Vietnam will have a better LCS than the US Navy?

Another story from Defense Update.

Vietnam has opted to buy Sigma Corvettes...in essence (and the info is from Wikipedia) they will have a more formidable warship than the US Navy will with Sigma's vs. our LCS'.

That sucks.

The Sigma is more heavily armed.  Has greater endurance.  Its slower but who cares.  Seakeeping?  No idea.  But as it now stands with the exception of mission modules, aviation suites (and I'm guessing on that) speed...the Sigma is clearly superior.

I've been looking at the LCS class through the prism of how it can help the USMC (secondarily Special Ops Command).  That might have been a mistake.  If the ship can't perform its primary mission properly then secondary missions become irrelevant.

Perhaps its time to relegate the LCS-2 class to USMC/SOCOM support, and to just upgun and slow down LCS-1 class and make them proper frigates/corvettes.

UPDATE:

Unlike some, I will make a recommendation instead  of simply criticize.  What ship would I like to see the US Navy acquire instead of LCS?  How about the Absalon class?  Yes...Mike of New Wars fame is sitting somewhere saying I told ya so but he was ahead of his time.

Oh and if you simply want an off shore fighter then how about the Knud Rasmussen class OPV?  Either way you're getting more combat power out the box than with the LCS plus you still have the option to still have your mission modules (thanks Forrest!)

APA and Sweetman must be ready to shoot themselves!

Tongue in cheek Goon and Bill!

Relax...its all in good fun!

Anyway this news from Defense Update and my buddy Spudman must be having the haters ready to kill...Read it and weep...

Japan Self Defense Air Force future replacement of F-4J fighters (F-X) is becoming a head-to-head competition between the two American aerospace giants, Boeing and Lockheed martin, offering the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and an advanced variant F/A-18 Super Hornet. Tokyo is expected to make a decision next month. Besides the two fighters’ operational capabilities Japan is likely to give high marks for involvement of domestic companies.

The rest is here...

SIDENOTE;  WHAT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING IS THIS...WHICH F-35 VERSION WILL BE OFFERED TO REPLACE THE F-4'S????  I WOULD BET THE F-35C SINCE THE F-4 HAD A PRIMARY ANTI-SHIPPING MISSION BUT THIS WILL BE TELLING.  IF THEY WOULD BY CHANCE (AND YES ITS WISHFUL THINKING ON MY PART, BUT MIGHT FIT FUTURE DEFENSE TRENDS) PICK THE F-35B AND MAKE THE LHD'S THAT THEY HAVE ANTI-SHIP CRUISERS THEN THE PROGRAM WILL BE COOKING WITH GAS!

Marines storm beach with Philippine counterparts

NAVAL TRAINING FACILITY, SAN MIGUEL, Republic of the Philippines -An Amphibious Assault Vehicle with Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, makes its way ashore during a mock mechanized amphibious assault, Oct. 23. The assault was a bilateral exercise, and is conducted annually by the Republic of the Philippines and United States. The 31st MEU is operating in support of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade for the exercise, is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the United States’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 10/22/2011 8:00 PM

NAVAL TRAINING FACILITY, SAN MIGUEL, Republic of the Philippines -A Marine with Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, partners with a Philippine Marine during a mock mechanized amphibious assault, Oct. 23. The assault was a bilateral exercise, and is conducted annually by the Republic of the Philippines and United States. The 31st MEU is operating in support of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade for the exercise, is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the United States’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 10/23/2011 7:12 PM

NAVAL TRAINING FACILITY, SAN MIGUEL, Republic of the Philippines-Marines with Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Philippine Marines, exit an amphibious assault vehicle during a mock mechanized amphibious assault, Oct. 23. The assault was a bilateral exercise, and is conducted annually by the Republic of the Philippines and United States. The 31st MEU is operating in support of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade for the exercise, is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the United States’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 10/23/2011 6:34 PM

NAVAL TRAINING FACILITY, SAN MIGUEL, Republic of the Philippines -A Marine with Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, observes Marines movements from an amphibious assault vehicle during a mock mechanized amphibious assault, Oct. 23. The assault was a bilateral exercise, and is conducted annually by the Republic of the Philippines and United States. The 31st MEU is operating in support of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade for the exercise, is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the United States’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 10/23/2011 6:54 PM

NAVAL TRAINING FACILITY, SAN MIGUEL, Republic of the Philippines -Marines with Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a Philippine Marine, provide security on a beach during a mock mechanized amphibious assault, Oct. 23. The assault was a bilateral exercise, and is conducted annually by the Republic of the Philippines and United States. The 31st MEU is operating in support of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade for the exercise, is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the United States’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 10/23/2011 6:36 PM

NAVAL TRAINING FACILITY, SAN MIGUEL, Republic of the Philippines -A Marine with Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and Philippine Marine move into position during a mock mechanized amphibious assault, Oct. 23. The assault was a bilateral exercise, and is conducted annually by the Republic of the Philippines and United States. The 31st MEU is operating in support of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade for the exercise, is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the United States’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 10/23/2011 6:39 PM

The cartoon is funny...the commentary is spot on.

Terminal Lance's latest cartoon is too funny but his commentary is even better...check this out...

But now his commentary!

