That has GOT to hurt!

Knockout blow: Boxer Lavarn Harvell (right) smashes a mashed up Tony Pietrantonio (left) to end their light heavyweight bout

Fluid shockwave baby!  Fluid shockwave!

Feds planning for rioting & evacuations during NATO summit.

Alternate media is buzzing with news that during the upcoming NATO summit plans are being made to evacuate Chicago and training is being conducted in case of rioting.

I don't ever recall (and I could easily be wrong) major trouble at a NATO summit.  At meetings of the World Trade Organization yes, but NATO?

And if you're like me and your first thoughts are...man...these guys are kinda blowing the bullshit trumpet kinda hard...then check out these links...

Link 1

Link 2

Link 3

Link 4

Being prepared is one thing but this seems over the top.  If the White House was aware of it being this disruptive then why hold this summit in a major American city?  Ft. Hood, Camp Lejuene, Barksdale AFB or any number of military facilities could have easily handled it and also provided all the needed security---in addition to having a ready supply of troops to beef it up in case of trouble.

This whole thing...including the setting seems wrong.  Something's going on here...I just can't put my finger on it.

The Vikings, 1st Bn Royal Anglian Regiment in Helmand.

UPDATE:

Thanks Mikey B. for the unit identification.  You did the job that a Combat Correspondent slipped on!

F-35B BF-14 First Flight

Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti flew F-35B BF-14 (Navy Bureau Number 168310), on its inaugural flight on 24 April 2012 from NAS Fort Worth JRB. The aircraft will be assigned to VMFAT-501 at Eglin AFB, Florida.

German Leopard 2A6 in China? Plus new J-20 photos!

I don't know if I'm being punked or not but the China Military Report Blog posted these pics purportedly showing a Leopard 2A6 in China.

If this is real then my simple question is WTF!

Time to upgrade those anti-tank missiles boys 'cause China has Chobham armor now!  If this is real that is.

Oh and for a good two-fer here are his latest photos of the J-20...new to me at least...

UPDATE:
I found the thread the SFERRIN referred to on Military Photos.  You can read it here...but suffice it to say that the guys over there are trying to say that its a mock up of a Leopard and not a real one.  I beg to differ.  It might not actually be in China but that's not a mock up.  The US Army uses dissimilar vehicle trainers where they put shells on Humvees and M-113's to make them appear to be foreign equipment.  That fell out of favor when it was found that they could simply buy the real thing and use that for training.  That vehicle my friends is no mock up.  Judge for yourself though...oh and this is old...like last year in December old. 

Sharkey Ward turns rabidly anti-JSF.

Sharkey (yeah that Sharkey Ward...hero of the Falklands air campaign) and Team have turned rabidly anti- F-35.

The politics of this British decision is becoming more confusing by the minute.  Check out this document ....

Reference the F 35 programme as a whole, you say, " If we pull out, British industry (mainly but far from exclusively BAE's) will cease to be a tier one partner.  At present we get 15% of the entire JSF business.  Its value is around £40 billion.”  If we don't place an order for the F 35 this year, we shall no longer be a Tier 1 partner.  I think you will agree that ANY ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT DECISION on procurement of this aircraft should not be made until risks, timescales and procurement costs are clearly known.  Or do you wished to be tarred by the same brush with which you attack Gordon Brown's administration?

I think you should take the blinkers off and have the Chairman of British Aerospace Systems and his associates removed from all teams that privately advise the Prime Minister and other Ministers.  BAE is a major corporation with much of its business and employees overseas (particularly in the USA). To say that, " We could in theory still bid for small ad hoc bits of the project, but it would in practice be THE DEATH KNELL of the (large scale) aerospace industry in the UK."  is a complete exaggeration - and a misguided one at that! Are not the 175,000 personnel actively serving in our armed forces more important to the defence and security of this nation than an aerospace company that over charges on every project and underperforms on every project?  (What say you to the insider information that the Eurofighter radomes are now cracking up and falling off in the air during manoeuvre?  Another real design problem that you can blame on BAE - not to mention many others including the Tornado F3 weapons system, Nimrod’s total lack of airworthiness and maintainability, the huge cost of maintaining Tornado GR4 in service, the inability of the Storm Shadow missile to guide properly to its target or for its warhead to work correctly, etc.)

