Marine leaders will make a significant decision this year to equip each active-duty division with a maritime reconnaissance squadron and new medium-sized ships that will allow these units to effectively scout coastlines. The strategic move aims to significantly increase the Marine Corps’ operational capabilities in littoral areas.
Speaking at the annual Modern Day Marine military expo in Washington today, Lt. Col. Brian Lusczynski shared detailed studies of the new unit concept. The new reconnaissance squadrons, which will be specifically created for each of the Marine Corps’ three current active-duty divisions, will include twelve to eighteen Multi-Purpose Reconnaissance Craft (MPRC) and an undisclosed number of Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) to accompany each during operations, Lusczynski said.
“We Will Not Trade Lead and Paint with Destroyers”
“We don’t expect to trade lead and paint with a destroyer,” said Lt. Col. Lusczynski, clearly stating the basic mission of these new reconnaissance units. This statement suggests that the new units will focus more on tasks such as coastal reconnaissance, intelligence gathering and special operations, rather than directly engaging in major naval combat.
Features of New Medium Size Watercraft
The new medium-sized watercraft will be significantly larger than the Marine Corps’ current inventory of Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs). The key requirements for these next-generation vehicles are that they can withstand offshore conditions and safely transport Marine personnel, equipment, and sufficient command and control equipment needed for a variety of missions.
Lusczynski noted that open ocean conditions begin to reveal themselves when approximately 10 to 15 miles offshore, and emphasized that new vehicles must have a design suitable for these harsh sea conditions.
Pioneer Works of Reserve Forces
A significant portion of the extensive work to better understand the need for this new type of unit and watercraft has been conducted by the Naval Reserve Forces in recent years. These analyses of the potential roles and needs of reserve units in littoral operations played a critical role in shaping the new concept.
Integration of Unmanned Surface Vehicles
In 2023, the Marine Corps Systems Command requested input from the industry on small unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) that could be used for reconnaissance and intelligence gathering missions. Such autonomous vessels are planned to be used in an integrated manner with multi-purpose reconnaissance vehicles (MPRCs) as part of the existing new force design concept.
It is envisaged that Marine Corps personnel will be able to remotely control these unmanned vessels from shore or from any point within communication range at sea. The main operational focus of these vessels will be the “littoral operating environment,” defined as the transition zone between land and the open sea.
Portability and Rapid Deployment
Portability was also identified as a key criterion in the design of the new medium-sized watercraft. The aim is for these vehicles to be light enough to be airlifted by a Marine Corps CH-53 heavy-lift helicopter and compact enough to fit in the cargo hold of a C-130 transport aircraft. This feature will allow for the rapid and effective deployment of troops to different operational areas.
Experiences and Potential Uses of Reserve Units
According to previous reports by Marine Corps Times, the 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, a reserve unit stationed in Tampa Bay, Florida, conducted several experiments with small watercraft in 4. At the time, officials said that if such boats were approved, they could be used in a wide range of areas, including “maritime reconnaissance, detection, tactical maneuvering and logistics support.”
Dispersed Operation and Difficulty of Detection
The new generation of boats will allow Marines to operate in a more dispersed operational manner and offer the significant advantage of being much harder to detect than large platforms such as existing large landing ships (ship-to-shore vessels), allowing Marines to conduct more covert and effective operations in littoral areas.
Speed and Maneuverability
Additionally, these new boats are significantly faster than the Corps’ most widely used ship-to-shore liaison, the amphibious combat vehicle (ACV), a critical advantage for rapid reconnaissance, intelligence gathering and special operations in littoral areas.
Firepower Possibility in Deep Waters
A 2020 analysis by the US Naval Institute noted that small, fast boats could allow the Marine Corps to project firepower in deep waters. This potential could further increase the Marine Corps’ operational effectiveness in littoral areas if new medium-sized ships are equipped with weapons systems.
The decision to equip each division of the Marine Corps with new maritime reconnaissance units and medium-sized ships can be considered a strategic move to significantly increase operational capabilities in coastal areas. The integration of unmanned surface vehicles and advanced features of new ships will provide the Marine Corps with significant advantages in the future maritime operational environment.
