCT-90)

            15o Grupo de Artilharia de Costa

            24o Grupo de Artilharia Autopropulsado

10a Divisão de Fuzileiros Navais “Rio Paranaiba”

12a Divisão de Fuzileiros Navais “Araucaria”

7o Grupo Aérea de Corpo

 

INDEX 

ORGANIZATION

 

The CFNB remains an integral part of the Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil), though operationally its forces also integrate closely with those of the Brazilian Army (Exército Brasileiro) and the Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira).

 

The force is broadly organized into two Amphibious Corps (Corpo Anfíbio), each of two ground divisions and an aviation group, one corps made up of regulars and the other of reservists.  Each Amphibious Corps also includes attack and transport aviation assets, reconnaissance focused special operations units, and the usual range of combat support and combat service support assets found at such echelons in 2nd Tier national militaries. 

 

Both Amphibious Corps are structured with one light division (primarily light infantry, with a wheeled mechanized component) and one heavy, hover-mobile division.  Doctrinally, the Amphibious Corps is designed primarily to fight in southern Brazil along the Argentinean frontier.  The two divisional headquarters cross-attach units, as needed, to generate “shield and sword” task forces, with light elements maintaining a defense in depth reliant on southern Brazil’s urbanized areas and rough terrain (and high density of precision guided anti-armor munitions and substantial air support assets), while hover-mobile armored elements engage in offensive and counter-offensive strikes to break up any enemy movements that threaten to transit the defensive zone.

 

In addition to these two corps there are two additional regular divisions, one reserve divisions, and two brigades separate from the Amphibious Corps organizations.  The 1st Marine Division is an independent formation specially organized and trained for littoral warfare operations.  The 4th Marine Division (including a reserve brigade) is part of the garrison of Provincia do Brasil.  There is also an additional reserve division, the 11th Marine Division, which serves as a holding unit for battle-casualty replacement personnel.  The CFNB also maintains a mountain brigade and a combat swimmer brigade for specialized missions.

 

The CFNB’s divisions are large, resilient formations, with 9-12 maneuver battalions per division (with the exception of the specialized 1st Marine Division, which has only six maneuver battalions, but has more than a Corps worth of combat aviation assets).  With a full corps worth of reservists available, plus another reserve unit of battle casualty replacements, the force is well suited to the sustained high-intensity operations that Brazil sees as key to defeating Argentina, given the disparity in population bases and economic resources between the two nations.

 

INDEX

 

DIVISIONS AND SEPARATE BRIGADES

 

1a Divisão de Fuzileiros Navais “Lagoa Mirim” (1st Marine Division)

First Marine Division is a specialized, air/hover armor mixed formation controlling subunits intended primarily for operations at sea in the South Atlantic littoral region, with secondary missions of raiding inland or supporting other, more balanced, battle groups in land actions.  The division’s maneuver elements are three Air-Sea Attack Groups (Força Ataque da Aeronavais, abbreviated FORAA) combining a hover-tank equipped Naval Cavalry Brigade (Brigada de Cavalaria Navais) equipped primarily with various marks of the ACC-19 maritime hovertank with an Attack and Reconnaissance Aviation Group (Grupo Aérea Ataque e Reconhecimento, abbreviated GAAR) equipped with Caracara attack aircraft, Naginata UCAVs, and Shiden strike fighters.  The division also has an integral maritime special operations capability, in the form of 1o Batalhão do Comandos Anfibios “Tonelero” (1st Amphibious Commando Battalion)

 

Each FORAA is assigned to one of the Brazilian Navy’s three Flotilhas de Zona Litoral (Littoral Warfare Groups) and based off of the several Caiena-class Assault Carriers that form the backbone of the battle group’s striking power.  As part of a Littoral Warfare Group, the FORAA’s combat power is fully integrated with larger surface combatants, submarines and sub-fighters, etc.  The affiliation of a given FORAA with a Flotilha de Zona Litoral is habitual, with FORAA 114 permanently assigned to Flotilha de Zona Litoral 33, FORAA 125 is assigned to Flotilha de Zona Litoral 34, and FORAA 136 assigned to Flotilha de Zona Litoral 35.

 

1o Batalhão do Comandos Anfibios “Tonelero”

Força Ataque da Aeronavais 114

                        11a Brigada de Cavalaria Navais “Paissandu”

                        14o Grupo Aérea Ataque e Reconhecimento (GAAR)

Força Ataque da Aeronavais 125

                        12a Brigada de Cavalaria Navais

                        15o Grupo Aérea Ataque e Reconhecimento (GAAR)

Força Ataque da Aeronavais 136

                        13a Brigada de Cavalaria Navais

                        16o Grupo Aérea Ataque e Reconhecimento (GAAR)

 

2a Divisão de Fuzileiros Navais (2nd Marine Division)

Based in southern Brazil, the 2nd Marine Division is a hover-mobile heavy division intended to operate in coastal and inland littoral environments.  Unlike the 1st Marine Division, its organization is conventional, consisting of two mechanized infantry brigades and one armored brigade, plus supporting assets.  The division is forward deployed near Pôrto Alegre in southern Brazil, and maintains a high state of readiness.  A part of First Amphibious Corps, the division would likely be supported during wartime by the corps’ two independent regiments of heavy tracked CCT-90 tanks.