“But the F35 problems – though real – are being exaggerated, and no one anywhere in their political or military set up has shown us the slightest doubt that it will come about.”  Where on earth have you been for the last few months?  The latest GAO report and earlier DOD report as well as many articles from Pentagon-based journalists all demonstrate that the F 35 programme is in critical shape and will never meet expectations on cost or performance. 80% of development testing remains to be completed and the USA is unable to predict any firm Initial Operating Capability for any of the three variants. For you to say, “And we took delivery of our first one this month – without fanfare.” is bogus spin! The aircraft in question is part of the development programme. It does not in any sense represent an operational aircraft. On paper, it belongs to the UK because the UK has had to put money into the project. You should not read any more into the delivery of the aircraft than that. If you do you are deluding yourself.

The US Marine Corps is NOT in exactly the same position as we are reference to the STOVL.  They will continue to operate their multirole Harrier aircraft until at least 2025, they plan to procure 60 F-35C aircraft for air defence and a deep strike and THEY ARE NOW LOOKING AT HOW THEY CAN ADAPT THEIR AMPHIBIOUS CARRIERS WHICH OPERATE THE HARRIER AND WOULD OPERATE THE STOVL AIRCRAFT FOR THE OPERATION OF NON-STOVL AIRCRAFT.

 

“The EMALS technology is completely new and unproven, and has been designed for a 100,000 ton ship.  When they have perfected it for that, they then have to decide how to redesign it for a 65,000 ton ship.  Using as my reference point the absurd sums paid for other defence equipment (monopoly supplier and monopsony purchaser!) I am not altogether surprised that it is costing almost £1 billion, nor that the carrier alliance will chalk up £750 million completely redesigning and rebuilding the ship to accommodate it.”

You are wrong to say that the EMALS system will have to be redesigned for the Queen Elizabeth class carrier. That is not the case at all. It is working well and has been designed for easy unit by unit installation into a carrier deck - whether that is the deck of a 65,000 ton ship or 100,000 ton ship. If your government is to be accountable it should take serious note of “the absurd sums paid for other defence equipment (monopoly supplier and monopsony purchaser!)” [BRITISH AEROSPACE SYSTEMS IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE!] and prevent BAe from taking our government and our armed forces to the cleaners on all aspects of defence related costs!  Again, I say to you, BAE were contracted to design the ships to take into account the fitting of catapults and arresting gear. FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, START HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE OR THIS GOVERNMENT WILL BECOME A COMPLETE LAUGHINGSTOCK!

Yes, Gordon Brown may have made mistakes and may be culpable as a lackey of the unions but does your government now wish to be seen in the same light as a lackey of British Aerospace Systems?

I don't get it.

Its obvious that he's part of the carrier mafia and is more concerned about getting a big deck carrier into service more than he is about the capabilities of the airplanes that inhabit its deck.

This has gone from interesting to surreal.

But what has me scratching my head the most is this passage...

The US Marine Corps is NOT in exactly the same position as we are reference to the STOVL.  They will continue to operate their multirole Harrier aircraft until at least 2025, they plan to procure 60 F-35C aircraft for air defence and a deep strike and THEY ARE NOW LOOKING AT HOW THEY CAN ADAPT THEIR AMPHIBIOUS CARRIERS WHICH OPERATE THE HARRIER AND WOULD OPERATE THE STOVL AIRCRAFT FOR THE OPERATION OF NON-STOVL AIRCRAFT.

Where in Sam Hill did he get that from?

I've heard nothing about the Marine Corps adopting LHA/LHD to operate non STOVL aircraft.

