This article is an overview of the bases, organization, and weapons of the USMC in
the year 2300 AD. I have found it very useful for my military campaigns. My thanks
to Clare for granting permission for me to host it on my web site.
- Kevin Clark - Apr. 28th, 1999.
HTML entry/layout/editing by Kevin Clark
( kevinc AT cnetech DOT com )
Please report errors to me.
Disclaimer required by Far Future Enterprises: This item is not authorized or endorsed by Far Future Enterprises ( FFE) and is used without permission. The item is for personal use only. Any use of FFE's copyrighted material or trademarks in this file should not be viewed as a challenge to those copyrights or trademarks. In addition, this item cannot be republished or distributed without the consent of the author ( Clare W. Hess).
At one time in history, when nations were still confined to earth, America employed an organization called RDJTF ( Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force). The RDJTF, or RDF, as it was often referred to, was a loosely organized combination of units which was always prepared to be mobilized at a moment's notice. The combat units available to RDF consisted of army airborne divisions, air force wings, and a marine amphibious force ( MAF).
Today, a similar organization exists, though under the title of ART
( American Response Team). While this unit is capable of deploying
troops anywhere on earth within hours, it does not possess the ability
to respond to situations off-world without considerable preparation.
Enter the US Marine Corps...
The US Marine Corps is an elite fighting force of about 200,000 people. Their mission is to provide America and her colonies with a mobile, highly responsive, highly trained military ground force. Unlike the American army, the marines are equipped to be quickly deployed into crisis areas by sea navy and space force assets. Also unlike the American army, which places a heavy reliance on ground-based logistics, the marines handle logistics aboard ship, thus maintaining the force's high mobility.
The employment of units with large amounts of ground-based support involves a certain level of commitment, since the units require a large effort to pull them back out. Such commitment can easily lead to an escalation of forces. In cases where it becomes apparent that American forces cannot be easily withdrawn from a dangerous situation, additional support often becomes necessary in order to protect those locked-in assets when, in fact, a withdrawal would be more desirable.
The ability of the marines to quickly pull out of a dangerous situation
has saved America from a number of costly or potentially costly situations.
Today, the corps maintains its rapid response capability, but as America
expanded into space, so too did the marines.
Marine units are stationed at eight major bases. The largest is located in Seattle, Washington, and is home of the 1st Marine Division, 4th Marine Division ( Reserve), 6th Interface Wing, 1st Armor, 33rd Artillery, 25th Air Defense, and 24th Engineer battalions. The second largest base is located in earth orbit at the American L-4 colony, home to the 5th Marine Division and the 8th Interface Wing. Other major bases include one which is located in Hawaii, another one in San Francisco, plus those in Florida and on Ellis.
A complete disposition list is shown on the map of America below.
The modern marine corps is a large organization consisting of four marine divisions, two interface wings, and two air wings. Providing support for these units are eight artillery battalions, four armor battalions, four air defense battalions, four engineer battalions, four recon battalions, and four APC battalions. Additionally, one marine division and one air wing are attached in reserve. These units possess their own assets normally found only at the corps level. This is done so that all reserve units are under the command of either the reserve division or air wing.
The US Marine Corps operates five divisions: four active and one reserve. Divisions are organized identically, each with three marine regiments, one air regiment, one air recon battalion, one combat walker battalion, and one engineer battalion. The single exception is the 4th Reserve Division, which has one artillery and one air defense battalion directly attached. This was done so that these battalion-sized reserve units are all under one reserve command instead of their usual attachment directly to the corps.
The marine interface wing and marine air wings are division-sized units
organized to provide interface and/or air support to their corresponding
marine divisions during combat. A total of two interface wings and
two air wings are in active service in the corps, with one additional air
wing operating as a reserve unit. Each interface wing is organized
into two combat interface transport groups, an interface fighter group,
and an air defense battalion.
While the marine corps is formally organized into divisions, in most modern actions, a special combat group is formed. There are three types of groups used in off-world operations. These are the marine interface unit ( MIU), the marine interface brigade ( MIB), and the marine interface force ( MIF).
The smallest of these groups is the MIU, which is formed around a single marine battalion and generally supported by divisional air assets and armor. The MIU is a strong, flexible, battalion-strength force, possessing a high degree of mobility. With a low total strength of troops, the MIU is easily transported by a single interface operations support vessel. The biggest drawback of the MIU is that it is too small to be useful for most operations. However, during the present Kafer conflict, one unit, the 6th Marine Interface Unit, is maintained on standby in the Ellis system. The troops are taken from the 2nd Marine Division and are rotated on a regular basis.
