British troops training at BATUS in Canada.

Note:  I'd love for one of those Steel Knight (or whatever they're called now) exercises enter into an exchange period with Canadian & British forces.  One year at 29 Palms, the next up in Canada at BATUS.  Toss in a few Royal Marines and the 16th Air Assault Brigade with whatever Stryker Brigade is available and its a party.

Special Purpose MAGTF-CR is an abomination...and drifting closer to being a MEU.

via Marine Corps Manual.

A Marine air-ground task force organized, trained, and equipped with narrowly focused capabilities. It is designed to accomplish a specific mission, often of limited scope and duration.It may be any size, but normally it is a relatively small force--the size of a Marine expeditionary unit or smaller. Also called SPMAGTF. See also aviation combat element; combatservice support element; command element; ground combat element; Marine air-ground task force; Marine expeditionary force; Marine expeditionary force (forward); Marineexpeditionary unit; task force.

The SPMAGTF-CR is an abomination.  It is a fictional unit that does not fit with Marine Corps doctrine and was produced out of thin air to (in my opinion) certify the Company Landing Team concept and the MV-22.

It has failed miserably.  It is morphing into an MEU without ships or armor and very little artillery....and its throwing an already stretched Marine Corps into unneeded chaos.  Want proof?  Check this out from Marine Times.

In an after-action report from Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command's first 100 days on the ground, task force staff said the "unavoidable and compressed schedule" of the unit's first deployment resulted in minimal predeployment training and forced the unit to rely on I Marine Expeditionary Force headquarters group to assist with tasks like checking Marines into the unit and assigning duties.
The Kuwait-based unit, which activated Oct. 1, began supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led effort to counter the Islamic State group, within its first days on the ground. Troops from the unit are supporting U.S. embassy security operations in Baghdad, Iraq, and are training Iraqi troops in Al Asad. The unit's commander, Col. Jason Bohm, told Marine Corps Times in December that his Marines are also conducting air strikes and surveillance operations and had responsibility for tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel missions in the Middle East.
Because of emerging mission requirements, the number of personnel assigned to the unit increased during the first 100 days, according to the after-action report. The report did not specify how many troops the unit added to its initial strength of 2,300, but said the expansion included additional casualty evacuation capability. The unit was also augmented with a shock trauma platoon and en-route medical care teams to facilitate unit medical care and support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions as needed, the report states.
The unit currently includes: a regimental headquarters from 5th Marines; a ground combat element from 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines; an aviation combat element from 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing with MV-22B Ospreys from VMM-263 and AV-8B Harriers from VMA-211; and other detachments including a KC-130J element and an EA-6B Prowler squadron.

The unit has been plussed up both on the grunt and medical side, has added aircraft in the form of the Harriers and EA-6Bs and I predict that we will soon see AH-1Zs and UH-1Ys.

We actually expect a smaller Marine Corps to support three continuous MEUs, approx 4 to 6 SPMAGTFs, have Marines on the ground in Iraq, support unit deployments to Okinawa and Australia...and still have adequate dwell time for our Marines to keep from going bat shit crazy?

I don't think so.

The answer is simple.  The SPMAGTF-CR needs to go.  MEU's need to be reinforced by adding an AFSB to the Amphibious Ready Group...and a moratorium taken on half baked ideas.

Another step in the pussification of the US Navy is under consideration.

via Navy Times.

For men, getting their head shaved on the first day of Navy boot camp has been a rite of passage for decades.
Women are also required to get first-day haircuts to ensure their hair is trimmed to regulation length, equal to the uniform collar.
But the days of these old traditions could be numbered.
Women taking part in a three-month pilot program at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Illinois, and Officer Training Command Newport, Rhode Island, will not be required to get their hair shorn. A similar move is being considered for men that, if adopted, would eliminate the decades-long ritual.

Just plain wow.

Shaving off hair is about more than bad fashion sense.  It deals with hygiene, removing a major "individual" item (haircuts remove a part of a persons past and they are then "reborn" when they graduate bootcamp) and to promote safety when operating weapons/moving over obstacles/during exercise...etc.

