The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for providing force projection from the sea, using the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces and is one of seven uniformed services. Administratively within the Department of the Navy, operationally the U.S. Marine Corps acts as a separate branch of the military, often working closely with US Naval forces for training, transportation, and logistic purposes.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/USMC_logo.svg/150px-USMC_logo.svg.png
Seal of the United States Marine Corps

Organisation[]

Marine Expeditionary Units[]

The USMC has 12 Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU's) which are the principle amphibious assault forces of the USMC. It consists of a Ground Combat Element, Aviation Combat Element, Logistics Combat Element, and a Command Element.

MEU's are organised with Amphibious Assault Ships, other amphibious ships, and warships to form an Amphibious Strike Group. With its six Harriers, cruisers, destroyers, frigates, and supply ships, the ASG possesses all the combat power needed to launch strikes at land targets, including the ability to interdict enemy forces using Harriers and Tomahawk missiles.

Ground Combat Element[]

The Ground Combat Element (GCE) is based around the Battalion Landing Team (BLT), an infantry battalion reinforced with an artillery battery, Amphibious Assault Vehicle platoon, combat engineer platoon, light armored reconnaissance company, tank platoon, reconnaissance platoon, air defence platoon, anti-tank platoon, and other units as the mission and circumstances require. The total strength is approximately 1,200 members.

It has the following equipment:

4 M1A1 Abrams
12 M8 Buford
16 LAV-25
16 AAV-7
6 155mm howitzer: M198 or M777
4 M142 HIMARS High Mobility Artillery Rocket System
8 M252 81mm mortar
8 BGM-71 TOW
8 FGM-148 Javelin
8 FIM-92 Stinger
3 HUMRAAM launchers
1 HUMRAAM Fire Distribution Center
1 HUMRAAM Remote Terminal Unit
1 AN/MPQ-64 Radar

Extra units can be added depending on the situation.

Aviation Combat Element[]

The Aviation Combat Element (ACE) is a Marine Composite Squadron (Reinforced) composed of a Medium/Heavy Helicopter Squadron augmented with three other types of helicopters, one detachment of amphibious flight-deck-capable jets, and a Marine Air Control Group Detachment with air traffic control, direct air support, and anti-aircraft assets.

It has the following aircraft:

Role	Aircraft	Number
STOVL Strike Fighter	McDonnell Douglas A2H-3 Harrier II Plus	6
Attack Helicopter	Bell HAL-3/4 SuperCobra	6
Utility Helicopter	Bell HU2L-2 TwinHuey	4
Assault Helicopter	Boeing HRB-3 Sea Knight	15
Heavy-lift Helicopter	Sikorsky HR4S-3 Super Stallion	9
Tanker/Transport Aircraft	Lockheed Martin KC-130T Hercules	2

The planned ACE will have the following aircraft

Role	Aircraft	Number
STOVL Strike Fighter	Lockheed Martin F3V-1 Lightning II	6
Attack Helicopter	Bell HAL-4 Viper	6
Utility Helicopter	Bell HU2L-3 Venom	4
Assault Helicopter	Sikorsky HU3S-3 Knighthawk	16
MEDEVAC Helicopter	Sikorsky HU3S-3Q Black Hawk	1
Electronic Warfare Helicopter	Sikorsky HU3S-3E Black Hawk	1
Heavy-lift Helicopter	Sikorsky HR4S-4 Super Stallion	9
Tanker/Transport Aircraft	Lockheed Martin GV-5 Hercules	2

Logistics Combat Element[]

The Logistics Combat Element (LCE) (formerly Combat Service Support Element or CSSE) contains all the logistics specialists and equipment necessary for the unit to support itself for 15 days in an austere expeditionary environment. It includes service support, medical, dental, maintenance, transportation, explosive ordinance disposal, military police, utilities production and distribution, bulk fuels, and other technical experts. It consists of approximately 300 Marines and sailors. This element is occasionally referred to as the MEU Service Support Group (MSSG).

Command Element[]

The Command Element (CE), which includes the MEU commander and his supporting staff, provides command and control over the other three elements. It includes specialized detachments for naval gunfire, reconnaissance, surveillance, specialized communications, radio reconnaissance (SIGINT), electronic warfare, intelligence and counterintelligence, and public affairs missions. The overall strength is about 200 Marines and sailors.

Marine Aviation Units[]

Separate from the MEU's are squadrons operating F/A-18 Hornets, AV-8B Harriers, EA-6B Prowlers, KC-130 Hercules, and all other USMC aircraft not allocated to MEU's.

Marine Ground Units[]

Separate from the MEU's are various unattached units, particularly armour and artillery. These can be attached to MEU's as required, or provide personnel to replace losses in MEU's.

Special Operations[]

MCSOCOM Detachment One
- 2 Marine Special Operations Battalions (MSOB)
- Marine Special Operations Support Group (MSOSG)
- Marine Special Operations Advisor Group (MSOAG)
- Marine Special Operations School (MSOS)
Marine Force Recon
Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team

Marine Corps Security Guard[]

Marine Security Guards, also known as the MSG or Marine Embassy Guards, are a battalion of U.S. Marines that are posted at American Embassies, American Consulates and other official United States Government offices such as the US Interests Section, located in Havana, Cuba, the U.S. Office, located in Pristina, Kosovo, or the United States Mission to NATO located in Brussels, Belgium. Modern use of Marine Security Guards at Embassies started in 1948.

