Savings a brother (via Marines Instagram) or covering up leadership failure?

Thanks to Dave for the link!

• marinesSaving A Brother
  A Marine pulled a fellow Marine out of an AAV that went up in flames after hitting an exposed natural gas line. 
  See the link in our bio for the full story. 
  #camppendleton #marinecorps #marines#USMC #semperfidelis #OohRah #yut#devildog

The pic and the caption above are from the Marines Instagram Page (it annoys the fuck outta me that they don't capitalize "Marines" on our damn page).

Pretty heroic stuff huh?  Don't get me wrong.  I'm down with it and proud of the Marine in question.  Going into a burning vehicle to pull a fellow Marine out?  That's doing the hard thing.  That's doing the Marine Corps thing.

But there is another side to this.  Check this out via KPBS.com

An investigation into a fiery accident at Camp Pendleton that injured 14 Marines and a Navy corpsman in September showed that the Marines were aware of the potential danger.

The fire happened on Sep. 13 during a training exercise. KPBS obtained a copy of the 210-page command investigation report through a Freedom of Information Act request. The report absolves the troops on board of any responsibility for the accident, which placed at least 9 Marines in critical condition with severe burns.

Marines on the ground acted heroically but leadership did not.

They were aware of the potential danger.

They obviously did nothing.

That is leadership failure on a grand scale.  Think about it like this.  Junior Marines are hammered for MUCH MUCH LESS, but those that are responsible for the lives of those Marines can not only fail, but they can get Marines killed/seriously injured without penalty.

THAT MUST CHANGE!  I want some stars laid on a desk, a retirement taken away, a little ass kicked and some righteous retribution for those that were hurt.

It's the Marine Corps way.  Plus it's the right thing to do. 

Brazil Army - VBTP-MR Guarani 6X6 Infantry Fighting Vehicle Field Training

Terminal Lance goes Metal Gear Solid...

I check out every Terminal Lance post, but this latest has me laughing a bit more than normal.  Maybe cause I'm a Metal Gear Solid fan, maybe cause I'm a Cyborg Ninja fan (although Psyco Mantis was cool too) but it doesn't matter. The Terminal Lance treatment (that's what I call it when he hits on subject like his must see cartoon on the skywriting Navy fliers with a dick fetish) was just what the doctor ordered in this crazy world.

Geographicwild...pic by © Kunal Khinwasara

This pic has nothing to do with the blog's usual subject matter but cool pics must be shown.  Dude must have had one of those long distance lens setups...no way I'd want to be closer than a football field length away and that's probably still too close!

Long time ago I read a book about Force Recon in Vietnam and they talked about a team that got attacked by a tiger while being extracted.  Supposedly one of the bubbas turned around and dropped it with one shot.  I took it in and didn't even question it at the time but looking at the size of these beasts that had to be exaggerated!

Open Comment Post. Dec 13, 2017

UK Land Power Blog is fielding proposed budget cuts to the MoD and author Jed C takes a meat axe to capabilities!

I don't even know how to describe the article on UK Land Power Blog.  To say its drastic and rather shocking is an understatement.

Suffice it to say that the author, Jed C, takes a meat axe (in my opinion) to their capabilities on a future battlefield.

This is a must read.  Check it out here.  Oh and take a minute to weep for our British friends.  They're obviously in a hurt locker.

Wrong title! Italians order LC23 landing craft!

via Janes.

Italian shipbuilder Cantiere Navale Vittoria is building four new LC23-class mechanised landing craft (LCMs) for the Italian Navy.

The four craft, designed to equip the service’s new landing helicopter dock (LHD), are being built under a contract awarded by Fincantieri in the first quarter of 2017. The new LHD is scheduled to enter service in 2022.

Construction on the first LC23 has already begun at Cantiere Navale Vittoria’s yard in Adria, near Rovigo. Under current planning the first landing craft utility (LCU) will be delivered in the second half of 2018, with all four units to be completed by 2021.

With an overall length of 23.8 m and a beam of 6.6 m, the roll-on/roll-off LC23 is capable of transporting a maximum load of 65 tonnes (one Italian Army Ariete main battle tank [MBT]) at a top speed of 13.5 kt. Alternatively, it can transport a maximum of five Lince light multirole vehicles or 300 soldiers.

The LC23 LCM will be capable of reaching top speeds of 22 kt (at light displacement) or 16 kt (with a 30-tonne load). It has a 200 n mile range at 14 kt. As an alternative to one Ariete MBT, the new craft will be capable of transporting two AAV-7 assault amphibious vehicles or two M109A2 self-propelled howitzers, one Centauro armoured vehicle or one Freccia armoured infantry fighting vehicle.

Maximum displacement is 155 tonnes (including a maximum 65-tonne payload).

The LC23 features a steel hull and aluminium steering station superstructures with ballistic protection. It is equipped with a stern gate for loading and unloading vehicles onto landing craft within the well dock (up to a maximum limit of 30 tonnes for the transfer of vehicles in this configuration).

