This is crazy! Muslim & Christian families unite to stomp on pride flag

 

Multiple arrests have now been made. Muslim and Christian families have joined forces during the protest. This is wild: https://t.co/kWzpZH6L5M

— Keean Bexte (@TheRealKeean) June 9, 2023

You know shit is getting goofy when you have Muslims and what I would assume to be fundamentalist Christians uniting.

I read reports of it but the Russian advantage in electronic warfare is thwarting Ukrainian fire support in my opinion.

 I see so many interesting Tweets and articles that I fail at times to save them.

One I saw that I should have posted on was the tremendous effects that Russian electronic attack was having against Ukrainian drones.

I've been watching the counteroffensive and I believe that's the secret sauce to nullifying Ukrainian counterbattery ops.

The Russians are killing Ukrainian drones with electrons and they can't get targeting data.

That's part of the reason why they can't put down effective fires for their forces going forward.  Or so I think.  Anyone have a better explanation?  Meanwhile I'm going try and find those tweets/articles.

More vids of Western armor getting shredded. A Leopard 2 & a couple of Bradleys

Leopard 2 get Kornet pic.twitter.com/ZQvTZP2SMb

— ZOKA (@200_zoka) June 9, 2023

2 Breadlys pic.twitter.com/KhIMbhbd9M

— ZOKA (@200_zoka) June 9, 2023

I have to wonder what NATO was thinking.

Did they think that combined arms was easy?  Did they think that green troops could go into battle against guys that had been living in the mud and muck sporting anti-tank missiles and supported by artillery and being channeled not only by defenses but by terrain would win?

And for the love of God why would they send these guys in basically bare tanks/IFVs against this?  Surely this would have been a great time to test Trophy in combat wouldn't it?  At least add extra armor onto the vehicles.

War porn sucks but I posted when the Ukrainians were plinking Russians so I'll do it when the reverse is happening.

One thing I find striking.

We instinctively know how the fighting is going because the Ukrainians have been gleefully posting about their battlefield successes before but now in the middle of their counter offensive are silent.

The silence is telling.

Damn! Ukrainian armor (Western supplied) is getting shredded. Plus this counteroffensive was ill timed....I think I know why.

 Thanks to Bakhmut "Bob" Zelensky for the link!

Bro😳 pic.twitter.com/aiJCt2K5sP

— ZOKA (@200_zoka) June 9, 2023

The video shows additional damaged or destroyed vehicles, including wheeled vehicles. Many of them were not catastrophic kills, which means the crew/dismounts likely survived. 2/ pic.twitter.com/ggKzdi21Lm

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) June 9, 2023

I wondered how Western armor, in particular IFVs would hold up in this conflict. Apparently the same as uparmored trucks. I have to wonder if the idea of IFVs is dead and we just have to accept the reality that what we really have are armed APCs. Of course we have no visibility on their tactics so it could be as simple as bad tactics leading to bad results. Who knows?

On to another issue.

I always thought this counteroffensive was ill timed.  Much of the gear just arrived.  Many of the troops had just completed training.

So why not get them a bit seasoned on the line before launching an assault on a high tech battlefield?

I think its because the EU/US/NATO want this war over and they want it over with favorable-ish terms for Ukraine.

No doubt they have had backroom discussions that Ukraine as it once was will not be restored.

So it wasn't the military that was driving this.  I believe it was politics.  Both internal to Ukraine and to the greater Western world.

Does the Navy & OSD fully back Force Design 2030? Amphibious Ship number beg otherwise.

 via Defense News

The Marine Corps, the Navy and the Office of the Secretary of Defense have differing views on the role of amphibious operations in today’s joint force, and therefore how much money to spend on upkeeping existing ships and building replacements.

&

The Marine Corps has pushed back on this idea, with Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl, the deputy commandant for combat development and integration, telling Defense News this year that rough drawings from the Pentagon would reduce the capability of the ships in a way the service finds unacceptable.

The study is due to the Pentagon’s Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation office imminently. It is unclear what will happen once the office receives the Marine Corps’ and the Navy’s input, as leadership has only said the study will inform the fiscal 2025 budget process.

“I’m very pessimistic,” Heckl said during the recent interview about his near-term outlook on the amphibious fleet’s size and readiness. “Until amphibs genuinely become a priority, this will always be a struggle — to procure and then maintain. The fact that these vessels have been ridden hard and put away wet simply exemplifies how useable they are: They are in constant demand.”

