Greta is learning that if you stay too long you become the villain

Boomshackalacka pic.twitter.com/9z6y0t7gEN

— RWNutjob (@Stickelliott) January 19, 2023

Don't know why you only get the "boomshackalacka" of that dude's response. Here's a pic of the WHOLE thing...

Revisiting that Proceedings article on what Force Design 2030 is and isn't...

 I was just re-reading that article and came across this.  Long story short?  They're telling it to our face that the EABO is just a fucking bullet sponge to take hits so the fleet doesn't.  Check out this portion...

Of course, given the modest size of the currently envisioned EAB munitions, it is most appropriate to view this at the operational level at which the EAB’s primary contribution, should deterrence fail, is to enhance the joint kill web while the adversary reduces its stockpile of precision-guided munitions (PGMs) in a costly effort to destroy the EABs.

So the Commandant and his planners have come up with a concept that says hey shoot at the Marines and not our warships.

They're assuming risk in even dangling Marines in front of Chinese weapons though.

Again they give it away.

"Given the modest size of the currently envisioned EAB munitions"...

So in other words the firepower of the MLR will probably be so small that Chinese countermeasures can either easily absorb the hit (or in their estimation destroy the incoming anti-ship missiles) and continue hunting our fleet.

Which is something they admitted too.

The Commandant emphasizes the ISR portion of this monstrosity and not it firepower.

I thought I was over the top when I said this is a trip wire force designed to die in place.

Read the article again for yourself but looks like I understated things.

This concept is bullshit.

I don't believe they actually ran wargames where this made a difference....at least not how they're building it.

This force won't kill ships and it won't give info to the joint force that they couldn't get by other means.

This force is designed so that when shit kicks off there is no off ramp for negotiations because Marines died and its hoped that national fever will rise so high that war is guaranteed. 

Turks are taking close in defense VERY seriously on their LHD....UPDATE!!!!

UPDATE!  When you expand the pic you can read carried aircraft. They're talking about having 50+ attack UAVs aboard!  Imagine if the USMC and USN were actually serious about sea denial!  You wouldn't have to wreck the Ground Combat Element to do it.  You could just put 100 (if this can carry 50+ then the America class has to top 100) attack UAVs onboard our LHAs and do some serious sea denial work!  Once again lack of imagination strikes. I wonder if that's really what we're missing today.  Look back at the concepts explored in the 50's and 60's.  Our scientist/dreamers were pushing the envelope everywhere and the US govt was all in on seeing if it worked.

Note.  Remember when the Tarawa class had (I believe) 4 - 5in guns to cover all sectors?

click on pic to expand

Wait! I thought all SPMAGTF-CR were being disbanded! Now we have this....MV-22B Osprey aboard the dry cargo ship USNS Green Ridge (T-AK-9655), in support of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa (SPMAGTF-CR-AF)

 Remember this from Marine Corps Times.

Based out of Moron Air Base in Spain, SPMAGTF-CR-Africa Command quietly was shut down in the fall of 2021 Stars and Stripes reported, while budget cuts ended SPMAGTF-CR-Southern Command.

“The realignment of resources and removal of a dedicated rotational force (SPMAGTF-SC) from USSOUTHCOM was based on national and service competing priorities,” Maj. J.A. Hernandez, a Marine Corps spokesman, told Marine Corps Times in June 2021.

The Marine Corps’ budget request for 2022 said the Corps would be able to save $3 million a year by cutting out the deployment, money that could be focused on funding Force Design 2030 and the Corps’ pivot to focusing on China.

Here.  Pics via DVIDS along with the caption.

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Justin Suszek, an MV-22B Osprey crew chief, with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, places wheel blocks around the wheels of an MV-22B Osprey aboard the dry cargo ship USNS Green Ridge (T-AK-9655), in support of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa (SPMAGTF-CR-AF), at Pier 6 Marine Terminal, San Diego, California, Jan. 17, 2022. SPMAGTF-CR-AF is a self-mobile crisis response force that conducts theater-security missions to protect U.S. personnel, property, and interests in the U.S Marine Corps Forces Europe/Africa area of responsibility. Suszek is a Mentor, Ohio, native.

