Friday, January 31, 2020

Are we seeking a Moskva type ship for amphibious operations?

Think about what the USMC is desiring in an amphibious ship.  A ship that is versatile enough to get Marines ashore, help with the sea battle, and flex into giving supporting fire to the landing force.

What would that type ship look like?  With the exception of being able to conduct surface landings I think it would be an Americanized, probably enlarged Moskva type ship?  Think I'm crazy?  Check out the pics below.





In an American sense this would be sea battle in the front, landing party in the back!

Am I wrong?

You don't think this ship rhymes with what we're hearing from headquarters on what they desire in future ship building with regard to amphibs?
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Typhoon-K spotted in Syria!



I didn't know this vehicle was actually operational with their forces.  Freaking awesome.  I look forward to seeing how it performs.


Full disclosure.  I was always partial to the "other" Typhoon-K....


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A new US-UK economic/military partnership?



Hmm.  Is it possible for the US-UK to enter into an extreme partnership?  Two nations, one system?  Would the UK go for it?  Can you imagine a military and economic partnership that mirrors what the UK and the EU had?

It would probably take some radical changes to the UK's system across the board but the benefits would be immediate.  Free travel between the two nations, intermingled military (Royal Marines would immediately go to SOCOM) etc...?

Probably won't happen but wow!  It would be sight to see.
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The dead are lying in the streets of Wuhan (epicenter of the outbreak)...yeah, the Chinese have this under control...



Look at the above pic and weep for the Chinese.  Yeah.  They have this thing under control.  NOT!

The bell cow for the severity of this event is Singapore.  Watch how the extremely efficient Singaporean Govt reacts to this situation to gauge how bad it is.  Hint?  They're barring all people that aren't citizens, that have traveled to China, entry into their country.
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Tracked ATV up north...

Thanks to FormerDirtDart for the link!


Wow.  Talk about the ultimate toy!  Bet its as fun in the mud as it is in the snow!
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Open Comment Post. 31 Jan 2020

Can't shake this pic.  Birds are mega predators.  Cute?  Cute my ass...if they were bigger they'd be eating us!

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Thursday, January 30, 2020

Coronavirus declared global health emergency by WHO after 1st person-to-person US case reported

Thanks to Jonny for the news!

via ABC News.
The World Health Organization declared coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern at a news conference Thursday in Geneva.

This is only the sixth time such an emergency has been declared, with past examples including the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Zika virus.

The WHO reserves the designation for "extraordinary events" that pose a public health risk by threatening to spread internationally.

The first case of human-to-human coronavirus transmission in the U.S. has been confirmed, in a patient in Illinois, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday.
Here.

Hmm.  No big deal?  WHO just declared this a global health emergency and some will still say no big deal.

The normalcy bias is real.
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Coronavirus has spread to every region in China...(UPDATE!!! China is building a second shake and bake hospital)



This virus has already infected more people than SARS.  We're behind the power curve and we have the Chinese to thank for that.

We're not looking at a Spanish Flu situation but I believe this will change the course of that nation and will be the nail in the coffin for globalization. Even Wilbur Ross is saying so.

God it feels so good to be so right and ahead of the curve on this stuff...DESPITE critics that say I'm fear mongering.

It's never about fear.  It's about information from OPEN SOURCES!  Most of time we must rely on foreign sources for that information!  Russian, Chinese, Japanese, European...all those sources are currently better at giving information of an international flavor than our US news agencies.  Think about it.  While main stream media was focusing on the impeachment WE were talking about the Coronavirus...so were foreign news agencies.  We were right, US news was wrong.

This incident should be an eyeopener for many.

UPDATE!!!



Yep.  They have this thing under control.  So much control that they're building holding pens labeled as hospitals to destroy after the danger has passed.

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Blast from the past. Proposal to use Lunar Modules as Space Labs...




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An unusual Ajax IFV on the beach...


Don't recall seeing this variant of the Brit vehicle.  Any ideas?  Any better pics?  Anything?  Pic is from Defense Equipment and Support (UK MoD) Twitter Page.
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Experts say WHO should declare coronavirus outbreak world health emergency

via SCMP
*World Health Organisation committee will convene on Thursday for third time in a week to assess the situation

*Former WHO adviser on communicable diseases says there is ‘imminent risk’ of international spread
Public health experts say the WHO needs to declare the coronavirus outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan a global emergency, as Beijing itself locks down cities containing more than 50 million people in the world’s biggest ever national response to an infectious disease crisis.

The calls come as the World Health Organisation is set to reconvene its emergency committee in Geneva later on Thursday – the third time in a week – to assess whether the new virus spreading from China now constitutes a “public health emergency of international concern”, or PHEIC.

