The Answer is Always the Marine Corps, Now What Was the Question?

"With or without the LCS, when asked what capability is required to fight in the Littorals - the right answer will always be the Marine Corps."

I try to save all my email, and that is a quote from an email sent to me in early November 2008, before I was embarked on FREEDOM, from a Marine LtCol who insisted that is the most important lesson I would learn by riding on FREEDOM a few days. I thought of that quote when I read this article over at DoD Buzz discussing Chris Rawley's swarming boat scenario from earlier this morning.

Phil Ewing concludes implying the right answer to swarming threats might be the Marine Corps Cobra gunships. That suggests me that in 2011:

• The LCS is still a Powerpoint capability
• RW Squadrons need more articulate advocates
• Navy ships can never have enough guns, particularly on the bigger warships

The point is valid though. Of the three scenarios presented by Chris, none of them include a Marine Corps perspective. Back when the EFV was in its infancy, I distinctly remember suggestions the EFV and it's 30mm gun could blow up swarming boats as it moved from ship-to-shore. When I was at the EFV shop in San Diego earlier this year, I asked about that. When asked, the Marine SSgt looked at me and said (and I am quoting),

"The EFV is as fast as the LCS, shorter than a Boston Whaler, and surrounded in armor. Tell me how creative the Colonel is and I'll tell you what we can do."

So as I think about the question Chris proposed, I'm thinking that the price of 1 DDG-51 I'll take a LPD-17 with Romeos, Cobras, EFVs, and instead of LCACs or LCUs, I'll take CB-90s and the blue green team that makes this capability a blue/green/brown water nightmare for the enemy.