About the ST Kinetics Terrex 2 Advanced...

I was caught by surprise when I checked out my feed and saw the ST Kinetics Terrex 2 Advanced (I'm labeling it "advanced" to differentiate it from the other Terrex 2 which you can see below).

Amazing isn't it.  This was the vehicle that was just tested last year...now they've totally reskinned it!

One thing is readily apparent.  This thing is built to swim and do it well. Check out the parts that I have highlighted.  Starting from the back and moving forward.  Do you see the fairing just ahead of the propeller?  That's been changed to permit better water flow (as has the whole vehicle).  The hydrodynamics engineers must have been working overtime on this vehicle!  Additionally the nose has been redesigned.  Again we see improvements in its hydrodynamic performance.  Last is the trim vane.  That bad boy has been enlarged.  The "original" vehicle traveled low in the water...almost to the point of being partially submerged.  This rig won't have that problem.

I thought that the Terrex would be the most digitally advanced model.  I felt that it would perform well on land but that its swim speed would be its Achilles heel.

I don't know anymore.

I'm still predicting a price shootout but its gonna be hard to criticize any vehicle that is picked.

BAE/IVECO Super AV and ST Kinetics/SAIC Terrex 2 Advanced for the downselect?

It wouldn't surprise me one bit.  Let's just get this program GOING!

Is Turkey on the brink of sectarian violence?

I noted and dismissed news that the USAF wasn't allowing dependents to accompany personnel assigned to our base in Turkey.  I should have digged deeper.  Check this out from Istanbul Blog...

Turkish nationalist mobs attacked the offices of the mainly Kurdish party (HDP) in several cities and set fire to the party’s headquarters in Ankara on the night of September 8, sparking fears that violence, largely contained in Turkey’s southeastern provinces so far, could spin out of control.
Nationalist sentiment is running high on the streets of Turkey as the country heads towards snap elections in November at which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is desperate to regain the parliamentary majority his Justice and Development Party (AKP) party enjoyed for 12 years until losing it at the last polls in June.
What trigged Tuesday night’s violent events are recent Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) guerilla attacks that killed more than 30 security personnel in the country’s eastern and southeastern provinces. Thousands of supporters of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) took to the streets in protest against the attacks. The government and nationalists regard the HDP as the political wing of the PKK.
This was not the first time that HDP offices and its officials had come under attack but the scale and nature of Tuesday’s assaults was alarming. Not only were HDP buildings attacked by thousands of nationalists but also Kurdish businesses were targeted, pelted with rocks and some were torched. There were also reports that Kurdish workers in Ankara’s Beypazari district were beaten up.

Is this the meltdown that many predicted?  Is this why Turkey has been stepping up attacks against the Kurds?

Another country that bears watching.

Russia declares danger area off Syrian coast via Russian Navy Blog.

Check out Russian Navy Blog Twitter Feed here.

Well ain't this grand.  My first thought?  Russia just gave Kerry the middle finger.  He met with some official (forgot which one) and told them that the US was concerned about Russian activity in Syria.

Now we have this?  Maybe saying that he got the middle finger isn't strong enough.

Next I'm thinking that I was pretty spot on.  Russia is in Syria to stay and this little show is a "demonstration of power" to inform the entire region.

Pass the popcorn, let me put up my feet and give back my binoculars.  This shit is about to get real.

2nd Tanks firepower exercise...photos by Cpl. Paul S. Martinez

Note:  Is it my imagination or are we seeing a "born again hard" feel in Marine Tanks?  I hope so.  I'm still a fan of the concept of mounting a 105mm gun on a Amphibious Combat Vehicle and putting Marine Tankers in them to provide fire support for MEU's and having the M1A1's setup for MEB/MEF ops but even if we maintain the status quo its good to see this activity.

ST Kinetics Terrex 2 Advanced!

OH SHIT!  That vehicle looks right.  I wonder how it swims?  Pics via Janes and the story is here.

BMP-3 with a 57mm cannon? via Defence Blog

Thanks to Galvars for the link!

Note:  We've been a bit "Russia" heavy lately.  I'm well aware but it just runs in cycles.  We've had "China" heavy coverage, "Turkey", "Iraq" and so on...its just the way things go.  Deal.

No spoilers, read the article here.

I find this interesting and don't know where this will finally go.  A 57mm cannon on an IFV?  You can't make a troop carrier heavy enough to defeat that round unless its over 70 tons (which would take us back to the original Ground Combat Vehicle the Army was pursuing).  Have we reached a point where IFVs are about to become extinct and light tanks (which the above vehicle could easily be classified)/armored personnel carriers come back into vogue?  Does this mean that the dismount points are now a couple or more miles away from the objective due to the direct fire threat to the transports?  Are we seeing the beginning of the end to the anti-tank missile used in the utility role--why pump a 100,000 dollar or more missile at an IFV/bunker/fortification when you can reliably kill it with your cannon?

