Wow!

And that's wow in a crazy, amazing, horrifying, nature is a beast kind of way.  Photo from Boing-Boing and its of a sink hole in Guatemala caused by a tropical storm.

Someone needs to be relieved of command.

An unidentified reader sent me this video.  Suffice it to say the boys of S13 violated every rule...I'm surprised a few of them weren't killed.  Watch this and weep at the incompetence.

PS.
I previously stated that the IDF was too gentle in the initial assault. That was before I saw this video. These guys were sent on a suicide mission. No allowance was made for possible resistance and armed with clubs these people were able to repel (for a while) the best Commandos in the Israeli Defense Force. Amazing.

You have got to be kidding me! part 2.

via MSNBC from AP.

Marine aircraft mishap injures 10 at NYC park

NEW YORK - The powerful propellers on a U.S. Marine Corps aircraft doing a Memorial Day demonstration has blown tree branches into people on the ground in a New York City park.

Firefighters say ten people suffered minor injuries.

The Osprey MV-22 aircraft was landing at Staten Island's Clove Lakes Park around 8 a.m. Monday as part of Fleet Week. It's an annual event honoring the U.S. military.

Marine Corps spokesman Lt. Josh Diddams says the wind generated by the aircraft's propellers broke branches off a nearby tree. The branches were swept into some people on the ground.

Firefighters say seven people have been taken to Richmond University Medical Center. Three others refused medical attention.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Just one question.  Who is the dumbass in the Commandant's office that keeps scheduling these dog and pony shows in New York?????  The second most fucked up state (California wins the crown) in the union with few real supporters of the military but they keep sending our guys up their to "thrill the crowds"...AMAZING.

PS.  I found the video.  This was a complete and total CLUSTERFUCK!  

Shayetet 13

Not sure if this is the unit that conducted the raid, but since they're the Israeli's naval specialist I would assume so.  Read more about them on Wikipedia here.  The photo I believe originated on Israeli-Special Forces.net, but its in wide circulation now, so I could be wrong.

This comes at a bad time for both the administration and Israel.  They have been targeted in the latest fallacy of a nuclear free Middle East and the US allowed the resolution to go through.  On the administrations side, they just sent the White House Chief of Staff to Israel to sooth ruffled feathers.

I wonder if this convoy was designed to drive a wedge between the two allies?  Regardless, the Israeli's have been trading land for peace and no longer have any strategic depth (if they had any at all).  This will end badly.

Update 1.  Could this be why the Israeli Commando's walked into a setup?  Read it here.  It seems that US leadership might be caught up in a web of unintended consequences.

Israeli Special Ops raid ships.

More info here.

CBO report on Navy/Marines fighter gap.

Hat tip to the Navy Times (go to there site here..for the article).  This report (below) is a light read and it lays out 4 options for dealing with the fighter shortfall.  Alternative 1 is a no brainer and will probably be followed.  But you can bet Boeing and their Congressional delegations will be pushing for more F/A-18E/F's.
05-27-FighterInventories

Afghanistan. A civil war.

From Marine Corps Times.

In the make-or-break struggle for Kandahar, birthplace of Afghanistan’s Taliban insurgency, U.S. commanders will try to pull off the military equivalent of brain surgery: defeating the militants with minimal use of force.

Its a great read and I recommend you follow the link.  But this article gave rise in me to one unmistakable thought.

We are fighting in a civil war.

The 3 Contenders for Australia's Land 121 phase 4 procurement.

Thanks to my friend Aussie Digger, I've gotten the scoop on this competition.  Read his comments here, but suffice it to say that the reporting has been "spotty" at best .  Let me simply add that what this is really all about is to allow Australian Defense Companies to bid against the JLTV that the Australians are co-developing with US forces....but more on that below...for now....

The 3 vehicles competing against the JLTV are...the Ocelot,

Hawkei 

and Eagle IV.

