USMC A-10's. The time has arrived.

I've resisted the idea.

I thought it was something that the USMC should not even consider.

I might have been wrong.

With the F/A-18D's about to go the way of the dodo bird, we need a replacement that is rugged, designed to operate over the forward edge of the battlefield, able to survive punishment, have room for the JTAC in back and maybe, if we luck out, can be modified to operate off LHA's much like the OV-10 Bronco's of the past.

One other thing is becoming apparent.  The aviation neck down leaves holes in capabilities forcing us to use aircraft in roles for which they were not designed and probably not the best answer to accomplish the mission.

So what mods would I like to see on this proposed USMC A-10?

*  AESA radar...drop the gun we won't be needing it, and replace it with a SABRE set.
*  Provide additional plumbing for extra fuel tanks.
*  Settle on a guided 2.75 guided rocket or brimstone type missile
*  Uprated engines for better performance...not talking about speed here but fuel economy.
*  The ability to carry SDB and other high performance weaponry for escort missions for the V-22.

I see these airplanes acting as forward air controllers as a primary mission but secondary missions will include ground support, v-22 escort, small boat defense, anti-piracy ops etc...the second seat makes all the difference.

Before you get started slamming the idea, consider this.  The Bronco operated off LHA's and with the A-10 being designed out of the box to operate from forward areas, it should (I'm just saying I really have no idea) be easy to make them do the same.  Besides, I'm sure there is a Test Pilot somewhere that will be willing to try.

Colombian Cub.

Another Joe Copalman special.  Check out his flickr page here.

Mechanized Amphibious Raid Training.

Photos by Cpl. Joshua Young

CTruk Avenger

via THINKDEFENCE.



On a sidenote.  Littoral Warfare is in hindsight the naval version of counter insurgency.  Blue water assets can handle any littoral issue.  We need to focus on building a survivable blue water fleet.  Green/brown water ops can be adapted to by Marine/Army/Navy units on the fly.

Sailor in pain...

Tongue in cheek guys...relax.

Lance Cpl. Zachary Chivell, from ground combat element, Security Cooperation Task Force Africa Partnership Station 2012, grapples with a sailor from Riverine Squadron 3, Detachment 2, while conducting Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training aboard the USS Fort McHenry, July 17, 2012. The MCMAP training was conducted in order to continue the Marines' required training while deployed.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joshua Hines)

Holographic sights on pistols in SOCOM?

Its been said that a unit(s) in SOCOM are running holographic sights on their pistols.  Can anyone identify that unit?  Photos are floating all over the net showing these guys loadouts so I'd prefer some type of imagery that shows these guys either training with or in Afghanistan or some other hotspot with the sights on their weapons.  if you have that proof hit me up in the comments or in my e-mail. 

UPDATE:  The more I think about this the more I'm calling BS on it.  You have to mill the slide out in order to make the sight fit.  You have to install supressor sights on the pistol and then you have to retrain the person to fire the weapon in a new way.  The easiest part of the whole thing is the training.  the most doubtful about it is the milling of the slide and the number of rounds that are put down range.  As much as these guys shoot the chances of slides cracking HAS to increase.  Additionally I know of NO marksmanship unit (Army or Marines) that are using these guns.  I'm more convinced than ever that this is a competition/class trend and not one that's really catching on in the military.  But prove me wrong and send me the evidence.

Carrier Navy. Meet your enemy.

All photos from Air Power Australia.  Yeah I know.  But they have the best info on the web when it comes to threat weaponry.  I disagree with their conclusions but can't doubt the work and research done to compile this info.  Go here for more.

Click on the pic to expand it but what should capture your attention are the supersonic anti-ship missiles.  The Sunburn is impressive but so is the Indian/Russian Brahmos.  The spread of these missiles should cause as much alarm as nuclear weapons.  Imagine if terrorist were able to acquire one or two of these missiles and launch them at our carriers while they're going through the Suez canal? 

Notice the load out of SSN-N-27's.  I excluded Bear type aircraft from my 'carrier' sinking post but if I included them in the scenario then the numbers get much worse for the defending side.

I did an earlier post on how vulnerable our carriers are to high speed anti-ship missiles.  You have to go to Air Power Australia for a detailed overview but rest assured.

OUR CARRIERS ARE VULNERABLE.

Our close in weapon systems are for lack of a better word...a joke and a morale booster.  Even if a Rolling Air Frame Missile gets a hit on one then the damage done from the wreckage and the fuel will cripple ships systems and possibly cause injuries or deaths.

Our defenses are not up to the task of defeating some of the missiles coming online.

UPDATE:
Paralus made a comment that I just have to push up here....

