CH-53K

Yes its propaganda.  Yes its a rebroadcast.  But does anyone have an update on this program?  The first fully 'skinned' airframe should be ready.

USMC Sea Basing Docs.

The USMC Sea Basing Site is back up...but unfortunately its been scaled back to obscene proportions.  What drove this is beyond me but they did put up 3 new documents.  A Why, How and What in regards to the Sea Base.

What is Seabasing

Why We Seabase

How We Seabase

The beauty of the Sea Base is that it codifies the turn toward the Pacific and away from Europe/Middle East.  The bad thing about the Sea Base is that its still being promoted to allies that bring nothing to the table and will allow those same 'allies' to continue to sit on the sidelines with token forces...in this instance Naval Forces...while the US and its real partners will be engaging in real work---be it humanitarian assistance (Remember the Japanese Nuclear Crisis?  Who didn't you see there?  Many European countries!) to peace keeping and of course war.

UPDATE: 
USMC Seabasing Website.

A day without Heavy Armor. Could the MEU survive???

Just a heads up.

Later today I'm going to expand on a discussion that me and B. Smitty have been having on heavy armor and the Marine Corps.

B. Smitty is a heavy armor advocate and I'm just not so sure.

Want to know what Infantry...what USMC Infantry fears (we're talking conventional warfare...not an insurgency)?  Its not tanks...modern Infantry can handle tanks...what modern infantry fears is artillery fire.

With that in mind I penned an article stating that the BAE CV90120 should be the Marines next MBT.

But barring that a few other items come to mind....if we can't get the CV90120, then how about the turret from the Stryker MGS mounted to a Marine Corps vehicle...say the MPC or even the AAV?

If that proves a non-starter then perhaps its time to make a Marine Corps Aviation, secondary mission, a primary one...anti-armor support...AH-1Z's and UH-1Y's can handle the work...if they're swamped then the AV-8B and future F-35 along with F/A-18's can mix it up here too...

And last but certainly not least, Marine artillery could help fill the gaps.  But the point is this...what we need worry about is not tank on tank warfare but direct fire support for the Infantry.  My contention remains that the M1 is just too heavy to provide that support in the MEU and larger units as we're currently comprised.

Give the mission (if its ever required) to an Army detachment assigned to the Marines and find a smaller lighter vehicle to get it done.

This should be the USMC's next Main Battle Tank.

If HQ Marine Corps is paying attention to the tyranny of weight...the continuing need for large caliber direct fire support and the idea that logistics are as important as tactics then the BAE CV90120 will be the Marine Corps next main battle tank.

Advantages over the M-1
1.  Lighter yet has the same firepower.
2.  Has equal cross country mobility...maybe more mobility due to its lighter weight.
3.  Lower fuel consumption.
4.  Less cube space aboard ship.
5.  Allows easier transportation to shore.
6.  Compatible with Trophy defense system.

Liabilities in comparison to the M1.
1.  Not able to stand up to other MBT's in combat.

Its quite clear.  If the Marine Corps is to continue to operate all weather, direct fire weapon systems in support of the Infantry then tanks are a must.  The M1 is too heavy, too thirsty and takes up too much space aboard ship to be compatible with continued Marine Corps service.

Time to give BAE a call.

Principal Characteristics