My view of this competition is fairly simple.  First lets talk about the Mowag Eagle IV.  It has absolutely no chance in this competition.  Its ballistic protection is fair and relies on spall liners and extra armoring without the benefit of a blast resistant form (read that as it doesn't have a v-hull).  What's surprising is the fact that General Dynamics Australia would offer it at all.  If it becomes a price shootout then all bets are off and the Mowag becomes the front runner.  If its a matter of selecting the most capable vehicle then it doesn't stand a chance.  But as the British comp for the FRES showed us, General Dynamics is willing to take a price hit in order to put a vehicle in production.  And as that competition showed us, occasionally governments will accept the least capable product if its priced right.  We certainly know all about that in the US.

The next vehicle is the Force Protection Ocelot.  I am personally in love with this design.  I think its innovative, sized perfectly and the idea of a skate board design with engine, suspension and wheels being mounted separately is beyond appealing.  I think it could be life saving.  While this is my favorite, I don't know how this vehicle will play with local politics.  Force Protection Europe teamed up with Ricardo to make this offering to the British Military and I don't know if they have an Australian division.  If not then they start at a disadvantage.  A quick Google search didn't reveal a partner in this comp so despite it being I think the best design, it doesn't stand a chance.

Which leaves us with the Thales Hawkei.  Its a clean sheet design, like the Ocelot, but it has the advantage of being the home team.  Thales has been fairly tight lipped when it comes to some of the design features of this beast but it is handsome.  And again it has the home field advantage.

This should be fun to watch.

More Information -- to help clarify some of the misreporting can be found here...another Hat Tip to Aussie Digger for the link.

New US Army Tug Boat.

United States Army Vessel Col. Seth Warner moored in port at Kuwait Naval Base, Kuwait.
Date: 05.29.2010
Posted: 05.29.2010 05:45
Photo ID: 284274
VIRIN: 100529-O-9999P-001
Location: Kuwait Naval Base, KW

Stats via nafts.net.

MGen. Nathanael Greene class large coastal tugs (6 ships)

Displacement: 924 tons full load
Dimensions: 128 x 36 x 16 feet/39 x 11 x 4.9 meters
Propulsion: 2 diesels, 2 shafts, 2,550 bhp, 12 knots
Crew: 24

Notes: A new class of large tugs built for US Army service, primarily intended to assist in docking of transports.

Builders: Hulls of LT 801-805 and components of LT 806 by Robert E. Derecktor, Middletown, RI; all completed by Trinity/Halter Marine, Moss Point, MS.

SecDef's Message reveals the truth on DADT.

The SecDef felt the need to talk to the troops about Congressional action on Don't Ask, Don't Tell. The very fact that he felt a need to make this statement tells anyone watching everything they need to know about this issue.

This isn't going to be as easy as the "intellectual" elite would have many believe. Have no doubt. This will cause trauma to an already over extended military. Careers will be lost and in the case of certain military units---assaults will occur. Proponents of the repeal of the current policy have obviously never served in a line unit.

Assaults will occur against suspected homosexuals--either in garrison or out in the field.

While homosexuality is fashionable and well accepted in the major cities of our nation, it isn't in the heartland of our nation. Many of the current and future members of our military are from this area.

The current policy makes sexual preference a non factor. To change that policy will only bring trouble....but that's my opinion.


UPDATE.

Think Defence and Joe have put up a spirited defense of the actions of the Congress in this matter.  I still disagree.  It would seem that the majority of military bloggers do too.  I believe that is because (in the case of the bloggers) they're too close to the centers of power and are too urban in their beliefs.  It might also be because they are further away from the men and women that make the military work...instead they live and converse with those in the Pentagon and think tanks.

That limited a view can tilt ones thinking.  I can assure you that in the heartland, this is a very contentious subject.  I can also assure you that in the Marine Corps this is a very contentious subject.  My main question is this.  Why do this in the middle of two wars, with one going badly?  Now is NOT the time.  And if you have the audacity to ask me when, then my response would be later....much later.

UPDATE 2.

