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From: bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Why need US Marines vs US Army?
Message-ID: <1991Jan10.025533.3802@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 10 Jan 91 02:55:33 GMT
References: <1990Dec21.030119.11014@cbnews.att.com> <1991Jan7.050644.7719@cbnews.att.com>
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From: bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt)

 
 
> From: demon@desire.wright.edu

> The marines are an assault force.  They do not build, occupy, pacify,
> mop-up, etc.  As the marines in WWII used to say "first in, first out" 
> and "the fighting is over, bring in the army".

  I think we're trying to talk about substance here when we should talk
  about 'missions.'  Marine landing forces 'live' aboard assault ships
  'ready' to go in - Army units do not.  However, once on the ground both
  Army and Marines can "build, occupy, pacify, mop-up."  Both are organized,
  equipped, and capable of performing their specific missions.  Amphibious
  Assault is only one of them.

  Yes, I would consider the Marines an 'elite' assault force.  However, their
  basic mission, as stated, is to conduct 'land warfare in support of
  a maritime campaign."
  
  Don't forget, during WWII, the majority of amphibious assault landings were
  conducted by the Army - not the Marines.

> 	Also, every marine unit is trained for amphibious assault and
> unsupplied operation (up to 7 days I believe) where the typical army unit can
> operate (my opinion, again) about 48 hours before resupply becomes necessary.

  While assigned to the 7th Light Infantry Divison, one of our stated missions
  was 'amphibious assault' - in fact, in 1982 we conducted an amphibious
  assault exercise (with the Marines).  Our 'standard' was to be able to 
  operate up to 10 days (troops carry 3 days of rations and ammo the rest 
  is in the 'trains').  

  I, for one, am always glad to have a Marine unit nearby.  


  mike schmitt