SNAFU!

Monday, June 11, 2012

USS New York (LPD 21) and USS Enterprise (CVN 65)

U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS (June 9, 2012) The amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21), left, transits alongside the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65). New York was commissioned in November 2009 and is currently on its maiden deployment, while Enterprise was commissioned in November 1961 and is on its 22nd and final deployment after more than 50 years of service. Both ships are currently deployed to the region in support of maritime security operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Scott Pittman/Released) 120609-N-FI736-409

Marine Week---Cleveland....

Photos by Cpl. Marcin Platek

Two new Marder models...

Tamir over at Defense Update has about the best coverage of Eurosatory 2012.

To be honest, I've been a bit UNDERWHELMED by the offerings this year. Go to Tamir's site to read more on these unusual Marder concepts.

Other vehicles at the show this year are below......

General Dynamics Europe has "civilianized" the EAGLE...You can bet they want to do the same in the US...especially if they win the JLTV contract.

Iveco wants to build on the VBTR's win in Brazil...Argentina just procured some a few months ago and it will probably be offered as competition against the Piranha III...especially since the bigger and heavier Piranha V has yet to gain traction

More to come hopefully but as I said. The vehicle makers are cautious as hell. I forgot where I read it but they even place rocks and such underneath their vehicles not to make them appear to be in a desert or forest environment but to keep "spies" from crawling underneath photographing the underbodies gaining a competitive edge.

Big boy procurement indeed.

IBD and Singapore develop the most powerful tank in Asia.

Which company was a bigger winner in the Canadian Tactical Armored Patrol Vehicle contest than Textron? I would say IBD.

This company has been operating in the background but has amassed some impressive wins and tech. Its armor designs and concepts have challenged PLASAN to the point that they can arguably called the most dynamic and cutting edge armor corporation on the planet.

Proof positive is the package that they assembled for Singapore.

The Leopard 2A4 by itself is a formidable tank. In Asia...doubly so. But add the Evolution Armor Concept to the vehicle and you have a tank that is more heavily armored (in my opinion) than a M1A1 and given the terrain found in that theater, more survivable too. In jungle and urban fighting with armor, close in fights will be the norm...multiple hits from multiple quadrants will be the norm...and the ability to get hit and keep in the fight will be essential.

The Leopard 2A4 Evo has that in spades. Singapore has a winner and so does IBD. Read more about the company and their concepts here.

NOTE:
Can anyone name a more powerful armor force than the one that Singapore is assembling in Asia? China? The Type 99 is a joke in comparison. The S. Korean K2? Nice as a M1A1 light but I don't think so. The Japanese Type 90? Nope, they better hope the MBT-X proves out. Australia's M1's? Again, nice but I don't think so.

British Army cut to the size of SOCOM.

I don't know whether this is ironic or sad.

The British Army will soon number a bit over 80,000 troops after the budget cuts have hit. SOCOM after its plus ups will equal about 75,000.

Our special operations branch will equal the size of the British Army....have more helicopters available to it than the British Armed Forces and will probably have a bigger budget.

Like I said...ironic or sad. via the Mirror...read it and weep for our British friends.

Mercenaries and foreign fighters could replace British soldiers when Army numbers are slashed by 20,000, it was announced yesterday.
Legendary infantry units could also disappear as Defence Secretary Philip Hammond admitted yesterday that “difficult decisions” will have to be made.
He warned: “Some units inevitably will be lost or will merge.”
As the Army prepares to reduce from 102,000 soldiers to just 82,000, the Mirror understands 5 Rifles, The Coldstream Guards, 3 Mercian and 2 Royal Regiment of Fusiliers are among those facing the axe.
All have recently lost men in battle against the Taliban or Iraqi insurgents and have played key military roles since 9/11.
Mr Hammond yesterday conceded that cuts would mean greater use of reserves and private contractors.
And he said Britain would have to look to its Nato allies to provide future military support.
But last night Shadow Defence Secretary Jim Murphy branded the moves “perverse” and “self-defeating.”
He said: “Mr Hammond has increased uncertainty where clarity was needed

Those are some pretty good units too.

