U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Andrew Cortez, Camp Pendleton, California, 18JUL2020.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Justin Evans, 28JUL2020.
USMC photo by Lance Corporal Justin Evans, 28JUL2020.
In July 2020, the United States Marines Corps (USMC) began retiring its M1A1 Abrams tanks and M88A2 Hercules recovery tanks, as part of a so called modernization plan called Force Design 2030.
The last M1 Abrams assigned to 1st Tank Battalion depart Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, 06JUL2020. Photo via USMC.
The units affected are California based 1st Tank Battalion (1st Tanks) of the 1st Marine Division (my grandfather’s Alma Matter) and 4th Tank Battalion (4th Tanks) 4th Marine Division, as well as North Carolina based 2nd Tank Battalion (Iron Horse) of the 2nd Marine Division.
2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division M1 Abrams are pushed out the gate from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 27JUL2020. USMC photo by Lance Corporal Patrick King.
Last ride into retirement. USMC photo by Lance Corporal Patrick King, 27JUL2020.
The 2nd Tank Battalion was an armor unit for almost 80 years, but apparently that ends under Force Design 2030.
1st Tank Battalion was created in 1941, originally in North Carolina but quickly made a new home in Twentynine Palms, California. After 79 years the 1st Tanks is no more:
From my grandfather’s files, 1st Marine Division unit citations for actions in World War Two and Korea (click on each to make bigger):
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- 1942
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- 1944
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- 1945
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- September-October 1950
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- November-December 1950
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- April-September 1951
Alpha Company, 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, Camp Pendleton, California, said good bye to its armored vehicles on 18JUL2020. Alpha Company is the first of the six companies of 4th Tanks to deactivate. 4th Tanks was created in 1943, during World War Two:
A Caterpillar 988 tractor moves a ‘divested’ M1A1 Abrams Tank into position for loading and shipping via rail to Anniston Army Depot. USMC photo by Laurie Pearson.
In August 2020, tracked armored vehicles located on the Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow (after being a TC on Sherman tanks during the war in the Pacific my grandfather worked at the Yermo Annex), California, were loaded on rail cars and shipped-off to the U.S. Army.
01OCT2020, these tanks are being used for rail operations training, on the Yermo Annex, Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, California. USMC photo by Laurie Pearson.
All the Marine Corps’ tank units are expected to be deactivated by the end of 2021. The vehicles could be ‘sold’ to the U.S. Army, or to foreign militaries.
Don’t blame Trump, Force Design 2030 is part of the Obama era plan referred to as Pivot to Asia: 2013, New York Times reports that U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel was pursuing a “pivot” against China.
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Hangers at Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport are being considered, 29APR2020.
Even the Hafa Adai Bingo Hall is a potential ACF site at Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport, 29APR2020.
FEMA officials, along with Guam’s governor, toured the U.S. Navy’s Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF), 29APR2020.
The Navy’s EMF was built for “expanded” use for military personnel infected with CoViD-19, but FEMA wants it to be expanded further in case of a massive ‘Civil Authorities Mission’. Currently the EMF holds 150 patients.
Guam’s Air National Guard have already been busy prepping buildings for uptake of homeless people, under the guise of fighting CoViD-19.
The first HC-130J for USAF Reserves in Florida, takes off from its birthplace in Marietta, Georgia, 02APR2020.