           

            21a Brigada de Fuzileiros Navais “Cabo Polonio”

            22a Brigada de Fuzileiros Navais “Bahía Blanca”

            23a Brigada de Cavalaria Navias

            24o Grupo de Artilharia de Divisão

  

3a Divisão de Fuzileiros Navais “Rio Acaray”

Based outside Salvador in the state of Bahia, the 3rd Marine Division is currently organized as the Corps’ light element, suitable for strategic quick reaction missions, airmobile operations, and the like.  It has also been heavily committed to operations in the Amazon, with levies of units being consistently used to fill out the 50th Jungle Brigade (cf).  The unit is primarily light infantry, with a brigade of mechanized troops equipped with the wheeled VECO-10 family of light armored vehicles to provide it some operational mobility, as needed.  The division also controls an anti-tank regiment and a brigade of specialized amphibious transportation assets, including littoral-optimized hovercraft, small conventional watercraft, and WIG transports.  In the event of wartime, a portion of the division would likely be deployed with the fleet for amphibious landings and raids, while the remainder would serve as a strategic reserve or be committed to actions in the southern Brazilian metroplex area.

 

            31a Brigada Anfíbia “Humaitá”

            32a Brigada Anfíbia

            33a Brigada Anfíbia (lt mech)

            34a Brigada de Transporte Anfíbio

            35o Grupo de Artilharia de Divisão

            361o Regimiento Anticarro

 

4a Divisão de Fuzileiros Navais

The youngest of the CFNB’s regular divisions, the 4th Marine Division was originally formed during the First Rio Plata War, where it participated in the final series of campaigns in 2207 that terminated the war in Brazil’s favor.  In 2230 the division’s colors and headquarters were transferred to Provincia do Brasil, on Tirane, when the decision was made to expand the colony’s marine garrison from a single brigade (then designated the 80th Independent Marine Brigade) to a full division.  The division is manned in accordance with the centralized CFNB personnel system, which assigns it personnel without regard to place of origin, so the division has not developed a noticeably “Provincial” identity or outlook.  On mobilization, the division would gain control of the 44th Amphibious Brigade, a reserve unit based on Tirane.  The feasibility of returning the unit to Earth in the event of a quick conflict is open to debate, but it would likely join any protracted campaign.

 

Circa 2303, the division has two subordinate battalions detached, one serving on Earth as part of the international Armenian Peacekeeping Force, and the other attached to Brazilian forces operating in the French Arm.

 

            41a Brigada de Cavalaria Navais

            42a Brigada Anfíbia

            43a Brigada Anfíbia

44a Brigada Anfíbia (Reserve)

            46a Grupo de Artilharia de Divisão

 

10a Brigada de Comandos Sub-superficie (10th Subsurface Commando Brigade)

This unit was formed as an administrative headquarters for Brazil’s deep-diving combat swimmer assets when all such units were consolidated in the CFNB after the 3rd Rio Plata War (having previously been found in limited numbers within the CFNB, the Brazilian Navy, and in some Brazilian Army special operations units).  The brigade currently consists of two subordinate battalions, each with an authorized strength of 80 combat swimmers.  The brigade’s headquarters is at Salvador, in the state of Bahia, but its subordinate units are heavily deployed with the Brazilian navy, especially the special operations oriented 6a Flotilha Sub-superficie, both for littoral and blue water operations.  A single platoon is also maintained on Provincia do Brasil on a six month rotation.  2nd Subsurface Commando Battalion is equipped with the Tubarão (Shark), a Brazilian modification of the Dendara combat walker, while the 6th Battalion uses the British Selkie for deeper diving operations. 

 

2o Batalhão de Comandos Sub-superfície “Mar del Plata” 

                        6o Batalhão de Comandos Sub-superfície  

 

10a Divisão de Fuzileiros Navais “Rio Paranaiba” (10th Marine Division)

Primarily recruited in the north and northwestern portions of the country, 10th Marine Division is a reserve formation currently organized as the heavy division for II Amphibious Corps.  The division trains for a range of reinforcing missions in the event of wartime, including both defensive and offensive options for its employment.  The division’s headquarters and one of its major mobilization depots is located near Salvador in the state of Bahia.

 

            101a Brigada de Cavalaria Navias

            102a Brigada de Fuzileiros Navais

            103a Brigada de Fuzileiros Navais

            104o Grupo de Artilharia de Divisão

 

11a Divisão de Fuzileiros Navais (Recolocação de Perdas Combate)

11th Marine Division is an administrative reserve formation responsible for providing battle casualty replacements for the other units of the CFNB.  The unit assumed this role after the 3rd Rio Plata War and is, actually, an adaptation of Argentinean practices.  As 3RPW dragged on, the Ejército Argentino, with its deeply echeloned replacement personnel system, proved markedly more resilient than the Brazilian units taking part in the fighting in the southern Brazilian metropolitan area.  After the cessation of hostilities, the CFNB noted this ability and opted to emulate it, converting one reserve division into a holding unit for replacement personnel.  The division consists of twenty-seven battalions (one per state, plus the federal district), which vary in size substantially.  Battalions are further divided into companies based on branch of service (i.e. Infantry Company, Cavalry Company, Signals Company etc.) to streamline refresher training, and again varying widely in size and composition.  Personnel within the division are all former active-service Marines within the CFNB and retain a preferential “feeder trace” to their original brigade of assignment in the event of mobilization, though needs of the service are understood to outweigh this as necessary.

