Lynx helicopter trying to land on a ship at stormy weather pic.twitter.com/ljtDBMXjhK— Naval News (@navalnewsnet) April 27, 2020
Monday, April 27, 2020
Lynx helicopter trying to land on a ship...this just never gets old...
ACV deals emerge unscathed from Force Design 2030
via Shepard Media.
The USMC Force Design 2030 blueprint, which intends to reduce the number of amphibious vehicle companies from six to four, does not affect agreements with BAE Systems to procure Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACVs).Here
BAE Systems is continuing to execute ACV low-rate production. ‘At this time, our contracts are still tracking with existing programme plans,’ a company spokesperson claimed.
In 2015, BAE Systems was awarded one of two engineering, manufacturing and development contracts, worth $103.77 million, to produce 16 ACV prototypes with Iveco Defence Vehicles. All were handed over to the USMC the following year.
In 2018, the company received a contract to manufacture the new generation of ACVs. The $198 million deal allowed BAE Systems to build 30 low-rate production vehicles. At the time, the USMC classified the procurement as a ‘much-needed modernisation to the marine corps’ ground combat element'.
BAE Systems subsequently received orders for additional platforms. The most recent contract was announced in February 2020; this $113.5 million deal to provide 26 vehicles brought the total number of ACVs ordered to 116.
‘We remain committed to our objective of providing the best possible Amphibious Combat Vehicles to the United States Marine Corps, and those plans have not changed,’ the BAE Systems spokesperson told Shephard.
The ACV is an 8x8 platform that was designed to deploy USMC combat personnel from ship to shore. It provides an open-ocean amphibious capability, as well as land mobility, survivability and payload capacity.
The vehicle is a highly mobile and adaptable platform and brings enhanced combat power to the battlefield, according to BAE Systems. It is equipped with a 690hp engine, has a range of more than 520km on land before refueling and can travel faster than 105km/h.
Up to 13 marines and three crew can be carried in the ACV with internal storage capacity for all their equipment and two days of supplies. The ACV also features a blast-resistant hull and shock-absorbing seats.
The ACVs are replacing the Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV) fleet that has been in service for more than 40 years with the USMC.
Well this is a pleasant surprise but I won't relax just yet. Berger is a force. Dude will set course and apparently will have to take a ton of frontals before he alters his gameplan.
If he wakes up tomorrow with a burr up his nether regions this could change.
Having said that I'm hopeful (but hope ain't a plan is it?) that they'll push this thru. God knows we're buying so few of them that it should be a no brainer.
So if this is going forward what next? What next is to mate the ACV with the EOS T2000. What do we get with that? We get a low profile RWS turret sporting a 30mm cannon, a couple of anti-tank missiles...we get an EXTREMELY accurate system which meshes nicely with the Marine Corps one shot one kill ethos!
If I was advising Berger I'd tell him. Ok Sir, don't agree with getting rid of tanks but if I can't talk you off that ledge can we at least get some organic, ground based mechanized tank killing capability with this turret?
A few thoughts on where we're at with the Coronavirus...
A few things on where we're at with the coronavirus...
1. As expected southern states are beginning to reopen. The news media pushed hard at the governor of Georgia for pushing forward but now they're all but onboard it happening.
2. The medical profession has received nothing but praise but I wonder if they went too far. They're still wanting social distancing but its become apparent that only those with underlying health factors are truly in danger (assuming what we're told is true). They appear to want a solution that is simply impossible to implement. The economy is already damaged but they don't have an answer on the way forward except to continue to shelter. It just won't work for most states.
3. NY state is probably gonna continue sheltering going forward into June. Actually it kinda makes sense. That area of the country has suffered 50% of the deaths and the vast majority of the infections. I guess at the end of the day my issue is that one state tried to implement a nationwide solution to a regional problem. It would be like the entire nation evacuating because Louisiana or Florida was facing a hurricane.
4. Dr Fauci is still loved by the press but his halo is a bit dented in conservative circles. The politics behind this whole thing is gonna be fascinating. While everyone says he didn't want the spotlight, he sure seemed to relish it. What happens if he fades into the background? Will he still be a rockstar or will he be forgotten?
5. State govts are gonna come under fire once summer hits. This shelter in place will be examined from all sides and actions taken in the name of public safety will get additional scrutiny. I think more than a few overstepped.