I guess its to be expected.  The forces that are lined up against the F-35 have used lies, half truths and rumors to push their agenda.  But I kinda expected better from Ward.  I'll check to see if what he's saying about Marine Corps Air is true but if it isn't then he's been bitten by the same bug as Aviation Week, Ft. Worth Star and Crikey writers.

He'll have stooped to doing anything to win this fight.

On the bright side, I'm sure he'll be getting e-mails from Sweetman and Air Power Australia...membership has its privileges!

 

Walther Navy PPQ looks nasty...and not in a good way.

Steve at the Firearms Blog has a write up on the new Walther Navy PPQ.

Go to his site read his write up but I was shocked at how nasty this gun looks.  Not "Nasty" or "Filthy" in the good way...I mean nasty as in jacked up beyond recognition!

First thought was "How did Stever get a Walther mixed up with a Hi-Point?"

A closer look at the pics showed me that Steve had his trash packed tight...this is just one messed up looking sidearm.

I hope its virtually indestructable and shoots straight.

If you can't design a good looking gun at least make it extremely effective...besides not every gun maker can be expected to achieve "Glock Perfection".

Tacticool is now mainstream.

Tacticool has become so mainstream that its becoming a sad joke.  Tacticool is the "pet rocks" and "parachute" pants of the 21st century.  Someone, someday is going to look back on this and wonder --- WHAT THE FUCK WERE THEY THINKING!!!!!!!

Check out these abominations....

Yeah thats right gents...its a digi-cam Rolex.  Say that shit out loud...a fucking Rolex in digi-cam!

Oh and if that's not enough check out these high end shoes that are ... yeah...in camo.

I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it.

H/T to Soldier Systems.net

Dynamic Views.

I love some of the changes that have come with Google's 'Blogger' setup.  Its user friendly...extremely stable and they constantly upgrade it.

Google's not exactly the monster that many would make it out to be are they?

But back on topic.

One of the things that I really appreciate is the fact that they give users (me) and consumers (you) the choice in how you receive this blog.

If you're a traditionalist then you might like things the way they are.  But if you're cutting edge you might desire a different format.

Got ya covered.  Check this out....

Mosaic View.

Classic View.

Flipcard View.

Magazine View.

Sidebar View.

Your choice on how you view this blog.

Simply click on the Dynamic Views tab at the top of the page and it'll take you to the pages....There is a drop down menu that lets you scroll between the different views.

SNAFU! meets the needs of its readers....

Readers get to choose how they receive the information...

Google isn't Satan reincarnate...

Win-Win-Win...

I'm feeling the Aster.

US Air Force Space Command.

Who knew?

These guys are celebrating there 30th anniversary and hardly anyone has noticed.  What they lack in making videos is certainly made up for in at least one piece of tech they're responsible for giving the guys on the ground...GPS.

If you've ever called for fire and was able to plug in the coordinates without having to spend a few extra minutes staring at your map hoping you didn't jumble your dope then you can thank these guys.

Few people realize it but the USAF once outpaced NASA when it came to man in space research.  With the current NASA difficulties and with the success of the X-37, I can see the USAF once again taking up where NASA has screwed up (all this occurred with a retired Marine General in charge of NASA...disgraceful...outreach to Muslim nations instead of concentrating on manned space????!!!!!!).

Long story short.  Congratulations US Air Force Space Command.  You might not be filling the newpaper with headlines but those that have their nose to the grindstone doing real work rarely do.


Happy 30th.

Latest Prometheus Trailer...

Can't wait to see this...have you noticed the enduring themes...Corporations are evil and naive scientist will get you killed?

Man being investigated by police for killing a 4ft rat!

via Sky

A granddad who killed a giant rat may be investigated by the police for animal cruelty.

Brian Watson killed the 4ft rodent with a piece of wood in Castleside, Consett, County Durham.

He said that the creature was a giant rat but it is possible the animal may be a coypu, a South American water rat, believed to have been erradicated from the UK decades ago.

