Centauro II in Brazil undergoing some tests

Centauro II in Brazil undergoing some tests recently. pic.twitter.com/0xnQ0o6x2P

— A-129 Mangusta (@NichoConcu) September 28, 2024

VBM Freccia plus

So it seems the VBM Freccia plus won’t just be an upgraded Freccia, but something completely new. The turret is a type of “Hitfist”, so it could very well end up being the UL shown before. My honest guess, this will be something based on either the SuperAV Land or Centauro II. https://t.co/dx9GVhlRwh pic.twitter.com/HayOaUXNlc

— A-129 Mangusta (@NichoConcu) January 10, 2025

Looks like the VBM is a SuperAV dedicated to land combat only. I treally thought the Freccia (don't quite know the designation but the beast that is totally classed as a mobile gun system or modern day tank destroyer) was gonna be the basis of their next APC/IFV. Obviously something happened and they're going this way instead. I knda like it.

Taiwanese F-CK-1 conducting combat training drills

Taiwanese F-CK-1 conducting combat training drills, 2025. [Album]
byu/chi50115 inWarplanePorn

I always wondered why someone didn't enter into a development agreement with Lockheed and build a two engine F-16 with bigger wings, heavier payload and supercruise. I'm thinking this Taiwanese example is the best old skool attempt while the new build Turkish build is the best new skool win.

Blast from the past....Stowage box contents & arrangement on M-48 MBT

 

M48 stowing. Jayne Cobb approved.
byu/Kalashalite inTankPorn

California is constantly getting smashed by wildfires. Is it improper forestry management?

 

Before and after of Pacific Palisades. Took decades to build and hours to erase
byu/SamoFanan ininterestingasfuck

What is going on with California?

Everyone talks about the southern coastal regions but no one mentions the YEARLY wildfires in California.  The difference?  You thin the woods, have controlled burns and do some basic forestry management then I BELIEVE you could cut down the size and scope of these things.

But they don't.

Is it environmentalism run amuck or is it a problem I'm unaware.  Either way this thing needs to be solved. 

Oh and since you have multi-million dollar homes by the rich and famous crushed in this event then I bet you see some movement to mitigate the risk.

Open Comment Post. 11 Jan 25

 

Why the rush to 30mm and even bigger when the 25mm APFSDS has shown to be effective against the side armor of tanks?

 

Just a quick question.

Why the rush to the 30mm and bigger when the 25mm has shown to be effective against the side armor of tanks, capable of destroying tank optics and other bits from the front and totally capable of handling IFVs operated by threat forces?

You have more stowed kills with the 25mm.  If you have good gunnery coupled with modern optics then you can basically sniper the hell out of enemy infantry at distance and close up too with the added benefit of having a metric shit ton in storage at the moment?

Broadly speaking is this a move that makes sense or is it just the latest trend that everyone is following.

We're already moving to "light" tanks so let them or MBTs do tank shit.  Let our IFVs specialize on their primary mission and leave the shock and awe to the big guns without bastardizing the class.

Open Comment Post. 9 Jan 25

 

We need a modernized LST, not the pathetic LSM.

General characteristics As built
Type	Tank landing ship
Displacement	4,793 long tons (4,870 t) light 8,342 long tons (8,476 t) full load
Length	522 ft 4 in (159.2 m) oa 562 ft (171.3 m) over derrick arms
Beam	69 ft 6 in (21.2 m)
Draft	17 ft 6 in (5.3 m) max
Propulsion	2 shafts 6 ALCO or GM diesel engines (3 per shaft) 16,500 shp (12,300 kW) Bow thruster
Speed	22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) max
Range	2,500 nmi (4,600 km; 2,900 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Troops	431 troops or 29 tanks and other vehicles
Complement	213
Sensors and processing systems	2 × Mk 63 GCFS SPS-10 radar
Armament	2 × twin 3"/50 caliber guns

Type

Tank landing ship

Displacement

• 4,793 long tons (4,870 t) light
• 8,342 long tons (8,476 t) full load

Length

• 522 ft 4 in (159.2 m) oa
• 562 ft (171.3 m) over derrick arms

Beam

69 ft 6 in (21.2 m)

Draft

17 ft 6 in (5.3 m) max

Propulsion

• 2 shafts
• 6 ALCO or GM diesel engines (3 per shaft)
• 16,500 shp (12,300 kW)
• Bow thruster

Speed

22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) max

Range

2,500 nmi (4,600 km; 2,900 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)

Troops

431 troops or 29 tanks and other vehicles

Complement

213

Sensors and
processing systems

• 2 × Mk 63 GCFS
• SPS-10 radar

Armament

2 × twin 3"/50 caliber guns

If I hadn't said it before then let me say it now. The USMC needs a modernized LST. Not the Landing Ship Medium but a new LST.