Jon commented and gave an article from Danny Kaplan.  Its a good thing to know a bit about authors of articles.  The guy is basically a gay rights activist.  Read more about him here...at his site.

Tribute to the fallen...

Forty-five-year-old; Sgt. Maj. Robert J. Cottle, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, pays tribute to one of his fallen Marines on March 8, 2010 at South Station, Helmand province, Afghanistan. A little more than two weeks later, Cottle, a seven-year active-duty veteran and high-ranking SWAT officer for the Los Angeles Police Department, was struck by a roadside bomb killing him and 19 year old Marine Lance Cpl. Rick Centanni. (Photo by Marine Corps 1st Lt. Joshua Diddams)
I Marine Expeditionary Force (Fwd)
Date: 03.08.2010
Location: South Station, AF

KADDB.

The Jordanians (KADDB) have been making some impressive moves lately.  First they land a contract from a major and innovative US firearms firm to license produce weapons.  Then BAE announces that they're opening new offices in that country...it makes you wonder what they're up to.

Well a check of their website revealed a couple of new things....first their heavy APC based on the Chieftan appears to have been further modified and perfected....

Second, they appear to be making strides in unmanned ground vehicles.  Information on the state of both vehicles is lacking but KADDB is a natural fit for a partnership with BAE.  Firearms are big business in the Middle East so the partnership with LWRC also seems natural.

The King of Jordan seems ready to make his little country a natural counter weight ---at least militarily ---to Iran.  From my understanding of Middle Eastern politics and sensibilities that would seem like a good thing.  The next step, and one I'll be looking for, is investment from Saudi Arabia and the UAE.  If that happens then fear of Iran will make Jordan a major player in the region (if they already aren't).

AAV going into the surf at Red Beach.

HMAS Parramatta intercepts pirates.

From the Australian Navy.

On Tuesday 25 May 2010, the Royal Australian Navy interdicted a vessel suspected of involvement in piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden.
During a counter-piracy patrol, HMAS Parramatta located a suspect vessel in the vicinity of a route heavily trafficked by merchant shipping frequently targeted by Somali pirates.
Parramatta’s Operations Officer, Lieutenant Tony Nagle, said that at the time the vessel or ‘skiff’ was sighted by Parramatta, the suspected pirates were throwing a range of items overboard, including suspected weapons.

Below are photos of the visiting, boarding, and inspection of the suspect boats.

Found her!

Remember my thoughts yesterday on the EFV and that a lady named Sharon seemed to be one of the 'bashing elite' yet didn't know much about the program?  Well you can read her take on things here.

One serious question raised about the vehicle -- in light of events in Iraq and Afghanistan -- is its inherent vulnerability to improvised explosive devices, the homemade bombs that have proved so deadly to U.S. forces in current military operations. The thin, flat bottom of the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle would be particularly susceptible to such bombs.

Moore says the Marines are addressing this concern by adding to the vehicle's underbelly armor that "significantly enhances its capabilities" to withstand such an explosion.

However, Moore also pointed out the downside to this reinforcement: The armor adds several thousand pounds to the vehicle, which means that it can't travel at the high speeds it's supposed to reach. "It's just not going to be going 25 knots with that [armor] kit on," he said.

Pic of the day. May 28, 2010.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Mykel Thaete, of the Advanced Infantry Training Battalion (AITB), School of Infantry West (SOI-W), Detachment Hawaii, runs for concealment after popping an M18 green smoke hand grenade on Kahuku Training Area in Hawaii May 19, 2010. Thaete participated as opposition force in an attack and defend field exercise as part of SOI-W's Infantry Squad Leader Course. (DoD photo by Lance Cpl. Jody Lee Smith, U.S. Marine Corps/Released)

MultiCam .... check.
Motto sunglasses ... check.
Popped Green Smoke Grenade ... check.

Conducting training as OpFor for the Advanced Infantry Training Battalion?  PRICELESS

Retro Tucano.

via Aviation News.EU  ...more info at there site

Your new wallpaper.

This photo had to be staged.

