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51-565: MEU may refer to: Marine Expeditionary Unit , a military task force Model European Union , a politics education exercise A Dictionary of Modern English Usage , the style guide by H.W. Fowler (or any of its posthumous editions) meu , ISO 639-3 code for the Motu language Middle East University , a Christian university in Lebanon See also [ edit ] Meu Topics referred to by

102-596: A headquarters section . The total strength is approximately 350 members, including Navy sailors. The aviation combat element ( ACE ) is a USMC composite squadron (reinforced) composed of a medium tiltrotor squadron augmented with detachments of heavy, light, and attack helicopters, one detachment of amphibious flight-deck- capable jets, and a Marine air control group detachment with tactical air command, air traffic control , direct air support , and anti-aircraft assets, as well as wing headquarters, wing communications, and wing support squadron personnel. Total strength

153-533: A $ 1 million prize to a team in the Fast Adaptable Next-Generation Ground Vehicle (FANG) contest. The team beat out 1,000 other competitors to submit their design for a drivetrain for the ACV. The FANG initiative was to demonstrate a way to procure working systems better than the current defense acquisition process, which frequently leads to delays and cost overruns. The Marines are in charge of

204-443: A 3-man crew and two vehicles will carry a reinforced rifle squad. Armament will consist of an M2 .50-caliber machine gun in a remote weapons station , with the potential to install a stabilized dual-mount M2/ Mark 19 grenade launcher turret. Potential water speeds are for a 12 nmi (14 mi; 22 km) ship-to-shore capability, at 8 kn (15 km/h). The second phase is the original high-water-speed effort to develop

255-485: A cohesive, flexible, and powerful force. The work-up period includes training in many combat and noncombat skills, to include: Exercises conducted during the work-up period can include: Deployment : Following the work-up period, the MEU deploys for six months in support of geographic combatant commanders . During this time, the MEU is a forward-deployed, self-sustaining force that combatant commanders can direct to accomplish

306-469: A mission. Deployments on U.S. Navy amphibious assault ships allows MEUs to seabase around the globe, ready for deployment at short notice. A typical MEU has approximately 2,200 members, including navy sailors. It is equipped with: Many types of equipment are, or will soon, undergo a transitory phase as they are replaced. Some examples include the Amphibious Combat Vehicle replacing

357-582: A non-self deploying vehicle in the ACV 1.1 and then a fully amphibious vehicle in ACV 1.2. The question remains if the Marines are still interested in procuring a high speed connector vehicle after merging ACV 1.1 and 1.2. In May 2018 a former Marine officer, Jeff Groom, published an article concerning the ACV. Both BAE System's and SAIC's ACV 1.1 test vehicles could self-deploy and swim from a ship, in contradiction to General Dunford's testimony in March 2015. However, there

408-602: A payload of 3.30 t (7,300 lb). It is equipped with a Kongsberg RT-20 remote turret using the Mk44 Bushmaster II (XM813) chain gun, with a calibre of 30×173mm . In August 2022, the USMC awarded BAE System with a contract to manufacture multiple production-ready test vehicles (PRTV) for US$ 88 million. The ACV-R is the recovery variant of the ACV This variant provides field maintenance, recovery, and repair capabilities to

459-424: A single vehicle. Given that the winner of phase 1.1 will likely be awarded the 1.2 contract, industry is already planning to make their submissions meet the later requirements early. The main differences between the phases is the 1.2's greater self-deploying capability and more seating capacity. Merging the two phases to meet higher requirements earlier could speed up the acquisition timeline and drive down price, since

510-404: A solution to getting Marines to shore, from over the horizon, at something greater than seven knots (8 mph)," the swimming speed of the existing Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) and its Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) replacement. Continuing, he said "we must find a high-water-speed vehicle on the surface. We must." The Deputy Commandant's statements seemly contradict the phased approach to having

