Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Not to be a wet blank to this party “but any Marine in combat today wants to be a live Marine in combat tomorrow”.
When I first learned that the CCP was building islands to station A2/AD missiles in the South Pacific my first reaction was: “LET THEM!” Why? It seemed to me that this strategy could be easily counter with one or two 1000 LB warhead cruise missiles neutralizing anything on those small manmade islands. The shock wave from a 1000 LB warhead has an 800 meter radius. The blast waves alone can cause “severe injury and damage” as far as 800 meters from the point of impact.
You can only imagine my surprise when I heard that a US Marine Corps Commandant wanted to copy this strategy with the Marine Littoral Regiment. It is not a good idea to copy a potential bad enemy strategy and it certainly is not smart to copy the WW2 Marine Defense Battalion idea. Twenty-nine Defense Battalions were planned for WW2. Fortunately a Marine General Officer at HQMC (and former Chief of Staff of the 1st Marine Division for the Guadalcanal Campaign) decided that those Marines manning specialty battalions were better utilize to fill the assault waves of Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
The Commandant bowed to this concept to provide a “pivot” point for Naval Task Forces. My first question, when I heard idea, is will a MLR “pivot” island really going to enhance a Naval Task Force’s maneuverability?
Take a minute and read this article about the 3d Marine Littoral Regiment Exercise on Mavulis Island, Philippines.
Mavulis Island is the northern most Philippine island, 88 miles from the southern tip of Taiwan. Ok, an 88 mile gap fits nicely into 100 mile range of the yet to be developed HIMARS anti-ship missile. The other good news is the island is covered in “lush vegetation, including mangroves, vuyavuy palms, and other native shrubs”. Mavulis island is 2.2 kilometers (1.4 miles) long and at it widest point one kilometer (.62 miles)) wide. The island’s area is a whopping .42 square miles.
A cruise missile and/or Tomahawk Missile can deliver a 1000 LB war head. The 1000 LB warhead creates a shock wave that causes “severe injury and damage” (depending on terrain) as far as 800 meters from the point of detonation (let’s call that radius, as in Effective Causality Radius (ECR)). The circle with an 800 meter radius equals just under .4 square miles; reminder here, Mavulis Island’s area is .42 sq. miles. Let’s contemplate this a bit as a CCP Commander…Hmmm... Yep, with Mavulis Island’s highest hill is 219 meters, two 1000 pound cruises missile should be more than enough to neutralize the US Navy’s Mavulis Island “Pivot Point” and any occupying MLR units.
Now the irony, the above article has a picture of a Marine in full camouflage when there is no need for camouflaging a Marine or a HIMAR after a cruise missile strike on a small “pivot” island.
The Marines are acquiring the Naval Strike Missile as their ground launched anti-ship missile. The NSM has an unclassified range of about 115 miles. The Marines are acquiring 14 NSM batteries and 3 TLAM batteries. The TLAMs have a range of over 1,000 miles. Both missiles are subsonic.
Saved round. The HIMARS Precision Strike Standard Missile (PrSM) would have probably been a better choice. It's replacing the Army ATACM; will have a hypersonic range of 300+ miles, be compatible with the HIMARS launcher, and probably designed to strike a moving target. From all indications, the missile should be operational well before 2030. Not sure why the Marines did not put their eggs in this basket; probably because the MLR/SIF concept was not vetted through the combat development process.
May 26 WSJ “America’s New Island Fighters Are Preparing for Conflict -a Stone’s Throw From Taiwan “……..behind pay wall …Ironically the Marines arrive via a Chinook.
Should the USMC acquire the M10 Booker?Army takes delivery of first M10 Booker Combat Vehicle
By Ashley JohnApril 18, 2024
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — The U.S. Army christened its newest combat vehicle, the M10 Booker, on April 18, 2024, during a ceremony at Aberdeen Proving Ground. The M10 Booker represents a new, modernized capability for the Army, allowing light maneuver forces to overmatch adversaries.
In June 2023, the Army announced the vehicle platform was named to honor two enlisted Army Soldiers who served our nation selflessly during times of great conflict — Medal of Honor recipient Pvt. Robert D. Booker, who perished in World War II; and
May 26, 2024 WSJ “Not a MAGTF ITBAYAT, Philippines—The U.S. and Philippine marines arrived in waves on this little island nearly 100 miles from the southern tip of Taiwan. A platoon clutching automatic rifles and machine guns sprang from Black Hawks and took up positions around the airfield. In a whirl of hot air and dust, Chinook helicopters lowered dozens more men.
Then out spake brave Horatius, The Captain of the Gate: To every man upon this earth Death cometh soon or late. And how can man die better, than facing fearful odds, for the ashes of fathers and the temples of his Gods.
With Horatius went Spirius Lartius and Herminius they went forward, when others would not.
A lot can be said on this most humbling of days, too many are firing up grills and chilling beer and saying Happy Memorial Day. There is nothing happy about it except per chance our happy memories of fellow Marines we served with that are not here with us now.
The good news seems that more and issues with Force Design are finally coming to the fore. Perhaps all here who want to get the Corps back on track are standing at the gate. Who will stand beside us? We shall see, we shall see, but here we stand..
To all the Marines we served with and are not here this Memorial Day Semper Fidelis…Carry on, we will see you all later on the other side.
'till the last landings made
and we stand unafraid
on a shore no mortal has seen.
'till the last bugle call
sounds taps for us all
it's Semper Fidelis, MARINE!
Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address “
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Not to be a wet blank to this party “but any Marine in combat today wants to be a live Marine in combat tomorrow”.
