13th MEU is conducting onloading exercise. Will we finally get a vision of the "new" MEU?

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Samuel L. Meyer top-center, the commanding officer of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, speaks with Marines and sailors during 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit Loading Exercise visit within USS Portland (LPD-27) on May 12, 2022. The purpose of this exercise is to provide information of the supportability of ACVs aboard a LPD-Class ship throughout a six-month deployment.

Perhaps we'll finally get a view of the new MEU.  It's been stated constantly that the "modernization" that the MLR receives will flow to the rest of the Corps so I expect a "mirror image" of the equipment we're seeing in those organizations flow to the MEU.

That means more MLRS, more Air Defense, less cannons, no tanks, less infantry, more cyber etc...of course that is also a reason why I keep beating the drum that the ACV does not fit with the new direction Berger is headed in.

Remember the old graphics that were published which showed the power of a Marine Expeditionary Unit?

I have never seen one for the new Marine Corps.  I can also confidently say that based on Berger's own statements, we have excess well deck capacity.

The Ground Combat Element has been eviscerated.  The current Commandant has said that the well decks are agnostic. They can be used for underwater vehicles, surface craft...damn near anything (I predict we'll soon see 25th ID vehicles getting feet wet and utilizing them soon).

Come to think of it we also have excess surface to surface connectors too.

If HQMC ever gets around to putting out a new graphic for the new Marine MEU it should be a sight to behold.

The US operates warships off the coast of China. Are we mentally prepared for them to return the favor?

 

China attack helicopter, U.S. warship operate in Taiwan Strait on same day https://t.co/BZOKJLgti4 pic.twitter.com/hPK9jXAXNj

— SeaWaves Magazine (@seawaves_mag) May 12, 2022

Are we mentally prepared for the Chinese Navy to operate off our coasts?

Once again consider the Stand-In-Force/EABO concept.

Is it already obsolete?

Can it be said that the concept MIGHT have been applicable maybe in the late 90's but not today?

The Chinese Navy is no longer a coastal entity.  They have succeeded in building a TRUE blue water Navy.

The cross currents between US Navy and US Marine Corps leadership boils down to that fact.  I believe the Navy is prepping for a blue water fight.  The Marine Corps is acting as if the Chinese are still contained in the first island chain.

But the even bigger issue is the mentality of the two societies. Is America mentally tough enough to make the sacrifice necessary in what will be a war for survival?  Have we engaged in so many battles where the outcome of the war really had no effect on our way of life that we no longer have the societal will to handle a fight of that type?

I don't know.  I hope I'm being pessimistic but I don't feel like we are right now.

Well it is the new Marine Corps so I guess they just roll with it...

Wow.

I guess it took this pic to finally make me realize that the mantra I've been shouting that the new Corps is unrecognizable applied in more ways than I ever thought.

Good luck to them.  

Remembrance of Sgt. Maj. John L. Canley

 

How might the U.S. respond if China were to invade Taiwan? We staged a war game with @CNASdc experts

 

WATCH TONIGHT: After Russia invaded Ukraine, it raised an important question: How might the U.S. respond if China were to invade Taiwan? We staged a war game with @CNASdc experts and members of Congress to help find out. Watch it unfold tonight on Meet the Press Reports. pic.twitter.com/b6RfhWcZSp

— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) May 12, 2022

Saw a bit of this thing and was not impressed. I know it was done for a quick "news grabbing" clip on the evening news but the scenario didn't seem plausible.

Surprise amphibious and air assaults on the Taiwanese mainland along with a massive missile barrage on Taipei.  Soon after we see strikes on Guam and Okinawa.

The US responds with attacks on Chinese ports!  A big air battle happens over Taiwan and the clip ends.

Look forward to seeing what others think.

From my chair this is the most impressive weapon I've seen deployed by the Ukrainians...

Rarely seen footage of Ukrainian forces launching Brimstone missiles toward Russian targets.

H/t @GlobalGeoNews #Russia #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/eIhIuw2g3U

— BlueSauron👁️ (@Blue_Sauron) May 12, 2022

What is the launch vehicle used here?  

Open Comment Post. 12 May 22

"Cottonmouth" Amphibious Recon Vehicle...Organic Precision Fire (OPF)

Type 10 and Type 90 tanks of the Japanese Army's Armored Guidance Regiment

早朝、朝日を浴びながら前進する機甲教導連隊の10式戦車＆90式戦車がカッコよすぎてやばかった...(語彙力崩壊)
1中隊の隊員さんアツいお手振りありがとうございます😊 pic.twitter.com/V2Addi1F8Z

— クスロウ (@kusurou_) May 12, 2022

"Tiger Meet" is ON!

The first week of the #TigerMeet has seen training in a wide spectrum of air operations. #NATO members 🇧🇪🇫🇷🇨🇿🇮🇹🇪🇸🇳🇱🇵🇱🇵🇹🇩🇪 and partners 🇨🇭🇦🇹 are participating at the Tiger meet organised by the oldest squadron in the Hellenic Air Force 🇬🇷

Read more: https://t.co/SnCg5MVRyc pic.twitter.com/YdzX05KpFc

— NATO Air Command (@NATO_AIRCOM) May 12, 2022

16th Air Assault Brigade Combat Team , the UK's global response force.

Note. Have you kept up with how the British forces are developing/modernizing? I have. It's a bit shocking. To be blunt they appear to be being designed to simply plug into US formations. Even the naming conventions for various units are aligning. Equipment setups are similar. Even advocates for their military outwardly push a European narrative while lusting over the latest US kit. I have no (NONE) visibility on how the Brits fit into our warplans but I'd bet they're basically plug and play to the max. That's not a bad thing. But I do wonder what happens when nation state interests diverge. The same applies to ALL our allies.

