3rd Battalion 11th Marines 3rd Battalion 11th Marines ( 3 / 11 ) is an artillery battalion comprising four firing batteries and a headquarters battery . The battalion is based at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms , California and its primary weapon system is the M777 lightweight howitzer with a maximum effective range of 30 km . They fall under the 11th Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division . Mission . Provide direct support of the 7th Marine Regiment in time of conflict . That support may come in the traditional fashion of artillery support to maneuver forces , or by providing batteries to serve as provisional rifle companies . They also have the secondary mission of being the primary providers of civil - military operations ( CMO ) . CMO is defined as the activities of the commander that establish , maintain , influence , or exploit relations between military organizations , Government and civilian organizations and the civilian populace . Current units . Lima Battery is reinforcing from 3rd Battalion 12th Marines . Mike Battery was previously designated as Lima , and re - designated due to the confusion of two Lima batteries within the same battalion . History . World War II . 3rd Battalion 11th Marines was activated 1 May 1943 at Victoria , Australia as the 5th Battalion , 11th Marines , 1st Marine Division , Fleet Marine Force . The Battalion was redesignated 3rd Battalion , 11th Marines on 7 May 1944 . During World War II , 3 / 11 participated in the Eastern New Guinea , Battle of New Britain , Battle of Peleliu , Battle of Guadalcanal and the Battle of Okinawa . Following World War II , Third Battalion participated in the occupation of North China from September 1945 to January 1947 . In December 1946 , the battalion was attached to the 7th Marines . The battalion was relocated to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton , California in January 1947 and was assigned to the 3rd Marine Brigade . The battalion was deactivated on 30 September 1947 . Korean War . 3 / 11 was reactivated on 20 August 1950 at Camp Pendleton and was assigned to the 1st Marine Division , FMF . The battalion deployed in September 1950 to Kobe , Japan and participated in the Korean War , operating from Inchon , Seoul , the Chosin Reservoir , the East , Central , and Western Fronts . Third Battalion participated in the defense of the Korean Demilitarized Zone from July 1953 to February 1955 . The battalion was relocated to Camp Pendleton in February 1955 . Vietnam War . In May 1965 , Third Battalion was attached to Regimental Landing Team Seven and deployed to the Western Pacific . The battalion was assigned to the 3rd Marine Division in June 1965 and was later reassigned to the 1st Marine Division in March 1966 to October 1970 , the battalion participated in the war in Vietnam , operating from Chu Lai , Da Nang , Dai Loc , and Hoi An . Third Battalion relocated to Camp Pendleton in October 1970 and was assigned to the Fifth Marine Amphibious Brigade . The battalion was reassigned in April 1971 to the First Marine Division , FMF . The Gulf War and the 1990s . Third Battalion relocated to its current home at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms , California in February 1990 . The battalion participated in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in Southwest Asia from August 1990 to March 1991 . From December 1992 to April 1993 , the battalion was deployed as a Provisional Infantry Battalion to Mogadishu , Somalia for Operation Restore Hope . While in Somalia the battalion was instrumental in coordinating security for the city of Mogadishu with 12 other nations . Global War on Terror . The battalion once again deployed to Southwest Asia from January 2003 to July 2003 to support the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force ( I MEF ) in Operation Iraqi Freedom . The battalion ’ s timely and accurate fires proved to be crucial in allowing I MEF to quickly move deep into Iraqi territory and topple the regime in 21 days of major combat operations . Immediately following the fall of Baghdad , the battalion assumed the mission of a Provisional Infantry Battalion and begun assisting in civil / military duties as well as conducting Security and Stability Operation ( SASO ) patrols in the capital city , securing hospitals and other vital infrastructure . In November 2003 the battalion again received orders to deploy to Iraq , but this time as a Provisional Military Police Battalion . The battalion quickly transitioned into its new job and deployed from February 2004 to September 2004 . The battalion ’ s motto of Semper Flexibils , Always Flexible , held true with the battalion participating in missions ranging from convoy escorts , combat patrols , humanitarian assistance , security force training , and controlling a battle space of over 40 , 000 square kilometers . In May 2005 , the battalion became the first unit in the world to field the new M777 Lightweight howitzer . Feedback from the artillerymen of 3 / 11 led to modifications prior to being issued to other Marine and Army units . Currently , the battalion supports OIF by deploying individual batteries to fulfill the role of artillery support , as well as provisional MP ; as well as supporting III MEF in Okinawa , Japan with the Unit Deployment Program by deploying a battery semi - annually . 3 / 11 deployed to southern Afghanistan in the spring of 2009 as part of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade . They are part of the 17 , 000 troop increase announced by President Obama in mid - February . 3 / 11 operated as part of Regimental Combat Team 3 and was the only Marine artillery battalion in Afghanistan . The battalion built Fiddler ' s Green in July 2009 as a fire base for Operation Strike of the Sword .