Thailand and American Marines Conduct Mechanized Raid.

AAV CAMP, Kingdom of Thailand-Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit search Marines playing the role of enemy combatants after securing a building during a mock mechanized raid, Feb. 11. The raid, part of exercise Cobra Gold 2011, was a bilateral event between Royal Thai and U.S. Marines. Thailand is one of the United States’ five major non-NATO treaty allies in the region, and the partnership has helped keep this region secure and stable., Lance Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 2/11/2011 10:08 AM

AAV CAMP, Kingdom of Thailand-Amphibious assault vehicles of the Kingdom of Thailand roar towards an objective being secured by U.S. Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, and Royal Thai Marines in a bilateral mechanized raid during exercise Cobra Gold, Feb. 11. The Marines of both nations partnered in the ship-to-shore amphibious movement to complete their assigned mission of raiding an objective using forcible entry from the sea. The 31st MEU is participating in the 30th anniversary of Cobra Gold, one of the largest annual land-based exercises in the world., Capt. Caleb Eames, 2/11/2011 9:16 AM

AAV CAMP, Kingdom of Thailand-An Amphibious assault vehicle with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, roars towards an objective being secured by Marines of the 31st MEU and Royal Thai Marines in a bilateral mechanized raid during exercise Cobra Gold, Feb. 11. The Marines of both nations partnered in the ship-to-shore amphibious movement to complete their assigned mission of raiding an objective using forcible entry from the sea. The 31st MEU is participating in the 30th anniversary of Cobra Gold, one of the largest annual land-based exercises in the world., Capt. Caleb Eames, 2/11/2011 9:18 AM

AAV CAMP, Kingdom of Thailand-Royal Thai and U.S. Marines discuss how to eliminate hostile forces firing on them from a building during a mock mechanized raid, Feb. 11. The raid, part of exercise Cobra Gold 2011, was a bilateral event between Royal Thai and U.S. Marines. Thailand is one of the United States’ five major non-NATO treaty allies in the region, and the partnership has helped keep this region secure and stable., Lance Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 2/11/2011 10:00 AM-- note ---if you enlarge the picture and take a look at the Marine Corps Captain in the middle of the photo, you'll see that the guy appears to be hurting bad.....Seriously, he looks almost ready to pass out..SNAFU!

Rob Curtis at Military Times GearScout has me cheering for bunnies.

Tactically proficient bunny rabbits...too funny!

VX-31 Centennial Super Hornet..

Air Test and Evaluation Squadron THREE-ONE (VX-31) F/A-18 legacy Hornet awaits departure from the Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake, Ca. to join the kick-off celebration of the Centennial of Naval Aviation (CONA) on Friday, Feb. 11 at Naval Air Station, North Island, Ca.

USMC Tanks head towards Northern Helmand Province...

All photos credited to LCPL Kenneth Jasik

Marines with 3rd Platoon, Delta Company, 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), provide security during a combat logistics patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb 2. Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 8, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), escorted the tank platoon to northern Helmand province where the tanks will assist coalition forces in securing the area.

Marines with Bravo Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 8, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), along with Marines with 3rd Platoon, Delta Company, 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), travel through the desert during a combat logistics patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb 2. Marines with CLB-8, 1st MLG (FWD), escorted the tank platoon to northern Helmand province where the tanks will assist coalition forces in securing the area.

Marines with 3rd Platoon, Delta Company, 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), provide security during a combat logistics patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb 2. Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 8, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), escorted the tank platoon to northern Helmand province where the tanks will assist coalition forces in securing the area.

Marines with Bravo Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 8, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), along with Marines with 3rd Platoon, Delta Company, 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), travel through the desert during a combat logistics patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb 2. Marines with CLB-8, 1st MLG (FWD), escorted the tank platoon to northern Helmand province where the tanks will assist coalition forces in securing the area

Marines with Bravo Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 8, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), along with Marines with 3rd Platoon, Delta Company, 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), travel through the desert during a combat logistics patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb 2. Marines with CLB-8, 1st MLG (FWD), escorted the tank platoon to northern Helmand province where the tanks will assist coalition forces in securing the area.

First Serial Production "HAD" Tigre Helicopter.

My issue with wheeled IFVs.

Above you see an advertisement of the Paramount Group's new IFV called the Mbombe. 

Yes it has MRAP type protection.

Yes it mounts a high powered remote controlled cannon.

Yes it carries a full infantry section.

Yes its almost as long as a bus!

Tracked vehicles are more compact, and there is no longer a weight advantage with wheels.  The worm has turned and tracks are many times lighter.

If by chance the legacy M-113 could be updated to be mine protected, retain its amphibious ability (lost in the later iterations of it) and still be able to keep up with M1 Abrams then it would be the perfect vehicle.

