via Jalopnik
Sunday, April 08, 2012
Check out this guys video page.
Jaba149 has some of the best videos on military aviation that I've seen on the web. If you're not a subscriber then you're wrong.
LCS jacked up. Visby too small. How about Absalon?
The Absalon as an LCS replacement. via Wikipedia.
| General characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Class and type: | Absalon class flexible support ship |
| Displacement: | 6,300 tonnes |
| Length: | 137.6 m (451 ft 5 in) |
| Beam: | 19.5 m (64 ft 0 in) |
| Draft: | 6.3 m (20 ft 8 in) |
| Propulsion: | 2 × MTU 8000 M70 diesel engines; two shafts 22,300 bhp (16.4 MW) |
| Speed: | 24 knots (44 km/h) |
| Range: | 9,000 nmi (17,000 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h) |
| Boats and landing craft carried: | 2 × SB90E LCP 2 × RHIBs |
| Complement: | 169 |
| Sensors and processing systems: | Thales SMART-S Mk2 3D volume search radar Terma Scanter 2100 surface search radar Atlas ASO 94 sonar 4 Saab CEROS 200 fire control radars ES-3701 Tactical Radar Electronic Support Measures (ESM) |
| Electronic warfare and decoys: | 4 × 12-barrelled Terma DL-12T 130 mm decoy launchers 2 × 6-barrelled Terma DL-6T 130 mm decoy launchers Seagnat Mark 36 SRBOC |
| Armament: | 1 × 5 inch (127 mm)/54 Mark 45 mod 4 gun 7 × 12.7 mm Heavy machine gun 3 × VLS with up to 36 RIM-162 ESSM/RIM-7 Sea Sparrow (Mk 56/Mk 48 VLS) 8-16 × Harpoon Block II SSM 2 × Oerlikon Millennium 35 mm Naval Revolver Gun Systems CIWS MU90 Impact ASW torpedoes 4 × Stinger Point-defence SAM |
| Aircraft carried: | 2 × EH-101[1] or 2 × Westland Lynx |
| Aviation facilities: | Aft helicopter deck and hangars |
This ship my friends is damn near perfect for what I see as the future of Naval Warfare.
Imagine taking your fleet of these ships and instead of making them all multi-mission, have a certain number specialize in a particular form of warfare.
You would theoretically have one squadron designated as pure frigates to operate with the fleet...another squadron to assist in Special Ops missions...another for Riverines...Amphibious Ops...etc...
Instead of buying a whole slew of mission modules you'd buy X number for each squadron to fit their specialization.
And don't hit me with the not built here. Lockheed Martin, Northop and others can build it in their ship yards!
Follow up: Gunners Position on Navy Combat Support Helicopters.
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| Note the field of fire for the gunner in the above photos |
Thanks for the pics Jesse!
I did a post a couple of days ago lavishing much praise on this hidden jewel...Navy Combat Support Helo Squadrons.
The concept is sound, the firepower they can potentially bring to a fight unmistakable but there is one nagging problem.
The gunners station and his arc of fire. The Navy took a huge leap forward with the installation of the Army's ESSS kit. Again, the only issue I have with the system is the restrictions it paces on the gunner and his arc of fire.
A couple of off the shelf systems might be a workaround for a select set of helicopters were the primary mission will be set at Combat Support and Rescue.
The first off the shelf solution might be the Army's universal weapons mount for the Kiowa. You'll still have limited fields of fire but it should open it up a bit...especially if they're able to mount it at the rear of the cabin.
RAMCIS is the next solution. The good. It'll block the field of fire for only one of the gunners. The even better good is that you'll have a low cost multi-mission cannon that could imobilize enemy fast boats with one shot. The manufacturer states that it can penetrate several feet of concrete so this should be darn effective on rubber/fiberglass boats. The bad. I have no idea how the targeting works or if it could even hit a moving target. It was designed to kill mines. The worse still. It looks heavy as all outdoors.
Whether they fix or not, the Navy is doing good things...they should brag about their warfighting capability a bit more.
Sidenote: If there isn't room on carriers to get these Squadrons to the fight then the USMC/USN and NAVAIR needs to workout a way to get these helos out to the amphibs. I'd also like to see them working hand in hand with the Riverines...and the possibility of them being assigned to the Coast Guard to augment their HITRON teams is mouth watering.
