Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii –
U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, and Headquarters Marine Corps provided technical training to U.S. Marines, Airmen, Soldiers, and Sailors on prototype modular semi-permanent fuel tank systems in South Bend, Indiana, April 11 to 21, 2023. The training establishes a foundation for advanced emplacement of semi-permanent bulk fuel and water storage capacity across the Indo-Pacific area of operations. The training was funded through the Marine Corps Expeditionary Energy Office.
This new prototype capability will increase the operational advantage throughout the joint force by integrating additional layers of fuel and water sources that will enable the logistics endurance of highly distributed forces such as Marine Littoral Regiments, Multi-Domain Task Forces, and integrated joint units.
“This initiative to explore additional fuel capacity options to potentially augment existing Marine Corps and joint ashore capabilities is aimed at developing opportunities for the tactical commander to gain advantage within the ‘mesh-network’ of refueling choices in a given maritime environment,” said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Robert Y. Lee, Bulk Fuels officer, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific.
Participants of this training garnered an in-depth understanding in the assembly, emplacement, and employment of the prototype tank; and will be capable of training other service members on the Modular Fuel Tank Systems (MFTS), ensuring an increasing sustainment capability on a resilient fuel distribution and storage system across the joint and combined force.
“This new capability is changing the way we employ our Marines from legacy systems, allowing us to have more fuel capacity with only half a squad of Marines,” said Master Sgt. Jesus Granados, Fuels Chief, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific. “This fits right into how we are modernizing our force and directly ties into our theater posture and global positioning network within the Indo-Pacific.”
The employment of the semi-permanent tanks ensures U.S. forces can establish a forward fuel distribution capability, more effectively in a forward environment, supporting future operations, activities and investments; enhancing our combined capability within our network of Allies and partners; and supporting mutual defense operations.
“Learning from real-world lessons something akin to how the 'Cactus' Air Force and the 1st Marine Division operated on Henderson Field and throughout the Solomon Islands, the physics of refueling planes, weapons, and boats will surely determine either the longevity of a military force or early culmination of those forces,” said Lee.
Current systems offer a 12-18-month shelf life once filled, require further logistics and considerations, and are not modular. The MFTS serves as a far more resilient system, capable of being rapidly emplaced without the use of heavy equipment and can perform both bulk fuel and water operations.
“Right now, we're field testing it for the first time. So, we're setting it up, working through any kinks that might be in the actual setup process, breakdown process, and how to pack,” said Sgt. Chandler McEntyre, Assistant Operations Chief, 3rd Landing Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force. “It's meant to be able to fill a gap for us in between our smaller systems and our larger systems.”
The MFTS capability has an estimated lifespan of 10 years while the structures around them have a 15-year life, can be re-deployed 10-20 times, and can be erected on a flat surface by a considerably small team of only six to eight operators within about three to four days. The modular system offers more storage and has a considerably longer service life than the current system.
“It's so important to fill that gap,” said McEntyre. “So, it's bridging a missing piece for us on size. And then gives a little bit more stability in terms of it being a hardened structure made out of metal instead of being just a bag on the ground.”
The resilient and expeditionary nature of the MFTS address the mobility and manpower challenge of deploying a conventional bulk fuel equipment set forward by, with, and through the mesh-network of integration opportunities with our Allies & partners as well as service-level pre-positioning efforts such as the Marine Corps’ Global Positioning Network.
The MFTS prototype capability directly supports the distributed nature of multi-domain operations, agile combat employment, expeditionary base operations, distributed maritime operations and enhances our capability within the joint and combined force. Implementing capabilities such as the MFTS creates a more lethal, ready, and equipped force.
Editor's note: The original story can be viewed on the Marine Corps Forces Pacific website.