A Special Forces Soldier provides security for inbound aircraft after completing a cordon and search of a suspected bomb making facility at a remote village in the Arghandab District Dec. 10, 2009.
Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan Media Operations Center
Photo by Sgt. Debra Richardson

 

Arrogant Journalist.

I am becoming more than a bit irritated and VERY annoyed at the arrogance I see coming from Journalist these days.  I present to you exhibit number 74.  This via ABC News.  Read the whole thing and try your best not to throw up when she compares herself to actual warriors.

I am now an official "combat aviator" with 5½ hours in the back seat of an F-15E Strike Eagle, flying two separate combat missions over Afghanistan.

Why the USAF would allow this is beyond me.  They effectively took an airplane out of the fight by allowing this publicity stunt.

What's even more annoying is how she raises her own profile and in my opinion questions the urgency of the men on the ground receiving fire, requesting air support.

Courageous restraint?  Not on your life Female.  Not when you're at 20,000 feet in the back seat of an F-15E.  Now don't shoot back when they're lobbing RPG's at ya and then you have my vote for the NATO (mythical) medal...but not for what was done on this mission.

Stories like this make me want to punch walls.  What's the name of the Commanding Officer that signed off on this cluster????

EFV Podcast.

Here ya go.  One stop shopping. Be patient. There is a long gap at the beginning of the recording.
DoD Live: Blogger Round Table on the EFV.

EFV Blogger roundtable notes.

I'm listening to the bloggers roundtable ---initial impressions.....Col.  Moore made the statement that the EFV will be the most capable Infantry Fighting Vehicle in US service and that it will surpass many of the attributes of the Bradley.

That's all well and good but I wonder about the employment of the vehicle.  With the Bradley there was always a tension between its being a fighting vehicle and it being a battle taxi.  A 30mm cannon makes the idea of hunting enemy vehicles and troops rather attractive.

But back to the roundtable...Bettina Chevania from Aviation Week and Greg Grant from DoD Buzz asked really good questions and I'll get a copy of the podcast up shortly.  BUT!  Remember my saying that "haters" would show up to simply bash the program?  Well a person named Sandra filled that role nicely.  It was quite obvious that she hadn't kept up with the program and knew little about it.

1st Scots in Afghanistan.

Off Topic.

This is off topic and maybe I have a weird sense of humor (as in juvenile) but I found this funny as hell.
Hat tip to Jalopnik...Read the forum link at DSMTuners to get the joke (or not).

Pic of the day. May 27, 2010.

Members of the Brazilian Marine Corps Special Operations Battalion clear a house using tactics exchanged with U.S. Navy SEALs during a joint combined exchange training exercise. The bi-lateral training course was facilitated by U.S. Navy SEALS and special warfare combatant-craft crewmen.
Navy Visual News Service
Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Kathryn Whittenberger

RoK/US Amphibious Assault.

An old video but still entertaining.  The Republic of Korea and US Marines conduct an amphibious assault.  Highlighted in the video is the soon to be retired CH-46.

US Army goes from observing K-Max for Marine service to participating?

When the US Marine Corps first came out with a requirement for an unmanned helicopter to perform resupply missions for dispersed units, the Army stated that they would observe the program.  Seems like they've moved from observation to almost participation...this from DefPro.com

“Under the contract, Kaman Helicopters will be adding mission equipment to a test aircraft that helps elevate the reliability of unmanned aircraft to the standards the K-MAX attains in commercial operations,” stated Terry Fogarty, general manager, Unmanned Aircraft Systems Product Group for Kaman Helicopters. “While this is not a deployment contract, it continues our efforts as we prepare for a potential opportunity for a military deployment later this year.” Kaman’s commercial operators boast 98-99 percent availability rates in the harsh helicopter logging environment, where K-MAX rotorcraft deliver 6,000 pound loads 20 to 30 times per hour. A single K-MAX often moves more than one-million pounds of timber in a single day, and has exceeded two-million pounds in a single day on numerous occasions.

