More photos from Summer Storm 2011.

All photos by Staff Sergeant Dwight Henderson

Romanian marines with 307th Marine Infantry Battalion search a role player during an amphibious raid aboard Capu Midia, Romania, Aug. 3, 2011. Romanian marines from 307th Marine Infantry Battalion and U.S. Marines from the 22nd MEU conducted an amphibious raid, the culminating event of Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise meant to increase the inoperability between American and Romanian forces. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group serving as a potent, formidable and deterrent force who continues to train and improve their capability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Combat Element.

Romanian marines stack on a doorway during amphibious interoperability training aboard Capu Midia, Romania, Aug. 2, 2011. The training was part of the Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise with Romanian marines from the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion meant to increase the interoperability between American and Romanian forces. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group serving as a potent, formidable and deterrent force who continues to train and improve their capability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Combat Element.

Amphibious assault vehicles carrying Marines with Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Romanian Marines wait to return to the USS Whidbey Island aboard Capu Midia, Romania, August 2, 2011. The Romanian and American Marines were going to the USS Whidbey Island to conduct an amphibious raid, the culminating event of Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise meant to increase the interoperability between American and Romanian forces. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group serving as a potent, formidable and deterrent force who continues to train and improve their capability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Combat Element.

An amphibious assault vehicle attached to Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, races to its objective during an amphibious raid aboard Capu Midia, Romania, August 3, 2011. Romanian marines from 307th Marine Infantry Battalion and U.S. Marines from the 22nd MEU conducted an amphibious raid, the culminating event of Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise meant to increase the inoperability between American and Romanian forces. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group serving as a potent, formidable and deterrent force who continues to train and improve their capability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Combat Element.

An amphibious assault vehicle attached to Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, drives onto the beach during an amphibious raid aboard Capu Midia, Romania, Aug. 3, 2011. Romanian marines from 307th Marine Infantry Battalion and U.S. Marines from the 22nd MEU conducted an amphibious raid, the culminating event of Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise meant to increase the inoperability between American and Romanian forces. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group serving as a potent, formidable and deterrent force who continues to train and improve their capability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Combat Element.

Romanian Marines with 307th Marine Infantry Battalion load into an amphibious assault vehicle attached to Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, aboard Capu Midia, Romania, August 2, 2011. The Romanian and American Marines were going to the USS Whidbey Island to conduct an amphibious raid, the culminating event of Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise meant to increase the interoperability between American and Romanian forces. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group serving as a potent, formidable and deterrent force who continues to train and improve their capability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Combat Element.

Marines with Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to enter a building during an amphibious raid aboard Capu Midia, Romania, Aug. 3, 2011. Romanian marines from 307th Marine Infantry Battalion and U.S. Marines from the 22nd MEU conducted an amphibious raid, the culminating event of Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise meant to increase the inoperability between American and Romanian forces. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group serving as a potent, formidable and deterrent force who continues to train and improve their capability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Combat Element.

Chinook shoot down historical perspective.

Major league hat tip to Grand Logistics Blog for this ... via the Guardian UK...as always read it all but this tidbit should stir some fire...

The US military covered up a reported surface-to-air missile strike by the Taliban that shot down a Chinook helicopter over Helmand in 2007 and killed seven soldiers, including a British military photographer, the war logs show.
The strike on the twin-rotor helicopter shows the Taliban enjoyed sophisticated anti-aircraft capabilities earlier than previously thought, casting new light on the battle for the skies over Afghanistan.
Hundreds of files detail the efforts of insurgents, who have no aircraft, to shoot down western warplanes. The war logs detail at least 10 near-misses by missiles in four years against coalition aircraft, one while refuelling at 11,000ft and another involving a suspected Stinger missile of the kind supplied by the CIA to Afghan rebels in the 1980s.
But if American and British commanders were worried about the missile threat, they downplayed it in public – to the extent of ignoring their own pilots' testimony. The CH-47 Chinook was shot down on 30 May 2007 after dropping troops at the strategic Kajaki dam in Helmand where the British were leading an anti-Taliban drive. Witnesses reported that a missile struck the left rear engine of the aircraft, causing it to burst into flames and nosedive into the ground. All on board died, including 28-year-old Corporal Mike Gilyeat of the Royal Military Police.

