"Del Toro also appeared to change his own messaging on amphibious ships this year following numerous attacks by lawmakers who had fumed over his “strategic pause” for certain amphibs last year." Ya, after Senator Sullivan embarrassed him at a committee meeting where the new ship building plan contained 28 amphibs. The Senator reminded Del Toro that 31 amphibs is the LAW ...so take your ship building plan of 28 amphibs and bring it back when it contains 31.
Del Toro took responsibility for the amphib fleet when he was sworn in FOUR YEARS ago! ...and the Commandant expects him to change his tune because he signed a MOU. This MOU replaces the old MOU that stated he needed to maintain 38 amphibs. This is nothing more than a SECNAV "cover your butt" move in COOPERATION with the Commandant. I am betting that this MOU reduces the number of Amphibs to 31 vs 38 or higher. When Neller was Commandant he stated that the US Marine Corps needed 50 amphib to fill the requirements of the Combatant Commanders. There is a problem at the shipyards and with the SECNAV bureaucracy that is responsible to build and maintain US NAVY Ships. Semper Fi
Speaking of Marine and Navy MOUs, I just read in Marine Corps Times that the Landing Ship Medium is two years behind schedule, and the cost over run may be triple the original estimate. If they want this ship, just go with the Army's Logistic Support Vessels. We need to quit reinventing the wheel.
Actually, I think this is a good idea. Maybe, just maybe, this will pressure the SECNAV to solve his amphibious ship building and maintenance issue. The USINDIOPACOM is a massive AOR and the Navy's (and Marine Corps) strategic mobility is going to be essential to any strategy that protects and secures SLOCs. It would also return the Marine Corps to the status of the nation's 911 force. It could get the Marine Corps 2 MPFs one in the Pacific and one in the Indian Ocean. Marines, if needed, can swing to the Atlantic. In WW2. 6th Marines was forming in California getting ready for jungle warfare when the President sent them through the Panama Canal. They were on their way to the Azores to help out the Brits. After embarkation the President changed their mission to the occupation of Iceland. I think Chowder II should reach out to Mr. O'Brian and encourage this idea and advise him with some priorities. I also think that we all need to read Mr. O'Brian's unfiltered article : https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/return-peace-strength-trump-obrien
Yes sir, I agree. My concern is the lack of Amphibious ships which you alluded to. Without the Amphibs to disperse the Marines, would require putting the entire Marine Corps in one or two places on an island somewhere for the Chinese to pick apart or simply bypass.
"Del Toro also appeared to change his own messaging on amphibious ships this year following numerous attacks by lawmakers who had fumed over his “strategic pause” for certain amphibs last year." Ya, after Senator Sullivan embarrassed him at a committee meeting where the new ship building plan contained 28 amphibs. The Senator reminded Del Toro that 31 amphibs is the LAW ...so take your ship building plan of 28 amphibs and bring it back when it contains 31.
Del Toro took responsibility for the amphib fleet when he was sworn in FOUR YEARS ago! ...and the Commandant expects him to change his tune because he signed a MOU. This MOU replaces the old MOU that stated he needed to maintain 38 amphibs. This is nothing more than a SECNAV "cover your butt" move in COOPERATION with the Commandant. I am betting that this MOU reduces the number of Amphibs to 31 vs 38 or higher. When Neller was Commandant he stated that the US Marine Corps needed 50 amphib to fill the requirements of the Combatant Commanders. There is a problem at the shipyards and with the SECNAV bureaucracy that is responsible to build and maintain US NAVY Ships. Semper Fi
Speaking of Marine and Navy MOUs, I just read in Marine Corps Times that the Landing Ship Medium is two years behind schedule, and the cost over run may be triple the original estimate. If they want this ship, just go with the Army's Logistic Support Vessels. We need to quit reinventing the wheel.
This is an insane idea by a so called expert. Placing the entire Marine Corps in the Pacific is worse than FD divest to invest scheme!
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/06/18/robert-obrien-foreign-affairs-op-ed-00163935
Actually, I think this is a good idea. Maybe, just maybe, this will pressure the SECNAV to solve his amphibious ship building and maintenance issue. The USINDIOPACOM is a massive AOR and the Navy's (and Marine Corps) strategic mobility is going to be essential to any strategy that protects and secures SLOCs. It would also return the Marine Corps to the status of the nation's 911 force. It could get the Marine Corps 2 MPFs one in the Pacific and one in the Indian Ocean. Marines, if needed, can swing to the Atlantic. In WW2. 6th Marines was forming in California getting ready for jungle warfare when the President sent them through the Panama Canal. They were on their way to the Azores to help out the Brits. After embarkation the President changed their mission to the occupation of Iceland. I think Chowder II should reach out to Mr. O'Brian and encourage this idea and advise him with some priorities. I also think that we all need to read Mr. O'Brian's unfiltered article : https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/return-peace-strength-trump-obrien
Yes sir, I agree. My concern is the lack of Amphibious ships which you alluded to. Without the Amphibs to disperse the Marines, would require putting the entire Marine Corps in one or two places on an island somewhere for the Chinese to pick apart or simply bypass.
Oh ya! Absolutely agree. Semper Fi Brother.
The entire USMC is NOT in the Pacific! You are not a compass point.
Former National Security Advisor, Robert O'Brien, is the one who advanced the idea of limiting Marine Corps deployments to just the Pacific.
Another dumb idea.
Sam,
Plz do not use a comment to post the full text of articles on CP. It can get us into a copyright issue which we do not want. Thanks. -- CP
I deleted it at your request.
I think there is a law for a certain number of carriers (11). In the age of FD, a legal requirement for L Class ships would also be a good idea.
More like Male Bovine Excrement!