SNAFU!

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Port Seizures. The new Marine Corps mission & Amphibious exercises everywhere....

The Rangers are suppose to be airfield seizure experts. The 82nd practices that mission too. One thing the Marine Corps does, but doesn't often practice is port seizure. That really should be a mission set that gets more attention. If 80 percent of the world's population lives near a coast then it probably makes more sense to seize ports than to create one 100 miles off shore. That would jeopardize the sea basing concept but its my contention that the concept is flawed anyway. Which is better. Seizing a port that is half functioning that you can rapidly flow your forces into or establishing a fully functioning sea base 100 miles out to sea that you still have to shuttle forces to the beach?

Below are pics from Carat Exercise, 26th MEU back loading and more from the Red Beach Assault from Dawn Blitz.

Was Hastings the victim of a hit?

Ok.

Here we go.

In many of the conspiratorial parts of the internet, its been rumored that Michael Hastings was the victim of a well planned hit. I laughed it off and thought that it was simply one of those unforeseen acts of God.

Now? Not so sure. Check this out from FoxNews.

Mere hours before the fiery car crash that took his life, journalist Michael Hastings sent an email to friends and colleagues urging them to get legal counsel if they were approached by federal authorities.
“Hey [redacted] the Feds are interviewing my 'close friends and associates,'" read the message dated June 17 at 12:56 p.m. from Hastings to editors at the website BuzzFeed, where he worked.
"Perhaps if the authorities arrive 'BuzzFeed GQ', er HQ, may be wise to immediately request legal counsel before any conversations or interviews about our news-gathering practices or related journalism issues.”
Hastings added that he was onto a big story and that he would, “need to go off the radat [radar] for a bit,” according to KTLA in Los Angeles.
Fifteen hours later, in the early morning of June 18, Hastings was driving a Mercedes C250 at a high speed when he lost control in Los Angeles’ Hancock Park neighborhood, causing the car to fishtail and crash into a palm tree. The impact caused the car to burst into flames, trapping the 33-year-old inside.
Conspiracy theories surrounding Hastings' death began to circulate almost immediately.
On Twitter and several sites across the web, speculation was rampant that the death of Hastings — whose 2010 article for Rolling Stone led to the resignation of U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, then head of the U.S. operation in Afghanistan — was no accident.
Also Friday, WikiLeaks released two messages on Twitter that added fuel to the fire.
“Michael Hastings' death has a very serious non-public complication. We will have more details later,” said the first. Two hours later, WikiLeaks tweeted more specific information.
“Michael Hastings contacted WikiLeaks lawyer Jennifer Robinson just a few hours before he died, saying that the FBI was investigating him,” the second message read.
It was speculated by others that Hastings was working on a story about Drone Surveillance in the U.S.
LAPD officials said on Friday that no foul play was suspected in the fatal accident, although that did little to quell theories about his death.
Investigators are trying to determine whether there was a mechanical problem with the car, according to the Los Angeles Times. The car burst into flames after hitting a tree in the one-car accident at 4:20 a.m. Law enforcement sources said the car was believed to have been traveling at a high rate of speed.

Uh.

Wow.

Royal Navy in decline? Mike from the UK doesn't think so!

Note: I have stated that the Royal Navy is in decline...and that decline cannot be reversed. I stand by my assessment. Mike, however disagrees. Strongly. Below is a note that he sent me.

The Fleet
Strike carriers
Queen Elizabeth class 65,000 tons
HMS Queen Elizabeth (launch 2014, sea trials 2016/17)
HMS Prince of Wales (assembled by 2014, launch 2016)