 Even with directed energy weapons, a weapon systems would have to be able to quickly detect, track, target and destroy in a very short period of time (seconds) to keep from being overwhelmed by missile swarm attacks.

What if the Chinese J20 is supposed to be a Chinese version of a SU-34 Fullback? A couple hundred of J20s each launching one or two ASCMs would be scary.

Everyone and everything I've read has the J-20 as being a large fighter or an interceptor aimed at taking out AWACs.  What if its sole purpose in life is to have enough range and enough stealth to get close as is safely possible using that stealth to launch supersonic anti-ship missiles at our carriers?  A stealth airplane that has one primary mission.  Maritime strike against our carriers.  Calling Chief of Naval Operations...its time to wake up!

Israeli Air Assault Exercise.

How many guys can you slam into a UH-60?  Take it out the seats and have people sitting on the floor its got to be over 20?

FNSS Pence RWS Turret.

The FNSS Pence (its being marketed as the CLAW internationally) is a private venture that's getting quite a bit of attention.

Luckily FNSS is one of the few organizations that is responsive to all bloggers so the following information was provided to me.

CLAW is suitable for installation on a wide range of tracked and wheeled armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs), either as original equipment or to enhance the firepower of older platforms. One of the advantages of the remote turrets with respect to conventional turrets is the elimination of the turret basket. This affords more space within the fighting compartment, while the remote turret requires but a minimum level of ballistic protection with the most of the relevant weight fraction being rather devoted to enhancing protection to the fighting compartment.

The prototype is armed with Rheinmetall Italy's stabilised 25 mm KBA dual-feed cannon, which is provided with 210 rounds of ready-use ammunition. The empty cartridge cases are ejected outside the turret. The KBA cannon has a maximum cyclic rate of fire of 600 rds/min and the gunner can select single-shot or burst modes of fire. While the prototype Claw is armed with the 25 mm KBA cannon, a number of other weapons could be installed in this turret, including the ATK 25 mm M242 and 30 mm Mk 44 cannon or the Mauser 30 mm MK 30-2 with its air-bursting munition capability.

A 7.62 mm MG3 machine gun (MG) is mounted coaxially with the KBA cannon on the right-hand side of the RCT and is provided with 600 rounds of ready-use ammunition. The gun is electromechanically cocked from the user interfacen within the hull.

A key feature of Claw is that ammunition for both of these weapons can be reloaded from within the platform under full armour protection.

Turret traverse is all-electric through 360 degrees, with weapon elevation from -10 degrees to +50 degrees.

The electro-optics (EO) and fire-control system (FCS) have been developed by Aselsan and are integrated into the left side of the forward part of the turret.

A meteorological sensor is mounted on the turret roof towards the rear and feeds information to the FCS, which has a full ballistic computation capability.

The dual-axis stabilised EO package includes a thermal camera with wide and narrow fields of view, a day camera and a laser rangefinder. This enables the platform to engage targets in most weather conditions with a high first-round hit probability.

The autocannon is electronically slaved to the sight and an automatic target tracker is fitted as standard. An independent commander's sight on the roof to provide a hunter/killer capability is offered as an option.

The weapons are laid onto the target by the gunner from within the hull of the platform using a flat-panel display with controllers for left and right hand. This display could also be used to provide images from cameras mounted around the vehicle as well as information from a battle management system.

So any speculation that this was a cooperative build with Rheinmetall was incorrect.

This is a privately funded project and it appears to be one of the better designs out there.  I can't wait to see video of it firing but if looks indicate effectiveness then this is a winner.

Notification. A Marine Mom's quest.

Gunny Kenefick reading Sgt Myers' award at a ceremony in Afghanistan days before the fateful battle of Ganjgal that claimed his life.

I've been communicating with Gynny Kenefick's mom, Susan Price over the course of a few days mostly by e-mail.


No slam on my readers.  Love you guys even when you disagree with me.  But let's be honest.  This blog doesn't get the type of attention or have the horsepower to properly tell the story.  Because of that, I've reached out to another blogger that I trust and has the smarts to tell me what to do to make this story get the type of reach necessary to make a difference.


I've been an observer and critic of the military in general and the Marine Corps in particular when necessary.  I don't know how to advocate for a worthy cause.  I believe getting to the bottom of that cluster fuck known as the battle of Ganjgal is such a cause.

This post services as a notification and as a call to arms.  Pretty soon (when I get guidance from my higher up) I'll be issuing the warning order.  Make sure your shit is packed right, that you're traveling light and have enough ammo for the fight.  This Marine Mom deserves it.

HMH-362: What We Do

Nicely done.

I wish some of the Infantry Battalions were able to do these types of vids.  I know they're running ranges and when not deploying down range they're deploying to other training areas but just pull a Gunny or Capt or BN Co out of the office to give a quick rundown like HMH-362 did would be appreciated.