The 6th MIU is a practical example of MIU organization. The 6th MIU is the only organized MIU and is formed with the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine regiment at its core. In addition to the battalion, the 6th MIU consists of C Company/12th Armor Battalion, A Company/2nd Battalion/11th Interface Group, C Company/1st Battalion/12th Marine Aviation Regiment. Providing direct support in the form of orbital bombardment, interface assault support, logistics, and transportation are vessels of the American Space Force.
The larger MIB is the mainstay of present marine military operations. The MIB is a collection of combat units, larger that a regiment and more combined-arms oriented. One common organization of the unit is one marine regiment, a combat interface transport group, an armor battalion, a combat walker battalion, and an air defense battalion. At the outbreak of the Kafer War, the US Marine Corps organized the 7th Marine Interface Brigade and maintains the unit in full readiness at the American L-4 colony. Recently, this unit has been reinforced with fresh troops and updated equipment. The Pentagon claims that this is part of a general combat readiness program.
The larger, more powerful MIB is organized to make major interface assault landings. All marine units are organized into brigades, but only two interface brigades are active. The 7th MIB is composed of units of the 1st Marine Division. At the heart of the brigade is the 1st Marine Regiment. Supporting this unit in combat and providing transportation during the initial interface assault is the 7th Interface Group. Also attached is the 1st Armor Battalion, 3rd Battalion/4th Aviation Group B, B Company/25th Air Defense Battalion, and A Company/24th Engineer Battalion. The brigade also has a large contingent attached from the American Space Force which, as for the 6th MIU, provides orbital bombardment, interface assault support, logistical support, and transportation for the entire brigade.
At the time of this writing, the 7th Marine Interface Brigade was being reinforced by B Company/Artillery Battalion, as well as the remainder of the 24th Engineer Battalion. The entire unit is scheduled to be moved from its current location at L-4, but there is no indication as to exactly where it will go.
The largest marine combat group is the marine interface force. This unit is essentially a complete marine division organized and equipped to be fully mobilized as a single group. Because of the sheer size of such an organization, the expenses incurred in maintaining and fielding it, and the naval resources required to support it, these units are seldom organized except during major wartime efforts.
At present, there are no MIFs organized. However, should there
be a need for one, the Pentagon has the plans ready to implement one.
For many American marine units, duty is served aboard foreign vessels. These ships are seldom equipped with American weapons or, more importantly, compatible ammunition. For this reason, American troops aboard these ships are generally equipped with foreign weapons. Aboard French vessels, FAM-90s are most commonly used; aboard German vessels, SK-19s are common, and so on.
However, most marines do not serve on foreign vessels. Instead, they are based in America or on American colonies and ships. Standard weapons for these personnel are American-issue equipment. Most are of American design and manufacture, some are based on foreign designs, and others are actually foreign-made weapons purchased by the American government for issue to its troops. An example of this is the French designed and manufactured FTE-10 gauss rifle which is used by American forces under the designation M-10. The following is a list of standard issue weapons for American marines.
The M-4 is an American-designed gauss rifle which, along with the M-5, replaced the M-2 as the standard infantry weapon of the American army and later the marines. The M-4 uses the same ammunition and clips as the French FAM-90. However, the M-4 has a replaceable energy cell located in the stock of the weapon which serves to supplement the ammo clip energy cell. This was done because many ammo clips were found to have defective energy cells, were losing their charge, or were accidentally shorting out too often. The stock-mounted battery has enough charge to fire one "dead" clip of 60 rounds. Power is routed automatically as needed. The M-4 ammo clip failure rate has dropped to tolerable levels, but the auxiliary battery unit is still kept fresh, just in case.
Additionally, a small switch will set the rifle to boost the muzzle velocity to 1600 mps. A fresh energy cell in the rifle will boost up to two fully charged clips.
Type: 4.5mm gauss rifle with integral 30mm grenade launcher; Country: USA; Mass ( Empty): 4 kg; Length: 73cm ( Bulk=2); Action: Single shot or bursts; Ammunition: 4.3 x 20mm flechette; Muzzle Velocity: 1300 mps ( 1600 mps boosted); Magazine: 60-round box magazine with integral power cell; Magazine mass: 0.3 kg; ROF: 3; Aimed Fire Range: 750 m ( 850 m boosted); Area Fire Burst: 10 ( AFV=1); Area Fire Range: 450 m ( 500 m boosted); DP Value: 0.5 ( 0.6 boosted); Price: Lv380 ( Lv2 for 60-round disposable magazine, Lv1 for stock power cell).
