laststandonzombieisland

The Congressional Research Service just released a well-done 15-page backgrounder on the controversial reformation of the Marine Corps that was announced three years ago. It comes just after the Corps’ own 20-page report on the subject.

The general plan was to basically cut all the heavy and persistent combined-armed abilities that the Marines had in favor of building a few light regiments equipped with anti-ship missiles that could deny ocean space to a threat, generally seen as China, by landing on islands and atolls and setting up shop.

Among the cuts:

• eliminating all Marine Corps Tank Battalions and associated MOSs;
• eliminating all Law Enforcement Battalions and associated MOSs;
• eliminating all Bridging Companies and associated MOSs;
• reducing the number of Infantry Battalions from 24 to 21;
• reducing the number of Cannon Artillery Batteries from 21 to 5; and
• reducing the number of Amphibious Vehicle Companies from 6 to 4.
• phased out most legacy logistical capability, previously intended for sustained
  land operations

Planned Marine Aviation force deactivations included

• Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264,
• Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462,
• Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469,
• Marine Wing Support Groups 27 and 37, and
• Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367.
  The Marines also intend to reduce the number of F-35 B and C aircraft in each squadron from 16 to 10

The Marine Corps had more than 450 tanks prior to the deactivation of the tank battalions.
To date, Marine Corps Systems Command has transferred more than 400 tanks to the
Army. The remaining tanks in the Marine Corps inventory are afloat globally on Maritime
Prepositioning Ships and are scheduled for transfer to the Army over the next few years.

In 2020, the Marines divested more than 5,500 pieces of equipment valued at $494 million.

For this “divest to invest” the Marines would get three Marine Littoral Regiments (MLRs), delivered ashore by a force of 35 yet-to-be-built Landing Ship–Mediums (LSMs), which are basically just an updated 1940s LCI/LST, although not as heavily armed.

The MLR includes about 1,800 to 2,000 Marines and sailors and includes three main elements: a
Littoral Combat Team (LCT), a Littoral Anti-Air Battalion, and a Littoral Logistics Battalion. The
LCT is organized around an infantry battalion along with a long-range anti-ship missile battery.
The Littoral Anti-Air Battalion employs air defense, air surveillance and early warning, air
control, and forward rearming and refueling capabilities. The Littoral Logistics Battalion provides
tactical logistics support to the MLR. A regimental headquarters provides the MLR with enhanced signals and human intelligence, reconnaissance, communications, logistics planning, civil affairs,
cyber, and information operations capabilities.

In March 2022, the Marines reportedly redesignated the 3rd Marine Regiment as the 3rd MLR.
The Marines reportedly plan to convert the 12th Marine Regiment into the 12th MLR in Okinawa,
Japan, by 2025, and also plans for a third MLR, possibly to be stationed in Guam. The Marines
have not indicated if additional MLRs are planned for regions outside the Indo-Pacific.

For reference, every living former commandant has slammed the plan.

Meanwhile, the Navy is fast retiring its LSDs– with all set to be gone by 2025– and the total number of big amphibious warfare ships is set to drop well below the Congressionally mandated 31-hull minimum as only a dozen LPD-17s, seven LHDs, and two LHAs are active. Plus, you can bet the Navy would grab all the LHDs and LHAs that are F-35 capable to serve as “Lightning Carriers” should things go pear-shaped in the Pacific.