Thursday, June 09, 2022

China's first domestically produced 100t-class USV succeeded in a maritime autonomous navigation test conducted near Zhoushan Island in Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province.

Posted by at 0 comments

Turkey says Russian demands for removal of sanctions to help grain exports 'legitimate'

Is this Turkey "bucking" on NATO or is it Turkey seeing the potential chaos in the Middle East and North Africa and trying to head it off before it explodes onto Europe?
Posted by at 0 comments

Press Release on MV-22B Mishap

Posted by at 0 comments

Lancer Brigade @ Yakima Training Center

Posted by at 0 comments

Wednesday, June 08, 2022

SU-57 operating in Ukraine?

Posted by at 0 comments

Update. Marine Corps messaging on the need for large amphibious ships has been muddled/confused at best.

 This post isn't for everyone.  I had a question earlier.  What is the justification for the Marine Corps request for 31 large amphibious ships?

The answer or rather the messaging from HQMC has been muddled/confused at best.  I found ONE article that attempts to answer that question.  

via Defense News.

The U.S. Marine Corps will update its concept for amphibious operations, even as it waits to see how many ships its U.S. Navy partner will provide for those operations.

Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. David Berger directed the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab to develop by the end of the year a Concept for 21st Century Amphibious Operations, as part of an ongoing campaign of learning to inform the Force Design 2030 modernization effort.

Maj. Gen. Benjamin Watson, who commands the lab, said during a May 10 media roundtable much of the early work in Force Design centered around a new formation called the Marine Littoral Regiment, which would send out small units to dispersed positions around island chains and shorelines to operate as stand-in forces. Amphibious operations remain important to the Navy-Marine team, he said, but were largely left out of the Force Design discussion.

How do you leave something important out of a discussion about the future of the Marine Corps?

How do you singularly focus on a pacing threat, yet leave discussion of the amphibious forces untouched?

It gets better and once again something that seems clear (and part of the 'campaign of learning') gets confusing. 

“That Navy-Marine Corps team employing unmanned underwater vessels from the ARG/MEU, dozens of unmanned undersea vessels. You can use them as sensors, perhaps for anti-submarine warfare; you can do counter-reconnaissance with that, and locate mines,” the commandant said.

“They could be weapons themselves,” he added. “We could also employ uncrewed surface vessels from the well deck, both for [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] and for fires. You can do it for logistics.”

So in one part of the article they talk about worldwide commitments and the need to do traditional Marine Corps missions and later the Commandant takes it back to SIF/EABO.

The sad reality?

Heckl needs to take a beat.  Get his shit together and get the messaging on this whole little enterprise together.

It's a muddled mess right now.

Quite honestly its like they're pulling this shit outta their asses and are simply throwing a number out there.

I would not be surprised if 26 is the number with a reduced buy of LAWs (other ships in inventory will be used to reduce the number of new buys).

Unless the Marine Corps can actually justify the buy the Navy has a point. 

Posted by at 0 comments

SgtMaj of the Army is talking to his troops about re-enlistment...and getting responses! VERY INTERESTING TWITTER THREAD!

Follow the Twitter thread! Simply amazing! Dude is asking, the troops are telling him and its stuff they can get done! Shots at Airborne or Ranger school etc...You listening HQMC!!!
Posted by at 0 comments

3rd Marine Air Wing suffered an airplane crash...

Posted by at 0 comments

Question. What is the justification for the Marine Corps to request 31 L-Class Ships?

I've been seeing this all over the place but I can't find the answer in the little research I've done.

The question.  What is the justification for the Marine Corps to request 31 L-Class Ships?  

I get that the Marine Corps is moving to the "Stand-In-Force" concept.  I get that EABO is the reason for being.  I even understand that the Marine Corps is planning to use the well decks of these ships for things other than vehicles for the GCE (unmanned surface and undersurface boats, sub hunting gear etc...).

I understand all that.

What I don't understand is why this number of ships is needed when the GCE is growing smaller.  It would seem to be excess capacity when you see the desire/requirement for Lightweight Amphibious Warships.

31 big amphibs and another 20 or more smaller ones?  In a time of great power competition, changing concepts and a smaller Marine Corps?

I can't wrap my head around it.  Hopefully someone in the audience knows.
Posted by at 0 comments

Oshkosh/ST Kinetics Cold Weather All-Terrain Vehicle (CATV) for the Army's newly built Arctic Division.

Posted by at 0 comments

Russia is rushing new artillery and support equipment to Ukraine...

Posted by at 0 comments

Swedish MP is stoking the fire with Turkey

Just plain wow.

I'm not saying to cave into Turkish demands but I am saying that NATO needs to move with caution on this issue.

Its not as simple as "switching Turkey with Finland and Sweden". That's a false choice in my opinion and I'm not sure the cost benefit is worth it.

