Thought of the day

 

Yeah ya'll were right. The ULTV is just the MRZR-A rebranded (plus a rant)

 

Wow. Let me say this first. Ya'll were right. It's just the MRZR. Next I just got to touch on the Marine Corps past on vehicles of this type. In the past they were always about Fast Attack Vehicles. Seems like they've shifted over to logistics mules, anti-air platforms (of such limited range I don't know how they can be considered effective) and transport.

The thing that has me spinning is the USMC fascination or rather stubbornness with regard to vehicles of this type being internally transportable by the MV-22.

That limiting factor has been the bane of the Corps existence for too long.

The sad truth?  Did you know that the internal dimensions of the MV-22 are the same as the long retired CH-46 (or so I've been told), which means that we're limiting ourselves to 1960 specs for a 21st century world.

But back on task. 

I personally like Polaris.  I think they make great vehicles and from what I can see they're performing their roles well.

What irks is that we're limiting ourselves to a certain size all for the holy grail of internal MV-22 carriage.

I will never understand why a sea going force is choosing to become lighter than an AIRBORNE force.

The old standard was the right standard.

A medium weight force that can flex up and down the force continuum.

The USA has more than enough light infantry.  It even has more than enough airmobile infantry.

What it doesn't have are forces that are able to respond to crisis events whether combat or HA/DR in a timely fashion or hover over the horizon to demonstrate resolve.

The USMC once provided that.

Open Comment Post. 9 June 23

 

Philippine Armed Forces plans to use 25 hectare land for coastal defense

The Armed Forces of the Philippines plans to use a recently acquired 25-hectare land on Calayan Island, a remote island in Cagayan province south of Taiwan, as part of the country’s coastal defense system, the military said. https://t.co/BUepv6bRty

— Frances Mangosing 🇵🇭 (@FMangosingINQ) June 9, 2023

25 hectare piece of land right?

Ok.  I can rock with that.  But...

One launcher firing twelve rockets can completely blanket one square kilometer with submunitions. For this reason, the MLRS is sometimes referred to as the "Grid Square Removal System" (metric maps are usually divided up into 1 km grids).

Our MLRS is a beast and we can assume the Chinese version is too. But wait.  Not familiar with this hectare nonsense.  What does that equal?

 One sq km is equivalent to 100 ha. As a result, a farm with 100 hectares of land has a total area of 1 sq km.

Wow.  So 100 hectares is equal to 1 sq kilometer.  But if the Philippine govt is getting 25 hectares then...the Chinese will be able to destroy the entire island with just a few missile launchers.

The MLR is a jacked up experiment.  If located they will easily be destroyed.  We can assume the Chinese will have MAX ISR coverage of the entire theater of operations.

FD2030 will not work.

HQMC labored hard to produce a steaming pile of garbage. Defense battalions failed during WW2 and their modern equivalent, the MLR will too.

This is American society. We are so screwed...sound up to drink in the madness

 

pic.twitter.com/1zeVCCVAHH

— Johann (@LookAtMyMeat1) June 9, 2023

I've never treated a employee at a convience store like this. But seeing this clip its easy to see that American society is screwed. If you go out in public these days and aren't prepared for someone to flip out then you're not serious.

Wait what? Iran supposedly has a hypersonic missile too????

Thanks to Duke 7 for the link!

Israel's reaction to the presentation of the Iranian Fattah missile.

The Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post wrote that the Fattah hypersonic missile would reach Israel in 400 seconds.

Israeli TV channel i24 News News reported: "Fattah" is the first Iranian hypersonic missile… pic.twitter.com/kbUhYLH1Yu

— Sprinter (@Sprinter99880) June 6, 2023

Ok. I definitely need to look up what qualifies as a hypersonic missile. If Iran is producing hypersonic missiles then what the hell!

Leopard 2A4 confirmed destroyed

#Ukraine: For the first time, a Ukrainian Leopard 2A4 tank was destroyed by the Russian army during the recent Ukrainian attack near Novopokrovka, #Zaporizhzhia Oblast. pic.twitter.com/AwBWbId9sw

— 🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) June 8, 2023

Things are getting sporting now. Massive armored columns penetrating Russian lines (geo-located and confirmed)

 

GeoConfirmed UKR.