561-413: A top requirement, even at the cost of troop carrying capacity. The ACV must be able to self-deploy from an amphibious assault ship at least 12 miles from shore with 17 Marines aboard. It has to be able to travel 8 knots or faster through seas with waves up to three feet. Initially, the objective of the USMC was to order 1,122 vehicles. As of March 2023, the objective is to procure 632 vehicles. Given

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612-524: A variety of special operations and conventional missions. The missions may include: West Coast MEUs fall under I Marine Expeditionary Force , and their main area of operations includes the western Pacific and Indian oceans (to include the Persian Gulf ). East Coast MEUs fall under II Marine Expeditionary Force and maintain presence in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea . The 31st MEU

663-620: A vehicle capable of self-deployment from ships, and travel at speeds of 13–15 kn (24–28 km/h) on water, each costing $ 12–$ 14 million. This last phase of ACV procurement would be purchasing a high-water-speed vehicle, but only if technologies make it achievable without sacrificing armor and weapons. A Request For Information (RFI) was issued to industry in February 2011. The document outlined expected requirements and asked industry for informal design proposals and program methodology feedback. Responses were due by 22 April 2011. An industry day

714-489: Is "good enough" to operate. Its water performance will be comparable to the AAV and will have survivability attributes of a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, including high-ground clearance and a V-shaped hull , with the ability to drive with a wheel blown off. For the second lot buy (1.2), engineering and design changes will be made to meet roughly half of desired amphibious vehicle fleet size requirements. The ACV 1.1

765-628: Is about 200 members, including Navy sailors. Recently, MEUs have been deployed within an expeditionary strike group (ESG) in the Mediterranean , the Western Pacific , and periodically, the Atlantic and Indian Oceans . An ESG is typically composed of three amphibious ships that embark the necessary troops and equipment and are escorted by a guided missile cruiser (CG) and guided missile destroyers (DDG) and submarine ( SSN ) support. Before

816-504: Is apparently no longer a need for speed on water as both test vehicles move through the water at 7 knots using traditional water propellers, the same speed as the legacy 1970s AAV. The article questioned the acquisition decision of a vehicle that swims at the same speed as the vehicle it replaces, carries fewer troops and is more expensive. On 24 November 2015, the Marines selected the BAE Systems and Iveco with Iveco SuperAV vehicle and

867-867: Is approximately 600 troops. The logistics combat element ( LCE ) (formerly combat service support element or CSSE ) is based on the MEU combat logistics battalion (CLB) (formerly MEU service support group or MSSG ). It contains all the logistics specialists and equipment necessary for the MEU to support and sustain itself for up to 15 days in an austere expeditionary environment. It includes service support (postal and disbursing), medical , dental , intermediate maintenance, intermediate supply (consumables and secondary reparable), transportation (distribution and landing support), explosive ordnance disposal , utilities production and distribution, bulk fuels, internal communications, and various other technical experts. It consists of approximately 300 members, including Navy sailors. The command element ( CE ), which includes

918-524: Is designed to thoroughly exploit the combat power inherent in air and ground assets by closely integrating them into a single force. The MEU brings all the supplies and logistical support it needs to sustain itself for quick mission accomplishment or to prepare the way for follow-up forces. This self-sustainment allows more flexibility in disposition and operations of forces, and allows the MEU to initiate operations sooner and let support catch up later, without having to wait for external logistical support to begin

969-411: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Marine Expeditionary Unit A MEU normally is composed of Troop strength of a MEU is about 2,200 (normal and peacetime) to 4,400 (mobilization and wartime). A MEU is usually commanded by a colonel , and is deployed from amphibious assault ships . Currently, a MEU embarks personnel and equipment on

1020-535: Is made of what was initially, the ACV 1.1 and ACV 1.2. Both generations were merged to make a common basis for various variants in January 2019. The ACV-C is the command and control variant of the ACV vehicle.This variant provides a modernised, armour protected tactical echelon command post for the regiment or battalion. The first production vehicle of this variant was delivered in January 2024. It has an AAO (approved acquisition objective) of 33 vehicles. The ACV-P

