i should have been more clear. i meant that the Japanese are procuring new jets, developing a Marine Corps and putting new armored vehicles into service (they have a relatively new tank too). meanwhile the USMC is struggling just to get a new jet into service and is basically saying that a new armored vehicle is just too hard....
Japanese are doing that at the expense of JGSDF ground forces; Japan's tank inventory has been cut from 800 to 300, and JGSDF troops are going through a force reduction, to pay for the naval and marine expansion that you speak of.
1 - JGSDF will be the last part of the SDF to face to face an invasion of the archipelago, 2 - Japan's geography is bad for tanks batles. 3 - Some people think that amphibious landing vehicles are obsolete in situations where the OPFOR may have mines, land based anti-ship missiles and laser guided rockets or artillery shells.
AMPHIBIOUS OPS IN THE 21ST CENTURY David C. Fuquea September 17, 2013
"...Today’s AAV is little changed, thus deeming it archaic instead of revolutionary. Large amphibious ships still launch from a doctrinal distance of 3000-to-4000 yards. The same speed of six-to-eight knots prohibits realistic launches from any farther offshore due to transit time and the fitness of occupants after extended times in a dark, enclosed box rocking at sea. A pair of machine guns provides limited firepower. The aluminum construction used to save weight lacks protection to the point that the vehicle is ineffective for combat. The size of the vehicle as a target and the thin armor makes it vulnerable to IEDs. This threat in Iraq caused Marine commanders to prohibit the vehicles from combat operations as early as 2006. When the Marine Corps returned to Afghanistan in 2009, the AAV did not go. Unfortunately, the AAV has become the proverbial “one-trick pony,” only suitable for moving personnel at close range from ship-to-shore, slowly.
The replacement for the current AAV will be no better. The Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) will run to shore at the same speed. Weight limitations required to make the vehicle float mean limited armor and continued vulnerability to IEDs. Future commanders will also reconsider the commitment of AAVs to combat as their predecessors did. Results of recent wargames recommended doctrinal improvements for AAV employment to better protect the large amphibious ships. Launch ranges will increase from two miles out to 12 miles, despite no improvement or increase in transit speeds. Unfortunately, launching from 12 miles will still place ships within visual and weapons range of the beaches while subjecting the occupants of the AAVs to hours of debilitating transit time, ship-to-shore..."
Oto Melara and Diehl evaluate Vulcano SAL guided ammunition 23 July 2013
"...Oto Melara and Diehl Defence have successfully demonstrated the precision and terminal accuracy of the 155mm Vulcano semi-active laser (SAL) guided ammunition during a series of field trials at the Alkanptan firing range in South Africa.
Launched from a PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer, the ammunition scored a direct hit against a 2x2m target located at a distance of 33km during the test firings, which were conducted under the German and Italian programme agreement on 155mm guided ammunition.
During testing, rounds with only GPS terminal guidance fell 20m short of the target, whereas the GPS and SAL terminal guidance-equipped shells successfully destroyed the 2x2m plate..."
The USMC can't do it because the MCV is a low-cost tank replacement with no troop carrying capability and no amphibious landing capability.
ReplyDeleteIf you ask Japanese to develop an amphibious landing vehicle, then they can't and are in the market to import some themselves.
i should have been more clear. i meant that the Japanese are procuring new jets, developing a Marine Corps and putting new armored vehicles into service (they have a relatively new tank too). meanwhile the USMC is struggling just to get a new jet into service and is basically saying that a new armored vehicle is just too hard....
DeleteSolomon
DeleteJapanese are doing that at the expense of JGSDF ground forces; Japan's tank inventory has been cut from 800 to 300, and JGSDF troops are going through a force reduction, to pay for the naval and marine expansion that you speak of.
1 - JGSDF will be the last part of the SDF to face to face an invasion of the archipelago,
Delete2 - Japan's geography is bad for tanks batles.
3 - Some people think that amphibious landing vehicles are obsolete in situations where the OPFOR may have mines, land based anti-ship missiles and laser guided rockets or artillery shells.
AMPHIBIOUS OPS IN THE 21ST CENTURY
David C. Fuquea
September 17, 2013
"...Today’s AAV is little changed, thus deeming it archaic instead of revolutionary. Large amphibious ships still launch from a doctrinal distance of 3000-to-4000 yards. The same speed of six-to-eight knots prohibits realistic launches from any farther offshore due to transit time and the fitness of occupants after extended times in a dark, enclosed box rocking at sea. A pair of machine guns provides limited firepower. The aluminum construction used to save weight lacks protection to the point that the vehicle is ineffective for combat. The size of the vehicle as a target and the thin armor makes it vulnerable to IEDs. This threat in Iraq caused Marine commanders to prohibit the vehicles from combat operations as early as 2006. When the Marine Corps returned to Afghanistan in 2009, the AAV did not go. Unfortunately, the AAV has become the proverbial “one-trick pony,” only suitable for moving personnel at close range from ship-to-shore, slowly.
The replacement for the current AAV will be no better. The Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) will run to shore at the same speed. Weight limitations required to make the vehicle float mean limited armor and continued vulnerability to IEDs. Future commanders will also reconsider the commitment of AAVs to combat as their predecessors did. Results of recent wargames recommended doctrinal improvements for AAV employment to better protect the large amphibious ships. Launch ranges will increase from two miles out to 12 miles, despite no improvement or increase in transit speeds. Unfortunately, launching from 12 miles will still place ships within visual and weapons range of the beaches while subjecting the occupants of the AAVs to hours of debilitating transit time, ship-to-shore..."
http://warontherocks.com/2013/09/amphibious-ops-in-the-21st-century/
Oto Melara and Diehl evaluate Vulcano SAL guided ammunition
23 July 2013
"...Oto Melara and Diehl Defence have successfully demonstrated the precision and terminal accuracy of the 155mm Vulcano semi-active laser (SAL) guided ammunition during a series of field trials at the Alkanptan firing range in South Africa.
Launched from a PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer, the ammunition scored a direct hit against a 2x2m target located at a distance of 33km during the test firings, which were conducted under the German and Italian programme agreement on 155mm guided ammunition.
During testing, rounds with only GPS terminal guidance fell 20m short of the target, whereas the GPS and SAL terminal guidance-equipped shells successfully destroyed the 2x2m plate..."
http://www.army-technology.com/news/newsotomelara-diehl-evaluate-vulcano-ammunition