Marine

Marine

Marine is an umbrella term for things relating to the ocean, as with Marine biology, Marine geology, and as a term for a navy, etc. In scientific contexts, the term almost always refers exclusively to saltwater environments, although in other contexts (e.g., engineering) it may refer to any (usually navigable) body of water.

Military

A Marine is an armed services member whose primary function is to assault land from the sea in amphibious warfare. Different nations have more-expanded or more-limited roles for their particular forces, but the core role remains the same. Traditionally, Marines served on board warships and fulfilled numerous roles: They assisted the crew in battles against other warships, conducted small coastal raids, and protected the officers from mutiny by the crew.

In modern warfare, Marines are often highly mobile, elite troops that can be positioned offshore close to the war zone to launch amphibious assaults.

Many nations have dedicated Marine corps. For details of Marines in the militaries of specific countries, see National marine corps.

Places

Marines is the name of a commune in the département of Val d'Oise, France.

Science fiction marines

• Space Marines
• United States Colonial Marines
• Marines are the basic military unit for Terrans in Starcraft.
• The Mobile Infantry in Heinlein's Starship Troopers could be considered and are intentionally patterned after Marines.
• The game Halo: Combat Evolved depicts marines of a futuristic Earth in battle with warlike aliens.