Are Navy officials serious?  Must everything die to accommodate
the new breed of Sailor no matter how idiotic the move is?

Call me a caveman but I don't think this is a smart move.  Its just another example of the pussification of the US Navy.

France is about to burn...

via a reader named Hecate...

Just came out of a meeting with update on situation (all public info), but this is really turning into something interesting:
- several people taken into custody after last night's raids, but the two main suspects remain at large
- the third suspect arrested or has given up
At we were speaking, news came in of another shoot-out in the south of Paris this time, details a bit sketchy at the moment, but it seems a man with a bulletproof vest and armed with an MP5 has shot down two local cops near "porte de chatillon" subway station. He has been arrested and isn't either of the two men named in yesterday's attacks. Don't know about his background but he has a "French sounding" name.
In the Lyon area, 200 miles south east of Paris, which is known for its right wing radicals scene, a mosque has been blown up last night. Accident unlikely according to first police reports ...
so we might see an escalation, as had been warned about, with more attackers/lunatics coming out of the woods, but possibly also first signs of retaliation ... wonder where this is going.

Everyone likes to joke about the French surrendering.

What few people seem to realize is how heavy handed the French have been historically when dealing with "insurgents".  And these folks have picked a fight on French soil.

The French people are inches away from going rabid and the Muslims in that country are about to pay a price.  Pass the popcorn.  This won't be fun to watch but something tells me we won't be able to turn our eyes away from it.

ISIS vs Abrams M1A1 vid (minor rant)

Many thanks to info-infanterie for the vid.



Watch the entire video.  And yes.  I know that its been edited for propaganda purposes but I mean seriously?  Who the hell skylines their vehicle like that?  Who drives a tank into combat against infantry without accompanying infantry?  Who takes flanking fire and leaves the side of their tank to the enemy?  WHAT THE FUCK WERE THOSE TANK CREWS THINKING!!!

And who is teaching those bastards where to hit our tanks? These bastards were trying to hit the ammo storage compartments, the engines and that space identified as a weak spot.

If this is how the Iraqi's are going to use our weaponry then we might as well just send it to the bottom of the ocean as an artificial reef.  At least that way it will be of use to sea creatures.

Chinese Army doubles the size of its Amphibious Mechanized Infantry Division (AMID)

Thanks to Leon for the link.  Article via Army Recognition.

The Chine Army (PLA People's Liberation Army) has doubled the size of its Amphibious Mechanized Infantry Division (AMID) to boost its combat capabilities in the event of a conflict with Taiwan or in the East or South China seas, reports the newspaper Want Daily.
The PLA originally had two AMIDs — one in the Nanjing Military Region and another in the Guangzhou Military Region — comprising a total of 26,000-30,000 soldiers. Between 2007 and 2012, Nanjing's 31st Army Group's 86th Motorized Infantry Division and Guangzhou's 41st Army Group's 123rd Mechanized Infantry Division were both reformed into AMIDs, doubling the total personnel to 52,000-60,000.
The four AMIDs will reportedly strengthen China's combat power as they can cooperate with the 20,000 troops from the PLA Marine Corps to conduct landing assault operations. Each AMID has three battle groups and can carry up to 300 amphibious transport vehicles.

Interesting.

I had been (I believe) mixing and matching units.  I only considered the Chinese Marine Corps as being the units that would come from the sea. The thought that the Chinese Army would dedicate a division to that mission strikes me as...brilliant.  Between the Amphibious Mechanized Infantry, Marine Corps and Airborne Divisions the Chinese are assembling what appears to be an EXTREMELY capable expeditionary force.

I wonder.

Would it make sense for the US Army to dedicate a Heavy Brigade Combat Team to the amphibious mission the way that they do the airborne role?  I don't think it would necessarily mean that the Army is stepping into Marine Corps turf.  Notice that I said Heavy Brigade Combat Team.  I'm beating the drum but I think that we're going to see heavy armor units in the Pacific.  I have my doubts that air power will be as decisive as some think...which means more tanks and heavy IFVs will probably be needed.

