[Scatch Maroo]

I'm not looking to instigate an argument against who's better, and I'd rather avoid that altogether... however, when I read about the combat in Fallujah in the news, I most often read about the USMC doing the initial house-to-house/building-to-building searches. Is this because the USMC is often the first draft sent in, or is this because the media simply places a stronger emphasis on the Marine Core?

Perhaps the best question to ask is: regarding infantry units, who is involved more frequently in the initial invasion of territories, especially urban landscapes?

Scatch Maroo

 

[Yimmy]

re

There is a thread on the stratagy page forums (don't know if you have heard of them), discussin how poorly the Americans are doing in Falujha, and how on every news real they are making numerous mistakes in basic urban combat.

If anyone is interested I can post a link to the thread.

 

[mele]

To answer the question, its very much mission dependent. But the USMC is setup to be a quick reaction invasion force, but they lack the resources to occupy for a long period of time. Thats where the US Army comes in. Of course, the Army is so large that they have quick reaction forces also. The units in both forces vary so much, that its not possible to simply state one id globably better or different than the other.

MEL

 

[Scatch Maroo]

Re: re

There is a thread on the stratagy page forums (don't know if you have heard of them), discussin how poorly the Americans are doing in Falujha, and how on every news real they are making numerous mistakes in basic urban combat.

As important as the subject may be, it is completely irrelevant to the question.

Scatch Maroo

 

[muzzleblast]

I really could be wrong but I think its because thats primarily a Marine area, and most of the troops going in were Marines. Sounds like what started in Mosul (retaking) is mostly Army with only a few Marines.

 

[westpointranger]

It's pretty much accepted that the Marines are better than the Army. That doesn't just go for the US, either. Marines are more elite and highly trained, but I don't think that's the reason they were that primary force in Falujah.

There is a thread on the stratagy page forums (don't know if you have heard of them), discussin how poorly the Americans are doing in Falujha, and how on every news real they are making numerous mistakes in basic urban combat.

Ask any soldier in Falujah and they'll tell you that we're doing very well. Scratch is right, though. It is totally irrelavent.

I've been reading some back issues of the Army Times that an E4 gave me. The new Secratary of the Army is pushing for some VERY good changes in training and logistics. According to his plan, evey soldier will have rifle qual twice a year instead of once. They will also have to participate in a live-fire exercise every year. He's taking the slang "every Marine a rifleman first" and applying it to the Army, which is a VERY smart move.

 

[Yimmy]

Re: re

As important as the subject may be, it is completely irrelevant to the question.

Scatch Maroo

Of course it isn't, you asked who were better the marines or army, and mentioned the Iraqi town. I gave a source on the marines performance in the town...

 

[spade]

Re: re

As important as the subject may be, it is completely irrelevant to the question.

Scatch Maroo

Of course it isn't, you asked who were better the marines or army, and mentioned the Iraqi town. I gave a source on the marines performance in the town...

Actually he specifically said that he wanted to avoid discussing who was the better branch of service. He stated that he wanted to know who was more involved in urban combat.

 

[westpointranger]

Actually he specifically said that he wanted to avoid discussing who was the better branch of service. He stated that he wanted to know who was more involved in urban combat.

Oops.

 

[Jeffvn]

I'm not going to say one is better than the other. Whether one gets used first or not seems to be a decision by the president. Some seem to like the Marines, others prefer the Army. They tend to overlap in some missions, not so much in others. I don't think the Army has or wants an amphibious landing mission or skill set (Neither did I when I was in the Corps, as the first few waves toend to become cannon fodder and machinegun bullet magnets.)

On the urban front, I would certainly have said when I was in (76-80) that the Marines were a bit more familiar with that environment (we took significant casualties in Hue City and never forgot it) because we trained for it all the time. The only thing I know for sure is that in the urban areas, a smaller force can fight evenly with a significantly larger and better equipped force - its all about teh envirnonment you're fighting in.

Jeff

 

[muzzleblast]

ah, cool

I figured it was that some areas of the country are assigned to the marines, and others are army areas