Remember the dust up in the blogging community yesterday. Well later that same day BlackFive contributor "Uncle Jimbo" was on the Rachel Maddow show supporting the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"...talk about a weird set of circumstances. Blogger accused the guy of being a right wing fascist and then he shows up on the most liberal of talk shows promoting the repeal of a regulation that is supported by the majority of the Marine Corps (I have nothing to back that up, just going by conversations I've had)...Amazing! Please note. I haven't gone over to the dark side. I watch her show to keep up with enemy opinion!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Amphibs. The most useful ships in the fleet.
Navy Partnership missions invariably include amphibious ships. Despite their detractors, the amphib is the hardest working ship in the Navy. But its useless without its Marine Contingent. Many forget that and focus only on the ships themselves. That is not only disingenuous but its also shortsighted. This from the 7th Fleet.SURABAYA, Indonesia (May 26, 2010) - Members of the Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Laut (TNI-AL) Navy Band prepare to welcome USS Tortuga (LSD 46) to Indonesia to kick off Naval Engagement Activity (NEA) 2010. In its 16th year, NEA is part of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training series of bilateral exercises held annually in Southeast Asia to strengthen relationships and enhance force readiness. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Mike Morley)
“Naval Engagement Activity Indonesia plays an important role in our Navy’s maritime strategy of building global partnerships,” said Clemmons. “NEA is a great opportunity to build upon our pre-existing relationship with our Indonesian counterparts and to learn from each other what can be accomplished through our combined efforts.”Do you notice that most of those events are directly related to the USS Tortuga and not the FFG or the T-ARS or the Coast Guard Cutter?
Training events held during NEA in Indonesia include search and rescue, flight deck familiarization, boarding exercises, medical and dental activities, an amphibious landing, salvage exercises as well as community service projects and performances by the U.S. 7th Fleet band Orient Express.
“The events planned for our NEA phase in Indonesia will help to promote our interoperability and foster better relationships with our Indonesian partners,” said Clemmons.
*Amphibious Landing---LSD-46
*Search and Rescue---All ships involved
*Medical and Dental Activities---LSD-46
*Boarding Exercises---LSD-46, FFG-48 and the Coast Guard Cutter
*Salvage Exercise---T-ARS
*Community Service---All ships involved
To be quite honest with the proper manning, the LSD could perform all these missions except the salvage exercise.
The Amphib is the true multi-mission platform.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Meanwhile, in the UK.
When I read this, I paused and said...good---that means that we're not the only ones that have lost our minds. If Israel comes out and says how many nukes it has then I'll apologize...until then I think this is the dumbest, most insane thing I've ever heard of. To broadcast a state secret for no apparent reason is....CRAZY TALK! From CNN...
Britain has a total nuclear arsenal of fewer than 225 weapons, with 160 currently operational, Foreign Secretary William Hague said Wednesday.
"We believe that the time is now right to be more open about the weapons we hold," Hague said in a statement to Parliament.
"We judge that this will assist in building a climate of trust between nuclear and non-nuclear weapons states and contribute, therefore, to future efforts to reduce the number of nuclear weapons worldwide."
M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System
I find this little shotgun fascinating. It really seems like another example of re-inventing the wheel. The Super Shorty seems to be handier, holds only one fewer round and would only have required attachment hardware for under weapon use. Nevertheless, check out this fact sheet and follow the link to the Firearm Blog for more information.
SW_IW_M26
SW_IW_M26
PEO Soldier's Small Arms Dump.
PEO Soldier has been kind enough to provide a photographic over view of Army weapons. These are the most interesting.
The M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System (MASS) provides Soldiers with
a 12-gauge shotgun accessory attachment with lethal, less-than-lethal and
door-breaching capabilities.
The M192 provides a lighter weight, low-profile mounting platform for the M249 and M240 for controlled, sustained, and accurate fire at extended ranges.
The M320 Grenade Launcher enables Soldiers to accurately engage the enemy in daylight or total darkness with a safer more reliable grenade launcher. Much more over at their site. Check them out.
The M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System (MASS) provides Soldiers with
a 12-gauge shotgun accessory attachment with lethal, less-than-lethal and
door-breaching capabilities.
The M192 provides a lighter weight, low-profile mounting platform for the M249 and M240 for controlled, sustained, and accurate fire at extended ranges.
The M320 Grenade Launcher enables Soldiers to accurately engage the enemy in daylight or total darkness with a safer more reliable grenade launcher. Much more over at their site. Check them out.
Blogger War.
