LCS-3 Builder's Trials

The G-Man keeps asking the question and I can't wait till he gets the answer.  Why does the LCS need to do 40 knots????

Australia's new Marine Corps without calling it a Marine Corps....

This is a note that I received from Aussie Digger regarding a conversation that we have been having. 

Simply put, I think Australia needs its own Marine Corps.  Here's his note to me...but first read this article from AN.

AUSTRALIA'S first marines will be ready for war when the navy's first new landing ship enters service in 2012. More than 1000 infantry troops from the Townsville-based 3rd Brigade are being trained in amphibious operations and up to 350 will be based at sea permanently as the defence force moves into a new era of "power projection" when two massive 27,000 tonne Landing Helicopter Dock ships enter service from 2014.
The former Royal Navy 16,000 tonne landing ship Largs Bay, bought for $100 million to become HMAS Choules, will be ready for low-level amphibious operations early next year.
"Whenever one of these ships leaves Townsville she will have soldiers on board rigged and ready to go," Defence's head of modernisation and plans Major General John Caligari said yesterday. The amphibious force will provide the government with a power projection capability that the nation has never had before.

Now his note...

Hey Sol,

I remember we were discussing what the Australian Army is going to do in relation to it's Amphibious Warfare capabilities (and the larger Army in general) on your blog a while back?

Well the plan as of today is this:

The Australian Regular Army has a plan called Project Beersheeba (after the famous battle of Beersheeba involving Australians in WW1) in which it is going to become what it calls an "Army of Three's". Under this plan they are going to create 3 similar Brigade sized groups for our regular forces. Each Brigade will mount 2 light infantry battalions, an artillery Regiment, an Armoured Combat Regiment - ACR, a Combat Engineer Regiment, a Signals Regiment (including EW), a Combat Support Regiment and the Brigade Headquarters.

Each ACR will feature 2x Cavalry Squadrons kitted out with ASLAV-25's and variants, a Tank Squadron kitted out with our current M1A1 AIM Abrams tanks and an armoured lift squadron, kitted out currently with the upgraded M113AS3/4 vehicles we have. This Squadron will have the capability to lift an entire infantry battalion in one lift. In future our ASLAV's are going to be replaced by something like the Boxer IFV and our M113AS3/4's are going to be replaced by something like the Puma IFV. Both of those vehicles are currently the "objective" vehicle (in capability terms) though the actual solution chosen may change as they are not due in-service for another 10 years or so yet. The M1A1 tanks are projected to continue their current TUSK upgrades and are scheduled to remain in-service until at least 2030.

The reason behind such a structure is the size of our forces and our training / deployment / resetting cycle for force generation. Our Army's strategic guidance is that it should have a Brigade sized formation available for extended, deployed operations that is sustainable and can be rotated in place with a "like" force as well as maintaining the capability to deploy a separate battalion sized force to another theatre for shorter duration Ops (though not necessarily lower intensity).

So the 3 like Brigades is how we will manage the raise, train, sustain force generation cycle and meet our Strategic guidance requirements with each Brigade structure, equipped and trained to the same standards. The difference now is that our capabilities in this area are similar, except they are grouped together (like our Tank Regiment for example) for efficiencies sake, rather than what is optimal to support the force as a whole in peacetime and on Ops.

Our supporting elements such as Aviation assets (MRH-90 TTH, Tiger ARH, Chinook, UAV/EW/Air Defence assets etc) will be structured and equipped as independant Brigades but with the element of 3 sub-units per Brigade to support the raise, train, sustain deployment cycle.

Piggy-backing on each of the Regular Brigades will be our Army Reserve units. These will follow the same basic structure and training but will be equipped with less capable (and expensive) equipment but still capable enough of being useful, an example of this would be that instead of Puma IFV's (assuming it's chosen) the Army Reserve will use the Bushmaster IMV. Instead of the Boxer wheeled IFV the Reserve units will use an armoured and up-gunned version of whichever JLTV vehicle we choose and so on.

That will give our main land combat forces 6 full Brigades (2 Divisions) that are structured and trained in an individual and collective way to a similar degree (though the Reserves won't be as well trained collectively) and equipped to a basic degree, the same. 


So that's the main Army. Now onto the part you are probably mostly interested in:



Our new Battalion + sized Amphibious Ready Group.


To meet the other strategic requirement, (ie: maintain at least a battalion group capable of operations in a separate theatre) we are going to employ our 7th regular light battalion to provide our "Amphibious Ready Group". This battalion is going to be bigger and structured differently to our other regular battalions, but it too is going to comply with the rule of 3 "raise, train, sustain" mantra our Army goes by.

It is going to be capable of generating 3x 350 'men' strong sub-units, each capable of deploying aboard our LHD Amphibious vessels. These elements will be trained and equipped for Amphibious Operations, with one of the 350x men groups (let's call them Companies for convenience sake, but they'll be nearly 3 times the size of a normal Australian infantry Company) permanently at sea on a rotational basis on either of the 2 LHD's or our new HMAS Choules (ex- RFA Largs Bay).

These groups will be supported with their own armour, deployable in-direct fire support assets (unknown what this means exactly but probably 120mm mortar systems and precision guided mortar rounds) and supporting direct fire systems, such as Javelin / Carl Gustav anti-armour weapons and so on.   

If a larger contingency occurs, the entire Amphibious Ready Group will be capable of deploying on the 2 LHD's supported by additional armour, artillery, aviation, combat support and so on.

No requirement formally exists yet, for an over the horizon landing capability, but it's relatively early days. That requirement will almost certainly come in future years and Australia will be looking to acquire Amphibious Assault vehicles.