Happy Easter...
Update:
The Easter Bunny hates you (via r.crichton7...thanks buddy you saved me from starting the day off in a bad mood)
So while you're sleeping Easter Bunny is training to kick your ass! Love it!
Saturday, April 07, 2012
Finally Canadians Talking Common Sense In Regards To The F-35
Unfortunately, sometimes ridiculously exaggerating what the auditor-general had to say about how the proposed purchase has been handled, politicians and other critics merge these two issue, using the bureaucracy's mistakes to question the need for the fifth generation F-35 itself.I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!
Let's live in the real world. Unless Canada decides drastically to change its defence strategy and becomes pacifist and isolationist, we will continue, as we have done for a century, to commit ourselves to military alliances and partnerships to further our national interests. To be worthy allies and partners we have to be more than peace-keepers uttering platitudes - the bulwark of the Liberal defence strategy for years.
As with the entire F-35 debate, the auditor-general's report is being discussed with no external context.
The competence and integrity of the folks at the Defence Department aside, what about the eight other partner countries in the program, and the Japanese, who have ordered 42 F-35s? Why are a bunch of Europeans signed up to an American program when the EU nations already produces several newish fighter jets of their own. Are they all idiots, too?
The multinational JSF program follows on that of the F-16, another U.S. warplane chosen by many European countries about 30 years ago. As with the F-35, the F-16 had initial teething problems but it was ultimately successful. This may explain why the F-35 European partner nations have shown far more patience with the F-35's hurdles than Canadian critics have.
As for Canada not having a competitive bidding process before deciding on the F-35, neither did its JSF partners except the U.S., which chose Lockheed Martin's X-35 over Boeing's X-32 in an early design competition. The Japanese, who are not partners, did hold a competition and concluded the JSF was better than Boeing's Super Hornet and the Eurofighter consortium's Typhoon.
There is no competition to be had if you want stealth and a networked capability because there are no other western aircraft being produced now that have this. It is that simple.
Way to go buddy. Cut through the nonsense of the "cabal" and get to brass tacks. Matthew Fischer! I gotta buy you a beer.
Friday, April 06, 2012
Four Ship...
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| U.S. Marine Corps AH-1W Cobra helicopters assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 265 fly in formation after taking off from the flight deck of the amphibious transport dock USS Denver (LPD 9) in the Pacific Ocean April 4, 2012. Denver was part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group conducting operations in the Western Pacific. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Raul Moreno Jr., U.S. Navy/Released) |
Update: Helicopter Sea Combat Squadrons
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| Personal observation. They need to do something with those gunner locations...the arc of fire appears extremely limited and those stub wings seem pretty small. Extend those and how about guided 2.75 rockets instead of hellfires and maybe podded 20mm cannons or bigger? |
Pretty damn impressive mission set...Our Mission: To deploy helicopter detachments for Littoral Combat Ships, Amphibious Ready Groups and Combat Logistics Ships to perform Naval Special Warfare, Amphibious Search and Rescue, Theater Security Cooperation, Strike Coordination and Reconnaissance, Anti-Surface Warfare, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and Utility missions in support of the Fleet and our National Defense.Our Vision: To be recognized as the Navy's premiere Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron by consistently accomplishing the mission and safeguarding our people, our most valuable resource.
I'd like to see it pared down to a pure combat and combat search/rescue mission set but helicopters are by their very nature multi-role.
I'll take what I can get. This is the kind of stuff the Navy should be beating its chest and screaming at the moon about. Go to HSC-22's website to read more about them.
Another Fact About The F-35 You Won't Hear On Aviation Week (or there followers)....
EGLIN AFB, Fla. (NNS) -- Navy personnel are busy preparing to teach the next generation of Sailors how to work with and fly the newest military aircraft, the F-35C Lightening II Joint Strike Fighter, as Strike Fighter Squadron 101 (VFA-101) readies for its stand-up ceremony on Eglin Air Force Base May 1.So the gang is all there.
The F-35 is a single seat, multi-role fighter aircraft with the capability to perform ground attack, reconnaissance, and air defense missions. The aircraft is in full production at the Lockheed Martin plant in Fort Worth, Texas. The F-35 is designed to eventually replace the F/A-18 Hornet and AV-8B Harrier tactical fighter aircraft and was planned with a common design, but three unique service variants, to keep development, production, and operating costs down.