I wonder if they just tipped their hand on who the Marine Corps has selected for this mission.  It would make little sense for the Army to select a different helicopter than the Marines (at least in this role) in this age of austerity.

Center for American Progress slams Navy/Marine Corps Budget allocations.

The Center for American Progress has published a write-up of the latest from the House Armed Services Committee.  Suffice it to say that they're not pleased with continued funding of many of the service's programs.  Read more here.

The HASC bill also includes $65 billion for Navy and Marine Corps procurement despite Secretary Gates’s recent speech before the Navy League calling on the service to reexamine its force posture in the current operating environment. As Gates noted, the United States will maintain 11 carrier strike groups through 2040 when no other country has more than one. The $65 billion includes $5.1 billion to fund two Virginia class submarines—the first time the committee has ever authorized two of these boats in one year. And the committee’s FY 2011 authorization includes $1.7 billion in advance funding toward the purchase of two more Virginia class hulls in FY 2012. Including funding for the advanced purchase of these two submarines creates a strong incentive for lawmakers to allow the program to proceed in next year’s budget, which essentially ensures that the same misguided spending evident in this year’s markup will continue in FY 2012.
The list goes on. The HASC bill includes $361 million over what the administration requested for funding for ballistic missile defense despite the fact that the Pentagon already increased the budget by over $300 million from a year ago. The increased funding, which then-Senator Obama campaigned against, would fund missile defense at George W. Bush administration-levels if approved by the House and the Senate. HASC also revived funding for the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle, an unnecessary and deeply flawed amphibious vehicle that is vulnerable to the types of improvised explosive devices used in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I'm not sure about many of the issues raised here.  What I do know is that the statement regarding the EFV is false.  It has been re-engineered to survive IEDs similar to those encountered in Iraq/Afghanistan.  I wonder what else they got wrong.

Terror Alert on Southern Border of the US.

via FoxNews.

The Department of Homeland Security is alerting Texas authorities to be on the lookout for a suspected member of the Somalia-based Al Shabaab terrorist group who might be attempting to travel to the U.S. through Mexico, a security expert who has seen the memo tells FOXNews.com.
The warning follows an indictment unsealed this month in Texas federal court that accuses a Somali man in Texas of running a “large-scale smuggling enterprise” responsible for bringing hundreds of Somalis from Brazil through South America and eventually across the Mexican border. Many of the illegal immigrants, who court records say were given fake IDs, are alleged to have ties to other now-defunct Somalian terror organizations that have merged with active organizations like Al Shabaab, al-Barakat and Al-Ittihad Al-Islami.
In 2008, the U.S. government designated Al Shabaab a terrorist organization. Al Shabaab has said its priority is to impose Sharia, or Islamic law, on Somalia; the group has aligned itself with Al Qaeda and has made statements about its intent to harm the United States.

Talk about the most under reported news of yesterday!  When a terrorist attack is tracked back to the Southern Border there will be hell to pay.

Now we know why the President decided to send an 1200 troops to the border.  He's probably worried about the possibilities.  It also explains the silence from the illegal immigration activist to the news.

Weird Timing.

Remember the dust up in the blogging community yesterday.  Well later that same day BlackFive contributor "Uncle Jimbo" was on the Rachel Maddow show supporting the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"...talk about a weird set of circumstances.  Blogger accused the guy of being a right wing fascist and then he shows up on the most liberal of talk shows promoting the repeal of a regulation that is supported by the majority of the Marine Corps (I have nothing to back that up, just going by conversations I've had)...Amazing!  Please note.  I haven't gone over to the dark side.  I watch her show to keep up with enemy opinion!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Amphibs. The most useful ships in the fleet.

