Think Defence has a write up on US ship to shore logistics that's worth a read. Its in the finest of European articles on defense issues...long, quite detailed, yet thought provoking nonetheless.
What I find fascinating is that he links extensive offshore logistics to the sea base and amphibious assaults instead of seeing it as a natural extension of a military that has and will probably fight future wars far from home.
Its about keeping large numbers of US troops well supplied in far off lands...not amphibious assault.
Read it here.
Sol yes and no. Sure the amphibs DO amphibious assaults, focible entry, Land the Landing Force, up to MEU size roughly.
ReplyDeleteBut.... in order for the Marines to perform larger Theater Entry Operations (TEO) speciifically MEF size, they MUST have more ships brought into the force IF another ARG was available (position problem) and more ships behind them to sustain the troops ashore, and allow for entry into mulittple locations.
The MSC MPF ships are used for tactical support and sustainment of Marines in all of the above. The MARAD RRF ships come along afterwards IF the TEO is bigger or a seabase is needed to stay offshore.
BTW MPS can dip their ramps to discharge AAVPs and LARCs at sea. AND they carry ALL the INLS needed by the Naval Support Element in an amphibious assault. Several other key metrics but thought you should know