Hold the Line!

Paratroopers with 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division fire at insurgent forces during a firefight June 15 in Afghanistan’s Ghazni Province. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael J. MacLeod

Check out some of the Border Patrol's Vehicles.

Yeah...everything from full bore MRAP's to armored ATV's to copies of the Para-rescue guys desired ITV to specially outfitted pursuit boats to finally the best (in my opinion) production off road vehicle going and you have a very brief over view of the Customs and Border Patrols fleet.

And yet they can't secure the border?

Interesting!

Marines, Aussies prepare for war- against each other

The outback.

I wonder how many goldern orb spider bites...snake bites...crocodile bites there will be. 

Even training is dangerous...especially in Australia.  Kinda makes 29 Palms and Range 400 look like a picnic on the Commandant's lawn.

M422 Mighty Mite. A blast from the past.

Go to Vintage Military Vehicles to read more about the Might Mite.

In the late 1940's and early 1950's the Marine Corps was experimenting with using helicopters for aerial assaults and battlefield circulation.

HQMC was pleased with the results of the work being done but identified a weakness in the concept...the lack of tactical truck to be used by these units that were moved great distances by helicopter but leaving the infantry with the back breaking task of moving ammo, heavy weapons and other tools of war around the battlefield.

This task was further complicated by the power of the helicopter in use at the time.  The Sikorsky S-55 served admirably but it was one of the first operational naval helicopters and was underpowered.  In order to bridge the gap the Marine Corps commissioned the building of a mini-jeep to perform all those functions and from this the Mighty Mite was born.

It sounds familiar doesn't it.  And you wonder where the warning "if you don't remember history you're bound to repeat it" comes from!  Anyway the story ends with a short production run because by this time bigger and more powerful helicopters were coming online and the need for an ultra light jeep went away.

And now SOCOM is faced with the same issue that the Marine Corps was faced with during the 1950's and adequately solved but fucked up beyond all recognition today.  The warning is clear.  The Marine Corps mistake should serve as a warning to the guys in Tampa.  The V-22 will probably serve until the late 2020's possibly mid 2030's but a replacement will be found that's bigger, faster and flies higher.  Even now the Marine Corps has the CH-53K waiting in the wings (some claim that the Marine Corps is slowing its production in order to protect the V-22....its performance is offering damn near equal range---decent speed and three times the lift---Congress might start asking questions if they were aware of what's on the drawing boards!) and SOCOM has MH-47's that are down right beasts of aircraft...so why the desire to fit the V-22, a troop transport with an internally transported vehicle when better options are available?

I'll ask the questions if no one else will.

Did we size the ITV to the right platform?  And is SOCOM duplicating the Marine Corps mistake?  Would vehicles sized to fit inside MH-47's and CH-53K's be better suited to the intended role?  Are we ever going to send forces (even Special Ops forces) into an environment where they can't be resupplied or reinforced via heavy lift helicopters or cargo airplanes?  And if they're going to operate where they can be supplied, reinforced or supported by those airplanes then why are we doing this?

Military procurement has suffered because of the wars.  Where once we proposed concepts, tested those concepts and then war gamed those same concepts to see if they worked in our method of operations, we now just propose concepts, get them built and ship them out to the fleet.

We have got to do better....

Read about the M422 here and here and here.

NOTE:
Ok.  Now I can let the Marine Corps role in the selection of its ITV go.  Only updates on future vehicles will be covered.  I just needed to rant!

The Growler ITV debacle. A warning to SOCOM

SOCOM is looking for an Internally Transportable Vehicle to fulfill the role of Fast Attack Vehicle.

Let's all hope and pray that SOCOM learns the lesson provided by the Marine Corps sloppy procurement of this General Dynamics product.

The following video is an indictment of everything that the Marine's are suppose to be about....

-be a "best value" for the tax payer...
-getting OUR MARINES the best gear possible at the best price.
-oh and last but not least...having honor and integrity.

Watch these videos and weep for your Corps.





Thanks BB1984 for setting me straight on the Growlers history.  This is the website to the Rae Beck automotive...the vehicle that lost out to the Growler.

Clown of the week....maybe the year.

I was over at Stormbringer's blog reading some of his stuff (its good you should check it out) and I ran across this guy.

Warning.  If you're political correct, sensitive when it comes to profanity, under 18 or think that calling another human something other than a child of God is offensive then you should stop reading now!

With that out of the way .... CHECK OUT THIS WALKING, TALKING, PIECE OF SHIT!  Element's of Power I'd love your take on this "highly decorated" airman.


Absolutely amazing.  What kills me is that most of these imposters, fakers and posers are able to join but instead of going and testing themselves they would rather lie.


Amazing isn't an adequate description.  Pathetic hits closer to the mark.  Read about this asshat here.