SURABAYA, Indonesia (May 26, 2010) - Members of the Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Laut (TNI-AL) Navy Band prepare to welcome USS Tortuga (LSD 46) to Indonesia to kick off Naval Engagement Activity (NEA) 2010. In its 16th year, NEA is part of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training series of bilateral exercises held annually in Southeast Asia to strengthen relationships and enhance force readiness. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Mike Morley)

Navy Partnership missions invariably include amphibious ships.  Despite their detractors, the amphib is the hardest working ship in the Navy.  But its useless without its Marine Contingent.  Many forget that and focus only on the ships themselves.  That is not only disingenuous but its also shortsighted.  This from the 7th Fleet.

“Naval Engagement Activity Indonesia plays an important role in our Navy’s maritime strategy of building global partnerships,” said Clemmons. “NEA is a great opportunity to build upon our pre-existing relationship with our Indonesian counterparts and to learn from each other what can be accomplished through our combined efforts.”

Training events held during NEA in Indonesia include search and rescue, flight deck familiarization, boarding exercises, medical and dental activities, an amphibious landing, salvage exercises as well as community service projects and performances by the U.S. 7th Fleet band Orient Express.

“The events planned for our NEA phase in Indonesia will help to promote our interoperability and foster better relationships with our Indonesian partners,” said Clemmons.

Do you notice that most of those events are directly related to the USS Tortuga and not the FFG or the T-ARS or the Coast Guard Cutter?

*Amphibious Landing---LSD-46
*Search and Rescue---All ships involved
*Medical and Dental Activities---LSD-46
*Boarding Exercises---LSD-46, FFG-48 and the Coast Guard Cutter
*Salvage Exercise---T-ARS
*Community Service---All ships involved

To be quite honest with the proper manning, the LSD could perform all these missions except the salvage exercise. 

The Amphib is the true multi-mission platform. 

Meanwhile, in the UK.

When I read this, I paused and said...good---that means that we're not the only ones that have lost our minds.  If Israel comes out and says how many nukes it has then I'll apologize...until then I think this is the dumbest, most insane thing I've ever heard of.  To broadcast a state secret for no apparent reason is....CRAZY TALK!  From CNN...

Britain has a total nuclear arsenal of fewer than 225 weapons, with 160 currently operational, Foreign Secretary William Hague said Wednesday.
"We believe that the time is now right to be more open about the weapons we hold," Hague said in a statement to Parliament.
"We judge that this will assist in building a climate of trust between nuclear and non-nuclear weapons states and contribute, therefore, to future efforts to reduce the number of nuclear weapons worldwide."

M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System

I find this little shotgun fascinating.  It really seems like another example of re-inventing the wheel.  The Super Shorty seems to be handier, holds only one fewer round and would only have required attachment hardware for under weapon use.  Nevertheless, check out this fact sheet and follow the link to the Firearm Blog for more information. 
SW_IW_M26

PEO Soldier's Small Arms Dump.

PEO Soldier has been kind enough to provide a photographic over view of Army weapons.  These are the most interesting.

The M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System (MASS) provides Soldiers with
a 12-gauge shotgun accessory attachment with lethal, less-than-lethal and
door-breaching capabilities.

The M192 provides a lighter weight, low-profile mounting platform for the M249 and M240 for controlled, sustained, and accurate fire at extended ranges.

The M320 Grenade Launcher enables Soldiers to accurately engage the enemy in daylight or total darkness with a safer more reliable grenade launcher. Much more over at their site. Check them out.

Blogger War.

I'm not touching this with a ten foot pole.  I don't know what I don't know but its interesting reading.  Follow these links....

http://www.warisboring.com/?p=5333 

http://nextnavy.com/blogger-intervention-milblogs-and-anti-government-rhetoric/ 


http://www.qando.net/?p=8526


http://thisainthell.us/blog/?p=19243

Seabasing Counters Area Denial | AVIATION WEEK

Seabasing Counters Area Denial | AVIATION WEEK

Great article but what I'm still waiting for is an explanation of how you develop an LHA and not have it part of the Amphibious Fleet.  This is another promising concept that will probably be under intense pressure with the current budget problems.  

Bloggers roundtable on the EFV.

