Today is the anniversary of the D-Day Invasion.

Some websites you should check out...

US Army History...The Normandy Invasion in Pictures.


The National D-Day Memorial.

Update on Force Protection's Timberwolf Tactical Armored Patrol Vehicle.

Remember my article on Force Protection's Timberwolf TAPV?  Well it appears that I owe them an apology for 'holding their cards close to the vest'...not only are all the contenders doing that, but Mr. Pruitt from FP responded to my inquiry and added that because of the Canadian RFP not being complete--he couldn't answer questions at this time.

Fair enough.  Add to it that Force Protection responded to my e-mail then they get more than a pass...they rate a Bravo Zulu.  He did state that further information would be available soon...so when I get it so will you.  No further info.

Team Timberwolf Website.

ANGLICO and Radio Battalion in the fight....

COMBAT OUTPOST SHUKVANI, Afghanistan-Cpl. Scott Harvey, a cryptologic linguist with Operational Command Element 2, 2nd Radio Battalion, Task Force Belleau Wood, listens for insurgent radio activity, May 8. Radio Battalion consists of linguists and signal analysts who provide coalition units with indication and warning of insurgent activity., Lance Cpl. Bryan Nygaard, 5/7/2011 8:14 AM

COMBAT OUTPOST SHUKVANI, Afghanistan-Sgt. Joseph Graham, a forward observer with Fire Control Team 5, Supporting Arms Liaison Team Chuck, 2nd Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company monitors a village for insurgent activity, May 7. Marines with 2nd Radio Battalion, Task Force Belleau Wood, supply units like 2nd ANGLICO with indications and warning of insurgent activity., Lance Cpl. Bryan Nygaard, 5/7/2011 7:15 AM

Nevada Automotive Test Center...

The Nevada Automotive Test Center...if you're into military vehicles, then this is probably one of the most important quasi-government orgs you've never (maybe) heard of...
Nevada Automotive Test Center

Hi-Rez Photo of Textron's Tactical Armored Patrol Vehicle (TAPV)

photo courtesy of Textron Marine and Land Systems

Another reader made the comment that this vehicle is simply a re-do of their M-117.

My response is yeah and ???

The Canadians have hit on something here.  Clean sheet designs might not be the 'be all to end all'...perhaps modified vehicles tailored to requirements is the future...especially with constrained budgets.

Personally---I like it.

Off Road Law Enforcement Vehicles...

Wow...I didn't know this was such a big business out West.  First vid is of a home built - specially designed rig and the second is of a Polaris Razor, heavily modified for off road tactical/Police use.  Enjoy!

UK Apache's get the attention...HMS Ocean does the work.

I've watched the deployment of the UK's Apache Attack Helicopter to the Libyan War Zone with a bit of "I told ya so" and more than a bit of amusement.

The news media has been so focused on the Apache's that they've missed what many know but don't want to admit.

Forward based, expeditionary (in fact not name) forces are the key to winning the current and future conflicts that the Western world will face.  The Royal Air Force...heck the NATO land air forces have once again demonstrated the limits and weaknesses of land based air power.

Libya. 


A third rate military power.


A nation at war with itself.

A nation that is feeling the full weight of an air campaign being conducted by the most powerful military alliance in the world...still stands.

If there was any lab that should demonstrate the 'coming of age' of modern land based air power thinking then this should be it.


But it isn't.

So what has France and Britain been forced to do?  They've been forced to have Army Aviation operating off Naval Warships to attempt to win the day.

So tell me again how smart it was to retire those Harriers/Carriers?  Imagine if you will this campaign if...
1.  The UK still had Harriers operating off its carriers!
2.  The US was forward leaning and had MEU(-)(+) Reinforced Composite Air Wing (Sea Control) operating off the coast.
3.  Italy was fully committed and had its carrier and Harriers up and flying strikes...
4.  Spain was fully in the fight with its carrier...
Do you get the force of connection here?  Expeditionary Naval Air power could make all the difference.  Air power as exercised by Air Force General's just isn't getting the job done.

Vehicle in Blog Title...

Its an upgraded Marder Close Combat Vehicle/IFV Close Combat.

Here's a downloadable version...

Battalion Landing Team 3/1 participate in Mechanized Raid Course.

All photos by Photo by Lance Cpl. Ryan Carpenter

Marines and sailors serving with Lima Company, Battalion Landing Team 3/1, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, engage enemy combatants during a mechanized raid course here May 17. The course helps Marines and sailors become familiar with the tactics and gear that will be used in the unit’s upcoming deployment.