 

12a Divisão de Fuzileiros Navais “Araucaria” (12th Marine Division)

The light-role division for II Amphibious Corps, 12th Marine Division is a fairly heavy formation in its own right, with two of its three brigades being equipped with the VECO-10 family of light wheeled armored vehicles (the remaining brigade remains a light infantry formation specialized in airmobile operations).  The division’s planned wartime mission is bolstering the defense of southern Brazil, especially in urbanized areas, and it trains extensively for this role.  The division is located in southern Brazil, with its headquarters and mobilization site at the joint Brazilian Army-Marine Centro de Instrução de Guerra Urbana (Urban Warfare Training Center) in the state of Minas Gerais, near Belo Horizonte.

 

            121a Brigada Anfíbia (lt mech)

            122a Brigada Anfíbia

            123a Brigada Anfíbia (lt mech)

            124o Grupo de Artilharia de Divisão

            126o Regimiento Anticarro

 

16o & 17o Regimiento de Carros Combate (16th and 17th Tank Regiments)

Elements on the I and II Amphibious Corps, respectively, these two battalion-sized units were formed after the grinding battles of the 3rd Rio Plata War in the southern Brazilian metroplex area.  Equipped with the Brazilian Army’s heavy, tracked CCT-90 main battle tank, the two regiments are intended specifically to support their respective Corps in deliberate offensive and defensive operations along the Argentinean front.  Each regiment is equipped with forty-two CCT-90s, significantly boosting the Corps’ firepower in attritional warfare situations.

 

50a Brigada de Selva (50th Jungle Brigade)

50th Jungle Brigade is an unusual formation in that it has limited organic units, consisting of a headquarters staff, a logistics battalion, a single battalion of Riverine Commandos (3o Batalhão de Comandos de Operações Ribeirinhas), and three squadrons of Quiriquiri light attack aircraft (901o, 902o, and 903o Esquadrãos de Reconhecimento e Ataque).  Otherwise, the brigade serves as the controlling headquarters for CFNB units rotating through deployments to the Amazon.  Size of the brigade varies with the international situation, but typically consists of two to three additional maneuver battalions with supporting assets, though it has been as large as six maneuver battalions during major operations (when size goes above three maneuver battalions, the organic headquarters and logistics units require augmentation from elsewhere within the CFNB).  Headquartered outside Manaus, at the confluence of the Amazon and Rio Negro, 50th Jungle Brigade, circa June 2303, consists of two additional infantry battalions (one on exchange from the Portuguese Marines), a hover-cavalry regiment, an amphibious transport regiment, and supporting units.

           

            3o Batalhão do Comandos de Operações Ribeirinhas

            901o Esquadrãos de Reconhecimento e Ataque (Quiriquiri)

            902o Esquadrãos de Reconhecimento e Ataque (Quiriquiri)

            903o Esquadrãos de Reconhecimento e Ataque (Quiriquiri)

           

51a Brigada de Montanha (51st Mountain Brigade)

Headquartered at the mountaineering and climbing mecca of Teresópolis in the estado of Rio de Janeiro, 51st Moutain Brigade is another unit organized since the end of the 3rd Rio Plata War to address shortcomings and weaknesses perceived during that conflict.  The brigade was originally formed to serve as a mountain unit for potential operations in the Andes against Inca Republic forces.  Over time, however, the unit has evolved into the CFNB’s arctic warfare specialists, with primary missions now envisioned as raids against Argentinean installations in Antarctica, the South Atlantic, and the southern reaches of Argentina itself.

 

To train for this mission, the 51st Brigade engages in frequent joint exercises with British forces in the South Atlantic and Antarctica, as well as similar training exercises in the northern hemisphere with British, Canadian, and American forces in Alaska, Canada, and Greenland.  The brigade also maintains a Mountain Warfare Training Center (Centro de Instrução de Guerra na Montanha) and one of its component battalions in the Extremasur region of Provincia do Brasil, where there is excellent access to terrain simulating the brigade’s anticipated wartime theater of operations.

 

Fifty-first Mountain Brigade is composed of three small subordinate battalions (with 2nd Battalion deployed on Tirane).  The brigade also maintains two training cadre companies, one based at Teresópolis and responsible for Earth-based training, and the second on Provinicia do Brasil.  Both these units have wartime pathfinding and reconnaissance missions, somewhat in emulation of British Royal Marines practices.  All members of the brigade are well skilled in various parachute techniques, small boat operations, and other special mobility techniques suited to their mission of raiding in some of Earth’s most inhospitable terrain.

 

            1/51a Batalhão de Comandos de Montanha

            2/51a Batalhão de Comandos de Montanha [Provincia do Brasil]

            3/51a Batalhão de Comandos de Montanha

INDEX

 

AVIATION GROUPS

 

1o Grupo de Aérea de Corpo (1st Corps Aviation Group)

The dedicated aviation support element of I Amphibious Corps, 1st Corps Aviation Group provides a range of transportation, reconnaissance, and attack assets to the corps, including both manned and unmanned combat aircraft, as well as medium and heavy lift transportation.  The Group is headquartered at São Paulo, with detachments collocated with both of its parent Corps’ two divisions.