DoD Live is going to have a bloggers roundtable on the EFV on the 27th of this month.  If the "professional" blogosphere is up to snuff then we should get some visibility on the state of the program.  I'm not holding my breath, most of the "professionals" are Navy centric.  If they comment on the EFV its to engage in more of a bash session rather than an information seeking exercise.  But we'll see.  Follow the link above and you can sit in on the discussion --I know I will.

MRAPs. We get heavier, allies get lighter.

The latest news from Australia and the UK gives interesting news.  While our MRAPs have on average gotten heavier (with the M-ATV being the lone exception) our allies are looking at lighter offerings.

From the UK, we have the example of Force Protection UK's Ocelot Light Protected Patrol Vehicle.  This truck will operate in the same manner as our future JLTV (perhaps in a more tactical role with no provision for the utility variants).


In Australia we just got word that their new Hawkei Light Protected Vehicle has made it to the second round in their selection process.

What's obvious is that the JLTV as its currently designed (by all competitors) is just too heavy.  Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against highly protected vehicles.  The issue becomes one of fewer returns with every ton increase in weight.  MRAPs are notorious for poor ride and handling qualities (bad for troop effectiveness once they reach the objective) and for their inability to navigate confined areas of roadways (mostly tight mountain passes).  The number of injured and killed by accidents is probably one of the more under reported consequences of the war against IEDs.

All this leads to the Marine Corps decision to pursue an uparmored Humvee, instead of the JLTV.  The more I look at this issue the better I like the Granite Tactical solution.

Navy loves the F-35C.

via DefPro...

"I want to dispel the contention that the Navy is soft on F-35C," said Rear Adm. Michael C. Manazir. "The Navy has had the F-35C in her horizon for more than a decade. As we built the path from F/A-18 aircraft on to the carrier to fifth generation, we grew the E/F Super Hornets in the limits of fourth generation capability. We now need to move into the F-35C to realize our vision for TACAIR (tactical air) coming off the carriers."

Outstanding.  Read more at DefPro, but this is another blow to the many critics of this airplane.  Just like the LPD-17, only later will the doubters understand the leap ahead that these systems represent...and then they will claim to have supported them all along!

XM25 explained.

Hat-tip to Tactical Life.com.

I don't know who that is that's giving the briefing on this weapon system but I do know that their is no way in hell this can be used under the current rules of engagement.

If an enemy soldier is spotted shooting from inside a building, you are not allowed to return fire against the building.  You can engage the shooter.  Do whatever it takes to time him up and hit him but you cannot target the building....you know the worry about civilian casualties and all that.

With that being said I can't see the joy the Army has in fielding this weapon.  Its a lawyers dream and a soldiers nightmare.

This has pre-trial confinement written all over it.

US Marines intercept hijacked ship.

...a detachment aboard ship?

US marines intercept hijacked ship

Manama - A US destroyer intercepted a hijacked ship with around 50 pirates on board last week, authorities said on Monday.

The container ship M/V Iceberg I, with 24 crew members on board, had been captured by pirates in the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Somalia, nearly two months ago.

The USS McFaul identified the ship, despite the pirates having painted over its name and re-named it Sea Express, a spokesperson from the region's counter-piracy task force said in the Bahraini capital Manama.

The US marines had first noticed the ship on Wednesday and sent a radio message. The crew answered that they were on their way to the next port to have some repairs done.

The marines then radioed that they wanted to come on board, at which point the crew replied that they had been hijacked by heavily armed pirates.

"First and foremost our responsibility is to ensure the safety of the crew," said the commander of the USS Faul, Ronald Toland. "Given the report of heavily armed pirates on board, it was more prudent to monitor the ship's movement, rather than attempt a rescue."

His crew followed the ship's movements for the next 36 hours, until it begin to sail towards the coast of Somalia.

The marines said they suspected the pirates wanted either to help other pirates who had fallen into difficulties at sea, or to use the ship to capture another vessel. - Sapa-dpa

David Beckham in Afghanistan.

AVX updates.