1071-524: Is the only permanently forward-deployed MEU, maintaining a presence in the Pacific Ocean at all times as part of III Marine Expeditionary Force . Amphibious Combat Vehicle The Amphibious Combat Vehicle ( ACV ) is a program initiated by Marine Corps Systems Command to procure an amphibious assault vehicle for the United States Marine Corps to supplement and ultimately replace

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1122-670: Is the personnel carrier of the ACV vehicle.It can carry three crew members with 13 Marines and two days of combat equipment and supplies. It has an AAO (approved acquisition objective) of 390 vehicles, it reached its IOC in 2020. The ACV-30 is the Infantry Fighting variant of the ACV vehicle. It mounts a stabilised, medium-calibre weapon system to provide lethality and protection the Marines need while leaving ample room for troop capacity and payload. 175 of those vehicles are planned, with an Initial Operational Capability set for 2026. This variant weight 35 t (77,000 lb), and has

1173-545: Is to carry 10–13 Marines, have a swim capability similar to the AAV and have equal or greater mobility to the M1 Abrams tank. Although tracks are traditionally considered better for all-terrain mobility, the Marines believe wheeled vehicle technology has advanced enough to enhance survivability and mobility in a 35-ton-class platform. The Marine Personnel Carrier technology demonstrator used "in-line" drive technology that enabled all four wheels on each side to pull together much like

1224-556: The SAIC Terrex vehicle to move on to the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase of the ACV 1.1 program, beating out the vehicles from Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and Advanced Defense Vehicle Systems. The Marine Corps valued swim operations, land operations, carrying capability and force protection equally in the selection process, but the two winners were chosen for emphasis focused on amphibious swim capability since

1275-458: The amphibious warfare ships of an expeditionary strike group (ESG), which also includes escort warships and submarines to protect them from air, surface, and submarine threats. For further protection and strong air support, an ESG is often deployed along with one or more carrier strike groups . The MEU is unique in that its air and ground combat elements are combined with a logistics combat element under one commander; other services do not unite

1326-692: The AAV-7, the F-35 Lightning II replacing the AV-8B Harrier, and the CH-53K King Stallion replacing the CH-53E . The ground combat element ( GCE ) is based on the battalion landing team ( BLT ), an infantry battalion reinforced with an artillery battery , amphibious assault vehicle platoon, combat engineer platoon, light armored reconnaissance company, reconnaissance platoon, and other units as

1377-451: The ACV is "fundamentally an amphibious vehicle". Each company was awarded a contract to build 16 vehicles by late 2016, 13 initially and three more when funding becomes available, with testing beginning in early 2017 and lasting one year. A winner is planned to be selected in 2018 to build 204 vehicles, with the first entering service in 2020 and all delivered by 2023. In June 2018, the BAE design

1428-586: The ACV program, so there was no guarantee that the DARPA-crowdsourced mobility drivetrain would result in a vehicle bought by the Corps. At a roundtable discussion in June 2013, Marine Corps General Jim Amos told the media that the program was still being pursued and that a Request For Proposals (RFP) would be issued in early 2014. The Corps has secured and saved a "moderate amount" of money for early development. With

1479-611: The ACV's remote turret went to Kongsberg Defence Systems with the Protector RT20 . A January 2021 report from the Department of Defense's Director of Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E) pointed to several problems with the ACV, including cramped quarters, difficult egress and frequent breakdown. In August 2022, the U.S. Marine Corps awarded BAE Systems an $ 88 million contract to build multiple ACV-30 Production Representative Test Vehicles (PRTVs). The ACV Family of Vehicles

