Aussie' getting their ducks (or Hornets in this case) in a row at RAAF Tindal

Aussie' getting their ducks (or Hornets in this case) in a row at RAAF Tindal 😊 During this exercise the F/A-18Fs from No.1 Squadron were filling in for ECM support. #avgeeks #aviation #Australia pic.twitter.com/WRcmcIC0Dz

— Air Power 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣2️⃣🎆🎇 (@RealAirPower1) January 1, 2022

German Army year in review (they wish you all a #GutenSlip...whatever the fuck that is!)

Critical skills operators attending MARSOF Master Assaulter Course conduct various raids to test their proficiency. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ethan Green)

British Royal Marines Year In Review (via pics)

Happy New Year from SNAFU! Blog and BMC Savunma (they have the best animation I've seen for the celebration)

 

Sorry for posting this so late...forgot that many readers are gonna be passing into the New Years hours before we do in the USA.

Sukhoi Su-75 CheckMate 3D Renders ... Video by @posnega1

 

Sukhoi Su-75 CheckMate
3D Renders of New Russian Fifth Generation Single Engine Stealth Fighter, Except of main weapon bay with 4 paylons it has two side bays for InfraRed air to air missiles.
.
Initial Characteristics:
Maximum Speed: 1.8-2 Mach
Range: 3000km
Combat Radius: 1500km
Payload: 7400kg
Service Ceiling: 16.5km
Maximum G Pressure: 8Gs
Engine: Izdeliye-30 with 3D TVC
Thrust/Weight Ratio: Guessed +1.1
Price: $25-$30 million

Marines say they're being 'crushed' over vaccine refusal: 'A political purge'

Story here. 

I know my Marine Corps. They're slow walking this thing. The "slackers" that refuse are being discharged first while they give the remaining another chance to get right with the order.

What I wonder is how many Marines have refused to take the shot. Rumors have it that upwards of 10K Marines have.

If that's true then this will be a total shock to the Corps...an opportunity too though.  Make no mistake about it.  The Corps is about to get smaller and Berger has already said that he will shed personnel to get tech.

Hmm.

After further thought this could be exactly what they've been waiting for.  Additional friction will be added to the Corps that has seen NOTHING BUT friction over Berger's term but he also said that he was willing to embrace risk.  Yeah.  This could be the danger/opportunity scenario everyone talks about.  

Open Comment Post. 31 Dec 2021 (LAST ONE OF THE YEAR! Thank God...2021 sucked ass!)

 

VMGR-152 Takes to the Skies

 

A U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152 taxiing at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 23, 2021. Marines with VMGR-152 conducted a simultaneous large-scale launch of multiple aircraft and practiced training scenarios that included formation flying, simulated aerial delivery, and tactical flying. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jackson Ricker)

Marines conduct cold-weather training in Maine (B-Roll)

 

U.S. Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 366 train in Brunswick, Maine, Dec. 10, 2021. Marines with HMH-366 exercised expeditionary advanced base operations and cold-weather techniques and procedures in an unfamiliar environment by performing touch-and-go landings and low-altitude maneuvers in CH-53E Super Stallions. HMH-366 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force. 

This B-Roll package contains footage of the following: 

CH-53E Super Stallions taking off, flying and landing. U.S. Marines flying aboard and fueling a CH-53E Super Stallion. 

(U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Christian Cortez)

A warning from the past. Kamikaze struck the SS John Burke as the liberty ship was transporting ammunition to the invasion force on Mindoro, Philippines.

 

#OTD in 1944, a kamikaze struck the SS John Burke as the liberty ship was transporting ammunition to the invasion force on Mindoro, Philippines. The resulting explosion obliterated the John Burke and crew of 68. Several other ships were damaged by the blast. pic.twitter.com/mGIfn2MZnA

— U.S. Naval Institute (@NavalInstitute) December 29, 2021

IVECO Defence will participate with the Brazilian VBTP Guarani in the Malaysian tender

 

IVECO Defence will partecipate with VBTP Guarani in the Malaysian tender, for the procurement of 400 6x6 armored vehicles to replace the older UR425 Condor and AFSV90. IVECO could participate with VBTP-MSR. The other contenders may be: K806 WAV, Anoa 2, LAV II and Pars. pic.twitter.com/socAyJZMny

— Ciro Nappi (@CiroNappi6) December 28, 2021

This is gonna be ONE HELLUVA competition in a program that will/should get a ton of attention. 6x6's are the future with the massive weight gain of 8x8's. To be quite honest at the weights we're seeing we should be moving to 10x10's to lower ground pressure but fashion holds sway.