I'm not sure.

What I do know is that the US Army's proposal to upgrade the Stryker with a 30mm cannon seems like a feeble attempt to catch up.

The armor race is on...and the ground forces of the USA won't be able to ignore it for much longer.

Is Syria how Putin goes from villain to hero of the West?

Consider what we've heard recently.

Russia is moving troops into Syria to support the Assad regime and to fight ISIS.  

Consider what's gone off the radar.  Ukraine.

Is this Putin's game plan?  Is this how he goes from villain to hero of the West?  Think about it.  If Russia doesn't advance.  Keeps the rebels in check and simply helps rebuild the occupied rebel areas then suddenly that conflict's new borders becomes accepted, peace is back in Europe and the Germans can back to fleecing the southern countries.

But think about what else happens with this.  Ukraine is peaceful and suddenly Russia is in the vanguard in the fight against ISIS.  Who would be happy with that?  Saudi Arabia and the rest of the GCC.  Iraq would smile.  Iran wouldn't be too upset.  Of course Assad would be smiling a bit....and a bit worried....ISIS has been killing the rebels too.  Interestingly enough I even think Israel would breath a sigh of relief.  Russia would be making the neighborhood a bit more predictable.

If this is the plan then its brilliant.

Not only do they become at the very least neutral to Europe, but they're also seen as dependable allies by most in the region AND they gain influence at our expense.

Islamic end days prophecy has its first piece....Russia building base in Syria.

via Free Beacon..

Russia is constructing a military base in the Syrian port city of Latakia, U.S. intelligence officials said last week, raising alarm about the country’s increasing support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
The Telegraph reports:
The anonymous officials say Russia has set up an air traffic control tower and transported prefabricated housing units for up to 1,000 personnel to an airfield serving the Syrian port city of Latakia. Russia has also requested the rights to fly over neighboring countries with military cargo aircraft during September, according to the reports.
Such activity is evidence that Russia may be increasing its involvement in the Syrian civil war. Russia has been backing the Assad regime by providing Syria with financial help, intelligence, advisers, and weapons.
Meanwhile, the Obama administration has stood on the side of the Syrian rebels fighting the regime. On Friday, President Obama and Saudi Arabian King Salman emphasized that the settling of conflict in Syria will only be possible in the wake of an end to the Assad regime.
Amid the reports of Russian action in Syria, Secretary of State John Kerry called his counterpart in Russia, Sergey V. Lavrov, Saturday to warn against bolstering military assistance to Syria.
“The secretary made clear that if such reports were accurate, these actions could further escalate the conflict, lead to greater loss of innocent life, increase refugee flows and risk confrontation with the anti-ISIL coalition operating in Syria,” the State Department said in a statement.

You can rip up the plan to topple Assad.

It ain't happening.

Additionally you can scrap the idea of destroying ISIS....at least in the near term.  Assad will lead a much smaller Syria, ISIS will have portions of Iraq/Syria, the Kurds will probably be able to carve out a small homeland...and we will see this whole thing die down.

At least until the next war.

The current crop of military leaders (because they've remained silent and did not state the dangers of not responding with a sense of urgency) along with the President/Administration will go down as having failed the nation and the Middle East.

Assad will remain in power and ISIS will live.  The Caliphate is small, but it's here.  The Islamic end days prophecy has the first piece in place. 

More Dawn Blitz 15 ...

Marines with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment provide security on the beach following an amphibious landing as part of Exercise Dawn Blitz 2015 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 5, 2015. Dawn Blitz is a multinational, amphibious training exercise designed to hone the amphibious landing skills of I Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Expeditionary Strike Group Three and allies of the United States. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Eric Keenan)

Marines with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division use a compass to determine their left and right lateral limits on the beaches of Camp Pendleton, Calif., during Exercise Dawn Blitz 2015, Sept. 5. Dawn Blitz is a multinational training exercise designed to enhance Expeditionary Strike Group Three and 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade’s ability to conduct sea-based operations, amphibious landings, and command and control capabilities alongside Japan, Mexico and New Zealand. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David Staten)

Marines offload vehicles from a Landing Craft Air Cushion on to a beach aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., during Exercise Dawn Blitz 2015, Sept. 5. Dawn Blitz is a multinational training exercise designed to enhance Expeditionary Strike Group Three and 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade’s ability to conduct sea-based operations, amphibious landings, and command and control capabilities alongside Japan, Mexico and New Zealand. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David Staten)

