The Marine Corps 12 man Squad
Is it too soon for the Marine Corps to comment on the effectiveness of the 12 man squads in those two battalions deployed to Afganistan within the last 18 months?
Or the basic squad set up in fireteam members and weapons.
This might be premature, but it is on my mind and thought I'd ask.
Unit transportation Platoon delivery
I came across an article on the CH-53E Super Stallion
and in checking the personnel load line found out that it can haul and deliver 37 personnel in it normal seating config., and 51 Marines with the addition of center asile seats.
The CH-53E will be upgraded to a K version that will have bigger engines and a heavier lift capability by 2015.
The"E" versions are are being refurbished with three bigger engines that will increase their capability to function better in hot conditions and fly higher for mountian work.
The rear ramps are receiving FB M3M 50. cal supression sistem that provides 180 degree rear protection for the aircraft.
A fleet of these can and have delived 3 squads at a time. Could this aircraft (or the future variants for it) solve the personell fit limitations for intact squad delivery to the battlefield for many nations and the U.S. ARMY?
The following is an excerpt on the CH-53E's recent roles in the Marine Corps picked off Goggle.
Since their arrival in Djibouti in early April 2003, HMH 461 was instrumental in accomplishing the Combined Joint Task Force Horn-of-Africa's mission of detecting, disrupting and defending against trans-national terrorists by supplying organic operational reach and providing flexibility to a wide variety of counter-terrorism activities across the region.
The Ramp Mounted Weapon System (RMWS) has been added to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron's CH-53 Super Stallion helicopters, giving them 180 degrees of defensive fire from the rear of the aircraft. The RMWS was being evaluated as a possible defensive weapon system for several assault support aircraft in the Marine Corps, but HMH 461 is the first Fleet Marine Force squadron to actually implement the system in real-word operations.
The RMWS is a Fabrique Nationale (FN) M3M .50-caliber machine gun modified into a weapon system specific for Marine Corps applications.
The CH-53 has tremendous capabilities and there have been several instances where this capability could have directly benefited Marines.
The missions the CH-53 has been called upon to do have been long-range, over the horizon, sometimes without escort missions. Durning the O'Grady rescue in September 1995, they were able to take Cobras with them, but it was a relatively long-range, over the horizon mission. The inability to have a rear-mounted suppressive fire capability could have cost them significantly. Fortunately, the missiles that were shot at them didn't impact the aircraft.
During missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Marines were cargo strapping personnel on the ramp of the aircraft with M16's (Marine standard issue assault rifle) and M60's (medium machine gun) to provide a rear suppressive-fire capability.
In mid-2005 three H-53 Sea Stallion helicopters were brought out of retirement and transported between Aug. 9-11 to Naval Air (NAVAIR) Depot (NADEP) Cherry Point, NC, where they were upgraded before being put back into active service.
This marked this first time H-53s have been recalled from the nation's war reserve, also known as the aircraft "bone yard," at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, AZ. The Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center located there maintains more than 5,000 excess DoD and Coast Guard aircraft for the nation's war needs.
The H-53 is critical to the fleet and is the only heavy-lift helicopter in the Marine Corps. These helicopters can carry internal and external cargo and transport up to 55 troops. Essential for bringing necessary supplies to Marines on the front lines, the aircraft are also used for long-range insertion and search and rescue missions, and they are capable of in-flight refueling.
It's very much the workhorse of the Marine Corps and is the most heavily utilized aircraft in the fleet. Unfortunately, there are just not enough of them. The Marine Corps has lost many H-53s in the last few years because of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and needs to increase the amount available.
The Marines activated these war reserve CH-53E helicopters to sustain high, hot and long duration heavy lift for US and coalition forces engaged in the global war on terrorism. The Marines hadn't lost any aircraft to enemy action, but the harsh and unforgiving natural environment where these aircraft are relied upon for day-to-day logistics and assault support has taken its toll. In order to meet present mission requirements, deployed Marines have to transfer aircraft between squadrons.
Nor would anyone else given any
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Distiller
I would NEVER stuff so many people into a single vehicle!
reasonable options. Sometimes you don't have those...