Thursday, August 25, 2022

Open Comment Post. 25 Aug 22

Posted by at 0 comments

A 1700 foot Tsunami?

Posted by at 0 comments

Apparently the KC-46 is still having issues...

Posted by at 0 comments

First the Brits and now the Finns. Finnish Signal Corps communications workers and others inside ROUTED the U.S. Marines

 via AP

The first surprise, for the Finnish conscripts and officers taking part in a NATO-hosted military exercise in the Arctic this spring: the sudden roar of a U.S. Marine helicopter assault force, touching down in a field right next to the Finns’ well-hidden command post.


The second surprise: Spilling out of their field headquarters, the Finnish Signal Corps communications workers and others inside routed the U.S. Marines — the Finns’ designated adversary in the NATO exercise and members of America’s professional and premier expeditionary force — in the mock firefight that followed.

Ya know what the Marine Corps has been supposedly pushing?

Unscripted exercises.

If the new Marine Corps is getting smashed by Finnish conscripts then its time to case the colors.

The new Marine Corps just ain't got it anymore.  Why don't we ever hear about this happening to Army units?  Only the Marine Corps is a punching bag for allied forces.

Someone at HQMC once again is an IDIOT.  You think this will help the recruiting effort by allowing these kinds of press stories?

You think this will make the American public believe in the mystique of the Marines?

WE HAVE IDIOTS LEADING THE MARINE CORPS THAT DON'T PRIZE ITS REPUTATION! 

Posted by at 0 comments

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Are we slow walking into a major war with Russia? Seems like the old game plan from Vietnam!

Lavish "gifts" of weapons (with NO FREAKING ACCOUNTABILITY!!!)

Training of forces that opens up to "expanded training"

Even more lavish "gifts" of weapons

The "host nation" continues to flounder

Decision makers decide to send advisors

Even with "host nation" troops being led by our warriors ground is still lost

It's decided to send in our forces because this is a fight "for democracy" and to keep the world safe from communism

That's a rough sketch of how we tiptoed into the Vietnam War. From my chair it looks like we're doing a replay of that game plan.

With all the advantages that the Ukrainians have, with them practically SHOPPING in our inventory for weapons that they want (and have been told no only a few times...modern US fighters, ATACMS are the only thing we've refused to my knowledge) they still aren't "winning".

This thing is a stalemate.

Sanctions didn't work.  An information, recon advantage isn't working.  Targeting data isn't working.

We've tried everything except put boots on the ground.

MARK MY WORDS.  THIS THING IS GONNA GO SIDEWAYS!
Posted by at 0 comments

I knew they were digging into warstocks with our "gifts" to the Ukrainians but this is ridiculous!

If this is true then we're taking gear from OUR Soldiers/Sailors/Marines/Airmen to give to the Ukrainians. One thing if its unused/not useful, but gear that is actual in use? We're sacrificing our OWN defense in order to prop up the Ukrainians. 

This is RECKLESS!
Posted by at 0 comments

Combat Logistics Battalion 31, successfully executed the first shore-to-ship by air and back to shore transport of a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle with a CH-53E Super Stallion earlier this month.

Never understood why the Marines do this! I would think that commonsense would be that vehicles/heavy munitions arrived by landing craft and troops/lighter supplies would arrive by air. We seem to have a weird fascination with being able to move vehicles by air (Army/Air Force/Marines) and it just doesn't click. That's why we're lagging in fast heavy sealift!
Posted by at 0 comments

Make this make sense! German Health Minister says vaccination limits the COVID pandemic because vaccinated people develop symptoms quickly and stay home, while unvaccinated people develop symptoms more slowly.

Posted by at 0 comments

They're asking Veterans to help with the nation's recruiting woes? They're smoking crack!

 via Military Times

We need our veterans and military families to step up to help their country once again to prevent the national security crisis that would occur if our military were unable to fight and win when called upon. We need veterans’ assistance in issuing the call to serve and persuading more young people to answer. The situation is critical: The share of young adults who said they would consider military service currently stands at 9%, the lowest number since 2007, according to a Defense Department survey conducted in the fall of 2021.


