"If the USMC had to Island Hop today..." Topic

OK, let's say that in a hypothetical war between the US and Allies and *insert Asian Nation* occurred today, and they used a WWII- style Island Hopping Campaign, would the Marines only wear woodland MARPAT, or would it depend on the island?

I cannot decide how to paint my Empress Marines. I am leaning toward desert, that way I could use them as OIF and OEF or a hypothetical war, but also it seems a bit easier to paint.

Probably what ever they are issued today.

There would be much more Urban fighting I think.

Probably little, "Island Hoping" in the WWII sense would occur … Forced Entry Ops are very costly generally … we basically don't do that anymore. As far as uniforms … yes, whatever they are issued today. And yes, with much more of the world being urbanized today then WWII, more MOUT would probably happen as well.

Maybe I am sweating the small stuff, but does where you are stationed determine which pattern you are issued? Or do you have both at any duty station?

In the 'old' days, Marines only had Woodland pattern, and if you got deployed to the desert you were issued 'TAP gear,' which was all the desert stuff (cammies, boots, flak and pack covers, etc…).

Nowadays each Marine has MARPAT Woodland and Desert (with boots, body armor, and packs you use for both climes) uniforms (which you buy yourself), and the command (at battalion level, typically), set the uniform of the day.

V/R,
Jack

Pick the terrain paint for it.

Rub dirt into MARPAT and you have localized MARPAT.

Probably more hopping these days……..bigger islands means more people and urban areas with bigger airports/seaports etc…….skipping the little islands and isolating the enemy garrisons……..For uniforms I would go with'green' instead of 'yellow' just for a change from all the sandbox settings of recent times!

so MARPAT uniforms and seize the Airfield/Port scenario

Marpat, the 'woodland' version or temporate hads quite a bit of tan in it. It can take on either a tan or even an orange-like hue at times.

The 'arid' version of marpat has a complete absence of green.

I'ld go with the woodland.

The reality would be a whole new jungle camo after month one. Industry would have a field day selling new stuff once they get that meeting with the general and explain to him his employment prospects after retirement.

Let's not forget that the US Army did as much "island hopping" during WWII in the Pacific as the Marines did.

Very true, but Mac was savvy enough to not so much "hop" but by pass heavily defended areas/islands in many cases. Attacked where the "Japs" were not, flanking them, etc. … As Gaz alluded to would happen today. Learning from the horrendous causalities that happened in many island battles in WWII PTO. Mac like Patton were a bit "Nuts" … but were geniuses in their own rites none the less …

As far as uniforms … paint them to match your terrain … it is a hypothetical game. But most likely they'd be issued the appropriate camo uniform …

Marines coming out of boot camp are issued 3 sets of "woodland" MARPAT and 3 sets of "desert" MARPAT uniforms. The "senior command orders what uniform to wear on a given date based on the climate/terrain.