Show me the T/0 and T/E of this MAGTF. Show me the number of 0311 riflemen in each squad. Show me the number of Marines assigned to the ship’s platoon on each ship.
I will bet the air component is under staffed also. There will probably be a lot of cannibalization going on. The aircraft pack up is also probably missing a lot of parts.
Also show me the T/O and the T/E of the MEU’s artillery unit. With only 7 batteries in the active Corps my guess is it’s not the 8 gun battery normally assigned. My guess is that it’s only a 4 gun platoon. A 4 gun platoon, while it’s better than nothing is a far cry of what the GCE requires.
Yes sir it did. Back in the early 1980s the Army changed its doctrine, and the Corps followed suit.
The Army decided that a six gun battery made up of 3 platoons of 2 guns was not independently deployable as the structure of the Army’s, and the Corps’s artillery battery and artillery battalion didn’t allow for independent operations due to insufficient effect on targets; insufficient manpower for servicing the weapons, fire direction, communications, and local security; and insufficient logistics for fuel, ammunition, insufficient medical and maintenance support.
The Army and the Corps increased the number of howitzers to 8, and reduced the number of platoons to 2, and in the case of the Corps increased the T/O to approximately 180 Marines in an 8 gun battery, making a 4 gun platoon with the ability to independently displace and service targets independent of the remaining platoon, and to disperse the battery over a wider position. At approximately the same time the Army and the Corps introduced the M198 howitzer, and in the case of the Corps, in all artillery units. The Army continued to also field the M109 SP.
The M198 was a beast of a weapon, if memory serves me correctly over 15,000 lbs and over 40 ft (in travel lock configuration). Only the CH-53E could externally sling load it. The footprint for amphibious embarkation for a battery increased significantly, as the M198 as well as its new 5 ton prime mover took up much more embarkation square footage than the M101A1 and its prime the M35 deuce and a half.
The Corps is now equipped with the M777 155mm howitzer which is significantly lighter at approximately 8,000 lbs and 31 feet (in travel lock configuration).
I’m sure this is more than you wanted to know, but I’m a passionate Marine Redleg!
As Combat Cargo Officer aboard an LHD, I can tell you that the "personnel tax" for units coming aboard is quite substantial. Combat Cargo alone got 50 Marines to support Well Deck and Flight Deck operations. Not to mention Supply (Laundry, mess decks) and ALD (aircraft maintainers). It is impossible for the ship to provide all the services for the embarked forces without "reinforcement". Of course, we all know that those sent to augment shipboard operations are the "cream of the crop".
No doubt this deployment will be used by those still walking in a circle around the Millstone of FD whatever. “See! We are supporting the crown jewel!” “So there then old thinkers!”
Only problem is the crown is missing a bunch of jewels and the crown (aka amphipious lift) is cracked and has rust on it. This ought give pause to the SASC particularly the Sub Committee on sea power to have another look at how to overcome the problems of sealift and support of the MAGTF configuration. Hard questions need be asked as Colonel Rape’ pointed out. Straight answers need to come from the senior leadership of the Navy and the Corps.
Just think, they could put a couple HIMARS/PrSM systems on board, along with a SAM section and that would eliminate the need for the MLR. A properly equipped MEU is Swiss Army Knife of capabilities.
What would the Ghost of LtGen Marty Bernt say if he could inspect this General Smith MEU? “Interview: "We Just Did Our Job"
November 1995 Proceedings Vol. 121/11/1,113
ARTICLE
COMMENTS
Shortly after the daring rescue of Captain Scott O’Grady from a Bosnian hillside, author Mary Pat Kelly interviewed then-Colonel Berndt, the rescue force commander, about the preparations for the operation.
Brigadier General Martin Berndt, commander of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) [MEU(SOC)], describes himself as “a run-of-the-mill infantry officer.” But then, he would. For him, being a Marine means “trying to maintain the moral high ground in everything we do, which means you don’t beat your chest, you don’t make out you’re better than other people.” Yet, on 8 June, when his TRAP mission lifted Air Force Captain Scott O’Grady from a hillside in Bosnia and restored him to an American public that had been braced to mourn still another young man lost in a inexplicable conflict, a small bit of chest beating would seem to be in order. But on the USS Kearsarge (LHD-2), the men who planned and executed the rescue did not dwell on the impact their mission made.”
While the Army is the Nation's primary ground combat component, with different types of divisions for different types of combat, the Marine Corps is the Nation's only naval expeditionary force. If the Marine Corps is the America's Force in Readiness, then the MEU, is the Marine Corps' SWAT team. At sea, the MEU is ready to conduct a multitude of combat missions which is why it needs all combat assets to include tanks, field artillery, and breaching capabilities. Once again, a Swiss Army Knife of combat power.
Show me the T/0 and T/E of this MAGTF. Show me the number of 0311 riflemen in each squad. Show me the number of Marines assigned to the ship’s platoon on each ship.
I will bet the air component is under staffed also. There will probably be a lot of cannibalization going on. The aircraft pack up is also probably missing a lot of parts.