Assault/Commando carriers
HMS Ocean LPH (22,000 tons)
HMS Illustrious LPH (to decommission 2014)
Ballistic Missile Submarines SSBN
Vanguard class 16,000 tons
HMS Vanguard
HMS Victorious
HMS Vigilant
HMS Vengence
Hunter-killer attack submarines SSN
Trafalgar class 5,300 tons
HMS Tireless
HMS Torbay
HMS Trenchant
HMS Talent
HMS Triumph
Astute class 7,400 tons
HMS Astute
HMS Ambush
Inbuild
HMS Artful (2015)
HMS Audacious (2018)
HMS Anson (2020)
on order
HMS Agamemnon (2022)
HMS Ajax (2024)
DestroyersType 45 or Daring class 8,000 tons
HMS Daring
HMS Dauntless
HMS Diamond
HMS Dragon
HMS Defender
HMS Duncan (to commission in September)
Type 82
HMS Bristol (training vessel)
Frigates
Duke class 4,900 tons
HMS Argyll
HMS Lancaster
HMS Iron Duke
HMS Monmouth
HMS Montrose
HMS Westminster
HMS Northumberland
HMS Richmond
HMS Kent
HMS Portland
HMS Sutherland
HMS Somerset
HMS St Albans
Amphibious ships
Albion class LPDs 19,000 tons
HMS Albion
HMS Bulwark
Bay class LSDs 16,000 tons
RFA Lyme Bay
RFA Mounts Bay
RFA Cardigan Bay
Mine-hunters
Sandown class 600 tons
HMS Penzance
HMS Pembroke
HMS Grimsby
HMS Bangor
HMS Ramsey
HMS Blyth
HMS Shoreham
Hunt class 685 tons
HMS Ledbury
HMS Cattistock
HMS Brocklesby
HMS Middleton
HMS Chiddingford
HMS Atherstone
HMS Hurworth
HMS Quorn
Patrol ShipsRiver class 1,700-1,850 tons
HMS Tyne
HMS Severn
HMS Mersey
HMS Clyde (Batch 2)
Ice Patrol shipsHMS Endurance (6,500 tons)
HMS Protector (5,000 tons)
Survey shipsHMS Scott (13,500 tons)
HMS Roebuck
HMS Echo (3,470 tons)
HMS Enterprise (3,470 tons)
HMS Gleaner (launch)
Patrol BoatsP2000 & Scimitar class
HMS Scimitar
HMS Sabre
HMS Pursuer
HMS Dasher
HMS Express
HMS Explorer
HMS Example
HMS Exploit
HMS Archer
HMs Biter
HMS Smiter
HMS Tracker
HMS Raider
HMS Puncher
HMS Charger
HMS Ranger
HMS Trumpeter
HMS Victory Flagship of the First Sea Lord
Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels
RFA Argus (Aviation (has been used as LPH) & hospital ship -18,280 tons)
RFA Fort Victoria (Replenishment & fleet support ship - 33,675 tons)
RFA Diligence (Forward repair ship - 10,765 tons)
RFA Orangeleaf (tanker - 40,870 tons)
RFA Wave Knight (fast fleet tanker - 30,700 tons)
RFA Wave Ruler (fast fleet tanker - 30,700 tons)
RFA Fort Rosalie (Replenishment & fleet support ship - 23,482 tons)
RFA Fort Austin (Replenishment & fleet support ship - 23,482 tons)
RFA Gold Rover (small tanker 11,522 tons)
RFA Black Rover (small tanker 11,522 tons)
As above
Bay class LSDs 16,000 tons
RFA Lyme Bay
RFA Mounts Bay
RFA Cardigan Bay
Inbuild
Tide class tankers 37,000 tons
RFA Tidespring
RFA Tiderace
RFA Tidesurge
RFA Tideforce
There are also 6 Point class Ro Ro Sealift ships each of 23,000 tonsHurst Point
Hartland Point
Eddystone
Anvil Point
Longstone
Beachy Head
Serco Denholm operates 100 fleet support vessels at the three main Royal Navy bases HMNB
Portsmouth, HMNB Devonport & HMNB Clyde.
Fleet Air Arm
5,200 personnel
173 aircraft in 20 active squadrons including: training, SAR, ASW, small ship flights, Commando support & AEW.
In the future the FAA & RAF will also jointly operate 48 F-35B Lightening lls, with possibly more being ordered in a second tranche later.
Aircraft
Fixed-wing
3 F-35B Lightening lls (45 more on order)
14 T1 Hawk trainers
5 Grob Tutor trainers
4 King Air trainers
Helos
4 Wildcats (24 more on order)
30 Merlin HM1s (ASW)
37 Lynx HMA8/HAS3/AH7 (ASW & AsuW)
34 HU4 Commando Sea Kings (medium lift)
15 HU5 Sea Kings (SAR)
13 SAaC7 Sea Kings (AEW or HEW)
3 Dauphin (FOST)
UAVs - £30 million ScanEagle deal
The Royal Marine Commando Corps
7,600 Royal Marines and 700 reserves
61 landing vessels and fast attack craft
Royal Navy Personnel
35,250 (being reduced to 30,000)
2,570 volunteer reserves
26,520 regular reserves.
So despite the significant cuts to the RN in recent years it is still more capable than the other European fleets in several key areas: SSNs, Amphibious capability, Fleet support vessels,
MCM vessels, Amphibious troops & in the future carrier strike.
This is a long email already, but i will just give a few examples of the above.
SSNs - The French Rubis class SSNs are only 2,600 tons and have a loadout of just 14
Exocet SM39 missiles & F-17 torpedoes, then compare that to the Astute class, 7,400 tons and a
loadout of 38 Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles.
The Rubis replacement the Barracuda class SSN will still not be as capable as the Astutes,
the Barracudas will be around 5,000 tons and have a maximum loadout of 20 SCALP NCMs &
F21 heavyweight Torpedoes.
European Amphibs - French, Italian & Spanish.
France
3 Mistral class LHDs
1 Foudre class LPD (Being decommissioned in French white paper).
2 or 3 leased sealift ships
Italy
1 Cavour class light carrier/LHD 26,000 tons.
1 Garibaldi class light/assault carrier 13,850 tons (may soon be decommissioned)
3 small LPDs 7,000 tons
Spain
1 Juan Carlos class LHD/light carrier 26,000 tons
2 Galicia class LPDs 13,815 tons
compared to:
UK
HMS Ocean LPH
HMS Illustrious LPH
HMS Albion LPD
HMS Bulwark LPD
RFA Lyme Bay LSD
RFA Mounts Bay LSD
RFA Cardigan Bay LSD
6 Point class Sealift ships RoRo
10 other RFA Replenishment and support vessels, many of which can ferry helos.
Also worth mentioning that the Queen Elizabeth class carriers will have an amphibious capability
and will be able to deploy several hundred RMs and a large number of helos, depending on the air group. The QE's lifts were also designed to take Chinooks.

