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The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for providing force projection from the sea,[2] using the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces and is one of seven uniformed services. Administratively within the Department of the Navy, operationally the U.S. Marine Corps acts as a separate branch of the military, often working closely with US Naval forces for training, transportation, and logistic purposes.

Seal of the United States Marine Corps

Organisation

Marine Expeditionary Units

The USMC has 12 Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU's) which are the principle amphibious assault forces of the USMC. It consists of a Ground Combat Element, Aviation Combat Element, Logistics Combat Element, and a Command Element.

MEU's are organised with Amphibious Assault Ships, other amphibious ships, and warships to form an Amphibious Strike Group. With its six Harriers, cruisers, destroyers, frigates, and supply ships, the ASG possesses all the combat power needed to launch strikes at land targets, including the ability to interdict enemy forces using Harriers and Tomahawk missiles.

Ground Combat Element

The Ground Combat Element (GCE) is based around the Battalion Landing Team (BLT), an infantry battalion reinforced with an artillery battery, Amphibious Assault Vehicle platoon, combat engineer platoon, light armored reconnaissance company, tank platoon, reconnaissance platoon, air defence platoon, anti-tank platoon, and other units as the mission and circumstances require. The total strength is approximately 1,200 members.

It has the following equipment:

4 M1A1 Abrams
8 M8 Buford
16 LAV-25
16 AAV-7
6 155mm howitzer: M198 or M777
4 M142 HIMARS High Mobility Artillery Rocket System
8 M252 81mm mortar
8 BGM-71 TOW
8 FGM-148 Javelin
8 FIM-92 Stinger
3 HUMRAAM launchers
1 HUMRAAM Fire Distribution Center
1 HUMRAAM Remote Terminal Unit
1 AN/MPQ-64 Radar

Extra units can be added depending on the situation.

Aviation Combat Element

The Aviation Combat Element (ACE) is a Marine Composite Squadron (Reinforced) composed of a Medium/Heavy Helicopter Squadron augmented with three other types of helicopters, one detachment of amphibious flight-deck-capable jets, and a Marine Air Control Group Detachment with air traffic control, direct air support, and anti-aircraft assets.

It has the following aircraft:

6 Boeing AV-8B Harrier II Plus
6 Bell AH-1W SuperCobra
4 Bell UH-1N TwinHuey
15 Sikorsky MH-92 Super Hawk
9 Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion
2 Lockheed Martin KC-130J Hercules

Logistics Combat Element

The Logistics Combat Element (LCE) (formerly Combat Service Support Element or CSSE) contains all the logistics specialists and equipment necessary for the unit to support itself for 15 days in an austere expeditionary environment. It includes service support, medical, dental, maintenance, transportation, explosive ordinance disposal, military police, utilities production and distribution, bulk fuels, and other technical experts. It consists of approximately 300 Marines and sailors. This element is occasionally referred to as the MEU Service Support Group (MSSG).

Command Element

The Command Element (CE), which includes the MEU commander and his supporting staff, provides command and control over the other three elements. It includes specialized detachments for naval gunfire, reconnaissance, surveillance, specialized communications, radio reconnaissance (SIGINT), electronic warfare, intelligence and counterintelligence, and public affairs missions. The overall strength is about 200 Marines and sailors.

Marine Aviation Units

Separate from the MEU's are squadrons operating F/A-18 Hornets, AV-8B Harriers, EA-6B Prowlers, KC-130 Hercules, and all other USMC aircraft not allocated to MEU's.

Marine Ground Units

Separate from the MEU's are various unattached units, particularly armour and artillery. These can be attached to MEU's as required, or provide personnel to replace losses in MEU's.

Special Operations

MCSOCOM Detachment One
- 2 Marine Special Operations Battalions (MSOB)
- Marine Special Operations Support Group (MSOSG)
- Marine Special Operations Advisor Group (MSOAG)
- Marine Special Operations School (MSOS)
Marine Force Recon
Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team

Marine Corps Security Guard

Marine Security Guards, also known as the MSG or Marine Embassy Guards, are a battalion of U.S. Marines that are posted at American Embassies, American Consulates and other official United States Government offices such as the US Interests Section, located in Havana, Cuba, the U.S. Office, located in Pristina, Kosovo, or the United States Mission to NATO located in Brussels, Belgium. Modern use of Marine Security Guards at Embassies started in 1948.

