SB>1 DEFIANT

Open Comment Post. Oct 17, 2017

2 RAR (Amphib) CO's memo to the troops...

Thanks to the little birdy that dropped this in my inbox!

What caught my eyes?  A better description of the mission set.  Riverine, small boat, recon and limited scope raids?  Sounds a bit like an enhanced Boat Co. on float. I don't know what "battle shaping" is so I'll just set that aside for a minute.

This give much needed clarity to 2RAR (Amphib) mission.

Its also a bit curious.

I don't mean to be critical, just factual. 

Look around the Pacific.  Check out the other Marine Corps in the region.  S. Korea, Indonesia, China, the Philippines and even Japan are all going for heavier, mechanized Marine Corps. 

To state it plainly, it looks like the Aussies are building a force that looks more like the Royal Marines than it does the USMC.

Evolution will occur and watching the Aussie Army get its sea legs will be fascinating.  I wonder though.  If they're this constrained on men and material can they afford to try and split the difference?  The only force I'm aware of that has successfully fielded an Amphibious Army in the modern era is the Italians with the Lagunari.

If I was to make a bet on where the Aussie Army will go in the future it will be to somewhat mirror the Lagunari in a smaller package with the 2RAR (Amphib).  Oh and that includes eventually buying amphibious assault vehicles.  Land 900?

Does the US Army and Marine Corps need the Iron Dome for peer vs peer warfare?

Between periods of watching the Saints body slam the Lions I've been thinking about capability gaps that the US Army and Marine Corps face on the upcoming battlefield of peer vs peer combat.

I keep circling back to artillery and aviation threats.

Even now I think it will be a VERY bloody affair but on the ground as currently constituted I think we can more than hold our own.  Tanks, IFVs and Infantry I feel give us an adequate  if not overwhelming advantage.

Its the enemy artillery and our ability to withstand the barrage that concerns.

Having said that I wonder if it isn't time for the USMC to reinvigorate its Air Defense Artillery Battalions and attach them to every Regiment.  Of course the Army should do the same and as the lead agency I would hope that they would acquire systems that are modular enough to be used by the Corps.

In light of the cruise missile/ballistic missile threat maybe its time to bite the bullet and buy the Iron Dome.  It's ready now, and even has a naval variant that can cover our landing forces/sea base.  If we can decide on a proper high mobility platform then it can even cover gaps as we move toward the objective when we're out of range of naval coverage and haven't yet established ourselves on whatever target has been selected.

Yeah its Israeli but we can rename it to Iron Hammer, Deflector Shield or whatever will make the critics stop bleating like a bunch of frightened sheep.

Iraq is the pus filled tumor that won't heal...Reliable Kurds battling Waffling Iraq Govt.

via France 24

The presidents of Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan held talks Sunday to defuse an escalating crisis, after a deadline for Kurdish forces to withdraw from disputed positions was extended by 24 hours.

Thousands of Iraqi troops are locked in an armed standoff with Kurdish peshmerga fighters in the oil-rich province of Kirkuk, amid spiralling tensions following last month's vote by the Iraqi Kurds for independence.

The crisis is raising fears of fresh chaos in Iraq just as the country's forces are on the verge of routing the Islamic State group from the last territory it controls in the country.

Kurdish forces, who were key allies in the US-backed offensive against IS, are refusing to surrender positions they took during the fightback against the jihadists over the past three years.

Iraq's central authorities had demanded the Kurds withdraw from disputed areas overnight but the deadline was extended by a day following talks.

“It is basically a political standoff and a military standoff. Both sides… cannot afford to back down, 

Story here. 

So what do we have here?  The Kurds and Iraqi Govt forces are fighting?  Yeah. Just fucking perfect.

If you want to know why I so despise the Neo-Cons and globalists in the govt then point to this as just one small example.

Everyone and their mother has been filling my in box with news of this fight but to be honest I've been waiting to see what CentCom would come out with. I even held out hope that Tillerson would engage.

To show you how desperate I was for some type of action I was on this issue then check this out...I was waiting for Ivanka's husband to even step up to the plate.