Based on requirements set by the Italian Navy for LHD well-deck operation limits, Cantiere Navale Vittoria’s LCM design features a propulsion system based on two 1213 kW rated MAN D2862 LE 453 diesel engines each connected through ZF3055 transmissions to fixed pitch propellers.

Nothing really interesting here except....the Brits are cutting their amphibious forces while the Italians, Spaniards and Greeks have been able to maintain their forces under intense economic strain.

At this time we see the Turks, Japanese, S. Koreans and even Brazilians (thru the purchase of Brit LHDs) build up and expand their forces.

How are those nations able to maintain and/our expand their amphibious forces while the Brits are forced to savagely cut what was once a wonderful and world leading capability?

Steel Knight 2018: 7th Marine Regiment.....pics by Cpl. Joseph Prado

Amphibious Breaching.....pics by Lance Cpl. Rhita Daniel

Center for Strategic & International Studies calls the J-20 a multi-role stealth fighter? Is this a new assessment?

Thanks to Vicktor for the link!



Jesus!  The J-20 has every bell and whistle that the fanboys believe will make the F-35 unstoppable with the added benefit of being faster, higher flying and longer ranged!

Is this a new assessment?  The J-20 is in essence a stealthy F-15E?

Wow.

We got it so wrong.  We thought we had years till the Chinese would be able to field a stealth fighter that could challenge what we have and now it can CREDIBLY be argued that they're gonna put into service an airplane that is superior to the F-35 (that started development 10 years before the J-20 was even known about).

Don't care where you come down in the debate on the F-35, one thing is obvious...we're doing it wrong.

The F-35 program office gave the Germans the classified brief and they choose more Eurofighters?

via Reuters

The German Defence Ministry said on Monday that the European fighter jet was the leading candidate to replace its Tornado jets, which it wants to start phasing out in 2025.

The ministry’s position appears to contradict that of the German air force, whose chief indicated last month that he preferred Lockheed Martin’s F-35, which meets the military’s requirements of stealth and long-distance operational capabilities.

In a letter to a Greens lawmaker who had inquired about the deliberations, the ministry said the F-35 and Boeing’s F-15 and F-18 fighters were secondary options.

“The indicated view of the inspector of the air force that the F-35 Lightning II is an especially suitable successor to the Tornado system is not the position of the federal government,” Deputy Defence Minister Ralf Brauksiepe wrote in the letter.

Story here. 

This obviously isn't about the qualities of the F-35.  This has nothing to do with the Germans viewing it as superior or inferior to the Eurofighter.

This has everything to do with maintaining the defense industrial base in Europe.

Because I believe that's the play here I can't get heartburn over the decision to go with the Eurofighter.

I CAN GET HEARTBURN with the way that the Germans appeared to conduct a little friendly economic espionage by obtaining information on the F-35 for free.

They requested and got the classified briefing so even if they don't have the particulars they are pointed in the right direction on capabilities that they should incorporate into upgraded Eurofighters.  I know they're allies and most will say no big deal.  However while the Germans can't be blamed for protecting their defense industrial base, neither can we.

No more sneak peeks.  No more samples.

I'm not a fan of the F-35 but don't give away its secrets for free.

Michelin Challenge Design...Future Light Trucks.

More pics and article here. 

1st LAR battlefield circulation exercise (Steel Knight 17)....pics by Cpl. Branden J. Bourque

U.S. Marines with Jump Platoon, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, shoot a tube-launched optically-tracked wire-guided (TOW) missile from a Light-Armored Vehicle 25 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Dec. 9, 2017. The Marines used TOW missiles as part of exercise Steel Knight 2018. 

Warhammer News. China preparing refugee camps?

via Defense One.

The Chinese government may be preparing for an influx of refugees from North Korea — if, say, war breaks out on the Peninsula, according to a document obtained by Radio Free Asia.

The document, dated July 7, was produced by China Mobile, the giant state-owned telecommunications company — specifically, by the branch that serves Changbai County on the North Korean border. It says the company was conducting “pre-communications security work for North Korean refugee camps” in the region — specifically, testing signal strength at five potential “refugee settlements,” Radio Free Asia’s Huang Xiaoshan and Lin Guoli write in their Dec. 7 report.

Story here. 

Interesting.  I guess the Chinese are anticipating "leakers" getting thru their border security.  Proper planning on their part.

What I find interesting is the date of the document.  They were getting ducks in a row as far back as July?  I'm sure they do as all modern military forces and have contingency plans for everything from war to little green men landing.

So either this is some advanced planning and a dusting off/refreshing of plans...or they have penetrated our communications and know that this is much different from the standoffs of the past.

Either way it looks like chess pieces are still being moved.  My guess on when "war is declared" hasn't changed and I'm still betting that it will be this winter.  But unless its a shot out of the blue with movements of personnel that aren't noticed by the media/announced by the Pentagon, it's looking like I'm probably wrong.

Open Comment Post. Dec 12, 2017

A note from CENTCOM PAO to a blog and no one else is NOT EVEN close to good enough.

