why did the U.S. Marines (an amphibious force) fight in Afghanistan (a landlocked country)?
In: 3742
To sum up a *very* long story, there has been a culture and identity shift for the Marines since WW2 and over the years they basically became a second Army, as they didn’t want to be seen as irrelevant during the Cold War when large, conventional amphibious attacks weren’t a thing, especially not something you could build a whole branch around.
It worked out okay-ish during the GWOT, if a little redundant, but right now as the Pacific theater of operations is becoming a serious potential contender for the next “hot war” the Marines are actively trying to re-invent themselves into what they originally were. They shed all their tanks, invested a ton of money and training into light, amphibious equipment and tactics and are actively embracing their role as naval infantry.
Latest Answers