1st Battalion 11th Marines 1st Battalion 11th Marines ( 1 / 11 ) is an artillery battalion comprising four firing batteries and a Headquarters battery . The battalion is stationed at the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California . Its primary weapon system is the M777 lightweight howitzer . The battalion is under the command of the 11th Marine Regiment , part of the 1st Marine Division . Mission . To provide direct support to the 1st Marine Division 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 temporary rifle companies . It also has 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 population . History . Early years . The 1st Battalion , 11th Marines was activated on 3 December 1923 at the Marine Corps Base Quantico , Virginia , as the 1st Battalion , 10th Regiment . It participated in mail guard duty in the mid - western United States from October 1926 to February 1927 . The battalion deployed during April to June 1927 to Tientsin in China and was assigned to the 3rd Marine Brigade . The unit returned during September 1928 to MCB Quantico and was detached from the 3rd Marine Brigade during December 1928 . It were re - designated on 10 July 1930 to the 1st Battalion , 10th Marines . The battalion was assigned to the 1st Marine Brigade during September 1935 . It was re - designated on 1 September 1940 as the 1st Battalion , 11th Marines . During October 1940 , it was deployed to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba . On 1 February 1941 , the 1st Marine Brigade was re - designated as the 1st Marine Division . The battalion relocated to New River , North Carolina during April 1941 . World War II . 1st Battalion , 11th Marines was reassigned during March 1942 to the 3rd Marine Brigade . It was deployed during March 1942 to Western Samoa . The battalion was again reassigned to the 1st Marine Division in September 1942 . The battalion participated in the Guadalcanal and New Britain campaigns ; it also carried out operations on Finschhafen , Peleliu and Okinawa . After the war the battalion was redeployed in September 1945 to Tientsin , China . It participated in the occupation of North China from September 1945 to January 1947 . It was then redeployed during January 1947 to Guam , and detached from the 1st Marine Division . While in Guam , the unit constructed Camp Witek , the 1st Marine Brigade base . The battalion was reassigned during June 1947 to the 1st Marine Brigade . It was deactivated on 1 October 1947 . Korean War . The battalion was reactivated on 1 October 1949 at Camp Pendleton and assigned to the 1st Marine Division . It was then reassigned during July 1950 to the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade . The battalion was then deployed in July and August 1950 to Pusan in Korea . The battalion participated in the Korean War , from August 1950 to July 1953 , taking part in the actions at the Battle of the Pusan Perimeter , at Inchon and the Chosin Resovoir . Personnel also saw action on the East - Central and Western Fronts . 1st Battalion , 11th Marines participated in the occupation of the Korean Demilitarized Zone from August 1953 to March 1955 . It returned to Camp Pendleton in April 1955 . Vietnam War . The battalion deployed during August 1965 to Camp Hansen , Okinawa and redeployed during January 1966 to Chu Lai , in the Republic of Vietnam . It was reassigned to the 3rd Marine Division . During March 1966 , the unit was reassigned to the 1st Marine Division . The battalion operated from Chu Lai , Da Nang , Quang Tri , Phu Bai , Con Thien , Ca Lu , Khe Sanh , Cua Viet , Dong Ha and Quang Nam from January 1966 to March 1971 . It was reassigned during 1971 to the 3rd Marine Amphibious Brigade ; it returned during March 1971 to Camp Pendleton and reassigned to the 1st Marine Division . Alpha Battery 1st Battalion 11th Marines was known as Alpha North in early 1966 . On the night of 18 April 1966 Alpha North was overrun . We suffered 5 Marines killed and 28 wounded . All of the Howitzers received damage . The Battery moved to the 1 - 1 compound at Hoi An . Gulf War and the 1990s . 1st Battalion , 11th Marines participated in Operation Desert Storm from September 1990 to March 1991 . Elements participated in Operation Sea Angel in Bangladesh from May to June 1991 . Elements also participated in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia from December 1992 to March 1993 . Global War on Terror . In January 2003 the battalion deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom . After participating in the invasion of Iraq it returned to Camp Pendleton in July 2003 . Individual firing Batteries have continued to support the MEU cycle in the war on terror since 2003 . The Battalion HQ deployed to Anbar Province Iraq with Battery A , Battery C , and Battery K as a provisional infantry Battalion in June 2007 . The unit returned to Camp Pendleton in late April 2008 . In May 2010 the Battalion deployed to Helmand Province , in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 10 . 1 . The Battalion was attached to the 1st Marine Division ( Forward ) Task Force Leatherneck . The Battalion was reinforced , comprising three gun batteries ( Bravo , India 3 / 12 , and Lima 3 / 12 ) and a HiMARS rocket Battery ( Tango 5 / 11 , later Sierra 5 / 11 ) . 1 / 11 was assigned an artillery tactical mission of General Support to Task Force Leatherneck . The Battalion returned from Afghanistan in November 2011 and began fielding the Expeditionary Fire Support System ( EFSS ) .