6. If I was part of a secret society bent on ruling America this would be the perfect crisis. Every vet here is already in the database. Our DNA is on file and our personal information is known in detail. But this would allow all those that are "somewhat" off the grid/radar/whatever to have all kinds of data entered into the govt database. Get a swab to check for coronavirus? I have your DNA. Have to do contact tracing to prevent the spread of the disease? Now I have your circle of friends, family and associates. This thing is a dictators dream.
That's all I have. Did I miss anything?
USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) now part of the battle fleet...
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| On April 24, 2020, the Navy accepted delivery of USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), the lead ship of the Navy's next-generation, multi-mission surface combatants. DDG 1000 achieved Hull Mechanical & Electrical delivery from BIW in 2016. Now, Combat Systems delivery has been achieved as of Friday. #USNavy |
I don't care how they do it. New guns, more missiles, a mix of the two...it just don't matter.
We just need naval firepower that can win battles at sea. Here's hoping the Zumwalt kicks ass....
ANZAC Day Remembrance Clarification...
A reader informed me of a glaring mistake I made on the post I did regarding ANZAC Day.
I acknowledged and expressed brotherhood with our Aussie friends but left out the Kiwis.
My mistake. No excuses just an apology and a promise not to let it happen again.
So to our Aussie and Kiwi brothers. WE WILL NOT FORGET! You've stood proud and strong beside the USA to even present times and we're honored to call you friends.
About Capt Crozier's missteps....
via Politico
The nation's top military officer wants a broader investigation into the events leading up to the firing of an aircraft carrier captain, after top Navy leaders recommended Capt. Brett Crozier be reinstated as commander of the virus-stricken USS Theodore Roosevelt, two senior defense officials tell POLITICO.Here
The push by Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to open a "full-blown investigation" into the incident would delay a final decision on reinstating Crozier after the Navy completed an "extensive" preliminary inquiry, according to one of the officials.
Ogden asked me what my opinion of now that Capt Crozier has been supposedly recommended for reinstatement to his command.
I point to the above article.
We're in the land of politics on this one. Politics and uninformed public opinion.
Once again SOME military leaders are going for the simple and easy thing.
They're playing to the mob...trying to do what's popular.
The reality is that General Milley is trying to hold the line. He's trying to maintain good order and discipline EVEN IF the Navy is willing to roll over like a lap dog.
Wow.
Do you get that?
An Army bubba is trying to hold the line while Navy brass has turned over on its belly and wants a public pat on the back....even though the skipper of one of their premier warships went pure pussy.
The reality from my chair?
The coronavirus is wrecking every military force on the planet. The only organization that had public humiliation and whining because of it was the US Navy.
France has been hit, Russia, China, and many others but we only heard about how dire and damaging it was from the US Navy.
That should shock you all. That should worry you all. Our enemies noted our weakness and so did our friends.
This episode hurt US national security and Crozier should never get another chance to sit in the big chair of a ship at sea.
I know its not a popular position but it is the RIGHT position.
Circling back to the Defense News article on the F-35B/C having limited supersonic capability...
Hey all. We gotta circle back to the Defense News article on the F-35 having limited supersonic capability. Certain individuals accused me of grasping at straws.
Although I link to ALL articles on this blog, the implication is that I somehow took it out of context.
From the article (LINK HERE)...
At extremely high altitudes, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ versions of the F-35 jet can only fly at supersonic speeds for short bursts of time before there is a risk of structural damage and loss of stealth capability, a problem that may make it impossible for the Navy’s F-35C to conduct supersonic intercepts.Is that clear enough?
The F-35C can't do fleet air defense.
Sunday, April 26, 2020
Short Rant. The damn lies HQ Marine Corps tells itself...
Note. I've been trying to make this coherent but my thoughts are jumbled and I'm having trouble properly getting my point across. Readers that have been with me awhile will be able to read between the lines and sort out what I'm trying to say. For the new people, just follow along in the comments. Hopefully that'll sort this out for ya!
I've been re-reading the Marine Corps Force Design 2030 and I continue to be shocked and amazed by the rationale behind it.
One word keeps being spouted to justify many of the stop and starts, bad procurement decisions and muddling of our mission/ethos/reason for being.
They keep talking about RELEVANCY.
What an insane idea.
Not to beat an old topic to death but this first popped up in the push to buy the F-35. Critics of the program (to include myself) railed against the high cost, complained about how one program was eating up the Marine Corps budget, worried about the huge swing to an air centric force.
