It pains me to say this.
I don't like having to say this.
But the facts are plain and have been for the past 10 years.
The USMC can no longer afford the luxury of having tanks. Farm it out to the US Army and have them establish detachments aboard USMC bases....have the Army provide the logistics support --- but get the burden off the Marine Corps.
Just a few intense facts...
1. Marine Corps tanks haven't deployed to Afghanistan.
2. Distributed Operations (at least as I've read it) doesn't account for tanks in its doctrine.
3. The Marine Corps is attempting to become more expeditionary. Tanks don't allow for that luxury and even in the best case scenario would be relegated to Division or higher.
4. Tanks are a tremendous burden to the MEU.
5. The MEU could deploy more AAVs/EFVs/JLTVs, howitzers, MTVRs etc...if it didn't have the burden of having a tank platoon attached.
There are many more reasons that others could come up with I'm sure. But the basic fact is this. Having tanks as an organic part of the Marine Corps seems to have run its course. Having the US Army provide a dedicated Heavy Combat Brigade to support Marine Corps operations seems to be the solution to an unfortunate problem.
