The National Coast Guard is a branch of the MPF that was established in 1988 and consists of No. 1 Patrol Vessel Squadron and the Maritime Air Squadron. The NCG has been modernising its fleet introducing a Kora-class Offshore Patrol Vessel CGS Barracuda in 2015, two Sarojini Naidu-class patrol vessels CGS Victory in 2016 and CGS Valiant in 2017 and ten 14.5m GSL Fast Interceptor Boats in 2016. The Maritime Air Squadron was established in 1990 and operates a fixed wing fleet of three HAL Do 228 and one Britten-Norman Defender BN-2T. The Defender entered service in 1992, the first Do 228 entered service in 1990, the second in 2004 and third in 2016. The Do 288 can be fitted with 7.62mm gun pods. The NCG has a maritime tactical unit established in 2010 the Commando Unit or Commandos Special Force. The Commando Unit trains with the Indian Navyspecial forces unit Marine Commando Force and with the French Army2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment based in Réunion part of FAZSOI.
Police Helicopter Squadron
The Police Helicopter Squadron is a branch of the MPF that was established in 1974 and its main roles are search and rescue and casualty evacuation both inland and at sea; combatting gandia cultivation; traffic patrol and escort of convoys; and VIP transport. The helicopter fleet consists of four HAL Chetak, one Eurocopter Fennec AS555 and one HAL Dhruv. The Dhruv helicopter entered service in 2009. Two refurbished Chetak helicopters were gifted by India in 2016.
Mauritius does not have a standing army, the Special Mobile Force a branch of the MPF, is a paramilitary force established in 1960 following the withdrawal of two companies of the British East African land forces. The SMF recruited World War II veterans and select police officers and was commanded by British Commanders until 1978. The SMF is a motorized infantry battalion with five companies, an engineering squadron, and a mobile wing comprising two squadrons equipped with armored vehicles. The SMF training is based on conventional military tactics focused on internal security. The SMF has a police tactical unit established in 1979 the Groupement d’Intervention de la Police Mauricienne. The GIPM trains with the French National Gendarmerie police tactical unit Groupe d'intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale and the French Army 2e RPIMa.
The Special Support Unit, a branch of the MPF, is a police riot unit that was established in 1986. The SSU consists of five operational units and a training wing.
Police Band
The police band of the MPF is the official music unit of the service. It can operate as a military band, a marching band, a string orchestra as well as contemporary pop group. One of its alumni was Joseph Philippe Gentil, a composer best known for composing The Motherland, the National Anthem. On Independence Day in 1968, a national newspaper mistakenly published the name and photograph of Philippe Oh San as the anthem's composer, with the remaining newspapers being reprinted with the correction.