We were told that it was necessary because of the changing face of warfare.
But at the end of the day it made no sense.
By becoming air centric we've traded a manageable danger (anti-ship missile used against surface assault) to one that is unmanageable. The massive proliferation of anti-air systems around the globe...to include advanced anti-air complexes.
F-35's MIGHT be able to survive to conduct deep penetration raids but we were sold (at least for awhile) that we would be able to range far and wide in MV-22s and CH-53Ks and not have to worry about not only large anti-air missiles but that man portable systems wouldn't be a factor.
But I digress. We've moved beyond even an air centric Marine Corps (a bit) to a new fantasy that we must become more "naval" in nature to be relevant into the future.
Never mind the fact that we're talking of duplicating Navy Air and Air Force missions (cause that's exactly what we're pivoting to) but that because we're choosing to duplicate their mission set that we will become more relevant into the future.
That's so false it hurts.
Think about the past century of warfare.
What has been our bread and butter? Elite Infantry that is able to arrive from the sea, sustain itself in a fight for X-number of days, and allow follow on forces to arrive and carry on the fight after we've established a foothold.
So what are we doing instead now?
We're ignoring the fact that during WW2, the USMC started off as a coastal defense force, got overran initially (Guadalcanal) and re-formed, re-oriented and stormed back across the Pacific as shock troops pushing the Japanese back to their home islands.
During the Korean War the Marine Corps was most ready when the nation was least. With the US Army the line was held and the Marine Corps made a critical landing at Inchon to push back the communist horde.
During Vietnam, the Marine Corps arrived in that country and fought till the last helicopter left. Amazingly because of our excellent logistics capability the Corps operated far from what was thought to be "Marine Land" in the swamps and marshes and instead operated further North, hookin and jabbin against North Vietnamese regulars.
In Afghanistan two MEUs combined, flew deep inland and participated in the war....a war that is far from the sea.
In Desert Storm its well known how the threat of an amphibious landing tied up Iraqi forces and allowed a massive push by Army Mech forces.
Many more examples exist of many other fights that highlight the real value of the Marine Corps.
It's really about embracing the reality of the Marine Corps.
It's about providing an OUTSTANDING, WORLD BEATING, AIR GROUND COMBAT TEAM that is unequalled in the world.
The idea that we're so willing to toss that away says more about our recent/current leadership than it does about the real needs of our nation.
The Marine Corps force structure is codified by law because Marine Corps greats realized that it would provide for a Corps that would last 500 years.
The move by Berger isn't going to guarantee our future. It's gonna cut it short.
What will guarantee the Marine Corps future?
Dump the think tanks. For some reason people have wanted to tinker with the Marine Corps and even more puzzling they've been listened to. Everything has been a variation on a theme. Becoming more aviation centric (in essence a sea borne 101st Airborne) or butched up SOCOM support or now missile flinging refueling points for allied aircraft.
None of it makes sense.
Long story short? If the Marine Corps duplicated what other services provided then the Marine Corps would have long ago gone the way of the Dodo bird. Does the nation need more aviation? I don't think so. With the Air Force and Navy we have the world's largest fast jet airpower force in the world by order of magnitude. Does it need more helicopters? Nope. The US Army alone dwarfs almost the top ten helicopter forces of the remaining powers alone. So what does the nation truly need? What the Marine Corps already provides. A scalable combined arms team that can fight across the spectrum of warfare, is expeditionary (truly expeditionary, not just in name) and is capable of both rapid deployment AND arriving at the fight winning/or setting the stage for victory at a moment's notice. With the F-35 we became about platforms. That's wrong. It's about the Marine!
I've been re-reading the Marine Corps Force Design 2030 and I continue to be shocked and amazed by the rationale behind it.
One word keeps being spouted to justify many of the stop and starts, bad procurement decisions and muddling of our mission/ethos/reason for being.
They keep talking about RELEVANCY.
What an insane idea.
Not to beat an old topic to death but this first popped up in the push to buy the F-35. Critics of the program (to include myself) railed against the high cost, complained about how one program was eating up the Marine Corps budget, worried about the huge swing to an air centric force.
We were told that it was necessary because of the changing face of warfare.
But at the end of the day it made no sense.
By becoming air centric we've traded a manageable danger (anti-ship missile used against surface assault) to one that is unmanageable. The massive proliferation of anti-air systems around the globe...to include advanced anti-air complexes.
