12,000 Marines is the strength of a full strength Infantry Division with :
Three Infantry brigades (8000 men),
AD Brigade(900-1000 men),
Artillery Brigade(900-1000 men,
Support Brigade (1000-1300 men) (Engineers, EME,Signals, S&T battalion etc)
Armour Regt (400 men)
However Pakistan Marines seem to be a Light Infantry Force, completely lacking heavy weapons of Armour, Arty etc. Though it does retain the AD role with Mistral shoulder based SAM but probably not more than a battalion strength of AD.
The only significant Military Ops role it seems to have is the defense of area of Sir Creek in south east edge of Pakistan,
The other roles are security and policing to which i am surprised because the Sindh Rangers are already providing security and policing in Sindh. The security of sensitive installations is a poor decision on the role of Marines. The Naval MP, Naval base security Forces (just like QRF of Army) and the naval sailors should be providing security to installations.
The Maritime security and Policing is the job of Pakistan Coast Guard.
Infact, just like GHQ has a paramilitary security force( the name slipped my mind, starts with D) on all gates, the Navy should also have its own paramilitary force.
There is much more potential in this infantry formation of Marines rather than being put on secondary duties. But when the Rangers instead of patrolling the borders are providing internal security in Sindh, what can be said about Marines in Sindh.
If the Pakistan Marines are formed into an effective fighting force with heavy weapons just like an Infantry division of Pakistan Army, then it can easily compliment the 5 Corps Ops in Sindh Region.
Considering the Army forces in the southern part of Pakistan:
5 Corps:
- 16th Infantry Division headquartered at Pano Aqil (Defense of Area from Ryk to Hyderabad)
- 18th Infantry Division headquartered at Hyderabad (Defense of Area from Hyderabad to Sir Creek)
- 25th Mechanized Division headquartered at Malir (Strike force of the South)
- 31st Mechanized Brigade headquartered at Malir (Strike force of the South)
- 2nd Armoured Brigade headquartered at Malir (Strike force of the South)
12 Corps:
- 33rd Infantry Division headquartered at Quetta (Can be switched to North East otherwise Reserve in Sindh)
- 41st Infantry Division headquartered at Quetta (Can be switched to North East otherwise Reserve in Sindh)
- Independent Infantry Brigade headquartered at Turbat (Reserve Force to counter IA Para/amphibious invasion)
- Independent Armoured Brigade headquartered at Khuzdar (compliment 5 Corps Armour Ops)
- Artillery Division headquarters at Pano Aqil (Compliment 16 ID/18 ID in defense of Sindh)
In case that Pakistan Marines are equipped with heavy weapons (APC, artillery etc), they can be used for many purposes:
1. Thwart an amphibious landing By Indian Navy along the Sindh coast line
2. Thwart a Para attack By Indian Nay/IAF along the Sindh coast line
3. Mount a company sized amphibious attack on east of Sir Creek to open a new sector to engage enemy
4. Protect the Southern Flank of the 5 Corps Drive into Indian Territory by proceeding eastwards of Sir Creek Area
This way PA Southern Forces can just concentrate on the Ops in Sindh and not keep forces engaged in defense of coast line from an amphibious attack.
If Pakistan Marines is made a divisional Command, then:
1 X Brigade for Ops in Sir Creek
1 X Brigade for defense of amphibious landing/ para attack ambitions of IA/IN in Karachi ports and naval bases.
1 X Brigade for strike Ops (counter amphibious landing east of sir creek OR protecting 5 Corps southern Flank).
In any case, Pakistan Marines should have an aviation contingent of atleast 6-8 transport helicopters.
They must also have one para-trained/air assault battalion to reach anywhere on the coast line within minutes through transport aircraft and helis.