2nd Bn @TheParachuteReg are delivered into action by @RoyalAirForce Chinook and US Army Blackhawk helicopters during Ex Swift Response in North Macedonia.🇲🇰

Commanding the exercise is @16AirAssltBCT, the global response force.

Read more: https://t.co/ASdJi6kHMK#UnifiedStance pic.twitter.com/Ohpz5MkZVd

— British Army (@BritishArmy) May 11, 2022

RAF C-130J Hercules aircraft have conducted a low level formation training sortie.

Note. Aren't the Brits about to dump all their C-130s? Looks like someone is about to get some ready to go aircraft CHEAP!

RAF C-130J Hercules aircraft @RAFBrizeNorton have conducted a low level formation training sortie.

With the sun setting, the aircraft flew out over the Bristol Channel where pilots from Numbers 47 & @24SqnRAF conducted simulated formation airdrops. More: https://t.co/Rp8jgExt6e pic.twitter.com/45xTue7VBJ

— Royal Air Force (@RoyalAirForce) May 10, 2022

Integrated Training Exercise (ITX) 3-22 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

 

Plans to send EOD specialists to Ukraine on the agenda for next weeks EU Foreign Affairs Council

 

During next week`s EU Foreign Affairs Council DefMin @Pabriks plans to call for sending @Latvijas_armija and allied EOD specialists to 🇺🇦Ukraine to help neutralize bombs left by the Russian army. pic.twitter.com/PNswPs5cuI

— AizsardzībasMin. (@AizsardzibasMin) May 11, 2022

Baby steps toward NATO involvement in the war.

Do you remember how we got on the road to sending weapons? The US and other nations were hesitant, then one nation started sending weaponry and the others (including the US) slammed aboard.

Can you see how this will go?

First EOD specialist, then medical/humanitarian aid specialist, then construction/civil engineers, then troops to protect those specialist, then Special Forces to advise the Ukrainian forces....then the first deaths of allied troops.

Then additional weaponry to protect US/NATO forces from Russian strikes.

Then "defensive" weaponry to strike Russia forces before they can strike US/NATO forces.

Do you see how slippery the slope is we're on?

Don't forget the economy too.  I don't quite understand the correlation but every economic downturn of significance always attracts a war.

Don't know why but it seems to always happen.

China is building a military capable of taking over Taiwan by 2030

 via Business Insider

A top US intelligence official said China is set on building a military capable of taking over Taiwan by 2030.

"It's our view that they are working hard to effectively put themselves into a position in which their military is capable of taking Taiwan," Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.

Haines said the threat to Taiwan was "acute" between now and 2030

Story here 

So the real reason why the Marine Corps is moving at breakneck speed and damaging the institution beyond all recognition is because of this.

The threat to Taiwan is ACUTE at this moment and will remain that way till 2030.

If this is true and if it's the reason why the Marine Corps is being twisted into a pretzel then we're screwed.

The Navy is broken and needs to fix itself poste haste.

EABO and 175K Marines playing Stand In Force won't stop the Chinese Navy/Army/Air Force/Marines.

They might die gallantly but they won't stop them.

3d Assault Amphibian Battalion @ MWX 3-22

 

Chinese Aircraft Carrier operating off the coast of Japan.

Kishi said on Tuesday that Chinese fighter jets and helicopters were seen taking off from and landing on the aircraft carrier Liaoning more than 100 times from May 3 to Sunday.https://t.co/1kMEPbGNbc

— Duan Dang (@duandang) May 10, 2022

EOS Defense Systems USA has a new anti-drone laser....kills Group 1 drones @ 20 per minute at ranges beyond 1,000m!

 

#breakingnews EOS’ DE system, uses a powerful laser as the #directedenergy source and has now successfully disabled Group 1 #drones at an effective rate of 20 drones/minute at ranges beyond 1,000m, establishing a new benchmark for neutralizing swarm drone attacks. #droneattack pic.twitter.com/K9I7Pmxytu

— EOS Defense Systems USA (@UsaEos) May 10, 2022

Azov Regiment is trying to put a good face on it...

Steel people.
Azovstal. pic.twitter.com/EVyMIK6oi0

— 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔇𝔢𝔞𝔡 𝔇𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔦𝔠𝔱 (@TheDeadDistrict) May 10, 2022

Something is off here.

The Azov Regiment is trying to put a good face on a terrible situation (or so we're told) with vids like these.

BUT!

It's off.  They've been cut off.  Facing bombardments.  How are they as clean as they are?  How are those uniforms not being ripped up with all the wear and tear a unit facing those odds and mounting a defense should be showing?

Plus they don't "look" hungry.  I can't explain that look but when someone is stressed to hell (as you should if you're being subjected to constant bombardment), hungry as hell cause you're cut off, and engaged in firefights because the enemy is probing your lines then I would imagine that your face would show the effects.

I'm not seeing that here.  I'm just saying.  Don't shoot the messenger just making the observation.  If you have an explanation then hit me with it.  

The Ukraine/Russia war is alive and well on Twitter...

Wow. 

One guy is calling the Ukrainian Army cowardly for hiding in schools and sewers so they don't have to surrender and the other is saying that after we free Ukraine, Belarus is next. 

If the Western leadership (along with Russia) don't/feel they can't turn off the war then at least back off the propaganda. 

The last thing we need is for the mob to become even more impassioned than they already are. 

As things stand now, no one even is making an attempt at a ceasefire because emotions have become hyped up.

https://t.co/SMLbuyK2zp pic.twitter.com/NRbfnM0cJa

— Frog Banderite 🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@FrogBandera) May 10, 2022