Monday, March 05, 2012
Boat Company Training...31st MEU...
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By MC2 Eric Crosby
Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit recover after a night exercise in combat rubber raiding craft to the stern gate of the forward-deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46).
Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit recover after a night exercise in combat rubber raiding craft to the stern gate of the forward-deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46).
31st MEU's AV-8Bs coming in...
By Cpl. Garry J. Welch
AV-8B Harriers of Marine Attack Squadron 311, part of the Air Combat Element of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, land aboard the flight deck of USS Essex (LHD 2), March 5. The squadron joined the 31st MEU to support it during the upcoming Amphibious Integration Training and Certification Exercise. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation's force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.
AV-8B Harriers of Marine Attack Squadron 311, part of the Air Combat Element of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, land aboard the flight deck of USS Essex (LHD 2), March 5. The squadron joined the 31st MEU to support it during the upcoming Amphibious Integration Training and Certification Exercise. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation's force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.
Monday's Modest Proposal: Bring back the High Speed Troop Transport...
This is an idea that the "New Wars" blog pushed real hard and about two years later, I'm finally jumping on his band wagon.
The JHSV's should be considered for High Speed Troop Transports for operations short of war.
*Raids
*Disaster Relief "first responder"
*Embassy Reinforcement
*Embassy Evacuation
*Anti-piracy ops
The missions should be many and varied. Mainly missions that require speed over firepower. That's why the JHSV should be considered. But perhaps more important is the fact that the JHSV is capable of carrying a Battalion of Marines.
The idea of using a Marine Company as a unit of action is sheer lunacy. The Marine Corps would be making the same mistake that others have. Not recognizing that the smaller the unit the greater the need for external support across the spectrum.
And until the Marine Corps starts issuing Rolex watches as standard gear, we shouldn't play the games that other do.
But instead of heading off on a tangent, let me get back on task.
We just had a perfect opportunity to experiment with both the Company Landing Team and what I would call a Special Purpose MAGTF built around two Marine Infantry Companies, LAV-25 detachment and a detachment from the air wing consisting of two MV-22, and two UH-1Y's (we would take advantage of the weapons these aircraft can carry optimizing them in a multi-role fashion).
You would have one company trained as your boat unit, practicing that skill during work ups and the other as your air company, rappelling, fast roping and getting HRST certified.
Both would train to be your mechanized raid team and it probably wouldn't hurt to have a Combined Anti-Armor Team or even revise the Mobile Action Platoons of Iraq War fame built around a number of humvees (preferably rebuilt to a new standard but I'm not holding my breath).
The JHSV is the ship that we have available now but I'd really like to see another vessel used if this role is adopted.
No.
Not the LCS. It should be busy doing other missions and it SHOULD be jammed packed with so many weaponized modules that there won't be room for connex boxes designed to berth around 300 plus Marines.
The ship that I'd like to see modified to perform this work is the Sea Fighter.
To be honest I've wondered what exactly is this ship for! Now it could have a mission and according to one reader over at New Wars blog, its not only fast but it has blistering speed. He made claims of over 70 knots.
Because Marines are Marines, they're used to living in austere conditions and if properly outfitted as living spaces, connex boxes can be bolted down to the decks below and shelters can be arranged above decks for aircraft.
But perhaps more importantly these Marines would only embark during times of emergency or need and would steam ahead of a full strength MEU to points of crisis/need.
Along with the SPMAGTF, we would also revive the near dead Air Contingency MAGTF. Marines ready to go and shape the field before OTHER Marines arrive.
If it must be done then Marines should be doing it. Not scuba divers with big watches, little guns and huge egos.
Sunday, March 04, 2012
What does an MEU bring to America's war bag????
Common wisdom has SOCOM as the tip of the spear in this century. Policy makers are increasing the size of that organization while the conventional forces are being reduced. Silly move and it can be categorized as style over substance.
Against a population that has effective law enforcement and even a marginal armed forces, units like the Navy SEALs can be hunted down and eradicated. They are simply too lightly equipped to survive against a large, organized enemy.
Even with that being said, SOCOM is due to increase in size from over three US Army Divisions to almost four. I can't explain the thinking behind that but it is in error.
A balanced force that brings an amazing amount of firepower is the Marine Expeditionary Unit. It has 2200 men and is capable of unsupported combat operations for up to 15 days...(via Wikipedia)....
A typical MEU has approximately 2,200 Marines and sailors. It is equipped with:That my friends is a capable, medium weight force that is deployed world wide and because we have several of these MEU's afloat at any one time, they are able to respond to trouble spots quite rapidly.
MV-22 Osprey replacing the CH-46, the Marine Personnel Carrier replacing the LAV-25, the F-35 Lightning II, the Ch-53K Super Stallion replacing the CH-53, and the H-1 upgrade program (where the AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom replace the AH-1W and UH-1N).
MARSOC is NOT the face of the Marine Corps and they are NOT the tip of the Marine Corps' spear.
