 |
| The Marine Corps is launching precision guided weapons hit the spike firing exercises at sea conducted in the last 21 days (Google Translate) |
Side-note: The SecDef suggested that the US Army utilize its Patriot missiles to allow it to participate in operations in the Pacific. Additionally the idea of them using anti-ship missiles so that they could integrate with Navy aircraft/ships and US Air Force assets was also mentioned. I wonder why some Marine Corps general wasn't pounding the table saying bullshit! One of the core competencies of the Marine Corps is suppose to be not only assaulting and then establishing forward operating bases (amphibious assaults) but port seizures AND repelling enemy assaults...even those that come from the sea (enemy amphibious assaults). The focus has been too much on tech and not enough on doing the "Marine thing". Re-doing Bold Alligator into a port seizure exercise and then turn it around and have the forces repulse an enemy attack would prove more instructive then the dog and pony show its become.
Riddle me this...and take your time. When was the last time the United States Marine Corps practiced port seizures.
Side-note 1: The above illustrates what I've been saying about the idea of using LCACs and JHSVs to carry AAVs and MPCs to an "in stream launch" approx 3 miles from the beach. You're still going to have to do the hard work of destroying enemy fortifications, missile systems etc. Same applies with heliborne assaults using MV-22s and CH-53Ks. Leadership wants a free lunch. There are none. You want the beach? You got to put in the work! Of course this leads to an even more troubling question. If you have to fight to the beach then do you need (trying to take out my bias here) amphibious vehicles? Does a marinized Stryker make sense in this constrained budget era?
