3d Printing.. The answer to a magazine ban?

I've been looking at some worse case scenarios with regard to a gun ban and one keeps sticking out as being a game changer.

3d printing.

For the price of a high end AR-15, I can get a printer and at the very least replicate certain parts.  Other parts can be machined in any decent machine workshop.

As a matter of fact that's how many AR-15 manufacturers got started.  They simply had a decent machine shop and fabricated parts.

Now is not the time to look at wild cat ideas but the implications are clear.  A large portion of the US public is about to be declared criminals and you can bet money that many will find work arounds to those ILLEGAL proposed laws.

Blast from the past. Forgotten German Armor of WWII

panzerfaehre

panzerfaehre

panzerfaehre

panzerfaehre

Schwere Panzerspähwagen Sd.Kfz.231 8-Rad

Schwere Panzerspähwagen Sd.Kfz.231 8-Rad

Radschlepper Ost

Radschlepper Ost

Radschlepper Ost

 I love armor history.  If you want to check out some then I recommend you visit

* Wehrmacht History

*Achtung Panzer

* and of course LoneSentry's Catalog of Enemy Ordnance

AETC declares Eglin ready for F-35 training

"The preliminary results provided by the Joint Operational Test Team show the F-35A aircraft and its pilot training and sustainment systems, are robust enough to conduct the planned pilot transition and instructor upgrade courses," said Air Education and Training Command commander, Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr. 

And somewhere a "Sweetman" cries...

A Thompson laughs...

And a Goon swoons...(ok.  this last one was just in jest...I like ribbing him, besides...it rhymes!).

Adopt 3/9 part 1.

Ok.  Still running this thing down.  Hopeful tomorrow you'll see a PayPal tag for you to send donations to the guys down range.  I'll start it off with a paltry $100 but I had allocated that for the Sgt's christmas present before I/We hit on this idea instead.  I'll be making contact with him so he can get the proper stuff together to withdraw the funds for his guys.

And let me point something else out.  His guys had a bad day.  Not the kind of bad day where someone cuts you off on the road or your boss is pissed or the Wife is being evil, but a bad day for real.  You read between the lines on that one but be advised.  The fighting in Afghanistan continues.

Sorry for the delay guys but this is a bit of a bear to bring stuff together.  Launch for what I think is a great effort will be by noon tomorrow.

The UK's Solid Support Ships (SSS)..too much on one hull?

I found the above images when surfing the UK Armed Forces Commentary Blog...Let examine a blurb that the author of the piece put out on these ships...

The ships are also expected to have, much like the current Forts, a great Aviation-Support capability, with large hangars for multiple helicopters.  
Other than this, though, we do not know much about the ship's design yet. However, an interesting concept drawing has appeared, which shows a two-spot flight deck, a triple hangar for Merlin-sized helicopters and, most interestingly, a RoRo ramp for vehicles and a LPD-style well deck. This feature, which has appeared on several designs of "Joint" Solid Support vessels around the world, might be inherited, along with the role of support to troops ashore, from the defunct JSBL. It is too early to say if this project will be the definitive one, but it seems safe to assume that some real consideration is going into giving the SSS a vehicle deck and the possibility to operate with large LCU crafts for the delivery of supplies, vehicles and logistic services to troops ashore. This is important, since the JSBL ship might well have been cancelled, but the requirements that brought to her in the first place are still very much there.

Uh wow.

That seems to be quite a bit to slam onto a support ship.  A triple hangar?  A well deck?  A Ro-Ro ramp?

This seems more like a different type of amphib rather than a support ship.  Eyes are open on this new style ship that seems to be the rage in Europe and Canada.  Less capable than a Mistral but costing about the same, I wonder how they can justify it instead of new Helicopter Carriers (LHD).

A gunrights hero. Bob Goodlatte.

"We're going to take a look at what happened there and what can be done to help avoid it in the future, but gun control is not going to be something that I would support,"

This guy is one of the heroes in the gunrights battle.  He is the Chairman of the House Judiciary Com.  and has taken a stand.  I wish I could point to other leaders that were as bold in other parts of our society.

Your responsibility to be ready for the fight never ends...

James Yeager, a firearms instructor takes a few people to task.  I don't think the Liberals realize the fire storm that they've unleashed.  They've had the ground for several days with zombie journalism...I mean seriously?  Interviewing a 5 year old boy right after a tragedy?  That's BULLSHIT!  But on the gun rights issue, if the Democrats and weak Republicans push this through then there will be hell to pay.

