![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/9713774-scaled.jpg\")
U.S. Marines with Maritime Raid Force, Littoral Combat Force-24, move towards a UH-1Y Venom assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 365 (Reinforced), LCF-24, during a Maritime Interdiction Operation Full Mission Profile rehearsal aboard San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) while underway in the Caribbean Sea, May 22, 2026. US Marine Corps photo<\/p>\n
A specialized group of Marines operating in SOUTHCOM will now support Operation Southern Spear, the U.S. campaign to stop maritime drug trafficking, as the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit heads home. <\/p>\n
The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit will operate as Littoral Combat Force-24, providing a Marine Air-Ground Task Force that will work under the Joint Task Force Southern Spear, the Marine Corps announced Friday. The group of Marines and sailors are taking over the duties of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, which has been embarked on the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group for nearly 10 months.<\/p>\n
LCF-24 will serve as the \u201cimmediate crisis response force\u201d in SOUTHCOM, according to a Marine Corps news release. LCF-24 can conduct maritime interdiction operations, as well as perform embassy reinforcement and tactical recovery of aircraft crew. The unit will also be able to participate in humanitarian efforts, if required.<\/p>\n
The littoral combat force is different from a typical MEU deployment with an amphibious ready group. Instead of operating from a three-ship ARG, the specialized MAGTF will be spread across the region, with a headquarters and shore-based nodes, including in Puerto Rico and amphibious transport dock USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28), a Joint Task Force-Southern Spear spokesperson told USNI News.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The littoral combat force deployment comes after top Navy and Marine Corps officials have said that the Marines will have to figure out how to operate differently due to the shortage of amphibious ships.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/9713765-scaled.jpg\")
A U.S. Coast Guardsman, left, with Tactical Law Enforcement Team Pacific, and a U.S. Marine with Maritime Raid Force, Littoral Combat Force-24, prepare to clear a hallway during a Maritime Interdiction Operation Full Mission Profile rehearsal aboard San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) while underway in the Caribbean Sea, May 22, 2026. US Marine Corps photo<\/p>\n
The Marine Corps is looking to deploy Marines on platforms like the Expeditionary Fast Transport and the Expeditionary Sea Base to meet the demands in the Caribbean, Lt. Gen. Jay Bargeron, the deputy commandant for plans, policies and operations, said in April at Modern Day Marine<\/a>. The release does not mention if LCF-24 will use those platforms.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd make no mistake, that\u2019s no ARG\/MEU. That is a MEU. It\u2019s sub-optimized, but it will be available to provide some capability. And I think that perhaps there will be another single ship deployed that will help them have some capability,\u201d Bargeron said in April.<\/p>\n At the time, Bargeron said there could also be an independently deployed amphibious warship that the Marines could use if they need a platform for some of their tasks. According to the Marine Corps release, LCF-24 could use Fort Lauderdale, which is currently part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked.<\/p>\n The 22nd MEU is expected home<\/a> Monday. Fort Lauderdale, which has been deployed approximately 10 months, will remain in the Caribbean.\u00a0<\/p>\n The U.S. amassed naval warships, including the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, ahead of the January raid<\/a> on Venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. At the height of the buildup, there were more than 10 naval ships in the Caribbean, a destination that aircraft carrier strike groups are seldom tasked.<\/p>\n With USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) expected to return home, there will be three naval warships left<\/a> \u2013 guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG-70), Littoral Combat Ship USS Billings (LCS-15) and Fort Lauderdale.<\/p>\n While aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and destroyer escort USS Gridley (DDG-101) are in the Caribbean, the two ships are expected to participate in exercise Southern Seas and are not currently part of the Operation Southern Spears efforts.<\/p>\n Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle said in April<\/a> that the naval package that meets SOUTHCOM needs likely won\u2019t include an aircraft carrier. Maritime interdiction, like what is done under Operation Southern Spear, does not require an aircraft carrier, whereas the firepower and abilities it brings are more suited for power projection and deterrence, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is all about force optimization,\u201d Caudle told USNI News in January<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1780104076_555_9405424-scaled.jpg\")
U.S. Marines with India Company, Battalion Landing Team 3\/6, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), and sailors with San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG-106), conduct a strait transit while underway in the Caribbean Sea, Nov. 18, 2025. US Marine Corps photo<\/p>\n