 

           101o Esquadrão Aérea Ataque (Caracara)

            104o Esquadrão Aérea Ataque (Caracara)

            209o Esquadrão Aérea Ataque (Caracara)

            230o Esquadrão Aérea Ataque (Caracara)

            705o Esquadrão Aérea Ataque (VAPR) (Yari)

            777o Esquadrão Aérea Ataque (VAPR) (Yari)

            780o Esquadrão Aérea Ataque (VAPR) (Yari)

            781o Esquadrão Aérea Ataque (VAPR) (Yari)

            800o Esquadrão Aérea Reconhecimento (VAPR) (Yari-R)

            11o Esquadrão Aérea Transporte Médio (T-77)

            18o Esquadrão Aérea Transporte Médio (T-77)

            26o Esquadrão Aérea Transporte Médio (T-77)

            41o Esquadrão Aérea Transporte Médio (T-77)

            1o Esquadrão Aérea Transporte Pesado (Dragon-V)

            2o Esquadrão Aérea Transporte Pesado (Dragon-V)

           

2o Grupo Aérea de Apoio Especial (2nd Special Support Aviation Group)

Directly subordinate to the CFNB’s general headquarters on Earth, the 2nd Special Support Aviation Group provides a number of echelon-above-corps level aviation units to support operations by the 1st Marine Division and the I and II Amphibious Corps, including heavy-lift transport aviation, tactical air operations centers, and a limited strike capability.

 

            206o Esquadrão Aérea Bombardeio (Mosquito)

            208o Esquadrão Aérea Bombardeio (Mosquito)

            209o Esquadrão Aérea Bombardeio (Mosquito)

            9o Esquadrão Aérea Transporte Pesado (Capybara)

11o Esquadrão Aérea Transporte Pesado (Capybara)

            501o Esquadro de Comunicaçõnes e Controle

            502o Esquadro de Comunicaçõnes e Controle

 

4o Grupo Aérea Mixto (4th Mixed Aviation Group)

Based on Tirane, 4th Mixed Aviation Group provides a range of aviation assets for CFNB forces based on Provincia do Brasil.  Besides conventional heavier than air assets, the Group also includes two heavy-life Zeppelin transport squadrons and a Zeppelin maritime search squadron.  While these units do not have a frontline wartime mission, they provide a great deal of administrative and logistical support for CFNB operations on the colony.

 

            110o Esquadrão Aérea Ataque (Caracara)

111o Esquadrão Aérea Ataque (Caracara)

904o Esquadrãos de Reconhecimento e Ataque (Quiriquiri)

905o Esquadrãos de Reconhecimento e Ataque (Quiriquiri)

            778o Esquadrão Aérea Ataque (VAPR) (Naginata)

            779o Esquadrão Aérea Ataque (VAPR) (Naginata)

            50o Esquadrão Aérea Transporte Médio (T-77)

            57o Esquadrão Aérea Transporte Médio (T-77)

            70o Esquadrão Aérea Transporte Médio (T-77)

            75o Esquadrão Aérea Transporte Médio (T-77)

            3o Esquadrão Aérea Transporte Pesado (Dragon-V)

            6o Esquadrão Aérea Transporte Pesado (Capybara)

            501o Esquadrão Zepelim de Transporte Pesado

            502o Esquadrão Zepelim de Transporte Pesado

            503o Esquadrão Zepelim de Reconhecimento do Mar

 

7o Grupo Aérea de Corpo (7th Corps Aviation Group)

The corps’ support aviation element of II Amphibious Corps, 7th Aviation Group is generally similar in composition to 1st Corps Aviation Group, though primarily equipped with older airframes, and with fewer unmanned aircraft.  The Group has component units locate throughout Brazil. 

 

            103o Esquadrão Aérea Ataque (Lança)

            106o Esquadrão Aérea Ataque (Lança)

            109o Esquadrão Aérea Ataque (Lança)

            107o Esquadrão Aérea Ataque (Hunter)

            111o Esquadrão Aérea Ataque (Hunter)

            920o Esquadrão de Reconhecimento e Ataque (Jacaré)

            921o Esquadrão de Reconhecimento e Ataque (Jacaré)

            922o Esquadrão de Reconhecimento e Ataque (Jacaré)

            801o Esquadrão Aérea Reconhecimento (VAPR) (Yari-R)

            12o Esquadrão Aérea Transporte Médio (T-77)

            14o Esquadrão Aérea Transporte Médio (Whirlwind)

            16o Esquadrão Aérea Transporte Médio (Whirlwind)

            18o Esquadrão Aérea Transporte Médio (T-77)

            3o Esquadrão Aérea Transporte Pesado (Dragon-V)

            4o Esquadrão Aérea Transporte Pesado (Dragon-V)

 

 INDEX

SELECTED UNIT ORGANIZATIONS

 

Brigada Anfíbia (Amphibious Brigade)

 

In Brazilian Marine usage, Amphibious Brigade refers to a generalist infantry formation capable of amphibious operations from a wide range of platforms (attached hovercraft, aircraft, etc), and light enough for rapid deployment to anywhere in Brazil or elsewhere on Earth with minimal strain on strategic transportation systems.  Such units have an important, and extensively prepared for, secondary mission of offensive and defensive operations in urban areas. 

 

Teeth elements of the brigade consists of three marine battalions (Batalhão de Fuzileiros Navais) and a regiment of combat walkers (Regimiento de Dragões Navais).  Supporting these units is an artillery battalion (Batalhão de Artilheria de Costa), a light-mechanized reconnaissance squadron (Esquadrãos de Cavalaria Reconhecimento), and a logistics and support battalion (Batalhão de Apoio e Serviços).  The brigade is structured such that it can operate as part of a larger, divisional, force, or function independently with minimal augmentation.