Police say they will be looking into the matter after Sky Tyne and Wear broke the story.

The rodent was first spotted by the boyfriend of Mr Watson’s granddaughter, while he was cutting grass on a tractor.

Mr Watson told Sky Tyne and Wear said: “I heard him shouting there was a giant rat so I came running round the corner.

"I managed to grab some wood on the way. It wasn’t very fast because it was that big. I managed to kill it there and then, I’ve never seen a rat as big in my life before.”

It came to light when Mr Watson’s friend, Bri Mitchell, posted a picture of the rodent after it had been caught, on Twitter.

Police officers will need more information about the animal and the circumstances surrounding its death before they can decide whether any crime has been committed.

A spokesman for Durham Police said: “We are aware of this incident and our officers will be looking into it in due course.”

Geez!

Not Brit bashing but geez!

You can't even kill vermin now without running into a police investigation???

The Marine Corps has a messaging problem.

My Marine Corps has a messaging problem.


Headquarters Marine Corps presents the Marine Corps like this to policy makers...



Marines see themselves like this...

And the enemy sees the Marine Corps like this...

God Of War

Two out of three of these views are acceptable.


Guess which one isn't...and if you didn't say Barney (which I'm lining up for target practice) then you're wrong!  The usual suspects fawned all over themselves when the Marine Corps displayed its current ad...running to the sound of chaos.


What they failed to see (probably because a full scale amphibious assault is beyond impressive) was the MV-22's...CH-53's...MTVR's filled with USAID packages.  Look for yourself.  Look carefully and don't get caught up in the OOOHRAHHHH.





NO MORE!


Did you know that SOCOM has a humanitarian aid mission set?  They do.  They don't advertise it but they do.  Now why is that?  Because they want the focus to stay on trigger pulling (Special Forces might be an exception but they operate in a totally different arena).


This is one time when the Marine Corps would be well served to follow the example of SOCOM.

Humanitarian Emphasis. Dear Marine Corps, please stop it.

RANT ON!

I don't know who came up with the idea that humanitarian aid and relief missions was the way to go with Marine Corps advertising but its really gone overboard.

There was a time when the US Marine Corps put on firepower displays, had Harriers perform their aerial ballets and the Ground Combat Element conducted a mock raid.

Now we're show casing humanitarian rescue?  Relief missions?

Say it out loud and consider this.

The Philippines are staring straight at a belligerent Communist China over fishing rights.  A Chinese dissedent is in hiding in the US Embassy in China.

Maybe now WOULD be the time that we demonstrated to our friends and foes alike the tremendous firepower that comes at ya when you poke a stick at the US.  Maybe its time to let those who oppress know that the dogs will come off the chain unless they check themselves.

You can try and have the Punisher hand out candy on christmas but every bad guy in comic book world knows that the madman is really just waiting for a chance to fuck them up!

Even cute little mouse ears doesn't change the fact that the underlying symbol is a skull...you can give the grim reaper a suit but he's still coming for your soul.

Its time to put this kinder, gentler, politically correct bullshit back in the bag.  It just doesn't work and everyone from here to the Pentagon and over to Bejing knows it.

Elmo must die!

H/T to Endo Blogspot.



This video is picture perfect.

The home armory is a little small but I'm sure they're working on it.  But it does remind me.  I need to order a couple of cases of tannerite. 

Even you guys that live in the people's RepubliK of Kali-fuck my citizens (that's California for the liberals...all the conservatives understood that instantly) can buy this stuff.

Marine Personnel Carrier Contest. A look at the Terrex.

The Terrex IFV is from all appearances a technologically advanced (although not to any greater degree than other vehicles in its class) 8x8.

Confusion arises when talking about the different generations.  The first series of Terrex ICV were identified as AV-81's.  Current models retain the same nomenclature but differ in appearance. 

 Terrex ICV

Quite honestly I can't see much that jumps out and hits me with the "wow" factor.  The Singaporean Army is acquiring 135, Turkey negotiated production rights but has not inducted it into its own military and Malaysia is supposedly buying 420 of them but wants to produce them locally.


