Back to ship: Marines need ships to fight. Will they get them?

Marines with the Maritime Raid Force, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, climb a rapid entering and boarding system on to the USCGC Sequoia (WLB-215) during a visit, board, search, seizure, training exercise at Apra Harbor, Guam, Jan. 13, 2017. As the Marine Corps' only continuously forward-deployed unit, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit's air-ground-logistics team provides a flexible force, ready to perform a wide range of military operations, from limited combat to humanitarian assistance operations, throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jorge A. Rosales/ Released)

Back to ship: Marines need ships to fight. Will they get them? (militarytimes.com) By Todd South

Fewer Marines than in recent history have spent time aboard ship. For those who transited the world’s oceans to fight in Iraq or Afghanistan, the Navy ship they sailed on served as a kind of taxi service on the beeline to combat.

As most Marines have spent much of the past two decades in land battles, the Navy pushed its maritime priorities, leaning on deep-sea firepower and reluctantly funding a few closer-to-shore projects like the littoral combat ship, which has faced fielding, maintenance and employment woes.

But the sea services are moving ahead with a plan to get hulls in the water that may carry a new kind of Marine fighting force into the combat role it envisions for fighting against a well-armed and prepared adversary such as China.

Sea Transport Solutions builds stern landing vessels that the Navy and Marine Corps are eying as a solution for their light amphibious warships. (Sea Transport Solutions)

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE : Back to ship: Marines need ships to fight. Will they get them? (militarytimes.com)

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here