arealdeadone | 20 Dec 2020 10:09 p.m. PST |
It just get more bizarre in USMC land. With all the focus on ship and sub hunting seems they forgot about giving the infantry a mission. link While the strategy lays out how the Marine Corps will use some of the new technologies it plans on acquiring, it did not lay out what the future of Marine infantry will be. That's something the Corps is still working on, said Maj. Gen. Paul Rock Jr., director of the Corps' strategy and plans division. |
Shagnasty | 21 Dec 2020 8:39 a.m. PST |
All marines are riflemen. |
Ed Mohrmann | 21 Dec 2020 9:20 a.m. PST |
That's what my brother Bob (RIP) said, with about 90 % of his USMC career in Marine Aviation (Maintenance supervisor, OV-10A's) |
15mm and 28mm Fanatik | 21 Dec 2020 9:29 a.m. PST |
Sounds like the USMC will be used as an asymmetrical tool against China instead of the being the all-powerful conquering force it's been against third-rate militaries in the past. Probably wise because the Chinese not only have numerical but also home field advantage. |
SBminisguy | 21 Dec 2020 9:50 a.m. PST |
Who ya gonna call when you need to seize a Chinese island bastion?? Btw -- if you look at China's Pacific Belt & Road partners you'll see something strikingly familiar to folks aware of the Pacific War…
Except for New Zealand, these Pacific island Belt & Road partners have been giving China what amounts to basing rights. That map doesn't include the Solomon Islands, which have now also joined Belt and Road. China has leased the island of Tulagi and is developing a deep water port…. link
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15mm and 28mm Fanatik | 21 Dec 2020 10:08 a.m. PST |
I don't think island hopping will ever occur again, considering how people today can't stomach even a fraction of the sacrifices such an undertaking required of the "Greatest Generation." |
Legion 4 | 21 Dec 2020 10:15 a.m. PST |
Yes, I think island hopping and forced entry ops pretty much are a thing of the past. Saying that … I'm not sure what the new USMC Commandant wants to achieve? Once he is gone things may go back to a more standard USMC mission, etc. |
SBminisguy | 21 Dec 2020 10:21 a.m. PST |
I don't think island hopping will ever occur again The Chinese military leadership seems to feel otherwise. Their Pacific strategy is nearly identical to that of WW2 Japan – strategically isolate and dominate Australia and New Zealand and make it impossible for the US to go to their aid. New Zealand has already joined Belt and Road, so they may already have gone on their belly, so to speak… |
Legion 4 | 21 Dec 2020 10:28 a.m. PST |
My take … as I said forced entry island hopping ops are probably a thing of the past. There will be no more Tarawas, Normandys, etc. Unless I missed something the PRC has not stormed any beaches, etc. like we saw in WWII ? Of course can we count them making their own islands ? |
SBminisguy | 21 Dec 2020 12:24 p.m. PST |
Unless I missed something the PRC has not stormed any beaches, etc. like we saw in WWII ? Yes you have. China is implementing the strategic encirclement of Australia, and New Zealand to a lesser extent. It is creating a series of military bases on the very same islands Japan did during WW2. If, God forbid, we have another Pacific War, the PRC will be on the other side of the beach reprising the role of Imperial Japan. "China's Navy Is Studying the Battle of Guadalcanal. Here's Why It Matters." link "Chinese land deal in Solomon's Guadalcanal disrupts access to WWII site" link |
Striker | 21 Dec 2020 2:00 p.m. PST |
China may have gotten islands to re-enact WW2 but now there are missiles and islands don't maneuver. I'm not up on the Royal Marines but are the US Marines going to their model? More "commandoish" than front-line infantry of USMC past? My only worry about this is that in the bit I've read it sounds like the process is being started and the brainstorming part is just starting. A leaner Corps is probably best for the Corps but since the 90s it seems like the brass in DC doesn't do much wargaming of ideas or OPFOR on a grand scale. |
SBminisguy | 21 Dec 2020 2:28 p.m. PST |