Wheeled 8x8 Infantry Carrier Vehicles are all the rage today but they've been historically labeled as armored cars.  The idea of using them in a combat role...even for the transportation of troops up to the fight instead of into it would have seemed beyond crazy a couple of decades ago.

But I'm off topic.  The armored vehicle market is changing.  The hottest market on the planet currently is the Pacific Rim and most of the power players produce their own vehicles locally supporting domestic firms.  Its my belief that publicity and street cred is the goal here.

Singapore Kinetics wants to get its vehicle out in front of potential customers.  The Marine Personnel Carrier Program fits the bill.

My earlier analysis stands.  The Terrex will get a look but isn't situated to win the competition.

Environmentalist. Why I hate them...

The UK. Time to rethink the "special relationship"..

120421-N-KQ416-554 ARABIAN SEA (April 21, 2012) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary replenishment oiler RFA Fort Victoria (A387) transit the Arabian Sea. Abraham Lincoln is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Zachary S. Welch/Released)

Its time to rethink the "special relationship" between the US and the UK.

My reasoning is that....

*Culturally the two countries are light years apart now.  You would be hard pressed for a UK citizen and a US citizen to agree on anything of substance.
*The UK is moving toward Europe and away from the US.  Why should we stop it or be concerned by it?  The most obvious example is the move by the UK (instigated by them too) to adopt a closer defense alliance with the French.  This is by no means a game changer but it does give an indication of where they see their future.  Its with the French and not the US.
*What good is it to any of the involved parties?  The UK's citizenry (along with the rest of Europe) enjoys bashing the US.  It would probably be of great relief to the British people to see the US go away...most Americans caught up in nonsense wouldn't notice...and why should they?  It won't affect there lives.
*We need to focus on Asia and the special relationship drags us back to the same tired European issues that are helping to stunt our turn to the east.

There are a couple of other points that I could make but you get the gist of this.  We should treat the UK like we treat Germany.  Allied but not exactly friendly.

This nonsense with tech sharing has to stop too.  Its been a one way street and hasn't benefited us.  If you look at BAE's work with the F-35 its been under the banner of their US division.  They've had to create that division in order to comply with US restrictions on the selling of our tech on the open market.

Besides, with the way that the UK's governments been in la-la land concerning which airplane they want to buy I wouldn't be surprised to see them simply walk away.  Even that might not be such a bad thing.  It would probably add a bit of stability to the program if they left.  A few countries might decide to follow but not enough to make a difference.  Its been a US program from the start and if only the US, China, Russia and India along with a few select allies have stealth why is that bad?

Yeah.

This special relationship must evolve.  And by evolve I mean end.

NOTE:  THE PROBLEM ISN'T GREATER EUROPE.  Its the big 3.  The Uk, France and Germany.  With the other nations of Europe, if you look at the size of their militaries then you'll see a large contribution was indeed given to the effort in Afghanistan.  Additionally several of the other countries on that continent appear to simply want an equal partnership.  The big 3 acts as if they're the big brother to America the little one.  From the US bashing that is rampant, to the snarky editiorials to the revisionist history its all stale. 

NH-90 finally getting combat time.

Afghanistan (and later Libya) has been a live testing ground for many weapon systems.  One system missing in action has been the NH-90.  According to the company's website it was placed into service in 2006 but has yet to see action in that conflict.

Here is the latest news.

From the Cassidian website...

From the end of 2012, German Army Aviation will be in charge of providing forward air medical evacuation in Afghanistan using their NH90 helicopters. The FwdAirMedEvac helicopters will provide a solid base for emergency medical care for German soldiers in crisis areas.

And then this from Shepard Media...