Marines with 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion unhook towing cables from an amphibious assault vehicle following an amphibious landing during Exercise Dawn Blitz 2015 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 5, 2015. Dawn Blitz is a multinational, amphibious training exercise designed to hone the amphibious landing skills of I Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Expeditionary Strike Group Three and allies of the United States. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Eric Keenan)

Saudi Arabia/GCC forces number 10,000.

via Arabnews.com

Emirati and Bahraini soldiers who were “martyred” in Yemen will be treated as Saudis “materially and morally,” said Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, SPA reported on Tuesday.
He vowed that the blood of “our martyrs will not go in vain,” and added that “the (Saudi-led) coalition will continue its operations with determination to defeat the (Houthi) rebels and their supporters who tampered with the future of the brotherly people of Yemen and who tried to destabilize the region.”
The Iran-backed militia and their allies in the army fired a Soviet-era ballistic missile at an army base in the central province of Maarib on Friday, killing at least 60 Gulf Arab soldiers on Friday.
The alliance has deployed 10,000 troops to Yemen, Qatari news channel Al Jazeera said.
Yemen’s neighbors ramped up airstrikes on Sanaa on Tuesday and hope to launch a decisive assault soon on the city.
“The number of coalition soldiers who have already entered Yemen has risen to 10,000,” Al Jazeera reported.
“A second contingent of Qatari soldiers will arrive today at Yemen after entering Al-Wadee border crossing (with Saudi Arabia) ... as coalition forces have added to their military equipment with 30 Apache helicopters, armored vehicles and rocket launchers,” he added.

Ok this is getting good.

I really need to get a handle on the Saudi/GCC order of battle here.  What units have deployed and how do they rate?  What units are in reserve?

Still this is turning into a more compelling fight than the cluster fuck that is the US' effort against ISIS.  We're basically seeing the fight that we've all anticipated between Iran and Saudi Arabia/GCC.

I doubted their (Saudi/GCC) ability to respond to setbacks/reinforce success before.  After the setback of having a bunch of troops killed in a ballistic missile attack it looks like they're doubling down.

I'm asking again.  Do they have enough slack to exploit a breakthrough/absorb a setback now or is this all they can spare?

13th MEU's 81mm night fire...photos by Sgt Hector de Jesus

Corporal Beau Kroupa and Lance Cpl Nicholas Nelson with 81mm Mortar Platoon, Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, fires an 81mm mortar during Realistic Urban Training Exercise (RUTEX) at range 210 aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Sept. 2, 2015. RUTEX provides Marines and Sailors of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (13th MEU) an opportunity to perform and practice their duties while deployed in an urban environment

The real truth about the USMC? The School of Infantry is easy...the Fleet is where you get your balls smashed!

Thanks to CoffeeJoeJava for the link!

via Marine Corps Times...

"I was stressing out because all my girlfriends started getting hurt," Brown told Marine Corps Times. "They're all getting this common injury from hips. I was waiting to feel something in my hips and I never did."
Brown was one of just two women left standing in the pair of infantry-trained rifleman platoons at the end of the nine-month-long experiment, she and other members of her unit said. Most of the other women in those two platoons had been dropped or temporarily sidelined with light duty due to injury.

Then this...

Before opting out of the task force, Sheffield, 23, had decided the infantry wasn't for her.
"It sucked; it really sucked," she said. "I wouldn't do this experiment again."

Yeah and she's a pup.  Imagine how she'd feel after 4, 8 or 12 years of that?  Many women are going to be setting themselves up for life long injury.  Bad knees and backs are par for the course that no one talks about.

But the reality is never talked about.  You can pencil whip anyone thru any school in the Corps.  Nothing is ever said in the clear about it but that's the actual and factual.

The fleet is where you get your balls or (in the near future) ovaries kicked in. Oh and trust me.  When you have a battalion commander that's pushing 45, is a PT stud and thinks road marches are fun, base plates build character and you can never have enough ammo...then those marches turn into hell on earth...and that's before you spend the next 8 hours running ranges because you started out at 4am to get their by sunrise (note I said started...that doesn't include your prep time which usually happens late Sunday nite).

But what has me spinning is that the USMC isn't releasing these reports.

The agenda won't allow it.

This is why I absolutely HATE USNI Blog and the group of bastards over there.  They're pushing a cause that will see the USMC weakened.  What happens when you have 1/4 of your battalion undeployable?  How do you make up for so many that are pregnant or injured?

This NEW Marine Corps will be a mix of fun to watch and pure pain.  When the inevitable happens remember I told ya so.