Royal Thai Marine Corps The Royal Thai Marine Corps ( are the marines of the Royal Thai Navy . The Royal Thai Marine Corps was founded in 1932 , when the first battalion was formed with the assistance of the United States Marine Corps . It was expanded to a regiment in 1940 and was in action against communist guerrilla s throughout the 1950s and 1960s . During the 1960s the United States Marine Corps assisted in its expansion into a brigade . The Royal Thai Marine Corps saw action on the Malaysia n border in the 1970s , and has now been increased to two brigades . History . Historically , there was no distinction in Siam between soldiers and marines , with the army performing both functions . The first " Thahan Ma - Rine " , meaning " Marine Soldiers " , were formed in 1833 , during the reign of King Rama III . " Ma - Rine " was simply a transliteration of the English word . The development of the modern Thai Marine Corps can be divided into three periods : Early years . The Marine Soldiers of the 19th and early 20th centuries were few in number and served mainly as a royal honor guard that provided security for the King whenever he traveled around the country . On March 2 , 1913 , however , the Ministry of the Navy reorganized the Marine Soldiers . The Marine artillery platoon was attached to the Operation Command Department of Ships and Fortresses , while the Marine infantry platoon in Bangkok was attached to the Vehicle Division of the Department of the Navy Amphibious Assault Group . The Revolution in 1932 transformed Thailand from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy . Shortly after , the Royal Thai Navy was reorganized , and the vehicle battalion became the Marine Corps Battalion of the Bangkok Navy Station . This is considered the first Marine Corps Battalion in Thailand . Post 1932 Revolution ( 1932 – 1955 ) . The 2nd Marine Corps Battalion was established at Sattahip in 1937 . Two years later , the 2nd Battalion was expanded into the Marine Corps Department . Shortly after that , a border dispute with French Indo - China turned violent , and the Marine Corps Department ' s " Chanthaburi Division " was engaged in action with the French Foreign Legion several times . During World War II , the Marine Corps sent troops to defend the southern border with Malaya and also guarded Phuket Province from possible attack . After Imperial Japan ' s surrender in September 1945 , Thai Marines helped disarm the Japanese Army at Baan Pong District in Ratchaburi Province . In 1950 , when violence in Malaysia spilled over into Thailand , Marine Corps Troop 6 was sent to help restore the peace in Narathiwat Province . Surprisingly , on June 29 , 1951 , the Thai government disbanded the Marine Corps Bureau , and the Marines were distributed into naval units . However , this was during the Korean War , and both the United States Military and the Royal Thai Navy urged Thailand to reconsider . New Age ( 1955 – present ) . Four years later , the Thai Government acknowledged that a Marine Corps could perform a useful role in national defense . On July 30 , 1955 , the government created the Marine Corps Department . In 1961 , tensions flared over the disputed Preah Vihear Temple , situated on the Thai side of a high cliff on the Cambodian border but shown on French maps as being in the Cambodia . The Chanthaburi and Trat borders with Cambodia gave the Marine Corps Department its first assignment , safeguarding the coastline and southeastern border . Since 1970 the Marine Corps ' Chanthaburi - Trat Task Force has been officially assigned the defense of this area . During 1972 and 1973 , Thai Marines were involved in the " Sam - Chai " anti - communist operations in Phetchabun Province and the " Pha - Phum " anti - communist operations in Chiang Rai Province . In 1973 and 1974 , they took part in anti - communist operations in the southern provinces of Pattani , Yala and Narathiwat . Since 1975 , Thai Marines have been assigned to Narathiwat as Marine Corps special forces . In 1977 , they captured the communist camp at Krung - Ching in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province , and remaining there until 1981 . Thai Marines today are responsible for border security in Chanthaburi and Trat provinces . They have fought communist insurgents in engagements at Baan Hard Lek , Baan Koat Sai , Baan Nhong Kok , Baan Kradook Chang , Baan Chumrark , and in the battle of Hard Don Nai in Nakhon Phanom Province . Many Thai Marines have lost their lives serving their country , and they continue to do so today , especially in the southern border provinces now facing an Islamist insurgency . A monument to their valor stands at the Royal Thai Navy base at Sattahip .