1530-454: The ESG, MEUs were typically deployed as part of an amphibious ready group (ARG). MEUs maintain their subordinate elements in fifteen month cycles: nine months stateside (with six set aside for training), and a six-month deployment aboard ship. These cycles ensure that at least two of the seven MEUs are deployed forward at any given time. Interim or buildup period : Upon completion of a deployment,

1581-423: The MEU commander and his supporting staff , provides command and control over the other three elements. It includes specialized detachments for air naval gunfire liaison , reconnaissance , surveillance , specialized communications, radio reconnaissance ( SIGINT ), electronic warfare , Marine Corps Intelligence and counterintelligence , law enforcement , and public affairs missions. The overall strength

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1632-409: The MEU remains "special operations capable" for approximately one month, prepared to respond to events around the world. They are not, however, considered a special operations unit by the Department of Defense. The MEU then releases its major subordinate elements (MSEs), retaining only its command element. This period provides the command element a chance to rotate select personnel and begin planning for

1683-469: The addition of newly assigned MSEs and “work-up” training. When the MSEs are received, the MEU begins six months of intense pre-deployment training. Work-up period : Training during the six-month work-up period is often referred to as "crawl, walk, run". Marines and sailors progress through curriculum and exercises that teach individual, small unit, and unit tactics while integrating the separate MEU elements into

1734-484: The aging Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV). The program replaces the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) program canceled in 2011. Originally a plan to develop a high-water-speed vehicle, the program has expanded into a multi-phased approach to procure and develop several types of amphibious-capable vehicles to address near and long-term requirements. The competition for the project ended in 2018 with

1785-612: The assault amphibian (AA) companies and battalion in support of the Marine division. The contract for the design and development of this variant was signed in March 2022 for US$ 34.9 million. In April 2024, received a contract to build and deliver production representative test vehicles (PRTV) of the ACV-R for US$ 79 million. This variant is developed by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works ® . It is equipped with LM Stalker and Indago small UAS. This variant

1836-562: The birth of an eight-wheel drive armoured fighting vehicle , based on the Italian Iveco SuperAV . Production by BAE Systems and Iveco started in 2020 with 36 units, and 80 vehicles per year from 2021, for five years. The ACV should have countermeasures able to contend with a full range of direct fire, indirect fire and land mine threats. Visible and thermal signature reduction technologies will be used. Modular protection can be applied as necessary. The vehicle must have

1887-407: The budget environment and the technological challenges involved, the ACV program was split into two separate phases. The first phase is for immediate upgrade to existing equipment types while testing and trying out new concepts. The second phase is to develop then field a single, ultimate vehicle using new technology and the lessons learned operating the improved vehicles to replace the equipment from

1938-560: The capability to transition from water to ground operations without tactical pause. It must be able to maneuver with the M1A1 Abrams in a mechanized task force. It must have the capability to destroy combat vehicles similar to itself. Weapons must have sufficient range to engage targets from a standoff distance . Weapons will apply precision fire from a stabilized system. It must provide direct fire support for dismounted infantry in an attack. The Marine Corps identified speed on water as

1989-552: The command of air and ground forces until much higher command levels. The MEU's ground combat element also combines artillery , light armor , and tanks at a much lower level than was common in the Army until the development of the brigade combat team early in the War on Terror , with a similar concept, the combat command , being utilized in World War II . This air-ground task force concept

2040-516: The first phase. The first phase, will consist of several hundred, commercial off-the-shelf wheeled armored vehicles, each costing $ 3–$ 4.5 million. It will rely on connectors to get it from ship-to-shore, like the Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) and Joint High Speed Vessel . Relying on connectors to bring the vehicle to a beach allows the sea base to be located 100 miles from enemy threats. The less ambitious Phase 1 ACV will be fielded in

2091-517: The interim, while research and development will begin to refine the features of the Phase 2 ACV. Phase 1.1, the first increment of Phase 1 of procurement, will buy wheeled personnel carriers. Phase 1.2, the second increment of Phase 1, will include mission-role variants like command-and-control, logistics and weapons variants. These iterations may reintroduce tracks or stay wheeled. ACV 1.1 vehicles will be an operational and commercially available design that

