Army getting raped, America's enemies getting happy...

via The New York Times.

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagelplans to shrink the United States Army to its smallest force since before the World War II buildup and eliminate an entire class of Air Force attack jets in a new spending proposal that officials describe as the first Pentagon budget to aggressively push the military off the war footing adopted after the terror attacks of 2001.
The proposal, described by several Pentagon officials on the condition of anonymity in advance of its release on Monday, takes into account the fiscal reality of government austerity and the political reality of a president who pledged to end two costly and exhausting land wars. A result, the officials argue, will be a military capable of defeating any adversary, but too small for protracted foreign occupations.
The officials acknowledge that budget cuts will impose greater risk on the armed forces if they are again ordered to carry out two large-scale military actions at the same time: Success would take longer, they say, and there would be a larger number of casualties. Officials also say that a smaller military could invite adventurism by adversaries.

I read this and I'm speechless.

The US Army is getting eviscerated.

I thought it was simply bluffs and bluster, but they're actually going to do it.

If you're a Chinese Army Colonel would this announcement cause you pause or would it make you pop the bubbly?

Once these cuts are completed any ground China takes is ground they keep. Airpower can't remove an army from the field.  Neither can naval power.

We are seeing the nation's defense weakened right before our eyes.

Panavia Tornado 2000 via War Machine

The Panavia Tornado 2000 was a proposed massive upgrade and possibly a new production model for the Tornado fleet. The Tornado 2000 would not only have new avionics and weapon systems, but a new stealthier body and layout of the aircraft.

Royal Air Force was looking into the Tornado 2000 as potential upgrade, but the UK government and treasury found that the Tornado 2000 was too expensive and focus more on the Eurofighter 2000. 

So, the RAF decided to dropped Tornado 2000 upgrade and go for the for the cheaper solution, in which the RAF decided to upgrade the Tornado GR. MK1 up to GR.MK4 instead.

What's the story behind the discovery of the Prototype LVTP-6's? Ed Gold tells all.

Ed Gold.  Adventurer, Documentary Photographer, Author and World Traveler.

I've teased and pleased with pics of the Prototype LVTP-6 taken by Ed.  Below is his account of how he made the discovery!  Grab some coffee.  Sit back and enjoy.  Its part adventure, part discovery, even part romance and a whole lot of awesome...

In 2009 I journeyed to a remote  community called  This is the most  point and you can see. I'm a documentary photographer and had motorcycled is an village of 150 people. It is very remote . It's on the Bering Sea and the only way to get there is by light aircraft. Single or twin prop. No roads at all! Impossible to drive there from any town or city.

I photographed these two LTVP-6's then and was saddened that they were sitting there abandoned.After my 3 weeks there I photographed British Paratroopers in Afghanistan, went to the Ukraine etc. Then early last year I decided to return to Wales in Alaska to finish this self-initiated project. I went for a month from May to June 2013. It was still Arctic winter then and the sea was frozen. I went seal hunting by boat, got trapped out at sea by icebergs and had to drag the boat a mile across ice, falling in as we did so (with 4 other guys). We managed to get back to the edge of the sea ice (pressure ridge) to safety. This place has its life and death moments with no-one there to save you.

I photographed the LTVP-6's again of course and then left to Anchorage where I bought a Harley-Davidson, found abased book publisher as I wanted to make a book of this work. With the book commission in place I needed more time in the USA since as a British citizen I only get 3 months to visit the USA. I motorcycled to Ottawa, to a pre-booked interview at the US Embassy there for an interview. I initiated a good newspaper story in Ottawa for myself and this helped get me a 10 year US visa so I could return to  to photograph more. I had motorcycled 4000 miles in 8 days and ended up sleeping rough in Ottawa. A girl I met gave me a place to stay and of course things 'happened' so that I flew back to Anchorage instead of motorcycling - I had an annual Inuit dance festival to get back to in Wales in late August and left it late because I was 'involved' with this girl.

