Japan's Amphibious Assault Force: Establishing a Dedicated Marine Combat Landing Unit

Summary

In response to China's growing maritime aggression and military expansion since the 2010s, Japan established the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade (ARDB) in March 2018 to defend its remote island territories, particularly those in the East China Sea's Nansei Island chain. The ARDB is a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force unit comprising approximately 3,000 personnel, representing Japan's first-ever full-scale amphibious operational capability, designed specifically to recapture any remote islands seized by hostile forces. The brigade is organized around three Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiments and is equipped with AAV-7 amphibious assault vehicles, which come in three variants including personnel carrier, command, and recovery configurations. During amphibious operations, the ARDB deploys its AAV-7 vehicles from JMSDF Ōsumi-class Landing Ship Tanks via well deck launches to conduct shore assaults. The brigade is strategically based at Ainoura Garrison in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, positioning it in close proximity to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's Sasebo Naval Base for coordinated naval-ground operations.