Arctic Marines. An opportunity for the Marine Corps.

I saw this story on Jalopnik.  Go there to read it...

But the issue that stands out to me is the lack of dedicated US ground forces to this region.  The Russians have arctic troopers.  The Canadians have regular forces that train extremely hard in arctic conditions Canadians have there Rangers...but the US only has the Coast Guard.

While other nations are dedicated their navies and ground forces to this soon to be vital region, we have done nothing.

The US Marines already have a world class mountain and cold weather training facility in Bridgeport.  Maybe its time to leverage the winter package and create a SPMAGTF-Arctic and co-locate them at Ft. Wainwright to deal with this opportunity.  The summer packages served us well for the mountains of Afghanistan so lets do it for this future battlefield.

Heavy armor in amphibious raid...an unknown UK capability.

A Challenger 2 Tank storms ashore from a Royal Marine Landig Craft during an amphibious capability demonstration in Hampshire.

Members from the 1st Mechanized Brigade were involved in the Maritime Component Power Demo held at Browndown Beach, Gosport on the 28th October 2010. The event took place in October 2010 for the ISCC (Immediate Staff Command Course) which involves Royal Marines coming a shore along with members from the Royal Welsh Regiment.  NOTE: The captions for the following pictures is the same.

 

Remember this raid that the Royal Marines carried out in 2011?

The commandos carried out a dramatic amphibious landing using Viking armoured vehicles launched from landing craft, according to the Daily Mail.

Heavily-armed personnel from 539 Assault Squadron pushed deep inland through the lawless zone to seize the influential clan chief.

He was taken off for talks with MI6 and Foreign Offfice officials aboard a Royal Navy support ship ancored off the coast, centring on issues such as terrror training camps and the seizing of hostages.

The raid in July was the first time British forces have conducted a military operation in the troubled area in 40 years, according to the Mail.

Special Forces have been focusing on the region amid a rise in ships seized offshore by pirates for ransom, the kidnap of citizens from Western countries, and the threat of the Al Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab terror group.

Well I personally always wondered why the British never deployed any heavy armor from their amphibious ships.  Little did I know.  They have the capability.  Its organic to the British Army and as the USMC has demonstrated, even a Tank Platoon retains shock action...especially in a mechanized raid scenario.

If the British Army is looking for work in the post Iraq/Afghanistan world, it might be to send detachments out with the Royal Marines!

NavAir year in review.

Busy day for F-35 news...now this from the 2nd Marine Air Wing...

Check out this blurb from the 2nd MAW....

2ND MAW TO REVOLUTIONIZE MARINE AVIATION WITH F-35B
By Lance Cpl. Andrea Dickerson
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - In keeping with its highest traditions, Marine Corps aviation has been and will continue to expand throughout the next year.
In order to continue to be the nation’s expeditionary force in readiness, the Marine Corps has introduced the F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter as the newest aircraft intended to hit the fleet, and contribute to the expansion of the Corps’ arsenal of aircraft.
The single engine, single seat, short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft will replace older F/A-18 Hornets, AV-8B Harriers and EA-6B Prowlers, allowing close air support in hazardous conditions and locations that more traditional aircraft would not be able to access. The new aircraft will also be used to assist the Marine Air-Ground Task Force.
To provide close air support, the F-35B can operate from amphibious warships. In October, the Corps’ test fighter BF-2 performed the first successful at-sea vertical landing when it landed on the flight deck of the USS Wasp as part of initial ship trials of the aircraft.
“The first at-sea vertical landing is a huge milestone,” said Roger Cordell, military site director for F-35 test and evaluation at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md.
The F-35B has performed more than 250 vertical landings this year, 72 of which happened aboard the USS Wasp.
“The Marine Corps has to be ready to fight across the spectrum of war; a force that is most ready when the nation is least ready,” said Maj. Gen. John M. Davis, commanding general of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. “The F-35B gives us the capability to do just that.”
Second MAW is expected to receive its first F-35B in early January at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., where the Marine Corps stood up Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 501. The Warlords are the Marine Corps’ first Joint Strike Fighter squadron.
“The arrival of the F-35B at the Marine Corps’ first F-35 squadron, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, is truly a monumental event for the Corps and our nation,” said Davis.

So.


VMFAT-501 just got its first airplane.  Training IS going ahead as scheduled!

Timerplake knocked them "the fuck out"!

I'm trying to step away from the F-35 drama.  Not worth the special olympics fight in my opinion.  But wouldn't you know it!  The minute I try and readjust, we have the big boys of the blogging community throwing away the niceties and getting busy.  I love it...Check this out from SLD and go there for the whole thing...

In a recent personal attack on Dr. Carafano of the Heritage Foundation, Thomas Christie, Pierre Sprey, Chuck Spinney and Winslow Wheeler wander out of the Platonic cave to argue once again against new aircraft.

Oh and it just gets better from there.  Like I said, read the whole thing and grab some popcorn cause I think this is just the opening shots! 

BF-7 in VMFAT-501(School House) Markings...yeah even more F-35 porn.

Much has been said about when the USAF will begin training on the F-35.  The Marine Corps has been silent.  BF-7 took its first flight in school house markings and there is a full complement of Marines waiting to begin work on the plane.  Something tells me that at least for the Marines, its full speed ahead on the training schedule.  Another thing to consider is that the Royal Navy is anxious to begin training too.  Maybe (remember I am saying maybe) we're seeing a foreign boost to the program from our UK allies?

Yugoslovia's secret space program.

IF this is true then holy shit batman!

What is the CNO thinking????

Wow.  This story from National Defense blew me away....

“It’s not a big naval buildup in the Far East,” Greenert said at an Jan. 10 forum hosted by the Center For New American Security, in Washington, D.C. “We’re there. We have been there. We’ll continue to be there.”

Greenert’s assessment is that the Navy as currently deployed could handle China as it flexes its muscles. Budget cuts and the new strategic guidance document rolled out by the Obama administration “won’t affect operations in Southeast Asia,” Greenert said.

Amazing.

This guy has a Navy that keep its ships repaired.

Has an Amphibious Ready Group that is setting records for its deployment length.

Has an LCS that is half baked and not quite ready for prime time (mainly looking at you Austal).

Has an issue with whether or not it needs 11 carriers...

And this guy takes the opportunity to possibly get greater funding for his service and chucks it?

Words cannot express.