Marines with Battalion Landing Team 3/1 work together to fit a tactical vehicle into a tracked vehicle for the first time here June 15. The Marines are a part of a field exercise conducted by the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Photo by Sgt. Elyssa Quesada

MEU takes expeditionary to a new level

15 Jun 2011 | Sgt. Elyssa Quesada 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Marines with Battalion Landing Team 3/1 worked together to fit an Expeditionary Fire Support System into a tracked vehicle for the first time during a field exercise with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit here June 15.

Previously, inserting the EFSS by helicopter was the fastest and easiest way to transport the equipment into a combat zone, said 1st Lt. Erin N. Sullivan, 25, the amphibious assault vehicle platoon commander.

“We are trying to provide the MEU with an alternate means of moving the EFSS from ship-to-shore and shore to objective in lieu of helicopter insert,” added Sullivan, who is from Tuscon, Ariz.

The system has also been moved to shore using amphibious landing crafts.

Now, the 120mm mortars and Internally Transportable Vehicle roll off the ramp of a tracked vehicle giving the MEU more expeditionary capabilities, said Sullivan.

“Now that we have amphibious capabilities, anything the MEU is involved in we can be a part of,” said 1st Lt. Ben Madden, 24, the mortar platoon commander. “As soon as the maneuver element hits the beach we can provide fire support.”

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