Marcos refers to Marine Commandos and they are a part of the Indian Navy’s Special Forces. Indian Navy’s MARCOS are highly trained and specialized in various unconventional warfare tactics, including water-hijacking, direct action, and underwater operations. They undergo rigorous training to become proficient in amphibious warfare and are equipped to operate in diverse environments, ranging from the sea to land and air.
On January 5, 2024, a ship named MV Lila Norfolk was hijacked by Somali pirates which included 21 crew (including 15 Indians) onboard. Our Navy intercepted this call in the morning and sent INS Chennai (It is a Kolkata-class guided-missile destroyer in service with the Indian Navy. The Kolkata-class destroyers are a class of stealth guided-missile destroyers built for the Indian Navy. These ships are designed to perform a variety of roles, including air defense, anti-submarine warfare, and land attack) to counter. When it reached the harbor hijacked vessel firstly, it launched the helicopter and issued a warning to pirates to abandon the vessel but did not get any positive result.
Indian Navy’s Marcos rescued 21 Crew (including 15 Indians)
The message was sent on the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations portal (a British military organization that tracks the movements of various vessels in strategic waterways) by MV Lila Norfolk—saying five to six unknown armed personnel had boarded.
The top deck of the hijacked vessel MV Lila Norfolk was sanitized properly in the evening. Current Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar issued directives to take stringent actions against the Somali pirates also more warships are deployed in that region to avoid these kinds of incidents.
Naval security in the Arabian Sea is a critical aspect of the maritime security efforts conducted by various nations in the region. The Arabian Sea is a key maritime route connecting the Indian Ocean to the Persian Gulf, and it plays a crucial role in global trade. Several countries, including India, Pakistan, Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and others, have naval forces and maritime security measures in place to safeguard their interests and maintain stability in the region.
Last month the Navy deployed several warships into the sea to “maintain a deterrent presence” after a string of recent shipping attacks, including a drone attack near India’s coast blamed on Iran by the United States.
The latest attack comes at a time when many vessels have been rerouted from the Red Sea, where Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have carried out drone and missile attacks in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel is battling Hamas.
Last month a drone attack hit the MV Chem Pluto tanker 200 nautical miles (370 kilometres) off the coast of India.
All about MARCOS
MARCOS undergo rigorous and demanding training that includes physical conditioning, combat diving, airborne operations, and marksmanship. The training is designed to make them highly versatile and effective in various environments. MARCOS are skilled in conducting operations in maritime and littoral environments. Their ability to carry out amphibious assaults and operations from the sea gives them a unique capability.
MARCOS are equipped with specialized gear and weaponry suitable for their diverse missions, which may include combat on land, at sea, or in underwater environments. They play a crucial role in maritime counter-terrorism operations, and their skills are essential for securing coastal areas and critical installations.
MARCOS is considered one of the most elite and formidable special forces units in the world. They are an integral part of India’s maritime security strategy. Specific details about Indian Navy’s MARCOS operations are often classified due to the sensitive nature of their missions. They have been involved in various operations, including anti-piracy efforts and counter-insurgency operations.