Could a carrier battle group withstand a Chinese alpha strike?

via Air Power Australia.

Quick question.  Consider it a follow up to the "Barge" post.

If the Chinese decided to go after a US carrier how would they do it?  From this ground guys perspective they would put 100 SU-27's in the air loaded with KH-35's.  They would split the force and attack from all four directions on the compass and with each SU-27 carrying 4 of these missiles, they would be aiming for a time on target attack with 400 missiles in the air.

Now remember I'm being conservative.  That doesn't include Badger/Xian H-6K's, subs or anti-ship ballistic missiles.  It doesn't include J-10's and it doesn't include any Chinese stealth aircraft.

My point is this.  If the fleet commander is being conservative and only launches two missiles in defense against every inbound vampire then he's still going to be in a hurt locker.

More simply put.

We need more anti-missile missiles than we currently carry aboard ship.

PS.  Also note that the KH-35 is probably one of the easier missiles to kill.  It flies at high subsonic speed.  The number of attackers was kept relatively small.  You can bet body parts that with over 5000 Sailors aboard a carrier, with basically a small air force aboard each carrier and with the pride of a nation floating on each carrier that it will be a MAXIMUM effort target.  I just don't think that our current defense will be able to stand up to a concerted effort to kill one.  Oh and if you want this to go from being a bad dream to being an outright nightmare,  horrific enough to keep the Chief of Naval Operations up at night then think about the same scenario with the real beast of the Sukhoi design bureau...the SU-34.  Replace the SU-27's with SU-34's and even as jingoistic as I am, I'd start laying bets on the Chinese getting the kill.

And yeah.  More than the PAK-50, more than the SU-27/30/33 the SU-34 sends chills my way.  It carries a payload that would make the wings on an F-15E droop, has legs that almost challenge a B-1 and has the speed to outrun almost any plane in our inventory.  Plus its a deep striker.  The SU-34 is one bad mother.

Anders Light Tank going into production

Wow.  via DefenseNews.

WARSAW — The Polish Army plans to acquire up to 1,000 new tanks in different variants, reported local daily Rzeczpospolita.
It is expected that Poland’s Ministry of Defense will sign a deal to launch production of the Anders, the tank prototype developed by Bumar Group’s OBRUM Gliwice research unit, according to the Polish newspaper.
“The order will be placed with the Polish defense industry, but to boost the design and production phase, it will be vital to cooperate with top foreign defense manufacturers,” said retired . Gen. Waldemar Skrzypczak, Poland’s deputy defense minister responsible for the armed forces’ modernization.
The Polish tank program is part of a plan to overhaul the country’s land forces. In January, Polish Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said that “launching a national tank program as part of efforts to increase the [land forces’] mobility” is one of the Army’s key modernization priorities.
The amount of the planned purchase was not disclosed by the deputy defense minister.
As earlier reported, the prototype is a 32- to 40-ton vehicle, depending on the configuration. The light tank carries a 120mm gun by Swiss group Ruag, and it can carry a crew of three to seven. The Anders was fitted with a 530-kilowatt engine produced by Germany’s MTU Friedrichshafen, which enables a maximum speed capacity of 50 mph. Its turret was equipped with a Trophy active protection system made by Israel’s Rafael.
The Polish military plans to begin testing the Anders within two years, Skrzypczak said.
Krzysztof Krystowski, Bumar’s CEO, has announced plans to involve private defense companies in what could be one of the largest acquisitions of the Polish armed forces in the forthcoming years.
Set up in 2002, the state-owned Bumar Group is Poland’s leading defense industry player.

Thanks for the news Jonathan!

Fire Support at RIMPAC

Hmmm.  I thought Australia had been using the M-777 in Afghanistan.

RIMPAC 2012 and the Marine Corps story.

Did you know that RIMPAC 2012 just ended?

Did you know that its the biggest exercise in the Pacific with the most nations participating?

Did you know that even more than Bold Alligator earlier this year it highlights the Marine Corps amphibious roots and traditions?

If you didn't I'm not surprised.  Once again others are attempting to label the Marine Corps as just another land force.  Failure to publicize the Marine Corps participation in exercises like this allow the uniformed or the devious to get away with this misconception.

We have got to do a better job at telling the Marine Corps story...not just the story of the Marine Expeditionary Brigade but of the entire REAL Marine Corps.

RIMPAC 2012 - Culminating Amphibious Assault

Around the Fleet Marine Forces (FMF).

