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I know there is much discussion when armies are revisited but here is one for Richard !
Having still some Xyston achaemenid egyptian marines miniatures, I wanted to check how they were in MEG and found none of them in the army lists .
So out of curiosity and after reading a bit on the subject I checked with Herodotus and Xenophon . Herodotus is not that clear as he writes about the egyptian marines on ships or so it seems . But Xenophon is a bit more precise in the description . He saw those marines and he describes them in the his cyropedia and in his anabasis but more briefly ( he was not there when events he describe sin Cyropedia happenned but equipment might still be the same )
He compares the Egyptian marines as hoplites with long spears, big shields and orb 8) ! exageration or not, it is still a historical text that can be used as a base for an Egyptian marine TUG . Discussion might be on training, formed, tribal. and short or long spears ..shield cover ? shove ?
From Xenophon it is clear they fought on land ! So a small TUG perhaps ?
Up to you
From Cyropedia 6.4.17, 7.1.33, 7.1.40
QuoteHere, then, was a dreadful conflict with spears and lances and swords. The Egyptians, however, had the advantage both in numbers and in weapons; for the spears that they use even unto this day are long and powerful, and their shields cover their bodies much more effectually than corselets and targets, and as they rest against the shoulder they are a help in shoving. So, locking their shields Together, they advanced and showed.
QuoteAnd when he had ascended the tower, he looked down upon the field full of horses and men and chariots, some fleeing, some pursuing, some victorious, other vanquished; but nowhere could he discover any division that was still standing its ground, except that of the Egyptians; and they, inasmuch as they found themselves in a desperate condition, formed in a complete circle and crouched behind their shields, so that only their weapons were visible; but they were no longer accomplishing anything, but were suffering very heavy loss.
From Anabasis :
Quotenext to them were troops with wicker shields and, farther on, hoplites with wooden shields which reached to their feet, these latter being Egyptians, people said;