SNAFU!

ALASKA (May 3, 2021) A U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet refuels with a U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender over an Alaskan range in support of Northern Edge 2021. Approximately 15,000 U.S. service members are participating in a joint training exercise hosted by U.S. Pacific Air Forces May 3-14, 2021, on and above the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, the Gulf of Alaska, and temporary maritime activities area. NE21 is one in a series of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command exercises designed to sharpen the joint forces’ skills; to practice tactics, techniques, and procedures; to improve command, control and communication relationships; and to develop cooperative plans and programs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Burt Traynor

GULF OF ALASKA (May 3, 2021) A U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit flies over the Gulf of Alaska in support of Northern Edge 2021. U.S. service members are participating in a joint training exercise hosted by U.S. Pacific Air Forces May 3-14, 2021, on and above the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, the Gulf of Alaska, and temporary maritime activities area. NE21 is one in a series of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command exercises designed to sharpen the joint forces’ skills; to practice tactics, techniques, and procedures; to improve command, control and communication relationships; and to develop cooperative plans and programs. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brendan Mullin)

NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN (May 3, 2021) A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor 164 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares to take off from the flight deck aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) in support of Northern Edge 2021. Approximately 15,000 U.S. service members are participating in a joint training exercise hosted by U.S. Pacific Air Forces May 3-14, 2021, on and above the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, the Gulf of Alaska, and temporary maritime activities area. NE21 is one in a series of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command exercises designed to sharpen the joint forces’ skills; to practice tactics, techniques, and procedures; to improve command, control and communication relationships; and to develop cooperative plans and programs. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Nadia Lund)

GULF OF ALASKA (May 3, 2021) The amphibious transport dock USS Somerset (LPD 25) transits the Gulf of Alaska in support of Northern Edge 2021. Approximately 15,000 U.S. service members are participating in a joint training exercise hosted by U.S. Pacific Air Forces May 3-14, 2021, on and above the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, the Gulf of Alaska, and temporary maritime activities area. NE21 is one in a series of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command exercises designed to sharpen the joint forces' skills; to practice tactics, techniques, and procedures; to improve command, control and communication relationships; and to develop cooperative plans and programs. (U.S. Navy photo by Intelligence Specialist 1st Class Daniel Nichols)

GULF OF ALASKA (May 3, 2021) The amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22) maneuvers through the Gulf of Alaska in support of Northern Edge 2021. U.S. service members are participating in a joint training exercise hosted by U.S. Pacific Air Forces May 3-14, 2021, on and above the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, the Gulf of Alaska, and temporary maritime activities area. NE21 is one in a series of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command exercises designed to sharpen the joint forces’ skills; to practice tactics, techniques, and procedures; to improve command, control and communication relationships; and to develop cooperative plans and programs. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brendan Mullin)

GULF OF ALASKA (May 5, 2021) U.S. Navy Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 1st Class Jenna Leggett directs an F-35B Lightning II, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, after landing on the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) flight deck in support of Northern Edge 2021. Approximately 15,000 U.S. service members are participating in a joint training exercise hosted by U.S. Pacific Air Forces May 3-14, 2021, on and above the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, the Gulf of Alaska, and temporary maritime activities area. NE21 is one in a series of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command exercises designed to sharpen the joint forces’ skills; to practice tactics, techniques, and procedures; to improve command, control and communication relationships; and to develop cooperative plans and programs. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jacob D. Bergh)

GULF OF ALASKA (May 6, 2021) The amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) transits waters of the Gulf of Alaska in support of Northern Edge 2021. Approximately 15,000 U.S. service members are participating in a joint training exercise hosted by U.S. Pacific Air Forces May 3-14, 2021, on and above the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, the Gulf of Alaska, and temporary maritime activities area. NE21 is one in a series of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command exercises designed to sharpen the joint forces’ skills; to practice tactics, techniques, and procedures; to improve command, control and communication relationships; and to develop cooperative plans and programs. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Heath Zeigler)

GULF OF ALASKA (May 7, 2021) An F/A-18F Super Hornet, assigned to the “Black Knights” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 154, approaches the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), May 7, 2021, in support of flight operations above the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex and Gulf of Alaska during Exercise Northern Edge 2021 (NE21). Navy, Air Force and Marine aircraft executed flight missions during NE21 demonstrating seamless, joint combat capabilities. Approximately 15,000 U.S. service members are participating in a joint training exercise hosted by U.S. Pacific Air Forces May 3-14, 2021, on and above the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, the Gulf of Alaska, and temporary maritime activities area. NE21 is one in a series of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command exercises designed to sharpen the joint forces' skills; to practice tactics, techniques, and procedures; to improve command, control, and communication relationships; and to develop cooperative plans and programs. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Hayden Burns)