What does all this mean?

It means that I'm a homer for all things USA.

Apple pie, the red white and blue....hot dogs...Ford trucks...etc....

But I'm not stupid either.

The US Military and the DoD in particular will cover up facts that will either...cause alarm to the public...cause the public to question the war....or cause the political class to lose even more favor.

All three of these apply with the latest shoot down.  I said earlier that I doubted that our guys would fly into RPG ambushes.  Lex called it even more precisely and stated flat out that it had to be an anti-air missile.  Now we have Grand Logistics bringing this article to our attention.

Long story short.

The Taliban have anti-air missiles and our helo forces need to change tactics to account for that fact.

A tier one unit lost.

I'm back to the Chinook shoot down.

The strategic implications are shocking.  One of our two,  tier 1 Special Operations Units has been decimated in a single attack.

They will reconstitute.

The military always does.

But it does make you wonder about how we operate now.  Additionally, I would assume that the Afghan Special Ops people were some of the best that they had produced so we have a one two punch here.

Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha now assumes the lead.

Good luck guys.

22nd MEU at Summer Storm 2011 training with Romanian Marines.

All photos by Staff Sergeant Dwight Henderson.

Marines with Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire an M-240 machine gun during squad-attack, live-fire training aboard Capu Midia, Romania, Aug. 1, 2011. The training was part of the Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise with Romanian marines from the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion meant to increase the interoperability between American and Romanian forces. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group serving as a potent, formidable and deterrent force who continues to train and improve their capability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Combat Element.

Lance Cpl. Eric T. Adams, a machine gunner and Daytona Beach, Fla., native with Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, fires an M-240G machine gun during squad-attack, live-fire training aboard Capu Midia, Romania, Aug. 1, 2011. The training was part of the Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise with Romanian marines from the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion meant to increase the interoperability between American and Romanian forces. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group serving as a potent, formidable and deterrent force who continues to train and improve their capability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Combat Element.

Seaman Rodney K. Cohens, a corpsman and Chicago native with Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, fires his weapon during squad-attack, live-fire training aboard Capu Midia, Romania, Aug. 1, 2011. The training was part of the Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise with Romanian Marines from the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion meant to increase the interoperability between American and Romanian forces. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group serving as a potent, formidable and deterrent force who continues to train and improve their capability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Combat Element.

Romanian marines with the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion show their AK-47 rifles to Marines with Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, during military operations in urban terrain training aboard Capu Midia, Romania, July 31, 2011. The training was part of the Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise with Romanian marines from the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion meant to increase the interoperability between American and Romanian forces. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group serving as a potent, formidable and deterrent force who continues to train and improve their capability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Combat Element.

A Romanian marine with 307th Marine Infantry Battalion discusses military operations in urban terrain tactics, techniques and procedures with Marines from Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, during MOUT training aboard Capu Midia, Romania, July 31, 2011. The training was part of the Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise with Romanian Marines from the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion meant to increase the interoperability between American and Romanian forces. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group serving as a potent, formidable and deterrent force who continues to train and improve their capability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Combat Element.

Marines with Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire their weapons during squad-attack, live-fire training aboard Capu Midia, Romania, Aug. 1, 2011. The training was part of the Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise with Romanian marines from the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion meant to increase the interoperability between American and Romanian forces. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group serving as a potent, formidable and deterrent force who continues to train and improve their capability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Combat Element.

Cpl. Marlon Rutledge, a team leader and Modesto, Calif., native with Easy Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, signals to his team during squad-attack, live-fire training aboard Capu Midia, Romania, Aug. 1, 2011. The training was part of the Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise with Romanian marines from the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion meant to increase the interoperability between American and Romanian forces. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group serving as a potent, formidable and deterrent force who continues to train and improve their capability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Combat Element.

