Militarized Prowler.

A vid of a militarized Prowler.

The modifications are nice but not necessarily impressive.  The same mods are available in the civilian market and have been carried to extremes that would make these vehicles look tame in comparison.  What is impressive is to drive the vehicle off a C-130 and ride in it to the ground.  I've read of the Soviets doing the same with their armored vehicles but never thought I would see it occurring in Western Armies.

Could this be the next Ranger Mobility Vehicle?

Remember the above vehicle?

Well that vehicle's makers...Indigen has teamed up with Navistar and come up with a new vehicle...well a redesign that might be the next Ranger Mobility Vehicle.

A glance at it makes me think that they up armored it.

Added a "military spec" grill and headlights.

Probably some type of run flat tires.

And of course numerous tie downs for use on CH-47s.

SOCOM might be hitting critical mass though.  They have the same issue that the conventional forces have with MRAPs, plus they have a number of vehicle programs going on...everything from the Ground Mobility Vehicle to the Pararescue V-22 transportable vehicle to all the ATVs and other miscellaneous vehicles around the SOCOM compounds.

Pic of the day. The most complex military operation...the amphibious assault.

HAT YAO, Thailand (May 23, 2012) Royal Thai and U.S. Marine amphibious assault vehicles land on the beach during a simulated amphibious assault for Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Thailand 2012. CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually in Southeast Asia to strengthen relationships and enhance force readiness. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Aaron Glover/Released)

Slingload Ops...

Photos by Spc. Jeanita C. Pisachubbe, HHC, Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Armored Division.

Soldiers from the 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade
Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, conduct sling-load operations during the Network Integration Evaluation 12.2 at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.

57-mm Mk 110 Naval Gun System

baes_034872

The LCS deserves alot of the criticism that's being hurled its way.

I contend that alot of that stems from the ships name.  Littoral Combat Ship.  If it was renamed Multi-Mission Vessel then the heat would be off, mission modules that would be of value NOW could be pushed to the fore and you would see deman skyrocket, as units like SOCOM, Marine Corps, and various Army detachments would all be clamoring to get aboard these ships.

Additionally you'd see many of the do nothing civilian agencies climbing aboard too.  State Dept, USAID, probably DEA and a bunch of others would be trying to get their sea legs instead of doing real work ashore.  But I digress.

One of the real problems with the name Littoral Combat Ship is that the name is driving weapons fit.  Everyone is looking at the small boat issue and seem to believe that the LCS as currently designed will be overwhelmed.

Totally false.

You can see the spec sheet on the 57mm cannon above.  It can reach out to 17,000m and is capable of rapid fire.  It is useful against both high speed surface and air targets...fast boats, helicopters, cruise missiles etc...

Add the 30mm twin mounts that both classes of LCS can carry to the mix and small boats are dog meat.  If we slam the LCS (and I do) then lets be sure we do it for the right reasons.

Its utility and effectiveness against small boats isn't one of those reasons.

The LCS has that threat covered.

GTV fails requirements.

Thanks Jonathan for this article!

via Inside Defense (subscription only).

General Tactical Vehicle's prototype for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program does not meet a 76-inch height requirement, according to Don Howe, GTV senior program director.
The Marine Corps has a 76-inch height requirement so that the vehicle can fit aboard the lower deck of maritime prepositioning ships. Transportability is a top requirement for the Marine Corps when it comes to JLTV's engineering and manufacturing development phase so that the service can return to its expeditionary roots.
However, GTV has an alternative proposition for the service. A third-party analysis has been conducted, and the vehicle can fit in other locations on the ship, Howe told Inside the Navy May 2.
"Pure and simple, from our perspective, these vehicles are 100-percent transportable in accordance with the requirements of the RFP," he said.
GTV formed in 2006 and is a joint venture between AM General and General Dynamics Land Systems. GDLS is a leader in heavy and medium tactical vehicles, and AM General is the incumbent in the humvee vehicle program, Howe stated.

Uh...can we say bullshit?

This is big boy procurement.  You know what the requirements are and you either meet them or you don't.  They gambled by bringing in the Mowag Eagle and its bitten them in the ass.  Trying to play these lawyer games by saying that an "alternative proposition" for the service has been found and the vehicle can fit other locations on the ship is interesting.

Good on you for being creative.

Now carry your sorry ass down the road.  You're a no go.  You did not pass.  You will not be accepted.

Thanks for trying.

CARAT 2012

Marines with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, conduct a clearing exercise in a military operation on urban terrain training area as part of a simulated amphibious assault conducted with Royal Thai marines during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Thailand 2012. CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually in Southeast Asia to strengthen relationships and enhance force readiness. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Aaron Glover)

An amphibious assault vehicle departs the beach for the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) during a simulated amphibious assault conducted with Royal Thai marines for Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Thailand 2012. CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually in Southeast Asia to strengthen relationships and enhance force readiness. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Aaron Glover)

Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Thailand 2012

Marines assigned to 4th Marine Regiment drive their amphibious assault vehicle from the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) during a rehearsal for a joint U.S. and Royal Thai navy beach landing. The Marines and Germantown are participating in the underway phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Thailand 2012. CARAT is a series of bilateral military exercises between the U.S. Navy and the armed forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Timor Leste joins CARAT for the first time in 2012. (U.S. Navy photo by Ensign Jason M. Tross/Released)

Amphibious assault vehicles assemble on the beach during a simulated amphibious assault conducted with Royal Thai marines for Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Thailand 2012. CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually in Southeast Asia to strengthen relationships and enhance force readiness. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Robert Clowney/Released)

U.S. Marine amphibious assault vehicles depart the beach for the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) during a simulated amphibious assault conducted with Royal Thai marines for Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Thailand 2012. CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually in Southeast Asia to strengthen relationships and enhance force readiness. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Robert Clowney/Released)

Royal Thai and U.S. Marine amphibious assault vehicles land on the beach during a simulated amphibious assault for Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Thailand 2012. CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually in Southeast Asia to strengthen relationships and enhance force readiness. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Aaron Glover)