F-35's MIGHT be able to survive to conduct deep penetration raids but we were sold (at least for awhile) that we would be able to range far and wide in MV-22s and CH-53Ks and not have to worry about not only large anti-air missiles but that man portable systems wouldn't be a factor.
But I digress. We've moved beyond even an air centric Marine Corps (a bit) to a new fantasy that we must become more "naval" in nature to be relevant into the future.
Never mind the fact that we're talking of duplicating Navy Air and Air Force missions (cause that's exactly what we're pivoting to) but that because we're choosing to duplicate their mission set that we will become more relevant into the future.
That's so false it hurts.
Think about the past century of warfare.
What has been our bread and butter? Elite Infantry that is able to arrive from the sea, sustain itself in a fight for X-number of days, and allow follow on forces to arrive and carry on the fight after we've established a foothold.
So what are we doing instead now?
We're ignoring the fact that during WW2, the USMC started off as a coastal defense force, got overran initially (Guadalcanal) and re-formed, re-oriented and stormed back across the Pacific as shock troops pushing the Japanese back to their home islands.
During the Korean War the Marine Corps was most ready when the nation was least. With the US Army the line was held and the Marine Corps made a critical landing at Inchon to push back the communist horde.
During Vietnam, the Marine Corps arrived in that country and fought till the last helicopter left. Amazingly because of our excellent logistics capability the Corps operated far from what was thought to be "Marine Land" in the swamps and marshes and instead operated further North, hookin and jabbin against North Vietnamese regulars.
In Afghanistan two MEUs combined, flew deep inland and participated in the war....a war that is far from the sea.
In Desert Storm its well known how the threat of an amphibious landing tied up Iraqi forces and allowed a massive push by Army Mech forces.
Many more examples exist of many other fights that highlight the real value of the Marine Corps.
It's really about embracing the reality of the Marine Corps.
It's about providing an OUTSTANDING, WORLD BEATING, AIR GROUND COMBAT TEAM that is unequalled in the world.
The idea that we're so willing to toss that away says more about our recent/current leadership than it does about the real needs of our nation.
The Marine Corps force structure is codified by law because Marine Corps greats realized that it would provide for a Corps that would last 500 years.
The move by Berger isn't going to guarantee our future. It's gonna cut it short.
What will guarantee the Marine Corps future?
Dump the think tanks. For some reason people have wanted to tinker with the Marine Corps and even more puzzling they've been listened to. Everything has been a variation on a theme. Becoming more aviation centric (in essence a sea borne 101st Airborne) or butched up SOCOM support or now missile flinging refueling points for allied aircraft.
None of it makes sense.
Long story short? If the Marine Corps duplicated what other services provided then the Marine Corps would have long ago gone the way of the Dodo bird. Does the nation need more aviation? I don't think so. With the Air Force and Navy we have the world's largest fast jet airpower force in the world by order of magnitude. Does it need more helicopters? Nope. The US Army alone dwarfs almost the top ten helicopter forces of the remaining powers alone. So what does the nation truly need? What the Marine Corps already provides. A scalable combined arms team that can fight across the spectrum of warfare, is expeditionary (truly expeditionary, not just in name) and is capable of both rapid deployment AND arriving at the fight winning/or setting the stage for victory at a moment's notice. With the F-35 we became about platforms. That's wrong. It's about the Marine!
Azerbaijani army trains with Israeli-made Cardom Hatchet Recoil Mortar System
via Army Recognition.
In accordance with the combat training plan for 2020 approved by the Azerbaijani minister of Defense, live-fire training exercises are conducted with the Azerbaijani armed forces’ mortar battery crews using their Israeli-made Cardom Hatchet Recoil Mortar System.Here.
The Cardom "Hatchet" is an Israeli 81mm/120mm Recoil Mortar System (RMS) manufactured by Soltam Systems. It is used by the US Army, the Israel Defence Forces, NATO countries, and others. The Cardom is an autonomous, computerized system for mounting on light and medium armored carriers. The system uses a new Computerized Integrated Navigation and Self-Positioning and Aiming systems. Its modern Target Acquisition Devices together with a specially designed Recoiling Mortar System, attenuates the firing loads and enables mounting the systems on wheeled and tracked AFVs, or even soft-skinned vehicles such as trucks. The Cardom Aiming mechanisms are linked to state-of-the-art command, control and communication systems to achieve quick response automatic laying mode. The IDF delivered Cardom system takes target acquisition data that provides range, bearing, position and other data from an observation point and transmits it directly to the Cardom system; using electrical servo motors, the mortar barrel is then set at the exact traverse and elevation angles ready for firing.