So I went back again from August to September for one more month. In total I spent 11 weeks in and it was pretty tough mentally. It's a really deprived environment. Shitting in buckets which you slop out daily. Collect your own spring or lake ice water as nothing is piped. Lots of drug/sex abuse and depression/suicide.

I stay with a very good friend who has lived there for 30+ years and is ex-US Airforce/POW MIA in Cambodia. He will be a good contact for you if you ever want to try and retrieve these LTVP-6's.

The US Navy Arctic Submarine Laboratory was based rom the 50's onwards and that is why the LTVP-6's are there. The Navy was taking ice 'DNA' from that area and re-growing ice back in San Diego. Then they tested submarines on the ice...like surfacing them through thick ice. Apparently that info is classified.

Apparently when the US Navy left they left the LTVP-6's behind in working order but being they got abused, vandalised, destroyed. I originally went to with an open mind, as I do with all projects. I go about my work professionally and without judging people. I am there to communicate what I see to other people.

There is alot more to the note Ed sent and you'll notice the parts that I have blacked out  left out making it a choppy read (thanks for the heads up Erik!).

The reason is simple.

I'm still hiding the location in the hopes that someone from the Armor, Marine Corps or AAV museum might be interested enough in this piece of history to at least investigate (although I hope to see it on display...the LVTP-6 is the missing link when it comes to Marine Corps Armor).

All in all, it was a pretty ballsy expedition.  I can't imagine doing it myself, but I'm glad Ed did.

 https://www.facebook.com/EdGold.co.uk

www.edgold.co.uk

http://about.me/ed_gold/

Sidenote:  Why am I so jazzed about this find?  Well think about it.  What does the Marine Corps do well?  It tells the story of its Infantrymen.  It tells the story of the Air Wing.  It doesn't do as good a job when it comes to telling and teaching the story of Marine Corps Armor and Artillery!  Both are important, war winning parts of the Marine Corps Ground Combat Element but for some reason they're simply footnotes.  The M103 Heavy Tank.  The LVTP-3C which served in the Korean War.  The 8in Howitzer.  The 105mm Howitzer.  All unknown to most Marines and only found on the pages of modeling and gaming websites.  The story needs to be told.  That's why Ed's story is so important.

Chinese H-6K in MCAS Futenma strike package configuration via Chinese Military Review

Sino H-6K Badger Strategic Bomber of the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) carrying 6x CJ-10 Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missiles. 

Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) has used light weight composite materials in H-6K Badger Strategic Bomber airframe to reduce its overall weight and it is powered by efficient and powerful Russian D-30KP-2 turbofan engines which results in increased combat radius of 3,500 kilometres.

Impressive load out of long range cruise missiles.  6 per plane and assuming a strike force of 10 airplanes and you're talking about alot of pain incoming.

And that's not a particularly large force.

Could our anti-ballistic missile system handle that many incoming "vampires"?

AEGIS could but what about our land based systems?

While putting up missile shields in Poland has merit, wouldn't it make more sense to get a few of those land based systems in Okinawa, Guam, Hawaii and maybe Australia (I won't mention Singapore because I don't think the political will is there...they're playing a great man in the middle game)?

Talk the boss off the ledge

You work directly for the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC).

The boss is pissed.

He wants an ass on the fire and won't be satisfied until he hears it sizzling and the owner of said ass crying out in pain.

What do you do?

Do you talk the boss off the ledge or do you adopt minion mode and do whatever?

Seems like some people in HQMC adopted minion mode.  Check this out from Marine Corps Times.

The “impasse” to which Hughes refers appears to be a Marine Corps Times report published online May 19, four days after his email to Murray and Hogue. Titled “Marine Corps commandant, legal staff targeted in IG complaint,” the report details a Marine whistle-blower’s allegations Amos, Hogue and three additional legal advisers for the commandant manipulated the military justice system to ensure Marines were punished for making an inappropriate video in Afghanistan.
Murray, whose boss is Lt. Gen. Robert Milstead, deputy commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, answered Hughes’ inquiry within 30 minutes. Her reply was brief and direct: “Chris,” it reads, “I just discussed this with Gen. Milstead, and he says, ‘this is the dumbest idea he has ever heard, and he will not entertain it.’ I’ve advised our M&RA team to cease any review of below.”
Milstead’s command has responsibility for the exchange stores and commissaries on Marine Corps installations. The order to move Marine Corps Times came quietly in December despite Milstead’s apparent unwillingness to entertain Hughes’ inquiry.