He recommended the Defense Department reconsider how ships are funded. Currently, only the Navy can buy those vessels in its shipbuilding account, and only the Navy can maintain them within its operations and maintenance account, even though Marines are the primary beneficiaries of the ships.

Interesting.

The US Army doesn't have to chide the Air Force for rides on its cargo planes.  Hell they even co-located a base to make airborne operations easier.

Yet its the Marine Corps that has been yelling about getting back to its naval roots and talking up naval integration.

It would appear that the Navy ain't too interested.

Personally I believe this was a self inflicted wound.

Berger miscalculated, didn't read the room and pushed for a reduction in amphibious ships.

The bean counters pounced.  Not just Navy but Defense Dept bean counters.

Additionally I believe that with the myopic focus on the Pacific and whatever backroom deals were cut (oh and believe me they were cut...they're priming the Marine Corps family with talk of what missions we'll no longer do) it appears that this lack of shipping might be all part of a bigger plan.

If you can only have so many amphibious ships then you can't be a worldwide organization if you only float your force.

The reality?

Naval integration has failed.  The Navy isn't onboard.  Force Design 2030 has failed.  The widgets to make it work will not be provided.  Looking at you Landing Ship Medium/logistics/casualty evacuation/lack of ground combat capability etc...  

They rolled the dice and lost.

Thought of the day

 

Yeah ya'll were right. The ULTV is just the MRZR-A rebranded (plus a rant)

 

Wow. Let me say this first. Ya'll were right. It's just the MRZR. Next I just got to touch on the Marine Corps past on vehicles of this type. In the past they were always about Fast Attack Vehicles. Seems like they've shifted over to logistics mules, anti-air platforms (of such limited range I don't know how they can be considered effective) and transport.

The thing that has me spinning is the USMC fascination or rather stubbornness with regard to vehicles of this type being internally transportable by the MV-22.

That limiting factor has been the bane of the Corps existence for too long.

The sad truth?  Did you know that the internal dimensions of the MV-22 are the same as the long retired CH-46 (or so I've been told), which means that we're limiting ourselves to 1960 specs for a 21st century world.

But back on task. 

I personally like Polaris.  I think they make great vehicles and from what I can see they're performing their roles well.

What irks is that we're limiting ourselves to a certain size all for the holy grail of internal MV-22 carriage.

I will never understand why a sea going force is choosing to become lighter than an AIRBORNE force.

The old standard was the right standard.

A medium weight force that can flex up and down the force continuum.

The USA has more than enough light infantry.  It even has more than enough airmobile infantry.

What it doesn't have are forces that are able to respond to crisis events whether combat or HA/DR in a timely fashion or hover over the horizon to demonstrate resolve.

The USMC once provided that.

Open Comment Post. 9 June 23

 

Philippine Armed Forces plans to use 25 hectare land for coastal defense

The Armed Forces of the Philippines plans to use a recently acquired 25-hectare land on Calayan Island, a remote island in Cagayan province south of Taiwan, as part of the country’s coastal defense system, the military said. https://t.co/BUepv6bRty

— Frances Mangosing 🇵🇭 (@FMangosingINQ) June 9, 2023

25 hectare piece of land right?

Ok.  I can rock with that.  But...

One launcher firing twelve rockets can completely blanket one square kilometer with submunitions. For this reason, the MLRS is sometimes referred to as the "Grid Square Removal System" (metric maps are usually divided up into 1 km grids).

Our MLRS is a beast and we can assume the Chinese version is too. But wait.  Not familiar with this hectare nonsense.  What does that equal?

 One sq km is equivalent to 100 ha. As a result, a farm with 100 hectares of land has a total area of 1 sq km.

Wow.  So 100 hectares is equal to 1 sq kilometer.  But if the Philippine govt is getting 25 hectares then...the Chinese will be able to destroy the entire island with just a few missile launchers.

The MLR is a jacked up experiment.  If located they will easily be destroyed.  We can assume the Chinese will have MAX ISR coverage of the entire theater of operations.

FD2030 will not work.

HQMC labored hard to produce a steaming pile of garbage. Defense battalions failed during WW2 and their modern equivalent, the MLR will too.

This is American society. We are so screwed...sound up to drink in the madness

 

pic.twitter.com/1zeVCCVAHH

— Johann (@LookAtMyMeat1) June 9, 2023

I've never treated a employee at a convience store like this. But seeing this clip its easy to see that American society is screwed. If you go out in public these days and aren't prepared for someone to flip out then you're not serious.

