Sunday, March 04, 2012

What does an MEU bring to America's war bag????


Common wisdom has SOCOM as the tip of the spear in this century.  Policy makers are increasing the size of that organization while the conventional forces are being reduced.  Silly move and it can be categorized as style over substance.

Against a population that has effective law enforcement and even a marginal armed forces, units like the Navy SEALs can be hunted down and eradicated.  They are simply too lightly equipped to survive against a large, organized enemy.

Even with that being said, SOCOM is due to increase in size from over three US Army Divisions to almost four.  I can't explain the thinking behind that but it is in error.  

A balanced force that brings an amazing amount of firepower is the Marine Expeditionary Unit.  It has 2200 men and is capable of unsupported combat operations for up to 15 days...(via Wikipedia)....
A typical MEU has approximately 2,200 Marines and sailors. It is equipped with:
Qty Nomenclature Element
4 M1A1 main battle tank ground
7 to 16 Light Armored Vehicle ground
15 Assault Amphibious Vehicle ground
6 155mm howitzer: M198 or M777 ground
8 M252 81mm mortar ground
8 BGM-71 Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missile weapon system ground
8 FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile ground
4 to 6 AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters aviation
3 UH-1N Twin Huey utility helicopter aviation
12 CH-46E Sea Knight medium lift assault helicopter aviation
4 CH-53E Super Stallion heavy lift assault helicopter aviation
6 AV-8B Harrier jet aviation
2 KC-130 Hercules re-fueler/transport aircraft
Note: usually maintained in the continental United States
aviation
2 Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit logistics
1 LMT 3000 water purification unit logistics
4 Tractor, Rubber Tire, Articulated Steering logistics
2 TX51-19M Rough Terrain Forklift logistics
3 D7 bulldozer logistics
1 Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement dump truck logistics
4 Mk48 Logistics Vehicle System logistics
7 500 gallon water containers multiple
63 Humvee multiple
30 Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement trucks multiple
Many types of equipment are, or will soon, undergo a transitory phase as they are replaced. Some examples include the MV-22 Osprey replacing the CH-46, the Marine Personnel Carrier replacing the LAV-25, the F-35 Lightning II, the Ch-53K Super Stallion replacing the CH-53, and the H-1 upgrade program (where the AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom replace the AH-1W and UH-1N).
That my friends is a capable, medium weight force that is deployed world wide and because we have several of these MEU's afloat at any one time, they are able to respond to trouble spots quite rapidly.

MARSOC is NOT the face of the Marine Corps and they are NOT the tip of the Marine Corps' spear.

Its the MEU.

The MEU is the tip of America's spear and the Battalion Landing Team is the tip of the MEU.
 

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