 Germany has been operating a handful of CH-53 heavy-lift helicopters in the north of the country since 2002. If Germany Army plans come to fruition, the CH-53s will be joined by NH90s serving in the medevac role, and Tiger attack helicopters.
Plans for the introduction of the two types into theatre were outlined by Brig Gen Reinhard Wolski, the director of German Army Aviation speaking at IQPC's International Military Helicopter conference, held in London from 23-26 January.
The Tiger deployment - which is subject to German government approval - will use Tigers modified to 'Asgard' standard. Eurocopter has taken delivery of the 23rd Tiger which is being updated to 'Asgard F' (F for Full) configuration. The first batch of four Asgard Tigers is due to be delivered back to the Germany Army in August.
Asgard modifications include engine filters for the aircraft to operate in sandy and hot climates, a communication equipment upgrade as well as modifications to the helicopter avionics, and exterior lighting system enhancements for night-time operations. Tiger crews have begun training on 'Asgard T' aircraft (T for training) to pave the way for the Asgard Tiger's introduction.
Wolski said he was confident of getting the NH90s into theatre by the end of the year. The aircraft will be used in the medevac role and will relieve the 'Dustoff' Black Hawks currently provided by the US Army in the region that is controlled by German ISAF troops.

Bill Sweetman loves to talk about how the European Aviation Industry is miles ahead of the US when it comes to rotary winged vehicles.

The NH-90 was suppose to be the war winner that finally knocked the BlackHawk off the stage as the most combat capable medium helicopter on the market.

The Blackhawk still has its crown and the NH-90 is stumbling into battle.  That's not to say that the NH-90 might not develop into an extremely capable weapon system.  But today is not that day.

I will follow the German deployment of their NH-90 with interest...in the meantime the CH-53G will soldier on...

Assault Breacher Vehicle.

Its been a while since we talked about the Assault Breacher Vehicle.  I don't know how well its performed in combat, if its considered an important part of future force structure...nothing.

Any info on it and how the Marines plan on using it is welcome.

Note*
I've seen the reports that the Army is planning (or rather has) buying/building some.  I'm also aware that the Marines are planning on having around 30 or so in the inventory.  What I'd like to know is if this vehicle is going to be part of MEU's.  If they are then how many are deemed necessary etc...

Did these guys just record themselves breaking gun laws?

I'm a strong proponent of the 2nd Amendment but this seems kinda 'iffy' in my mind.  Can you simply saw off the barrel and stock of a shotgun without running afoul of the law?

I'm really not sure.

I know that shotguns with pistol grips and 18 inch barrels are commonly sold.  I also know that you can buy aftermarket parts to pretty much configure your gun anyway you like but like I said...something seems off on this vid.

Having said all that, its a pretty silly thing to do to an old shotgun.  The tacti-cool thing is going too far.  They just ruined a good camp gun...wrapping everything in camo and calling it tactical is a fad that I wish would end.  Like today.

Our Afghan Allies are still trying to kill us.

via Military.com

WASHINGTON - In shootings not previously reported by American authorities, two U.S. soldiers were wounded in an attack by two Afghan police officers, extending a worrying pattern of violent clashes between supposed allies.
The two Americans were shot Wednesday by the Afghans near Kandahar city, and the shooters were quickly killed by U.S. troops, according to a U.S. defense official. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an incident that, by policy, the coalition military command in Kabul considers an internal matter.
Spokesmen for the U.S.-led international military coalition in Afghanistan have said their policy is to publicly report only those incidents of Afghan forces shooting at coalition forces if a coalition member is killed. If coalition troops are wounded but not killed, or if the Afghan shooter fails to hit anyone, the incident is not disclosed.
About two hours after the two U.S. soldiers were wounded, a separate clash occurred in which an Afghan soldier opened fire with a machine gun on a group of U.S. and Afghan special operations soldiers returning to their base after conducting an operation, U.S. officials said.

Seriously?

Say this shit out loud.

Afghans that we're suppose to be training, that we've sacrificed for, that we've rebuilt there sorry ass country are now killing, wounding and taking pot shots at us?