When I first learned that the CCP was building islands to station A2/AD missiles in the South Pacific my first reaction was: “LET THEM!” Why? It seemed to me that this strategy could be easily counter with one or two 1000 LB warhead cruise missiles neutralizing anything on those small manmade islands. The shock wave from a 1000 LB warhead has an 800 meter radius. The blast waves alone can cause “severe injury and damage” as far as 800 meters from the point of impact.
You can only imagine my surprise when I heard that a US Marine Corps Commandant wanted to copy this strategy with the Marine Littoral Regiment. It is not a good idea to copy a potential bad enemy strategy and it certainly is not smart to copy the WW2 Marine Defense Battalion idea. Twenty-nine Defense Battalions were planned for WW2. Fortunately a Marine General Officer at HQMC (and former Chief of Staff of the 1st Marine Division for the Guadalcanal Campaign) decided that those Marines manning specialty battalions were better utilize to fill the assault waves of Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
The Commandant bowed to this concept to provide a “pivot” point for Naval Task Forces. My first question, when I heard idea, is will a MLR “pivot” island really going to enhance a Naval Task Force’s maneuverability?
Take a minute and read this article about the 3d Marine Littoral Regiment Exercise on Mavulis Island, Philippines.
https://news.usni.org/2024/05/09/u-s-and-philippine-forces-defend-island-chain-near-taiwan-in-balikatan-2024-exercise#:~:text=Mavulis%2C%20an%20uninhabited%20island%20with,for%20U.S.%20forces%20in%20January.
Mavulis Island is the northern most Philippine island, 88 miles from the southern tip of Taiwan. Ok, an 88 mile gap fits nicely into 100 mile range of the yet to be developed HIMARS anti-ship missile. The other good news is the island is covered in “lush vegetation, including mangroves, vuyavuy palms, and other native shrubs”. Mavulis island is 2.2 kilometers (1.4 miles) long and at it widest point one kilometer (.62 miles)) wide. The island’s area is a whopping .42 square miles.
A cruise missile and/or Tomahawk Missile can deliver a 1000 LB war head. The 1000 LB warhead creates a shock wave that causes “severe injury and damage” (depending on terrain) as far as 800 meters from the point of detonation (let’s call that radius, as in Effective Causality Radius (ECR)). The circle with an 800 meter radius equals just under .4 square miles; reminder here, Mavulis Island’s area is .42 sq. miles. Let’s contemplate this a bit as a CCP Commander…Hmmm... Yep, with Mavulis Island’s highest hill is 219 meters, two 1000 pound cruises missile should be more than enough to neutralize the US Navy’s Mavulis Island “Pivot Point” and any occupying MLR units.
Now the irony, the above article has a picture of a Marine in full camouflage when there is no need for camouflaging a Marine or a HIMAR after a cruise missile strike on a small “pivot” island.
Semper Fi
The Marines are acquiring the Naval Strike Missile as their ground launched anti-ship missile. The NSM has an unclassified range of about 115 miles. The Marines are acquiring 14 NSM batteries and 3 TLAM batteries. The TLAMs have a range of over 1,000 miles. Both missiles are subsonic.
Saved round. The HIMARS Precision Strike Standard Missile (PrSM) would have probably been a better choice. It's replacing the Army ATACM; will have a hypersonic range of 300+ miles, be compatible with the HIMARS launcher, and probably designed to strike a moving target. From all indications, the missile should be operational well before 2030. Not sure why the Marines did not put their eggs in this basket; probably because the MLR/SIF concept was not vetted through the combat development process.
May 26 WSJ “America’s New Island Fighters Are Preparing for Conflict -a Stone’s Throw From Taiwan “……..behind pay wall …Ironically the Marines arrive via a Chinook.
Semper Fi
Semper Fidelis!
Should the USMC acquire the M10 Booker?Army takes delivery of first M10 Booker Combat Vehicle
By Ashley JohnApril 18, 2024
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — The U.S. Army christened its newest combat vehicle, the M10 Booker, on April 18, 2024, during a ceremony at Aberdeen Proving Ground. The M10 Booker represents a new, modernized capability for the Army, allowing light maneuver forces to overmatch adversaries.
In June 2023, the Army announced the vehicle platform was named to honor two enlisted Army Soldiers who served our nation selflessly during times of great conflict — Medal of Honor recipient Pvt. Robert D. Booker, who perished in World War II; and
May 26, 2024 WSJ “Not a MAGTF ITBAYAT, Philippines—The U.S. and Philippine marines arrived in waves on this little island nearly 100 miles from the southern tip of Taiwan. A platoon clutching automatic rifles and machine guns sprang from Black Hawks and took up positions around the airfield. In a whirl of hot air and dust, Chinook helicopters lowered dozens more men.
Then out spake brave Horatius, The Captain of the Gate: To every man upon this earth Death cometh soon or late. And how can man die better, than facing fearful odds, for the ashes of fathers and the temples of his Gods.
With Horatius went Spirius Lartius and Herminius they went forward, when others would not.
A lot can be said on this most humbling of days, too many are firing up grills and chilling beer and saying Happy Memorial Day. There is nothing happy about it except per chance our happy memories of fellow Marines we served with that are not here with us now.
The good news seems that more and issues with Force Design are finally coming to the fore. Perhaps all here who want to get the Corps back on track are standing at the gate. Who will stand beside us? We shall see, we shall see, but here we stand..
To all the Marines we served with and are not here this Memorial Day Semper Fidelis…Carry on, we will see you all later on the other side.