Merrill's Marauders
| 5307th Composite Unit (provisional) | |
|---|---|
Shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) of the 5307th Composite Unit | |
| Active | 1943–1944 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Type | Special operations force |
| Role | Anti-tank warfare Artillery observer Bomb disposal Casualty evacuation Close-quarters battle Counter-battery fire Direct action Guerrilla warfare Hit-and-run tactics Indirect fire Jungle warfare Long-range penetration Military communications Military intelligence Mountain warfare Raiding Reconnaissance Special operations Special reconnaissance Tracking Trench warfare |
| Size | Regimental |
| Nickname | Merrill's Marauders |
| Engagements | World War II *Burma campaign |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Frank Merrill Charles N. Hunter |
Merrill’s Marauders (named after Frank Merrill) or Unit Galahad, officially named the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), was a United States Army special operations force unit that specialized in artillery observer, close-quarters battle, combat patrol, commando style raids in jungle warfare, guerrilla warfare, long-range penetration, special reconnaissance, and tracking targets to frontline military intelligence gathering or surprise attacks, which fought in the South-East Asian theatre of World War II, or China Burma India theater (CBI).
The unit became famous for its long-range penetration missions behind Japanese lines, often engaging Imperial Japanese forces superior in number.