There’s an unmistakable feeling of absolute horror that bestows upon one that forgets where his rifle is. Sometimes it’s just for a split second, that moment where you realize you don’t have it on you, but remember it was left with the gear watch. Sometimes–and may the gods have mercy on you if you do–you’ve truly forgotten where it is. The latter doesn’t usually happen, but it can and does to some less fortunate and forgetful Marines.
If you’ve never deployed or never really been to the field, this strip probably won’t mean much to you. Then again, I would think the majority of Terminal Lance wouldn’t mean much to you if you were such. However, anyone who’s ever been responsible for the well-being of that hunk of metal strapped to you at all times can probably relate to this. The feeling is heart-stopping, terrifying and momentarily immobilizing. The rifle becomes like a small child–a cold, uncomfortable and with sharp-edges small child that you have to carry with you at all times.
For those of you that have never looked after a rifle: imagine you go to the grocery store with your toddler. You shop and check out, the child running around you at all times. You get to your car, load the groceries into the trunk, and it dawns on you: your child is not with you. Yeah, you just shit your pants. That’s the feeling you get when you forget your rifle.
Anyway, in other news, slightly late update today. I was way too tired last night to sit down and do this thing, so it had to wait til this morning. I heard Marines are going sleeves down now year-round, which is unfortunate for Marines in Hawaii or Japan, since green cammies have black on them and those places are hot and humid.
Marine Corps-wide cammie regs are just plain stupid. Different bases are in different climates, and that can not change.

Brilliant!

I luv that guys work.

The biggest threat to the USAF is losing the nuclear triad.

Check out this story from Time...

Kehler acknowledged that if the number of deployed U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear weapons and their launchers -- now capped at 1,550 and 700, respectively -- continues to drop, it will becoming increasingly costly to keep all three legs. "You can have a hollow nuclear force, just like you can have a hollow conventional force," he said. "There will be some very tough decisions to make here at certain levels, and whether or not you can then sustain a leg of the triad without it becoming hollow."

If the nuclear triad goes away then you can bet money that it won't be subs...and probably will be bombers (although you can't rule out the possibility of both bombers AND land based missiles getting axed).

This is the biggest threat to the USAF that no one is talking about.

If the USAF loses its nuclear mission then it can justifiably be downsized...Air Combat Command would take over what few bombers remained and every person associated with the nuke mission could be lost.

This is an issue thats being lost in the ether that I will be watching.

Co. F, AT Bn. takes to the skies during helo training

SIDENOTE; WE HAVE EFFECTIVE CAMO FROM HEAD TO TOE FOR OUR MARINES...WHY DO WE STILL HAVE BLACK RIFLES WHEN IT IS BEYOND EASY TO HAVE THEM CAMO'ED TOO? THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT THE GUNNERS SHOULD BE LOOKING AT INSTEAD OF GIVING US A BROWNING AUTOMATIC RIFLE 2.O.

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJUENE N.C. -A Marine with Company F, Anti-Terrorism Battalion attached to 2nd Marine Division, post security alongside a CH-53E Super Stallion while conducting a casualty evacuation drill aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Oct. 20. Over the course of the training each platoon performed two casualty evacuation drills in which a junior Marine was responsible for calling in a nine-line medical evacuation request. , Lance Cpl. Joshua J. Hines, 10/20/2011 1:01 AM

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJUENE N.C. -Lance Cpl. Erik Guinn, rifleman, 2nd squad, 3rd platoon, Company F, Anti-Terrorism Battalion attached to 2nd Marine Division, carries a stretcher while conducting a casualty evacuation drill aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Oct. 20. Over the course of the training each platoon performed two casualty evacuation drills in which a junior Marine was responsible for calling in a nine-line medical evacuation request. , Lance Cpl. Joshua J. Hines, 10/19/2011 11:59 PM

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJUENE N.C. -Marines with Company F, Anti-Terrorism Battalion attached to 2nd Marine Division, post security in the tree line while awaiting an inbound CH-53E Super Stallion while conducting a casualty evacuation drill aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Oct. 20. Over the course of the training each platoon performed two casualty evacuation drills in which a junior Marine was responsible for calling in a nine-line medical evacuation request. , Lance Cpl. Joshua J. Hines, 10/20/2011 12:03 AM

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJUENE N.C. -Lance Cpl. Alexander Gibson, rifleman, 1st squad, 4th platoon, Company F, Anti-Terrorism Battalion attached to 2nd Marine Division, post security in the tree line while awaiting an inbound CH-53E Super Stallion while conducting a casualty evacuation drill aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Oct. 20. Over the course of the training each platoon performed two casualty evacuation drills in which a junior Marine was responsible for calling in a nine-line medical evacuation request. , Lance Cpl. Joshua J. Hines, 10/20/2011 12:29 AM

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJUENE N.C. -Marines with Company F, Anti-Terrorism Battalion attached to 2nd Marine Division, carry a stretcher while conducting a casualty evacuation drill aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Oct. 20. Over the course of the training each platoon performed two casualty evacuation drills in which a junior Marine was responsible for calling in a nine-line medical evacuation request. , Lance Cpl. Joshua J. Hines, 10/20/2011 12:29 AM

BAE Hawk AJT.