You have got to be shitting me! USS Giffords?

via CDR Salamander.

I'll let him tell the tale.

Don't blog angry!" Well, again, I am ignoring my own advice. Here we go. I will want to reword this in an hour, but I won't. Want unfiltered Sal? Well, here you go.

What confidence I once had in the SECNAV gone, broken, unable to be supported. I was a fool to give him the benefit of the doubt. This is the last straw.

Small things do matter - as they often support much larger and critical things.

Ship names mean nothing anymore. The vacuousness, vapidity, and morally rudderless nature of our present leadership is out there clear as day for all to see. I don't even think they know it.

Naming a ship after that bucket of goo MURTHA was bad enough.

Rep. Giffords (D-AZ) was/is a fine public servant and her husband is a Navy astronaut. She was shot in the head by an insane person. None of the above rate having a Navy ship named after you. Announced on a Friday afternoon - I think even the Navy is ashamed of this classic case of immature pandering to the Overclass.

First off I know that Giffords is a crime victim.

I know she served her country in her own way.

But this break from tradition is disgusting.

This is a terrible precedent.  The Democrats are doing the same thing that all political parties do when they sense power slipping away.  They over reach and start doing feel good things.  You saw it in the run up to the election that brought Obama to power.  The Republicans starting doing silly things.  The Dems are doing it now.

November can't get here soon enough.

Cobra Gold already in the assault phase.

HAT YAO, Kingdom of Thailand-Republic of Korea Marines rush from an amphibious assault vehicle during an assault on a beach during exercise Cobra Gold 2012 here, Feb. 10. The U.S. Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Royal Thai and Republic of Korea Marines conducted the multilateral assault to further strengthen the interoperability among the nations. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Jonathan G. Wright, 2/9/2012 7:00 PM

AT YAO, Kingdom of Thailand-A U.S. Marine with Company B., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, provides security alongside Republic of Korea Marines during exercise Cobra Gold 2012 here, Feb. 10. The U.S. Marines of the 31st MEU, Royal Thai and Republic of Korea Marines conducted the multilateral assault to further strengthen the interoperability among the nations. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Jonathan G. Wright, 2/10/2012 7:34 AM

AT YAO, Kingdom of Thailand-U. S. Marines from Company B., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, alongside Royal Thai Marines engage a simulated enemy during the amphibious assault portion of exercise Cobra Gold 2012 here, Feb. 10. The U.S. Marines of the 31st MEU, Royal Thai and Republic of Korea Marines conducted the multilateral assault to further strengthen the interoperability among the nations. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Jonathan G. Wright, 2/9/2012 7:00 PM

AT YAO, Kingdom of Thailand -Royal Thai Marines exit an amphibious assault vehicle and begin securing the beach here, Feb. 10. The Royal Thai Marines were conducting a multilateral amphibious assault with U.S. and Republic of Korea Marines during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. CG 2012 demonstrates the resolve of the U.S. and participating nations to increase interoperability and promote security and peace throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the U.S.’s expeditionary force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 2/10/2012 6:31 AM

AT YAO, Kingdom of Thailand -Royal Thai Marines push forward as CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262, 1st Marine Air Wing, fly overhead during an amphibious assault here, Feb. 10. The multilateral assault included Royal Thai, Republic of Korea and U.S. Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and was conducted during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. CG 2012 demonstrates the resolve of the U.S. and participating nations to increase interoperability and promote security and peace throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the U.S.’s expeditionary force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 2/10/2012 6:33 AM

AT YAO, Kingdom of Thailand -Marines with Company B, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, exit an amphibious assault vehicle and begin to secure the beach here, Feb. 10. The assault was a multilateral exercise that included Royal Thai, Republic of Korea and U.S. Marines, and was conducted during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. CG 2012 demonstrates the resolve of the U.S. and participating nations to increase interoperability and promote security and peace throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the U.S.’s expeditionary force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 2/10/2012 6:34 AM

AT YAO, Kingdom of Thailand -A Marine with Company B, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, provides security during an amphibious assault here, Feb. 10. The assault was a multilateral exercise that included Royal Thai, Republic of Korea and U.S. Marines, and was conducted during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. CG 2012 demonstrates the resolve of the U.S. and participating nations to increase interoperability and promote security and peace throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the U.S.’s expeditionary force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 2/10/2012 6:35 AM

Cobra Gold 2012

L-Cat aboard the USS Wasp.