AVX is upping the communication on their efforts to modernize the OH-58.  One of their biggest selling points is the ability to hover out of ground effect and the virtual elimination of brownouts when landing.  The info below is from their website.

AVX 509.

Remember the AVX Aircraft Corporation.  They're the makers of the innovative OH-58 ducted fan design, but they've also come up with a beautiful civilian derivative.

Quotes of the day. May 24, 2010.

My mental faculties remained in suspended animation while I obeyed the orders of the higher-ups. This is typical with everyone in the military.

There are only two things we should fight for. One is the defense of our homes and the other is the Bill of Rights.

 War is a racket. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives.

General Smedley Butler, United States Marine Corps.

Russians are ready to build the Mistral. Which one?

Ria Novosti is reporting that the Russians are ready to build Mistral class vessels.  Read it here.  My question is ...Which one?  I never realized but in the video above, the Mistral comes in 4 different classes.  From a small 16000 tons to a large 21000 tons version.

In the end it really makes little difference, but the implications are clear.  The Russians are trying to get into the power projection game and they seek to have the ability to have a sustainable presence whenever they decide to project that power.  

The Russian military has a powerful airborne force which makes this move even more telling.  Sustainable power arrives by sea...not by air.  We should remember that fact.

EFV is it a fighting vehicle or a high speed connector?

Is the EFV a fighting vehicle in the mold of the Bradley or simply a high speed connector?  The reason I ask is borne out by a quick examination of the pictures above.  Notice the AAV's above.  Not only are provisions made for the stowage of gear on their surface but they are also quite comfortable living with the infantry out in the field.

On the march, the Infantry can fight heads out.  Or more precisely they can gain situational awareness because they're able to open the upper hatches to gain visibility.

Provisions are made for the carrying of rucksacks on the sides and tops of the vehicle.  Even water cans have mounts made for them.

Even at this late stage of the EFV's development we see no such provisions.

What we do see is a high speed amphibious armored vehicle, able to transit rapidly from ship to shore.  We see less emphasis on its end state role.  Fighting with the Infantry once the landing has been completed.  We see a vehicle with a formidable cannon.  But even that has to be called into question.  If our EFV's are engaging ground vehicles with its cannon then something has gone wrong (and yes I know things go wrong but you catch my meaning).  In an assault against an objective do we really want a 30mm airburst rounds hitting it or would Javelin, SMAW, TOW or Hellfire missiles be more appropriate?  If we have EFV's in the assault would we have our M1's with them?  Or even the LAV-25A2?  What about our artillery or Marine Aviation?

The problem and the reason why I ask these questions is because we've been down this road before in Marine Corps history.  After the Korean War, the Marine Corps felt a need to get "feet wet" again.  The Marines fell into the role of Second Land Army and decided  that its equipment should be tailored to amphibious operations.

kr.blog.yahoo.com

Understandable but the result was the less than impressive LVTP-5. 

LVTP-5 Specifications
Weight	37.4 t
Length	9.04 m
Width	3.57 m
Height	2.92 m
Crew	3+34 passengers
Armor	6-16 mm
Primary armament	.30 caliber MG
Engine	Continental LV-1790-1 V-12 gasoline 704 hp
Power/weight	19 hp/tonne
Suspension	Torsilastic
Operational range	306 km (road), 92 km (water)
Speed	48 km/h, in water 11 km/h

The LVTP-5 was a star in the water but history indicates it was much less than stellar on land. The war in Vietnam exposed all of its weaknesses.

Are we about to make the same mistake with the EFV?  A vehicle that's a technological marvel but has proven to be maintenance intensive with an unfriendly Infantry interior?  I wonder.

But back to the high speed connector issue.  Is the role of the EFV simply to be a high speed connector from the Sea Base?  If so then V-22's and LCAC's would be better options.  Heck even the forth coming CH-53K would be a better option.  How does the EFV fit into Distributed Operations?  I have yet to read how the Marine Corps mechanized forces are to be utilized with that concept.  Until all these questions are answered, maybe we should simply buy product improved AAV's instead.