"Russian artillery shelling incoming Ukrainian armored columns. The columns are massive and crossing the H-08, penetrating Russian lines. "

1: 47.501272, 35.900404
2, column 1: 47.504104, 35.915615
2, column 2: 47.509272, 35.931931
3: 47.491570, 35.942405 pic.twitter.com/ZtDwxTNYcq

— GeoConfirmed (@GeoConfirmed) June 8, 2023

GEEZ! Assaulting in column. Would be dogmeat for US or probably any western air force. I DO NOT GET EITHER SIDES WAY OF WAR! Even limited USMC artillery, when compared to what the Army can do, would make mincemeat of these boys. I've already seen battle damage (check out earlier post) and I'm anxious to see how western armor holds up, most especially looking for a comparison of IFVs, so we'll see what we'll see.

MARINE CORPS SYSTEMS COMMAND BEGINS FIELDING CUTTING-EDGE ULTRA LIGHT TACTICAL VEHICLE

 

via DVIDS

Marine Corps Systems Command has begun fielding the new Ultra Light Tactical Vehicle, or ULTV, reaching initial operational capability and marking a significant milestone in the Corps’ Force Design 2030 modernization efforts. This state-of-the-art tactical vehicle is set to enhance infantry, reconnaissance, and logistics mobility and sustainability, providing the modern warfighter with an advanced, lightweight solution tailored for operations in an anti-access/area denial environment.

“Fielding the ULTV serves as a signal that the Corps is keeping in stride with the ambitious roadmap laid out in Force Design 2030,” said Col. John Gutierrez, portfolio manager for Logistics Combat Element Systems. “This new capability will ultimately help forge a more agile and resilient Corps—one which is empowered to overcome the evolving complexities of modern warfare.”

Fielding operations will proceed in conjunction with the First Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Pendleton, California. The first ULTVs have already arrived at I MEF, with 1st Battalion, 5th Marines receiving the initial vehicle set. An ongoing, structured roll-out will continue throughout the MEF, culminating in August, followed by additional fielding events across the Marine Corps.

The ULTV, a modular, off-road utility vehicle, is currently replacing the Utility Task Vehicle, or UTV, which has reached the end of its lifecycle. With its ability to be rapidly configured, the ULTV supports diverse infantry needs, ranging from logistical support and casualty evacuation to command and control and electronic warfare missions. Furthermore, the ULTV can be internally transported in the MV-22 and CH-53E/K, further facilitating rapid deployment.

“The ULTV is more than just a tactical vehicle; it enhances our capabilities across the board, ensuring the success of our mission and the safety of our Marines,” said Program Manager for Light Tactical Vehicles Jennifer Moore. “The ability to rapidly configure the ULTV to suit diverse mission needs-- from logistical support to electronic warfare-- enhances our capabilities in previously unimagined ways.”

Marine Corps Systems Command serves as the Department of the Navy's systems command for Marine Corps ground weapon and information technology system programs in order to equip and sustain Marine forces with full-spectrum capabilities.

We've been down this road MANY times before.  I hope this works out.  If memory services they last about 4 years before complaints start rolling in and talk begins of them not being suitable.

I find it interesting that the UTV has reached the end of its serviceable life.  Many countries are continuing to procure them and they seem like a low cost solution (relatively) to the light mobility problem. 

I haven't seen the specs on this new vehicle but I have to wonder if we're getting that much of a big bang over what the old one did.

Starting to see many pics of Western gear destroyed in the Ukrainian counteroffensive..

Looks like a CV-90 in the pic above. Also looks like its seen better days.

We're starting to see many pics of Western gear destroyed in the Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Many dispute those pics.  Ok.  We'll see what we'll see in that regard but something is off with this counteroffensive from where I'm sitting.

The Ukrainians are nothing if not the masters of propaganda and they have a huge fanbase that amplifies anything they put out.  Additionally they have tons of surrogates that multiply the propaganda services work so they flood the zone.

Yet with this counteroffensive we're hearing practically nothing.

I was expecting to see massive movements of the map.  Ukraine appears to be maneuver territory built for armored forces and combined arms teams.

But we're hearing at best gains of maybe a kilometer or two.  AT BEST.

Two quick takeaways?  Dispersed forces have difficulty mounting an offense.  I would contend that dispersed forces are damn near incapable of mounting an offense.

The next is that this war has truly settled into a stalemate.  The lines are for better or worse frozen.

Perhaps now is the time for the Chinese to push thru their peace plan.

Ukraine is weary.  Russia is weary.  The West is about at the limits of what it can prudently provide.

Now might be the time when we can knock this off.