It's quiet as a grave at midnight.

Not one fucking word.

US troops are on the ground and in the air and our policy makers and even combatant commanders are dazed and confused.

This.

This fucking region of the earth is like a pus filled tumor that won't heal. 

We solve one fight (ISIS) by mistake (thank you Russia and Assad) and what happens next?  One reliable ally (the Kurds) are taking up arms against a wavering, idiotic, and down right stupid ally (Iraqi Govt).

I've personally had enough.

Will someone tell me again why this region is so important to the safety and security of the United States?  Will someone please tell me why it's worth one more drop of American blood or one more cent of our money?

If you can't do it without heading off into fairy land with talk of democracy and self determination and other nonsense then you can't convince me of a thing.

These people and this region just ain't worth it.

Bold Alligator 17 scaled back? No big deal...real world always comes first!

via Press Release.

Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces (USFF) Command and Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command (MARFORCOM) will commence Bold Alligator 2017 (BA17) in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and at-sea Atlantic ranges Oct. 18 through Oct. 30.

Bold Alligator 17 will be a live, events-driven exercise featuring U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and partner nation forces. The exercises will provide the Navy and Marine Corps team tactical level training for amphibious operations which are core requirement to maritime power projection.

While the scope of the exercise has been modified because of U.S. and partner nation efforts in the wake of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, BA17 will incorporate amphibious, carrier strike group, air wing, and expeditionary mine countermeasures operations to provide a rigorous training environment for the combined forces. "The Bold Alligator exercise series advances how integrated naval forces operate with our allies and partners," said Adm. Phil Davidson, commander, USFF. "Improving Navy-Marine Corps amphibious core competencies with coalition, allied and partner nations is a necessary investment in the current and future readiness of our forces." 

I've heard wailing and gnashing of teeth over this exercise being scaled back because of a real world situation involving the aid of fellow citizens both on the continental United States and Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands.

Why?

The US Navy and Marine Corps have conducted numerous exercises this year. To say that this is the one indispensable exercise is I think taking it much too far.

Real world always comes first!  Whether its combat or HA/DR on our own shores we always prioritize.  

Supporting Marines/Sailors in the field always comes before exercises depicting fictional scenarios.

US Army's Mobile Protected Firepower Program...what do we need it to do?

A reader made a comment on my blog post showing the ST Kinetics candidate for the MPF.

"So we're paying 100x the cost for the same capability as a T-55".

That's not exact but close enough and it made me pause in my tracks.  What are we looking for in our new quasi light tank?  Obviously we're looking for a vehicle that can bust bunkers.  Being able to effectively take out  the heavier APC/IFVs that are coming online is desirable too.

But do we need it to be able to engage enemy MBTs?

I think not.

And that is the rub.  Many are looking for this vehicle to mount 120mm cannon so that it can fight above its weight.  In my estimation that is a fools errand. We don't want these crews to hook and jab with heavy armor.  If there is no choice and the battle dictates it that's different but out the box we want our anti-tank missile men to engage those MBTs while the MPF vehicle keeps them clean of enemy infantry.

Additionally load outs for these vehicles should be biased toward infantry support.  Copious amounts of high explosive and beehive rounds with maybe only a couple anti-tank shells should be the norm.

In essence we're carrying on that proud tradition of British Infantry Tanks, most notably the Matilda II.

I understand the concept or at least I think I do, but what has me puzzled are the solutions.

Why are they basing it on an APC hull?  Of the three contenders only one (BAE) is actually presenting a "tank" like vehicle.  The other two are going with an APC type solution.

Is it a negative?

No not really.  Not for the roles that I believe its expected to fulfill.

But its not really an elegant solution.  I keep looking at the Chinese Light Tank and I wonder why a "baby Abrams" hasn't been put forward.  A 40 ton solution that mirrors the M1 Abrams layout would seem to be a no brainer.  Go for a lighter armor, diesel engine and perhaps even keep the 120mm gun for commonality and you have what I would consider a winner.