GULF OF ALASKA (May 8, 2021) The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) transits the Gulf of Alaska as part of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, May 8, 2021, in support of flight operations above the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex and Gulf of Alaska during Exercise Northern Edge 2021 (NE21). Navy, Air Force and Marine aircraft executed flight missions during NE21 demonstrating seamless, joint combat capabilities. Approximately 15,000 U.S. service members are participating in a joint training exercise hosted by U.S. Pacific Air Forces May 3-14, 2021, on and above the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, the Gulf of Alaska, and temporary maritime activities area. NE21 is one in a series of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command exercises designed to sharpen the joint forces' skills; to practice tactics, techniques, and procedures; to improve command, control, and communication relationships; and to develop cooperative plans and programs. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Dylan Lavin)

COLD BAY, ALASKA (May 10, 2021) A U.S. Marine Corps High Mobility Artillery Rocket System assigned to HIMARS Detachment, Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, stages in preparation to load U.S. Navy Landing Craft, Air Cushion 79 assigned to Assault Craft Unit 5, at Cold Bay, Alaska, in support of Northern Edge 2021. U.S. service members are participating in a joint training exercise hosted by U.S. Pacific Air Forces May 3-14, 2021, on and above the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, the Gulf of Alaska, and temporary maritime activities area. NE21 is one in a series of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command exercises designed to sharpen the joint forces’ skills; to practice tactics, techniques, and procedures; to improve command, control and communication relationships; and to develop cooperative plans and programs. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Sarah Stegall)

It's amazing.

Everytime I start inching toward believing that I should give Berger's Force Design, in reality a modern day Maginot Line, a chance he goes and says weird stuff.

Have you noticed the captions to some pics I've been posting lately? They've made the subtle but obvious pivot toward not only being a "STAND IN FORCE" but they're also claiming to once again be a "Force In Readiness".

He's still buying the ACV. We're still seeing Textron demoing their version of the ARV. The JLTV is getting a bit more firepower. We'll still be light as hell but ground combat capability could be salvaged to a certain degree.

But then this article from USNI News hits and I'm wondering what the fuck! A few tidbits...

What he settled on is a littoral force that can do anti-surface and even anti-submarine operations to help the Navy achieve sea control and sea denial and to project power.

Let me ask the question that an accountant somewhere will ask one day. Why have a Marine Corps if they're doing sea control/sea denial as their primary mission?

The cost of a few additional Burke's would add substantially more firepower than a Marine Littoral Division(MLD). Hell you could probably get more anti-ship firepower from ONE dedicated anti-ship magazine filled Burke than you could from a MLD.

I won't even touch on the idea of doing anti-sub work but that's just plain looney. I guess that means the Corps is looking at manning P-8's or buying Seahawks huh?

It gets better though.

Commandant Gen. David Berger spoke at the conference just after Gilday and said the focus of his Force Design 2030 effort was to help deter a fight with China and to help compete with them on a day-to-day basis in the gray zone, where China is “eating our lunch” today.
“Part of that is because they play by a different set of rules. They’re blurring the lines between police forces and coast guard and military and politics – they are blurring that intentionally. We have very clear lanes that we stay in, and we haven’t moved off of that, we have not adjusted. We have to,” Berger said.

How does a force "compete"? What gray zone are they talking about? I really need some solid definitions instead of this ambiguous stuff that leaves the definition to each person's imagination.

Regardless, story here.

SNAFU!

Sunday, May 16, 2021

Mig-31 with Kinzhal missile

Navy, Marine Corps integrate with joint forces during Northern Edge 21

Helo Ops aboard the USS Iwo Jima...

The Mamul Rifle by George Pike Tanev

HEMTT A4

ARC-21 PHOTOEX

1/5 Participates in MWX 3-21

Type 05 series amphibious vehicles operating off Type 071 LPD.

Convair R3Y Tradewind ~ 1956 General Dynamics...and ANOTHER proposal for Marines & Seaplanes...

Open Comment Post. 16 Jan 2021

"Silent Black Shark"

Friday, May 14, 2021

Damn it Berger! Everytime I start inching toward believing that I should give your "Force Design" (read that to mean modern day Maginot Line) a chance you say weird stuff...