Replenishment/Fleet support vessels.
Most European fleets only have one or two replenishment vessels, even France only has four Replenishment ships & 3 leased sealift ships, which is less than half the capability provided by the RFA's 19 ships.
MCMVs
The RN's Hunts & Sandowns are probably the most capable mine-hunters in any fleet.
Amphibious troops
France -
500 Commandos de Marine (Special Forces)
1,800 Fusilier Marine - But their main role is protection of French naval bases.
(This excludes French Army units).
UK - 8,300 Royal Marines including 3 Commando Brigade
The Netherlands - 4,800 Marines - including two infantry Battalions

Italy - The Lagunari & San Marco Regiments - 2 Battalions - around 2000 naval infantry

Spain - Marine Infantry Brigade - 3 Landing Battalions.
(However I doubt that Italy or Spain could land more than one battalion each by amphibious assault, and then only if the landing was unopposed).

Carrier Strike
France - The Charles de Gaulle is a capable platform when she is in service, but the French have abandoned plans to build a second carrier, so when she is in refit there will be long periods when they have no carrier available, her next refit will be from 2015-2018/19.
I would bet that when she is finally decommissed France will not build another strike carrier, and will opt for two large LHDs instead.
UK - Despite the arguments over STOVL versus CATOBAR the QE's will be very capable platforms, they are 25,000 tons larger than the CdG, and can carry an air group of over 40 aircraft, if they parked some on the deck they would be able to carry over 50 F-35Bs & helos.
There has been a lot of nonsense written in the past, especially in the Torygraph & DM, about one of the QEs being sold etc, but that was never going to happen once the ships were named.
Besides there would have been a huge fucking scandal if either ship were sold at a loss, not to mention public outrage, damage to national prestige, and the press would have had a field day, the politicians realize that so it was always a none starter. Not to mention the only realistic buyer would have been the French, and they have given up on a second carrier.
Anyway why sell it to a foreign power for a fraction of what she cost to build, just to get crucified in the press, much better to have both ships in service, or at least one in reserve/refit while the other is the on call carrier.
The only people who ever thought one of the QEs would be sold are those gullible enough to believe the wild stories the Tories leak to the Torygraph, which they always do, so that when the real cuts are announced they do not seem too bad. A few anti British types probably hoped one of the ships would be sold as well, the same people who were ranting on for years that both ships would be cancelled and never built, yet here we are with QE due to launch in a few months.
Even if one of the QE's were put in reserve, the UK would still be in a better position than France, as the RN will have one carrier available all the time, and in a crisis could perhaps surge both.
I wrote a couple of articles in support of the carriers for a naval mag a few years back, when it seemed likely that one or even both ships could be cancelled, so I like to delude myself that I played a very minor part in saving them from being axed.
Major Surface combatants
UK - 19 (6 Type 45 destroyers and 13 Type 23 frigates).
France - 12 First Rank frigates & 5 Second Rank Light frigates.
(I do not include the 3rd Rank Floreal class as they are only corvettes/OPVs)
Germany - 13 Frigates (going down to 11)
Italy - 12 (going down to 10)
Spain - 5 F-100 class frigates & 6 light frigates.
So the MN only has 12 "First Rank Frigates" and even if you include the 5 La Fayette class light frigates as first rank vessels, then France still only has 17 escorts, most of which are smaller and less capable than the Royal Navy's 19 Type 45s/23s.
Also once the two old Cassards are scrapped the MN will only have 2 AAW frigates/destroyers, compared to the RN's 6 Darings.