 

Each marine battalion consists of a headquarters company, three rifle companies, and a weapons company.  The headquarters company consists of medical, logistics, communications, and maintenance sections, as well as a an aerial reconnaissance platoon (Pelotão de Reconhecimento Aérea) equipped with four short-range Coruja Preta (Black Owl) UAVs. 

 

The rifle companies are each made up of a headquarters section, three rifle platoons, and a weapons platoon.  Rifle platoons are of thirty-two men, including a headquarters squad (platoon leader, platoon sergeant, platoon guide, signaler and medic), plus three rifle squads, each of nine men, including a squad leader (armed with an MD-3 assault rifle) and two four-man fire teams (armed with a pair of MD-3s, an MD-7M laser rifle, and an MD-10 light machinegun).  Each squad also has a pair of MD-8 multipurpose rocket launchers issued to it, though both are not always carried, depending on the threat.  Weapons platoons are made up of a similar headquarters squad, plus a mortar squad (thirteen men and three 8cm mortars), and plasma gun squad (thirteen men with six MD-16 plasma guns), and an anti-tank/anti-air squad (another thirteen men with six dual-purpose Scorpion missile launchers).

 

Note that one rifle company per battalion is issued Lince airmobile light hover AFVs to allow them to function as a mechanized unit for tactical and operational mobility on the battlefield.  Depending on the circumstances, this company may or may not deploy with its vehicles, however.  A second company in the battalion maintains high levels of proficiency in airmobile and airborne operations (though all battalion personnel are trained for such), while the third company is similarly specialized in small boat, hovercraft, and WIG operations.

 

The weapons company contains the battalion’s heavy firepower, and is built essentially like a scaled-up weapons platoon.  It includes a mortar platoon with six 12cm heavy automortars, an anti-tank platoon with nine Corvo ATGM launchers on light hovercraft, an air defense platoon with six Hidra medium range SAM launchers.  The company also includes a twenty-three man sniper platoon (Pelotão de Atiradors) consisting of ten two-man sniper teams armed with two MD-97 sniper rifles; the platoon has an additional five MD-1 heavy sniper rifles available as needed.  All elements of the company except for the sniper platoon are equipped with Lince hover weapons carriers to move their weapons and ammunition.

 

Note that the 33rd Amphibious Brigade is generally identical to the format described above, except that the unit is equipped throughout with the VECO-10 family of light wheeled armored fighting vehicles, with mortar carriers and air defense vehicles replacing the hovertruck carried weapons in the weapons company and squad carriers equipping the rifle companies, etc.  Each rifle company also add a platoon of four VCC-10 light tanks for fire support.

 

Brigada de Cavalaria Navais, Tipo 1 (Marine Cavalry Brigade)

11a, 12a, and 13a Brigada de Cavalaria Navais (BRCN) are specialized, armor-heavy, formations intended primarily for operations at sea in the South Atlantic littoral region, with secondary missions of raiding inland or supporting other, more balanced, battle groups in land actions.  Each brigade is integrated with aviation assets to form the Air and Sea Strike Group (Força Ataque Aeronavais) of one of the Brazilian Navy’s three Littoral Warfare Groups. In this role, the brigades are typically based off of several  Caiena class Assault Ships that form the backbone of the battle group’s amphibious striking power.  As part of an LWG, the brigade’s combat power is fully integrated with larger surface combatants, the LWG’s marine aviation component, submarines and sub-fighters, etc. 

 

Primary teeth elements of each brigade are two Marine Cavalry Regiments (Regimientos de Cavalaria Navais), each composed of a Headquarters Squadron (Esquadrão de Comando), three Cavalry Squadrons (Esquadrãos de Cavalaria Navais), and two  Reconnaissance Squadrons (Esquadrãos de Cavalaria Navais Reconhecimento).  The Headquarters Squadron includes maintenance, medical, and supply elements (there are no support echelons within the line companies), plus an air defense platoon with eight HAA-10 air defense vehicles and a thirty-six man infantry platoon (including six medics, and with all members cross-trained to function as rescue swimmers as well) with six HCI-10M3 personnel carriers.  Each Cavalry Squadron consists of fourteen ACC-19M1 hover battle tanks, split into three platoons of four, plus the commander’s and executive officer’s tanks.  The Reconnaissance Squadron is identical in composition to the Cavalry Squadrons, except that all fourteen tanks are ACC-19MR2s, equipped with the Sea Witch (Feiticeira do Mar) maritime reconnaissance and surveillance sensor package.

 

Brigada de Cavalaria Navais, Tipo 2

23a and 41a Brigada de Cavalaria Navias carry the same nomenclature as 11a, 12a, and 13a BRCN but are organized as more conventional combined arms formations.  These two units are intended primarily for operations on land, with forays out into the littoral (or amphibious operations), rather than primarily maritime operations with occasional forays onto land.  Organization is triangular, with two Naval Cavalry Regiments and one mechanized Marine Battalion supported by an Artillery Battalion and other combat support and combat service support assets.