Kinda disappointed that the Patria 6x6 isn't being entered.  As things stand with the projected lineup I think (just my opinion don't hate) that the K806 WAV will win.

First Recce KIA since the 80's

Rest in peace Warrior. 

The S. Africans are operating much further North than I thought. Wonder why that is.  Can't be the crime problem in Mozambique...so what gives?

South African recce Corporal Tebogo Edwin Radebe who was KIA in Mozambique last week. First Recce KIA since the 80's pic.twitter.com/BZ3P3hcuY5

— Mupper (@mupper2) December 26, 2021

Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466, flew in support of 3d Marine Division for Resolute Dragon21,

 

Green Berets from the 10th Special Forces Group perform a raid on a building complex at Fort Carson, Colorado.

Green Berets from the 10th Special Forces Group perform a raid on a building complex at Fort Carson, Colorado. And when your Time On Target requires precision, no one provides better support than the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne).

 

Just plain wow! The US Army has some amazing wash racks! via Military Footage Instagram Page

 

Chinese ruling party split? Must read article!

A really riveting read, not to mention also it’s by many counts a perceptive analysis of what’s possibly happening behind the scenes within CCP elite circles. 👍🏼👇🏼 https://t.co/QLCulKpJOE

— Collin Koh (@CollinSLKoh) December 29, 2021

Read the article! A tidbit that caught my attention.

That the commentary also details the achievements by Xi's two predecessors, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, both of whom remained on Deng's reform path, makes clear the point Qu was trying to make. Jiang and Hu made China the second-biggest economy, top exporter and the world's factory, Qu said.

The article implies that since the Xi Jinping era began in 2012, China has lived on the leftovers from the wonderful feast prepared by Deng, Jiang and Hu.

That is juicy, delicious and points toward a bit of a facture in the united front that I see so often coming from China. 

Could we actually be seeing a split among the elite there?

I can only hope.  Of course this could cause desperation and a strike against Taiwan to cool things off at home while the world burns even brighter but we've seen stranger things.

I hope we have till 2030 to get it together but I'm thinking events will outpace our planning.

Story here.

Lancer Brigade conduct early morning Field Artillery certifications at Joint Base Lewis-McChord....by Staff Sgt. Beggs

Open Comment Post. 29 Dec 2021

Exercise Diamond Walk 2021

Modest Proposal. The USMC should build Tactical Athletes. Forget the crossfit fad (CFT) focus on nutrition!

My opinion.

The Marine Corps has been attacking the fitness problem from the wrong angle.

The CFT is just the fevered dreams of a couple of crossfit Capts that got the ear of the Commandant (Amos....yeah I know...I was active at the time and thought it was batshit stupid...squad, platoon and even company PT could point out the weak and get them up to speed).

Go at the nutrition angle.

But do it with a twist.  Remember you're building new infantry battalions that operate dispersed, have a light foot print, are less dependent on resupply.

In short you're gonna have to follow the lead of the Navy SEALs.

The Marine Corps needs to embrace the KETO diet to build warriors that can go a long time before climbing into their rucksacks, and if the proper mix of protein is added (I guess I'm really calling for a high protein/low carb diet) they'll add muscle while gaining endurance.

The rub?

You're gonna have to totally redesign  MREs.  Out goes the candy.  Out goes much of the carbs.  It will probably be a bit more expensive but once adapted to the diet the need to transport as many MREs will greatly reduce.

If you want to take it a step further you could train Marines to adopt the One Meal A Day (OMAD) diet so that they became oriented to operating off eating as the diet suggests...ONE TIME A DAY!

I remember stories by Vietnam Veterans that marveled at the ability of the Viet Cong to operate off little food and limited resupply.

