Friday, February 05, 2021
USMC seeking re-engineered/re-engined V-22...looks like they have V-280 envy!
Last night, a USMC official announced plans for a V-22 Next program, which is considering either extensive design changes or an all-new aircraft to dramatically improve or replace the 32-year-old tiltrotor. AWIN subscribers:https://t.co/jZB4ntQNE3
— Steve Trimble (@TheDEWLine) February 5, 2021
Wow.
This is so obvious. The USMC is looking at the V-280 and trying to make an end run to the future medium lift variant. I'm betting they're looking at bigger engines and the tilt mechanism from the V-280 and will be happy as hell.
I wonder if its as simple to do as it is to say. Regardless Bell just got a HUGE boost with this announcement. Of course the 800 pound wrecking ball in the room is the budget. Where will Berger get the money? If this becomes priority then you can bet that even more of the ground force will be sacrificed on the altar of "naval integration".
Aviation is now supreme. Everything else has died to support it. The F-35/MV-22/CH-53K all killed the Marine Corps as we know it.
We're now onto Marine Corps 2.0. I just wish they'd dump the name while they're rebranding making everything else. Missile/Aviation Marines has a nice ring for the new breed.
Top down view of the fabulous Merkava MBT...
Very good shot of Merkava Mk 4 M MBTs turret roof.#IDF #Merkava #MBT pic.twitter.com/7WfMs3YJML
— The Dead District (@TheDeadDistrict) February 5, 2021
Thursday, February 04, 2021
The 20th-Century Roots of EABO (MUST READ!)...by First Lieutenant James Winnefeld, U.S. Marine Corps
Just plain wow. I follow many senior officers in the USMC and I get the basics of the concept from a gawd damn Lt. The article is in Proceedings and you can read it all here. A preview...
In the early morning hours of a temperate January day, a contingent of 1,723 U.S. Marines defended an expeditionary advanced base on a small tropical island from an impending enemy amphibious assault. The Marines reacted quickly, having used airborne reconnaissance in the preceding days to build situational awareness of the enemy’s disposition.1 As the sun rose, the enemy was thrown back into the sea, and the base continued to provide support to the fleet. Thanks to investments in both time and money to innovate their force design, force structure, posture, and capabilities to support the advanced base mission, the Marines were able to successfully defend the island.
This is not a depiction of the Marine force of the future as outlined in the Commandant’s Force Design 2030, but an experiment conducted on Culebra Island off Puerto Rico more than a century ago—the culmination of much thought, debate, and conclusions about the concept of the advanced base force.2 This historical example has increased relevance today, as Commandant of the Marine Corps General David H. Berger has challenged the service to make sweeping changes not unlike those made by the Corps at the turn of the 20th century. It also is an example of how leadership can foster innovation and change to meet emerging threats.
Make sure you read the article.
What has me spinning? In the 1940's the USMC basically abandoned the Defense Battalion construct .
Why?
Because the Japanese made mush of it. We saw a valiant but failed attempt at Guadalcanal (which was the impetus behind the future MAGTF) to hold the line but history is history. Additionally we saw the concept in reverse during our push across the Pacific. Japanese Soldiers and Marines tried desperately to implement a version of this concept but they were either bypassed, ground down or both.
Make no mistake about it. This article is a full throated defense of the Commandant's plan but while retelling history I think the 1stLT left out some major facts that need to be part of the debate.
Austria signs up for more Pandur Evos
Three things. Story is here. Second, this gave me a chance to post pics from my pic library of the Pandur Evo. Last, is it just me or does it seem like Austria with the Pandur Evo and Brazil with Guarani are the only nations that are big into 6x6s?
"The war is lost in 5 days": Polish army exercises "Winter-20" ended in complete failure
"The war is lost in 5 days": Polish army exercises "Winter-20" ended in complete failure
— Sukhoi Su-57 Felon 🇷🇺🇮🇳 (@I30mki) February 4, 2021
The results of "Winter-20" command and staff exercises (CSP) in Poland turned out to be extremely sad for the Polish military.https://t.co/ZCuURZ8kLk pic.twitter.com/HwxrkmpP7G
T-80BVM and MT-LBV crews from the Northern Fleet's 14th Army Corps conducted a training exercise in Murmansk.
Another hit from Rob Lee's Twitter Page...
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