MARCOS

MARCOS (India)
HAL Dhruv helicopter of the Indian Navy extracting Marine Commandos (MARCOS) on Navy day 2013 at Kochi.
Active	1987 – present
Country	India
Allegiance	Republic of India
Branch	Navy
Type	Special Operations Forces
Role	Primary tasks: Amphibious warfare Counter-terrorism Direct action Special reconnaissance Unconventional warfare Personnel recovery Combat search and rescue Asymmetric warfare Counterproliferation Underwater demolition, reconnaissance, seaborne infiltration and exfiltration Hostage Rescue Foreign internal defence Other roles: Amphibious reconnaissance Hydrographic reconnaissance
Size	Classified
Regimental Centre	Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Goa, Kochi and Port Blair.
Nickname(s)	Magarmach (Crocodiles)
Motto(s)	"The few the fearless"
Anniversaries	14 February.
Engagements	Operation Cactus, Operation Leech, Operation Pawan, Kargil War, Operation Black Tornado, Operation Cyclone, Counter-terrorist operation in Kashmir.

Primary tasks:

Other roles:

MARCOS, previously named as Marine Commando Force (MCF), is the special forces unit of the Indian Navy. created for conducting special operations such as Amphibious warfare, Close Quarter Combat Counter-terrorism, Direct action, Special reconnaissance, Unconventional warfare, Hostage rescue, Personnel recovery, Combat search and rescue, Asymmetric warfare, Foreign internal defence, Counterproliferation, Amphibious reconnaissance including Hydrographic reconnaissance. The MCF is specially organised, trained and equipped for the conduct of special operations in a maritime environment.MARCOS is short for Marine Commandos. The force has gradually acquired experience and a reputation for professionalism over the three decades it has been in existence. The MARCOS are capable of undertaking operations in all types of terrain, but are specialised in maritime operations in Jammu and Kashmir through the Jhelum River and Wular Lake, a 65 square kilometre freshwater lake. Some MARCOS personnel are also attached with the Army special forces units conducting counter-terrorism operations in the area. MARCOS are widely feared among the terrorists, who call them "Dadiwala fauj", meaning the "Bearded army" because of their bearded disguise in civil areas.