The Marine Corps SHOULD NOT turn itself into a modern day guerilla force but the concept demands a bit more self discipline than we've seen before out of our units.

If the idea of Marines charging pillboxes mostly armed with grit and determination is the vision we have of ourselves then getting onboard a diet that will improve performance should be no big deal.

The Marine Corps should be demanding its Marines become Tactical Athletes service wide.  

To accomplish that diet is 80% of the puzzle.

Late Open Comment Post. 28 Dec 2021

 

Challenger 2 crew commander course

 

Turk HİSAR-O Anti-Air System

"Dark Rifles" Pic Of The Day ... "Courage, above all things, is the first quality of a warrior." - Karl von Clausewitz.

Open Comment Post. 26 Dec 2021

Christmas In Romania 1989

 

An anti-Communist civilian fighter armed with a Kalashnikov AK-47 chases the supposedly Securitate secret police agents loyal to the communist power during street-fighting.

Christmas In Romania 1989 pic.twitter.com/MGPvbut1oN

— Yuletide Brahmin 🎄🎁 (@westernbrahmin) December 25, 2021

Poland's Rosomak Wheeled IFV really can haul ass on the highway!

 

Convoy Commander would be losing his shit if he knew they were moving that fast (well a USMC one would!).  Probably normal operating procedure for the Poles.  They have a bit cowboy in them.

Blast From The Past. S-T-O-M

Open Comment Post. 26 Dec 2021

 

The Russian 57mm Gun looks good.

Russia sends us greetings via our spy sats (cheap joke...funny but cheap)

🇷🇺🇺🇸#Russian army sends warm greetings to #American optical reconnaissance satellites ! pic.twitter.com/CskV8LQW8t

— Su-57 5th Gen Fighter (@5thSu) December 25, 2021

GUANGXI 32

 

The 2nd PLAN #Chinese #Navy Type 075 assault ship seems to be named GUANGXI 32, at least this ballcap seems to indicate. Ship began trials 21 Dec 2020 and is expected to be commissioned soon, a point when generally the name is officially announced. Image via @lqy99021608 pic.twitter.com/eU2zHoC1Ah

— Chris Cavas (@CavasShips) December 25, 2021

Tired of false equivalency. This is what the holocaust looked like...we live in paradise compared to the industrial scale barbarism of the past

 

25 December 1940 | A Dutch Jewish boy, Leon Jacob, was born in Groningen.

In October 1942 he was deported to #Auschwitz and murdered in a gas chamber after the selection. pic.twitter.com/NR5zVLsNId

— Auschwitz Memorial (@AuschwitzMuseum) December 25, 2021

Steel Knight 22 ... by Cpl. Jacob Yost

U.S. Marines and Sailors with 1st Marine Division (1st MARDIV) and Expeditionary Strike Group 3, participate in Exercise Steel Knight 22 (SK-22) at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Dec. 3-16, 2021. SK-22 is a 1st MARDIV-led annual training exercise which enables the Navy-Marine Corps team to operate in a realistic, combined-arms environment and enhances naval warfighting tactics, techniques and procedures. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Jacob Yost)

Basic Recon Course being upfront and telling you that they're gonna wreck you if you go!

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A post shared by Basic Reconnaissance Course (@basicreconnaissancecourse)

A little misty eye for your Christmas thanks to a British Supermarket (wish I knew the name of the market!)

 

First the Berlin Airlift, now the LNG Sealift. America rushes to save Europe again...

Flotilla of U.S. LNG cargoes is headed to natural gas-starved Europe

Web story at https://t.co/ARHTU58367#LNG #ONGT #NatGas #Shale #OOTT #Europe #Houston pic.twitter.com/NJRRc6qgF5

— Sergio Chapa (@SergioChapa) December 22, 2021

Interesting. We're doing a low key sealift of LNG to save Europe while Russia slowly crushes them with their own "Green Movement" rhetoric which made them dependent on their natural gas.

Environmentalist are their own worst enemy.  The proposed solutions are dreams only.  Wind, hydro and electricity(can't think of another "acceptable" form of energy they endorse)  all live on the backbone of fossil fuels.

They would have won long ago if they pushed clean nuclear power...but they won't.  

Merry Christmas