From: randy@ms.uky.edu (Randy Appleton)
Subject: Re: New Carrier Plan
Organization: University Of Kentucky, Dept. of Math Sciences
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 23:47:05 GMT


From randy@ms.uky.edu (Randy Appleton)

mclno@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Jeffery Capt. Shue) writes:


>1. In Desert Shield/Storm Marine fixed wing air assets made up at least
>10% of the total U.S. fixed wing air assets (I don't recall the exact
>numbers).

So what?  If there were no Marine Air Corps, then the Air Force would
have had more room and more transport to fly in it's own air planes.
I don't doubt that the Marine air force isn't very useful.  However, I
*stil* argue that they are doing nothing that either could/should be
done by the air force and naval air arms.

>    b. Don't always use Desert Storm as a model. The U.S. was lucky
>this time to have bases to deploy to. If a forced entry was required
>then Marines would have had to go across the beach. The Air Force with
>out bases in the area may not have been able to provide adequate support
>during the assault phase. Navy carrier air would initially provide support
>but once ashore the Marines could bring their own air ashore and free
>up the carriers for other missions. The AV-8B allows the Marine Corps
>to operate from Expeditionary Airfeilds with very little preparation.

I'm not using just Desert Storm.  Even in WWII the Marines always had
other air assets available to them.

I've never suggested that the Marines loose the AV-8B's.  Those planes
are unique, and seem to fit beautifully with Marine doctorine.  In
fact, I always wondered why the Marines didn't have more of them.  We
both agree that the Marines should keep them.  I don't think I said it
specifically, and I should have.  Thanks for reminding me.

However, let's look at the rest of your scenerio.  Before the
beachhead is established, only the navy can provide air support.  The
marine air craft sit on the sidelines and look shiney.  When a beach
head is established, then there are bases that the Air force can fly
into.  These bases are the very same bases that you would have the
Marine air force fly into.  So the way I see it, the Marine Air Corps
just duplicates the function of other services.

>    c. Every Marine Aviator has had some basic training as an infantry
>officer. This gives Marine pilots a unique perspective and also focuses
>Marine aviation toward Close Air Support and support of the grunt in
>the field.

But what about the poor Army grunts.  They have no Army Air Corps to
support them.  All they have is the Air Force.  Are they getting
sub-standard service?

Actually, I believe many in the Army would argue exactly that, and
envy the Marines for their air fleet.  What I suggest is that if the
Air Force is doing a sub-standard job, then it needs to be fixed.  I
suggest that having a Marine Air Corps is no substitute for fixingthe
air force, if it is broken.  I also suggest that once this is done,
that there remains no reason for the Marines to keep there own air
fleet. 


>I,ll get off my soap box now. No flames intended, I just wanted to point
>out the reason the Marine Corps has their own aircraft is because of
>different operational requirements.

No flames recieved.  However, I still don't see the differing
requirements.  I do see a different doctorine, but basically the same
requirements.  It almost seems like the Marines have given up on both
Naval air and the Air Force, and that the Army was not allowed to give up.

I'll keep asking.  If you don't like this idea, what would you cut?

-Randy

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