Adopt 3/9.

I've been racking my head for the past couple of weeks trying to figure out how I could help out the guys that are down range.

I correspond with a Marine Sgt that's leading his men in some pretty difficult conditions and when I asked him what I could do to help him out, he responded by saying...

Don't worry about me.  I have some guys that don't have family and they could use something.

To be honest.

I froze when I read that.

If you've been anywhere and done anything then you understand what its like to either be that guy or see that guy.

Back to my solution.

I also remember getting packages from well meaning strangers but at the end of the day it was nothing that I wanted or could use.  I want to avoid that and because of how the modern US military infrastructure is setup (fobbit heaven I guess) many things can be purchased in country.

Things that the Sgt's guys can use.

Long story short I'm in communication with Pay Pal and I'm trying to set up an account in the Sgt's name with the instruction that proceeds will go to supply members of 3/9 LCpl and below with snivel or comfort items.

Its still a work in process and I intend to be totally hands off.  If the idea is good let me know and once 3/9 comes home, we'll simply roll it over to the next unit coming in.

More info coming and I have a call scheduled with PayPal to see how this can be setup so expect an update this afternoon.

That is all.

For those of you who forget what we do...

God Bless Navy Corpsmen!

5 words...

Targeted groups on the new "gun" legislation?

Yeah.  The Dems have their target groups for their proposed anti-gun legislation.

Zebra Dunn called it....the new enemies of the state????

1.  Veterans.  The Dems are calling for privacy restrictions to be loosened so that they can view Vet records.

2.  Preppers.  I don't even know how they can target this group because the federal govt has encouraged citizens to have at least 72 hours worth of supplies on hand.  Doesn't matter, they're still a target.

3.  Sport shooters (separating hunters from other shooters).  These people aren't shooters but they're trying to drive a wedge between hunters and sport shooters.  It might work but they're barking up the wrong tree.  The shooting sports have changed and there are more sport shooters have hunters now.

But it gets worse.  Looking ahead we can see who will be sport shooters and gun rights people's new enemies...

1.  Police Officers.  Not in the sense where we need to worry about them kicking in doors confiscating weapons (yet) but because they will serve as props in the propaganda.  You'll see the President on stage with uniformed law enforcement all around him.

2.  Hunters.  The same as with police.  They're going to probably succeed in getting the gentleman hunter to seek to separate himself from sport shooters.

3.  Concealed Carry Holders.  I'm mainly talking about the silly newbies here.  They're the people that just started carrying a Smith and Wesson Shield and feel as if they wield the Hammer of Thor.  They'll be promised that their weapons won't be taken and sports shooters will be left behind.

This is gonna get nasty and I'm not hearing a thing from the pro-gun side.  Congress people are silent.  The NRA is silent.  Only a select few have spoken up.  Meanwhile the enemy (and MSNBC is the enemy) is shaping this "national" debate.

Video: 26th MEU/USS Bataan Group Sail Exercise

Jozef Gatial's vision of a penetrating bomber from '07 & '08

Are the Israeli's looking to build a Stryker?

via Defense News...

And while design features of the new FMCV will depend on operational requirements now wending up the approval chain, military officers said the new vehicles are likely to be wheeled, agile and nearly half the weight of the 65-ton Merkava Mk4.  “We don’t yet have an operational requirement, but our people are looking ahead and trying to anticipate future needs,” an Army general officer said.  “We’re probably going to need a defended, quick, armored platform that can maneuver decisively in an urban environment and bring sufficient numbers of people and equipment to built-up areas. ... For that, we may not need a tank in the traditional sense,” the officer, a participant in the effort, told Defense News.  Sources here insist the FMCVs will not replace 65-ton Merkava Mk4s or Namer heavy troop carriers, which will continue to be built through 2020 and remain in service for decades to come.  Rather, the envisioned 35-ton FMCV variants will be integrated with heavy armor into the same digitized command-and-control network, providing war planners with more options that can be tailored to specific scenarios for maneuvering warfare.  “It won’t be Merkava-5. The operational requirement will be something entirely different,” another officer said.

Read the entire article but that vehicle sounds like a fully digitized Stryker Double Vee Hull.

Funny thing is that the Israeli's tested the Stryker and rejected it.  Now they suddenly see a need for a wheeled IFV to fight in urban terrain?  It really doesn't make sense but we'll see.  Something has changed.  Perhaps war gaming a fight in the disputed territories show a need for wheels or maybe these are for internal security.  Time will tell but this bears watching. 