 

Each Naval Cavalry Regiment consists of four fourteen-tank Naval Cavalry Squadrons (equipped with ACC-19M1s, as well as company-level logistics and support vehicles), plus a Headquarters Squadron with various combat support and combat service support assets.  CS assets in the Headquarters Squadron include:

 

The mechanized Batalhão de Fuzileiros Navais is organized like the Marine Cavalry Regiment, but with four companies, each equipped with fourteen HCI-10M1 hover personnel carriers.  Each company consists of three rifle platoons, organized into three standard Brazilian nine-man infantry squads with five MD-3 7.5mm binary assault rifles, two MD-7M laser rifles, and a pair of MD-10 light machineguns.  At the platoon level, the unit also has access to MD-2 plasma guns, Scorpion Anti-Tank/Air-Aircraft missile launchers, and sustained fire kits for their MD-10 machineguns.

 

Brigada de Fuzileiros Navais (Marine Brigade)

Marine Brigades are organized similarly to the Type 2 Marine Cavalry Brigades, only with the proportion of Marine Cavalry Regiments and mechanized Marine Battalions reversed (one Marine Cavalry Regiment and two mechanized Marine Battalions) per brigade.

 

INDEX

 

RANKS

 

The CFNB uses a rank system generally similar to that used by the Brazilian Army, with the exception of the First Marine Division, which has adopted the use of a modified form of Brazilian naval ranks for its officers.  As in other Brazilian branches of service circa 2300, one often sees enlisted ranks expressed with an appended slash and 0-5 added (i.e. “Cabo/4,” “Fuzileiro/2,” etc.).  This does not indicate a rank, but rather refers pay differentials for those with specialist skills. 

 

CFNB RANK STRUCTURE

Enlisted/NCO/

Warrant Officer Ranks

Equivalent

Commissioned Ranks

Commissioned Ranks

(1st Marine Division)

Equivalent

Fuzileiro Segundo

Private soldier Rifleman, etc

Aspirante

Aspirante

Officer Cadet

Fuzileiro

Senior private

Key weapons system operator, vehicle gunner, etc.

2o Tenente

2o Tenente

2nd Lieutenant

Platoon Leader, Junior Commissioned Aviator

Cabo

Corporal

Fire team leader, vehicle gunner or commander, etc.

1o Tenente

1o Tenente

1st Lieutenant

Company Second in Command,  Specialist Platoon Leader, or Line Platoon Leader (Commando Units only)

3o Sargento

Junior Sergeant

Squad leader or vehicle commander

Capitão

Capitão-Tenente

Captain (Captain-Lieutenant)

Company Commander

2o Sargento

Sergeant

Platoon sergeant,   junior enlisted aviator

Mayor

Capitão-de-Corveta

Major (Corvette Captain)

Company Commander (Commando Units only), Battalion or Higher Staff Officer

1o Sargento

Senior Sergeant

Company quartermaster, platoon sergeant (commando units only), enlisted aviator

Teniente Coronel

Capitão-de-Fragata

Lieutenant Colonel (Frigate Captain)

Battalion/Regiment Commander, Brigade Second in Command, etc.

Sub-Oficial

Warrant Officer

Company  senior NCO and higher, senior enlisted aviator

Coronel

Capitão de Brigada or Capitão de Grupo

Colonel (Brigade or Group Captain)

Brigade and higher staff officer, Brigade or Group Commander (1st Marine Division only)

 

General de Brigada

Almirante de Força

Brigadier (Force Admiral)

Brigade commander (outside 1st Marine Division), Force commander in 1st Marine Division

General de Divisão

Almirante de Divisão

Major General (Division Admiral)

Division Commander

General de Corpo

N/A

Lieutenant General

N/A

General en jefe

N/A

General

 

INDEX
PERSONNEL

The Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais do Brasil currently remains an all-volunteer, professional force, recruited from throughout Brazil's terrestrial and colonial holdings.  Recruitment is open to men and women between the ages of 18 and 32 (waiverable to 40 for those with specialist qualifications, prior military service, and the like).  Recruits should, preferably, be Brazilian citizens, but recruiting is open to those immigrants already resident in Brazil.  Portuguese citizens can also easily obtain a dual-citizenship to allow them to enlist in the CFNB, and the force is currently, circa 2303, about 7% Portuguese nationals.

Those accepted for enlistment will be sent to one of three recruit training depots maintained by the CFNB.   The Centro de Instrução "Almirante Milcíades Portela Alves" is the senior such depot, presently located on Ilha Grande, southwest of Rio de Janeiro, though perpetuating the lineage of the recruit training facility formerly located within the Rio metroplex itself.  There has been talk of the depot relocating, as the real estate value of the island as a tourist destination is becoming astronomical.  The other training depot on Earth, the Centro de Instrução "Coronel Jorge Barata Gomes" is located in north-central Brazil, in the estado of Paiui, outside the small city of Banho Belo.  Located deep in the region's caatinga scrublands (and remote from the ocean), Centro de Instrução "Coronel Jorge Barata Gomes" specializes in initial training for personnel serving in artillery, hover AFV, and combat walker units.  It has a reputation for being an extremely unforgiving post, and marines passing through its training program tend to consider themselves a cut above their counterparts who matriculated via Ilha Grande or Ilha de Fuzileiros on Tirane (this belief is, of course, contested by those marines).  The last training depot operated by the CFNB, the Centro de Instrução "Ilha de Fuzileiros" is located on Tirane, off the coast of the state of Lemanja, and provides basic and specialist training to marines recruited from the colony, as shipping costs are prohibitive for transporting all such personnel to Earth.  Enlisted recruits from the colony are assigned to the 4th Marine Division and other units assigned to Provincia do Brasil, unless recruitment is in excess of colonial needs, in which case excess are sent to Earth.  Recruits from Paulo and Brazilian enclaves on other colony worlds and outposts are shipped to Earth for initial training.   

