SNAFU!

Friday, June 07, 2019

The US Navy needs to adopt a combat mindset now...the Cold War is back and the Russians/Chinese are playing hard!

BREAKING: #USNavy has released video of #USSChancellorsville being forced to maneuver to avoid collision, after #Russian destroyer Udaloy I made an unsafe and unprofessional approach in the Phillippine Sea, June 7th. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/HpmAMtYraS
— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) June 7, 2019

BREAKING: While recovering its helicopter #USSChancellorsville was forced to
execute all engines back full to avoid collision with #Russian destroyer
Udaloy I, which had come from behind and alongside within 50-100 feet in the
Phillippine Sea. (2/2)https://t.co/rIaL3TONo6
— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) June 7, 2019

I warned about this.

After 2 years of calling the Russians a hostile power they're finally going all on being such an actor. The buzzing of aircraft/ships in the Black Sea could be seen as a defensive move on their part. We were in their area and they wanted to let us know it was not appreciated (that's how I read things).

But now?

This activity in the Pacific?

A marker is being thrown down. They're coming after us...and since we've been dancing around them in Europe its to be expected (again...that's my take).

Now?

Now they're after us in the Pacific and the Chinese are playing too. Is this coordinated? I don't know.

What I do know is that the US Navy better get their combat mindset established fleet wide. Policy makers in DC have set the stage for big power competition and instead of just one foe we're facing two.

I don't think we have a Navy sized to address the needs of the nation. I also believe that what we're seeing is the vulnerability of independent ship operations (an amphib would be in trouble in this circumstance) and a total rethink of concepts needs to happen now, not in the future.

We're seeing a weird mixture of things. We're taking COIN concepts and trying to scale it to big power competition. I don't think its gonna work.

4 Charged in Green Beret's Death Reportedly Planned to Sexually Assault Him on Camera...depravity inside SOCOM...

via Military.com

Four special operators charged in the 2017 death of one of their comrades planned to tie him up and record him being sexually assaulted, according to a new bombshell report from The Washington Post.

Staff Sgt. Kevin Maxwell, a Raider with Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, said he was involved in a plan to bust into Army Staff Sgt. Logan Melgar's room with a sledgehammer, put him in a chokehold, and restrain him while a Malian security guard sexually assaulted him, according to documents obtained by the Post.

Story here.

This is ugly, disgusting and terrible.

de·prav·i·ty/dəˈpravədē/Learn to pronouncenounmoral corruption; wickedness.
"a tale of wickedness and depravity"

synonyms: corruption, corruptness, vice, perversion, pervertedness, deviance, degeneracy, degradation, immorality, shamelessness, debauchery, dissipation, dissoluteness, turpitude, loucheness, profligacy, licentiousness, lewdness, lasciviousness, salaciousness, lechery, lecherousness, prurience, obscenity, indecency, libertinism, sordidness; More

a wicked or morally corrupt act.

This is depravity. Throwing the book isn't good enough. No plea deal should be accepted. They should fry in the electric chair or rot in prison. Sidenote. Are you not yet convinced that SOCOM is out of control?

Platinum Ren 2019.....video by Sgt. Antonio R. Campbell

Sikorsky Black Hawk First Flight Using Newest Fly-By-Wire Technology

The Incredible Advantages of Future Vertical Lift

You know what a beautiful thing is? A beautiful thing is when a corporation's goals suddenly mirror the goals of the nation.

I might be biased but I like what they're selling and this kind of talk hits me where I live.

Bell is hitting the right cord with all this. I just hope Congress is listening.

The funny thing?

This isn't propaganda (although it matches their corporate position).

Bell is simply stating a fact.

Modernization is essential. It's not a want, it's a need.

Has anyone done a count on the number of vehicles the Saudis have had destroyed/captured in Yemen?

#Houthis seized #Canadian-made LAV-25 amphibious armored reconnaissance vehicle in #Najran #Yemen #YemenWar pic.twitter.com/m2PwIzFHoF
— Mohamed Mansour 🇪🇬 (@Mansourtalk) June 5, 2019

Another day, another Saudi/Coalition vehicle captured by the Houthis.

Has anyone done a count on the number of vehicles the Saudis have had destroyed/captured in Yemen?

Just trying to count this stuff up it has to be at least a division by now. Am I way off? Way too high? Doesn't seem like it. They're losing vehicles at an alarming rate.

