US Marine Corps begins developing smaller pre-positioning ship
By Megan Eckstein
Jun 28, 11:20 AM
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Marine Corps is taking the first step to define its next-generation maritime pre-positioning ship, which will be smaller than the vessels currently serving that purpose, but still able to support distributed maritime operations.
The Corps is already rethinking how it will sustain small units dispersed around an operating area, including island chains in the Pacific Ocean.
An update this month to the service’s Force Design 2030 modernization plan announced the creation of a global positioning network to support the Distributed Maritime Operations concept, which outlines how to sustain Marines in day-to-day campaigning and during a crisis or conflict.
During a June 28 panel discussion at the annual Modern Day Marine exposition, Rick Betsinger, the expeditionary ship capabilities branch chief, said the global positioning network is a combination of ashore and afloat pre-positioned stocks. But a new ship is needed to support the afloat part.
https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2023/06/28/us-marine-corps-begins-developing-smaller-pre-positioning-ship/