Read the whole thing here.

It appears that I might have painted the Marine Corps General Officer Corps with too broad a brush.

Some backbone still exists.

Some still have ethical standards, moral courage and aren't swayed by the idiocy of politicians in uniform.

Amos has to go.  We all know that.

But after he's gone, we need to do a thorough house cleaning to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Sidenote:  I still contend that Amos' actions stem from directions from the White House that wanted the Marines in the urination video punished to the max.  I base that off nothing but gut instinct.  The remarks by senior administration officials and the President...along with the "push" to placate the Muslim street I believe is the root of all this institutional drama.

Royal Thai Armor at Cobra Gold. Photos by Sgt. Artur Shvartsberg

USMC & JGSDF Amphibious Landing Vid. Will allies be interested in the MPC?

Every allied Marine Corps with the exception of the S. Koreans (they license built AAVs) is in need of a replacement for the AAV.

Will our allies that have Marines be interested in the MPC?

I ask the question mainly looking at the Pacific.  No matter how doubtful I am about the "partnership missions" there is no doubting that many nations like to operate US hardware.  Considering the growth in Marine Forces in the Pacific this seems like a no brainer.

Whoever wins the MPC contest will have a leg up on the competition to modernize our allies amphibious armored forces.  A relatively small vehicle buy by the USMC could turn out to be extremely valuable.

Note:  BAE believes that the US Army might eventually buy an amphibious vehicle to complete its Pacific Pivot.  I don't know what information they have they gives them that idea but the display of the SuperAV at Ft. Benning late last year didn't escape my notice.

Philippine Navy revives the "PT Boat" concept to harass Chinese intruders.

Note.  I'm having a bit of difficult finding pics of the Philippine Multi-Purpose Attack Craft.  I've seen photos of the CB-90 & others showing an indigenous design.  Which one is correct is beyond me.

via Balita.ph

MANILA, Feb. 7 — The Philippine Navy (PN) is planning to transform its MPAC (multi-purpose attack craft) squadron into a force capable of harassing foreign ships that may intrude in the country's territorial waters.
The Navy presently operates six MPACs, three of which were obtained from Taiwan and the other three from Filipino shipbuilder Propmech Corporation which is based in Subic Bay, Zambales.
Navy officials said the MPACs are suited for these mission as they could go in, attack or harass the offending vessel and evade quickly.
To create this capability, more heavier weapons and longer range sensors and surveillance will be installed on these 45-knot small craft.
PN MPACs are 16.5 meters long, 4.76 meters wide and has a draft of one meter and a top speed of 45 knots.
Each one costs around P90 million. It has a range 300 nautical miles. The hull is made of high-quality aluminum and is crewed by one officer and four enlisted personnel.
It is capable of carrying 16 fully-equipped troopers or two tons of cargo.
The MPAC is also capable of operating in territorial waters up to "Sea State 3" (slight waves) without any system degradation and is armed with one .50 caliber and two 7.62mm machine guns. (PNA)

I've read on other websites that China isn't a threat to the region.  That the region is peaceful and that there have been no aggressive moves by China on its neighbors and that the biggest dangers to peace in the region come from Japan and the United States.

We all know better.

What I find interesting and fascinating is that one of the poorest nations in the region is taking it upon itself to fashion a defense against the Rising Dragon.

Oh and before you downplay the ability of small, swift boats with impressive firepower to  effectively engage, harass and even sink larger ships I remind you of our own experience in World War 2 with our PT Boats.  They were a small but potent cog in the war wheel and helped win the war.

If war comes the Philippine people will do the first thing that must be done when facing an attacker.

