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 (1951-1955).

Today, the SAN Maritime Reaction Squadron is the closest analogue to a marine corps South Africa has.

During World War II, permanent Batteries of Heavy Artillery were established from Walvis Bay to Durban,[4] being responsible for general coast defence.

The effectiveness of the SA Coast Defences can be gauged from the fact that no German vessels ever attempted to bombard South African ports and the only time that a shot was fired in anger was when the Portuguese frigate Afonso d'Albuquerque neglected to respond to signals on passing a shore station.

The Marines were greatly favoured for ceremonial activities, owing to their striking dark blue service dress embellished with orange trouser stripes.

It is understood that the Governor-General of the time contemplated their constitution as a Household Corps in the manner of the Brigade of Guards, but that their disbandment prevented this.

The introduction of Soviet warships equipped with guided missile launchers at this time rendered counter-bombardment forces out-of-date and an unwarranted expense.

The last time the Marines were seen on a large parade was when the 1st Coast Regiment was disbanded and their Colours were laid up in St. George's Cathedral, Cape Town in 1955[1] The second marine force was formed in 1979 in order to enable the South African Navy to take a greater part in counterinsurgency operations.

The initial vision was for a fully seaborne amphibious brigade that could be deployed on operations in the southern Angolan and Mozambique regions and ports.

However, budget cuts, a greater emphasis on land-based raids into southern Angola by the SADF as well as the strong defensive capabilities of the major Angolan ports led to the original plans being changed.

After this training, some recruits moved into specialist fields whilst the majority were posted on a rotational basis to naval units and to operational deployments in South-West Africa.

Subsequently, the Marines were withdrawn from Section 10 and re-deployed to Sector 70 in the north east of South-West Africa, where deployments were made from Wenela in the eastern Caprivi covering a 50 km land border with Zambia to the west and 200 km of riverine border to the east.

Marine combat dress comprised a black beret, web belt and boots, worn with nutria brown fatigues.

After the integration of the South African National Defence Force the Navy was increasingly called on to assist with peacekeeping operations.

[15] An Operational Boat Squadron was formed in 2006[16] to ensure that South Africa could commit meaningfully to the peacekeeping at the Great Lakes.