Marine Detachments?

[Snake]

In the USN, what classes of Ship are assigned Marine Detachments(MARDET's)? I know CVN's do, and BB's used to. This isnt counting amphib assault ships. I believe the Royal navy has Marine Commando's on just about every one of its surface combatants. Why dont we?

Snake
25th ID(L)

[pn]

I have heard that the Navy ships are starting to take care of their own security, freeing up Marines to do other things. In fact, the ship descriptions at
http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/factfile/
ffiletop.html

indicate that amphibious vessels are the only ones with Marine detachments.

What do MARDETs do on ships without amphibious lift capability(other than pull security)?

My $.02 is that they're better used when they're training to kick a whole lot of ass or carrying out the same.

[Snake]

What would they do? Boarding Ops, my man!
Get back to the origin of the Marines.
And instruct the Swabs in how to disassemble other human beings.

Snake

[Squidly]

At one time Marines were also stationed aboard submarine tenders that carried nuclear weapons as the Nuclear Weapons Security Team. Don't know if this is still true. Woe be to the sailor who didn't stand fast during a NWS drill!

[Mike]

The Sea Soldiers were phased out. All the MARDETs were attached to the MCSF. There were a couple of articles in Leatherneck magazine (of the Marine Corps Association) and Marine (fancy glossy magazine from HQ USMC) the last 2-3 years on it.

[Dominique]

The MARDETs went the way of the Do Do a couple of years ago and the MSFB used the slots to form 2nd FAST at NWS, Yorktown.

To fill the gap the Navy uses ship board personnel lead by rated MAs to form a security det. They are supposed to attend a security school at one of the EWTGs.

From what I read though the main problem is everytime the security officer (usually a 1st class or chief) starts to get his people trained they get rotated to shore duty.

The Marines also deploy one of the FAST platoons on a six month deployments just in case every thing really goes to hell, and the Navy security teams need back up.

[grunt0311]

As a former member of the Marine Security Forces and one who trained a many squid, I can tell you that the Navy is hurtin. All MARDETS were phased out. I guess the squids got tired of getting trampled in the passage ways during alerts. Security of ships was the first mission of the Corps and I guess we wore out our welcome. "terrorists have their strong arm tactics. Marine Security has theirs."