"This is brand new aircraft platform from tooth to tail," said Cmdr. Scott Kartvedt, commanding officer of VFA-101. "We're not parlaying off any Navy stealth legacy programs or support systems. This will be the first new stealth and carrier-based tactical fighter aircraft since the introduction of the F/A-18 29 years ago."
The original Fighter Squadron 101 (VF-101), nicknamed the "Grim Reapers," was established May 1, 1952 and flew various models of fighter aircraft including the F-4 Phantom and F-14 Tomcat. With the retirement of the F-14, VF-101 was disestablished in 2005.
To support the new Navy version of the F-35, VFA-101 will be reestablished May 1 at a new hangar and training facility on Eglin AFB and will serve as the Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS), training pilots and maintainers for the fleet.
The first Sailors to help stand up VFA-101 will receive 'Plank Owner' certificates for their assistance with the new aircraft, new training facilities and redesignated squadron. As per Navy tradition, plank owners are individuals who were members of the crew of a ship when that ship was placed in commission.
"I'm learning a lot and really enjoy working with other services," said Senior Chief Logistics Specialist (AW/SW) Mirtha Martinez, Material Control Department leading chief petty officer for the squadron. "I'd love to come back in five years and see the squadron fully functioning."
Marine Col. Arthur Tomassetti, vice commander of the 33rd Fighter Wing, said establishing a squadron to train and work with the F-35 aircraft has not been easy, but the leadership has taken charge and is working towards building the best facilities possible to work with this new aircraft.
"The concept was simple; establish an initial training center for pilots and maintainers for the F-35 weapon system," said Tomassetti. "Bringing that concept to reality has been and will continue to be complicated and challenging. So the first step is you start with the best people you can find, put them together, and say 'go.' Over the past two-and-one-half years, those carefully selected people have put together a strategy, developed plans, adapted to the dynamic and ever changing environment and schedule, and continued to track towards the goal of establishing a training center for F-35 pilots and maintainers."
The mechanics of the Navy F-35 will initially be taught by Lockheed Martin personnel to Navy instructors, who will then begin teaching students after completing instructor certification. Students are expected to arrive for maintenance instruction in 2015, with the first F-35s scheduled for deployment 2017-2018.
The Navy's version of the F-35, the 'C' model is distinct from the F-35A and F-35B versions with larger wing surfaces and reinforced landing gear for greater control in the demanding carrier take-off and landing environment.
Sailors in the majority of aviation rates are eligible to attend the F-35 course of instruction, including aviation ordnancemen, aviation structural mechanics, aviation machinist's mates, aviation electronics technicians, aviation electrician's mates, aviation structural mechanics and aircrew survival equipmentmen.
VFA-101 is a part of the 33rd Fighter Wing, a joint-service graduate flying and maintenance training wing responsible for F-35 A/B/C pilot and maintenance training for the Navy, Marine Corps, and the Air Force. Initially, 59 aircraft and three flying squadrons, one for each service's aircraft variant will be based at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The F-35 Academic Training Center serves as the schoolhouse, where wing personnel expect to train more than 2,000 maintenance students and 100 pilots each year.
All three services have units in place to begin training.
On this one subject the Commandant being an Aviator probably helps. On this he'll push like a madman to get this started...the AAV and MPC programs might lag but the training will start up before the end of this year.
Oh and check other spots to see if this is reported.
It won't be.
They'll report dubious information....like a 50 year estimated life cycle cost of the F-35...but they won't report this certified fact.
Amazing.
The Sea Wolves. Time again.
The US Navy has designated helicopter squadrons to support Special Operations Command.
Awesome. Good for them.
But its time the Navy took care of its core missions first.
Like adequate defense and attack in the littoral regions and further inland.
Fast attack aircraft are awesome weapons of war but after deploying the Riverine Units its time to give those units the support they need.
The Navy needs to bring back the Sea Wolves.
How this fabulous capability was allowed to die is beyond me but if the Navy were to procure a sufficient number of AH-1Z's...put them in Navy markings with Navy pilots and attach them to Riverine Units during wartime...and carriers during the time in between then you'd have a tremendous capability. My concept of employment might be off but the war record is undeniable...check out the website here.
Thursday, April 05, 2012
Combat Logistics Regiment 25 gets gruntified!
