Saturday, July 23, 2022
2 more Americans die fighting in Ukraine
BREAKING: Two Americans fighting alongside Ukrainian forces have been killed in the country's east
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) July 23, 2022
Evolution of an office desk (1980-2014).
Evolution of an office desk (1980-2014). pic.twitter.com/AehBtQiJnF
— Lost in history (@lostinhist0ry) July 23, 2022
Friday, July 22, 2022
The fatal flaw in the Marine Corps’ approach to countering China
via Task & Purpose
Because SIF detachments will be widely distributed and unable to reinforce each other, their survivability will depend almost entirely on their ability to remain undetected. The concept suggests that the SIF is less detectable and survivable than U.S. Navy warships. A cursory comparison of SIFs and Arleigh Burke destroyers, which likely would be the Navy asset to have the same mission envisioned for SIFs, renders this claim highly questionable.
------
Beyond the survivability of the SIF itself, two of the primary means for inserting, displacing, and withdrawing a SIF cannot survive inside of an enemy’s weapons engagement zone: Marine Corps C-130 transports and CH-53 helicopters are not designed to survive in such a zone; they will be easy prey to a variety of enemy weapons.
Confronted with these facts, proponents argue that SIFs achieve low observability by operating in “penny packets.” The smallest size one of these so-called penny packets could achieve is a missile section consisting of five JLTVs with two supporting trucks and trailers, not counting a necessary security element, minimal air- and missile-defense capabilities, and a basic logistics support team. The missile section alone will certainly not be low observable by any reasonable person’s definition. (Interestingly, Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery prompted the common use of the term “penny packet” in World War II when he used it to denigrate the parceling out of airpower in elements too small to be of operational value while also too many to protect.)
------
In essence, those who conceived the SIF concept are arguing that an operational commander should place Marine SIFs — with a marginal ability to avoid detection and to protect themselves — in areas near where U.S. Navy ships with systems to disguise their location, divert enemy weapons, and protect against attack dare not go because of the enemy’s extraordinary surveillance and targeting capability. The illogic of the SIF concept could only be offered by technologically and operationally uninformed officers.
If the Marine Corps were to bring this concept to fruition and future commanders employed SIFs as designed, there could only be one result — many dead and captured Marines. Continuing along this force development path, with divestments already underway, makes little operational sense. The Corps and the nation will be better off when the current Force Design 2030 folly ends — although less well off than before it started.
The Marines should be prepared to take on the nation’s foes in “any clime and place” rather than wannabe missileers stranded, vulnerable, and unable to survive on forgotten Pacific islands. Fourth Marines are currently being reconfigured as a SIF. I fear that storied regiment may once again be heading into ignoble confinement similar to its Second World War experience as the original SIF in 1941.
Lynx IFV displayed to Greek Army
The KF41 Lynx was presented to the Hellenic Army on Thursday, July 21st at the ATC in Avlon, Attica.
— Junsupreme (@RyszardJonski) July 22, 2022
In the evening, there was a demonstration of driving and observation at night and a silent mode drive.A dynamic presentation is scheduled for Friday at KETTH test track. pic.twitter.com/pjNqF5qNcm
Thursday, July 21, 2022
Ukraine is seeing the propaganda war starting to turn...
I see miscalculations going on. This thing dragging out is NOT in Ukraine's best interest. Maintaining a fever pitch of support in Europe MIGHT be possible (doubt it, the economy will hammer them into submission) but in the US they've always had issues with the right wing in the US. The corruption story will not go away and considering the massive amount of money being sent their way just to prop up their economy, the American people just won't see the benefit in this fight.Narrative shift is happening. Ukraine no longer the good guys. They never were to begin with. pic.twitter.com/Hx9git7PiT
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) July 21, 2022
What's worse?
Even if the fighting stopped RIGHT NOW, Ukraine would be an albatross around the neck of Europe for decades.
I wonder if we're fighting over the future of a country or over a land mass at this point.
It looks from my chair that Ukraine is already a failed state with no chance of being rebuilt. At best it will be parceled out with Poland perhaps taking over a portion of the land, Russia doing the same and perhaps a small remnant of the Ukrainian govt aligned with Poland occupying the rest.
I just don't see how continued fighting makes any sense. Tell me where I'm wrong. BUT DON'T HIT ME WITH MORAL reasons. Warfare isn't about morality, its about interests/money/control and denial.
K21 Redback has protection EXCEEDING the highest standard Level 6 of STANAG 4569
Kinda makes sense. It also explains the push to 40mm cannons and in the case of the US Army to 50mm (with Russia going to 57mm...don't know what China is doing).K21 Redback has protection exceeding the highest standard Level 6 of STANAG 4569 and has an Active Protection System - Iron Fist , and transparent armor Iron Vision.
— Junsupreme (@RyszardJonski) July 21, 2022
The digital combat management system is fully compatible with STANAG 4754 (NATO standard for vehicle architecture) pic.twitter.com/kTFy2m2gf1
Is there an armor rating that goes beyond level 6? If not then we're gonna need one.
Tried to do a quick search of "STANAG" and didn't find standardization for MEDIUM armored vehicles. Considering the advancement in vehicle weights I think they're behind the times in this one.
I would imagine that the Lynx meets this standard and hopefully so will the new ride the US Army is buying. I know the Israelis are exceeding this standard though I'm not sure if other IFV/APCs in use by NATO do.
If you can fill in the blanks I'd appreciate it.
