The Marines are seeking ways to cope with a lack of major amphibious warfare ships. Putting Marine combat units--as opposed past usage as security for nukes--on super carriers is one idea.
Putting a Marine Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force with its Marine and aircraft on a super carrier would require reducing the carrier air wing by at least two squadrons. There was some experience in 1994:
Adm Paul David Miller, directed the 22d MEU and a CVBG to work up and deploy an "Adaptive Force Package," as an experiment. He directed us to split the MEU assets from the amphibious ships and deploy a CH-46 helicopter detachment, a rifle company (-)(rein) and a small headquarters detachment on the aircraft carrier.
That could be appropriate. But would it really be necessary to leave aircraft behind now? I thought our super carriers could carry more aircraft than they embark with during peacetime since the Cold War.
I had some related thoughts for a reduced force of Navy super carriers sometimes carrying Marines.
And perhaps even with just a company afloat there is an option for the large Marine force as a crisis develops.
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NOTE: I made the image with Bing.