All photos by Pfc. Franklin E. Mercado
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| Lance Cpl. Joseph Snyder, a motor transport mechanic with Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, patrols through a forest during a field exercise at Gun Position One aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. April 3, 2012. The purpose of the field exercise was to get the regiment's Marines and sailors out of their comfort zone and in the field to refresh and enhance basic battle skills they don't get a chance to practice on a day-to-day basis. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Franklin E. Mercado) |
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| Lance Cpl. Joseph Snyder, a motor transport mechanic with Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, watches a road as fellow squad members cross it during a field exercise at Gun Position One aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. April 3, 2012. The purpose of the field exercise was to get the regiment's Marines and sailors out of their comfort zone and in the field to refresh and enhance basic battle skills they don't get a chance to practice on a day-to-day basis. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Franklin E. Mercado) |
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| A Marine with Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, patrols through a forest during a field exercise at Gun Position One aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. April 3, 2012. The purpose of the field exercise was to get the regiment's Marines and sailors out of their comfort zone and in the field to refresh and enhance basic battle skills they don't get a chance to practice on a day-to-day basis. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Franklin E. Mercado) |
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| Lance Cpl. Joseph Snyder, a motor transport mechanic with Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, posts security during a field exercise at Gun Position One aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. April 3, 2012. The purpose of the field exercise was to get the regiment's Marines and sailors out of their comfort zone and in the field to refresh and enhance basic battle skills they don't get a chance to practice on a day-to-day basis. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Franklin E. Mercado) |
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| Marines with Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, watch a road as fellow squad members cross it during a field exercise at Gun Position One aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. April 3, 2012. The purpose of the field exercise was to get the regiment's Marines and sailors out of their comfort zone and in the field to refresh and enhance basic battle skills they don't get a chance to practice on a day-to-day basis. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Franklin E. Mercado) |
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| Marines with Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, wait in a tree line during a field exercise at Gun Position One aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. April 3, 2012. The Marines patiently waited for an unknown vehicle to pass their position. The purpose of the field exercise was to get the regiment's Marines and sailors out of their comfort zone and in the field to refresh and enhance basic battle skills they don't get a chance to practice on a day-to-day basis. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Franklin E. Mercado) |
Visby Class Stealth Corvette.
One sixth the weight, but with three times the firepower and less than one half the price. If I was in the surface Navy I'd be sick to my stomach. The LCS is going to be outclassed by all opponents and allies.
The LCS. The Navy's version of the Stryker...better in theory than reality.
Hasty Rappel at the Jungle School...
All photos by Lance Cpl. Erik S. Brooks Jr.
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| Marines with Combat Logistic Regiment 37 performs a hasty rappel down a hill at JWTC on Camp Gonsalves April 2. Rappelling skills prepare Marines to overcome potential obstacles during deployments. The CLR-37 Marines are assigned to 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. |
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| Cpl. Blake M. Cameron, top, a JWTC instructor, teaches Marines with CLR-37 proper navigation of a hill using the hasty rappel technique at JWTC April 2. Along with rappeling, the Marines also learned proper knot-tying techniques. JWTC instructors are part of 3rd Marine Division, III MEF. |
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| Marines with CLR-37 rappel down a 70-foot cliff at JWTC April 2. The Marines performed three controlled safety stops as part of their training. |
Wednesday, April 04, 2012
Whats up with this Chick????
To be honest, I consider it unremarkable and not really a contender in the US Army's Scout Helicopter program. It might get the attention of SOCOM...but it won't, in my opinion again, gain much widespread usage.
But what had me scratching my head, banging my fists against walls was the CEO of MD Helicopters.
WTF! on steroids.
This chick is out there. But I guess she has her fans....
Check out these articles to get the full flavor of this lady. Here. Here.
15th MEU TRAP Training.