If it was a comedy it wouldn't be funny.  Since this is real its beyond tragic.

Past time to leave that fucked up ass country.  THEY (the Afghan people) are NOT worth it.

PS.
Public Affairs Officers from the Marine Corps, Army, Navy and every alphabet US Agency can have Afghan children posing with Marines, Soldiers, Sailors or Airmen and it won't change a thing.  Humanitarians can cry about the plight of Women once we leave and it won't change a thing.  The Afgahn society is fried.  Millions of dollars and thousands of lives lost can't change that fact.

SNAFU! has a YouTube Channel.

I haven't broadcast it enough so I'll take the lumps for that.  But be advised Warriors!  SNAFU! has a YouTube Channel and maybe you might want to check it out.

NOTE*
Just click on the YouTube button to the right and it'll take you to my channel.

British Apache's at sea.

NAVAIR looked at the possibility of just creating an instant navalized Apache just by designation.

Unfortunately.  It doesn't work that way.

Aviastar has the best information on the web concerning the work necessary to make an Apache into a proper weapon at sea.  Forces like the Brits might be content to pay the price (and they will pay with aircraft having shorter life spans due to sea salt) but pay it they will.  Check out the article at AVIASTAR to get more info on a properly navalized Apache.

Mr. President I'm tired of defending you...SNAFU! Politics.

SNAFU! considers this coming election to be the most important in a COUPLE of generations.  So stand by to be reminded of the painful reality that comes with a left wing party being given power.  Also understand that this goes beyond race, nationality, gender or religious beliefs.  This goes straight to competence.  Also understand that my personal politics are more in the Ron Paul camp than those of the Republicans but reality (yeah that pesky little thing) indicates that I must support the lesser of two evils.  This year that means supporting the Republican cause.

Norway Pre-positioning Program...easy cost savings.

Humvees are stored inside the Frigaard Cave in central Norway. The cave is one of six caves that are part of the Marine Corps Prepositioning Program-Norway, which supports the equipping of Marine Expeditionary Brigade consisting of 15,000 Marines and with supplies for up to 30 days. Photo by Lance Cpl. Marcin Platek

This one should be a no brainer.

Europe doesn't need us there.

We don't have the money to waste there.  Time to pull gear and close up shop.  That goes for all bases on European territory...from Norway all the way to Diego Garcia.  If we're not wanted (and we're not) then bring our troops home.

5-20 Infantry Regiment doing its thing...with long range firepower on patrol.

U.S. soldiers from 5-20 infantry Regiment attached to 82nd Airborne walk on patrol in Zharay district in Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan April 26, 2012.

I don't know the designation for the sniper rifle that the Soldier is carrying but to see not only that weapon but I would assume their designated Marksman right behind him seems unusual.  Wonder whats going on in this part of the country.

On patrol... in every clime and place.

British insanity over their carriers.

Wow.

The Brits are definitely confused.

The most powerful political ad this year.

This is the most powerful political ad I've seen this year.  Even the President's most fevered supporters are left speechless after watching this...the Morning Joe pair were left clawing for words.  I consider that priceless.  Anyway, I'm sure you've seen it, but drink it all in again...and wonder how you're going to vote this fall.

AAI Corporation family of UAVs

F-35 going Transonic!

F-35C Formation Flight

45 Commando, Zulu Coy from the Royal Marines

Women in the Infantry. Did the Marine Corps just do an about face????

via Marine Times.

Expanded infantry training for women does not mean the Marine Corps is ready to send women into combat assignments, the Corps’ top personnel official said Wednesday
“Assignment policy for women has not changed,” said Lt. Gen. Robert Milstead Jr., the deputy commandant for manpower and reserve affairs.
“We are not training women to be infantry officers,” he said. “We do not have that authority. That authority rests with Congress.”
His comments came before the Senate Armed Services subcommittee on personnel, where the panel chairman is Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., a former Navy secretary and Marine combat veteran. Webb said the decision is controversial, and that he will be closely watching.
As Marine Corps Times reported last week, the service is in the midst of an extensive research effort to determine what additional jobs could be opened to women. Plans call for sending an undetermined number of female volunteers to the Infantry Officers Course, a three-month program in Quantico, Va., where Marine officers are groomed to serve in direct combat roles and lead troops into battle.