The strange thing?  It fits the specs of the LSM (a bit bigger if I recall correctly) but it has or should have the ability to keep up with the fleet. In that regard I'm talking about the modernized LST.

One of the big sticking points with FD2030 is that its too regionalized.  I fully support that critique and the pathetic performance of the LSM adds to that concern.

A new build and modernized LST would allow global operations as part of a reinvigorated MEU.  Reinvigorated and ENHANCED MEU.

One of the juicy bits is that its capable of putting vehicles directly on the beach.  A big deal because you can fully unload from this beast in less time than it takes an LCAC to make sorties to and from a LPD.  

The biggest juiciest bit?  If the Marine Corps doesn't get tanks back we can put Army armor on these vessels and reclaim some shock to our ground component.

The Landing Ship Medium is idiocy on a stick.  A modernized LST just sings.

The Phantom Strike Next Gen AESA Radar concept art looks AMAZINGLY like the recent Chinese Fighter that was just displayed...

RTX concept aircraft shown during a promotional video for the Phantom Strike Next-Gen AESA Radar in late 2024 [album]
byu/Papppi-56 inWarplanePorn

2003 Artist’s concept of the San Antonio Class amphibious transport dock ships firing a missile from a vertical launch system in the ship’s bow.

2003 Artist’s concept of the San Antonio Class amphibious transport dock ships firing a missile from a vertical launch system in the ship’s bow.[1752x1500]
byu/iamnotabot7890 inWarshipPorn

As originally conceived the San Antonio Class was gonna be a BEAST! The war on terror gutted our shipbuilding because Rumsfeld was so freaking short sighted. Anyone remember the claim at the time that we would be fighting terrorists for the next 100 years in various hell holes in the Middle East?

Here is the interview everyone is talking about between Zelensky & Friedman....Zelensky is still batshit crazy

 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy admits possibility of Ukraine joining NATO without Russian-occupied territories. In interview with Lex Fridman he said invitation to join NATO is made to Ukraine within internationally recognized borders, but NATO's guarantees may apply to controlled territory
byu/Lion8330 inUkraineWarVideoReport

Open Comment Post. 8 Jan 25

 

Never had meatloaf that looked this good...

Someone needs to tell the Ukrainians to knock it the fuck off. They're out of hand with these snuff videos...

Last moments of a russian invader
byu/LowTechDroid inUkraineWarVideoReport

What a bunch of sick fucks.

Yeah he's the enemy but this son of a bitch has a family that loves him.  So what do the sorry fucks do?

They post snuff videos of the dying.

I stand by what I said.  They're a bunch of sick fucks.  Kill them.  Strike them with every weapon in your arsenal.  But snuff vids?  Too far in my book.

Ukraine needs to knock this shit out.

Open Comment Post. 6 Jan 25

1stSgt's Hill....I remember some crazy bastards actually running this thing for PT (not unit, personal)

Mount Motherfucker… …where many men experience their first anal action.
byu/Krazed-Freeman inUSMC

Maps of territory taken in 2024.

Is it just me or does Russia already have all the territory they wanted? I can't see them making a big push further inland so this war is frozen. I don't see how Ukraine can reclaim lost territory either. At this point we're funding a stalemate, the Ukrainian and Russians are wasting men in a conflict that is for all intents already decided and both sides will take at least a couple of decades to be ready for round 2 (talking about people, not material). The question is whether any side tries to make a huge last minute push before Trump takes office. Dude isn't even in the big chair yet but he's the wildcard in all this. Sidenote. One crazy thing. Biden used his drawdown authority to send an additional 2.5 billion in aid. Ya know what that means? It means that if Trump is serious about US DEFENSE then his hands are tied even if he wanted to help. The well for military aid is dry and we're looking at a massive resupply of our OWN DEFENSE STOCKPILE before we can help ANYONE else.

Maps of territory taken in 2024.
byu/Unlucky-Associate266 inUkraineWarVideoReport

America class light carrier conversion

 

I don't know if Force Design is going to survive into the future but if it does then you're gonna see a whole ton of unintended consequences (or intended, who knows). One of them is gonna be the loss of big deck amphibs. Why pay for a capability when amphibious assault is deemed by the very people who do it to be undoable? When those same people say they need small, non-combat worthy transports? This conversion is fictional but possible. I can see the Navy "taking" F-35Bs and having them as part of the sea battle with a distant secondary mission of providing air support to the ground. Berger and now Smith are taking a massive risk. I hope its based on more than faith but confidence is not high.

[1200x812] America class light carrier conversion. Not able to find the source.
byu/proelitedota inWarshipPorn

Open Comment Post. 3 Jan 25

IYKYK

Happy New Year