Dragon Fire II 120mm Mortar

[Suhiir]

Given the USMC still focuses on infantry-based units and tactics and airmobility (correct me if I'm wrong), a vehicle-only solution might not be the best.

I'm NOT gonna claim to know the thinking of the "Powers That Be" at HQMC, but as a retired Marine Gunny I'd say the focus is on flexibility rather then on mech, airmobile, infantry, or what-have-you.

What we can do, that the Army can't is "do it all".
I'll be the first to admit the USMC can't compete with the US Army "specailized" units. We can't out-tank the 1st Armored; we can't out-helo the 101st; we can't out-infantry the 10th Mountain in rough, cold terrain; we can't out-spec-ops the Green Benies; etc, etc, etc.
But the average Marine can do any and all those things. From many discussions with various Army types over the years most of them would be just plain lost outside the specialized, narrow role they've been trained in.

That's why our gear is made to be helo/foot mobile, we don't WANT to be tied to "only" vehicle mounted/mobile systems.