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| Note this chart is somewhat dated but gives an indication of manning and missions. |
via FoxNews.
Defense officials say the U.S. is moving additional Marines and aircraft from Spain to the Horn of Africa to provide embassy security and help with evacuations from violence-wracked South Sudan.Read it all here.
Army Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, says the commander in Africa is getting the forces ready for any request that may come from the U.S. State Department.
A defense official says the extra forces moving to Djibouti will bring the total U.S. troops there to 150, with 10 aircraft, including Osprey helicopters and C-130 transport planes. The official was not authorized to speak publicly so spoke on condition of anonymity.
Troops deployed last week helped evacuate Americans and other foreign nationals and provided security at the U.S. Embassy in Juba. Another couple hundred Americans remain in the country.
First. Let me be clear. We shouldn't be doing this and it will end badly. For an administration that declared that they wouldn't be engaging in the "wrong" wars this is remarkably short sighted. Quite honestly it reminds me of Bush and Somalia. We're doing it for all the right reasons but that means little in the world we live in. Marines will die, civilians will be slaughtered and on the ground the status quo will remain.
Second. This is going to be the first real test of Amos' SPMAGTF-CR. The idea of sending Marines into combat without the full power of at least a MEU supporting them chills me to the bones. This is not how we fight. Putting our forces at the mercy of deliveries, resupply and evacuation by MV-22s and the wing (though they will act bravely) is not something we need to be doing. Sending an enhanced Infantry Company into the mess that is Africa is
Last. Despite my misgivings I hope this works. This is definitely one time that I don't want to be proven right. State, the DoD and the Marine Corps is once again sending young Marines into a hotspot at Christmas time. Its a tradition but one that I'd love to see end.
I'm no expert on Marine Corps units but just at a glance and from what I have read here, looks like it is just big enough to get in some big trouble without the combat power to get out of it?
ReplyDeleteEspecially in lots of parts of Africa, you might find yourself surrounded by hundreds of combatants with commanders that won't be afraid to send them in waves if they can get a shot at killing US Marines and blooding the nose of the USA. They don't care if they lose 4000 fighters to take out 400 US Marines, media goes ape shit and there goes your mission. Looks like a bigger Black Hawk down to me....my 2 cents.
I thought Fast was going? I may have read that wrong, but they would do much better than the CR units for god's sake, they train for this mission to be in and leave.
ReplyDeleteeven a FAST Co. would be in over its head in this situation. FAST reinforces embassy's. they aren't designed or equipped in near war conditions. they can handle protesters, they can handle terrorist but they can't handle force on force or greater encounters.
DeleteI fully understand that Fast is in over its head, but at least they are Grunts on roids, and are much better suited than CR (just send both for gods' sake). A MEU should of already be sailing that way to reinforce until what we have there is gone.
DeleteStaying in that country is just a dumb idea and we dont need to be involved. Just like Syria we need to say out.
don't take me wrong. you're hookin and jabbin and i'm sitting on the porch watching. you know the inside, all i have is what i hear and read. i guess my rant meter is pegged on this one.
Deleteoh no, i agree, FAST is like a simple band-aid on a chest wound from the way it looks. This calls for a MEU, you put a large force in you get everything out and wait for smoke to clear.
DeleteJust having trained with them, i know their marines are up to the band-aid fix untill the duck tape can get put onto the wound
Here is an excerpt from an excellent piece on the V-22, echoing what Solomon and theskeptic have written recently.
ReplyDelete"Tactically, can we now get about recognizing that the V-22 departs faster than it lands? I’ve read a lot of stories with MV-22-selling Marines and other salesmen chortling about how they could zoom away from an LZ so fast nobody could draw a bead on them. Landing, however, is something else. MV-22s are loud, big and slow targets that are–thanks to prior accidents–locked into some high-safety margin approach profiles and high-requirement LZs...."
http://nextnavy.com/sudan-demonstrates-the-v-22-osprey-still-faces-operational-challenges/
I hope they don't attempt a hot LZ again with those things.
Anyone who says that is full of shit. Been there done it, give me a CH-53 or a Huey anyday, your such a big sitting duck on in-bound that it hurts just thinking about it now. plus its so loud you hear it forever and a day away. And most of the time a devil LZ is some place a osprey will not go, 53's? UH-1's? Yah they will do it, but not MV-22's
Deleteyeah i wonder where they get these so called Marines that are so willing to sell a company's line instead of standing up for fellow Marines. kinda makes you wonder whose side they're really on.
Deleteyeah this is messed up, nico mentioned blackhawk down but the rangers had MH-4 helicopters and still needed Pakistani APCs to get them out.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they can do this and not get mired in combat, but I hate maybe.
I really think this is the wrong kind of mix. Maybe this force composition is important for the evacuation mission, but they need a couple Stryker companies or something similarly equipped with about 12 attack helicopters on standby. Even if they have fighter jets on station its not a substitute for armor and mortars. Aircraft have lots of firepower but they cant keep you from getting torn up on the ground.
Benghazi II anyone?
ReplyDeleteSNAFU in South Sudan, or why you don't want to be involved--
ReplyDelete1. The former vice president has seized the country's wealth-- Dec 23, 2013
Ex-VP Machar says forces will divert oil revenues from Juba
December 23, 2013 (LONDON) - South Sudan’s former vice-president, Riek Machar, says forces under his command will divert oil revenues accrued from the country’s oil wells, days after his troops seized control of much of the new nation’s oilfields.
2. The US envoy is blaming the US-supported president for the present difficulties--Dec 24, 2013
US envoy blames S. Sudan’s Kiir for violence
December 23, 2013 (JUBA) - The United States special envoy to Sudan and South Sudan has offered an rare criticism of South Sudanese president Salva Kiir, saying he was responsible for current violence that has engulfed the country.
from a source:
ReplyDeleteFour Navy SEALS were wounded, one seriously, when they were aboard an Osprey trying to land in the city of Bor to evacuate Americans. The aircraft came under small arms fie which penetrated the bottom of the aircraft, causing lower body injuries to all. Civilian helicopters subsequently went in to evacuate the Americans. Three of the SEALS were evacuated to Germany while the fourth, seriously wounded with a lot of bleeding, has been placed in a hospital in Kenya.