Aussie 1st Brigade and 31st MEU train. Question. Where is the 3rd Brigade?

Australian Light Armoured Vehicles prepare to depart before the major offensive of Exercise Hamel 2012 begins here, June 24. Prior to the main operations, Marines of Company G., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, integrated with Australian Army units to engage the Army’s 1st Brigade for the multi-week scenario. The exercise certifies the Australian unit for deployment. Exercise Hamel is a multi-national training evolution between Australia and New Zealand, with this year being the first with U.S. Marine participation. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Interesting but the Australian's have designated their 3rd Brigade as their "Naval Infantry" so why aren't the Marines training with them?

Australia is about to come to a shocking revelation for them, but one I've been predicting for months.

The skills necessary for them to acquire in order to properly utilize the Canberra Class LHD, the Bay Class LPD's and other equipment like the LCM-1E will require them to form a Marine Corps.  Maybe not in name but in function.  The 3rd Brigade is looking like that force but this certification exercise (when did that become 'envogue' for units....certifying to become Special Ops Capable but certifying to deploy...really....say that shit out loud and see if it doesn't smack of bullshit) shows that the Australian Army but more precisely the Navy doesn't quite have its head in the game.

Maybe it has to do with getting all this new gear into service but I'm really surprised that the Admirals haven't pushed for the formation of even a token force.

Updated. The contenders for SOCOM ITV/GCV/GAARV programs.

Correction:  I stated that SOCOM was looking for an ITV/GAARV and GCV vehicles.  I should have stated Ground Mobility Vehicle instead of GCV!  My mistake.

Its time to update the list of possible contenders for the SOCOM ITV/GAARV programs.  These are two separate programs of record but I still believe that the GAARV will be rolled into the ITV program.  As it now stands the GAARV is looking at an air droppable, sling loadable or internally carried vehicle with a 3 foot ground clearance for use in flood zones/hurricane relief missions and for clearing rubble in a humanitarian assistance mission.

It doesn't require that the vehicle be carried internally inside the V-22 and it highlights the clearance requirement.  From the outside looking in, it appears that the days of SOCOM getting practically everything it wants is over and pressure (I believe) will be placed on Air Force Special Ops to get in line with the trigger pullers in the other parts of the building.  That means programs will merge.  So the contenders.

General Dynamics entry for Ground Combat Vehicle...originally an ITV called JAMMA...Much redesigned since its Force Protection days, it is designed for internal transport and lost out to a rehashed FAST ATTACK Jeep put forward by a retired Marine Colonel in S. Carolina.

General Dynamics Land Ordinance Prime Mover for 120mm Mortar.  The USMC operates a Fast Attack Vehicle version which seats 4(?).  This is an extreme darkhorse candidate that's controversial even within the Marine Corps.  Many see a bit of cronyism in this vehicle's selection (Google the news reports...this is the vehicle that beat the JAMMA...a vehicle I consider superior to this one) and it is nothing more than a throw back to the old FAST Jeeps that were used in the 80's and early 90's.

BC Customs ITV model.  Probably the favorite for USAF GAARV program--designed several years ago and tweaked for internal carriage.  Other versions have been used by Special Operations and the 101st Airborne and 10th Mountain (I believe...some conventional infantry unit used them in Afghanistan)...the design is tailor made for GAARV requirements.  From Approach and departure angle to ground clearance.  Questions remain about the ability of BC Customs to support a large order from SOCOM.  Teaming with an industry giant (or some company that's experinced with govt contracting/servicing) will probably be required.

Another work around that the Para-rescue guys came up with.  Transporting casualties on a trailer is practically unheard of but will be accepted if this vehicle comes into service.

An outside contender but one that I see as becoming more likely.  Jeep's aren't cheap...especially those built to SOCOM specifications...but compared to custom vehicles they're a down right steal.  Properly configured with weapon mounts, fuel and water storage and light armoring, these heavy duty jeeps could compete for the Ground Combat Vehicle contract.  That contract will not require internal carriage in a V-22 (probably CH-47) and Rangers will value mobility on the ground versus internal carriage by V-22.  Keep an eye on Jankel/Jeep.

NAVISTAR GCV.  Interesting vehicle.  I lack visibility on this truck but I wonder about it.  Not its ballistic protection but more in how it would function in the GCV role.  A real deal truck, operating heads out, communicating with your machine gunner will be difficult unless they totally redesign it.  As it currently sits, its a bigger dark horse than the jeep.

If I missed a vehicle in this comp hit me up.  But I'm becoming more convinced than ever that the SOCOM Internally Transportable Vehicle, Ground Combat Vehicle and Para-rescue programs will be collapsed into at best two programs.

I could be wrong and maybe all three will be funded.

We'll see.

For your review.  The updated RFI for the GAARV.  Fascinating reading.