Pfc. Kevin E. Messer, a rifleman with 2nd platoon, Lima Company, Battalion Landing Team 3/1, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, yells for Marines to board an amphibious assault vehicle during a mechanized raid course here May 17. The course helps Marines and sailors become familiar with the tactics and the gear that will be used in the unit’s upcoming deployment.

Marines and sailors serving with 2nd platoon, Lima Company, Battalion Landing Team 3/1, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, cross a road concealed by smoke during a mechanized raid course here May 17. The course helps Marines and sailors become familiar with the tactics and the gear that will be used during the unit’s upcoming deployment.

Marines and sailors serving with 2nd platoon, Lima Company, Battalion Landing Team 3/1, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, cross a road concealed by smoke during a mechanized raid course here May 17. The course helps Marines and sailors become familiar with the tactics and the gear that will be used during the unit’s upcoming deployment.

Flying Tigers take on harsh Bridgeport terrain

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif.-A crewman with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 conducts a pre-flight inspection on a CH-53E Super Stallion May 20, 2011, on the flight line at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport, Calif., Lance Cpl. Sarah Dietz, 5/20/2011 3:20 AM

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif.-A CH53-E Super Stallion with HMH-361 lands at the Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport, Calif., flight line May 20, 2011, during high altitude training., Lance Cpl. Sarah Dietz, 5/20/2011 6:42 AM

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif.-A crew chief from HMH-361, looks out the window of a CH-53E Super Stallion during a flight over the MWTC, Bridgeport, Calif. Many of the pilots have never flown in the center’s high altitude and snowy conditions., Lance Cpl. Sarah Dietz, 5/20/2011 7:25 AM

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif.-A CH-53E Super Stallion crew from HMH-361 tests their aircraft at the MWTC Bridgeport, Calif., May 20, 2011., Lance Cpl. Sarah Dietz, 5/20/2011 7:36 AM

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif.-A CH-53E Super Stallion crew from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 test their aircraft on snowy terrain at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport, Calif., May 20, 2011. For many of the Marines, this was the first time they landed in snow., Lance Cpl. Sarah Dietz, 5/20/2011 8:23 AM

Another F-35C flies out to PaxRiver...

Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan Canin ferried F-35C CF-3 to NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, on 3 June 2011. Canin ferried the third F-35C during a 2.9-hour flight from Fort Worth, Texas. The flight was the fifth for the aircraft. CF-3 joins six other F-35B/C models now being flown at the US Navy’s flight test center.

The Frech JHSV Killer...the Multi-Purpose Patrol Craft 2.

The Multi-Purpose Patrol Craft 2 looks (on paper I know) to be a better JHSV.  Not only can it perform the same missions as the JHSV but it can also land gear directly on the beach and then turn around and perform the patrol mission...

I like it.

2059

Textron's Tactical Armored Patrol Vehicle (TAPV)

photo via the Ottawa Business Journal

The Textron Tactical Armored Patrol Vehicle.

Textron, like the other entrants into this Canadian program, is holding its cards close its vest.  If anyone has any good info then hit me up.

UPDATE:

Rheinmetall Canada and Textron Systems Canada will offer a 4x4 wheeled armoured vehicle specifically engineered to meet the Canadian Forces’ requirements for survivability, mobility, and lethality across a broad spectrum of operations in the toughest terrain. The modern design includes a new protection package designed to shield troops from roadside bombs.
Rheinmetall Canada will perform multiple integration functions, including integration of remote weapon stations and government-furnished equipment. The company will also play a large role in the integrated logistics and in-service support for the vehicle.

Ok, a little Google-foo revealed the above blurb on the Rheinmetall website.  Interesting.  I really was expecting Rheinmetall to submit the Boxer, or the Puma.  This competition just became about the most interesting armored contest in the West.

Foreign Aid will be a hot button topic...even aid delivered by the military.

via Fox News.

The United States is providing hundreds of millions of dollars of foreign aid to countries that it borrows billions from, according to a report by Congress's research arm.

The Congressional Research Services released a report last month, a copy of which Fox News exclusively obtained, showing that in fiscal year 2010, the latest year that data was available, the U.S. handed out a total of $1.4 billion to 16 foreign countries that held at least $10 billion in Treasury securities, including China ($27.2 million), Brazil ($25 million), Russia ($71.5 million), India ($126.6 million), Mexico ($316.7 million) and Egypt ($255.7 million).

