11sect2

a. Air contingency force (ACF). These combat-ready forces have been developed by both fleet Marine force FMF commanders. ACFs provide air-deployable forces to the unified commanders, with lead elements ready to deploy within 16 hours notification. ACFs provide great versatility, in that they can be used as part of the fly-in echelon of a maritime pre-positioning force, as reinforcement for an amphibious force, or as the lead element of the MEF. ACFs are on standby on each coast and on Okinawa.

b. Maritime pre-positioning force (MPF). MPFs give the combatant commanders a greater dimension in mobility, readiness, and global responsiveness. The MPF program involves a total of 13 ships organized into 3 squadrons. Maritime pre-positioned squadron (MPSRON)-1 operates in the United States European Command (EUCOM) AOR, MPSRON-2 operates in the Indian Ocean, and MPSRON-3 in the Western Pacific. With the ships already loaded with unit equipment and 30 days of supplies, Marines and sailors can be airlifted to the objective area to join these specially designed, strategically deployed ships. Each MPSRON is configured to not only support a MEF(FWD)-sized force using all assigned ships, but also smaller MAGTFs that use less than the entire squadron. Indeed, following DESERT STORM, the ships were reconfigured to support crisis action modules, this allows the option of using this concept in response to a future crisis.

c. Norway Pre-Positioning Program/Norway Air-Landed MAGTF (NALM). Similar in concept to the MPF, this program currently provides pre-positioned supplies and combat equipment in Norway for an airlifted, brigade-sized MAGTF.

d. T-AVB aviation logistics support ship. Two ships (Wright and Curtiss), in reduced operating status, provide the capability to load the vans and equipment of a Marine Corps aviation intermediate maintenance activity and transport them to the desired theater of operation. They have both a roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) and a self-sustaining container ship configuration, which permit them to off-load both alongside and offshore. After the aviation equipment is off-loaded, the ships can revert to a standard sealift role to carry 600 containers, if required. Both ships were activated for DESERT STORM.

e. T-AH hospital ship. (Mercy (Oakland CA) and Comfort (Baltimore MD)). Each ship has 1,000 hospital beds and 12 operating rooms. Both ships normally maintain a skeleton crew. The medical staffs are supplied by personnel from naval hospitals and clinics in CONUS.

Aircraft type	Warfare mission
AV-8B (Harrier II)	Mission: Attack and destroy surface and air targets under day and night visual conditions; conduct helicopter escort. Combat radius: close air support, 163 nm with 30 minute loiter time, interdiction, 454 nm unrefueled. VSTOL aircraft, short or vertical takeoff and landing. Ordnance: 8,000 lbs, various air-to-ground weapons including AGM-65 Maverick missiles, 25mm gun pod, AIM-9 air-to-air missiles.
CH-53E (Super Stallion)	Mission: Heavy lift for the transport of material and supplies. Capable of lifting 16-ton external load. Typical load would be an M198 Howitzer or a light armored vehicle (LAV). Range: 540 nm unrefueled, indefinite when air-refueled. Passenger capacity: normal configuration, 37, with centerline seats, 55.
CH-46E (Sea Knight)	Mission: Provide medium lift all weather, day and night, night vision goggle assault transport of combat troops, supplies and equipment. Range: 132 nm for assault mission. Passenger capacity: max 14 troops with aerial gunners. External lift capability: 4,000 lb.
AW-1W (Cobra)	Mission: Fire support and security for forward and rear area forces, anti-armor, anti-helicopter, armed escort, supporting arms coordination, visual reconnaissance. Day and night capable. Self LASER designation capability. Combat radius: 128nm. Ordnance: 2.75"/5.0" rockets, TOW and Hellfire anti-armor, 20mm cannon (750 rounds), AIM-9 air-to-air missiles, Sidearm (anti-radar).
UH-1N (Huey)	Mission: Airborne command and control, combat assault, medical evacuation, supporting arms coordination, fire support and security for forward and rear area forces. Range: 172 nm. Ordnance: 7.62mm or .50 caliber machine gun, 20mm gun pods, 2.75" rockets. Passenger capacity: 6 troops.
F/A-18C (Hornet)	Mission: Intercept and destroy enemy aircraft in conjunction with ground or airborne fighter control under all-weather, day and night, conduct close air support and air interdiction and armed escort of friendly aircraft. Combat radius: fighter mission, 400nm, attack mission, 575nm unrefueled. Ordnance: various air-to-ground weapons, air-to-air weapons including AIM-9, AMRAAM, AIM-7, anti-radar HARM missiles, 20mm gun.
F/A-18D (Hornet)	Mission: Conduct all weather, day and night armed reconnaissance, radar search and attack, interdiction; conduct multi-sensor imagery reconnaissance; conduct supporting arms coordination. Combat radius and Ordnance: as F/A-18C.
EA6B (Prowler)	Mission: Tactical electronic support and electronic warfare; Active jamming support for assault support and attack aircraft; Suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD). Range: 850nm unrefueled. Ordnance: ALQ-99 and ALQ-00 pods, HARM anti-radar missiles.
KC-130 (Hercules)	Mission: Multi-role as an in-flight aerial refueling aircraft, rapid ground refueling (RGR) aircraft, transport of equipment and personnel, aerial delivery of troops and cargo, airborne Direct Air Support Center, evacuations and support of special operations. Range: tanker mission, 1,000nm, cargo mission, 2875. Passenger capacity: 92 combat troops or 64 paratroopers.
MV-22 (Osprey)	Mission: as the CH-46E above. Range: 200nm with 18 troops. External lift capability: 10,000 lbs. Cruising airspeed: 240 kts. Aerial refuel capable. To replace all CH-46E helicopters. Initial operational capability year 2001.

Combat vehicles	Description
Amphibious assault vehicle (AAV)	Troop carrier: 18 troops, 3 crew, or 5-tons cargo. C² variant and recovery variant. Water: 8 mph; land; 45 mph; range; 300 miles (land).
River assault craft (RAC)	Inland coastal and waterway patrol. 35 ft long, 43 mph. GPS, Loran-C. Armament: fore and aft gun tubes for small cal machineguns. 10 to 15 combat Marines. 400 miles range.
Combat rubber reconnaissance craft (CRRC)	Primary functions are reconnaissance and riverine missions. Small, lightweight inflatable boat (35-hp outboard).
Light armored vehicle (LAV)	Assault and reconnaissance vehicle. Provides tactical mobility. Amphibious for river crossings only. 6 mph water, 62 mph land. Variants: C², logistics, and recovery. 25-mm cannon, TOW, mortar (81-mm) Air defense vehicle under development.
Main battle tank (M1A1)	120-mm smoothbore main gun. .50-cal machinegun. Sabot and heat rounds. 42 mph maximum ground speed, 30 mph cross country. 289 miles range. 67.7 tons. 4-man crew.