San Marco Marine Brigade

San Marco Marine Brigade
Badge of Italian naval riflemen
Active	2013-Present
Country	Italy
Allegiance	NATO
Branch	Italian Navy
Role	Naval infantry
Size	ca. 3,800
Garrison/HQ	Caserma “Carlotto”, Brindisi, Italy
Nickname(s)	Marò
Patron	St. Mark
Motto(s)	"PER MARE, PER TERRAM"
March	"Pace armata" (by V. Musso)

The "San Marco" Marine Brigade (Italian: Brigata Marina "San Marco") is an amphibious formation of the Italian Navy established on 1 March 2013, reorganizing the Navy Landing Force. It has its command in Brindisi.

It is a joint formation, framed within the amphibious projection force, whose Commander is the same Admiral who serves as Commander of the San Marco Brigade.

A joint Italian-Spanish landing force (SILF - Spanish Italian Landing Force) was established on 23 November 1996, in order to operate in international combat theaters on behalf of NATO.

The SILF was structured in the form of an amphibious brigade, consisting of two manoeuvre units, one being "San Marco" Regiment, of marine infantry, artillery, anti-armour and air defense weapons, reconnaissance and demolition, engineers, helicopters and air support, IFVs and assault vehicles.

On 1 October 1999, the Landing Force of the Navy was created, under the command of a Rear Admiral, stationed in Brindisi Naval Base and formed in two regiments: the "San Marco" Regiment and the "Carlotto" Regiment, both controlled by a Captain, and the Landing Craft Group, commanded by a Commander.

The Landing Force was renamed from 1 March 2013 as "San Marco" Marine Brigade, still being based in Brindisi, but consisting of three regiments, totalling about 3,800 marines. It is commanded by an Admiral, reporting directly to the Commander in Chief of the Italian Navy Fleet Command (CINCNAV).

With the Lagunari regiment of Italian Army form the Forza di proiezione dal mare (Landing projection force), reporting to the Chief of the Defence Staff.

The brigade is organized as follows, in January 2016:

The brigade can now rely on three LPD amphibious assault ships, built specifically for the San Marco by Fincantieri: the two San Giorgio-class ships: the San Giorgio and the San Marco and the improved and enhanced San Giusto (L 9894).