SNAFU!

USS San Diego (LPD-22)

The USS San Diego (LPD22) travels through the harbor as it makes its way to its homeport at Naval Base San Diego, April 6. The amphibious transport dock class ship will be commissioned May 19. The USS San Diego is equipped with advanced technology and will assist in the transportation and support of Marine landing forces.

That's 6 San Antonio Class LPD's on active duty.

The rest of Navy ship building might be in a rut but they're pumping these puppies out quick!

Mythical Fleet Part 1. My pick for patrol boat.

Part 1 of my mythical fleet series.

For a patrol boat I want speed, firepower and the ability to strike hard and get away clean. There are many boats that qualify but my pick for the patrol boat in my fleet is the Skjold.

General characteristics
Type:	coastal corvette
Displacement:	274 tonnes full load
Length:	155.83 ft (47.50 m) 46.8 ft (14.3 m) (Length on cushion)
Beam:	44.29 ft (13.50 m)
Draught:	3.3 ft (1.0 m)
Propulsion:	2 × Twin gas turbines →12,170 kilowatts Twin diesel engines →1,490 kilowatts
Speed:	In rough sea: 45 knots In calm sea: 60 knots
Range:	800 nmi at 40 knots (74 km/h)
Complement:	15-16
Sensors and processing systems:	Thales MRR-3D-NG air/surface radar Ceros 200 FC CS-3701 electronic warfare suite Sagem Vigy 20 Electro-optical sensor
Armament:	8 Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile SSMs (when available) kept in an internal weapons bay 76mm Otobreda Super Rapid multi-role cannon Mistral Surface to air missile 12.7mm gun
Notes:	Soft kill: TKWA/MASS (Multi Ammunition Softkill System) Other: Link 11 and Link 16

Cannons, anti-air and anti-ship missiles.

60 knots in calm seas!

Imagine stationing a squadron of these boats at strategic locations throughout the Pacific. The Chinese or whoever our enemy is, would have to worry about American swarm tactics. In reality all I'm doing with this pick is reviving the Hydrofoils of the 60's and 70's and bringing them to the future.

Range would be an issue but for extended operations I have that covered in part 2 of this series. An early warning. My list has a Nordic feel to it (at least in the early rounds).

One thing is becoming apparent though. Necking down might apply to aircraft, but it becomes much more problematic when it comes to ships.

Mike at New Wars was a big proponent of small, inexpensive ships. I disagreed at the time because I thought that your force would be killed piecemeal and the idea that ships are disposable didn't sit well.

My position has since changed. I like small ships...but not because I think that they're disposable, but because large ships can't hope to accomplish all the missions that need to be done. Perhaps the problem with US ship building can be traced to the demise of small ships in our fleet?

I'm honored!

This has been a great year for the SNAFU! Blog. Not only have I seen other writers pilfering my stuff (that's cool...its almost flattering) but now I see that I'm in the head of the enemy.

Check this out! Winslow Wheeler has an article on Time Magazine and guess what the title is?!!!!Lies, Damned Lies, and The Pentagon’s Latest Budget Numbers

Now I know what you're thinking...you're saying WTF Sol? How does the title of an article by Wheeler mean that you're inside the loop on an opponent? It's because only a few days ago I wrote an article titled...Lies, Damn lies and What The Fuck Lies.

I feel good. You can copy me but you can't be me....

I'm surprised this sale was approved.

The first of twenty Block 52 F-16s for Egypt completed its first flight on 6 April 2012 from NAS Fort Worth JRB. Called Peace Vector VII, the latest purchase of F-16s by Egypt includes sixteen single-seat and four two-seat versions. Deliveries will begin later this year.

Company's sell products.

So Lockheed Martin can't be blamed for this sale of advanced fighters to Egypt...but the State Dept can.

Why would they sell these advanced jets to Egypt when the Muslim Brotherhood is about to take over?

When they held US Aid workers prisoner?

When we really don't know the future of that country. This one is a mystery.

A build up right before our eyes.

Marines from 3rd Battalion, 14th Marines don their packs and prepare for in-processing after arriving in Agadir, Morocco, April 7 to support Exercise African Lion 2012. These Marines are responsible for overseeing the field training portion of the exercise. AL-12 is a U.S. African Command-sponsored, Marine Forces Africa-led exercise involving various types of training including command post, live-fire and maneuvering, peace support operations, an intelligence capacity building seminar, aerial refueling/low-level flight raining, as well as medical and dental assistance projects. AL-12 will promote multi-national cooperation and mutual understanding of each nation's military tactics and procedures.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tyler Main)

African Lion.

Camp Lemonnier.

Two MEU's operating in Central Command's area of operations.

Two carriers operating in Central Command's area of operations.

Images at Camp Lemonnier have been frozen. As a matter of fact images of the region have been frozen for at least the past two weeks (check Google Earth and the exact same pic from almost a month ago of Camp Lemonnier is still shown...not one airplane has moved....they're all in the same spots).

We're seeing a military buildup right before our eyes. Notice I haven't included what Army units are doing. Nor have I listed USAF or SOCOM assets.

Something seems to be brewing, I just can't put my finger on it.

Generation Kill...

I come in peace. I didn't bring artillery. But I'm pleading with you, with tears in my eyes; If you fuck with me, I'll kill you all. - US Marine General James Mattis, to Iraqi tribal leader

The Buccaneer Aviation Group Rollout

Via UK Air Show Review

I don't know if this is a public or private group but they're worthy of support either way. Its a cliche but if you forget it, you'll repeat it. Latest evidence is Afghanistan. We sought to fight terrorist, got roped into nation building and repeated the mistakes that the Russians made. But I'm off on a tangent. If you get a chance check out UK Aviation Review. I think you'll really like their site.