Wait what? Iran supposedly has a hypersonic missile too????

Thanks to Duke 7 for the link!

Israel's reaction to the presentation of the Iranian Fattah missile.

The Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post wrote that the Fattah hypersonic missile would reach Israel in 400 seconds.

Israeli TV channel i24 News News reported: "Fattah" is the first Iranian hypersonic missile… pic.twitter.com/kbUhYLH1Yu

— Sprinter (@Sprinter99880) June 6, 2023

Ok. I definitely need to look up what qualifies as a hypersonic missile. If Iran is producing hypersonic missiles then what the hell!

Leopard 2A4 confirmed destroyed

#Ukraine: For the first time, a Ukrainian Leopard 2A4 tank was destroyed by the Russian army during the recent Ukrainian attack near Novopokrovka, #Zaporizhzhia Oblast. pic.twitter.com/AwBWbId9sw

— 🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) June 8, 2023

Things are getting sporting now. Massive armored columns penetrating Russian lines (geo-located and confirmed)

 

GeoConfirmed UKR.

"Russian artillery shelling incoming Ukrainian armored columns. The columns are massive and crossing the H-08, penetrating Russian lines. "

1: 47.501272, 35.900404
2, column 1: 47.504104, 35.915615
2, column 2: 47.509272, 35.931931
3: 47.491570, 35.942405 pic.twitter.com/ZtDwxTNYcq

— GeoConfirmed (@GeoConfirmed) June 8, 2023

GEEZ! Assaulting in column. Would be dogmeat for US or probably any western air force. I DO NOT GET EITHER SIDES WAY OF WAR! Even limited USMC artillery, when compared to what the Army can do, would make mincemeat of these boys. I've already seen battle damage (check out earlier post) and I'm anxious to see how western armor holds up, most especially looking for a comparison of IFVs, so we'll see what we'll see.

MARINE CORPS SYSTEMS COMMAND BEGINS FIELDING CUTTING-EDGE ULTRA LIGHT TACTICAL VEHICLE

 

via DVIDS

Marine Corps Systems Command has begun fielding the new Ultra Light Tactical Vehicle, or ULTV, reaching initial operational capability and marking a significant milestone in the Corps’ Force Design 2030 modernization efforts. This state-of-the-art tactical vehicle is set to enhance infantry, reconnaissance, and logistics mobility and sustainability, providing the modern warfighter with an advanced, lightweight solution tailored for operations in an anti-access/area denial environment.

“Fielding the ULTV serves as a signal that the Corps is keeping in stride with the ambitious roadmap laid out in Force Design 2030,” said Col. John Gutierrez, portfolio manager for Logistics Combat Element Systems. “This new capability will ultimately help forge a more agile and resilient Corps—one which is empowered to overcome the evolving complexities of modern warfare.”

Fielding operations will proceed in conjunction with the First Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Pendleton, California. The first ULTVs have already arrived at I MEF, with 1st Battalion, 5th Marines receiving the initial vehicle set. An ongoing, structured roll-out will continue throughout the MEF, culminating in August, followed by additional fielding events across the Marine Corps.

The ULTV, a modular, off-road utility vehicle, is currently replacing the Utility Task Vehicle, or UTV, which has reached the end of its lifecycle. With its ability to be rapidly configured, the ULTV supports diverse infantry needs, ranging from logistical support and casualty evacuation to command and control and electronic warfare missions. Furthermore, the ULTV can be internally transported in the MV-22 and CH-53E/K, further facilitating rapid deployment.

“The ULTV is more than just a tactical vehicle; it enhances our capabilities across the board, ensuring the success of our mission and the safety of our Marines,” said Program Manager for Light Tactical Vehicles Jennifer Moore. “The ability to rapidly configure the ULTV to suit diverse mission needs-- from logistical support to electronic warfare-- enhances our capabilities in previously unimagined ways.”

Marine Corps Systems Command serves as the Department of the Navy's systems command for Marine Corps ground weapon and information technology system programs in order to equip and sustain Marine forces with full-spectrum capabilities.

We've been down this road MANY times before.  I hope this works out.  If memory services they last about 4 years before complaints start rolling in and talk begins of them not being suitable.

I find it interesting that the UTV has reached the end of its serviceable life.  Many countries are continuing to procure them and they seem like a low cost solution (relatively) to the light mobility problem. 

I haven't seen the specs on this new vehicle but I have to wonder if we're getting that much of a big bang over what the old one did.