The 120 mm Cardom has a firing rate of 16 rpm, followed by a 4 rpm sustained rate of fire. The Cardom Recoil Mortar System has been qualified for fielding with the 3rd US Army Stryker brigade and will be coupled to the US Army's M95 Mortar Fire Control System on the M1129 Mortar Carrier. So far over 320 mortar systems have been manufactured for the U.S. Army.
Wow. The mortar is a bit interesting but the carrier strikes my fancy a bit more. I don't know a thing about it and I don't really know the history of mortar carriers but I can't recall a vehicle in the modern era that appears to be purpose built for the task. This one seems like it is...or I could just be blowing this whole thing out of proportion. I mean how many different beds have we seen placed on the back of F-350s here in the USA?
Police not responding to certain calls & release of inmates cited as reason for dramatic spike in gun sales in the US...
via Daily Caller.
Aaron Eaton learned how to shoot in the Army back in 2006 but holstered a pistol for the last time when he left in 2009 and took a job as a technician for a sewer company. That all changed on March 26 when the father of four walked out of an Alabama gun store with a Beretta 92FS, the same gun he handled as a military policeman at the height of the Iraq war.Here.
"Simply put: I wanted peace of mind when it comes to the safety of my family," Eaton said.
Eaton's pistol was one of 2.3 million firearms to fly off the shelves in March, the single busiest month for gun sales ever. The Washington Free Beacon spoke to half a dozen new gun owners who purchased a total of six handguns and two shotguns. All of the new gun owners provided proof of purchase, though some asked not to have their last names published because of potential career backlash.
"To me, it's all about protecting my family, and if a gun makes that easier, so be it," Scott, a California tech worker with a wife and daughter, said.
Many of the new gun owners cited concerns about personal protection as states began emptying jail cells and police departments announced they would no longer enforce certain laws. Jake Wilhelm, a Virginia-based environmental consultant and lacrosse coach, purchased a Sig Sauer P226 after seeing Italy enact a nationwide lockdown on March 9.
"[My fiancée and I] came to the conclusion in early March that if a nation like Italy was going into full lockdown, we in the U.S. were likely on the same path," Wilhelm said. "Given that, and knowing that police resources would be stretched to the max, I decided to purchase a handgun."
The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the gun industry's trade group, said new customers represented a large swath of new gun sales even as gun stores faced depleted stocks and shutdown orders from state and local governments across the country. "A large portion of the 2.3 million sales during the month of March were to first-time buyers is what we're hearing back from our retailers," Mark Oliva, a spokesman for the group, said.
Retailers told the Free Beacon they'd never experienced anything like the recent surge of new buyers.
It's a terrible thing that it takes a national crisis for people to realize how thinly held our civilization is.
In short?
Just below the politically correct illusion that is spouted on TV, the "we're in it together" radio spots, the reality is that at the end of the day its up to every person to be responsible for their own security.
It's also apparent that many of our politicians just don't have a clue.
I'm not talking the various social issues (although gun rights happens to be one of them). I'm talking about the messaging and reaction to this pandemic.
Trump might be the punching bag but I don't think any politician has shown themselves to be properly communicating the path forward.
Folks are spooked.
Many are buying guns.
I welcome every new law abiding gun owner to the party. My only question is what took'em so long!
US Marine installation of a temporary bridge across the Colorado River
US Marine installation of a temporary bridge across the Colorado River pic.twitter.com/B6im9nw1Kv— Engineering (@engineeringvids) April 25, 2020
Russian Special Ops Forces conduct high altitude parachute ops in the Arctic...
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Taiwanese Cloud Leopard II prototype variants,M1 81mm SP mortar system,M2 120mm SP mortar system.
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Abakan Avia Mi-26 heavy helicopter made hard landing at Yamal peninsula in North Russia
Abakan Avia Mi-26 heavy helicopter made hard landing at Yamal peninsula in North Russia this morning pic.twitter.com/HvzPH8Fa6U— Максим Пядушкин (@M_Pyadushkin) April 25, 2020
Saturday, April 25, 2020
Anzac Day 2020...
SNAFU Blog proudly salutes our Australian friends on this sacred day.
We won't forget.
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