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Special Operations Brigade (PLA Navy Marine Corps)

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7th Marine Brigade
海军陆战队第七旅 (Chinese)
Insignia of the 7th Marine Brigade
Active2002–present
CountryPeople's Republic of China
BranchPeople's Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps
TypeSpecial Operations Forces
Marines
RoleSpecial Operations
Amphibious reconnaissance
Sabotage
Combat diving
Anti-Piracy
Hostage Rescue
Size3000[1]
Garrison/HQYulin Naval Base, Sanya
Nickname(s)"Jiaolong Commandos" or "Sea Dragons"
March"March of the Jiaolong Commandos" (蛟龙突击队之歌)[2]
Mascot(s)Jiaolong
EngagementsAnti-Piracy Operations in the Gulf of Aden
Evacuation of Chinese nationals from Yemen

The 7th Marine Brigade (Chinese: 海军陆战队第七旅),[3] commonly known as the "Jiaolong Commandos" (Chinese: (蛟龙突击队), is a special operations unit in the People's Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps.[4][5][6] The brigade is based in Sanya, Hainan Island.[7][8] The brigade is also sometimes known as the named the Special Operations Brigade (Chinese: 特種作戰旅).[9][10][11] The brigade has at least three special operations battalions and one reconnaissance battalion.[12]

History

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The unit was founded in 2002 as the PLAN Special Operations Battalion.[13][14]

In December 26 2008, 70 members of the brigade deployed to the Gulf of Aden where they carried out operations with the PLAN’s first antipiracy task force.[15] In 2015, Jiaolong commandos participated in the evacuation of 571 Chinese citizens and over 200 other foreign nationals from Yemen after a Saudi-led coalition began airstrikes against the Houthi rebel group (Yemen Civil War).[16]

In April 2017 10 members of the brigade, in coordination with the Indian navy, helped rescue 19 Syrian crewmembers from a hijacked Tuvalu cargo ship in the Indian Ocean.[17]

On 5 May 2017, 3 pirates were captured by the unit and handed over to the Somali Police Force.[18]

Personnel of the 7th Marine Brigade boarding a ship during the United States Pacific Fleet Exercise RIMPAC

Missions

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The brigade is used for Visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS), anti-piracy, air assault, direct action, combat diving, sabotage and amphibious reconnaissance.[8][7][19][20]

The brigade has carried out joint exercises with People's Armed Police special operations units.[21]

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The 2018 film Operation Red Sea is loosely based on the unit's involvement in the evacuation of Chinese and foreign nationals in the Yemeni Civil War and also depicts the unit.[22]

Equipment

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Kennedy 2021, p. 6.
  2. ^ "走进"蛟龙突击队"，感受海军特战尖兵的血性与忠诚 - 中华人民共和国国防部" [Walk into the "Jiaolong Commando" and feel the bloodiness and loyalty of the navy's special operations pioneers]. Ministry of National Defense (China) (in Chinese). People's Liberation Army Daily. 27 December 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  3. ^ Liu, Natalie (29 January 2025). "人民解放军海军陆战队：中国梦的刀尖？" [People's Liberation Army Marines: The Tip of the Chinese Dream?]. Voice of America (in Chinese). Retrieved 17 February 2025.
  4. ^ Erickson, Kennedy & Martinson 2024, pp. 197–198.
  5. ^ Chen, John; Wuthnow, Joel (January 2022). "China Maritime Report No. 18: Chinese Special Operations in a Large-Scale Island Landing". CMSI China Maritime Reports. U.S Naval War College. p. 6. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  6. ^ Chen, John; Wuthnow, Joel (2025). Sea Dragons: Special Operations and Chinese Military Strategy. Rhode Island: Naval War College Press. ISBN 978-1-935352-90-7. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  7. ^ a b c Makichuk, Dave (12 August 2020). "Video reveals weaponry of China's [PRC] elite 'Sea Dragons'". Asia Times. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d Newdick, Thomas (10 August 2020). "Watch Chinese [PRC] Frogmen Fire Their Special Underwater Guns". The War Zone. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  9. ^ Kennedy 2021, p. 4.
  10. ^ Yuwen 2019, p. 66.
  11. ^ Masafumi 2022, p. 3.
  12. ^ Chen & Wuthnow 2025, p. 15.
  13. ^ Chen & Wuthnow 2025, p. 10.
  14. ^ Yuwen, Huang (October 2019). "中共軍改後海軍陸戰隊 的建構與發展" (PDF). Naval Bimonthly Journal (in Chinese). 53 (5). Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of China. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 November 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  15. ^ Chen & Wuthnow 2025, p. 23.
  16. ^ Chen & Wuthnow 2025, p. 24.
  17. ^ Chen & Wuthnow 2025, p. 23-24.
  18. ^ "China's Somali pirate-catching commando gets a hero's welcome". South China Morning Post. 18 February 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  19. ^ Kennedy 2021, p. 15.
  20. ^ Chen & Wuthnow 2025, p. 18-23.
  21. ^ Chen & Wuthnow 2025, p. 20-21.
  22. ^ a b Trevithick, Joseph (2 August 2024). "Chinese [PRC] Sea Dragon Commandos Show Off Drones That Look Just Like Birds". The War Zone. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  23. ^ Chen & Wuthnow 2025, p. 17.
  24. ^ "Chinese Sniper Rifles: A Brief Introduction". The National Interest. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  25. ^ a b "Meet the QBZs: The Chinese Military's Assault Rifle of Choice". The National interest. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  26. ^ Loh, Matthew. "China's naval commandos rode electric skateboards into a combat exercise with drones disguised as birds, then left in a pickup truck". Business Insider. Retrieved 3 December 2024.

Bibliography

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Further reading

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