Read the whole thing at there site.

Ship to Ship replenishment. Are we doing it right?

Serious question.

Are we doing ship to ship replenishment correctly or perhaps better said are we doing it cost effectively?

Considering the high cost per flight hour of all our helos...Navy and Marine.  Considering the fact that these are finite resources that we should be guarding...should we be using our aircraft for these simple supply missions?

LCAC's are a no go because they are also a precious resource with high operating costs.  So perhaps a step down in technology...a bit of a reduction in speed but maybe we can get greater loads per trip would be to purchase fast Landing craft for this mission.  We could simply sail them into the well deck for most of our ships in the Gator Navy and for the rest we could still use the tried and true.

Its not a perfect solution but it should reduce costs, we should be able to get as much gear in two trips with a fast landing craft as we can with a series of helo flights and we should be able to save a ton of money.

Just wondering.

11th MEU. Battalion Landing Team 3/1 Heavy Guns live fire.

Photos by Cpl. Tommy Huynh

Marines with Battalion Landing Team 3/1 fire M240B machine guns during live-fire training April 24 aboard USS Pearl Harbor here. The team serves as the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, currently a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Lance Cpl. Anthony Acosta fires a M240B machine gun during live-fire training April 24 aboard USS Pearl Harbor here. The 22-year-old Phoenix native serves s as a mortarman for Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, currently a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

24th MEU in Spain. Grappling and the Obstacle Course.

All photos by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein

Cpl. Julian Valdez, a squad leader for 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, grapples with other members of his squad here, April 19, 2012, during a supervised Marine Corps Martial Arts Program squad vs. squad grappling match. The Marines spent the day engaging in a variety of training events before enjoying a much needed day off in Spain. The 24th MEU, partnered with the Navy's Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed as a theater reserve and crisis response force capable of a variety of missions from full-scale combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Lance Cpl. Kyle Scales, a fire team leader, grapples Lance Cpl. James Rounds, a rifleman, while other Marines from Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, pin Rounds' arms and legs here, April 19, 2012, during a squad vs. squad Marine Corps Martial Arts Program grappling exercise. The Marines spent the day engaging in a variety of training events before enjoying a much needed day off in Spain. The 24th MEU, partnered with the Navy's Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed as a theater reserve and crisis response force capable of a variety of missions from full-scale combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Marines with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, run an obstacle course here, April 19, 2012, during a day of training before enjoying time off in Spain. The 24th MEU, partnered with the Navy's Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed as a theater reserve and crisis response force capable of a variety of missions from full-scale combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Pfc. Ekrem Uysaler, a machine gunner with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, leaps over a wall on an obstacle course here, April 19, 2012, during a day of training before enjoying time off in Spain. The 24th MEU, partnered with the Navy's Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed as a theater reserve and crisis response force capable of a variety of missions from full-scale combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Marines with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, overcome the last obstacle on the obstacle course here, April 19, 2012, during a day of training before enjoying time off in Spain. The 24th MEU, partnered with the Navy's Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed as a theater reserve and crisis response force capable of a variety of missions from full-scale combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Cpl. Jesse Buhler, an assaultman with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, makes his way across a horizontal bar on an obstacle course here, April 19, 2012, during a day of training before enjoying time off in Spain. The 24th MEU, partnered with the Navy's Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed as a theater reserve and crisis response force capable of a variety of missions from full-scale combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

A Marine with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fast ropes from a rappel tower here, April 19, 2012, during a day of routine training before enjoying time off in Spain. The 24th MEU, partnered with the Navy's Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed as a theater reserve and crisis response force capable of a variety of missions from full-scale combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.