The pneumonia-like illness has killed 170 people and sickened more than 7,000 in China so far, with dozens more cases confirmed elsewhere, including in the United States, Japan, Thailand and Germany.
The 16 independent experts on the WHO’s emergency committee will advise director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on the decision and give recommendations for managing the outbreak.
Here. 

This could change EVERYTHING!  I don't know what the decision will be but IF they declare a global emergency then globalization might take a hit that it can't recover from.

China might take a hit that sets them back for a couple of years.

This COULD be a future changing event for the Chinese.  Time will tell but I'm betting that WHO will receive pressure from a number of parties from govts, to celebrities to corporations all pushing for them NOT to declare an emergency.

This thing is getting interesting.

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New Corps Formation: Marine Littoral Regiment?

via Marine Times
Major changes seem to be coming for the Marine Corps’ force structure, as the commandant and his top leaders have given a range of new design possibilities.

There’s reconfiguring the Marine Expeditionary Unit for new types of missions, and ways to change the Marine Air-Ground Task Force to better fit the needs of the force. Commandant Gen. David Berger has talked about small teams of Marines taking out ships in hotly contested areas.

But recently an entirely new formation was mentioned that could cause its own ripples across the force: a Marine littoral regiment.

“It’s looking at creating the Marine Littoral Regiment and how that’s going to resource and help make (Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations) successful,” said Maj. Gen. Mark Wise, deputy commanding general of Marine Corps Combat Development Command.
Here. 

I've been pounding my head trying to remember where I've seen all this before.  Not in the USMC but in history.

Then it hit me.  The US Army tried this during the 1950s when the "pacing" threat was the USSR.

via Wikipedia...
Pentomic (cf. Greek pent(e)- and -tome, "of five parts") refers to a structure for infantry and Airborne divisions adopted by the U.S. Army in 1957 in response to the perceived threat posed by tactical nuclear weapons use on the battlefield.

"Pentomic Division" was "a public relations term designed to combine the concept of five subordinate units ('penta') with the idea of a division that could function on an atomic or nonatomic battlefield."[1]
Here. 

What do I remember from my limited reading?  Everything got tracked.  Tracked supply vehicles, tracked mortar carriers, you get the idea.  Additionally we had cannons of every type that all fired some type of nuclear projectile.

What happened next?

A few short years later the war that we wanted didn't come knocking, it was the one we didn't called Vietnam.

All the planning, modeling etc...got thrown in the trash in the quagmire that was Vietnam.

Even worse?

Because the Army (and the US military) was on the wrong foot and not prepared for the fight they would get, things went badly.

I have to wonder.

Is this wise?  Are we seeing a generation of flag officers that are trying to get it right or are they trying to leave a legacy other than failure in the Middle East?

Harsh I know but think about it.  We have a couple of generations of officers that were unable to get the job done.  That have us involved in the longest wars in American history and historians will not be kind.

They presided over several debacles from the F-35 to the LCS to the KC-46 to the Ford class to the EFV to the Bradley replacement and the Stryker program.

I guess what I'm saying is that I wonder if this isn't a legacy building exercise or a real need.  Also consider that the USMC is wagging the dog on this one. The Navy doesn't even have its ship building program together but the Marine Corps is already making plans on how it will deploy and fight in the littoral zone?

I find it all curious.

Drastic changes are being proposed instead of commonsense ones like getting our organizational model ironed out.  Check out this EXCELLENT article.

I end with this.  There is low hanging fruit that should be picked...where cuts should be made BEFORE we make these wholesale changes.
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US Army got a new helmet or is this just for Paratroopers?



Saw this pic on the 82nd's Instagram Page and I noticed the cut of the helmet. That's new.  Is it Army wide or just for the 82nd?  I know Special Ops is all on the Ops Core train so they're probably not switching.  Anyone know? Is the USMC gonna be buying them soon?
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2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, with support from 3rd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, conducted air assault operations




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169 people killed in China by the Coronavirus...





How many people remember the book "Andromeda Strain"?  One of those pics kinda reminds me of it.


This ain't nearly as bad but it kinda rhymes.  An outbreak in a city instead of small town.  Govt trying desperately to control it.

Why do I cover this?

Because I believe the Chinese are lying about the severity of the outbreak. I believe our govt is helping in the lie to keep the economy booming.  I believe other govts are lying to protect global trade.  And I think the news media is ignoring the thing because they're so focused on the impeachment.

Suffice it to say that I think they're all behind the power curve.

Time will tell.


 

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I don't know if this is pure genius or just plain terrible...

Hat tip to Nicholas Drummond's Twitter page for finding this contraption...

Is this batshit crazy or the best thing since sliced bread.  I don't know.  Everyone is vehicle dependent these days.  How do you find room in the back of the helicopter, AAV, landing craft, etc...along with the rest of the stuff you're supposed to carry?
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Open Comment Post. 30 Jan 2020


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Northern Viper 2020....pics by Cpl. Cameron Parks







 








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Wednesday, January 29, 2020

"Head Cavity Search" conducted prior to recovering missing sniper rifle...

