Blast from the past. Rigid Raiding Craft.

I have yelled at the critics that claim that the USMC became a second land army during the war on terror.

Perhaps they were right.  It pains me to say so but perhaps they had a point.

Small boat raids.

Special Operations Training Groups.

Performing a mission the approved "Special Ops" way...not the Marine way.

Before the Marine Corps did away with the Riverine mission set (because of lack of manpower), we had a very effective and innovative Boat Office at Camp Lejeune.

One piece of gear that went away along with the riverine mission was the rigid raiding craft.  We need it back.  The rigid raider is faster, can be beached on the fly and has almost equal carrying ability.  The following data is from the USMC Family of Small Craft Website...

RRC Craft Data
 

Hull Type:	Rigid Hull, GRP
Length:	18 feet, 6 inches
Beam:	7 feet, 2 inches
Draft:	10 inches
Fuel Capacity:	63 gallons, Gasoline
Max Payload:	3,010 pounds
Speed:	25+ knots
Max Personnel:	8-10 Passengers, excluding crew members
Draft, On Plane:	Eight inches
Propulsion:	Twin 70 Horsepower Pump Jet, OMC
Crew:	Two
Range:	75 Nautical miles
Transportability:	Trailer

CRRC Craft Data

Primary function:	A standard small, lightweight, inflatable, rugged boat to be used in performing various reconnaissance missions.
Operational configurations
Length:	185 in.
Width:	75 in.
Height:	30 in.
Weight:	265 lbs.
Storage/Shipping configurations
Length:	59 in.
Width:	28.5 in.
Height:	24 in.
Weight:	265 lbs.
Power requirements:	Improved Military Amphibious Reconnaissance System (I-MARS) 35 horsepower engine. - Being phased out Small Craft Propulsion System (SCPS) 55 horsepower engine - replacement for I-MARS.
Background:	The CRRC was fielded to fill the Marine Corps' requirement for a small, lightweight, inflatable, rugged boat for use in performing various raid, and reconnaissance missions.
Inventory:	Active - 424; Reserve - 46; Supporting Establishment - 75

For the Small Boat Company mission set the CRRC brings no advantages and is not the right tool for the job.

Following Special Operations Command is a mistake.

We need gear suited to Marine Corps operations, not SOCOMs.

Bring back the Rigid Raider.  We need it, and should have it.

NOTE:
Time to do something with the Special Operations Training Groups.  A misnomer if I ever heard one.  We need a Marine Expeditionary Training Group.  A unit that's tailored to train Marines to a Marine standard across the board.  The Marine Corps needs to once again recognize itself as an elite military outfit.

The worship of Special Operations that some Marine Generals are engaged in is not only pathetic but its also detrimental to the Marine Corps.  A first step in repairing the damage done to us by our own is to disband the Special Operations Training Groups and reform them with a new mission and mindset.