USMC Air

USMC Air Element

The US Marine Corps has an air Element that would rival most Air Forces around the world. With over 1300 airframes, half of which are fixed wing, and the remainder rotary wing, they can bring over 700 combat aircraft to battle, many more than most NATO allies or non-Soviet WP adversaries. All but the F/A-18s normally deploy on the various amphibious ships to form the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTAF) in direct support of the ground element in any landing or operation. The Squadrons are highly flexible often deploying on multiple ships or employing aircraft of other squadrons on independent missions.

F/A-18 Hornet. The F/A-18’s provide the USMC with an air attack capability as well as the option to conduct air superiority missions, although that is not their primary role. Hornets will normally operate from a land base but are often flown off of USN aircraft carriers, and routinely form part of a Carrier Air Wing (CAW). The USMC uses three types of the F/A-18, the ‘A’ variant in its VMFA Squadrons (Marine Fighter Attack) and the ‘D’ variant in its VMFA(AW) (Marine Fighter Attack – All Weather Capable), some newer F/A-18C(N) are starting to flow into the squadrons providing a single seat aircraft with night precision attack capability. The only major variation from history is that in Northern Fury all USMC Reserve Squadrons will receive the F/A-18A, these are ‘hand-me-downs’ from the USN which are all transitioning to the ‘C’ variant early after the demise of the A-6E. With this change in effect, all but one of them have received their aircraft but five of those are still going through conversion training. All F/A-18 Sqns have 12 aircraft except VMFAT-101, the training Sqn which has 30 airframes.

F/A-18D from VMFA(AW)-225 ‘Vikings’

AV-8B Harrier II/II+: The USMC is the only service in the US which uses the Harrier and has done so since 1968. The current version is the Harrier II+ which will eventually equip six Sqns, however only 4 have this version at the moment (this is a more rapid transition than historical). The key improvement between the Harrier II and the II+ is the provision of the AN/APG-65 Radar allowing the use of the AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-120 AMRAAM air to air missiles. The Harriers primary mission is to fly off the LHD/LHA ships in support of Marine ground units ashore. The TAV variant is a two seat trainer, solely for use in conversion training

Two USMC AV-8B Harrier II loaded with AGM-65 Maverick, AIM-9 Sidewinder and GBU-16s

EA-6B: The USMC uses the same Electronic Warfare (EW) aircraft as the USN. The EA-6B Sqns are mostly located at MCAS Cherry Point NC but operate detachments around the world when required.

EA-6B from VMAQ-2 ‘Panthers’

OV-10D: Although the OV-10 Bronco was supposed to be retiring in 1995, but there was nothing available to replace them so the increased tension meant that they were retained. Keeping the Broncos frees up other resources such as Harriers and USAF A-10s to focus on major threat areas while the OV-10s look after the low intensity Counter Insurgency (COIN) conflicts, primarily in Central America. Of the 130 originally produced for the USMC, 51 remain.

OV-10D Observation and light attack aircraft

KC-130: The USMC uses the venerable C-130 Hercules almost exclusively in the ‘Tanker’ role, light tactical transport is also conducted but they rely on the USN and USAF to provide surge tactical transport as required. Pilot and crew training is also conducted with the USAF, although specific air to air refuelling and currency training is conducted by VMGRT-253. Because of the deployed nature of USMC forces there is a need for deployed KC-130 elements throughout the globe to support Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG) and other elements – this support is almost always provided by VMGR-252 which usually has between 10 and 20 KC-130s deployed. Three versions of the ‘Hurc’ are in use; legacy KC-130F which date from the 1960’s, improved KC-130R and the latest KC-130T with updated avionics.

KC-130F from VMGR-252 ‘Otis’ refuelling CH-53E’s

AH-1W: The ‘Whiskey Cobra’. The Cobra has been key to USMC ground support since early in the Viet Nam war, the ‘Whiskey’ is the standard version used in 1994, it is night capable and able to fire either 8x TOW or Hellfire missiles.

UH-1N: Twin Huey. HMLA (Marine Helicopter Light Attack) Sqns are equipped with both the Whiskey Cobra and the UH-1N Huey. These two aircraft work together to provide ground support with the Huey conducting reconnaissance and observation while the Cobra maneuvers to the best engagement position before exposing itself. In the USMC Reserve each Sqn is equipped with a single aircraft type but they are grouped for operations.

AH-1W ‘Whiskey Cobra’ UH-1N ‘Twin Huey’

CH-46E: ‘Sea Knight’. Known as ‘Phrogs’ these twin rotor workhorses are the standard medium lift helicopter in the USMC. They can carry 24 fully loaded Marines with their combat equipment or 2.5 tons of cargo either internally or slung underneath. Additionally, they are often configured for Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), or Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) missions where they can carry 15 stretchers. An upgrade program to extend the range of the ‘Sea Knight’ is ongoing and most Squadrons have at least 2-4 of these upgraded ‘Phrogs’.

CH-46E from HMM-268 ‘Red Dragons’ picks up a slung load.

CH-53: In 1994 the USMC flew both the CH-53D ‘Sea Stallion’ and the CH-53E ‘Super Stallion’. These aircraft provide heavy lift needed to deploy Marine ground elements quickly onto the battlefield with the combat power needed to win the day. The ‘Sea Stallion’ is one of the fastest helicopters in the world even when carrying a heavy load. The ‘Super Stallion’ in addition to keeping the speed of the earlier model is one of the largest helicopters in the world.

CH-53E taking off from an LHD (Wasp Class)