Equipment

Small Arms

Pistols

M9 9mm pistol
MEUSOC .45 cal pistol

Submachine Guns

HK MP5/MP5N 9mm submachine gun (Special Forces)
HK MP5SD3/5/6 9mm submachine gun (Special Forces)
HK MP5K/MP5K-N 9mm submachine gun (Special Forces)

Rifles

M16A2/A4 5.56mm rifle
- USMC Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle (SAM-R)
M14 7.62mm rifle
- USMC Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR)
M1 Garand Rifle .30'06 rifle (USMC Silent Drill Platoon)

Carbines

M4/M4A1 Carbine 5.56mm carbine
Mk 18 Mod 0 CQBR 5.56mm carbine (Special Forces)
Colt Model 723/725/727 5.56mm carbine (Special Forces)

Machine Guns

M249 5.56 mm Squad Automatic Weapon
M240G 7.62 mm Medium Machine Gun
M2 .50 Caliber Machine Gun
M60E3 7.62 mm Machine Gun (Special Operations)

Sniper Rifles

M40 7.62mm sniper rifle
Mk 11 Mod 0 7.62mm sniper rifle
M82 .50 BMG sniper rifle
M107 .50 BMG sniper rifle

Shotguns

Mossberg 500 & 590 12 gauge shotgun
M1014 12 gauge shotgun
KAC Masterkey 12 gauge shotgun (Special Forces)
Remington 870 12 gauge shotgun

Heavy Weapons

M203A1/A2 40mm grenade launcher
M32 40mm Multiple Grenade Launcher
M3 MAAWS 84mm recoilless rifle
M72 66mm rocket launcher
M136 AT4 84mm disposable rocket launcher
Mk 153 Mod 0 SMAW 83mm rocket launcher
M202A1 Flash (Flame Assault Shoulder Weapon)
FGM-172 SRAW anti tank missile
FGM-148 Javelin anti tank missile
FGM-153 Spike assault missile [1];[2]
FIM-92 Stinger surface to air missile

Combat Vehicles

Tanks

M1 Abrams
- M1A1 AIM
- M1 Grizzly Engineer Vehicle
- M104 Wolverine Heavy Assault Bridge [3]
- M105 Abrams Recovery Vehicle [4]
M8 Buford

Personnel Carriers

AAV-7A1 Amphibious Assault Vehicle
- AAVC-7A1 Amphibious Command Vehicle
- AAVR-7A1 Amphibious Recovery Vehicle
LAV-25
- LAV-25 armament/reconnaissance vehicle
- LAV-AT anti-tank TOW carrier
- LAV-M mortar carrier
- LAV-R recovery
- LAV-C2 command and control
- LAV-L logistics cargo carrier

Light Combat Vehicles

M1097 Avenger Air Defense System
M1099 HUMRAAM Air Defence System
Interim Fast Attack Vehicle
M44 E-FOGM Launch Unit [5]
M1097 Weasel Weapon Carrier [6]
- M1097 Weasel TOW Vehicle
- M1097 Ocelot Stinger Vehicle
- M1097 Ocelot Radar Vehicle
- M1097 Ocelot Command Vehicle
- M1097 Weasel Reconniassance Vehicle
- M1097 Weasel E-FOGM Launcher

Patrol Vehicles

Cougar H
Cougar HE
BAE Caiman
RG-31
Cheetah MMPV
RG-33
RG-33L
MaxxPro XL Mine Protected Vehicle (MPV)
Buffalo (mine protected vehicle)
Meerkat Mine Detection Vehicle (MDV)
Husky Metal Detecting and Marking Vehicle

Support/Engineering Vehicle

M93 Fox Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical reconnaissance vehicle
M9 Armored Combat Earthmover
M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle
M60A1 Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge
M88A2 Hercules Recovery Vehicle

Artillery

Mortars

M224 60 mm mortar
M252 81 mm mortar

Howitzers

M198 (155 mm Towed Howitzer)
M777 (155 mm Towed Howitzer)

Rocket Artillery

M142 HIMARS High Mobility Artillery Rocket System
- M26 Rocket
  - M26A1
  - M26A2
- M29 Rocket with Sense and Destroy Armor (SADARM)
- M30 Guided MLRS (GMLRS)
- M31 Guided MLRS (GMLRS)