Forcefully resist.  I hope we stand with them.

Are autoloaders the future for US Main Battle Tanks?

Above you see pics of the T54E1.  Its a blast from the past that explored placing an oscillating turret with an autoloader on an M-60A1 chassis.  The only reason why it wasn't put into production was because of issues with the autoloader, but the implications and potential of the design remain.

A 105mm, rapid firing cannon could decimate almost any target on the battlefield (especially if it used depleted uranium rounds) and would change tank tactics forever.

Is the future for US Main Battle Tanks autoloaders?

Theoretically you could have a much smaller turret, you could reduce crew size and the vehicle would be harder to detect AND lighter to transport....call it an oversized RWS system only it uses a heavy cannon instead of machinegun.

KADBB tried it with the Falcon Turret mounted on a Challenger MBT chassis.  I think its time for the US Army and Marine Corps to trial this version (or develop something similar/better) on an M-1A3.

Sharp, short, punishing and decisive armored engagements will be a hallmark of future combat in my opinion. An autoloading tank might be the winning weapon in such a battle.

More Ed Gold pics of the prototype (I think) LVTP-6.

All pics via Ed Gold.  Not to be reproduced with his permission.

Below are pics of the vehicle from Marine Corps archives.

F-35 jet stress tests may be halted for as long as a year?!

via Bloomberg

On-the-ground stress testing for the U.S. Marine Corps version of Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35 jet may be halted for as long as a year after cracks were found in the aircraft’s bulkheads, Pentagon officials said.
Testing of the fighter’s durability was stopped in late September after inspections turned up cracks in three of six bulkheads on a plane used for ground testing, said Joe DellaVedova, spokesman for the F-35 program office.
The previously undisclosed suspension of the stress testing may increase scrutiny of the Marine Corps’ F-35B, the most complex of the three versions of the plane, during congressional hearings on the Defense Department’s fiscal 2015 budget. The department plans to request funds for 34 F-35s, eight fewer than the 42 originally planned, according to officials. Six of those planes would be for the Marines.
“We consider this significant but by no means catastrophic,” Frank Kendall, the Pentagon’s undersecretary for acquisition, said in an e-mailed statement. While the program office is still performing an assessment, “based on preliminary analysis, a redesign” of some F-35B structures will be required, said Kendall, who has a master’s degree in aerospace engineering.

Oh yeah.

Believe Elements of Power!  Nothing to see here.  This plane is golden!

Bullshit.

IOC in 2015?  Only if you don't mind pilots flying a plane that my disintegrate around them.

Kill this turkey now.  Buy Super Hornets, keep the Harrier in service with upgrades, start the 6th gen F/A-XX and a Harrier replacement and STOP THROWING GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD! 

General Dynamics Marine Personnel Carrier. Whats going on?

Whats going on with General Dynamics and their MPC entrant?

Have you noticed that we've seen every other competitors vehicle?  Have you noticed that even with the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV...replacement for the M-113) we've seen that they're working on a "tracked" Stryker?

So why nothing with the MPC?

The only thing we've seen is a video (made by a civilian who had no idea what he was taping) and the screen capture I made of it. I really wonder whats going on inside GD that has them this spooked.

Make no mistake, the PLA Navy is focused on war at sea and about sinking an opposing fleet.

Thanks to Bob for pointing me to this article.