China may have gotten islands to re-enact WW2 but now there are missiles and islands don't maneuver. In WW2 we had bombs, and islands don't maneuver. But islands can station air and missile defenses against our aircraft and missiles. Islands are unsinkable bases, and at some point like in WW2, you may want to capture and hold an island as your own unsinkable base. And the other side has the same idea. Technology may change, but the demands of geography do not…which is why the British Expeditionary Forces in Greece in WW2 chose to try and hold the advancing Germans at Thermopylae in 1941… |
Archon64 | 21 Dec 2020 4:31 p.m. PST |
The map omits Victoria, Australia. |
Legion 4 | 21 Dec 2020 5:36 p.m. PST |
Yes you have. China is implementing the strategic encirclement of Australia, and New Zealand to a lesser extent. It is creating a series of military bases on the very same islands Japan But no forced entry landings … yet … China may have gotten islands to re-enact WW2 but now there are missiles and islands don't maneuver. Yep that is what I am saying … More "commandoish" than front-line infantry of USMC past? The USMC did have Spec Op units, so they probably had that capability already. Technology may change, but the demands of geography do not… So we will have to see … how this all works out. But I think no one wants to start a shoot'n war. With nations who have WMDs, I'd think … |
Thresher01 | 22 Dec 2020 12:53 a.m. PST |
I agree with SB. I'm not sure where NZ is on the whole China-fication issue, but it appears OZ and/or at least their leadership has fallen under China's spell, which is apparently causing major issues and heartburn right now. We, in the USA are having major issues too, with Chinese spies sleeping with congressmen (and perhaps women), governors, mayors, etc., etc., and helping to fund their political campaigns, and the companies that make our voting machines. This appears to reach all the way to the top of our leadership, with at least the possibility of major blackmail of the incoming guy, due to ALL the money, gifts, and things we aren't even aware of being brought out in public if people don't tow the proper line and narrative. |
Legion 4 | 22 Dec 2020 7:40 a.m. PST |
If nothing else the PRC/CCP has demonstrated they are the #1 Threat to the USA and much of the free world. Everyone from the PRC who is on a work visa, student visa, etc., etc. needs to be sent home and no others from the PRC/CCP allowed in the USA at this time. They have been stealing everything from us for decades. Xenophobic ? Not IMO with all the information that has been brought to light recently. E.g. Besides the well known Chinese spy and congressman relationship. And intel says there are many more. Down to even city mayors. A well known very senior member of congress[who should have hung up the saddle a long time ago], had a PRC spy working on staff for about 20 years[!!!?!?!?!]! Whether COVID was an accident or intentional, the PRC/CCP waited much too long to warn the world they opened up a deadly Pandora's Box … They must be brought to account … somehow … And since they are on the UN's P5, the UN will be more useless than normal. |
15mm and 28mm Fanatik | 22 Dec 2020 1:51 p.m. PST |
Too many people with too much money to lose. And China is trying to finalize a trade/investment deal involving "unprecedented access" to its market of 1.4 billion people with the EU as we speak: link |
Legion 4 | 22 Dec 2020 5:33 p.m. PST |
Too many people with too much money to lose. That is literally the bottom line … |
USAFpilot | 27 Dec 2020 8:46 a.m. PST |
If you are worried about China's presence on a few islands in the Pacific; you should be more worried about their presence in our universities, in our media, and most disturbingly in our politicians. |
Legion 4 | 27 Dec 2020 8:53 a.m. PST |
Yes, they have infiltrated our universities many of which are from their military and intel services. Just saw the Sec of State say something to the affect of we should expel and deport many if not all of them. As the PRC/CCP has been stealing much of our tech, etc. for decades. And until recently many in the US gov't have done little about it. Plus as we see some of our politicians, etc. have been infiltrated by PRC/CCP assets on their staff and have friendships with Chinese spies, etc. IIRC in one case for 20 years or more. |