Lol! Hmmmmm, an interesting bit of ‘What If’ that one!
I’d have to say no. The Marines couldn’t conquer the whole Roman Empire. The reason? In a word, logistics, simple as that. If we assume that the USMC Mk 1 Time Machine isn’t doing resupply missions and this is a once in a life time, one time only trip then sooner or later the vitals that would give a modern military force its massive advantage are going to run out. Ammunition, fuel, medical supplies, batteries, spares etc are all finite resources and once these things have been expended it’s going to be game over.
True any pitched battle in the early stages of the Marines incursion into antiquity is going to be won by the USMC as I’m afraid a pre gun power army equipped with hand weapons and bows, no matter how well trained, is going to be no match for automatic weapons and high explosives. However I suspect it wouldn’t take the Romans long to realise that they were only facing a relatively modest force who could simply be largely avoided and worn down by gradual attrition of the supplies and man power. Sooner or later the Marines are going to start taking casualties through ambushes and skirmishes, accidents and illness. Once the ammo runs out it’s a simple numbers game – 2,200 isn’t going to beat 300,000.
Geography is also going to be against the USMC as 2,200 are going to have a hell of a job conquering and controlling an empire that stretches from northern Britain to Arabia and from the Iberian Peninsula to the Danube! They are going to be pretty thin on the ground to say the least!
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They probably could, but not directly or immediately.
Key to success would be carving out a base of operations. Then they would have to introduce modern technology -- not M-16s and M-1 tanks, but bayoneted flintlock muskets, hot-air balloons, and the like. Oh yes -- and the printing press. And lots of copies of subversive literature, like "Common Sense" and the Declaration of Independence.
If one wants to see a fictional treatment (albeit a little later era) of this in action, read Eric Flint's (and friends') 1632 series. That posits a West Virginia town of 5000 plopped into 30 Years War Germany. You can read the first volumes (free) at the Baen Free Library (http://www.baen.com/library/) 1632 is at http://www.webscription.net/p-379-1632.aspx and 1633 is at http://www.webscription.net/p-378-1633.aspx
But to win, the Marines have to get some local allies. Maybe the Gauls. Lots of iron and coal in Gaul. Or maybe Brittania. . .
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Would the Marines have a surgical unit with them, or just corpsmen? As for conquering the entire Roman Empire, the Marines might mow down the Romans in a stand-up fight, at least initially, but what about "winning the peace?" Would the Marines be able to govern the conquered, and would they be able to put down rebellions on opposite sides of their newly-acquired territories? Their vehicles would need gas eventually. Then there's the language barrier, and not just Latin. The Marines would most likely end up stranded, with their technology eventually giving out. Keep in mind the Romans suffered plenty of defeats over the years, but so many times, they came roaring back.
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It is all a matter of logistics. How long does it take that all the fuel is spent the unit has with it?
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Any Marines know Latin?
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William asked "Any Marines know Latin?"
Every Marine know at least two words of Latin. What's the Marine motto, after all?
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Good point, Mark, and I'm embarrassed to say I thought of this about 20 seconds after posting the comment! Definitely a starting point for "hearts and minds" conversation...
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