via GenerationalDynamics

"Suffice it to say that my assessment is that the PLA Navy has become a very capable fighting force. Much of the intelligence record is classified beyond what we can discuss in this forum, but just to give you one example, in 2012, the PLA Navy sent seven surface actions groups and the largest number of its submarines on deployment into the Philippine Sea in its history – and a significant increase in some areas from the years before, or just the year before.
Make no mistake, the PLA Navy is focused on war at sea and about sinking an opposing fleet.
The PLA Navy’s civil proxy, an organization called “China Marine Surveillance,” has escalated a focused campaign since 2008 to gain Chinese control of the near seas, and they now regularly challenge the exclusive economic zone resource rights that South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, and Vietnam once thought were guaranteed to them by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. ... China is negotiating for control of other nations’ resources off their coasts. “What’s mine is mine, and we’ll negotiate what’s yours.” ...
Incidentally, unlike U.S. coast guard cutters, Chinese marine surveillance cutters have no other mission but to harass other nations into submitting to China’s expansive claims. Mundane maritime government tasks like search-and-rescue, regulating fisheries, ice breaking and criminal law enforcement are handled by other agencies. ...
In my opinion, China is knowingly, operationally and incrementally seizing maritime rights of its neighbors under the rubric of a maritime history that is not only contested in the international community, but has largely been fabricated by Chinese government propaganda bureaus in order to quote-unquote “educate” the populace about China’s “rich maritime history” clearly as a tool to help sustain the Party’s control.

Question.

How many of you have been so focused on the various hotspots around the world...from the Ukraine, to Syria, to Egypt, to Venezuela, to Brazil, to Thailand etc....that you took your eye off China?

I did.  Did you?

That's a luxury our far left (internationalist that believe in a responsibility to protect) and our far right (the US is the indispensable country) seem to forget.

China is the quintessential threat we face!

We must focus on fighting China.  And with that in mind I ask.  Is the F-35 the warhorse that will  carry us to victory?  How about the LCS?  Is now the time to cut the number of aircraft carriers?  How about Army Brigades and USMC Battalions?

History will look back at current leadership...both civilian and military...with contempt.  We're making all the wrong moves at precisely the wrong time.

Could a Turkish Landing Ship Tank save the US Army in the tilt to the Pacific?

I was making a swing around the internet this morning and ran across this story from Defense News.

The impetus to find scant dollars in budgets that have already squeezed out once-critical programs like the Ground Combat Vehicle is, of course, Washington’s strategic rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region.
The Army operates several varieties of watercraft and logistics ships from tugboats to large Logistics Support Vessels, but at issue are the four-decade-old Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM) ships that can operate from ship to shore, carrying troops and equipment up to the weight of five Abrams tanks.
The service issued a request for information to industry for the program in early 2013 that it is calling the Maneuver Support Vessel-Light.

Read the entire story but my question is this.  Is the US Army thinking too small?  Some believe that for the near term, the US is going to mainly build relationships, conduct tons of exercises, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

With that being said a couple of ships that can sail together carrying a Brigade Combat Team (-) might be just what the Army needs to get back in the "relevancy" game.  For war you would link up with the Navy but for operations other than they could ferry the US Army around the region.

With that being said wouldn't the SNR Tank Landing Ship be a better fit than an LCM?  More info on the LST is here.

And if the Army is just stuck on a LCM type vessel then how about something with a bit of speed behind it like the TCG C-155 also from a Turkish Shipyard? Read about this vessel here (make sure to take a look at their proposal for a LST under naval projects).

Is the F-35 death spiral already in progress?

From UKNDA.org via Defense Aerospace (note the below is from a UKNDA commentary).

The Joint Harrier Force, which comprised the upgraded Harrier GR9s,was withdrawn from service and the Joint Strike Fighter order was reduced from 138 to 48.

This is from an organization is that advocating for more robust UK spending on defense.

Is this a simple mistake or did they let something slip?

Time will tell.

  Uknda Commentary No.4 - February 2014

Havoc 2.0....what makes it improved?

Upfront.

Get over it.  You know I've been beating the drums about the need for a new Marine Corps troop transport (the MTVR is not and will not cut it and the AAV is getting long in the tooth) so a focus on the revived MPC is happening on these pages.

Which brings me to this.  When Lockheed Martin responded to my query about them continuing to participate in the MPC contest, the response was a fiery yes and that Havoc 2.0 is a go.

Havoc 2.0?

Bravado or an inadvertent slip that the already formidable Patria AMV...already modified for Marine Corps use... was receiving even more tweaks?

After chewing on this for a bit, I've come to the conclusion that it was a slip and that Lockheed Martin is seeking to improve on the one area where they could be considered inferior to the BAE offering.  Swimming.  Below are two pics.  One of the standard AMV and below that the Havoc.