Russia's T-14 Armata Main Battle Tank Full Concept

Remember all the fan art that came out for the PAK-FA?  The same for the J-20?

Even if this is fan art, the reality of the situation can't be underestimated.  If the Russians are about to develop, field and sell a new tank that is better or even equal to the best in the West then we're looking at a renewed arms race.

They will have effectively thrown a monkey wrench into current Western armored thinking.

The days of light weight wheeled vehicles could be over almost as soon as it began.  Additionally if they're able to sell enough of them then suddenly expeditionary forces that are focusing on lightly armored vehicles come under threat.  Add a new armored threat to widely dispersed anti-air missiles and suddenly the idea of playing "hey diddle diddle" until you meet opposition and then calling air strikes is over.

We better be prepared to adjust accordingly.

French Counter Terrorism Teams prepare to assault pics.

Thanks to Hecate for the pics.  Note:  Info is trickling in but these are the first pics of French Counter Terrorism Police getting ready to storm the terrorist hide outs.

Avro Arrow - Bourdeau Industries pics.

16 Air Assault Brigade jump over Salisbury Plain

Paratroopers with 16 Air Assault Brigade jump from a Royal Air Force Hercules aircraft over Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire during Exercise Wessex Storm.  The British Army's airborne and armoured reaction forces came together, with the fast and light forces of 16 Air Assault Brigade training with the slower but more powerful troops from 12 Armoured Infantry Brigade. Exercise Wessex Storm saw the airborne infantry of C Company, 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (3 PARA) and the Apache attack helicopters of 4 Regiment Army Air Corps work alongside 1st Battalion Scots Guard, a mechanised infantry unit.

Terror Attack in France.

Sorry folks.

I can't get too excited about this.  Except for the motivation this is simply a mass shooting and several layers of protection broke down.  Activating the entire Gendarme to deal with these guys?  Probably not needed.  They attacked and then fled the scene.  Nothing heard from them in the hours since.

We'll see but I just don't know.  What do you think?

NOTE:  STOP CALLING THESE GUYS PROFESSIONALS!!!!  They exhibited basic weapons handling skill against a soft target, ambushed police officers that displayed poor tactics and shot up an office building filled with (this is not to ridicule the dead just calling a spade a spade) sheep.  I could personally teach any clown off the street the same abilities (and lets be honest so could many of my readers) exhibited by these shooters in 5 days.  If the same person was motivated to commit evil they could do the same act with just that small bit of training.  So to repeat.  Basic weapons handling skills DO NOT make a person a professional.

CF-105 Arrow Mk3 5th Generation Supersonic Fighter Simulation

J-20 on deck via War Machine Facebook Page.

Yeah its fictional but man is it cool!

Sidenote:  Why does it seem like we're already behind in the tech race?  The J-20 might be trash in real life but the saying "if it looks right..." sure can be applied to more and more threat gear.

Something funny in a world of grim news...

Ukraine reinforces frontlines.

via Bloomberg

Ukraine deployed new military aircraft, heavy weapons and vehicles to bolster troops fighting separatists in the country’s east as it continues peace talks with rebels and Russia’s government.
The reinforcements, which included fighter jets, armored personnel carriers and artillery, follow a September truce in which the government paused an assault after rebels drove its forces back in what the country says was a counterattack spearheaded by Russian units.
“Ukraine was able to restore its military preparedness during the cease-fire,” Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said today in Kiev.
If heavy weapons moved to the front line it may conflict with the Sept. 5 cease-fire agreed in Minsk, which has been broken almost daily. Ukraine has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of supplying rebels with tanks, artillery and other materiel. Putin, who says he “respects” the insurgents’ ambitions, has denied involvement in the conflict, which has triggered the worst standoff between Russia and its Cold War foes in more than a quarter century.
The reinforcements include two MiG-29 and two Su-27 fighters, 42 armored personnel carriers, 18 self-propelled howitzers and other vehicles, Lysenko said.