Is this true? MV-22 has lifted the CH-53E's 20,000 pound practice blocks!

Rumor has it that the MV-22 has lifted the CH-53E's 20,000 pound practice blocks.  If so then we're looking at a capability that has been undisclosed.  The idea of an up rated MV-22 being capable of performing the Medium and Heavy mission is...interesting.

BMP-3F. The Russian Amphibious Combat Vehicle.

I don't know what to make of the BMP-3F.  If it works as well as its stats indicate then it blows the AAV away in every category and matches its sea keeping.  That's a big if.  Click here to check out the manufacturers website.

Advanced manoeuvrability afloat, capability to move afloat at Sea State 3 Firing with the required accuracy at Sea State 2 Continuous stay afloat for 7 hours with the running engine

Water jet propellers develop 10 km/h speed afloat The BMP-3F design allows the vehicle to come out to coast under rough sea conditions and to tow the same-type vehicle A new main sight SOZH with an integrated laser range finder and an ATGM guidance channel is installed

Watercat M18 AMC

Watercat M18 AMC is suitable for troop transportation, medical- and evacuation tasks, landing operations, patrolling and escorting tasks as well to battle and battle support functions. Vessel is designed for archipelago-, coastal- and offshore conditions. Effective heating and air-conditioning system allows vessel to be operated in cold as well in excessive heat. Ballistic- and CBRN-protection systems secure safe operation for crew and troops in all design conditions.
Vessel has state of the art integrated navigation and communication systems. Including satellite navigation and positioning systems, radar, forward looking sonar, AIS, Inmarsat-C, autopilot and onboard camera monitoring system. Comprehensive radio equipment includes sea-, authority- and data communications. Onboard communication is provided by an intercom system.
Vessel has two 660kW diesel main engines with a waterjet propulsion. Modern hull design combined with high weight-to-power ration guarantees excellent handling and sea keeping capability in all design sea states. State-of-the art electronic propulsion control system (drive-by-wire) and network based vessel control system is distributed and duplicated to secure functionality in any situation. Vessels cruising speed is 35 knots and top speed exceeding 40 knots. Range in fully loaded condition exceeds 200 nautical mile.
Watercat M18 AMC is equipped with Remote controller Weapon Station ( RWS) and manual operated weapon pedestals. Primary weapon is 12,7 Heavy Machine Gun or 40 mm Automatic Grenade Launcher. Coaxial weapon is 7,62 Machine Gun.

Watercat M18 AMC general characteristics:

Lenght	19,3 m
Beam	4,40 m
Draft	0,96 m
Displacement	29,0 metric ton
Speed	>35 knot
Range	>200 nautical mile

Lenght

19,3 m

Beam

4,40 m

Draft

0,96 m

Displacement

29,0 metric ton

Speed

>35 knot

Range

>200 nautical mile

I can carry my own f*cking pack...

via Duffel Blog if ya missed the watermark...

Hat Tip to Francis.  Love the sleeve tattoo.

F-35 Santa

Photo credit to the Gardermoen Aircraft Collection

The back story???

The photos show a full-scale mock-up of the F-35 in Norwegian markings, currently at the Armed Forces Aircraft Collection at Gardermoen. Here it is equipped with a huge santa hat that is a full 4.6 meters in diameter. The hat was made for an F-86K that is on display outside the museum. On Christmas eve, 55 years ago this year, in 1957, the then young pilot Oddvard Johnsen was scrambled in that very aircraft from what was then Gardermoen military air station. On his way back he got caught in icing fog, and only managed to get back on the ground with a minimum of fuel left thanks to a skilled aircraft controller on the ground. Now 55 years later, he and the local chapter of the Rotary club have donated the hat to the Aircraft Collection at Gardermoen to mark the anniversary of the event.

Pretty awesome story and its good to see that display...Major league hat tip to Endre Lunde for the photo. 

Sunshine Patriots and people with situational ethics.

I hope to wind down the commentary on the school shooting but before I do I have to ask...

Are you a sunshine patriot?

Explain how the actions of one deranged individual suddenly makes it alright to shred the constitution and trample on the rights of many of your fellow American citizens.

They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.

I keep listening to the debate about this issue and one thing stands out.  People are afraid.  Instead of learning tactics and techniques that could help protect themselves from predators in society, they are instead choosing to disarm an entire nation.

That is just wrong.