Read the whole thing but the Brits want to help make up for the lack of forces through Partnerships, procurement reform and personnel reform. Sound familiar?

Sunday, June 10, 2012

When does it stop being edgy and just becomes sad?

Just sad.

3d Marine Special Operations Battalion train in S.C.

Marines with 3d Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, conduct predeployment training in South Carolina., May 22 to 24. During the training the Marines conducted counterinsurgency (COIN) operations.

Does Force Recon support the MEU or does the MEU support Force Recon?

via the USMC.

6/6/2012 By Staff Sgt. Robert L. Fisher III , 24th MEU

JORDAN — Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Maritime Raid Force, composed largely of its Force Reconnaissance Platoon, went straight to work showing off their capabilities upon landing in the Jordanian desert in preparation for Exercise Eager Lion 12, May 7. The MRF took part in an international military warrior competition at Jordan’s King Abdullah Special Operations Training Center and immediately crossed the country to meet with members of the Jordanian 77th Marine Reconnaissance Battalion. They spent the following days sharing experiences and refining each other’s skills. Eager Lion 12 is an international training exercise with more than 19 countries and approximately 11,000 participants designed to promote cooperation and military-to-military relationships among participating forces. The exercise scenario is intended to portray realistic, modern-day security challenges. Working with the Jordanians has allowed the MRF to return to the basics of shooting while also allowing them the opportunity to refine their knowledge of special operations mission capabilities through teaching. The Marines taught classes on their sniper rifles: the M40A5, M110 semi-automatic sniper system, and M107 .50 cal. Special Application Scoped Rifle, or SASR. Further scheduled training includes rappelling, fast roping, and ship takedown drills. Marines who become part of the reconnaissance community must undergo rigorous training and screening before becoming Force Reconnaissance. Once part of a unit, they attend a myriad of different schools in order to learn the abilities necessary for the unit to be self-sufficient. This added expertise allows a Force Reconnaissance platoon to be capable of several special missions: ship takedowns, long-term reconnaissance, battlefield shaping, counterintelligence and quick reaction, small-scale raids among others. “We train with special operations partners in joint training missions to facilitate possible missions in the future,” said Capt. Patrick R. Madden, the 24th MEU’s MRF commander. But the MRF is much more than just Force Reconnaissance Marines. It relies on several attached assets to complement its diverse skill sets. “Intelligence personnel have been integrated into the unit,” said Madden. “They can immediately detain and process a detainee on site without having to send them somewhere else. Trained personnel can also provide a full spectrum of signal intelligence detection and counter detection.” These additional assets include Marines from human intelligence, signal intelligence, fire support control, and explosive ordnance disposal. “We have many of the same assets internal to a special operations unit,” said Staff Sgt. Zachary Burghart, an MRF team leader. “We do a lot of the same special missions that Special Forces do, but we do it specifically for the task force commander or the MEU commander.” This attachment to a larger unit, like the 24th MEU, allows the Marines the ability to take the initiative in a situation while still having a much larger force backing them. “By having a smaller force, there are many advantages,” said Burghart. “We can maintain the initiative longer when we move in and get on top of a unit; we have a smaller footprint ashore, we are more flexible when the mission changes, we require fewer capabilities to move ashore, and we provide a more precise outcome.” All these advantages allow the MRF to move quickly ashore, accomplish the mission with minimal delay, and adapt as the mission changes. “You don’t get mired down in the situation, which allows us to be more efficient,” said Madden. But there are disadvantages with a parent unit relying solely on the MRF. While a lighter load allows them to move quickly, they need resupplies for time-extended missions. MEU assets allow the Marines to sustain indefinitely and also provide a quick reaction force should the MRF need more fire in a fight. “Everybody has their part and we enable the MEU a special mission operability,” said Madden. “With EOD or human intelligence or any the assets internal to our platoon, we adapt easily to changes in a mission.” The ability to gather, process and react to new information grants the MRF a unique flexibility. “We are a self-contained unit with all the organic elements needed to be self-sufficient and directly act upon any intelligence gathered in the field,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Lee Boujie, special amphibious reconnaissance corpsman. “There are so many skill sets in this unit, it’s ridiculous. The amount of knowledge, skills and abilities in this unit allows us to do more with less.” The small unit’s abilities provide but one of the many components of the 24th MEU. But it’s these quick reaction special mission capabilities that set them apart and make them an essential and oftentimes first piece of the big picture.

