Chinese Bison (Zubr) Landing Craft in action....via Defence Blog.

More here.

This is just as I imagined.  The Chinese MLP along with the ZUBR landing craft forming an adhoc LST to put heavy armor ashore rapidly.  You see three Chinese MLP's show up .... and if they're able to perfect a type of seabase where they're able to transfer vehicles from transports to the ZUBR's ....then future USMC Company Landing Teams are flying into the jaws of hell.

Sidenote:  China is starting to build these in house.  I patiently await modifications to them.  Could we even see them enlarged?  Also, can anyone identify the tank in the pic?  It doesn't look like a Type 99 and I'm wondering if its the new Light Tank they've put into service.

Rant. Keep your apology....God might forgive but I won't.

WARNING:  Rant follows...slightly politically incorrect...  

I've been experiencing a slow rage over the last few days and it comes from the actions of not only a lunatic but their families after their rampages are over.

via Yahoo.

"There are no words to describe our shock, horror, and grief," said the statement, provided to the Associated Press by a lawyer representing the family of Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, who was killed by police. "The person who committed this horrible crime was not the son we knew and loved. For many years, our son suffered from depression. It grieves us beyond belief to know that his pain found its expression in this heinous act of violence."
The family added that they are cooperating with the investigation.
"We understand there are many legitimate questions that need to be answered," the statement said. "Having said this, now is the time to reflect on the victims and their families, and we feel it would be inappropriate to say anything more other than that we are truly sorry for their loss."

This was not the person they knew and loved?  Their son suffered from depression?  HIS PAIN found its EXPRESSION in this heinous act of violence?

EAT SHIT AND DIE!

God might forgive you but I never will.  How did society reach a point where a few useless words are all it takes to turn people away from the reality of situations?

The shooter's family are the same people that paid for his trips to the Middle East.  They're the same people that failed to notify authorities that he had become radicalized.  They're the same people that saw this storm coming and did nothing to stop it.

But now they expect us to believe that they're sorry their animal of a son went on a rampage and shot down good men?

The weird thing?  The God of my belief (embryonic at this stage) might forgive.  Their God is giving the shooter 72 virgins.

Kevin Martin's RIAT 2015 photo essay....

Is this the best anti-sub airplane in service today? The Japanese didn't cut corners on this important function.  I wonder if the US Navy looks jealously at this airplane....

SOUTHPAW movie trailer....I really want to see this movie!

The last movie I looked forward to seeing was American Sniper.  You can take Ant Man and the rest of the stuff Hollywood is pumping out and it just doesn't appeal to me.

Southpaw looks different though.

I really want to see this movie!  Take the time to check out the behind the scenes vid below where they talk about the training Gyllenhaal went thru with his director.

Yeah.  This should be good.

Sidenote:  In the training vid he's wearing one of those air restriction masks.  Ok, whats the deal?  I've been told that they don't work and its like wearing a gas mask that doesn't work.

1st Tanks conducts Forward Arming & Refueling Point (FARP) exercise...pics by Lance Cpl. Thomas Mudd

Note:  USMC Tanks have a serious decision to make soon.  Yeah I'm repeating myself but I don't hear this being debated in any of the journals.  Currently the Corps is operating M1A1's.  The US Army has upgraded to M1A2's and many of our allies are operating 'A2s.  While they Marines could continue to operate the M1A1 model, its place in new operating concepts hasn't been discussed.  Will tanks continue as is with the M1A1?  Will they follow the US Army and upgrade to M1A2 standard?  Is it time to move to a Mobile Gun System and depend on attached Army MBT's for big fights?  Its a debate that must be had....in the open...with all the fussing that goes along with it.

Automated landings coming to the F/A-18E/F/Growler

USAF top weekly pics, the military services on FaceBook and what's up with USAF Security Forces?

Note:  A few things ....below are the USAF's self proclaimed top pics of the week, next, if you're like me and you want to keep up with whats going on in the military (exercise, deployments etc...) then you're going to have to go to FaceBook.  Whether for good or evil, a lot of commands communicate to family members at home with that platform and the main sites miss it.  Last.  What's going on with USAF Security Forces?  I've been seeing them doing more and more exercises of late and even flexing into work with USAF Special Tactics Teams.  Are they about to try and declare themselves Special Ops Capable?

Serpa Holster on deck with the 15th MEU....pic by Sgt. Jamean Berry

A U.S. Marine unholsters an M9 pistol during aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD 23) Marines with the ground combat element keep their weapons skills sharp in case of a ground engagement. The 15th MEU is embarked on the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and deployed to maintain regional security in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

The reason why this pic caught my attention is because I remember the minor controversy of the USMC going to the Serpa Platform for its holster.

A well known YouTuber shot himself in the thigh, blamed his NEGLIGENT discharge on the holster and then everyone was bad naming the rig.

Too bad.

I was against it too.  My reasoning was that as long as the M9 is the service pistol for the Marine Corps then you would need the protection from the elements...dust, mud, etc...that you found in the old holsters

Obviously my view did not prevail and they moved on.  I'm not upset by this, it seems to be working.  But what does have me happy as hell is that we're seeing good weapons handling skill continue on in the Corps.

Which leads me to the moral of this story.

Just because some guy posts YouTube videos and claims to be a trainer doesn't mean that he actually knows anything.  Additionally, never jump to the conclusion that the gear is wrong.  Always look for operator failure first.  Common sense isn't common.  Neither is a consistent draw stroke.

More New Zealand Defense Force Armor pics from Talisman Saber 2015...

Note:  What is going on with the countryside in Australia?  I never viewed the outback as being so clear.  Did the area suffer a wild fire or was it a planned fire to keep the critters off the troops?

A cannon for your IFV? How about throwing the 35mm into the debate!

One stray comment started a firestorm on another post.  It went a little like this.  The Puma could arguably be called the best tracked IFV currently in production.

Then all hell broke loose.

One person said that the CV90, could mount bigger weapons, was cheaper and provided all the advantages (don't get me wrong...I like the CV90, but I get the impression that its a bit long in the tooth) of the Puma etc....

Then it turned to weapons fit.

I found this interesting.  IFV weapons evolution has been slowly but steadily creeping up.  The first gen with 25mm cannons, now the 30mm is standard but future vehicles look to add 40mm like the Brits with the ASCOD or even 57mm with the Russian Boomerang.

I don't think that's smart.

The bigger you go the quicker you run into diminishing returns.

So what's the sweet spot?

Well on this I think the USMC has it about right.  A 30mm gives you the ability to engage anything on the battlefield up to a MBT and US Army action in the first Gulf War shows that you CAN get kills on SOME main battle tanks with the 25mm.

Additionally I don't know if I want my APC/IFV fighting tanks.  A good way to see your ride go boom is for track drivers to suddenly think they're part of a tank fight.

You lose your ride and the enemy has a sideways mobility kill.  Yeah you can split up your squad and have them stuff into other vehicles but unless you're going to make the other squads temp reinforced you're gonna have issues with reforming it once you reach your objective.

So yeah.  I say go the USMC way on the Amphibious Combat Vehicle and stick with a 30mm or follow the US Army on the Stryker Upgrade and pick the 35mm....but to go larger is just vanity....but that's my opinion.  What's yours?