via Marine Corps Times.
A new breed of Navy ship is preparing to begin its maiden deployment.Read it all here.
The USNS Spearhead is a joint high-speed vessel that can be called upon by the Army, Navy or Marines to quickly ferry people and equipment for a variety of missions. Its 22-person crew is composed of civilians, but it also has a small Navy detachment onboard.
The ship is scheduled to leave Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story on its way to Europe and Africa on Thursday, where commanders will test out the new ship’s capabilities in an operational environment. Ultimately, the Navy plans to have 10 of the ships available to military commanders around the world.
The Commandant has his jack-ass plan to develop Special Purpose-Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis Response (SPMAGTF-CR) based on MV-22's, KC-130's and Recon Marines.
Awesome.
What Marines that still have a love of Corps, understand our heritage/history and pride ourselves on being a sea going force should fear is some brainiac in the 101st or the 82nd (God help us if some fool from the 25th, 10th Mountain or Rangers get wise) is going to decide that he wants to do heliborne ops with one of these ships.
Put aboard a Platoon of Soldiers along with a couple CH-47's and AH-64's (ok so they're on two JHSVs) and suddenly you have the Army's version of the SPMAGTF-CR, only its operating from the sea, has as much or more firepower, has a shorter supply line and is just as capable if not more capable than what the Marine formation brings.
Additionally if this brainiac has sense he'll pitch the idea to operate in areas where our MEU's aren't ... out of area locations where rapid response is a premium, yet with a full understanding that they will hookup with Marines or even a Carrier if the situation warrants.
The idiot Commandant left the Army a gleaming opportunity to drink our milk shake.
Let's hope the US Army doesn't take him up on it.
ahh remember the Army TSV program? The sealift you describe is what that was for. TSV was folded into JHSV.
ReplyDeleteEven two JHSVs cannot accomodate the helos you describe, the flight deck has one spot for up to H-53 is what they got.
600 troops if you limit the other cargo
I have an Uncle who served with the 9th MRF in the Mekong area, his description of the ships and tango boats used resemble these and Solomon's ideas.
ReplyDeleteIt's been done before and will be done again.
The Uncle's favorite remark?
Whereinaphuc was the Marines I thought this was their mission?
Ok lets work up a dug deal, Army will give the Corps these boats, Corps gives the chairorce its f-35s and chairforce gives the Army back its Spartans and gives the A-10s to either or both the other services.
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