Marine Detachment

[4] Marines served aboard sailing ships as a small amphibious force able to capture and hold minor port facilities as required for protection of American interests.

Marine sharpshooters were often stationed in the rigging during ship-to-ship combat to fire at officers and helmsmen aboard enemy warships.

Marines often operated naval artillery during general quarters when the distances of gunnery engagements exceeded the range of small arms.

[5] As modern Navy tactics evolved away from traditional ship-to-ship combat to fighting over the horizon threats with guided missiles and computer controlled weapons systems, the shipboard responsibilities requiring an independent Marine Detachment aboard ships became more of an anachronism better suited to be absorbed by Navy Master-at-arms.

USMC 1stLt Grant Goodrich would be the last commander of a MarDet when he stood down his unit aboard USS George Washington (CVN-73) on 1 May 1998, at a ceremony following their return home from their deployment.