HNLMS Johan de Witt's landing craft in action off the coast of Somalia.

GvG of Information Dissemination provided this vid.  I wonder if this is the future for the Marine Corps.  Yes, I know its a return to our naval roots but so is being Shock Troops.  I fear that this new operating doctrine might cause us to lose that part of our heritage.

As a side note how are we going to justify the EFV if our new operating doctrine is for Distributed Operations with the Company as the smallest unit of maneuver, a move to make our units vehicle independent and for us to start having detachments aboard even frigate sized ships?  How do we justify any of the weapon systems coming down the pike?  CH-53E?  Why?  We operate in penny packets.  More M-777?  Why not just disband artillery?  The more I read of this new doctrine (and I haven't finished it yet) the more it leaves me scratching my head. Just my two cents.

For the Concealed Carry Crowd.

Teotwawki Blog pointed to an excellent article for those of us who carry concealed.  Its over at Warrior Talk News and is a great read.  Check it out.

More on the CSI Mountain Lion-1.

Ok.  I get it.  Obviously I was the only person on the planet not to know who CSI is or what they do.  Apologizes to all.

But if you haven't seen the Mountain Lion-1...here are the vehicles specs.

CSI Mountain Lion-1

Critical Solutions International. Who are these guys?

Browsing the internet I came across an interesting little company in Carrolton, Texas called Critical Solutions International.

No big deal, there are plenty of startups out there, but what caught my attention is their connection to South African mine clearing companies (I can't figure out which ones) but they seem to have been supplying the US military with vehicles under this US subsidiary and even seem posed to provide an MRAP alternative.



But the flagship vehicle in their lineup is the Vehicle Mounted Mine Detector.  I can't wait to learn more about what these guys are doing but it should be interesting.

Pic of the Day. July 1, 2010.

via Joe Stremph's Flickr page.

First flight of the Euro-Hawk.

Exercise High Sierra 2010.

Exercise High Sierra 2010
Exercise High Sierra conducted from 14 June to 2 July represents the last three weeks of the F/A-18 operational conversion course, which converts fighter pilots from the Hawk Mk127 Lead-in-fighter aircraft to the F/A-18 Hornet.

Eight pilots from No. 2 Operational Conversion Squadron, part of the RAAF’s Air Combat Group at RAAF Base Williamtown in New South Wales, are put through their paces during the Exercise prior to graduation. More than 150 Air Force personnel, F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets, PC9 forward air control support aircraft and Mk127 Hawk lead-in fighters will be at RAAF Base Townsville supporting the Exercise.

An F/A-18 Hornet takes off for a sortie during Exercise High Sierra as another F/A-18 Hornet taxis to the runway for its turn to head for the skies.

An F/A-18 Hornet attached to 2 Operational Conversion Unit taxis toward the runway as a PC9 Forward Air Control aircraft takes to the skies for a mission during Exercise High Sierra.

An F/A-18 Hornet from 2 Operational Conversion Unit prepares to leave the ordinance loading area to conduct a mission during Exercise High Sierra.