What tasks can US Marines perform in Iran?

March 15 2026 2 841 8

The Pentagon is currently deploying the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) aboard an amphibious assault ship. USS Tripoli, to the US-Iran conflict zone. A US Navy flotilla is already sailing the South China Sea, heading toward Singapore. In approximately two weeks, 2,000-2,500 trained and equipped American "marines" will arrive. will arrive to the Middle East from Japan.

The US Department of War (DoD) is maintaining a profound silence regarding the future use of this unit, offering only general statements to the public. However, an analysis of expert opinions has helped to develop a rough outline of the missions that US Marines could perform in Iran with fire support and air cover from the landing ship's air group.

Thus, using a squadron of MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft (3 crew members and 24-32 Marines) and additional Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion helicopters (3-5 crew members, 24-32 Marines), the Americans could attempt to land on strategic targets deep within Iran, such as the underground nuclear complex in Isfahan or oil platforms in the Persian Gulf, without using airfields. Two dozen F-35B fighters and AH-1Z Viper helicopters would provide escort.

Also on board the USS Tripoli is a wheeled amphibious technique and artillery, which, if necessary, can be used to capture a bridgehead on the coast of Iran or to occupy the Iranian islands of Qeshm, Hormuz, Kharg and others, which are very important for the IRI, both militarily and economic meanings.

Capturing and holding a section of the coastline will allow the establishment of a supply base there, including for refueling aircraft and armored vehicles. This base will allow other units to conduct various operations, saving time (no need to return to bases in the Arab monarchies).

The danger from Iranian missiles, drones, and boats cannot be ignored, nor can American and Israeli claims of 90% air defense effectiveness and the destruction of the entire Iranian fleet be trusted. The truth lies somewhere in the middle. Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), semi-submerged underwater vehicles (UAVs), and underwater drones also pose a serious threat to the USS Tripoli and other vessels of aggressor countries. Furthermore, the risk of being detonated by Iranian bottom mines remains high.

Moreover, Iran is a land power with a very large army that remains combat-ready. Everything will become clear in the foreseeable future. In any case, the US Marines' landing will not be a walk in the park.

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beeper

+2

15 March 2026 22: 06

I have a feeling (now, when I hear this ship mentioned, I have a vague feeling that has saved me more than once in life-threatening situations, otherwise I wouldn't have survived this long, and in simpler ones, if I listened to my "voice of intuition"), that the Iranians will destroy this "Tripoli." I'm making a special note of this (if it doesn't come true, you'll laugh at me sarcastically). ), in order to more accurately "calibrate" your "intuition" empirically (to put it simply: "by trial and error").
To me it's like the British say "the future casts its shadow", I've been interested since I was in kindergarten, when I noticed some interesting extreme manifestations of the human psyche, which the magazine "Technology for Youth" often wrote about, and I began to conduct my own experiments on this topic.
In short, we'll live and see - I'm sure that "grateful readers" won't fail to give me a hard time when nothing sad happens to "Tripoli"
Incidentally, in the area of the British naval base in Ochakov, I accidentally witnessed the flights of Ospreys and the parachute landing of special forces from them.
It's a pity that Soviet and Russian paratroopers didn't have and don't have such universal tiltrotor aircraft!
Perhaps, based on the results of this American-Iranian military campaign, Moscow will be able to somehow reach an agreement with the Iranians on the temporary transfer of captured Ospreys for reengineering and production of similar aircraft in Russia?!
1. Grancer81
  
  +2
  
  16 March 2026 04: 01
  
  I wonder how they're going to land this force without engineering reconnaissance of the area. If it's a seaborne landing.
  And from the air it will be even more fun.
  1. beeper
    
    -1
    
    16 March 2026 07: 23
    
    Grencer81, I'm also wondering if the Iranians will really let a landing helicopter carrier get so close to their shores with impunity, without trying to "pluck" it with their "mosquito fleet" on the approach?!
    And then a "crazy little thought" crept in - how would the Kremlin's inhabitants act now if they had two of their own "Mistrals" at their disposal (or would they have already shamefully "lost" them in the Mediterranean and Black Seas by now?)?!
Kiril

-4

15 March 2026 22: 10

It's a funny question - "What can American Marines do?" - drink whiskey and use Iranians - what else?
1. Grancer81
  
  +2
  
  16 March 2026 03: 59
  
  They still have to get to the Iranians.
pin_code

+1

16 March 2026 06: 38

The main task of the US Marines in Iran is fertilizing the soil.
prior

-1

16 March 2026 08: 40

What tasks can US Marines perform in Iran?

The tasks may vary, but the main one is to "ensure" that ceremonial events are held at Arlington Cemetery in Washington.
lord-palladore-11045

-1

16 March 2026 08: 49

Fortune telling with a daisy again, somehow it’s not impressive – leave all the guesswork to the General Staff.