You can read the synopsis of the KTH Concept Study here. From what I could make out, the Swedes were looking at some of the same concepts that General Mullen talked about. A landing craft that was fast, could be controlled from the vehicle being carried and then return to the ship by means of pre-programmed instruction.
Is it time for the Marine Corps to take a new look at the Fast Landing Craft Personnel?
I think so. Consider. The USMC is at the beginning of a REAL transformation of the Infantry Rifle Squad (I kick myself everyday for not seeing what MANY were telling me...). In short every squad will turn into what we once called a "Super Squad". The standards, training, manning and equipping will be second to none.
We need to get those units ashore, quickly and in fighting shape....and we might not have the luxury of using helicopters or tiltrotors to get the job done....add to it that we're going to be putting Marines aboard "other than" amphibious ships and we need a craft that can go fast, far, protect our Marines from the elements and deliver them ready to fight.
I looked at several offerings from around the world...the LCM-1E, several offerings from BMT Camien and they all failed to impress.
The Watercat M12 will deliver 22 Marines at speeds up to 35 knots at almost 200 nm from shore. They're small enough to be carried aboard most alternate forms of transport that the Marine Corps is considering and will provide the type of mobility that these units will lack without a dedicated air detachment (which might not be available or the ships might not be able to accommodate).
The Watercat M12 deserves a look-see. Borrowing one or two from the Finnish Navy to conduct experiments with Company Landing Teams or even Rifle Squads would go a long way to determining whether they would fit into our future operating concepts.
It would require teaming with the Navy and Military Sea Lift Command...maybe even SOCOM (still have issues with the teaming but its done so lets roll with it) to see where they would be useful, but its something that we should make happen.
SIDENOTE: Everyone is excited about the CB90. I view that more as a patrol boat than a fast landing craft. I realize that the Swedish Marines use it in the assault role, but I still contend that the Watercat M12 is more suited to USMC mission sets. Coastal Defense, Off Shore Patrol Duty etc...is falling into the turf currently occupied by the Riverines. While I still chaff at the Marine Corps abandoning that mission, the deed is done. In times of austerity purchases must be based on need not desire. The M12 fits the bill.
Are you still crying about Valencia being hit by a squad car?
Save your tears for the weak and the dying. Check out his crime spree that day....via CNN...
Timeline of events Tucson Police Sgt. Pete Dugan told CNN that Valencia was involved in several incidents there the day he was struck. At 6:45 a.m. on February 19, Valencia allegedly robbed a 7-Eleven in Tucson with a metal object in his hand. Authorities said he was dressed only in his underwear. He was charged with theft. A little more than an hour later, police said, Valencia set a fire at a church for which he was charged with arson of an occupied structure. Just after that he entered a home and stole a car, police said. Authorities said he drove to a Walmart in Marana, where he allegedly stole a .30-30 rifle and ammunition. He fled the store with Walmart employees in pursuit. Police encountered him in a business park walking down the road. An officer told him several times to drop the rifle, Lt. Tim Brunenkant with Marana police said in an email containing a timeline of events. Valencia, police said, walked away from the officer, turned a corner and stopped. Valencia pointed the rifle at the officer then walked away again toward a Coca-Cola bottling plant and another business. "As Mario Valencia briskly walked towards Sargent Controls (local manufacturer), Officer Michael Rapiejko uses his marked police car to stop the dangerous situation Mario Valencia created," Brunenkant wrote. Brunenkant also said by phone that before Rapiejko's encounter with Valencia, the suspect had pointed the rifle at his head multiple times and threatened suicide before fleeing. Rozema said that Valencia's firing of the weapon, his refusal to obey the first officer's commands to drop the gun and the pointing of the gun at the officer were key. "And so you have another officer who sees and seizes an opportunity to end the threat and put an end to the situation," the chief said.
Judge each event on its own merits.
When cops fuck up then slam'em like a piece of cold meat....When they do good, stand up cheer and tell them good job.
Hey boys...you did good!
Sidenote: This might be nitpicking but I have an issue with the officer that was following behind "relaying" information. I wish someone would interview him and find out what he was thinking. It wasn't shown in the video but if this guy pointed a weapon at police and he failed to take action then do we have the police equivalent of "cowardice under fire"?
The new T-14 Armata platform-based Main Battle Tank (Object 149) is looking to become the star of the show for the parade's mechanized portion. In development since 2009 at Uralvagonzavod, the tank, comparable to the latest Western analogues and in some measures superior, reportedly features an unmanned remotely controlled main turret, is armed with a brand new 125 mm smoothbore cannon, has a fully automatic loading system, a crew compartment separated from the ammunition container, and composite multilayered armor protection. Set to undergo state trials in 2016, Uralvagonzavod is expected to supply over 2,300 of the new tanks to the military by 2020.
The Marines will have to wait another decade to increase the speed of its amphibious troop carriers, Marine Corps officials said Tuesday. The service is pushing forward with plans to build about 200 new Amphibious Combat Vehicles that will ultimately replace the older, Amphibious Assault Vehicle fleet.
High-water speed has been a key requirement since these armored troop carriers are designed for forced-entry operations. Marine officials, however, have decided to postpone a decision on the requirement until 2025, Marine officials said at the 2015 Sea, Air and Space conference hosted at National Harbor, Md.
"High-water speed is still an important requirement for us. We are just going to have to figure out how to go about doing that," said Marine Maj. Gen. Andrew O'Donnell, assistant deputy commandant for Combat Development & Integration.
The ACV is the service's top modernization priority, but it will not immediately replace the AAV. The Corps will upgrade 392 AAVs to compliment the new ACVs.
The Marines are considering using Landing Craft Air Cushion ships to carry two ACVs at speeds up to 40 knots until they get within 12 miles of shore, Marine officials said. Leaders also talked of using Heavy Lift Barge Carriers to service as "mother ships" for LCACs during such operations.
This was part of a larger discussion on the Navy and Marine Corps vision of sea-basing – a concept that the services have been developing to create floating staging bases for amphibious warfare operations.