If you add Finland and Sweden while losing Turkey I don't think that's a net win.  Quite frankly its probably a net loss.

Turkey is strategically important not only for Europe but also the Middle East.

They have a growing and impressive defense industry, a powerful military that is often overlooked and own important ground.

Again I have to wonder where is our State Dept to try and bring the sides together.  I also have to wonder what this MP is thinking.  Silence is sometimes the best option...especially if you hold a seat with a bit of power.

Side note.  I wonder why she is so anti-Turkey but has barely anything to say about Iran?  Does the Kurdish issue cloud everything?

Bonus.  Other news on the Turkey-Kurd conflict...I thought that this fight had simmered down.  Obviously something is brewing...

Posted by at 0 comments

The Brit fighter that fought for Ukraine and was captured by the Russians is in a bit of trouble...

It would probably be beneficial for the Russians to return this fighter. An agreement with the Brits to make sure he doesn't return to combat would be necessary but it would be a "sign of good faith" and could probably help broker an end to hostilities. From my chair it appears that the Russians are close to achieving their objectives (assuming that they don't want to seize Odessa) so not much to lose here.
Posted by at 0 comments

Apparently the ASRAAM can pull 70+ G's...

Posted by at 0 comments

Open Comment Post. 8 June 22

 


Posted by at 0 comments

American voters concerns...

Note.

Ukraine/Russia war is not on the list of the top 5.

Note.

Ukraine/Russia war is not on the list of the top 5.

Wait till gas officially hits $5 a gallon nationwide and basic food item gets out of range for the average person (like the lettuce shortage in Australia) then you will see a howl from the public here that will rattle Washington.
Posted by at 0 comments

Tuesday, June 07, 2022

Australian Army continues to hone its amphibious capability

USMC Stand-In-Forces provide supporting fires/ISR for an Australian Army amphibious assault? Is that the future? Weird...but apparently the way things are going.
Posted by at 0 comments

Opinion: An economic 'hurricane' is coming. Political turmoil could be next.

 via CNN

The worst of the pandemic may be over, but the economic aftershocks of the global crisis, made much worse by Russia's war against Ukraine, mean that a return to normalcy is nowhere in sight.

"The hurricane is right out there down the road coming our way," said JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon on Wednesday, adding a warning to his ominous economic forecast. "We just don't know if it's a minor one or Superstorm Sandy. You better brace yourself."

For the developed world, the prospect of a severe recession is deeply worrisome. In poorer countries, the growing fear -- and already present danger -- is what the World Food Program is calling a looming "hunger catastrophe."

When economies shrink and poverty rates increase, political systems shudder. And we're already seeing that in some countries.

-----------

 Widespread economic turmoil is frequently a trigger for political instability. Look at the so-called Arab Spring that shook the Middle East a decade ago, toppling regimes and launching civil wars. Rising food prices and unemployment were among the key triggers. Rising prices could again foment political instability in the Middle East.

Told ya so.  Don't care how you feel about the war.  All in for Ukraine or understand Russian consternation and the need to attack.

It just don't matter.

What does matter is that the current policies are leading the world to doom.

In an interconnected world, designed that way on purpose, the idea of sanctions of the magnitude formulated by the allies is batshit stupid.

To be blunt?

The only reason why this thing hasn't spiraled into a world war is that Russia is moderating its stance.  They aren't doing "militarily smart" things like attacking every grain storage facility, knocking out Ukrainian power plants or ravaging the country with cyber attacks (just to name a few).

This is a modern war being fought with "rules".

The next one won't be like this one.  Many have died and will die but its still kid's play compared to what's coming next.

 

Posted by at 0 comments

Open Comment Post. 7 June 22

 


Posted by at 0 comments

"Fiercest battles" as Ukrainian position in Severodonetsk worsens: regional official

 via CNN

“Our defenders managed to counterattack for a while ­– they liberated almost half of the city. However, now the situation has worsened for us again.”

Hayday said the Russians are using “standard scorched-earth tactics,” and that evacuation of the approximately 15,000 civilians remaining in Severodonetsk is impossible because of intense fighting.

He said Russia is targeting most of its shelling at the neighboring city of Lysychansk, which sits on strategic high ground across the Siverskyi Donets River from Severodonetsk.

“From there, it is much easier to defend and maintain a defensive line,” Hayday said. “They are still destroying houses and humanitarian aid centers.”

He said a further 15,000 civilians remained in Lysychansk and that police are managing to evacuate a small number of them

Finally, he said that Russia has devoted a “simply incredible” number of troops and equipment to bombarding the main access road to Lysychansk and Severodonetsk, which runs between Bakhmut and Lysychansk.

“The Russians do not control this road, but the entire route is being shelled,” he said. “The Russians have amassed huge reserves. Time will tell whether they will have enough strength to take this route.”



Posted by at 0 comments
Subscribe to: Comments ( Atom )