Thanks to Lee for the link.
via The Diplomat.
China is developing a traditional Marine Corps that is capable of fighting from low to high intensity combat with great competence.
What are we doing?
We're reorienting to a lightweight heliborne force based off transportation in MV-22s in a region that sports some of the most high tech fighting vehicles on the planet.
Light Infantry vs. Mechanized Infantry. Yeah. Light Fighters talk shit but that's a fight they won't win.
We're building the wrong type of Marine Corps to face the future fight. We're getting light and the Chinese are meching up. Why can't anyone see that?
via The Diplomat.
The chances that China will mount an invasion of Taiwan remain thankfully remote for now, but the PLA Marines have nonetheless been busy, underscoring their apparent strategic and tactical importance in overall PLA military strategy. For example, as far back as 2001, the PLA Navy staged a large scale amphibious assault exercise that alarmed the Pentagon. The PLA Marines celebrated their 30th anniversary on May 5, 2010 with a large propaganda parade. Most recently, PLA Marine vessels have taken part in the major surveillance exercises being conducted against both Japan and the Philippines in the hotly contested Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands and other territories in the South China Sea. This past September 2013, PLA Marines deployed in the Chinese landing craft, the Jinggangshan, reached the Red Sea en route for the Mediterranean off Syria. In recent years, Chinese PLA Marines have played active roles in both UN peacekeeping missions and multinational anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden.Another two years of the current leadership (both political and military) and the USMC will be lucky to fight its way out of a paper bag.
China is developing a traditional Marine Corps that is capable of fighting from low to high intensity combat with great competence.
What are we doing?
We're reorienting to a lightweight heliborne force based off transportation in MV-22s in a region that sports some of the most high tech fighting vehicles on the planet.
Light Infantry vs. Mechanized Infantry. Yeah. Light Fighters talk shit but that's a fight they won't win.
We're building the wrong type of Marine Corps to face the future fight. We're getting light and the Chinese are meching up. Why can't anyone see that?
The West is obsessed with helicopters. Over at Think Defence as soon as amphibious operations are mentioned the discussion soon turns to how many helicopters we need and the Royal Navy needing a class of LHD; though many aren't bothered about the D too much. It seems in the mind of some dropping an overloaded squad of foot borne infantry into a hot territory from an aircraft costing 10s of millions is the way to win wars. Suggest what is needed is a good vehicle that can swim and you are deranged idiot wanting to re-fight the Pacific........
ReplyDeleteyou're exactly right. the problem is we're caught between the Air Boys/Helicopter fantasist, Light Infantry Purist (I call these bubbas the Ranger crowd), the Counter Insurgency Mafia, the Distributed Operations Dreamers and perhaps the most dangerous of them all, the Information warrior wannabe transformist that believe that no matter how small the force, the proper amount of information will win the fight.
Deletebetween all those forces those of us that see the need for increased/improved armor for our guys are fighting a losing battle. at least until the first wave of body bags come home from the next war, but of course when that happens they'll all be saying that they were saying what we are all along...yeah its a crudy statement but read between my lines and you'll get me.
Reading you 5 by 5.
DeleteJust saw pics of Chinese version of the US
ReplyDeleteNorthrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk
drone...Seems china has adopted copying as it's Fundamental right...
we had a saying....
Delete"Gear adrift is a gift"
that was taught from day 1 of boot camp to all Marines to take charge of their gear...and to safeguard it. if you left it laying around like the Army does then some JarHead is gonna come by and liberate it from your lack of attention.
same applies to state secrets. if we can't safeguard it then damn it, how can we be pissed if China copies it. its not their fault its ours for leaving our shit out so someone could grab it.
we're talking war here. if you can sneak up on your enemy and shoot them in the back of the head then you do it. no one screams unfair. same with state espionage. only the naive believe that their are rules to this type of thing (and no i'm not calling you naive, more like the clowns running this train).
really hope we have a good amount of AT-4's, SMAW's rnds, Jav's and other anti armor weapons ready when out "Light" weight force goes toe to toe with a mech force. The AAV, isnt up to the task, LAR has a fighting chance with the LAV-25A2, and the Abram, well I will always give the abram the benefit of great tech and awesome firepower (the older rounds did wonders in OIF, just imagine we actually brought out the newer stuff).
ReplyDeleteThe Corps really needs to wake up, the MPC and ACV are needed, a meched Marine Corps response harder and faster than a "light" weight helo force without the worries of much of the assault force being shot out of the sky by AA/AAA or unfriendly Air. We are not Rangers for a reason, we can do the helo raid and hell we normally have a Helo company in a MEU for that reason but what about follow on actions?!?! We need a Modern APC/IFV thats up to the task. 4
The communists will fail horribly because..... "Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit answer questions about their values, joys, strengths and needs during the Four Lenses communications class at the Family Readiness Center aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 5. The class is designed to enhance personal and working relationships and individuals learn about their personality."
ReplyDelete"...Interestingly, the Chinese marines are not stationed where they could be used for an invasion of Taiwan but in the south, where they can grab disputed islands in the South China Sea. While these islands, which control fishing and potential oil fields, are considered disputed, China has already laid claim to some of them by force. In 1974, China fought a naval battle with Vietnam off the Paracel islands. In 1988, China and Vietnam fought another naval battle, off the Spratly islands. Both of these battles were followed by Chinese troops establishing garrisons on some of the islands. In 1992, Chinese marines landed on Da Lac reef, in the Spratly Islands. In 1995, Chinese marines occupied Mischief Reef, which was claimed by the Philippines..."
ReplyDeletehttp://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htamph/articles/20131030.aspx
Sounds more like "Land-gravvers".
Will there be room for armor or mech battles on the Spratly Islands? Because that is where the next war will be.
ReplyDelete