GMC during the ⚔️war of the ring

[Hisoka Morrow]

Military marines are usually a symbol of elite combat force. Seriously, the GMC(Gondor Marine Corps), had been disappeared for more than 10 centuries, according to the assumption that they took part in the 1944 war in the Southern Army of Gondor. During the raid at Umbar led by Aragorn, they even had no show, and it went without saying that during Denethor's deployment for Minas Tirith was total absent them. It's another matter if the GMC did join the Aragorn's operations against those pirates during the War Of The Ring. Any constructive idea to figure out what make these elite combat power so poorly shown?

 

[Erestor Arcamen]

Do you have any evidence from the actual text that supports that there was a "gondor marine corps" in existence?

 

[Hisoka Morrow]

Do you have any evidence from the actual text that supports that there was a "gondor marine corps" in existence?

OK, maybe they're not named as "gondor marine corps", but they, the armed forces in charge of naval boarding warfare as well as amphibious stuff, right? 😅 They're still de facto "GMC", aren't they?😅

 

[Vardarianna]

I saw the thread title and wondered what the General Motors Corporation had to do with anything.
I don't think there were any designated 'marines' in Gondor per the books. There were times that Gondorian soldiers boarded ships to be transported elsewhere, like Gondor's aid sent to the north when Arthedain fell, or when Thorongil led a raid on Umbar and destroyed the Corsair fleet. They were not called 'the Gondor Marine Corps'.

 

[Eldacar]

OK, maybe they're not named as "gondor marine corps", but they, the armed forces in charge of naval boarding warfare as well as amphibious stuff, right? 😅 They're still de facto "GMC", aren't they?😅

You already touched on the surprise attack on Umbar which is the best indicator that there were at least some capacities left in Gondor for naval warfare and that implies the possible existence of some sort of marine corps. But that is all speculation, as I don't know of any mention of such a unit in the late 3rd age nor could I find any.

The most elite units of a country's fighting forces don't have to be from the Marine Corps. I guess, you are an American and that is why you probably see the US Marine Corps as your countries most prestigious elite force, and it makes sense to project this onto other societies. From some quick google search (I am no military expert or historian) I found Frances elite force to be land and parachutes units, same with Germany which also has Marine Special Forces, and Russia. Chinas most prestigious unit seems to be a marine corps. My guess would be that this is owned to the fact, that all these countries fight different wars. Chinas main military objectives are in Taiwan and what they call the South China sea and it makes sense, that they train elite troops in a part of their forces that reflect that. Same with the US. As far as I know, the last time the US military fought a war on their own continent was the US-Mexican War 170 years ago. Every single other conflict was overseas. The other countries like Russia, France and Germany were/are fighting in/training for wars that don't require them to cross an ocean as their main objective.

If I apply this logic to Middle-Earth and Gondor it becomes obvious that the only threat by sea to Gondor was Umbar but by far less extent than Mordor and peoples from the south and east like the Wayneriders. It would make sense that the most elite forces were fighting the most dangerous threat which came from Mordor before the War of the Ring. I would guess that the Rangers of Ithilien would be a more suitable candidate for an elite fighting force than a hypothetical GMC.

 

[Klaatu]

Your inquiry into the "GMC" touches upon a fascinating logistical void in the late Third Age. While the text doesn't explicitly name a "Marine Corps," the reality of Gondorian defense, especially in the Southern Fiefdoms like Pelargir necessitated a force capable of ship-to-ship boarding and amphibious operations. We see the efficacy of such a force during the surprise attack on Umbar led by Thorongil. To maintain a fleet without a dedicated boarding party would be like owning a library but forbidding anyone from touching the books unless they are wearing mittens. It is a "de facto" necessity, even if the formal title is absent from the archives.

Now, on to the reality of the situation...

While the "Gondor Marine Corps" remains a phantom in the official scrolls, I am convinced that the lack of documentation is due to a 400-year-old clerical error involving a very confused goat and a bucket of waterproof ink. After several hours of squinting through a magnifying glass at various historical buttons, I have concluded that the GMC was actually disbanded after a heated debate regarding whether sea-rations should include "salted pork" or "premium seaweed."

Furthermore, any suggestion that these elite forces were actually just a group of Men who were particularly good at not falling off boats is legally inadmissible in these Halls. Unless you can provide a signed affidavit from a local school of mackerel or a medium-sized order of french fries, I shall be forced to conclude that the "GMC" spent the entirety of the War of the Ring trying to explain the concept of "pockets" to a highly skeptical albatross. I'll try not to be as "long-winded" in the future.

With Love,
Klaatu
Plenipotentiary of the Polished Pebble
Grand Vizier of Unanswered Doorbells
Acting Captain of the Subliminal Snail-Racing League
Currently 42% comprised of echoes and 58% sourdough starter