The M-57 is the military version of the Traylor Model 57 pistol. The military version is slightly heavier and more rugged than the civilian model. The M-57 is standard issue to field grade officers, medics, and vehicle crews. Also, although not standard issue for combat troops, many carry them as a backup weapon in case of emergency. The statistics for this weapon are the same as those for the civilian version listed in the 2300 AD rules. The one exception is that the mass of the military model is 0.7 kilograms.
The M-103 is a team-support weapon designed for a high rate of fire and high stopping power. The weapon can be fired in a number of configurations. The simplest is the standard bipod mount. A high-mobility mount is also available and issued to all marine teams. The high-mobility mount has a recoil- and vibration-absorbing harness which the gunner wears around his torso. The harness has a flexible mounting arm which helps the wearer carry and wield the weapon. The third mount is a standard tripod which stabilizes the weapon, giving it a greater effective range ( although this reduces its portability). Finally, the weapon can be vehicle mounted, giving it the same accuracy as the tripod mount, but providing higher mobility.
Type: Conventional machinegun; Country: USA; Mass ( Empty): 5 kg; Length: 109cm ( Bulk = 3); Action: Single shot or bursts; Ammunition: 5.5 x 35mm fixed cartridge ball; Muzzle Velocity: 1100 mps; Magazine: 100-round cassette or 50-round drum; Magazine mass: 0.5kg ( drum), 0.7 kg ( cassette); ROF: 3; Aimed Fire Range: 700 m; Area Fire Burst: 20 ( AFV = 2); Area Fire Range: 480 m; DP Value: 0.6; Price: Lv920 ( Lv2 for box of 100 rounds, Lv5 for empty drum or cassette).
The M-10 is a sniper rifle of French design, the original designation being FTE-13. The characteristically long gauss rifle is used by two-man marine sniper teams. The weapon is as described in the 2300 AD rules book with no modifications made.
The M-41 is a special, silenced version of the M-4 rifle. The weapon is slightly heavier than a standard M-4 and is incapable of fully automatic or burst fire, The M-41 does possess the underslung 30mm grenade launcher, but that unit is not silenced.
Type: 4.5mm gauss rifle with integral 30mm grenade launcher; Country: USA; Mass ( Empty): 4.5 kg; Length: 76 cm ( Bulk = 2); Action: Single-shot; Ammunition: 4.5 x 20mm flechette; Muzzle Velocity: 1500 mps; Magazine: 60-round box magazine with integral power cell; Magazine Mass: 0.3 kg; ROF: 3; Aimed Fire Range: 750 m; Area Fire Burst: 3 ( AFV = 0.25); Area Fire Range: 420 m; DP Value: 0.4; Price: Lv400 ( Lv2 for 60-round disposable magazine, Lv1 for stock power cell).
This heavy, man-portable plasma gun is a key weapon which is issued, as necessary, by the marine platoon leader. In most cases, these are supplied one per squad. In some situations, the weapon is mounted on an APC, often in direct support of the marine squad. The weapon is as described in the 2300 AD rules. When it is vehicle mounted, the weapon can be fitted with a special ammo-loading mechanism which will continually feed the weapon from a 100-round box magazine.
The Javelin is a squad-level antiarmor missile. The shoulder-fired missile is based on the French Blindicide-3. Although the French weapon is now considered obsolete, the improvements in the Javelin and its relatively low cost make it an affordable, light antivehicle weapon.
Type: Hand-carried light antivehicle; Country: USA; Launcher Mass: 14 kg; Missile Mass: 3 kg; Range: 1100 m; Guidance: Automatic following gunner lock-on; Homing Value: 13; Attack Angle: Overhead; DPV: As tamped explosion ( EP = 25); Launcher Price: Lvl500; Missile Price: Lv1300.
The Stiletto is a shoulder-fired light air defense missile. The weapon is deployed at the battalion level with two Stiletto sections per marine weapons company. The weapon is showing signs of its age and is quickly becoming obsolete. The marine corps is now looking for a good replacement for the Stiletto, and is considering the French Guiscard Martel. However, initial procurement is a minimum of four years away, so the Stiletto will still be in use for a while yet.
Type: Shoulder-fired light air defense missile; Country:
USA; Launcher Mass: 8 kg; Missile Mass: 2 kg; Range:
5000 m; Guidance: Automatic following gunner lock-on; Homing
Value: 20; Attack Angle: Direct; DPV: As tamped explosion
( EP=3); Launcher Price: Lv15,000; Missile Price: Lv6000.
-Clare W. Hess
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