Also show me the T/O and the T/E of the MEU’s artillery unit. With only 7 batteries in the active Corps my guess is it’s not the 8 gun battery normally assigned. My guess is that it’s only a 4 gun platoon. A 4 gun platoon, while it’s better than nothing is a far cry of what the GCE requires.
When I was Combat Cargo Officer aboard an LPD in Japan we embarked the firing battery and it was only 6 tubes. Did that change?
Yes sir it did. Back in the early 1980s the Army changed its doctrine, and the Corps followed suit.
The Army decided that a six gun battery made up of 3 platoons of 2 guns was not independently deployable as the structure of the Army’s, and the Corps’s artillery battery and artillery battalion didn’t allow for independent operations due to insufficient effect on targets; insufficient manpower for servicing the weapons, fire direction, communications, and local security; and insufficient logistics for fuel, ammunition, insufficient medical and maintenance support.
The Army and the Corps increased the number of howitzers to 8, and reduced the number of platoons to 2, and in the case of the Corps increased the T/O to approximately 180 Marines in an 8 gun battery, making a 4 gun platoon with the ability to independently displace and service targets independent of the remaining platoon, and to disperse the battery over a wider position. At approximately the same time the Army and the Corps introduced the M198 howitzer, and in the case of the Corps, in all artillery units. The Army continued to also field the M109 SP.
The M198 was a beast of a weapon, if memory serves me correctly over 15,000 lbs and over 40 ft (in travel lock configuration). Only the CH-53E could externally sling load it. The footprint for amphibious embarkation for a battery increased significantly, as the M198 as well as its new 5 ton prime mover took up much more embarkation square footage than the M101A1 and its prime the M35 deuce and a half.
The Corps is now equipped with the M777 155mm howitzer which is significantly lighter at approximately 8,000 lbs and 31 feet (in travel lock configuration).
I’m sure this is more than you wanted to know, but I’m a passionate Marine Redleg!
Semper Fi!
As Combat Cargo Officer aboard an LHD, I can tell you that the "personnel tax" for units coming aboard is quite substantial. Combat Cargo alone got 50 Marines to support Well Deck and Flight Deck operations. Not to mention Supply (Laundry, mess decks) and ALD (aircraft maintainers). It is impossible for the ship to provide all the services for the embarked forces without "reinforcement". Of course, we all know that those sent to augment shipboard operations are the "cream of the crop".
No doubt this deployment will be used by those still walking in a circle around the Millstone of FD whatever. “See! We are supporting the crown jewel!” “So there then old thinkers!”
Only problem is the crown is missing a bunch of jewels and the crown (aka amphipious lift) is cracked and has rust on it. This ought give pause to the SASC particularly the Sub Committee on sea power to have another look at how to overcome the problems of sealift and support of the MAGTF configuration. Hard questions need be asked as Colonel Rape’ pointed out. Straight answers need to come from the senior leadership of the Navy and the Corps.
Way too far apart. Need to beef up the amphib before it’s too late. Unsatisfactory!
Just think, they could put a couple HIMARS/PrSM systems on board, along with a SAM section and that would eliminate the need for the MLR. A properly equipped MEU is Swiss Army Knife of capabilities.
What would the Ghost of LtGen Marty Bernt say if he could inspect this General Smith MEU? “Interview: "We Just Did Our Job"
November 1995 Proceedings Vol. 121/11/1,113
ARTICLE
COMMENTS
Shortly after the daring rescue of Captain Scott O’Grady from a Bosnian hillside, author Mary Pat Kelly interviewed then-Colonel Berndt, the rescue force commander, about the preparations for the operation.
Brigadier General Martin Berndt, commander of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) [MEU(SOC)], describes himself as “a run-of-the-mill infantry officer.” But then, he would. For him, being a Marine means “trying to maintain the moral high ground in everything we do, which means you don’t beat your chest, you don’t make out you’re better than other people.” Yet, on 8 June, when his TRAP mission lifted Air Force Captain Scott O’Grady from a hillside in Bosnia and restored him to an American public that had been braced to mourn still another young man lost in a inexplicable conflict, a small bit of chest beating would seem to be in order. But on the USS Kearsarge (LHD-2), the men who planned and executed the rescue did not dwell on the impact their mission made.”
While the Army is the Nation's primary ground combat component, with different types of divisions for different types of combat, the Marine Corps is the Nation's only naval expeditionary force. If the Marine Corps is the America's Force in Readiness, then the MEU, is the Marine Corps' SWAT team. At sea, the MEU is ready to conduct a multitude of combat missions which is why it needs all combat assets to include tanks, field artillery, and breaching capabilities. Once again, a Swiss Army Knife of combat power.
“Remember The Bonnie Dick”!!!!!
"What's that old saying? 1 is none, 2...no...3 is one". Well, at least we got another 1. God bless 22 MEU underway.
Yep one is better than none. Amen on God’s blessing the MEU and the sailors supporting the ARG/MEU