Posted on Sep 13, 2015
Which is more outdated? Army Airborne or Marine Amphibious Assaults?
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So, I was talking to my buddy who used to be a Marine and is now in the Army about this the other day. My opinion as a former Paratrooper is obviously biased, so I ask you, the vast network of RP, which is more outdated on a grand scale? Army Airborne assaults or Marine Amphibious landings? We're not talking about Special operations either, I'm asking from a large scale invasion perspective. Which is more outdated?
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 23
"Amphibious Assaults" is sort of a misnomer in the modern world.
It's a capability, but it's not exactly the same thing most people envision. we're not talking about the WWII style "Assault" of yesteryear.
Heck, the Marine Corps doesn't "naturally" even function at a level were that can occur. Our largest normal sized standing MAGTF is a MEU with a BLT (Battalion Landing Team), so we're talking a Boat Company, and a couple of LCAC.
That doesn't mean we can't unload a full BLT quickly. We can. But it isn't strictly "Amphibious." We use a combination of Amphib, Air Assault, and follow on operations to make it all happen. The shift from Amphibious to Expeditionary to Littoral operations as warfare has evolved.
So, asking which of the two is more outdated, sort of starts from an odd premise in that we've already evolved past one of them, and the other is used extremely rarely.
It's a capability, but it's not exactly the same thing most people envision. we're not talking about the WWII style "Assault" of yesteryear.
Heck, the Marine Corps doesn't "naturally" even function at a level were that can occur. Our largest normal sized standing MAGTF is a MEU with a BLT (Battalion Landing Team), so we're talking a Boat Company, and a couple of LCAC.
That doesn't mean we can't unload a full BLT quickly. We can. But it isn't strictly "Amphibious." We use a combination of Amphib, Air Assault, and follow on operations to make it all happen. The shift from Amphibious to Expeditionary to Littoral operations as warfare has evolved.
So, asking which of the two is more outdated, sort of starts from an odd premise in that we've already evolved past one of them, and the other is used extremely rarely.
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The vast network of RallyPoint is predominantly army.
True operational forcible entry at large scale hasn't been necessary due to extensive diplomatic engagements and alliances. The best airdrop or amphibious landing? The one that's unopposed. Carried to operational conclusion this means using an allies airports and lining up on its border to run through (Iraq) is the most efficient method. Our other major war employed a mix, a vertical envelopment ( a heliborne amphibious assault- one of the varitieis) and a (smallish) airdrop in Afghanistan.
In general my arguments about airborne vs heliborne have been made here: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/is-the-airborne-concept-outdated
So in sum, has either been used the way they were in WWII? Nope. Will they be again? Lets hope not. Should we keep both capabilities around just in case? Probably.
True operational forcible entry at large scale hasn't been necessary due to extensive diplomatic engagements and alliances. The best airdrop or amphibious landing? The one that's unopposed. Carried to operational conclusion this means using an allies airports and lining up on its border to run through (Iraq) is the most efficient method. Our other major war employed a mix, a vertical envelopment ( a heliborne amphibious assault- one of the varitieis) and a (smallish) airdrop in Afghanistan.
In general my arguments about airborne vs heliborne have been made here: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/is-the-airborne-concept-outdated
So in sum, has either been used the way they were in WWII? Nope. Will they be again? Lets hope not. Should we keep both capabilities around just in case? Probably.
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