I'm not touching this with a ten foot pole. I don't know what I don't know but its interesting reading. Follow these links....
http://www.warisboring.com/?p=5333
http://nextnavy.com/blogger-intervention-milblogs-and-anti-government-rhetoric/
http://www.qando.net/?p=8526
http://thisainthell.us/blog/?p=19243
Seabasing Counters Area Denial | AVIATION WEEK
Seabasing Counters Area Denial | AVIATION WEEK
Great article but what I'm still waiting for is an explanation of how you develop an LHA and not have it part of the Amphibious Fleet. This is another promising concept that will probably be under intense pressure with the current budget problems.
Bloggers roundtable on the EFV.
MRAPs. We get heavier, allies get lighter.
The latest news from Australia and the UK gives interesting news. While our MRAPs have on average gotten heavier (with the M-ATV being the lone exception) our allies are looking at lighter offerings.
From the UK, we have the example of Force Protection UK's Ocelot Light Protected Patrol Vehicle. This truck will operate in the same manner as our future JLTV (perhaps in a more tactical role with no provision for the utility variants).
In Australia we just got word that their new Hawkei Light Protected Vehicle has made it to the second round in their selection process.
What's obvious is that the JLTV as its currently designed (by all competitors) is just too heavy. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against highly protected vehicles. The issue becomes one of fewer returns with every ton increase in weight. MRAPs are notorious for poor ride and handling qualities (bad for troop effectiveness once they reach the objective) and for their inability to navigate confined areas of roadways (mostly tight mountain passes). The number of injured and killed by accidents is probably one of the more under reported consequences of the war against IEDs.
All this leads to the Marine Corps decision to pursue an uparmored Humvee, instead of the JLTV. The more I look at this issue the better I like the Granite Tactical solution.
From the UK, we have the example of Force Protection UK's Ocelot Light Protected Patrol Vehicle. This truck will operate in the same manner as our future JLTV (perhaps in a more tactical role with no provision for the utility variants).
In Australia we just got word that their new Hawkei Light Protected Vehicle has made it to the second round in their selection process.
What's obvious is that the JLTV as its currently designed (by all competitors) is just too heavy. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against highly protected vehicles. The issue becomes one of fewer returns with every ton increase in weight. MRAPs are notorious for poor ride and handling qualities (bad for troop effectiveness once they reach the objective) and for their inability to navigate confined areas of roadways (mostly tight mountain passes). The number of injured and killed by accidents is probably one of the more under reported consequences of the war against IEDs.
Navy loves the F-35C.
via DefPro...
"I want to dispel the contention that the Navy is soft on F-35C," said Rear Adm. Michael C. Manazir. "The Navy has had the F-35C in her horizon for more than a decade. As we built the path from F/A-18 aircraft on to the carrier to fifth generation, we grew the E/F Super Hornets in the limits of fourth generation capability. We now need to move into the F-35C to realize our vision for TACAIR (tactical air) coming off the carriers."Outstanding. Read more at DefPro, but this is another blow to the many critics of this airplane. Just like the LPD-17, only later will the doubters understand the leap ahead that these systems represent...and then they will claim to have supported them all along!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
XM25 explained.
Hat-tip to Tactical Life.com.
I don't know who that is that's giving the briefing on this weapon system but I do know that their is no way in hell this can be used under the current rules of engagement.
If an enemy soldier is spotted shooting from inside a building, you are not allowed to return fire against the building. You can engage the shooter. Do whatever it takes to time him up and hit him but you cannot target the building....you know the worry about civilian casualties and all that.
With that being said I can't see the joy the Army has in fielding this weapon. Its a lawyers dream and a soldiers nightmare.
This has pre-trial confinement written all over it.
US Marines intercept hijacked ship.
...a detachment aboard ship?
US marines intercept hijacked ship
Manama - A US destroyer intercepted a hijacked ship with around 50 pirates on board last week, authorities said on Monday.
The container ship M/V Iceberg I, with 24 crew members on board, had been captured by pirates in the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Somalia, nearly two months ago.
The USS McFaul identified the ship, despite the pirates having painted over its name and re-named it Sea Express, a spokesperson from the region's counter-piracy task force said in the Bahraini capital Manama.
The US marines had first noticed the ship on Wednesday and sent a radio message. The crew answered that they were on their way to the next port to have some repairs done.
The marines then radioed that they wanted to come on board, at which point the crew replied that they had been hijacked by heavily armed pirates.
"First and foremost our responsibility is to ensure the safety of the crew," said the commander of the USS Faul, Ronald Toland. "Given the report of heavily armed pirates on board, it was more prudent to monitor the ship's movement, rather than attempt a rescue."
His crew followed the ship's movements for the next 36 hours, until it begin to sail towards the coast of Somalia.
The marines said they suspected the pirates wanted either to help other pirates who had fallen into difficulties at sea, or to use the ship to capture another vessel. - Sapa-dpa
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