Dawn Blitz Air Assault by LCpl Scott Reel.

Today is the beginning of the Korean War. Historic vids are on the Military Channel.

On this day in 1950, along the 38th parallel: North Korea invades South Korea, beginning the Korean War. Watch our video collection on the battles, equipment, and people involved in this three-year long conflict >> http://bit.ly/1cifPpc

Anti-gun? Not after this! Hesitant to teach your wife shooting? Not after this!

New York News | NYC Breaking News

Brit Thunder in Kenya

Blast from the past....A-11 (SR-71?) with F-106's...via Sobchak Security Blog.

Raytheon delivers first NASAMS High Mobility Launcher to Norway

The NASAMS High Mobility Launcher provides transportability to maneuvering forces. Raytheon has delivered the first HML for Norway's National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System to provide Norway with advanced air defense capability. (PRNewsFoto/Raytheon Company, KONGSBERG)

More Dawn Blitz Red Beach Assault pics...by Seaman Molly Evans.

How do you live?

M119A3 digitized 105mm Howitzer vs. The EFSS 120mm Mortar. The debate finally begins....

Institutional memory.

Most times its a great thing to have. If the memory is long and the organization is able to pass along the "what works" and "what doesn't" then that organization has a much greater chance for success.

In the 1950's the USMC was smitten with the possibilities of helo-assaults. In the mode of embracing this new development in warfare, the M422 Mighty Mite was born.

Its time in service was short though. Helicopters evolved and a normal sized jeep was sling loadable with the introduction of the Huey and much more importantly the CH-46. Fast forward to today and once again, the Marine Corps is attempting another revolution in warfare with the V-22. In an attempt to make it work, the EFSS was born. It comprises a 120mm mortar and an internally carried vehicle which looks remarkably like a modernized M422 Mighty Mite.

The whole theory surrounding the EFSS (expeditionary fire support system) is that artillery fires should be internally carried by the V-22, to include its prime mover.

There was little to no debate on the merits of a standard 120mm mortar. The original Dragon Fire concept from which the EFSS was born was based on an automatically firing 120mm mortar that could be emplaced, left and fired remotely at targets entered into its computer. What we have now is a far cry from that futuristic vision (which was made to work)....

The difference now is that there's a debate on whether the 120mm Mortar or the 105mm Howitzer should be the early entry fire support weapon for the Marines.

Read about it here.

Dawn Blitz Beach Landing by Cpl. Jesse Witten, 3rd MAW Combat Camera.

MDT Tiger Light Protected Vehicle

Anders Lejczak concept art...

Unmanned Gripen Concept Art...via Think Defense Blog.

Red Beach Amphibious Assault...photos by LCpl Scott Reel.

Marines and sailors from 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, and Naval Beach Group 1 conducted amphibious landings on Red Beach with Assault Amphibious Vehicles (AAV) and both U.S. and Japanese Landing Craft Air Cushions (LCACs) as a part of exercise Dawn Blitz, June 24. Dawn Blitz 2013 is an amphibious exercise testing U.S. and coalition forces in skills expected of a Navy and Marine Corps amphibious task force.