Its the MEU.
The MEU is the tip of America's spear and the Battalion Landing Team is the tip of the MEU.
AOV Blowback...Talk too much and you get to work for the CIA....
Check this out from Military.com...read the whole thing but the juicy bits....
It'll test it to the breaking point for some units.
We'll see exactly how this supporting command functions when its no longer in the lime light. The only forces I'm sure that won't have a problem with this tasking (if its true) is US Army Special Forces and US Army Rangers.
But SEALs?
I see them heading to N. Africa real quick. More headlines, less control and they won't have to fall under the control of the CIA. They also have the "Bullfrog" of the teams as head of SOCOM so he'll protect his spoiled brats.
The blowback continues...its there for all to see....if you're willing to open your eyes and read between the lines.
The notion of longer-term assignments to the CIA does not sit well with some senior special operations commanders, who want their units to remain autonomous in order to keep their troops under Defense Department legal parameters. If CIA-assigned troops are captured, for example, they are treated like spies, not protected by the Geneva Conventions, which govern the treatment of prisoners of war.This part is a steaming pile of bullshit! Prisoners whether identified as soldiers or spies are not treated well in the Middle East. SOCOM has dreams of being a Combatant Commander and wants control of the war effort in Afghanistan once conventional forces pull out. The idea of being put under the operational control of the CIA is a bitter pill for them to swallow.
But putting special operations troops in the CIA's employ in Afghanistan could be attractive to the Afghan government because it would make the troops less visible and give Afghan President Hamid Karzai the added bonus of being able to say U.S. troops had withdrawn from his country. Technically, he would be right: Troops would have been rendered as spies by answering to the CIA's Kabul station chief instead of a U.S. military commander.Another bitter pill.
Such troops would presumably augment the CIA's current training and partnership with Afghanistan's own elite paramilitary intelligence forces, the Counterterrorism Pursuit Teams.
Afghan officials, and the general public in Afghanistan, express much warmer sentiments toward the CIA than to U.S. special operations troops, after a decade of occupation has built up anger and bitterness over civilian casualties from special operations night raids. The CIA as an institution seems to have escaped that collective Afghan resentment, with Afghan officials eager to tell visiting reporters that they regularly work with "OGA," or "Other Government Agency," the slang term for the CIA.
Counterterrorism Pursuit Teams (hmmm thought they had a different designation) are probably some good guys but this news will test SOCOMs vaunted "one fight" mantra.
We'll see exactly how this supporting command functions when its no longer in the lime light. The only forces I'm sure that won't have a problem with this tasking (if its true) is US Army Special Forces and US Army Rangers.
But SEALs?
I see them heading to N. Africa real quick. More headlines, less control and they won't have to fall under the control of the CIA. They also have the "Bullfrog" of the teams as head of SOCOM so he'll protect his spoiled brats.
The blowback continues...its there for all to see....if you're willing to open your eyes and read between the lines.
Saturday, March 03, 2012
11th MEU Flight Ops and Battalion Landing Team Training.
The MEU is the tip of America's Spear...and the Battalion Landing Team is the tip of the MEU...
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| Marine pilots and sailors aboard USS Makin Island prepare an AH-1Z Super Cobra for takeoff here March 1. The pilots serve with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. Photo by Lance Cpl. Claudia Palacios |
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| Pilots flying an AH-1Z Super Cobra approach USS Makin Island here March 1. The pilots serve with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. Photo by Lance Cpl. Claudia Palacios |
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| Sailors and Marines position a pair of CH-46E Sea Knights aboard USS Makin Island here March 1. The helicopters were flown by pilots serving with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. Photo by Lance Cpl. Claudia Palacios |
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| Sgt. Jeffrey D. Lanuzo loads ammunition before a shoot aboard USS Makin Island here Feb. 26. Lanuzi serves with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's ground combat element, Battalion Landing Team 3/1. The unit is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. Photo by Cpl. Gene A. Ainsworth III |
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| Marines Serving with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's ground combat element, Battalion Landing Team 3/1 load ammunition before a shoot aboard USS Makin Island here Feb. 26. The unit is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. Photo by Cpl. Gene A. Ainsworth III |
F-35A AF-14 First Flight
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| Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti flew the ninth production model of the F-35 Lightning II, F-35A AF-14 (Air Force serial number 09-5001), on its inaugural flight on 2 March 2012 from NAS Fort Worth JRB. |
I wonder how long it will be before there are more F-35's than F-22's? Regardless critical mass has been achieved. The Canadians have had there meeting with partner nations and haven't changed a thing. Reductions in the buys of the F-35 have been relatively small and will not affect the program. More importantly the USAF isn't backing off its buy and seems to be getting off the UAV bandwagon. Amazing things happen when you start thinking outside of counter insurgency and start focusing on peer threats.
PS.
Does anyone know the total number of F-35's? Test and production models...
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