Marines and equipment came ashore as part of the Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise with Romanian marines from the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion meant to increase the interoperability between American and Romanian forces.

An amphibious assault vehicle attached to Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, comes ashore, aboard Capu Midia, Romania, July 31, 2011. Marines and equipment came ashore as part of the Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise with Romanian marines from the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion meant to increase the interoperability between American and Romanian forces. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group serving as a potent, formidable and deterrent force who continues to train and improve their capability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Combat Element.

An amphibious assault vehicle attached to Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, comes ashore, aboard Capu Midia, Romania, July 31, 2011. Marines and equipment came ashore as part of the Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise with Romanian marines from the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion meant to increase the interoperability between American and Romanian forces. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group serving as a potent, formidable and deterrent force who continues to train and improve their capability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Combat Element.

Navy SEALs/160th Night Stalkers suffer combat losses.

Major Hat Tip to Rohan.  via SkyNews.

The operators from Seal Team Six were being flown by a crew of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, according to US officials.
One source says the team was thought to include 22 Seals, three Air Force air controllers, seven Afghan Army troops, a dog and his handler, and a civilian interpreter, plus the helicopter crew.
Afghan officials at president Hamid Karzai's office said 31 US special forces and seven local soldiers died in the attack on the Chinook.
A senior US official has confirmed the helicopter was apparently shot down by insurgents.

Terrible news.

I wonder what the Insurgents have identified in our operations that have them getting so much success lately?

I also wonder if they are purposefully targeting only US helicopters or if  our allies are operating differently --- the last three helicopters to be shot down have all been by RPGs....have all been US and have all been Chinooks.

Something is off here.  I just can't put my finger on it.

UPDATE*
LEX is thinking along the lines of my previous post and with his experience in aviation I'm becoming more positive that these can't be RPG ambushes that our guys are flying into.  This from his blog but read the whole thing....

A night-time catastrophic hit with a “rocket” is pretty unlikely, unless that rocket had a guidance system, in which case we’d call it a Man Portable Air Defense System (MANPAD) rather than a rocket. The Stinger missiles that the US provided the Afghan mujahadin back in the 80′s are well beyond their service lives.
I’d sure like to know who is providing the Taliban this technology now, there’s a reckoning due.
Salute to fallen heroes, and prayers for those they left behind.

Once is an incident. Twice is pattern. Three times is concerted enemy activity.

Bad news from Afghanistan.  This from the morning ISAF Brief.

Helicopter Crashes in Eastern Afghanistan; Recovery Underway

ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan 2011-08-S-014For Immediate Release KABUL, Afghanistan (Aug. 6, 2011) – An International Security Assistance Force helicopter crashed in eastern Afghanistan today, and recovery operations are underway. ISAF is still in the process of assessing the circumstances to determine the facts of the incident, reporting indicates there was enemy activity in the area. Additional details will be released as appropriate.

My eyes flashed straight to the enemy activity in the area.

Of course they're not telling us everything but I just can't see our guys flying into RPG ambushes.  Maybe I'm being a homer but the main aviation unit in eastern Afghanistan---the 10th Aviation Combat Brigade---is no stranger to the area and has alot of experience operating there.

I don't expect ISAF to provide much more than they already have but I do wonder if we're not seeing anti-air missiles on a large scale being introduced into this conflict.  It would make sense with so many disappearing with the mess in Libya...the confusion in Egypt and the troubles with Iran.

Boxer variant...unknown.

Boxer variant...unknown.  I didn't even know they put the Puma turret on the Boxer and have absolutely no idea what they're calling it.  Love them or hate them but KMW is definitely a world leader in the armored vehicle industry.  I can't wait to see their offering for the Marine Personnel Carrier Program and wonder how they're going to make a 33 ton wheeled vehicle float.