With the proper leadership (well they seem to have decent leadership now), the Houthis could probably field a mixed but capable armored force if they wanted to.

Tiananmen Square Uncensored

https://captain-price-official.tumblr.com/post/182675583224/tienanmen-square-uncensored

Follow the link if you dare to know the reality behind this attempted uprising by the Chinese people that the West chose to ignore while focusing on potential profits.

Quick question for you after you get back.

How many of you knew the reality of this incident?

How many thought that the "tank man" was all there was?

How many of you still believe the Chinese govt is a peaceful actor and that co-existence is possible?

Oh and for the naive, you're welcome..consider this a wake up call. This is a reality that business interest, the Chamber Of Commerce and other apologist for China refuse to face.

Back to my pain killers. Be well friends.

Open Comment Post. 7 June 2019

Thursday, June 06, 2019

Stalled out a bit...

Just a heads up guys...

This shoulder thing has me stalled out a bit. I was a bit optimistic with the idea that it would be roaring back. Seems this thing has decided otherwise. So expect a trot instead of a run. New schedule. We'll be back full force after this weekend. Yeah I know. Suck it up buttercup, but things appear to take a bit of time..this time.

So bear with me.

Open Comments Post. 6 June 2019

Serdar remote weapon station completes trials

Thanks to John John for the link!

via Janes.

The Serdar remote weapon station (RWS) developed jointly by Turkey’s Aselsan and Ukraine’s Luch Design Bureau has passed its final trials and is now ready to enter serial production under an existing contract for a foreign country, the Ukrainian state defence export company SpetsTechnoExport announced on 5 June.

Story here.

Interesting. I thought that Turkey was developing these systems independently but I was wrong. They've teamed up with Ukraine.

Defense production makes strange bed fellows.

Israeli Air Force marks 50 years of service...

via Jerusalem Post.

The Israeli Air Force on Thursday night will be marking 50 years of operational use of the CH-53D Yasur helicopters at the Tel Nof air base in central Israel.

The event will be hosted by the IAF and the Israeli Air Force Association and will be attended by senior officials from Sikorsky, the maker of the CH-53D Yasur helicopters; IAF commander Maj.-Gen. Amiram Norkin; Maj.-Gen. (res.) Nimrod Sheffer, the [resident and CEO of Israel Aerospace Industries; Guy Enav, the CEO of IAFA; as well as past and present Yasur commanders, ground and air crews and their families.

“As a fellow CH-53 pilot and on behalf of all of Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky, I’d like to congratulate the Israeli Air Force for 50 years of CH-53 operations,” said Sikorsky President Dan Schultz. “I’m proud that the Yasur fleet has served the IAF so gallantly for so long.”

First used by the IAF in 1969, the Yasur helicopters are the air force’s primary helicopter, and are used regularly to transport soldiers and equipment. They have also taken part in a wide variety of missions, including secret operations as well as search and rescue missions.

“The innovative design of the helicopter project brings the most advanced technologies that ensures excellent performance in terms of safety, reliability, efficiency, battlefield survivability and growth potential,” Schultz continued, adding that the company is convinced that the CH-53K is ultimate future solution for heavy lift helicopters for the IAF.

Story here.

50 years of CH-53 operations. Freaking awesome. But I wonder....will we see another 50 or will the future be won by the CH-47?

Cost. Cost. Cost. Or to be precise, cost of operations.

U.S. Army Amphibious Cargo Carriers from the 1960s....

Wednesday, June 05, 2019

Real Late Open Comments. 5 June 2019...

Life got in the way...back on track Thurs morning. WTF happened? Got the shoulder worked on (again).

US Army's 50mm Cannon to sport a Depleted Uranium Round for INCREASED penetration over 40mm systems!

I spoke to Northrop Grumman about their new XM913 50 mm Bushmaster chain gun at #RUSILWC It seems likely that it will have a depleted uranium APFSDS anti-armour round with significantly greater penetration than the UK's CT40 cannon. (Images: @Krisosbornko) pic.twitter.com/2SvyIsJHTD
— Nicholas Drummond (@nicholadrummond) June 5, 2019

Ok.

If you're not sold on the idea of the USMC skipping the 30mm (or making it a TRUE interim round) and piggybacking on the US Army's upcoming 50mm then I don't know what else to tell you.

The Army is getting ready for a very deadly fight and they're buying gear to meet that need.

Why reinvent the wheel!

The Army boys are doing it and this is one time where we should follow their lead.