Starting to see many pics of Western gear destroyed in the Ukrainian counteroffensive..

Looks like a CV-90 in the pic above. Also looks like its seen better days.

We're starting to see many pics of Western gear destroyed in the Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Many dispute those pics.  Ok.  We'll see what we'll see in that regard but something is off with this counteroffensive from where I'm sitting.

The Ukrainians are nothing if not the masters of propaganda and they have a huge fanbase that amplifies anything they put out.  Additionally they have tons of surrogates that multiply the propaganda services work so they flood the zone.

Yet with this counteroffensive we're hearing practically nothing.

I was expecting to see massive movements of the map.  Ukraine appears to be maneuver territory built for armored forces and combined arms teams.

But we're hearing at best gains of maybe a kilometer or two.  AT BEST.

Two quick takeaways?  Dispersed forces have difficulty mounting an offense.  I would contend that dispersed forces are damn near incapable of mounting an offense.

The next is that this war has truly settled into a stalemate.  The lines are for better or worse frozen.

Perhaps now is the time for the Chinese to push thru their peace plan.

Ukraine is weary.  Russia is weary.  The West is about at the limits of what it can prudently provide.

Now might be the time when we can knock this off.

Eurozone in recession

 

JUST IN - Eurozone officially enters recession after two consecutive quarters of economic contraction.

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) June 8, 2023

I'm sure the citizens already knew this.

Open Comment Post. 8 June 23

 

The three MEFs will be different to handle different geographic areas according to the incoming Commandant. SO why are they optimizing infantry battalions to the MLR concept?

The service's "Force Design 2030" initiative -- a planned transformation of the Marine Corps this decade that has drawn controversy in the past -- will shave the current infantry battalion size https://t.co/i8QPKJEfzD

— Military.com (@Militarydotcom) June 7, 2023

Three MEFs will be different.  So why are they optimizing infantry battalions to the MLR concept?

Then I read this from Defense One on the same subject...

Third Battalion, 4th Marines returned from deployment in April, and over 18 months, as it prepares for the next one, the unit will be manned, trained, and equipped based on how the Marine Corps envisions future infantry battalions, “so we can assess it and build that body of evidence to make sure we found the sweet spot with our experimentation and our equipment,” Ellison said. The Marine Corps Warfighting Lab, which is leading the experimentation effort, will work with the unit through their training and deployment, he said.

“So we’re going to experiment with them in every clime and place, to include the jungles of Okinawa, Japan, and in the Pacific,” he said. “So it's about an 18 month experimentation timeline, but we'll recommend decisions as we learn. We're not going to wait to make decisions, there’s second- and third-order effects to every decision we make. And part of our responsibility is to inform Lt. Gen. Heckl of decisions that can be made early that help us anticipate later decisions or enable alternatives across the rest of the force.”

It's all fairy dust.

They're talking "force in readiness" but they're focused like a laser on only one clime, one place and one enemy.

HQMC and the Warfighting Lab are so focused on being recon and killing ships that they forget enemy infantry will be just as focused or more on killing Marines.

This will end badly.

This will go one of a couple of ways if war happens.

*  The Chinese will simply bypass the MLR sailing out of range of detection and/or its anti-ship missiles.

*  The Chinese will isolate the MLR, making foraging necessary and basically starving them out while letting the jungle degrade their capabilities so that when they do attack the force will be so weak as to put up almost no fight.

*  The Chinese will launch a concerted effort to destroy in detail the MLR.

The amount of resources it will take to destroy these small dispersed units will be relatively small.  Assign one destroyer to each found unit and they will be microfragmented.

This plan is a recipe for disaster.

 

Chechen forces receive Chinese combat vehicles

The first Chinese military vehicle in Russian service: Ramzan Kadyrov showed footage of "new vehicles purchased for Chechen units participating in the SMO" at his palace - featuring 8+ brand new Shaanxi Baoji Special Vehicles Manufacturing Co. "Tiger" armored personnel carriers. pic.twitter.com/yUDREwXVoC

— 🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) June 7, 2023

France's 21 Marine Infantry Regiment at work

 

Pour exploiter au mieux la haute mobilité du VHM, la 4e compagnie a conduit un entraînement de type « débarquement sur plage » ce matin, à Fréjus.#PrepaOps#Armee2Terre pic.twitter.com/IjFbc8KzYV

— 21e RIMa (@CDC_21eRIMa) June 6, 2023