On completion of basic and specialist training, enlisted personnel are posted to their initial unit, where they will undergo additional specialist training reflecting the unit's mission, etc.  The length and degree of this training can vary greatly.  Personnel assigned to the 1st Marine Division are assigned to a divisional training depot, Centro de Instrução da Cavalaria Navais "Forte dos Remédios" (Forte dos Remédios Naval Cavalry Training Center) in the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, approximately 350 kilometers off the coast of Brazil in the Atlantic Ocean, for an additional four months of specialized individual, crew-level, and small unit training.  Those assigned to the 4th Marine Division undergo a much shorter additional course, about a month in length, and are then expected to acquire additional skills during on the job training (though personnel posted to Tirane for the first time from off-world undergo an additional one month training course for orientation and acclimatization purposes).

Officers for the CFNB are the products of commissioning conducted by the nation's Naval Academy (Escola Naval) in Rio de Janeiro.  The academy provides two routes to commissioning, either a traditional four year training and education program, or a one-year officer candidate school open to civilians and military personnel who already hold a bachelors degree.  In both cases, officers have often already completed their secondary education at one of the nation's various government sponsored military preparatory school, and so will have had a degree of military training beginning at age 14.  Also, a number of positions in the Naval Academy's four-year program are reserved for enlisted naval personnel (including marines) who have demonstrated leadership potential, but who do not hold degrees.  Those completing either of the Escola Naval's commissioning programs are commissioned into the Brazililan Navy.  Those wishing to serve in the CFNB must them complete the Corps' Officer Selection Course (Curso para Seleção de Aspirantes), a six week assessment course, prior to going on to completely basic officer tactical training and the like.

Beginning in 2287, Provincia do Brasil now maintains its own, smaller, naval academy, the Colégio Naval da Provincia, which provides the same commissioning options for residents of the colony.

Traditionally, the CFNB has been staffed by enlisted and commissioned personnel originating in the south and southeastern portions of Brazil, though this has changed in the last fifty years, with the north becoming much more represented in the force after the establishment of a number of bases in the region.  Also, Provincia do Brasil has increasingly come into prominence as a recruiting ground for the Brazilian Marines.  Though containing about 25% of the nation's overall population, the colony accounts for a little over 40% of the CFNB's enlisted and NCO strength, and about 30% of its officer strength.  

 INDEX

CULTURE

 

Though a large organization, the CFNB still considers itself an elite within the conventional Brazilian military, with no small amount of justification.  With a history dating back to the Napoleonic era, the Brazilian Marines tend to find their esprit de corps in their past, with the common status as a Fuzileiro Naval serving as a core aspect of identity, rather than the larger Brazilian Army, for instance, where both unit and branch identity are more salient than status as a soldier in the Exército Brasiliero. 

 

The CFNB seems to be currently on a path wherein residing on the bleeding edge of technology and tactical doctrine for littoral and amphibious operations is a central tenet of the organization.  Formerly regarded as something of an organization of traditionalists, this new direction stems directly from the 3rd Rio Plata War.  The current generation of senior leaders in the Corps were mostly junior officers in that conflict, and preparing to defeat Argentina in the next round of fighting is a constant preoccupation in CFNB thinking.  This trend is currently exemplified by the 1st Marine Division’s organization into a specialized littoral warfare strike force, a novel development that has not yet been tested in combat. 

 

The preoccupation with preparing for the next conflict with Argentina has tended to change the general atmosphere within the CFNB as well.  Personnel policies enacted since the end of that conflict have done much to weed out the unqualified and unfit, and generally promoted the advancement of aggressive, innovative thinkers within both the officer and NCO corps.  Unlike the Brazilian Army, which has been accused of dumping its more unconventional thinkers in the Amazon theater or its special operations components, in the CFNB such thinkers have largely come to dominate the organization.  This has not been without its problems on occasion, but has generally promoted a transformation in the capabilities of the CFNB that has been quite disturbing to Argentinean and Uruguayan observers.

 

The increasing presence of recruits from Provincia do Brasil has had its own unique influence on the CFNB, more so than the other segments of the Brazilian military.  Within the last few decades, the CFNB's culture has evolved to reflect Provincial mores and the like on a wide range of topics, ranging from such minor issues as menu offerings in CFNB mess halls to issues of political or social significance.  For instance, the CFNB has become something of a focal point on Earth and on the colony for those opposed to the idea of ceding Nova Ostia or other parts of Provincia do Brasil to foreign powers.  This opposition has generally confined itself to political discourse, with the CFNB's rank and file increasingly voting for the anti-transfer Partido Federal do Brasil, though bar room brawls and similar bits of violence in Aegeanopolis directed at the local Greek garrison by CFNB members have become increasingly common, and increasingly savage, as the scheduled date of transfer approaches.

INDEX

 

UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT

 

CFNB field uniforms and equipment tend to be the standard Brazilian military patterns, with most personnel wearing the grey-green temperate weather MD-90 Uniforme de Combate Universal for most day-to-day wear.  During field operations, the ballistic-protective MD-90 Uniforme Blindado de Combate (as per the standard non-rigid body armor suit) is preferred, though some units in the Amazon use the non-ballistic MD-90 UMU worn with protective vest do to environmental issues.  Like other branches of the Brazilian military, field uniform ornamentation is kept to a minimum, and usually consists only of a one-piece name and rank tab (incorporating a color or subdued CFNB crest) worn on the right breast, and a unit patch on the left.