View this post on Instagram
On June 16, 2006 Scout snipers from 3rd BN, 5th Marines killed an enemy sniper and recovered a Marine M40A1 sniper rifle lost nearly two years prior almost to the day during a mission near Habbaniyah. The rifle was the one formerly used by four Marines of 2/4 who were killed on a rooftop in Ramadi June 21, 2004. Sniper Section Four was in a hide when the spotter observed a military-aged male inside a nearby parked car videotaping a passing patrol of amphibious assault vehicles. The Marines saw a rifle stock by the insurgents side. Moments later, the insurgent would receive a precise head cavity search along with his spotter who received multiple rounds to the chest. The weapon came full circle, having originally belonged to the Darkhorse battalion in OIF I, who turned it over to the "Magnificent Bastards" of 2/4. Coincidentally, it was a Darkhorse sniper who killed the insurgent sniper, and a former Magnificent Bastard killed the spotter. . "The very fact it was one of our snipers that killed theirs trying to use our rifle is poetic justice. It's very rewarding to take them out the way we did, even though it won't bring back the four Marines who were killed that day." . Personal note: When I was in Ramadi, we knew the story of the 04 ambush was true, but always thought the rumors of finding the missing sniper rifle were just that, rumors. Fucking karma. #marines #hogs #zerofoxtrot #stayzero
A post shared by ZERO FOXTROT ™️ (@zulufucxs) on


Poetic Justice Indeed!
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Patria’s 6x6 platform chosen as part of a joint Finnish-Latvian vehicle development programme



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You want a dispersed Marine Expeditionary Force aboard ship? Then buy the Mistral Class LHD...


The Commandant has made a call for Marines to operate among a large variety of warships so that a dispersed force can be realized.

The problem?

Putting penny packets of Marines onboard existing Navy ships that aren't focused on the getting Marines ashore and are too small/specialized to assist in the naval fight is a non-starter.

A few Marines aboard a destroyer that is hookin' and jabbin' at sea is going to have a hard time flexing to getting Marines ashore.  Same goes for Frigates.

A few fast transports that are ill suited to amphibious operations isn't gonna help either.

So what is the answer.

We look at what others are using and pick the best of breed to enhance our operations. 

So what is that ship?

The Mistral Class LHD.  It brings to the table several pluses.  Outside of the Harrier/F-35 it can field Marine Air (helos) from the MV-22, CH-53, AH-1Z, UH-1Y and upcoming unmanned combat tilt wings.

It can carry ACVs/AAVs and LCACs for surface assault.  It can deploy small boats. 

In essence it is a chance to free up America Class ships to become what everyone seems to want.  F-35 carriers.

Coming in at 16,500 tons empty its smaller than a San Antonio Class LPD and in my estimation more useful.

Its a win win.  Just build it in the USA and call it a day.  If the French would sell the plans to the Russians you know they'll sell it to us!
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If the Coronavirus is no big deal then why did they divert this flight?




 

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Russian Army Msta-S self-propelled howitzers on exercise...






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VDV's 98th Airborne Division's 331st Guards Airborne Regiment based in Kostroma conducted the first live fire training exercise of the year

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Exercise Northern Viper

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Finnish Army - Amos Unit Training..




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Open Comment Post. 29 Jan 2020


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Perfection in details: MiG-35 multirole jet fighter





I'm beginning to wonder if "lightweight" fighters have a future in modern aerial combat.

The US is making (or supposed to be) a turn to the Pacific so range is important increasing size.  Stealth features are important which increases size.  Carriage of weapons is important which increases size.  More numerous/powerful avionics are required which COULD increase size.

Said all that to ask.  Does the MiG-35 have a future.  Does the F-16 (which I would claim has gone from light to medium weight) have a future?

Do airplanes that met their original form factor have a future?  The more I think about it the more I think not.
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AV-8 Mortar Carrier...

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Royal Air Force Chinooks from 27th Squadron leave Norway to join Royal Marines 3 Commando for training in the arctic.




Don't know what's going on up there but the Brits are going big on the Arctic training.  It's a shame that the USMC had obligations elsewhere and couldn't participate.  We keep hearing about the Arctic being a vital area, but so far the Brits, Dutch, Swedes, and Finns have been more focused than we have.

I wonder.

Should our focus be a bit closer to home?  Maybe team with the Canadians to secure the area closer to our home?  

If we are able to secure the area just north of Alaska (and other areas here) with the help of the Canadians then flexing toward Europe will be easier since we know that not only is Russia making a push there but so are the Chinese.
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Protolab PMPV mine testing...






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908th EARS refuels Marine F/A-18 Hornets









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