Patria AMV undergoing swim tests in Finland 2002.

Havoc undergoing sea test 2013.

Most easily observed is the larger and better shaped swim vane for the proposed USMC model.

Considering the vehicles strengths...combat proven, excellent mobility, architecture designed for growth, IED protection and impressive load carriage/growth...the only thing missing is probably its rating in the swim test.

This is a guess but I fully expect the 2.0 to involve improvements to the vehicles swimming.  What might that include?  I haven't the foggiest but when I find out so will you.

Ed Gold, documentary photographer, discovers a piece of Marine Corps history....

Note:  I was pleased to receive a note from Ed to verify the nomenclature of some abandoned Marine Corps vehicles he found.  I believe them to be a couple of prototype LVTP-6's. The photos are property of Ed Gold and aren't to be used without his permission.  The story of how he found them is absolutely amazing.  Where they are located is puzzling...and all I can do is hope that one day the Marine Corps or US Army Armor Museum will mount an "expedition" to recover these gems and place them with other armored beasts.  The story of the how and where he found them is coming soon...

Ed's BBC work covering 2nd Paras.

Ed's FaceBook page.

I bet they'll never complain about JTAC being slow again...

JTAC and the Air Boys keep confirming coordinates when you need steel on target?

Bet the bitching will stop now.

Oh what was that?  You need to confirm your dope?  Sure buddy!  Take your time, we'll wait...just make sure you have it right ok!

How the Marine Personnel Carrier Contest stacks up.

Yesterday I got word that Lockheed Martin/Patria is back in the fight with the Havoc 2.0 since the Marine Corps revived the Marine Personnel Program.

Later that same day BAE entered the fray and sent this gem...

"...our work on AAV Upgrades, MPC, and ACV. As the U.S. Marine Corps looks to change its amphibious requirements, the BAE Systems/Iveco team stands ready to provide an MPC solution unlike any other.”

I really expected nothing less.

Haven't heard from the folks over at General Dynamics (I wonder why) but this could be considered a blow to their bottom line.  They were the favorites to provide the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) and this type of whiplash has to make them wonder.

All the work to make the EFV blast resistant, all the promise of affordability for that vehicle by removing the complex hydraulics appears lost.

As far as SAIC and Singapore Kinetics is concerned I'm just not that impressed with what I have seen from their vehicle.  A little birdy tells me it made it across the finish line but it did not wow.  That would match my impression of the machine.  Its adequate and if the price is EXTREMELY right then they might have a chance.  IF! (They're holding close information on how the vehicles performed in testing last year...bits of info are being fed but a complete picture will not appear until later)

As far as I can tell this is a two horse race.  Havoc 2.0 vs. SuperAV.  The fight is on.

Clarification:  This is pure speculation on my part, but I really believe that General Dynamics probably viewed the cancellation of the MPC as a win.  I'm betting that they were counting on the de-teched EFV turning into a 1 for 1 replacement for the AAV and that the requirement for the MPC would stay dead.  Extreme pressure from the Marine Corps Mafia and a collective "WHAT THE FUCK" from the ground side regarding Marine Corps procurement killed that well laid plan.

Everyone of these bastards should be forced out of the National Guard! Update.

Thanks for the disturbing link Joe.

Read the story here.

Rant time.

This is what happens when you have an institution that is charged with a very important mission suddenly adopt an attitude that anything goes...that anything is alright and that standards of conduct and bearing are no longer important.

This is bullshit.

Everyone of these bastards needs to be given a Bad Conduct Discharge and the taint of their service removed from the rolls of the Wisconsin National Guard.


Note:  I took a closer look at the pic and want to point out something...

Notice the two Guardsmen that I outlined?  They don't look happy to be there.  Don't look like they want to be in the pic but took it anyway.  Should they be excused?  No.  We expect courage in combat but what about moral courage?  Being courageous on moral issues is HARDER!  So despite the look of "help me" they too should still be punished.