Regardless I keep circling back to that statement.  100x the cost to get the capabilities of a T-55 MBT.  I think that will  haunt this program and the US Army for as long as this program exists.

Open Comment Post. Oct 14, 2017

German Minister proposes introducing Muslim holidays sparking backlash...

Muslims perform Friday prayers on Skalitzer Strasse (street) in Berlin September 19, 2014

via Reuters.

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere has upset fellow members of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative bloc by proposing that Germany introduce Muslim public holidays.

Germany is home to around 4.5 million Muslims, many of whom have a Turkish background. Many of the more than a million migrants who have arrived in the country from the Middle East and elsewhere over the last two years are also Muslims.

Speaking on the campaign trail ahead of an election in the northern state of Lower Saxony due on Sunday, de Maiziere - a member of Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) - said he was open to certain regions of Germany having Muslim public holidays.

He pointed out that All Saints’ Day was only a public holiday in Germany’s Catholic regions and added: “In places where there are many Muslims, why can’t we think about introducing a Muslim public holiday?”

Story here. 

When I read the title my reaction was "This shit is outrageous"!

Then I read the entire article and I found myself modifying my position.  They have Catholic holidays in certain regions?  Is it asking too much for a Muslim holiday?

I'm not sure.

Then I brought this home to the good ole USA.  My thinking was that eventually this is gonna find its way here so how do we head it off at the pass? How do we prevent another divisive issue from ripping apart anymore of the melting pot/social fabric?

My solution might seem brutal and I'm sure a bunch of racists would endorse it but at the end of the day I think it's the only real solution.

Any holiday based on race, sex, religion or nationality needs to be banned on a national level and the decision sent to the states to determine.

What does that mean?

No more federal holidays for black history month (hit my particular demographic).  No more hispanic month, gay month, pacific islander etc....

I hear ya saying it.  What about Christmas?

Sorry but every rule has its exceptions.  Christmas remains.  The non-Christians will call it Happy Holidays but the consumerism that flows from that day must be continued for the benefit of the country.

Would Federal employees lose holidays?  Nope.  They would still get the same days off but it would simply be called a holiday and not a celebration of a certain group.

I say again that this is far from a perfect solution but this issue will migrate to the US simply because nonsense that originates in the EU always comes this way.

Better to reach a sensible solution that punishes all rather than a fight that will further divide.

Russian counter move. Iskander Missiles in response to US deployments....

via Statfor.com

Retired Russian General Vladimir Shamanov, head of the Duma's defense committee in the Russian parliament, said Oct. 12 that Russia might deploy its Iskander missile systems to the Kalininigrad region in response to the deployment of an armored division of U.S. troops in Poland, Radio Free Europe reported. Russia accused the United States of quietly and illegally building up troops, tanks and armored vehicles in Poland and the Baltic region during Russia's 2017 Zapad joint military exercises in Belarus. Both the United States and NATO deny claims of any violation of the NATO-Russia Founding Act.

This should have been expected.

I am constantly amazed by people that believe the enemy will not respond to our activity.  While we can shout we're deploying troops to Europe to deter aggression, reassure allies and to act as a stabilizing force the reality is much different.

Forward deployment of troops is a failed concept.  There is a reason why it was not pursued after the fall of the Soviet Union.  It makes no sense and is unnecessarily provocative. 

But if you don't believe that then consider this.  I have been shouting that the US has been running its troops ragged doing all kinds of nonsensical exercises on the European continent while being actively engaged in two wars, suffering HA/DR work that is getting short changed back home and needlessly inflaming issues better solved diplomatically.

Putin is called a devil but he has signaled that he is ready to work with the US on a number of issues and has also indicated that he is ready for a reset in relations.

Those efforts were rebuffed by the Russian phobic media and now we have this.

Iskander Missiles poised to actually menace Europe.

The more exercises that are being run in Europe the more we will inevitably see counter moves by Russia.  It's to be expected and military leadership should be ready to account for that.

Instead of reassuring allies and stabilizing the situation there, I contend that the current stance of our forces is doing the exact opposite.  De-escalation is needed now before a mistake is made.