Air to Air footage of KF-21's first flight (what a gorgeous bird!)
🇰🇷 韓国空軍公式からKF-21ボラメ初飛行の空撮映像です
— Fighterman_FFRC (@Fighterman_FFRC) July 21, 2022
Air to Air footage of KF-21's first flight pic.twitter.com/Y5Krel0eiN
WTF is wrong with the ACV???
Thanks to Carlton for the link!
Don't even need instruments to know that those waves are too high to be landing vehicles. But still. This is disturbing. This vehicle seems to have an issue staying upright in the water.
I sometimes wonder if simply buying the FNSS vehicle wouldn't have been a better option.
Still don't know how the ACV fits in FD2030. Still don't get how this vehicle will adequately fulfill the ship to shore mission (again with FD2030 I would think that the time afloat vs ashore will shift drastically to more time afloat).
And to be blunt I have to wonder about the training.
We've heard of at least 4 (I believe) incidents of this type and I bet that there are others we haven't.
I'm a BAE fan but I have to wonder if this is the right vehicle for the job...or if this vehicle is even needed in the drastic makeover that the New Marine Corps is on.
We are approaching the limits of what we can give Ukraine. They're begging for HIMARS/MLRS and we can only send 4...
via Defense News
The US will send four more high-mobility artillery rocket systems to Ukraine as part of the next military aid package to strengthen Kyiv in what’s become a grinding long-range fires duel, Pentagon officials said Wednesday.
The new M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, will bring the total number committed to Ukraine to 16. The light, wheeled multiple rocket launcher allows Ukraine to strike at ranges of 85 kilometers, or 53 miles, and with more precision than previously sent artillery.
I'm doing a bit of reading between the lines when I saw we're bumping up on the limits of what we can give Ukraine.
Why?
This has been an unusual war.
I've never seen a nation that is practically begging for gear flip the switch to making demands.
Early this week I read that Ukraine SecDef stated that they needed 100 more HIMARS/MLRS to go on the offensive against Russia.
We're sending them 4.
The Ukrainians have made no ask for A-10s but that's suddenly on the table and nothing has been said of the F-16s that they've requested.
I don't see the end state that the Ukrainians are looking for. To be quite honest I believe the war has evolved to a point where it will be to their benefit to make it an eternal fight. Another 20 year Afghan war in Europe.
Why?
They have no economy. If the war ends they're up shit creek. Europe and the US are having economic issues. If the war ends then no one will give a damn about Ukraine, no heart strings will be pulled and it will turn into a European problem that needs to be solved by Europeans.
We missed our chance to end this thing on favorable terms. For some reason Biden and the European leadership turned this into a test of wills instead of a battle of interests.
China will keep Russia in the fight. Iran will do what they can too. Additionally we can expect Iran to cause all kinds of mischief in the Middle East to distract the US from this fight and to pressure the US military.
“The infantry is the Marine Corps’ main effort.”
via Magloft.com
From Iwo Jima to Pusan; Khe Sanh to Kandahar; Fallujah to Marjah, one thing has remained constant: Infantry Marines were tasked to seize and hold key terrain. The “in order to” may change, but tomorrow’s battlefield still requires infantry Marines to seize and hold key terrain. This is why the infantry is and remains the main effort.
In the last three years, there has been a lot of discussion regarding the transitions that the Marine Corps must go through in order to remain ahead of the competition and a lethal warfighting organization, able to respond to all manners of crises. The Marine Corps recently began fielding modernized and technologically advanced platforms like the F-35B variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, the CH-53K heavy lift helicopter, the AH-1Z and UH-1Y light attack helicopters, the Amphibious Combat Vehicle, improved communication systems, and updated precision strike capabilities, just to name a few. These advancements are all designed to improve the lethality of ground forces engaged in close combat.
In the face of these advancements, one thing remains unchanged: the infantry must seize and hold key terrain. Without this essential contribution to the warfighting effort, nothing else matters.
----------
At the recent Ground Combat Element Operations Chief Symposium, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen David H. Berger, stated flat-out that “the infantry is the Marine Corps’ main effort.” He continued by saying the infantry is the reason the service will win the next fight—either in competition or conflict.
Infantry Marines have one simple demand of themselves—to be ready for the next battle—and they know that hard, realistic training is what they need to prepare for that certainty. More importantly, it is what they want, all part and parcel of the Spartan life they chose. Infantry Marines have pride in “the suck,” pride of being an infantry Marine, pride in knowing that if something happens in the world that they will be the ones that get to make things right, they are the ones that stand tall and say “I got this” as they move forward into the fight.
Let me put aside all of my concerns. Put aside the concerns of retired generals (to include the former SecDef that was supposedly the genesis of this whole thing).
Let's imagine that Berger is right on all counts and this plan is what the nation needs from the Marine Corps.
Even giving him all of that credit ya know what?
Force Design 2030 has been a Master's Degree Class on HOW NOT to be a change agent. How NOT to push change in an organization. How NOT to get buy in from those you lead and stake holders.
Putting aside the strategy of this thing the damage that has been done between those that now serve and those that HAVE served is huge and insurmountable.
Where once there was a solid line its now fractured.
I really don't know how much I care anymore. These guys are gonna do what they do and to be honest I don't expect success.
Damage has been done that can't be repaired. It's no longer the Marine Corps to me. It's a "NEW" Marine Corps that has no connection to the past.
Subscribe to:
Comments
(
Atom
)