BRENDAN NICHOLSON
A POWERFUL US Marine Corps taskforce with its own ships and aircraft could be based in Australia if Washington and the Gillard government accept a recommendation in a report to go to US congress tomorrow.
It is understood the potent and self-contained marine fighting force would number about 4000 men and women.
It would be very different to the marine units now visiting training areas across northern Australia.
Those units number about 250 personnel and will increase to 2500 across several years.
The Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington was commissioned by the US Defence Department to provide the detail of how Washington should handle its planned "pivot" back into the Asia-Pacific.
The centre's report also contains the possible option, made public earlier this year, that a US aircraft carrier group and nuclear submarines be based at HMAS Stirling, south of Perth.
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