Equipment[]

Small Arms[]

Pistols[]

M9 9mm pistol [1]
M11 9mm pistol [2]
Mk 23 Mod 0 .45 ACP pistol (Para-Ordnance P-14-45 Special Forces)
Wilson Combat CQB .45 ACP pistol (Special Forces)
MEUSOC .45 cal pistol

Submachine Guns[]

Colt RO635 9mm submachine gun

Rifles[]

M16A2/A4 5.56mm rifle
- USMC Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle (SAM-R)
M14 7.62mm rifle
- USMC Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR)
M1 Garand Rifle .30'06 rifle (USMC Silent Drill Platoon)

Carbines[]

M4/M4A1 Carbine 5.56mm carbine
Mk 18 Mod 0 CQBR 5.56mm carbine (Special Forces)
Colt Model 723/725/727 5.56mm carbine (Special Forces)

Machine Guns[]

M249 5.56 mm Squad Automatic Weapon
M240G 7.62 mm Medium Machine Gun
M2 .50 Caliber Machine Gun
M60E3 7.62 mm Machine Gun (Special Operations)

Sniper Rifles[]

M40 7.62mm sniper rifle
Mk 11 Mod 0 7.62mm sniper rifle
M82 .50 BMG sniper rifle
M107 .50 BMG sniper rifle

Shotguns[]

Mossberg 500 & 590 12 gauge shotgun
KAC Masterkey 12 gauge shotgun (Special Forces)
Remington 870 12 gauge shotgun

Heavy Weapons[]

M203A1/A2 40mm grenade launcher
M32 40mm Multiple Grenade Launcher
M3 MAAWS 84mm recoilless rifle
M72 66mm rocket launcher
M136 AT4 84mm disposable rocket launcher
Mk 153 Mod 0 SMAW 83mm rocket launcher
M202A1 Flash (Flame Assault Shoulder Weapon)
FGM-172 SRAW anti tank missile
FGM-148 Javelin anti tank missile
FGM-153 Spike assault missile [3];[4]
FIM-92 Stinger surface to air missile

Combat Vehicles[]

Tanks[]

M1 Abrams
- M1A1 AIM
- M1 Grizzly Engineer Vehicle
- M104 Wolverine Heavy Assault Bridge [5]
- M105 Abrams Recovery Vehicle [6]
M8 Buford

Personnel Carriers[]

AAV-7A1 Amphibious Assault Vehicle
- AAVC-7A1 Amphibious Command Vehicle
- AAVR-7A1 Amphibious Recovery Vehicle
LAV-25
- LAV-25 armament/reconnaissance vehicle
- LAV-AT anti-tank TOW carrier
- LAV-AD air defence vehicle
- LAV-M mortar carrier
- LAV-R recovery
- LAV-C2 command and control
- LAV-L logistics cargo carrier

Light Combat Vehicles[]

M1097 Avenger Air Defense System
M1099 HUMRAAM Air Defence System
Interim Fast Attack Vehicle
M44 E-FOGM Launch Unit [7]

Support/Engineering Vehicle[]

M93 Fox CBRN Reconnaissance vehicle
M9 Armored Combat Earthmover
M60A1 Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge
M88A2 Hercules Recovery Vehicle

Artillery[]

Mortars[]

M224 60 mm mortar
M252 81 mm mortar

Howitzers[]

M198 (155 mm Towed Howitzer)
M777 (155 mm Towed Howitzer)

Rocket Artillery[]

M142 HIMARS High Mobility Artillery Rocket System
- M26 Rocket
  - M26A1
  - M26A2
- M29 Rocket with Sense and Destroy Armor (SADARM)
- M30 Guided MLRS (GMLRS)
- M31 Guided MLRS (GMLRS)

Air Defence[]

FIM-92 Stinger
AIM-120 AMRAAM

Anti-Tank[]

M40 (106mm Recoilless Rifle)
FGM-172 SRAW
FGM-148 Javelin
BGM-71 TOW
MGM-157 EFOGM

Helicopters[]

Bell AH-1W SuperCobra
Bell AH-1Z Viper
Bell UH-1N TwinHuey
Bell UH-1Y Venom
Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight
Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk
Sikorsky CH-53D Sea Stallion
Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion
Sikorsky CH-53K Super Stallion
Sikorsky VH-3 Sea King
Sikorsky VH-60 White Hawk

AH-1W SuperCobra in flight	The new AH-1Z Viper, the latest iteration of a 45 year old design	UH-1N TwinHuey	UH-1Y on trials on the USS Bataan. This is the latest variant of the beloved "Huey"
CH-46 Sea Knight, the USMC's assault helicopter for 46 years	MH-60S Knighthawk, the replacement for the CH-46	2 CH-53Ds approach a landing site	CH-53E Super Stallions lift off
Artist's impression of the CH-53K	VH-3 Sea King taking off from the White House lawn. The VH-3 is normally Marine One	The VH-60 White Hawk, which occasionally serves as Marine One. These are wholly based on Army UH-60s, unlike the MH-60S used as an assault helicopter which is a hybrid.

Fixed Wing Aircraft[]

McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C/D Hornet
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A/B Hornet
McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II Plus
Grumman EA-6B Prowler
Lockheed KC-130T Hercules
Lockheed Martin FC-130J Hercules
McDonnell Douglas C-9B Skytrain II
Beech C-12 Huron
Cessna UC-35 Encore
Gulfstream C-20 Gulfstream IV

US Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornet	F/A-18A Hornet launching from the USS Harry S. Truman	AV-8B Harrier II Plus taking off from USS Nassau	USMC EA-6B Prowler support jammer
3 KC-130T Hercules refueling 4 F/A-18s	KC-130J Hercules, part of the re-equipment of USMC aviation	C-9B Skytrain II
USMC C-12 Huron, the C-12 is the military version of the Beech King Air. The King Air is used by all US armed services (Navy T-44s train USCG pilots)	UC-35 Encore, the military version of the Cessna Citation	USMC Gulfstream VIP transport