U.S. Marines perform rappelling and fast-rope maneuvers at the Jungle Warfare Training Center at Camp Gonsalves, Okinawa, July 25, 2012. The Marines are with Force Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (DoD photo by Lance Cpl. Matthew Manning, U.S. Marine Corps/Released)

A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter lands on a beach at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe Bay Aug. 1, 2012, during a training scenario as part of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012. RIMPAC is a U.S. Pacific Command-hosted biennial multinational maritime exercise designed to foster and sustain international cooperation on the security on the world’s oceans. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Paul Seeber, U.S. Navy/Released)

U.S. Marines with Combat Assault Company, 3rd Marine Regiment drive an amphibious assault vehicle onto the beach at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe Bay Aug. 1, 2012, during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012. RIMPAC is a U.S. Pacific Command-hosted biennial multinational maritime exercise designed to foster and sustain international cooperation on the security on the world’s oceans. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason Daniel Johnston/Released)

SNAFU preseason college football picks...

That's right.  Its that time of year again.  If I'm talking to someone from the SEC then its real simple.  

LSU sustains it.

If I'm talking to someone that lives outside the SEC...then I have to ask myself.  Why am I talking to someone that doesn't understand what real football looks like?!

Seems like the Coaches agree.  Check out the poll...

1. LSU (18)  13-1 1,403 2 

2. Alabama (20) 12-1 1,399 1 

3. Southern California (19) 10-2 1,388 NR 

4. Oklahoma (1) 10-3 1,276 15 

5. Oregon  12-2 1,258 4 

6. Georgia  10-4 1,061 20 

7. Florida State (1) 9-4 1,055 23 

8. Michigan 11-2 1,023 9 

9. South Carolina 11-2 981 8 

10. Arkansas  11-2 948 5 

11. West Virginia 10-3 833 18 

12. Wisconsin  11-3 743 11 

13. Michigan State  11-3 717 10 

14. Clemson  10-4 598 22 

15. Texas  8-5 549 NR 

16. Nebraska 9-4 501 24 

17. TCU 11-2 499 13 

18. Stanford  11-2 497 7 

19. Oklahoma State  12-1 476 3 

20. Virginia Tech  11-3 461 17 

21. Kansas State  10-3 398 16 

22. Boise State  12-1 271 6 

23. Florida 7-6 250 NR 

24. Notre Dame  8-5 166 NR 

25. Auburn 8-5 66 NR 

Five of the top 10 teams are from the SEC.  Oregon is LSU Tiger bait.  We chomp on them like a Cajun eats gumbo. But do you want to know the scary thing if you're outside the SEC?  3 of the top 10 teams in the nation come from the SEC West. 

Oh I almost forgot.  Championship game will be between LSU and Oklahoma.  LSU wins 52-24.  The game was over by the middle of the 3rd and LSU started playing freshman and sophmores.

This beast is real. The Italians are crazy!

via Defesa

Finmeccanica´s Oto Melara SpA  has recently showed a brand new VBM Centauro (Veicolo Blindato Medio) 8×8 armoured vehicle modified as a 155mm self-propelled artillery system.

The weapon system comprises a 155mm/39 turreted gun installed in a VBM Centauro 8×8 wheeled armoured high mobility chassis. The protected turret has a stealth design and is fitted with eight grenade dischargers, a digitized suite, a powerful elevation system, an automatic loading system for ammunition and propelling charges and can be equipped with a remote controlled weapon station like the Oto Melara SpA HITROLE lightweight and stealth system which is armed with a 12.7mm heavy machine gun. It can fire the Vulcano family of guided ammunitions and as well as standard NATO shells. It requires less than three minutes to be deployed ready for fire and one minute to abandon the scene after the action.

VBM is the chassis for different specialized vehicles including Freccia infantry fighting vehicle of the Italian Army, VBM Centauro reconnaissance and fire support vehicle in service with the armies of Italy, Spain and Oman which feature the HITFACT turret armed with 105mm/52 or 120mm/45 guns, VBM Explorer which feature a HITFIST turret armed with a 25mm gun and two twin launchers for Horus mini-unmanned air systems, VBM Draco equipped with a 76mm turreted gun, and, VBM Recovery combat armoured recovery vehicle of which Spain has procured four units and a the chassis for the artillery system.

The company also has developed a Dardo tracked infantry fighting vehicle configured as a mobile mortar carrier. The vehicle is equipped with the 120mm 2R2M mortar system from TDA Armements.

I've seen some "interesting" concepts out of the Germans (Donar) and some pretty innovative ones too (Wiesel 120mm mortar carrier) but this design is on a whole new level.

One thing appears certain though.  The Italians are making a run at the traditional powerhouses..BAE, General Dynamics, KMW and Rheinmetall and challenging some of the up and comers like Lockheed Martin.

The armored vehicle market looks to be in the middle of some type of renaissance.

SIGMA 9813 class Corvette