Has anyone noticed something about this conflict?

Airpower is playing an extremely minor role in the conflict.  Could it be that effective anti-air defenses over the battlefield actually can deter close air support in the modern era?

Additionally have you played close attention to the prominence that artillery (both cannon and rocket) has played?

The King of Battle is back!

Make sure you read the entire article.  The developments in the Ukraine conflict are starting to come fast and furious.  The second peace talks break down the fight will be back on.

Desert Hurricane...

At least that's what we called them....via UK Ministry of Defence Flickr...

A lack of support from the usual places for LEOs.

Check this out from SHTF Plan (go to there house to read it all)...

So let’s cut the crap, eh? Being a cop isn’t particularly dangerous as occupations go.
Sworn officers are in fact officers of the court. Lying is unacceptable among both them and any organization that represents them. That means this butt-clown as well as the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association in NYC and Patrick Lynch, their President. Pathological liars are worthy of the middle finger, not respect, no matter who they are.
Further, these organizations are not going to get any sympathy from me as long as we have cops arresting anyone for “DUI” when they choose to sleep off their alcohol in a parking lot rather than drive, nor are you going to get to claim “valor” without a loud pushback from people like myself as long as there is even one cop who reaches a settlement for his alleged attempt to create pornography with the intended target being solicited as a means to void an alcohol possession citation. That’s official corruption and if I pulled something like that I’d be prosecuted instead of being able to slough off the “settlement” on the taxpayers of the town.

No comment on this one.  Just passing it along.  Something weird is brewing though.

Marine detachments aboard ships. To what purpose?

via CDR Salamander.

A little something old, a little something new, a little something borrowed, a little something blue. What it has a lot of is goodness.
With a too small amphibious fleet and the positive aspects of a distributed ability to have forces in place to respond to short notice national security requirements - this move is to be welcomed and encouraged.
BZ to those who led the long march back to ... well ... in a fashion, something out Marines have always done, and done to great affect.

Uh excuse me.  But what the hell are Marine detachments aboard DDGs, Carriers and various other ships going to do for both the Marine Corps and the Navy?

Did everyone suddenly forget a very important point?

Rummy made the Marine Corps give up both the riverine mission and ship board detachments in order to maximize available force for the war on terror.

The Navy filled the gap by building up its Master at Arms (doing the traditional ship security and VBSS mission that Marines once did) while also standing up the NECC to handle the riverine mission.

So what are platoons of Marine going to do aboard these ships besides look pretty and get sea pay? 

Disaggregated MEU's. Future or failure for the MAGTF?

  Disaggregation of the Marine Expeditionary Unit: Future or failure for the MAGTF?

Rare photo of M76 Otter in action via Marine Corps Archives & Special Collections

Marine Otter Supports Members of 2d Battalion, 4th Marines, May 1968
"Otter: A Marine Otter moves up to support Leathernecks of the 2d Battalion, 4th Marines [2/4] during the fighting around Dai Do Village east of Dong Ha. Allied forces accounted for over 1,000 confirmed NVA dead in the week-long battle that was part of Operation Napoleon/Saline (official USMC photo by Lance Corporal Teacher)."
From the Jonathan F. Abel Collection (COLL/3611), Marine Corps Archives & Special Collections

The M76 Otter is the most obscure vehicle in Marine Corps history.  It appears to have served widely but little is written on it and few examples remain...even harder to find are pics of it in action.  From what I can find it was born of the push toward tracked mechanization that swept the US Army and Marine Corps following combat in the muddy, slushy, snowy and frozen terrain found during the Korean War.  Funny how history repeats and both organizations are now settling on wheels with IED protection after protracted combat in the Middle East.

Bonus coverage.  Below are additional pics released from Marine Corps Archives & Special Collections via their Flickr account.  If you're not subscribed you're missing out.