Order of Battle off the coast of Yemen...

Image via USNI News from CIG.

Events off the coast of Yemen are about to go from very interesting to potentially deadly.

I do have a new theory about the moves by the US though.

Based on past behavior by this administration, I believe that we're not seeing US ships move to intercept these Iranian ships....I think they're moving to try and prevent a showdown between the Iranians and Saudis.

I'm really getting the impression that the US got intel that the Saudis along with their allies were about to go medieval on the Iranian convoy and the last thing the administration or the world needs is this proxy war to go hot.

What we're actually seeing is the US Navy sticking itself between two fleets that are spoiling for a fight.

My prediction?

The Iranian ships will deliver their cargo.  The US will do nothing to intervene and the Saudi govt will be pissed.

3rd LAR does Desert Scimitar-15...photos by Pfc. Levi Schultz

Note: Does the LAV-25A2 still swim or was that capability lost with increased armor protection?  Additionally have you noticed that when it comes to mechanized warfare we never train the way we fight?  The USMC and Army does these slow, scripted exercises when we've seen time after time extremely high tempo operations that stress supply lines, wear down equipment and break men.  Isn't it time we revamped things a bit and focused on short but hardcore training ops.  A 5 day exercise that has men and machines moving for 18-20 hours a day versus a 14 day schedule would seem to make sense and would be more aligned with the way we fight.

Once again we bow to Saudi wishes...

via AP

In a stepped-up response to Iranian backing of Shiite rebels in Yemen, the Navy aircraft carrier, USS Theodore Roosevelt, is steaming toward the waters off Yemen to beef up security and join other American ships that are prepared to intercept any Iranian vessels carrying weapons to the Houthi rebels.
The deployment comes after a U.N. Security Council resolution approved last week imposed an arms embargo on the Iranian-backed Shiite Houthi rebels. The resolution passed in a 14-0 vote with Russia abstaining.
Navy officials said Monday that the Roosevelt was moving through the Arabian Sea. A massive ship that carries F/A-18 fighter jets, the Roosevelt is seen more of a deterrent and show of force in the region.

Our foreign policy is in disarray.

This fight was supposedly between Saudi Arabia and its coalition versus Iran.
Now the US Navy is going to pick up the lion's share of the work.

Is anyone thinking in Foggy Bottom?  This makes no sense!

Warrior Firing Trials

Another sneak preview of Russian Armor coming online...(hi rez pics)

Many thanks to S300V4 for the pics!

UPDATE:  Robert linked the below pic.  Quite honestly I can't keep up with all the new armor that is going to be displayed.  I wish the CIA or the DIA put out threat assessments like they once did.  In the future armor identification and basic knowledge of capabilities will be an essential part of every Infantryman's playbook.

L-CAT for the US Army?

via Navy Recognition.

CNIM and FMG will answer the US Army request for proposal (RFP) for the Maneuver Support Vessel Light, MSV(L), program intended to replace the LCM-8 "Mike" landing craft. As part of their agreement, FMG will act as prime contractor and CNIM will be the design agent and provider of some specific equipment.
US based FMG is already working with the US Military and Coast Guard through Marinette Marine, which currently builds the Freedom class littoral combat ship for the US Navy with Lockheed Martin.
The craft proposed to the US Army will be an enhanced and simplified variant of the L-CAT® already in service within the French Navy. In US Army service the L-CAT® derivative would be used for shore to shore and intra-island operations.

Read it all here.

SNAFU!'s take?

I hope that the Army has an 0-6 assigned to the USMC/USN at Quantico monitoring discussions about the sea base and future operating concepts.

The Army has a problem.

Its struggling to make itself relevant and in doing so is lumbering around crashing into walls of its own making.

I've talked to enough leadership at HQMC to know that they're willing to include Army aircraft, seacraft and vehicles into the mix....its up to the Army to make sure that they're procuring gear that enhances the fight rather than causing friction points that will limit their utility.  Will the L-CAT enhance interoperability with the USMC/USN?  I don't know.  The Army better figure it out before they purchase any replacement ship.

Navy V-22 graphic art...

Pantsir-S1 Air Defense Missile Gun System Combat Simulation

Is it just me or did we just see this system being re-marketed to fight only low performance threats and away from being able to take on fast jets?

Let me introduce you to your next crisis. Illegal Immigrants fleeing to Europe...

via CNN.

(CNN)It was the latest in a series of dangerous voyages as hundreds of men, women and children boarded a boat in Libya, hoping to make it safely to Europe.
But after a couple of days at sea, in the dark of night Saturday, the ship was in distress in the Mediterranean and sent out an SOS.
As rescuers approached, the migrants -- perhaps 700 people on board -- moved to one side of their boat, hoping to be saved. Their movement caused the large, multilevel boat to capsize, sending the desperate crowd plunging into the frigid water, their chance of survival slim.
While the shipwreck was an accident, human traffickers facilitate risky trips like this, risking people's lives by putting them on rickety ships in unpredictable waters.
"Gangs of criminals are putting people on a boat, sometimes even at gunpoint," Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said. "They're putting them on the road to death, really, and nothing else."
Malta is working with Italy in the rescue operations.
It's "genocide -- nothing less than genocide, really," Muscat told CNN.
"Our troops, together with the Italian navy, are literally looking through the bodies to try to find someone who's still alive," he said.

Read the whole story here.

My take?

This is going to get nasty.  Southern Europe cannot afford this massive influx of people even if they wanted them...and I'm not sure they do.  Additionally EU laws place the entire continent at risk if some of these people are actually terrorist mixed in with people trying for a better life.

Between austerity, tight govt budgets and a population that sometimes doesn't seem to want to assimilate (don't go high and to the left...just my opinion...it means nothing), we're looking at the next flashpoint.

Oh and do you want proof of this in another country?  Check out what's happening in S. Africa.   The headline...What's behind xenophobic attacks in South Africa?

Yeah.  Call me crazy but the entire world seems headed to one massive flashpoint.

Defence Technology Review Land 400 quick overview.

Note:  The image below is taken from Defense Technology Review and gives an overview of the Land 400 Project Contenders.  Good stuff.  What vehicle stands out to me?  The Singapore Technologies Kinetics/ELbit combo intrigues me.  The Raytheon Australia Nexter seems like an early favorite too.  What has me scratching my head is the teaming of BAE and Patria though.  It doesn't seem like a match made in heaven after the comp for the ACV, so I wonder whats going on behind the scenes there.

  Defence Technology Review Page 22