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2142-462: The mission and circumstances require. The total strength is approximately 1,100 members, including Navy sailors. The Maritime Special Purpose Force is a subgroup of the MEU, formed for low-profile missions. The MSPF force consists of four elements: an assault platoon (a direct action platoon augmented from Force Recon ), a security platoon (a selected infantry platoon from the battalion landing team), reconnaissance and surveillance assets , and

2193-470: The platform. From July 9–11, 2013, 25 Marines gathered at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia for a Warfighter Requirements Workshop to review the team's capabilities analysis and determine the value of various capabilities. 30 requirements with cost and weight implications were considered "tradable," including armament and armor protection. Safety and design-specific capabilities, like fitting on an amphibious ship, were considered non-tradable. The point of

2244-602: The previous EFV cancelled from cost overruns, the Marines are being cautious to identify trade-offs between requirements and cost for the platform. Amos noted that they were working with contractors to see which type of vehicle would meet requirements without proving too costly. In January 2013, the ACV team was created and tasked to evaluate the feasibility of building an affordable, survivable amphibious high water speed vehicle. The team includes representatives from over six Department of Defense commands. Their initial requirements and engineering analysis evaluated 198 requirements for

2295-490: The quantities for both would be bought in bulk. The Marines released the final RFP for ACV 1.1 in March 2015. In July 2015, Lockheed Martin revealed it had ended its association with Finnish company Patria on their previous collaborative Havoc offering for the program. Lockheed unveiled their new ACV offering in September 2015. In October 2017 deputy Marine commandant Lt. Gen. Brian Beaudreault stated "We have to find

2346-403: The same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title MEU . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MEU&oldid=1140579613 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description

2397-557: The way a track does. This demonstrated ability when combined with a higher ground clearance and central tire inflation system, substantially closes the maneuverability gap for wheeled vehicles and results in equal or better maneuverability than the M1A1 and better performance over the AAV, both of which are tracked. Improved technology used to inform requirements to build ACV 1.2 vehicles will later be applied to delivered 1.1 versions to upgrade them to 1.2 standard. Each ACV 1.1 vehicle will have

2448-408: The workshop was to get input from fleet Marines about what capabilities they wanted to prioritize with current financial pressures. Over the next month, the team ordered the preferences and applied actual cost and weight data to determine feasibility recommendations for Marine Corps leaders by the fall. In March 2015, the Marines revealed that the separate ACV 1.1 and 1.2 increments may be merged into

2499-550: Was also tested with a land drone, the IAI/ELTA Rex MkII unmanned infantry combat support system. It aims at evaluating solutions for the Advanced Reconnaissance Program with a Government Off The Shelf (GOTS) solution. It focuses especially on the technological demonstration of the manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) capability. For this generation, it is planned as being a "true ship-to-shore connector", with

2550-590: Was held on 6 April 2011. In August 2012, General Dynamics was awarded an ACV Hull Survivability Demonstrator contract for the design, fabrication and test support of a full-scale hull to demonstrate crew-protection technologies. In November 2012, they conducted simulated mine-blast tests on their ACV ballistic hull design, successfully meeting mine-blast survivability requirements. Work concluded by May 2013 and will be used to refine requirements for effective protection against under-vehicle threats. In April 2013, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded

2601-609: Was selected, with an initial order of 30 ACVs. In June 2019, BAE Systems and Iveco were awarded a contract to develop Command and 30mm gun armed variants. In October 2020, Iveco announced that the first fleet of 18 ACVs had been delivered to a platoon of Marines after five years of testing development. In December 2020, the Marine Corps and BAE Systems announced the commencement of full-rate production, with an initial batch of 36, expected to grow to 72 in early 2021, with an option for 80 vehicles per year thereafter. The subcontract for

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