Jonathan sent me this article on the killing of the EFV from the New York Times...read the whole thing here, but this portion caught my attention...
Navy officials have suggested that Marines would only undertake assaults after enemy defenses had been largely subdued through weeks of bombing by ships and planes. But retired Marines say it is naïve to think that the military would always have such a luxury of time or that bombing works that well.My first impression when I read that was WTF?! And my second was...what office was putting this out? Which part of the Navy has declared war on the Marine Corps? The article did not name officials but I'm definitely trying to find out. More later.
Well, it's official. Gates announced its cancellation today.
ReplyDeleteThe EFV is like my old car .I love it but I need to get rid of it.To expensive.
ReplyDeleteGood analogy.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, it's not that the USMC can just pick up an alternative from the local dealer.
Question is what next? I guess three options;
- develop a new EFV-type amphibious IFV (funds permitting);
- go conventional and find a MPC/IFV with low speed, AAV7-like amphib qualities (such as the current EFV but without the high-speed "surfboard" kit);
- or go radical and drop the amphib requirement and buy a conventional "army" GCV and depend solely on navy LCACs for ship-to-shore.
Cancellation of the EFV will require an overhaul of the OMFTS doctrine though.
the first question the Marines need to ask is why so fast? Didt they expec the EFV to run away from a missile?
ReplyDeleteNext question to ask is does the replacement vehicle have to be fully amphibious? I guess so but needs to be asked?
Next quesiton is how much of a target is next vehicle going to be against the G-RAMMS? Or said differently is another form of transport more survivable?
I do NOT know the answers just question HOW the Marines intend to get ashore in the near future? I suspect a kicked up AAVP? Its easiest baseline to modify quickly. Being part of current system keeps life cycle cost down too.