<Tr> <Th> Anniversaries </Th> <Td> 14 February . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Engagements </Th> <Td> Operation Cactus, Operation Leech, Operation Pawan, Kargil War, Operation Black Tornado, Operation Cyclone, Counter-terrorist operation in Kashmir . </Td> </Tr> <P> MARCOS, previously named as Marine Commando Force (MCF), is the special forces unit of the Indian Navy created for conducting special operations such as amphibious warfare, close quarter combat, counter-terrorism, direct action, special reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, hostage rescue, personnel recovery, combat search and rescue, asymmetric warfare, foreign internal defence, counterproliferation, amphibious reconnaissance including hydrographic reconnaissance . The MCF is specially organised, trained and equipped for the conduct of special operations in a maritime environment . MARCOS is short for Marine Commandos . The force has gradually acquired experience and a reputation for professionalism over the three decades it has been in existence . The MARCOS are capable of undertaking operations in all types of terrain, but are specialised in maritime operations in Jammu and Kashmir through the Jhelum River and Wular Lake, a 65 square kilometre freshwater lake . Some MARCOS personnel are also attached with the Army special forces units conducting counter-terrorism operations in the area . MARCOS are widely feared among the terrorists, who call them "Dadiwala fauj", meaning the "Bearded army" because of their bearded disguise in civil areas . </P> <P> The Indian Armed Forces wanted to establish an amphibious warfare and maritime special operations force . During the Indo - Pakistani War of 1971, the Indian Navy supported the landing operations against the Pakistani base of Cox's Bazar, Operation Jackpot, landing an army brigade using Polnochny class landing ships without significant resistance . Before this operation, Indian navy divers provided basic training in underwater demolition to Bengali insurgents . However, this did not yield expected results . Later, different Indian army units were assigned amphibious roles in exercises . In 1983, the 340th Army Independent Brigade based at Trivandrum, was converted to an amphibious assault unit . Since then, the navy has conducted various exercises to demonstrate its amphibious abilities, notably the Andaman Islands in 1984, and Goa in 1986 . These assault operations included both airborne and amphibious forces . In April 1986, the Indian Navy started planning for a maritime special force which could conduct amphibious reconnaissance, raids and counter-terrorist operations . </P>

What is the name of the special force of the indian navy