Monday, July 26, 2021

Sci-Fi

 




China warns the UK's Carrier Strike Group not to get too close...

 via Global Times

The US has been instigating its allies to stir up trouble in the South China Sea in recent years. This article by the Washington Examiner is even more blatant in urging Britain to send a warship within 12 miles of Chinese territories. It can be concluded that the US is the biggest destroyer of peace and stability in the South China Sea.


The term "special relationship" was coined by former prime minister Winston Churchill after WWII. And it has been used to describe the unique alliance between the US and Britain. In recent years, some analysts have questioned whether their "special relationship" could continue.


US President Joe Biden chose the UK as the destination of his first overseas trip, and he issued a statement pledging to affirm the "special relationship" with the UK when he met Johnson in June. This embodies the US' intention to strengthen its "special relationship" with Britain. When the US sees China as its top rival, it is roping in all its allies, including the UK, to counter China.


From the perspective of the UK, after Brexit, the country hopes to increase its influence on global affairs by leveraging its special relations with the US. London has more pressing needs to underline its "special relationship" with Washington, and London's strategic demand for the US is rising.


"Against this backdrop, the US has the initiative. As a result, how special US-UK relations are depends on Britain's performance. Washington also intends to exploit London as cannon fodder to test China's reaction," Wang Yiwei, director of the institute of international affairs at the Renmin University of China in Beijing, told the Global Times.

Here 

All Domain Reconnaissance Detachment conduct helocast training...

U.S. Marines with the All Domain Reconnaissance Detachment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, leap from a CH-53E Super Stallion assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 (Reinforced), 11th MEU, during helocast training at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, July 15, 2021. Helocasting is a method for quick and efficient entry into the water from a helicopter, during amphibious operations.

Soframe 8x8 armored recovery trucks

Army Recognition story here

New lightweight vehicles tested by Royal Marines

 

New Chinese Airborne MLRS?

 

1st Warsaw Brigade's Leopard 2...

 


Light Amphibious Warship: A Mistake For The U.S. Marine Corps And Navy?

 via 19fortyfive

The trouble with this acquisition strategy is that the Sea Services look like they are going all in for LAW, even though it appears to be flawed both technically and operationally. At 14 knots, LAW will be a slow ship. It would take one to two weeks to make the trip from Hawaii to the first island chain, even if it had the range. Being slow also means that if detected, it would have little chance of evading attack or, lacking adequate armaments, of defending itself. With respect to self-defense, LAW would be vulnerable to mine warfare when approaching the shore.


Supporters argue that because it is relatively small and slow, and able to use its shallow draft to land on unguarded beaches, LAW will be able to avoid detection by hiding among the great number of small cargo and fishing vessels that operate in the littoral waters of the Indo-Pacific theater. This assumes that most of these vessels will not run for cover when war breaks out.


The LAW operating concept also fails to appreciate how rapidly surveillance technologies of all kinds are proliferating in the region. Over the next decade, China may be capable of creating a robust network of surveillance assets and supporting analytics to find, fix and target ships as small as LAW. There is no worse combination of attributes when it comes to the survivability of warships than slow and visible.

Here 


Chinese defense expert says the short distance between China & Taiwan means they'll complete all combat tasks before we can react...

via Newsweek
"The current drills a short distance away could be considered a routine exercise, but I think they're specially targeted [at Taiwan]," Du added. "Taiwan is the target."

"How much time would the U.S. really have?" Du said, in the event China decided to launch a wave of attacks to invade the island.

He added: "Before U.S. forces arrive, we will have completed all our combat tasks. They will have no chance to intervene in a Taiwan Strait conflict."

Here.

I've stated the same.  Anyone that disagrees is just being foolish and hasn't looked at a map.  The only way we can viably defend Taiwan is if we have forces on the island to act as a tripwire...along with the stated intent to go nuclear should landings be attempted.

Barring that, the defense of Taiwan is a fantasy. 

 

Open Comment Post. 26 July 2021

Saturday, July 24, 2021

My 10.5 AR now has a little brother...a 7.5!

Made a little course correction. I'm gonna go on and make my 10.5 into an SBR, and use this 7.5 as my truck gun. More maneuverable, able to spit fire (and spit fire it does...damn near literally...definitely need to try and find a fix to keep the flash out my eyes!) and still throwing 5.56's at close to shortish medium range. I like this little beast. Now an optic that I can beat/bash but still buy on a budget!

Friday, July 23, 2021

Rosomak IFV with ZSSW-30 turret.