Thanks to Spudman for the link!

This is a follow up to an earlier blog post where I noted that the Pentagon had not responded to Russian claims that a F-22 was engaged while it was warning off an airplane striking a target.

Check this out via Aviationist.

There is no truth to this allegation. According to our flight logs for Nov 23, 2017, this alleged incident did not take place, nor has there been any instance where a Coalition aircraft crossed the river without first deconflicting with the Russians via the deconfliction phone line set up for this purpose. Of note, on Nov 23, 2017, there were approximately nine instances where Russian fighter aircraft crossed to the east side of the Euphrates River into Coalition airspace without first using the deconfliction phone. This random and unprofessional activity placed Coalition and Russian aircrew at risk, as well as jeopardizing Coalition ability to support partner ground forces in the area.

Any claims that the Coalition would protect Daesh, or hinder, a strike against Daesh are completely false. We strike them hard wherever they are found. What we can tell you is that we actively deconflict the airspace in Syria with the Russians to ensure the enduring defeat of Daesh in the region. We will continue to work with our SDF partners, just as we will continue to deconflict with the Russians for future Coalition strikes against Daesh targets in Syria.

Story here. 

I don't follow the Aviationist Blog but understand it to be widely read.  That's awesome.

But it doesn't change the facts.

CENTCOM has yet to issue a public denial, their version of events or admitted that it happened.

I went to their website to see what was hot.  The CENTCOM website (here) was filled with the latest happenings but nothing on this incident.  Same with their Twitter or Facebook pages.

The Aviationist plays it straight and doesn't accept the story .... either story at face value. 

I can't say I can do the same.

The Russians wouldn't dare make an accusation like this UNLESS SOMETHING DID HAPPEN!  It might not be as they characterize it but something occurred in the air!

If not then a simple press release stating that would be a helluva lot better than a note from a freaking PAO that's obviously dazed, confused and need to be fucking fired.

Pentagon still hasn't commented on the SU-35 vs F-22 encounter

This blog post isn't for everyone.  This one is for those that are watching events in Syria with an eye toward truth and not propaganda.  Those that can get past nationalism in the search for the truth of events there.

Having said that I still haven't seen any official (or unofficial) Pentagon comment on the SU-35 vs F-22 encounter.

The Russians put out 1 (ONE!) statement and then everything went silent. The Russians haven't said anymore, the Pentagon has neither confirmed or denied the encounter and damn sure haven't put out a counter narrative either.

So what actually happened?

Who was being protected by US airpower?

Why haven't the Russians said more.

It's all very curious.

Raging fires in California. Did NorthCom fail again?

U.S. Army Sgt. Anthony Orduno, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew chief with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 140th Aviation Regiment, California Army National Guard looks out while flying over the Thomas Fire, Dec. 9, 2017, in Ventura County, California. Orduno and the helicopter crew spent the day dropping water on the fire in coordination with CAL FIRE. By that night, the Thomas Fire had burned 173,000 acres and destroyed more than 500 structures since it started Dec. 4.

I've watched the fires in California with a bit of amazement.  It looks like Dante's inferno on earth.

But what has me puzzled is the response to the disaster.  Not from the first responders but once again from NorthCom.

I said that the CO of that organization looked like she was in over her head with the hurricanes and I get the same impression with these fires.

And that's a shame.

What good is it to have a lavishly equipped military if they are slow to react to disaster in the homeland?  

I don't know if it's State Govts trying to "protect their turf", a lack of aggressiveness when it comes to leaning into problems at home...I really don't know, and don't know if I care.

They must do better.  The Pentagon is all about partnerships?  Then setup a 50 seat disaster relief council or some group that will determine independently of the states when an emergency is beyond their control. 

Whatever the answer is I do know this.  After this fire is put out we're gonna hear all kinds of platitudes about how brave and courageous the first responders were.  I have no doubt that it will all be true.  But I know this too. There will be many people with lost property and homes they can't replace that will be wondering what to do next.  I do know that instead of mobilizing the full power of the US military to assist in whatever way it could they instead continued business as usual.  That my friends is wrong.

NYPD Identifies 27-Year-Old Akayed Ullah, from Bangladesh as attempted NYC Subway Bomber.

 NYPD Identifies 27-Year-Old Akayed Ullah, from Bangladesh as attempted NYC Subway Bomber.
The explosive device apparently went off prematurely and Ullah was rushed to Bellevue Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He suffered burns to his hands and other lacerations, reported CBS News in New York.
According to Police Commissioner James O’Neill, Ullah had two explosive devices, one of which was “affixed to his body with velcro and zip ties.”

Interesting isn't it.  Wonder why this guy from Bangladesh would want to harm a country that welcomed him with open arms?  Could it be that we live in a dangerous world and that it's incredibly naive not to take steps to protect yourself from danger...both on a personal and national level?

Isn't that the most basic, most important function of govt?

You like outdoor photography? Then check out Trevor Wert's Instagram Page....