Can’t help but wonder what happened to the US Marine Corps Battalion Landing Team that is on station in the Mediterranean Sea 24/7/365. Commonly called the Med Cruise when I was in the Corps. A complete and functioning battalion with infantry, artillery, Force Recon, helicopter landing ship, LST’s, tank company etc. A complete self contained little army to take care of things like Benghazi.
However, the US Navy only has a couple of them at this time...
The one I am thinking of that would be handy are LHA/LHD type ships. We have a few of these.
They handle more than just helicopter aircraft...
Yeah, the MEU/BLT forces are still available to deploy in short notice. It makes you wonder... according to Wikipedia the standard MEU attachment contains the following forces:
4 M1A1 main battle tank ground
7 to 16 Light Armored Vehicle ground
15 Assault Amphibious Vehicle ground
6 155mm howitzer: M777 ground
8 M252 81mm mortar ground
8 BGM-71 Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missile weapon system ground
8 FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile ground
4 to 6 AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters aviation
3 UH-1N Twin Huey utility helicopter aviation
12 CH-46E Sea Knight medium lift assault helicopter aviation
4 CH-53E Super Stallion heavy lift assault helicopter aviation
6 AV-8B Harrier jet aviation
2 KC-130 Hercules re-fueler/transport aircraft
Note: usually maintained in the continental United States aviation
2 Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit logistics
1 LMT 3000 water purification unit logistics
4 Tractor, Rubber Tire, Articulated Steering logistics
2 TX51-19M Rough Terrain Forklift logistics
3 D7 bulldozer logistics
1 Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement dump truck logistics
4 Mk48 Logistics Vehicle System logistics
7 500 gallon water containers
63 Humvee multiple
30 Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement trucks
That looks to be enough mobile power to take on anything quickly.