 

The basic body armor suit is usually augmented with an additional protective inertial body armor vest (Modelo 92 Colete Blindado Flexível) that is designed to accept standard Brazilian webbing pouches to allow the wearer to dispense with a separate webbing harness.  The vest provides standard AV 0.8 inertial armor protection to the wearer.

 

The standard service helmet, the Modelo 88M2 Capacete Militar, corresponds to the standard high-threat helmet level of protection.  The helmet includes an integral passive night vision sensor, heads up display, audio damper/amplifiers, and a microphone for linkage to the standard, short-range (1000 meter planning range) VHF radio communication system or other communications systems.

 

All combat arms personnel are issued the Modelo 96 Computador Pessoal de Combate (CPC-96), a fairly typical battlefield digitization package that includes a mil-spec compact computer, short-range encrypted VHF voice/datalink communication, and the like.  Rear-area personnel are primarily issued the less capable CPC-96V2, which lacks some of the features of the combat-arms version of the system, while small units leaders and officers are issued the superior CPC-99, with enhanced capabilities.

 

In garrison, CFNB personnel wear the traditional and highly distinctive red and white Glengarry of the Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais, first adopted by the service in the 20th Century.  In its modern incarnation, the Glengarry is worn with the CFNB’s fouled anchor and crossed rifles cap badge, set on a division specific colored flash.

 

Flash Colors, by Unit

Unit

Flash Color

1st Marine Division

Navy Blue

2nd Marine Division

Haze Gray

3rd Marine Division

Dark Green

4th Marine Division

Blue & Green

10th Marine Division

Tan & Green

11th Marine Division

Individual’s war-trace unit affiliation

12th Marine Division

Grey & Green

10th Subsurface Commando Brigade

Black

44th Amphibious Brigade

Blue & Green (same as 4th Division)

50th Jungle Brigade

Green, Blue, and Brown

51st Mountain Brigade

Gray & White

I Amphibious Corps units

Red

II Amphibious Corps units

White

 

Small arms and other combat equipment is generally identical to the standard Brazilian military issue, with the MD-3 binary assault rifle, MD-7M laser assault rifle, and MD-10 light machinegun being the standard offensive small arms systems employed.  The MD-3D personal defense carbine is issued to those personnel not requiring a weapon equipped with a 30mm grenade launcher.  The standard sidearm is the MD-725 machine pistol for those needing a truly compact weapon system, though the CFNB has begun to partially replace this weapon with the more modern MD-551.

 INDEX

 

GLOSSARY

 

6a Flotilha Sub-superficie

6th Subsurface Flotilla.  A Brazilian Navy unit combining sub-fighters and larger submarines, primarily tasked with special operations missions in the South Atlantic and Caribbean.

Caracara

CA-24 Strike Fighter.  A high performance aircraft used by the Brazilian Marines, Army, and Air Force for stand-off close air support, battlefield air interdiction, and strike missions.

Flotilha de Zona Litoral

Littoral Warfare Group.  A Brazilian naval battle group that combines aircraft, hovertank, surface combatants, and subsurface combatants into an integrated force tailored specifically to dominate the littoral maritime environment. 

Lince

“Lynx.”  A-29 series of light armored hovercraft.  Design includes a personnel carrier, weapons carrier, and other variants.

MD-1 Fuzil de Atiradors Pesado

FTE-10 Sniper Rifle.  Manufactured under license in Brazil.

MD-8 Lança Rojão Universal

MD-8 Multipurpose Rocket Launcher.  A squad-level support weapon in Brazilian service capable of firing a variety of anti-armor and anti-personnel rounds.

MD-16 Fuzil Alto Energia

Mk.2-A2 Plasma Gun.  Produced in Brazil under license by Signorelli Technologies.

Naginata

QC-3 Drone Air Defense Fighter.  Imported Japanese design used by the Brazilian Marines and Air Force for defense of high value targets.

Partido Federal do Brasil Brazilian Federal Party.  A conservative political party vehemently opposed to, among other things, the ceding of any Brazilian territory on Provincia do Brasil or other colonies to foreign nations, accusing the government of "continuing the national humiliation of the 3rd Rio Plata War by begging, hat in hand, for inconsequential nations to partition Brazil."  The party is primarily a political entity on Provincia do Brasil, though in the last elections it also won a number of seats in the national assembly.  The party is also very pro-military stance on a number of issues has made the party very popular among CFNB members and Brazilian military personnel stationed on Tirane.

Quiriquiri

RA-909 Light Attack and Reconnaissance Aircraft.  A specialist counter-insurgency ground attack tilt-rotor aircraft used extensively by the Brazilian Marines, Army, and Air Force in Amazonia.

SAMTR

Sistema Aéreo de Monitoramento Terrestre por Radar.  Portuguese term for AWACS-style airborne battle command and control systems.

 VAPR

Veículo Aérea com Piloto Remoto.  Remotely piloted aerial vehicle.  Official Brazilian term for UAV designs, to include UCAVs.

‘Ze Indio

“Joe Indian.”  Usual term of reference among Brazilian military personnel for Inca Republic armed forces.


29 August 2005

Copyright James Boschma, 2005