LPD-17 Class...now we know why LHA-6 was built without a well deck.

I've been mulling why bloggers (myself included...) always react to situations as if only we are aware of the issue.

Case in point is the LPD-17 and how it will fit with the LHA-6.  When the USS America plans first came out and it was without a well deck, I literally went high and to the right.  What idiot in the US Navy would design an amphibious assault ship without a well deck?  What good will it do?  How will it fit into an Amphibious Ready Group?  What about distributed operations from the sea and the vaunted mini-ARG concepts I keep hearing about?

But with the new Marine Corps Operating Concept, its starting to make sense.  With the numbers of LPD-17 class ships...its starting to make sense.  With the move toward LPD-17's and next gen LSD-X becoming the centerpieces of the amphibious fleet its making even more sense (especially if the LSD is built on the LPD hull form).

The F-35 will require a practically new operating standard when it comes online.  Its size has required revamped aviation spaces and the need for an aviation centric amphib is clear.  We will gain a warplane of tremendous flexibility.  The USS America class will be a platform that will enable it to demonstrate its abilities in full and it still has room for a battalion of Marines in either small boats or helos.

But my real excitement lies in the small picture to the right.  We're gaining a fast (able to keep up with a carrier strike group), flexible (able to land Marines by AAVs, LCVPs, LCACs or helos--many helos at that...) and dedicated amphib.

The SecDef and Admiral Mullen might be stuck on stupid with these partnership missions but its still sea time and its still getting Marines back aboard ship.

One last thing and the LPD-17 class will be perfect (sorry for all the critics but the engine problems and engineer snafus are really in the past...they've been ironed out)...either a 5 inch gun or provisions for NLOS missiles will take it to the next level.

Lastly for the small amphib crowd I kindly remind you that we've been down that road before and the results (from talking to Marines that rode on them) is that the LPH-2 class of ships were good for the times but woefully inadequate for today's equipment load outs.

Height and Weight Standards.

The Navy might want to revise their height and weight standards...

Note:
I was conflicted on whether or not to post this but come on.  This guy is a Naval Officer and is definitely not presenting a proper military appearance....and they're putting him front and center before the public.  Yeah, they need to revise it and put this guy on some type of remedial PT program.

Who says Navy Pilots aren't excited about the F-35?

Hat Tip to ELP Defence Blog.



That Navy Pilot seems pretty jazzed about the F-35.  Add to it that he might have been briefed about some of its capabilities and its easy to understand. 

Misleading the public? 

I think this guy is sold and is ready to strap on the airplane.

F-35 to survive in the UK?

I might be pushing the envelope here but with massive budget cuts in the news in the UK, this story from SkyNews is interesting.

In last month's budget Osborne said cuts would not average more than 25%

The treasury has demanded the "illustrative plans" for cuts of 25% and 40% must be submitted by Cabinet Ministers by the end of the month.
It is the latest step in preparing for what is set to be the toughest spending review since the Second World War.
However, as outlined in the Chancellor's emergency budget last month, health and international aid will continue to receive small increases in their budgets.

Mr Osborne also said education and defence budgets would be "protected".

But the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies estimated that this could leave other departments facing cuts of 33%.
Officials stressed what was being prepared was "initial planning assumptions" and that the cuts on that scale would not actually be implemented in the final settlements in the autumn.

Read the whole thing (personally I'm envious of the approach being taken in the UK, they're acting like adults...there is a problem and they're working to solve it) but the F-35 and other necessary defense programs appear safe...at least for now.

Update:
Jed is calling bogus my claims that the MoD was never offered the source code to the F-35 at the beginning of the program and that when they asked for it years later, it was a change to the agreement.

Anyone know where I can get a syllabus to the F-35 development?

Marinestan is now a separate command.

Do you remember a few weeks (maybe months now) the article by Victor Hanson calling a portion of Afghanistan "Marinestan"?

The U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, retired three-star Army general Karl W. Eikenberry, reportedly made a comment about there being 41 nations serving in Afghanistan — and a 42nd composed of the Marine Corps. One unnamed Obama-administration official was quoted by the Washington Post as saying, “We have better operational coherence with virtually all of our NATO allies than we have with the U.S. Marine Corps.”

Some officials call the new Marine enclave in Nimruz Province “Marinestan” — as if, out of a Kipling or Conrad novel, the Marines has gone rogue to set up their own independent province of operations.

Yet once again, it would be wise not to tamper with the independence of the Marine Corps, given that its methods of training, deployment, fighting, counterinsurgency, and conventional warfare usually pay off in the end.

Well "Marinestan" has formally declared its independence.  This from the DefPro (yeah its old but hey...I miss stuff too)...

Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Richard Mills, commanding general of the new command, leads a combined force of about 27,000 personnel, with units drawn from eight nations.

"It is a distinct privilege for all of us to stand up Regional Command Southwest," Mills said. "We are truly building on the outstanding work of all who have served here in Helmand and Nimroz provinces. This is a natural military progression based on the number of troops serving here and the priority placed on Helmand and Nimroz provinces."

Absolutely awesome.  On the weekend of our nations birth, we also have the birth of a new command in Afghanistan...a US Marine Corps led command.  Too cool.

Blast from the past. SteelJawScribe on V/STOL Dreams...

SteelJawScribe penned an article almost a year ago that is in my archive because of its historical perspective.  The article "Flight Deck Friday:V/STOL Dreams" is a must read.

Blast from the past. F-35 first flight vid.

Another Shallow Draft Coast Guard Boat?

When I first saw this article over on the Marine Corps website, all I could think is why?  What they have appears to be sufficient...but I guess that same thought can be applied throughout the DoD so I'll reserve judgment.  Read the article here.  But below are the specs on the 24 foot version of the boat, the larger size is extremely similar (to be honest it almost exactly the same..just bigger) and more info on it can be found here.

Brochure 5770

I simply ask...is this the future for the US military?

via ThinkDefence.  Wow.  Read the whole thing here.  Wow.

Ten years after the ban on homosexuality in the Armed Forces was lifted, the first Quad Service Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) conference is being held at the MOD's Main Building in London today.

Conway gets it on the IAR.

Don't know how I missed this vid from Marine Corps Times.  But it illustrates that Gen. Conway gets it when it comes to the IAR. 

Freaking unbelievable.

The UK newspaper the "Sun" has published video of a British soldier being shot and have posted a transcript of the conversation between him and another trooper at probably the most vulnerable period in this young man's life.

Now do you understand why I despise the media?  This is bullshit.