Quote:
Originally Posted by Adm.Lee
Mostly because there are far fewer tanks in the Marines, to cross-attach like that. They do a lot of attaching when they form their MEUs, but assets like armor and engineers and the like are not cross-attached as often.
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Well, the Marines are always considered rapid-response, light infantry. Don't get me wrong, they are excellent in thier own niche, but where they fail is when they are committed against heavy armor. For the most part, they just don't have the heavy antitank/armor needed to face off a Soviet MRD/TD. As for mobility, its helos, landing ships or combat boots; a marine division only has enough LVTP/LAVs to move three battalions at once.
It was always the "official" war plan that the 2nd Marine Division would be split into three MEBs. One to reinforce Norway, one to reinforce Denmark and the third for use in the Med or to reinforce Norway/Denmark. These so-called "side-show theaters" would allow the Marines to be used to their fullest. Committing the Marines into the Central Front, would just allow them to suffer unnecessary losses.