So that is the plan. No Australian Marine Corps or any such thing, but we will have a dedicated Amphibious Army unit capable of deploying up to 1050 troops with our new LHD's, fully supported of course by armour, artillery, aviation assets and so on.

My response to these developments?

Hell Yes!

Baby steps to a full amphibious capability only makes sense.  The Aussie's see the need for a Marine type capability. 

My prediction is that they will soon see a need for a full on S. Korean sized Marine Corps within a decade.

Marines fight Taliban in Afghanistan's Kajaki district

76/62 in action.

F-35B completes at sea testing.

Major league hat tip to SpazSinbad for the press release.

Check out this press release from Naval Air.  Its posted in its entirety and I highlighted "interesting" parts...

USS WASP At Sea -- The amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) heads back toward homeport Oct. 21 after spending three weeks at sea hosting the initial sea trials of the F-35B Lightning II, Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

The first F-35B landed on Wasp‘s flight deck Oct. 3, beginning an 18-day test period for the aircraft. During the testing, two F-35B Marine Corps test jets (BF-2 and BF-4) accomplished vertical landings and short take-offs under various conditions.

While underway, the world’s first supersonic short take-off, vertical landing (STOVL) fighter logged more than 28 hours of flight time and completed 72 short take-offs and 72 vertical landings.
Wasp crew members worked around the clock with pilots, engineers, mechanics and a wide array of aeronautical professionals, both military and civilian, to meet the mission of the F-35B sea trials.

“Wasp Air Department personnel and the JSF team started working together from day one,” said Lt. Cmdr. Michael Curcio, Wasp’s assistant air officer and JSF program officer. “Starting initially with the leadership interacting to set the vision for the ship trials, we worked a top-down approach to gradually bring in more people from each respective team.”

“This ensured that, from planning to execution, every detail was tended to and no stone was left unturned. Ultimately, this group was well ahead of the power curve at every juncture,” he said.

The Wasp and the JSF team have been preparing for these sea trials for more than a year. The ship, which typically accommodates the AV-8B Harrier, had to receive modifications and installation of test monitoring equipment in preparation for the F-35B’s arrival.

"We used Harrier operations as a baseline from which to deviate. Working with the JSF team, we identified the operational differences between the AV-8B and the F-35B and we trained to those differences,” said Curcio.

The trials are the first of three scheduled sea-based developmental test events for the STOVL variant periods. One of the goals was to collect environmental data on the deck using instrumentation to measure the F-35B’s sound, power and thermal impact during flight operations.

Ansis Kalnajs, better known as “AK,” a topside design and integration technical warrant for Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), and his team of 31 engineers collected data to capture the effects of the F-35 on flight deck and superstructure components.

“We have been collecting data on how the main engine effects deck edge equipment,” said Kalnajs. “As well as thermal load stresses to the structure and the acoustic effects.”

“We got a sufficient amount of data and real good assessments for the road ahead,” he said.

Also being tested is a newer non-skid deck surface, Thermion, which is supported by a mechanical bond of ceramic and aluminum that makes the surface more resistant to extreme heat and better endures the wear and tear of flight operations. The Thermion covers landing spot nine on the flight deck, a small area used for vertical landings.

“The Thermion shows no signs of heat stress, which is good for the F-35, and eventually good for all surface ships,” said Kalnajs.
During the testing period the WASP and JSF team demonstrated the F-35B’s at-sea capabilities for the Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Ray Mabus; Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James Amos; senior military officers; and JSF international partners as well as members of the national media.

The testing for the F-35 and its sea-based operations will continue over the next several years.

“It is imperative that we build off that basic knowledge for the next sea trials,” said Curcio.

The next sea trial, DT-2, is scheduled for 2013 after Wasp receives additional modifications for F-35B operations.

The F-35B is one of three Joint Strike Fighter variants. The ‘B’ was designed for use by the U.S. Marine Corps and is capable of short take-offs and vertical landings for use on amphibious ships or expeditionary airfields to provide air power to the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. The F-35B will replace the AV-8B Harrier, and will continue test and evaluation at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., prior to delivery to the fleet.

PEO(JSF) Public Affairs

A couple of points.

The testing is a wrap and no matter what lies Winslow Wheeler comes up with, its been successful.

Lastly, Mabus is onboard the JSF program, Penetta is onboard the program, Senators that matter are onboard as are House members.

The Anti-JSF insurgency has been crushed. 

Its forces routed.

Its leaders forced to admit failure.

I LUV IT!

Ok. Its time to take a serious look at this 300BLK

To be honest, I've been hearing all the raving about the 300BLK but I cast it in the same pile as the 6.8 and 6.5...wildcat rounds that wouldn't see the light of day and rounds I couldn't be bothered with.

Then we have the additional factor of me being suspicious of the firearm manufacturers.  They will push products that have no advantage over whats already out there and are simply trying to push sales.

Want proof?  DI AR-15's vs. Gas.  A false choice in my opinion.  If I wanted a full size battle rifle I certainly wouldn't be picking up an M4 clone and then bastardize it further by adding every dangle I could off it until it weighed as much as an M-14.

But I digress.

What has me about to take a serious look at the 300BLK is an article from Elements of Power by my boy SMSgt Mac.  He got on the bandwagon so I said to myself hmmmmm....

Then we have an article by Military Times GearScout that says some ole' boy from the US Army Marksmanship team actually won with the damn thing.

Yep, its time to go to the local gun store and take one out for a test drive...Google the hell outta of it and see if its time to add to my armory.

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.