1st Battalion 11th Marines

1st Battalion 11th Marines
1/11 Insignia
Active	3 December 1923 – 1 October 1947 1 October 1949 – present
Country	United States of America
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Artillery
Role	Provide fire support to the 1st Marine Division
Size	800
Part of	11th Marine Regiment 1st Marine Division
Garrison/HQ	Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton San Diego County, California
Motto(s)	"Ultima Ratio Regum" "The Final Argument of Kings"
Engagements	World War II Battle of Guadalcanal Battle of Cape Gloucester Battle of Peleliu Battle of Okinawa Korean War Battle of Pusan Perimeter Battle of Inchon Battle of Chosin Reservoir Vietnam War Persian Gulf War (1990-1991) Operation Desert Storm Iraq War (2003) Invasion of Iraq (2003) Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom (2010)
Commanders
Current commander	LtCol William H. Chronister

1st Battalion 11th Marines (1/11) is an artillery battalion comprising four firing batteries and a Headquarters battery. The battalion is stationed at the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California. Its primary weapon system is the M777 lightweight howitzer. The battalion is under the command of the 11th Marine Regiment, part of the 1st Marine Division.

Mission

To provide direct support to the 1st Marine Division in time of conflict. That support may come in the traditional fashion of artillery support to maneuver forces, or by providing batteries to serve as temporary rifle companies. It also has the secondary mission of being the primary providers of civil-military operations (CMO). CMO is defined as the activities of the commander that establish, maintain, influence, or exploit relations between military organizations, Government and civilian organizations and the civilian population.

Subordinate units

Headquarters Battery
Battery A (Alpha Battery)
Battery B (Bravo Battery)
Battery C (Charlie Battery)
Battery I (India Battery) (attached from 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines)

History

Early years

The 1st Battalion, 11th Marines was activated on 3 December 1923 at the Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, as the 1st Battalion, 10th Regiment. It participated in mail guard duty in the mid-western United States from October 1926 to February 1927. The battalion deployed during April to June 1927 to Tientsin in China and was assigned to the 3rd Marine Brigade. The unit returned during September 1928 to MCB Quantico and was detached from the 3rd Marine Brigade during December 1928. It were re-designated on 10 July 1930 to the 1st Battalion, 10th Marines.

The battalion was assigned to the 1st Marine Brigade during September 1935. It was re-designated on 1 September 1940 as the 1st Battalion, 11th Marines. During October 1940, it was deployed to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. On 1 February 1941, the 1st Marine Brigade was re-designated as the 1st Marine Division. The battalion relocated to New River, North Carolina during April 1941.

World War II

1st Battalion, 11th Marines was reassigned during March 1942 to the 3rd Marine Brigade. It was deployed during March 1942 to Western Samoa. The battalion was again reassigned to the 1st Marine Division in September 1942. The battalion participated in the Guadalcanal and New Britain campaigns; it also carried out operations on Finschhafen, Peleliu and Okinawa.

After the war the battalion was redeployed in September 1945 to Tientsin, China. It participated in the occupation of North China from September 1945 to January 1947. It was then redeployed during January 1947 to Guam, and detached from the 1st Marine Division. While in Guam, the unit constructed Camp Witek, the 1st Marine Brigade base. The battalion was reassigned during June 1947 to the 1st Marine Brigade. It was deactivated on 1 October 1947.

Korean War

The battalion was reactivated on 1 October 1949 at Camp Pendleton and assigned to the 1st Marine Division. It was then reassigned during July 1950 to the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade. The battalion was then deployed in July and August 1950 to Pusan in Korea. The battalion participated in the Korean War, from August 1950 to July 1953, taking part in the actions at the Battle of the Pusan Perimeter, at Inchon and the Chosin Resovoir. Personnel also saw action on the East-Central and Western Fronts. 1st Battalion, 11th Marines participated in the occupation of the Korean Demilitarized Zone from August 1953 to March 1955. It returned to Camp Pendleton in April 1955.

