Marine Expeditionary Unit
A Marine Expeditionary Unit ( MEU ; German Marine Expeditionary Unit , formerly Marine Amphibious Unit , MAU) is the smallest combined task force in the United States Marine Corps . The association consists of around 2,200 soldiers, operates largely independently and is usually commanded by a colonel .
_welldeck.jpg)
composition
A MEU is made up of four components. These are the command element with around 210 men, the aviation combat element with around 310 men, the ground combat element with around 1220 men and the logistics combat element with around 460 men. The exact number of subordinate units with personnel and material varies depending on the location, order and the transport capacity of the landing craft.
Bar component
The staff component is the MEU commander and his staff. It commands the other three components and also includes specialized departments, e.g. B. responsible for maritime gunfire.
The commander's staff consists of the following personnel:
- Staff Judge Advocate - the unit's senior military lawyer
- Public Affairs - the public relations department
- Chaplain - the chaplain in charge of religious matters
- Intelligence - the unit's intelligence department
- Operations - the unit's operations staff
- Logistics - the logistics staff
- Communications - specialists in communication and electronic warfare
Ground combat component
The ground combat component is formed by a Battailon Landing Team led by a Lieutenant Colonel . This is an infantry battalion, which is usually reinforced by an artillery battery, and one platoon each of tank reconnaissance, amphibious tractors, tanks, engineers and reconnaissance aircraft.
Air combat component
The air combat component is formed by a reinforced transport helicopter squadron (MV-22, CH-53 and UH-1N), which are subordinate to additional combat helicopters (AH-1W) and aircraft (AV-8B or F-35B) as well as air support units.
Supply component
The supply component consists of a Combat Logistics Battalion and is composed as follows:
- Headquarters - logistics command post
- Transportation Support Detachment - transportation department
- Supply Detachment - Supply Division
- Maintenance Detachment - maintenance department
- Engineer Support Detachment - Construction pioneer department
- Health Services Detachment - Medical and Dental Experts
- Military Police Detachment - military police unit
- Communications Detachment - communications department
equipment
A typical MEU consists of around 2,200 Marines and Sailors with the following equipment:
| number | equipment | component |
|---|---|---|
| 4th | M1A1 main battle tank | country |
| 7 to 16 | Light Armored Vehicle reconnaissance tank | country |
| 15th |
AAV-7A1 Assault Amphibious Vehicle (buoyant armored troop transport) |
country |
| 6th | 155mm Howitzer : M198 or M777 | country |
| 8th | M252 mortar | country |
| 8th | BGM-71 anti-tank missile weapon system | country |
| 8th | FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile weapon system | country |
| 4 to 6 | AH-1 SuperCobra combat helicopter | air |
| 3 | UH-1N Twin Huey helicopter | air |
| 12 | V-22 Osprey convertible aircraft | air |
| 4th | CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter | air |
| 6th | AV-8B Harrier Jet | air |
| 2 |
C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft Note: These are available in the continental United States stationed |
air |
| 2 | Reverse osmosis cleaning unit | logistics |
| 1 | LMT 3000 Mobile drinking water production system | logistics |
| 4th | Tractor and articulated steering | logistics |
| 2 | TX51-19M all-terrain forklift | logistics |
| 3 | Caterpillar D7 | logistics |
| 1 | Medium duty dump truck | logistics |
| 4th | Logistic vehicle | logistics |
| 7th | 500 gallon water tank container | country |
| 63 | Humvee | country |
| 30th | Medium truck | country |
Maritime landing operations
For landings, an MEU can of course also use the US Navy landing ships (USN), which are grouped as follows: An America class (LHA) or Wasp class (LHD), supported by a Landing Ship Dock (LSD) the Whidbey Island or Harpers Ferry class and a Landing Platform Dock (LPD) of the San Antonio class , as well as the landing craft LCAC , LCU or LSM.
The MEU are used by the USN (Amphibious Squadron, PHIBRON) landing ships. As a rule, these are deployed together with an aircraft carrier and its escort and supply ships within a carrier strike group (CSG). However, an MEU can also be used by air. Then it takes over the equipment from a Maritime Prepositioning Ship (MPS) in the operational area . Of course, this procedure requires the use of a port.
Range of use
The range of operations includes amphibious attacks, amphibious raids, mock attacks, diversionary attacks, repair and recovery of aircraft and their personnel (TRAP), hostage rescue operations, security operations, covert rescue and rescue (CRO), preparation for an amphibious landing, taking platforms and ships at sea , Covert reconnaissance, electronic reconnaissance, humanitarian aid but also the simple demonstration of power.
List of all MEUs
US West Coast at Camp Pendleton , California :
Under the command of the I. Marine Expeditionary Force
- 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit
- 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit
- 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit
US East Coast at Camp Lejeune , North Carolina :
Under the command of the II Marine Expeditionary Force
- 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit
- 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit
- 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
Overseas at Camp Hansen on Okinawa , Japan :
Under the command of III. Marine Expeditionary Force
- 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit
