Editing Marine expeditionary unit (section)

==Attributes==
[[File:990715-N-9593R-005.jpg|thumb|Marines loading on a [[Landing Craft Utility]] in 1999]]
The MEU is unique in that its air and ground combat elements are combined with a logistics combat element under one commander; other services do not unite the command of air and ground forces until much higher command levels.

The MEU's ground combat element also combines [[artillery]], [[LAV 25|light armor]], and tanks at a much lower level than was common in the Army until the development of the [[brigade combat team]] early in the [[War on Terror]], with a similar concept, the [[combat command]], being utilized in [[World War II]].

This air-ground [[task force]] concept is designed to thoroughly exploit the combat power inherent in air and ground assets by closely integrating them into a single force. The MEU brings all the supplies and logistical support it needs to sustain itself for quick mission accomplishment or to prepare the way for follow-up forces. This self-sustainment allows more flexibility in disposition and operations of forces, and allows the MEU to initiate operations sooner and let support catch up later, without having to wait for external logistical support to begin a mission. Deployments on [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] [[List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships|amphibious assault ships]] allows MEUs to [[Seabasing|seabase]] around the globe, ready for deployment at short notice.

A typical MEU has approximately 2,200 members, including navy sailors. It is equipped with:
[[File:HelicopterFlyby.jpg|thumb|A [[UH-1N Twin Huey|UH-1N]] from the [[26th Marine Expeditionary Unit]] flies past an [[AH-1 SuperCobra|AH-1W]] on the flight deck of [[USS Kearsarge (LHD-3)|USS ''Kearsarge'']]]]
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Qty !! Nomenclature !! Element


|-
|7 to 16
|[[LAV-25|Light Armored Vehicle]]
|ground
|-
|15
|[[Assault Amphibious Vehicle]]
|ground
|-
|6
|155mm [[howitzer]]: [[M777 howitzer|M777]]
|ground
|-
|8
|[[M252 mortar|M252 81mm mortar]]
|ground
|-
|8
|[[BGM-71 TOW|BGM-71 Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missile weapon system]]
|ground
|-
|8
|[[FGM-148 Javelin|FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile]]
|ground
|-
|4 to 6
|[[AH-1Z Viper|AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters]]
|aviation
|-
|3
|[[UH-1Y Venom|UH-1Y Venom light utility helicopters]]
|aviation
|-
|12
|[[MV-22 Osprey|MV-22A Osprey medium-lift tiltrotor aircraft]]
|aviation
|-
|4
|[[CH-53E Super Stallion|CH-53E Super Stallion heavy-lift transport helicopters]]
|aviation
|-
|6
|[[AV-8B Harrier II|AV-8B Harrier V/STOL light-attack airplanes]]
|aviation
|-
|2
|[[KC-130J Super Hercules|KC-130 Hercules aerial re-fueler/transport airplanes]]<BR />''Note: usually maintained in the [[contiguous United States]]''
|aviation
|-
|2
|[[Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit]]
|logistics
|-
|1
|LMT 3000 [[water purification]] unit
|logistics
|-
|4
|[[List of vehicles of the United States Marine Corps#Support/Engineer|Tractor, Rubber Tire, Articulated Steering]]
|logistics
|-
|2
|[[List of vehicles of the United States Marine Corps#Support/Engineer|TX51-19M Rough Terrain Forklift]]
|logistics
|-
|3
|[[Caterpillar D7|D7 bulldozer]]
|logistics
|-
|1
|[[Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement]] [[dump truck]]
|logistics
|-
|4
|[[Logistics Vehicle System|Mk48 Logistics Vehicle System]]
|logistics
|-
|7
|500 gallon water containers
|multiple
|-
|63
|[[Humvee]]
|multiple
|-
|30
|[[Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement]] trucks
|multiple
|-
|5
|[[Boeing Insitu RQ-21 Blackjack]]
|aviation
|}

Many types of equipment are, or will soon, undergo a transitory phase as they are replaced. Some examples include the [[Amphibious Combat Vehicle]] replacing the AAV-7, the [[Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II|F-35 Lightning II]] replacing the AV-8B Harrier, and the [[Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion|CH-53K King Stallion replacing the CH-53E]].