Vietnam War

The battalion deployed during August 1965 to Camp Hansen, Okinawa and redeployed during January 1966 to Chu Lai, in the Republic of Vietnam. It was reassigned to the 3rd Marine Division. During March 1966, the unit was reassigned to the 1st Marine Division.

The battalion operated from Chu Lai, Da Nang, Quang Tri, Phu Bai, Con Thien, Ca Lu, Khe Sanh, Cua Viet, Dong Ha and Quang Nam from January 1966 to March 1971. It was reassigned during 1971 to the 3rd Marine Amphibious Brigade; it returned during March 1971 to Camp Pendleton and reassigned to the 1st Marine Division.

Alpha Battery 1st Battalion 11th Marines was known as Alpha North in early 1966. On the night of 18 April 1966 Alpha North was overrun. It suffered 5 Marines killed and 28 wounded. All of the Howitzers received damage. The Battery moved to the 1-1 compound at Hoi An.

Gulf War and the 1990s

1st Battalion, 11th Marines participated in Operation Desert Storm from September 1990 to March 1991. Elements participated in Operation Sea Angel in Bangladesh from May to June 1991. Elements also participated in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia from December 1992 to March 1993.

Global War on Terror

The battalion during the 2003 invasion of Iraq as depicted in the film Severe Clear

In January 2003 the battalion deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After participating in the invasion of Iraq it returned to Camp Pendleton in July 2003. Individual firing Batteries have continued to support the MEU cycle in the war on terror since 2003. The Battalion HQ deployed to Anbar Province Iraq with Battery A, Battery C, and Battery K as a provisional infantry Battalion in June 2007. The unit returned to Camp Pendleton in late April 2008.

In May 2010 the Battalion deployed to Helmand Province, in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 10.1. The Battalion was attached to the 1st Marine Division (Forward) Task Force Leatherneck. The Battalion was reinforced, comprising three gun batteries (Bravo, India 3/12, and Lima 3/12) and a HiMARS rocket Battery (Tango 5/11, later Sierra 5/11). 1/11 was assigned an artillery tactical mission of General Support to Task Force Leatherneck.

The Battalion returned from Afghanistan in November 2011 and began fielding the Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS).

Notes

References

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

Bibliography

Web

1/11's official website

United States Marine Corps

Leadership	Secretary of the Navy Under Secretary of the Navy Commandant of the Marine Corps Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Marine Corps generals United States Congress House Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Senate Subcommittee on Seapower

Major commands	Organization of the Marine Corps Headquarters Marine Corps Marine Forces Command II Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Pacific I Marine Expeditionary Force III Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Reserve Fleet Marine Force Atlantic Pacific

Structure	Marine Air-Ground Task Force Bases Battalions Regiments Brigades Divisions MEF/Corps Marine aviation Marine expeditionary unit Special Operations Marine Raider Regiment Recon Force Division

Personnel and training	Personnel Rank insignia MOS Notable Marines Historical Marines Marine Astronauts Criminal Investigation Division Judge Advocate Division Chaplain of the Marine Corps Associated organizations Training Recruit Training School of Infantry Officer Candidates School The Basic School Martial Arts Program

Uniforms and equipment	Uniforms Awards Badges Weapons Vehicles and aircraft Individual equipment

History and traditions	History Culture Acronyms and terms Birthday Ball Eagle, Globe, and Anchor Marine Band Drum and Bugle Corps Service Numbers Marine Corps War Memorial Flag Marine One Marines' Hymn National Museum Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima Rifleman's Creed Semper Fidelis Silent Drill Platoon History of Hispanics in the USMC History of women in the USMC Women's Reserve Honorary Marine Toys for Tots White House Sentries

Portal Category

1st Marine Division

1st Marines	1st Battalion 2nd Battalion 3rd Battalion 1st Battalion, 4th Marines

5th Marines	1st Battalion 2nd Battalion 3rd Battalion 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines

7th Marines	1st Battalion 2nd Battalion 3rd Battalion 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines

11th Marines	1st Battalion 2nd Battalion 3rd Battalion 5th Battalion

Other Battalions	1st Reconnaissance 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance 1st Combat Engineer 1st Tank 3rd Assault Amphibian

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