The Maritime Reaction Squadron (MRS) is a specialised marine-like unit of the South African Navy that provides a combat ready amphibious, diving and small boat capability to the Navy. Formed as the Naval Rapid Deployment Force (NRDF) in 2005, the MRS deploys infantry-trained South African Navy personnel in various peacekeeping roles within the African continent and to assist in boarding operations at sea, humanitarian operations and disaster relief.

History

The end of the

South African Border War The South African Border War, also known as the Namibian War of Independence, and sometimes denoted in South Africa as the Angolan Bush War, was a largely asymmetric conflict that occurred in Namibia (then South West Africa), Zambia, and Ango ...

saw the disbandment of the

South Africa Marine Corps South Africa currently does not have a Marines, marine corps, though in the past it did. It was originally set up as a sub-branch of the South African Navy during the apartheid era, with the primary purpose of protecting the country's harbours ( ...

, leaving the South African Navy without an amphibious element. After the integration of the South African National Defence Force the Navy was increasingly called on to assist with peace keeping operations. Realising that this situation would continue, the then Chief of the Navy Refiloe Johannes Mudimu, decided to create this capability by creating a Naval Rapid Deployment Force. An Operational Boat Squadron was formed in 2006 to ensure that South Africa could commit meaningfully to the peace keeping at the Great Lakes. The Rapid Deployment Force became the Maritime Reaction Squadron on 1 September 2006. The unit was formally commissioned on 8 December 2008. Following the creating of the MRS the Operational Boat Squadron was upgraded to the Operational Boat Division.

Units

The squadron consists of the following components: * Operational Boat Division (OBD) with 10 ''Namacurra''-class harbour patrol boats and six Lima-class utility landing craft * Reaction Force Division (RFD) consisting of one naval infantry company with a command and support element * Operational Diving Division (ODD) consisting of four operational diving teams of 17 divers. * Operational Maintenance Division - maintains all the unit equipment

References

{{South African Navy South African Navy Military units and formations of South Africa