 So why the reversal?  I know that all the bubbas working at Quantico are well aware of this but I thought the final word had been said and these things were gone with the wind.

Is this the only one brought back and is it in response to the war in Ukraine or is it a course change.

If I recall correctly this was one of the bill payers for FD2030.

Quick hit on the Ukraine/Russia war. We need accounting!

 If you're a reader of this blog then you know I have severe misgivings about this war.

Of concern, is it's cost, its reason for even starting (and I'm talking about activity pre-invasion) and of course accounting of where our aid is going.

With that being said I can't find a complete list of all the military aid that has been given to Ukraine.

NO WHERE!

I can find lists of Russia tanks and IFVs and even aircraft lost.

I can find partial lists of the same for Ukraine.

But as far as a COMPLETE list of armor, missiles, UAVs, loitering munitions...A COMPLETE LIST of gear that's been given to the Ukrainians its not to be found.

Why?

I contend but obviously have no proof that with the exception of tanks (which have been used STUPIDLY by both sides), we've already re-equipped their force several times over from where it was at the start of this fight.

Kennedy was spot on....

¨Our growing softness, our increasing lack of physical fitness, is a menace to our security.¨

~ John F. Kennedy

Kennedy was spot on.  

Get in shape.  Move your body.  Get to the gym.  Reject the idea of fat shaming.  It's a myth.  Encourage your bros, family and friend to get it together.

Its about saving lives now AND national security.

A nations of fat slobs is just an invitation to a fitter, stronger, and more determined foe to fuck us up. 

If Poland follows thru with transfers of Leopard MBTs over the objections of Germany will forever shatter arms sales worldwide...

Poland said it would supply Ukraine with German-made Leopard battle tanks if Germany doesn't grant approval for the transfer soon https://t.co/JWMuB3fT4Z

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) January 19, 2023

This is about to get real. If Poland actually follows thru with this threat then the whole apple cart gets turned over. Weapon sales will become so "legalized" that costs will skyrocket. I don't know but I think that would be the least of the problems with this. Poland is emotionally involved to the point that it could almost destroy arms sales as we know it. Someone better walk them back from the brink with this one.

Israel Aerospace Industries unveils a new, in-development, hand-launched guided missile, dubbed Point Blank

The Israel Aerospace Industries unveils a new, in-development, hand-launched guided missile, dubbed Point Blank, that can hover or loiter in the air before attacking a target, or land vertically back to the soldier’s hand. A multi-year contract has been signed with the US DoD. pic.twitter.com/pvql80R0Nv

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) January 19, 2023

Sweden is sending the best IFV in NATO to Ukraine...

Sweden is preparing another military aid package for Ukraine. It will include:

- Up to 50 CV90 infantry fighting vehicles;
- Unspecified number of FH77BW L52 Archer 155mm self-propelled guns;
- NLAW anti-tank missiles;
- Demining equipment.https://t.co/FYn67ciGvD pic.twitter.com/vw21Sxpqw9

— Status-6 (@Archer83Able) January 19, 2023

I consider the BAE CV90 to be the best IFV in NATO. FULL STOP!

To me its no debate. From my chair it has the best mobility across all terrain, best armor, and best firepower. It checks all the boxes. Combat has transformed a bit and you have worries about loitering munitions now but if Regiment is on point then they shouldn't have to worry about that anyway. 

If Ukraine ever actually adopts maneuver warfare and decides to build a spearhead Brigade then the CV90s should be the IFV of choice for it. 

If past performance is an indication of future results then I expect the Ukrainians to waste this fine vehicle. Time will tell.

So I'm assuming Ukraine now wants Leclerc MBTs now?

Western nations wax philosophical about what is and is not a “tank.” And so do we, bien sûr. pic.twitter.com/GxOvi7jYRs

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) January 19, 2023

The pure audacity! It's almost like they're flipping thru brochures of Western hardware seeing shit and then damn near demanding it. First it was Leopards, Abrams and now Leclercs? One thing is certain. Something bad is happening on the battlefield cause we're getting a new rush of weapon requests AND shipments. Whenever these guys get pressed they ask for more shit instead of adjusting tactics. This is attrition warfare at its worst.