Tag Archives: Littoral Operations in a Contested Environment

Navy, Marines Wargaming New Gear to Support Emerging Warfare Concepts

Navy, Marines Wargaming New Gear to Support Emerging Warfare Concepts

Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Jahlil Scantling, from Virginia Beach, Va., assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD-4), stands watch on the bridge as the ship transits the South China Sea on Oct. 12, 2019. US Navy Photo

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy and Marine Corps are busy figuring out what they do – and don’t – need to buy to support their emerging operational concepts for high-end warfare. Read More

Sailors, Marines Adjusting to 'Brutal' Reality of High-End Warfare

Sailors, Marines Adjusting to ‘Brutal’ Reality of High-End Warfare

Marines embark on a landing craft, utility in the well deck aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD-5) on Sept. 15, 2019. US Navy Photo

ABOARD AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT SHIP USS BATAAN – The ongoing graduation exercise for the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) will not only get the 4,500 sailors and Marines ready to deploy later this year but also has started a conversation at the deck plate level about how the services will fight together in the future. Read More

Berger: Marines Focused on China in Developing New Way to Fight in the Pacific

Berger: Marines Focused on China in Developing New Way to Fight in the Pacific

Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Maritime Raid Force prepare to board the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD-48) from a Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) on June 23, 2019. US Marine Corps Photo

THE PENTAGON – The Marine Corps continues its drive to become a more agile and maritime-focused force that can respond to tensions quickly and buy decision space for military leaders and diplomats, the commandant said. Read More

Navy, Marines Practice 'Littoral Combat Force' Construct in Alaska

Navy, Marines Practice ‘Littoral Combat Force’ Construct in Alaska

U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 set up at a forward arming and refueling point (FARP) as a CH-53E from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 flies overhead during Arctic Expeditionary Capabilities Exercise (AECE) in Adak, Alaska on Sept. 18, 2019. US Marine Corps Photo

This post has been updated to include additional comments from U.S. 3rd Fleet.

The Navy and Marine Corps recently used a new Littoral Combat Force concept to command and control units spread over 2.2 million square miles of land and sea, in the latest demonstration of what a future operation near and on the shore might look like. Read More

Marine Planners Using Commandant's Guidance to Start Crafting Future of the Corps

Marine Planners Using Commandant’s Guidance to Start Crafting Future of the Corps

U.S. Marines with Task Force Koa Moana (TF KM) conducts a night live fire exercise during the TF KM Mission Rehearsal Exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. on July 19, 2018. US Marine Corps Photo

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. – Two months after new Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. David Berger released his commandant’s planning guidance, the Marines charged with plotting how the service will operate in the future showed a glimpse into how the new guidance is shaping their work. Read More

How to Seize Islands, Set Up a Forward Refueling Point: Marine Corps Recipes for Expeditionary Operations

How to Seize Islands, Set Up a Forward Refueling Point: Marine Corps Recipes for Expeditionary Operations

A Marine with Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, posts security during a simulated airfield seizure after a long-range raid from the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) at Ie Shima Training Facility, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 12, 2019. US Marine Corps photo.

The U.S. Marine Corps has been refining a pair of related concepts, Expeditionary Advance Base Operations (EABO) and the overarching Littoral Operations in a Contested Environment, for the past couple years. Read More

New Commandant Berger Sheds 38-Amphib Requirement in Quest to Modernize USMC for High-End Fight

New Commandant Berger Sheds 38-Amphib Requirement in Quest to Modernize USMC for High-End Fight

U.S. Marine Corps AAV-P7/A1 assault amphibious vehicles assigned to Combat Assault Company, 3rd Marine Regiment, unload service members during an amphibious landing demonstration as part of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise at Pyramid Rock Beach on Marine Corps Base Hawaii July 29, 2018. US Marine Corps photo.

New Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. David Berger outlined his largely naval priorities for the Marine Corps, and he’s willing to shed some key tenets of the Marines’ amphibious force planning in recent years – including the demand for 38 amphibious warships to support a 2 Marine Expeditionary Brigade-sized forcible entry force. Read More

New High-End Amphibious Warfare Tactics Tested at BALTOPS 2019

New High-End Amphibious Warfare Tactics Tested at BALTOPS 2019

Marines assigned to 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22 MEU) establish communications with the Polish Lubin-class mine layer-landing ship ORP Gniezno during exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2019 on June 16, 2019. US Navy Photo

ABOARD USS MOUNT WHITNEY, IN THE BALTIC SEA – Amphibious forces in BALTOPS 2019 tested out new, high-end tactics for the first time in a live exercise, working in a less-rigid structure that allows enablers like air-defense or anti-submarine ships, mine clearance teams and artillery units to flow through the operating area to where they can do the most good. Read More