USMC Information Thread

Southern_Cal · Post by **Southern_Cal** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 10:56 am

I think you'll find this site helpful: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ ... index.html

It's all there if you follow that link (not as easy as some US Army sites in terms of laying it out, but it is there).

From memory, it should break down like this:

Basic Rifle Squad: 3 fire teams each with 2x M16A2, 1x M16/M203, 1x M249. The squad leader is armed with an M16A2 (this yields 13 men in a fully manned squad).

Three Rifle Squads plus a 4-man platoon command element (I believe all are armed with M16A2's) equal a Rifle Platoon.

Three Rifle Platoons plus a Weapons Platoon (see below) and a Company HQ (6 men) equal a Rifle Company. A Company-level Weapons Platoon has a Machinegun Section (3 MG Teams - M240G nowadays), an Assault Section (3 SMAW teams) and a Lt. Mortar Section (3 Mortar Teams - M252 60mm Mortars).

Heavier anti-tank weapons and heavier mortars are at the Battalion level (Weapons Company).

One thing to note with all TO&E info - rarely are 'real' infantry units fielded at full strength, even in war-time. There are almost always detachments, losses, etc. that render these figures 'fantasies.'

Note that it is uncommon for the MG, assault, and anti-tank assets to be fielded as complete units - they are almost always detached and assigned to units within the company (e.g. each Rifle Platoon would get an MG Team and a SMAW Team from the Weapons Platoon). Similarly, each Rifle Company would have some Javelin and TOW units assigned from Weapons Company as well. Mortars and armored vehicles are frequently kept together for better effect.

fwiw,
-N

ShortRound70 · Post by **ShortRound70** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:36 am

Southern_Cal:

Welcome aboard the forum. I've used the globalsecurity.org site many times in building my MEU. It has most of the information that I need. I also use Leatherneck and Marine Corps Gazette when I can. Again, welcome aboard. You'll find several gyrenes floating around the forum.

Semper Fi!

Southern_Cal · Post by **Southern_Cal** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 9:42 pm

ShortRound70 wrote:Southern_Cal:

Welcome aboard the forum. I've used the globalsecurity.org site many times in building my MEU. It has most of the information that I need. I also use Leatherneck and Marine Corps Gazette when I can. Again, welcome aboard. You'll find several gyrenes floating around the forum.

Semper Fi!

Thanks ShortRound. Just in case I made it sound like I'm former Marine Corps when I gave that org info "from memory", you should know I'm merely a civilian who is a great fan of our United States Marine Corps based on the prior service of two uncles (one on Iwo and in Korea).

For those interested in scenario ideas, ShortRound's highlighting the Marine Corps Gazette is a good lead. On their website you will find "TDG's" which are Tactical Decision Games. They have a new one every month and they are designed to help Marines of all grades practice their tactical decision-making skills. They vary in scale from what gamers would call "skirmish" level all the way up to "operational" level. A number of years' worth of games are on their website (http://www.mca-marines.org).

Thanks for the warm welcome, ShortRound.

-N

jb · Post by jb » Wed Nov 22, 2006 2:44 am

Thanks for the info. I figured it was 3 fireteams to a squad,its just been a while...also saw a show called "shootout" on the history channel the other night. It looked like the episode would make for a great wargame scenario. Anyways one of the squads only had 1 M203,and 1 SAW...I guess the particular squad might have given up weapons to other squads,don't know. Anyways I just like to keep up on these things ,thanks again...

skypig53 · Post by **skypig53** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 2:33 am

Here is a pic of my first scratch built USMC HIMARS. I just got it how I want it, now I need to get the wash and the details done. I'm pretty happy with my first try, it's my first attempt at scratch building anything.

pmaidhof · Post by **pmaidhof** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 6:20 am

very nice SkyPig, what did you use as the basis of the model?

jb · Post by jb » Sat Nov 25, 2006 5:58 pm

Nice conversion...

chrisswim · Post by **chrisswim** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 7:51 am

Nice, I am working on several. Nice.

skypig53 · Post by **skypig53** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 10:15 pm

Thanks to all for the compliments.

I used an M-1083 5-ton truck for my chasis. I had to cut it in half and used sheet styrene to extend the bed a few cm. I used other bits of styrene for the misc. boxes mounted on and under the chasis. For the launcher I took the MRLS and used a hacksaw to cut its launcher in half. Unfortunately my hacksaw isn't as fine as I'd like so only one half of the launcher is salvagable. After that I use styrene to get the right shape and dimensions then use a dremmel tool to bevel the front corners. The carriage for the launcher is just stick of styrene to give it some elevation. Thats pretty much it. I could probably make the launcher out of just styrene to keep from ruining an MRLS. If anyone has any other techniques, please throw them out there. If you google HIMARS images there is quite a few awesome pictures ( as well as some variations) to go off of, more so than fas.org.

jb · Post by jb » Thu Aug 23, 2007 5:40 pm

Early this month a frequenter to this forum passed away. He was a Marine(don't like using the word Ex,because I beleive that marines are never ex marines).
His name was Shawn Carmin,and went by the name RiellyUSMC.
I would like to leave his name here in the USMC thread.
Rest in peace,
Semper Fi,
ReillyUSMC

Wayne · Post by **Wayne** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 6:04 pm

I`m sorry to hear about ReillyUSMC, my condolences. (Once a Marine always a Marine). Several of the guys from my city of Winnipeg were attached to the Marines in Afgan. They use to watch hockey together. I know several friends who went down and joined the Marines in the 60s and went to Vietnam. I`d like to know if the Marines ever train up here in Canada.

Cpl_Blakeman · Post by **Cpl_Blakeman** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 3:12 am

I was in the Corp from 97-0 as a 1345 in the air wing in a unit that set up expeditionary airfields for both fixed and rotary wing squadrons. If anyone wants more information about expeditionary airfields let me know, though it might not be as useful as some of the groundpounders information.

I am just getting into micro armor scale as a long time player of sci fi gaming like 40k and the like.

redleg · Post by **redleg** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:42 am

I'm working on a tank company for my Marines. I'm assuming that they have a FIST-V for their forward observer team, but not really sure. Anybody know if that's the case or not? Thanks.

-Mike

voltigeur · Post by **voltigeur** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 6:10 pm

I'm assuming that they have a FIST-V for their forward observer team, but not really sure. Anybody know if that's the case or not? Thanks.

I don't believe they would have a FISTV for that unit. Everything in the corps revolves around the Infantry. The tank company would in most cases be parceled out to complete BLT's (Battalion landing Teams) This is the foundation of all combat organizations. The forward Observers will be attached to the Battalion comand unit.

One of the things I have noticest in many rule sets is the tendency to assume the Marines are like the Army in its vehicle mix. Except for the tanks the Marines use very few heavy armored vehicles. The LTVP7's can carry 25 men and with 13 in a squad the extra capacity is used to carry attachements.

That being said the Marines are a multi mission type of organization. There were times we had M557's loaned to us when operating with the Army but this was not our normal organization.

redleg · Post by **redleg** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 7:26 pm

Good info. Thanks, Volt!

USMC Information Thread

HIMARS

Himars

US Marines