Wow.

Many will say this is great news. I ask is this really where we want to go with our MEU's? A serious question has to be. If the Maritime Raid Force .... MARSOC outside of MARSOC .... is the future then why even float a MEU.

At one time Force Recon supported the MEU.

From this article the MEU supports Force Recon.

The Marine Corps is doctrinally lost. It is pushing vehicle programs without any idea of how they're going to work or even if they're needed. The MEU (Special Operations Capable) initiative is effectively dead.

And instead of working to sort all this out HQMC is focused on .... whatever it is the fuck they're focused on.

Quite honestly and it pains me to say this, but if this is the Marine Corps and the future of the Marine Corps then you can basically send out Force Recon, along with one Infantry Company to provide support along with a couple of UH-1Y's, MV-22's and AV-8B's and call it a day.

One ship MEU's. It sounds crazy but that is the future if this article is to be believed.

Saturday, June 09, 2012

Prometheus the review...

This movie sucked.

All that build up and it was a dud. I never wanted a character to die so bad in my life but they kept that egotistical, arrogant, righter than thou Elizabeth Shaw alive.

The only cool part was the "engineers" but they gave no reason for their hostility toward humanity. The new HUGE face hugger that takes out an engineer was cool but the battle could have lasted longer.

Anyway you can see the sequel coming. The crazy android and Shaw are off to find the home planet of the creators. That movie will probably suck too. They really need some Colonial Marines for some shock and awe action against the 10 ft tall baddies.

But enough of that. Don't waste your money and catch this on netflix.

Brits drop CEC capability. So much for equal capabilities.

via the Telegraph.

The revolutionary Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC), which has taken 12 years to plan and already cost £45 million, would have allowed ships tracking a low-flying jet or missile to pass the data to the targeted vessel, allowing it to launch defensive missiles, or for them to be launched by remote control.

The decision was criticised by a Navy commander who said it could mean placing the new billion-pound aircraft carriers in harm’s way. “The Navy knows savings have to be made, but the Forces have been asked to do more with less,” said a Navy commander.

“Furthermore, with the coastal environment being the one more likely to operate in during future conflicts you need to have as much reaction time as possible if you’re putting £1 billion ships in harm’s way.”

The system is vital because enemy warships and incoming missiles can sometimes be masked by hilly coastal areas — such as in the Falklands, where the terrain of San Carlos Water meant that an incoming Exocet would not have been seen before it was too late.

With CEC, a destroyer further out to sea could follow the missile’s track then fire the threatened warship’s defensive missiles by remote control. As early as January this year Peter Luff, the defence equipment minister, told Parliament that CEC would be fitted to the £1 billion Type 45 destroyers in 2018 and then the estimated 13 future Type 26 Global Combat Ships. The system would cost just £24 million to defend each ship.

This is reallya blessing in disguise.

The Navy's partnership missions are a lie to begin with and the Brits not having a CEC capability proves how much a lie it really is. We will operate in the same areas as allied forces but the capabilites will all be different. What we need we will need to acquire. We can't expect other forces to provide it for us.

Air Defense Destroyers? We better have enough. Amphibious Warships? Ditto. Its the same across the board. One sad thing is that the Type 45 isn't the shining jewel that it was planned to be.

Friday, June 08, 2012

24th MEU. Eager Lion. Return to sea.