Somehow we've gotten stuck on a false limb of vehicle development.

Armored Cars are not IFVs and thats what Wheeled IFVs actually are.

Armored Cars with improved weapons and armor.

Expeditionary Fire Support System goes to war...

1/24/2011 By 1st Lt. Jason Ballentine

26th MEU

An Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS) belonging to F Battery 2/12, Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th marine Expeditionary Unit, Regimental Combat Team 2, is being towed by a Mine Resistant Armor Protected vehicle aboard Combat Outpost Ouellette, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 29, 2011. This is the first time that EFSS has been employed in Afghanistan. Elements of 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed to Afghanistan to provide regional security in Helmand Province in support of the International Security Assistance Force.

1/28/2011 By 1st Lt. Jason Ballentine

26th MEU

An Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS) belonging to F Battery 2/12, Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th marine Expeditionary Unit, Regimental Combat Team 2, is being towed by a Mine Resistant Armor Protected All-Terrain Vehicle aboard Combat Outpost Ouellette, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 29, 2011. This is the first time that EFSS has been employed in Afghanistan. Elements of 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed to Afghanistan to provide regional security in Helmand Province in support of the International Security Assistance Force.

2/5/2011 By Gunnery Sgt. Bryce Piper

26th MEU

U.S. Marines with Battery F, Company I, Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Regimental Combat Team 2, fire the Expeditionary Fire Support System 120mm Mortar at Combat Outpost Ouellette, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 5, 2011. The fire mission was in support of Marine snipers protecting villagers from Taliban murder and intimidation in the area. Elements of 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed to Afghanistan to provide regional security in Helmand province in support of the International Security Assistance Force.

Did the Obama administration get punked???

By now you've read the stories...Mubarak was suppose to step down today.  He didn't.  President Obama made a speech earlier today almost proclaiming that "change" was near in Egypt.

My question is this.

Did US intelligence contacts in Egypt publicly punk the Obama administration?

What do I mean by that?

Did they purposely tell US contacts that Mubarak was going to step down in order to gauge the Washington reaction?

I'm betting they did.

Prediction.

Bloodshed in the streets and this rebellion will be forcefully put down.

Recommended Weekend Recreation..

The Eagle...no chick flicks for SNAFU! readers.  You're going to have to take her on a "date" night so you might as well check out something war like.

Experimental Fighters from the '60s...Part 2.

I'm still on my historical aviation kick.  In keeping with that mood I present three more examples of what I believe is aviation excellence.  The F8U-3...an airplane that by all rights was more capable than the F-4 Phantom yet died an undeserved death due to politics...The Avro Arrow...another victim of politics and a government that was short sighted.  Imagine a robust and capable Canadian aviation industry today if this project had continued!  And finally the TRS-2.  Another victim of politics dressed in the form of White Paper studies.  

I am by no means an aviation expert but the Arrow and the TRS-2 appear competitive even today...add modern engines to the basic airframes in addition to cutting edge avionics and you have airplanes that would still fulfill their basic missions.

I don't know how, I don't know why but we seem to have lost something that our predecessors had in bunches...imagination and the ability to make it work.   

Vought XF8U-3 Crusader III

Avro Arrow

And finally...one airplane to make Sweetman weep softly, bang his head against his desk, reach for the Black Velvet (click here for the description) to comfort him and finally go simpering to bed in agony...

The BAC TRS-2...

Pic of the day. Feb. 10, 2011.

HAT YAO, Kingdom of Thailand - Royal Thailand Marines, along with infantry Marines with the Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade Forward, III Marine Expeditionary Force, assault the beachhead here in an amphibious assault raid Feb. 10, 2011, during Exercise Cobra Gold 2011. Cobra Gold 2011 is a regularly scheduled multinational training exercise designed to improve partner nation interoperability. (Official U.S. Marine photo by Pfc. Mark W. Stroud/Released)

HAT YAO, Thailand - Cpl. Joff Carroll, firepower control team leader, 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade Forward, III Marine Expeditionary Force, provides security during an amphibious assault raid here Feb. 10, 2011, during Exercise Cobra Gold 2011. Cobra Gold 2011 is a regularly scheduled multinational training exercise designed to improve partner nation interoperability. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Mark W. Stroud/Released)

110207-N-6692A-141 GULF OF THAILAND (Feb. 07, 2011) – Sailors launch amphibious assault vehicles (AAV) aboard USS Denver (LPD 9) for amphibious training operation during Cobra Gold (CG) 2011. CG11 is a regularly scheduled multinational exercise and is the latest in the continuing series of U.S. - Thai military exercises designed to ensure regional peace and stability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Geronimo C. Aquino /Released)

Happy Birthday 1st MARDIV