So for instance, instead of the 1st Infantry Division, US Army, landing the 1st Marine Division would take their place?
USMC forces were generally lighter, fewer tanks, tank destroyers, than US Army Divisions. The USMC force in WW-II only fought 2 (IIRC) "invasions" from start to finish. In most operations the USMC caught enough ground for the Army to set up a combat Wal-Mart, and the Army landed their HEAVIER forces, including tanks, TD's, and SP arty, and relieved the USMC forces.
Even if all things were equal, the USMC forces would have signifigant trouble with penetrating the hedgerows, w/o heavy equipment.
They would have to go through the openings to bypass the hedgerows. I'm sure the Germans wouldn't expect that...................
The USMC and IJA/IJN engaged in what was basically infantry combat with each other. The Japanese forces used foritifications. But the IJA had very few tanks, and the ones they did have were lightly armed and armored. They also had few heavy AT guns.
The USMC forces were optimized to fight those battles. They did it well.
It would be a whole different ball game for USMC forces in "amtracs", LVTs, and "alligators", to roll up on a beach in France, and run into Pak-75's 88's, MK-IV panzers, and armored half-tracks, supported by German soldiers with StG-44's, Panzerfausts, and MG-42's.
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