SEAPOWER
Volume 52, Number 9, September 2009
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NAVY LEAGUE OF THE UNITED STATES
www.navyleague.org
DEPARTMENTS
3 President’s Message
4 Editor’s Note
7 Intercepts
46 Program Snapshot
49 Historical Perspective
54 Navy League News
SPECIAL REPORT:
U.S. MARINE CORPS
While Marine Corps leaders strategize on how to return the service to its
naval expeditionary roots, they must address the practical matters of the continuing land wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Corps is modifying its Mine
Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles for the rugged terrain in Afghanistan
and arming a number of KC-130J tanker/transport aircraft for direct air support roles. It also is adapting personal armor policies to allow small unit commanders to match the level of protection to the tactical situation so troops are
not carrying unnecessary extra weight.
56 Council Digest
22 Frugal Marines Opt to Tweak Some MRAPs for Afghanistan
BY OTTO KREISHER
6 Washington Report:
VH-71 presidential
helicopter is bait for
defense budget veto
26 Battalion Commanders Can Tailor Personal Armor to Mission, Threat
BY OTTO KREISHER
30 Some KC-130Js To Be Armed for Direct Air Support
BY RICHARD R. BURGESS
34 Combat Convoy Simulators Offer Realistic Virtual Training
BY JOHN C. MARCARIO
FEATURES
3 Where Are the Carriers?
BY J. MICHAEL McGRATH
12 MARAD Program Aims to Ease War Risk Insurance Burden
BY DAISY R. KHALIFA
18 Navy Increases Capacity, Capability of Amphibious Ships
BY ROXANA TIRON
40 Studies Begin of Successor to Aegis Combat System
BY RICHARD R. BURGESS
64
44 Cooperation is Key to Patrolling U.S.-Canada Border
BY JOHN C. MARCARIO
64 In My Own Words
BY CHARLOTTE BART
U.S. COAST GUARD WOMEN’S RESERVE
FEBRUARY 1944 – APRIL 1946
COVER PHOTO OF MARINES WITH SIERRA BATTERY, BATTALION LANDING TEAM, 3RD BATTALION, 2ND MARINE REGIMENT, 22ND MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT, FIRING AN M777
HOWITZER DURING A THEATER SECURITY COOPERATION EXERCISE IN THE U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY BY LANCE CPL. DAVID CASTILLO. COVER DESIGN
BY AMY BILLINGHAM, PENSARÉ DESIGN GROUP LTD.
