In a conventional war, who goes in first?

Question

Is it the U.S. Marines via an amphibious landing or the U.S. Army Airborne units via air insertion and parachuting?

Answer 1

It depends on terrain and circumstances.

In Gulf War one it was ground forces led by armour and infantry.

In Gulf War two it was a large force of British and U.S Marines who were first on the ground although they used helicopters as well as boats.

In the Falklands war it was Marines, Paratroops and Infantry by assualt boat and landing craft in a conventional large scale beach assault like D-Day.

In Afghanistan it was small teams of Delta, SAS, and SF A teams inserted by helicopter. (difficult to do amphibious when the country has no coastline!!)

In all cases special forces will be on the ground first as pathfinders and will be inserted in the most approiate way.

Answer 2

AF and Navy Reconnaisance flights go in LONG before. Follow that up with special forces, TAC-P, and Airstrikes to soften targets. Deep troop deployments are then made via Air Drop, normally concurrant with ground/amphibious invasion by the marines and the army at the same time.

Answer 3

Special operations are generally in a week before the actual fighting. Then it depends on the circumstances from there. In Gulf War I, the U.S. Army Apaches launched the first strike. In the second Gulf War, the navy and airforce went in first. In Grenada the marines went in with American Apaches and airforce stealth bombers.

Answer 4

U.S. Marines via an amphibious landing first but it depends the circumstances...

Answer 5

Dont assume it will be an amphibious landing! We can safely assume it will be in the mid east again, in which case, it will be overland!..First there will be recon patrols with 'special force' as the US military are not very good at this, it will certainly be left to British, or Australian forces to do that! Having cited enemy dispositions, airpower will first be used to break up their forward defences, supporting airpower will be heavy artillery..Moving in behind this will be armoured divisions and mounted cavalry to secure forward positions to mount further attacks!..Only then, comes the 'cannon fodder' The US marines and infantry!..If its a 'set piece battle', the Americans are unbeatable in that form of war! The average American 'grunt' is highly skilled in this form of warfare, so heaven help the fools who try to stand against them! Which, of course they will try to do!..And lose!..And thats how you set up a battle! You may have noticed that i left military intelligence out of this?....Think about it!!..

Answer 6

Actually it is the US Specail Operations Command. A LONG time before the Marines or Paratroopers.

Answer 7

Special forces are there scoping it out long before either of the above.

The rest of the answer depends on the requirements. There is no set rule or restriction as to who goes in first.

Answer 8

Neither.
Pop quiz: how can Paratroopers deploy without being shot out of the sky by SAMs or enemy fighters and how can Marines land without being attacked by enemy artillery and fighters?
Answer: Because the Air Force already took care of those threats.

Answer 9

Air Force or Navy Aviation goes in first in modern conventional warfare.

Answer 10

Depends on what the commanders decide