All photos by Cpl. John Robbart, III
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| Staff Sgt. Brian Sears, Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit relays a status update to his platoon commander during a simulated tactical recovery of personnel scenario. This particular scenario was created by the Command Element to develop the skills of the TRAP unit. The task at hand was to recover two United States Agency for International Development workers after a medical aid mission went wrong. |
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| A LAV-25 prepares to transport Marines, sailors with Battalion Landing Team 3/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the role players they recovered as a part of a tactical recovery of personnel as a part of MEU Exercise, April 4. Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise is the first training that integrates all elements of the Marine Air Ground Task Force. Tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel missions are rehearsed using several training scenarios. This particular scenario was created by the Command Element to develop the skills of each of the role players. The task at hand was to recover two United States Agency for International Development workers after a medical aid mission went wrong. |
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| A UH-1Y with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 flies over the area in search of two role players acting as United States Agency for International Development workers as a part of a tactical recovery of personnel during MEU Exercise, April 4. Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise is the first training that integrates all elements of the Marine Air Ground Task Force. Tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel missions are rehearsed using several training scenarios. This particular scenario was created by the Command Element to develop the skills of each of the role players. The task at hand was to recover two United States Agency for International Development workers after a medical aid mission went wrong. |
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| Marines with the security element for the Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel, Battalion Landing Team 3/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct a tactical recovery of personnel as a part of MEU Exercise, April 4. Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise is the first training that integrates all elements of the Marine Air Ground Task Force. Tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel missions are rehearsed using several training scenarios. This particular scenario was created by the Command Element to develop the skills of the TRAP team. The task at hand was to recover two United States Agency for International Development workers after a medical aid mission went wrong. |
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| Marines with Combined Anti-Armor Team, Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 3/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, exit the area after rescuing role players during a tactical recovery of personnel as a part of MEU Exercise, April 4. Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise is the first training that integrates all elements of the Marine Air Ground Task Force. Tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel missions are rehearsed using several training scenarios. This particular scenario was created by the Command Element to develop the skills of the TRAP unit. The task at hand was to recover two United States Agency for International Development workers after a medical aid mission went wrong. |
First RNLAF F-35 Rolls Out
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| The first F-35 for the Netherlands rolled out of the F-35 production facility on 1 April 2012. The aircraft will be assigned to Eglin AFB, Florida, later this summer. The Netherlands will use the conventional takeoff and landing jet, known as AN-1, for training and operational tests for pilots and maintainers. AN-1 will undergo function fuel system checks before being transported to the flight line for ground and flight tests in the coming weeks. |
The 5 Most Badass Tales of Wartime Survival
I am loving Cracked.com. You have got to go to the site to read the rest of these but this first one had my head spinning!....
Make sure you read the other tales of Bad Ass Survival...#5. Colter's Run
In 1808, a trapper named John Colter and another trapper named John Potts (the two would go on to inspire the name of the '80s hospital drama Trapper John, M.D., according to a lie we just told) set out in canoes on a trapping expedition near what is now Three Forks, Montana. Suddenly, they were surrounded by 800 Blackfeet Indian warriors on the shore. Colter decided that 2 vs. 800 were hopeless odds and surrendered, but Potts disagreed and started shooting at the Blackfeet. It was an inspiring moment for underdogs everywhere; Potts was basically Rudy.
Except the Blackfeet quickly killed him, ripped out his guts and threw them in Colter's face. In that way he was less like Rudy, and more like nightmares.
Rather than killing Colter outright, the Blackfeet decided to make the kind of miscalculation that you would think only happens in movies. They asked Colter how fast he could run, to which he replied "Oh, like, totally slower than Native Americans" (we're paraphrasing a bit). With that knowledge, they stripped him naked, spotted him a 100-yard head start and told him to run. They were literally turning his impending death into a race, with the prize being Colter's scalp.
One problem, though ... Colter lied. He was actually a very fast runner. After two and half miles, he had left all the Blackfeet behind except for one. He then stopped and waited for that man to catch up. When the Native American lunged at him with his spear, he grabbed the spear point with his bare hands, broke it off and impaled the man with it. But the Hollywood movie style exploits were just getting started.
After hiding out in a beaver lodge for a few hours, Colter swam five miles downriver, only to find that his would-be killers were still looking for him, likely shocked that someone would be so crass as to lie about how fast he could run when faced with an unspeakably painful death. The only way out of the valley he was in was through a narrow pass that was probably being guarded. So he decided to do the last thing they would expect and climbed over a mountain (still naked, we have to assume). After scaling sheer cliffs by hand, he spent the night on top of the mountain in the snow before coming down the other side the next day.
After that, there was nothing left to do but walk. And walk and walk and walk and walk. After 11 days, he finally reached Fort Raymond. He was half-starved, his feet were torn and bloody and his limbs were swollen. All told, he had run, walked, climbed and swam 250 miles. After watching his good friend get murdered.
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