Photos by 2nd Lt. Joshua Larson

Marines with the combat cargo department assist Alpha Company Marines load their Assault Amphibious Vehicles aboard the USS New York after the conclusion of Exercise Eager Lion 12, May 30. The Marines are part of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, who recently returned from the three-week training exercise in the Kingdom of Jordan that involved partnered militaries from 19 countries. It was the second major exercise for the 24th MEU who, along with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed to the U.S Central Command area of operations as a theater reserve and crisis response force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Seaman David Poole, a deck seaman with the USS New York, provides overwatch as a Navy Landing Craft Air-Cushion carries Marines and equipment from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the ship at the conclusion of Exercise Eager Lion 12, May 30. The 24th MEU recently returned from the three-week training exercise in the Kingdom of Jordan that involved partnered militaries from 19 countries. It was the second major exercise for the 24th MEU who, along with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed to the U.S Central Command area of operations as a theater reserve and crisis response force. The USS Iwo Jima can be seen in the background. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Silva vs. Sonnen...

The only man to really threaten Silva...this should be good but I'm still betting on Silva. Thank goodness for MMA...even the NFL is getting wimpy...

Piranha 5 with Lance turret. Marine Personnel Carrier Contender?

CCV

General Dynamics is/was entering the Piranha 5 with Lance turret for the Canadian Close Combat Vehicle contest. Does this give us an indication on how they will proceed with the Marine Personnel Carrier program?

I would guess it does. It might mean that they're moving forward and standardizing on the Piranha 5...obviously for the MPC they'll have to make sure it swims but I just don't see the design house really pushing hard on that effort. More than likely they'll push its mine resistant features, modularity and the fact that its already in service worldwide (at least in the model III form).

If its a cost shoot out then they might have a chance. A small chance but a chance none-the-less.

CH-47 deployinig CERFP team.

Textron victory lap...

Textron Canada posted this vid this morning and I'm just getting to it now. Was this a victory lap?

Want to kill waste in the military? Think small stuff.

pic courtesy of Soldier Systems.

The above knife is featured at shot show and covered by Soldier Systems blog. Nothing against the knife but according to Soldier Systems, this designer, custom knife has an NSN number.

They also state that they haven't been able to keep up with orders for them.

That has me wondering...we're so focused on high tech, cutting edge weapon systems and damning them for cost over runs (mostly caused by an inept procurement system) that we've ignored the many tin plated, ooh gee whiz I like that knife so lets order from supply mess that our logistics system has become.

Not picking on the knife shown. It might be fabulous and the units ordering it might actually have a need for it...but the truth of the matter is obvious. There is waste in the military but you should look at the small stuff instead of the large.

Vickers slings for Marines? Really? A custom sling? Is that really necessary? Is that being frugal? Serpa holsters? Really? Say that out loud Marine Corps! Is the Army doing it and if not should we? Is it something we need that's unique to our amphibious mission?

IAR...otherwise known as the M-27. The Army, SOCOM and foreign militarises haven't bought into the concept. Is it really the way to go?

Experimentation should happen before products are bought. If they can't be justified then they should be canned.

We've got to do better.

TEXTRON WINS!

Interesting.

Congratulations Textron!

UPDATE:
500 vehicles with an option for 100 more. Service life of at least 20 years? Modernization. Upgrades over that time span. Probable neck down of Canadian armored vehicles to this vehicle and the LAV III and CCV/Leopard 2 .... This is a big fucking deal!

UPDATE 1:
This might be a knock out body blow to Oshkosh. Take over rumors should start flying now. I'm sure BAE, General Dynamics, KMW and maybe even Lockheed Martin are circling....

BAE must be stunned. It had a clean sheet design and lost. I can't wait to read the rationale behind the decision but heads must be getting ready to roll in the strategic marketing house.

Force Protection/General Dynamics. Toast. I didn't think the Timberwolf fit the bill and results bore that out. Fresh blood is desperately needed in that design shop.