I'm cynical.  I think that this is a story designed to protect all foreign aid by attempting to highlight the aid that we're giving to countries that don't need it.

This will be a hot button subject for this political season.  Cuts are coming...to defense, entitlements etc...but foreign aid has to be part of that mix too.

And in my mind that includes the aid given to nations through the dubious Partnership Exercises.

UPDATE:

Wow.  I took down this post initially because I knew that the liberal readers of my blog just wouldn't be able to take it.  Having read this story from DefenseNews, I can see that I was spot on.

Here's a tidbit...

In the final continuing resolution for 2011, the department's Economic Support Fund (ESF) lost close to $2 billion from its budget request. The fund provides money to countries around the world to help them overcome short- and long-term political, economic and security problems.
"That is a huge cut when you're talking about the relatively small ESF account, and it has impacts on countries around the world and it's forcing us to make very hard choices about where to invest our dollars and where to cut," Sullivan said.
The cuts also come as the State Department is trying to increase its operational capability so that it can better partner with the military services in the field, he said.
To stave off further reductions, the State Department is making its case to Congress that it needs every possible dollar requested.
"We have to show them that we are finding ways to increase efficiency and deliver more effectively," Sullivan said.
But the case needs to be made beyond Capitol Hill, he said. Recent polls show that Americans support cuts to foreign aid, but they also dramatically overestimate its portion of the federal budget.

Riverine Forces finally wakes up.

Seems like the powers that be have finally woken up to the fact that we have Riverine Forces that aren't in the fight.  Read the story here.

Tuesday, the Navy tested the ability to dock and secure the RCB and the smaller riverine patrol boat in the well deck of the anchored dock landing ship Oak Hill during a proof-of-concept test held at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.
Riverine force leaders gave the demonstration a thumbs-up. If senior Navy leaders agree, the riverine force could find itself with a new post-Iraq war mission set outside the green-water arena for which it is designed, and the Navy with yet another capability for the flexible and heavily deployed amphibious force.

My guess.

Riverine looked around, put its finger up in the breeze and didn't like the direction that the wind was blowing.

Remember my posts here?  Well even though this is a positive development, it doesn't go far enough.  If Riverine's are going to continue then they need to become attached to the MEU.  JHSV's as some are talking about won't be operating in as independent a fashion as some imagine.

They are ship to shore connectors.  They aren't combat boats.  And unless the Riverine's attach themselves to either Amphibs or LCS then they're done once the budget cutters come. 

The facts are simple and stark.

We have a war fighting capability that can't get to the scene of conflicts and worse aren't visible to the Combatant Commanders (or worse still, the Commanders see no use for them).

Ballsy Landing...

Nice Animation.

CV90

"Gun Bunnies" ---correction...The King of Battle gettin' some...

I got wore out just watching this....

Pacific Partnership Missions. Missed opportunities on the homefront.

The US Navy just released an article touting its Pacific Partnership Missions.  Read the whole thing but here's a blurb...

After 13 days of working with local medical, dental and engineering professionals in Papua New Guinea, serving close to 11,000 people, Pacific Partnership 2011 concluded its mission May 31 and got underway aboard amphibious transport dock ship USS Cleveland (LPD 7).

and this...

Since the first mission in 2006, Pacific Partnership has visited 15 countries, treated more than 230,000 patients and built over 150 engineering projects in 15 countries. During this year's mission, the Pacific Partnership team has treated more than 21,000 patients, participated in thousands of contact hours of formal SMEEs, and built classrooms and water catchment systems in all three of its mission ports.

I have no problem in helping others...but if the Chief of Naval Operations wants to 'get the Navy story out' then perhaps he should start at home.

Imagine if this same effort...the medical and engineering assistance was turned toward our own crumbling schools and poor.  Imagine how the citizens of this country would look at its Navy!

Quite simply.  The US Military should not be globe trotting providing medical services overseas and doing building projects when we have severe needs here at home.

UPDATE:
Check out this press release.  Seems like Missouri Disaster Medical Assistance Team is having to call in a civilian company to provide services that the US Navy is doing for free in other countries.  If you disagree fine.  But this is shameful.  How this can go unnoticed at the highest levels of our military...talking to you Admiral---or have you already packed up for the Vice Chair position?--is beyond me.