Colonel Peter Eltringham, commanding officer of the 12th MLR, highlighted the unit’s strategic importance, stating, “We got a whole lot stronger today.” The 12th LCT, designed for speed, precision, and low observability, is expected to disrupt enemy operations and create uncertainty for potential adversaries through rapid maneuver warfare.
The unit carries a rich heritage from the 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, which dates back to 1911 and has served in major conflicts from World War II to Vietnam, Desert Storm, and Iraq. This transformation shifts the battalion’s focus from traditional infantry operations to a modernised littoral force capable of engaging in high-tech maritime warfare.
A key component of 12th LCT’s capabilities will be the NMESIS (Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System), an unmanned anti-ship missile battery. The unit will be the first forward-deployed Marine Corps force to field these systems, consisting of 18 ROGUE Fires unmanned ground vehicles equipped with Naval Strike Missiles.
Although the NMESIS systems have yet to be delivered, the 12th LCT will soon mirror its counterpart, the 3rd LCT in Hawaii, which integrated the same missile platform in late 2024. Once operational, these advanced systems will significantly enhance the Marine Corps’ ability to execute sea-denial missions within the First Island Chain.
In addition to NMESIS, the 12th MLR operates multiple HIMARS batteries, expanding the Corps’ ability to strike enemy targets at medium-to-long range. The integration of these advanced weapons underscores the Marine Corps’ shift toward a more agile, lethal force prepared for future conflicts in the Indo-Pacific region.
Lieutenant Colonel Jacob Godby, commanding officer of 12th LCT, emphasized the unit’s role in strengthening alliances, particularly with Japan’s Self-Defense Forces. He stated, “We are one team, one fight,” reinforcing the strategic partnership essential to maintaining stability in the Pacific.
