The Marine Corps plans to get rid of its tanks and shrink its force to take on China

businessinsider. ^ | 3/24/2020 | Jeff Schogol, Task & Purpose 16 hours ago

[RomanSoldier19]

The commandant of the Marine Corps is pushing an ambitious plan to shrink the Corps and turn it into a more mobile fighting force. Part of that plan is a reduction in manpower, but the service's top officer also wants to cut a number of other units, including all of the Corps' tank battalions.

[Spktyr]

I’m not so sure. If they’re going to more artillery and getting more mobile, I am not sure that’s a bad thing. What would be a better thing would be if the Army makes up their mind about the new light, airdroppable tank/tank destroyer and the Marines could get some. The current Abrams M1A2C and upcoming M1A2D are 74 going on 75 ton beasts that aren’t that easily transportable. Even the giant new LCAC-100 class landing craft can carry only one M1A2C to the beach per run - no supplies or anything else, just the one tank. But it could carry three light tanks (assuming the M8 Scorpion with level III armor as an example).

[Cvengr]

Forgot T70s and TOWIIs

[DarthVader]

Mark Milley current JCOS chair is a hard ass. Combat proven special forces, Army COS, 10th Mountain Division. He is the big advocate of preempting getting rid of our enemies. He pushed getting Soleimani.

[buffaloguy]

The long range rocket arty has probably changed the need for tanks.

[DarthVader]

We never soften things up with nukes. They are deterrents and weapons of last resort. MAD = Mutually Assured Destruction.

[Lion Den Dan]

If any got through, they would face millions of armed and angry American civilians.

Not if our Communist Democrat betters have their way.

[Spktyr]

Somewhat, but only in open field or forest terrain. Get into a city and that arty can be a liability, not a positive.

[SkyDancer]

Well Yamamoto didn’t think it was funny.

[Bonemaker]

He’s the same jarf who wants women in the front line and wants to tear down all Confederate monuments. Trump better replace this puke quick.

[NFHale]

“... If any got through, they would face millions of armed and angry American civilians....”

And in some areas, millions of democrats welcoming them as “comrade liberator”...

[SanchoP]

Well Yamamoto didn’t think it was funny.

Say what? Enlighten me.

[SkyDancer]

When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor Yamamoto said I’m afraid we’ve woken a sleeping giant and then added that to invade the US we’d find an American with a rifle behind every blade of grass. (frequently quoted but unsubstantiated):https://www.factcheck.org/2009/05/misquoting-yamamoto/

[SanchoP]

That was a completely different America.

[notdownwidems]

GREAT movie! Miller's Crossing, one of the finest gangster movies ever made. Give it a look if you haven't seen this five-star screen gem yet.

[notdownwidems]

GREAT movie! Miller's Crossing, one of the finest gangster movies ever made. Give it a look if you haven't seen this five-star screen gem yet.

[SkyDancer]

[SanchoP]

“Our Country won’t go on forever, if we stay soft as we are now. There won’t be any AMERICA because some foreign soldiery will invade us and take our women and breed a hardier race!” ------ "Chesty" Puller

[alfa6]

Actually the Marines in WW-II used tanks in most of their actions. Even on Guadalcanal, where the M3 Stuarts were used quite effectively in suppressing Japanese attacks. The little ol 37mm main gun was quire effective when used with canister rounds.

To be sure their were few full on tank on tank battles, Saipan and Palau come to mind.

The Marines used the M4 Shermans as infantry support tanks mostly. Often time the presence of M4s was responsible for the Marines to advance with out taking horrific casualties as the 75mm gun was quite effective in reducing pillboxes and strong points.

On Okinawa the Sherwma were used as APCs, armored supply vehicles and for medevac of the wounded.

The book Marine Tank Battles in WW-2 gives a really good history of the use of tanks by the Marines.

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[Georgia Girl 2]

Stop confusing people with the facts. We have real live freepers that think China's military can kick our azz. They are terrified of China's new aircraft carrier which if made from Chinese steel will be on the bottom of the ocean soon. 😆

[CivilWarBrewing]

You obviously know more about this subject than I, but the V-22 seems to me to be a very capable craft and from what I've read they've pretty well ironed out most of the bugs that plagued it early on.

The props are huge on that thing! I was wondering how the physical forces of a large gun turret or canon mounted out the back would impact its ability to fly. Perhaps a manned turret in the back where the ramp door is? Interesting rework!

Perhaps surface-to-surface and air-to-ground missiles and bombs, drones and UAV's would render this discussion pointless? And if that's the case, is the A-10 Warthog now obsolete too?