All:
After several years of playing BM (on and off) I am interested in hearing peoples view on marines. Are they useful? Do they add something to the game?
I struggle with finding how to use them.
Honestly one of the best purpose I have found is to buy with Russia before german DOW just to distract germany so they cant leave land open.
It may be usefull to buy with Japan and take guam and it also may make a differance against an early assault on India.
For the USA it it may make sense to buy on the east coast and put on the cruiser there (maybe the best use I think)
In the pacific it sounds cool because you can island jump and claim several undefended japanese islands, but in reality it does not work because your cruiser (or battleship) is very volunerable for counter attacks.
For the british i have found no or little use for marines, may be useful in special situations where you have several cruisers, but keep in mind 3 cruisers require 15 IPC which is eq. to a transport and inf +art and you get to keep the tranny
For italy? I have little input. Very rearly a lonely cruiser can enter open sea in the med. It needs to be protected by the fleet, then it may make sense.
Anzac: I have never bought a marine with ANZAC
So, in summary I find it useful for some nations in the early game, but I hardly ever, or never, buy a marine past round 2
(sorry for the spelling)