Japan's Marine Corps 'Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade' Targeting Dokdo

[Military Analyst Kim Daeyoung] Known as the "Japanese Marine Corps," the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade (ARDB) of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Western Army is recognized as a direct unit under the Ground Component Command, equivalent to our field army-level operational command. It is the only unit within the Japan Self-Defense Forces specialized in conducting amphibious operations, such as the recapture of island territories.

The background behind the establishment of the ARDB involves China. In the 21st century, as China’s economy developed, the Chinese military began introducing various advanced naval assets, including aircraft carriers. Alongside this, since the 2010s, China has strongly asserted sovereignty over the southwestern islands of the East China Sea?referred to by Japan as the Senkaku Islands and by China as the Diaoyutai Islands?while dispatching numerous Chinese coast guard vessels and fishing boats to nearby waters, escalating tensions between China and Japan. Furthermore, with the Chinese military conducting simulated landing exercises on the Senkaku Islands, Japan recognized the need to strengthen defense capabilities in the Nansei Islands?an archipelago stretching from southern Kyushu to east of Taiwan in the East China Sea?by establishing an amphibious unit specialized in island recapture operations.

As a result, the Japanese Ministry of Defense first mentioned the creation of the ARDB in the National Defense Program Guidelines at the end of 2013. On March 27, 2017, the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment and Amphibious Rapid Deployment Training Unit were formed to begin full-scale unit organization. One year later, on March 27, 2018, the Western Army’s direct unit, the Western Army Infantry Regiment, was transformed into the 1st Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment, and with the addition of another regiment, the ARDB was completed with approximately 2,000 personnel. Additionally, according to the Ministry of Defense’s Medium-Term Defense Program, by 2023, one more regiment will be added to the ARDB, expanding the unit to about 3,000 personnel across three regiments. Alongside this, by 2017, the ARDB procured 58 U.S.-made AAV7A1 RAM/RS amphibious assault vehicles, essential for landing operations.

This includes command and maintenance vehicles. The ARDB is stationed in Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture. Sasebo hosts the U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault ship units as well as the headquarters of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s 2nd Escort Flotilla. Key assets include the Aegis-equipped ships of the 5th Escort Flotilla and eight combat vessels, including the Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer Ise. Currently, the ARDB consists of a headquarters, two amphibious rapid deployment regiments, and the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Combat Landing Battalion operating amphibious vehicles, supported by an artillery battalion equipped with 120mm mortars, reconnaissance, engineering, and communications companies. Additionally, there are rear support battalions and the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Training Unit. Although the ARDB was established primarily to counter potential Chinese landings on the Nansei Islands, it may also need to prepare for contingencies involving Dokdo (Takeshima) in the event of a crisis.