Maritime Special Purpose Force

The United States Marine Corps' Maritime Special Purpose Force, or MSPF, are a unique specialized sub-unit that are drawn from the Marine Expeditionary Units' (MEU) major subordinate elements. They are special operations capable forces deployed to give the commanders low profile, two-platoon surgical emplacement in the accessible littoral regions. The MSPF provides the enhanced operational capability and precision skills to complement, enable, and execute selected conventional, maritime special operations. They can also perform operations not resident in traditional amphibious raid companies.

The MSPF provides the MEUs in rapid direct action capabilities, to augmenting or replace the unavailable Force Reconnaissance, or Force Recon, platoons. It enables the Marine Corps's only deep recon unit, Force Recon, to continue providing FMF-level reconnaissance without delay. They are also responsible for in extremis hostage rescue (IHR) in urban areas, a task removed from Force Recon.

The MSPF cannot operate independently of its parent MEU, on which it relies for logistics, intelligence, communications, transportation, and fire support. However, they are capable of conducting operations with, or in support of the operators of the United States special operations forces. The MSPF's task organization are often conformed as an addition of the Amphibious Ready Group’s Naval Special Warfare Task Unit detachment.^[1]

Two U.S. Marines of the MSPF operating a Diver Propulsion Device (DPD) - Manufactured by STIDD Systems — used for stealthy approaches. [circa 1999]

Organization

The Maritime Special Purpose Force contains a command element, security element, assault element, and support element. The security element consists of one or more reinforced rifle platoons. The assault element is organized to conduct on-scene command, assault, security, and support functions. The support element is organized to conduct reconnaissance and surveillance, sniper control and support, counter-intelligence, human intelligence (HUMINT), signals intelligence/electronic warfare (SIGINT/EW), and close air support.^[2][1]

Command Element

The commander of the MSPF are designated by the MEU(SOC) commander. The command and control remains with the MEU(SOC) Commander.

• Commander, MSPF
• Team(s), Communications Detachment
• Team(s), Human Exploitation Team (HET)
• Team(s), Medical Section^[1]
• Team(s), Intelligence section from MEU(SOC)

Security Element

The security element is normally structured around a platoon provided by the Battalion Landing Team (BLT) and may be augmented by the Naval Special Warfare Task Units (NSWTU) embarked within the Amphibious Ready Group. The security element will act as a reinforcing unit, a support unit, a diversionary unit, or an extraction unit.

• Rifle Platoon (-) (reinforced)
• Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) Strike Platoon, NSWTU, Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) (as required)^[1]

Assault Element (AE)

The AE is the main effort of the MSPF and is organized to perform assault, explosive breaching, internal security, and sniper functions. The assault function will normally be executed by the Force Recon detachment. Mission-specific augmentation (e.g., additional sniper support, specialized demolitions, explosive ordnance disposal, signals intelligence/electronic warfare (SIGINT/EW), etc.) will be provided from other MEU(SOC) assets or from the NSWTU embarked with the ARG.

• Detachment, Force Recon Direct Action Platoon (DAP)
• Team(s), Security
• Team, Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Detachment
• Team(s), Combat Photo Detachment^[1]

Support Element

The support element normally is composed of assets from the BLT Reconnaissance Platoon and Scout Sniper Platoon (R&S/sniper support) coupled with elements of the Aviation Combat Element (ACE), Radio Battalion Detachment, Communications Detachment, and HET assets from the MEU(SOC) CE. Additional capability may be provided by the NSWTU embarked with the Amphibious Ready Group.

• Team(s), Reconnaissance and Scout Sniper Platoons
• Team(s), Communications Detachment
• Team(s), Radio Battalion Detachment
• Team(s), HET Detachment
• NSWTU, PHIBRON (as required)^[1]
• Aviation Support Element

The aviation support element is a task organized portion of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force's MEU Aviation Combat Element. They are capable of precise night vision flying and navigation, various insertion/extraction means and forward arming and refueling point operations. The specific structure of the aviation support element will vary depending on the lift requirements and distance to the crisis site.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Bedard, E. R. (2001-09-25) (PDF). Marine Corps Order (MCO) 3120.9B, Policy for Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). Washington, D.C.: United States Department of the Navy. pp. 13–15. http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/pp&o/POE/POE-301/Documents/MCO%203120.9B.pdf. 
2. ^ Boomer, W. E. (1994-03-28). Marine Corps Order (MCO) 3120.9A, Policy for Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). Washington, D.C.: United States Department of the Navy. http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/usmc/mco3120-9.txt. 

External links

• Jones, T. S. (2001-01-10) (PDF). Marine Corps Order (MCO) 3502.3A, Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) Predeployment Training Program (MEU(SOC) PTP). Washington, D.C.: United States Department of the Navy. http://marines.mil/news/publications/Documents/MCO%203502.3A%20W%20ERRATUM.pdf.