Our veterans should be deeply engaged at all levels of the recruitment process, modeling how meaningful a life of service can be. They can help us broaden the pool just by showing up and demonstrating to potential enlistees that many people in the service are just like them: Our military is increasingly composed of minorities, women, and the children of immigrants. Veterans can also provide first-person accounts of how their time in the military enhanced their lives and served as a springboard to successful civilian lives.

Story here 

So let me get this shit straight.  They want vets that are seeing what's going on inside ALL the services, disagree with it and hate everything they're being told to suddenly shut up, get in line and tell a young person of worth to join THIS military and serve under THIS commander in chief?

They're smoking crack.

I've tried to talk young people OUT of joining the military!

If the services are screwed its because they did what alot of corporations have done...they went WOKE and now they're going BROKE(N).

Sucks to be them.  My recommendation.  Get your shit together then come back and ask later. 

Posted by at 0 comments

Textron Cottonmouth Amphibious Recon Vehicle prototype completed for USMC Mobile Reconnaissance Battalions

 


via Press Release

Textron Systems is excited to announce that they have completed the prototype vehicle build of the Cottonmouth ARV as a part of their Ground Vehicle System Other Transaction Authority via the National Advanced Mobility Consortium. The team started build following extensive testing with the Alpha prototype vehicle over the last year and completion of the Critical Design Review in April of this year. The prototype vehicle build was completed in four months – an impressive feat considering the supply chain issues impacting the entire defense industry. Since the Cottonmouth ARV’s debut last year and Textron Systems’ selection by the United States Marine Corps (USMC) as one of two companies to deliver a prototype vehicle for the ARV, the team has been hard at work to deliver the vehicle in December 2022.


“The team did an excellent job accomplishing the required design milestones to create a vehicle that meets and exceeds our customers highest priority requirements, and in doing do in less than a year. Considering the complexity of the build, it’s a huge accomplishment,” said David Phillips, Senior Vice President, Land and Sea Systems at Textron Systems.


The Marine Corps requires a family of vehicles to equip its future Mobile Reconnaissance Battalions. These vehicles must be light, connected, highly mobile and capable of negotiating littoral water obstacles such as bays, estuaries, rivers and light surf. With its clean sheet design focused on these requirements, the Cottonmouth ARV is a next-generation amphibious reconnaissance vehicle that is poised to be the most advanced military vehicle to date. The vehicle’s open system architecture allows for different mission roles and capabilities to be integrated for systems today and well into the future.


“We can’t always predict what the next requirement will be. But we can ensure our vehicle systems are rugged, survivable, reliable and easily adaptable for growth. Whether it’s loitering munitions, counter unmanned air systems technology, mesh networks or something yet to invented, this vehicle will enable our customers to incorporate it,” said Phillips.


The vehicle was put through its first round of Contractor Verification Testing Aug. 1-12, which took place at Textron Systems in greater New Orleans, Louisiana. The successful testing is the first step to ensure that the vehicle meets USMC expectations and is the first in a series of rigorous testing that the vehicle will go through before delivery to the USMC for U.S. government-led testing.


The successful first round of Contractor Verification Testing is proof that the ARV program is the right path for the Marine Corps. Textron Systems aligns with our customer’s needs – supporting and helping achieve the Commandant’s Force Design 2030. Cottonmouth is the integrative and unmatched solution for the future reconnaissance/counter-reconnaissance battlefield.

Gawd Damnit!  Textron get on the freaking ball boys!  I'm up North from New Orleans so how about an invite to see this rig! 


Side note.  I've highlighted the Cottonmouth so I have no issue with the GD vehicle being at the top of the page.

One thing stands out to me though.  I wonder who's getting this right.  GD seems to be trying to push an "old skool" look at how LAR (soon to be Mobile Recon...wonder if we're gonna eventually see the MOBILE INFANTRY!!!) operated with a nod toward the new vision while Textron seems to be pushing the new skool look of things.

Who is right will be interesting.

Posted by at 0 comments
Subscribe to: Posts ( Atom )