120207-N-YF306-107 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Feb. 7, 2012) A French landing catamaran (L-CAT) assigned to the French amphibious assault ship FS Mistral (L9013) prepares to pull into the well deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) during Exercise Bold Alligator. Bold Alligator, the largest naval amphibious exercise in the past 10 years, represents the Navy and Marine Corps' revitalization of the full range of amphibious operations. The exercise focuses on today's fight with today's forces, while showcasing the advantages of seabasing. This exercise will take place Jan. 30 through Feb. 12, 2012 afloat and ashore in and around Virginia and North Carolina. #BA12 (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aaron Chase/Released)

120207-N-YF306-094 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Feb. 7, 2012) A French landing catamaran (L-CAT) assigned to the French amphibious assault ship FS Mistral (L9013) prepares to pull into the well deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) during Exercise Bold Alligator. Bold Alligator, the largest naval amphibious exercise in the past 10 years, represents the Navy and Marine Corps' revitalization of the full range of amphibious operations. The exercise focuses on today's fight with today's forces, while showcasing the advantages of seabasing. This exercise will take place Jan. 30 through Feb. 12, 2012 afloat and ashore in and around Virginia and North Carolina. #BA12 (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aaron Chase/Released)

120207-N-YF306-360 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Feb. 7, 2012) Sailors from the deck department of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) supervise the well deck as a French landing catamaran (L-CAT) enters as part of Exercise Bold Alligator. Bold Alligator, the largest naval amphibious exercise in the past 10 years, represents the Navy and Marine Corps' revitalization of the full range of amphibious operations. The exercise focuses on today's fight with today's forces, while showcasing the advantages of seabasing. This exercise will take place Jan. 30 through Feb. 12, 2012 afloat and ashore in and around Virginia and North Carolina. #BA12 (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aaron Chase/Released)

Riverines. Still don't know.

A vid covering the Riverines during Bold Alligator.

I still don't understand the mission set.  They train with allied Marines in raid type operations but claim to be distinct and have a different mission set from US Marines.

I don't get it.

What do these guys do?  It would appear to be a mix of Marine Corps boat company ops in the context of raids, a bit of Harbor Security from the Master at Arms and a dose of SWCCs in the way that they outfit there boats.

Bleeding hearts will go crazy but its no big deal.

Joe sent me this article and I have to say my first reaction was "Oh shit here we go again"...but its really no big deal.  Not if you kick back and relax a bit and don't go solid stupid.

Oh and SS in Marine talk stands for Scout Sniper.  Many will disagree but this is really no big deal.  via Yahoo.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Marine Corps on Thursday once again did damage control after a photograph surfaced of a sniper team in Afghanistan posing in front of a flag with a logo resembling that of the notorious Nazi SS — a special unit that murdered millions of Jews, gypsies and others.

The Corps said in a statement that using the symbol was not acceptable.

However, it was a naive mistake made by Marines who believed the SS symbol was meant to represent sniper scouts and never intended to associate themselves with a racist organization, said Maj. Gabrielle Chapin, a spokeswoman at Camp Pendleton.

The Marines in the image will not be disciplined because investigators determined there was no malicious intent, Chapin said.

Thank goodness the Marine Corps thought so too.

Army SF has an in-house sea base. They just don't know it!

The US Army has Logistic Support Vessels in house that can be used to provide a "rebirth" of the Army's amphibious operations or to provide a platform for US Army Special Forces and Rangers.

I prefer the latter.

This from Naval Technology pretty much sums up my idea.

LSV - HELICOPTER CAPABLE
The LSV-helicopter capable variant in service with the Philippine Navy provides concealed transport, deployment and retrieval of both helicopters and patrol boats.
Attack helicopters are concealed below a modular flight deck while patrol boats and intercept craft are behind the stern ramp. The configuration presents the appearance of a logistic supply ship without the obvious display of force.

Wow.

Another lesson learned from our friends.  It would be a tremendous asset for the Special Forces and Rangers.  And it can be done today.

As far as revitalizing US Army amphibious ops, check this out from a Defense Tech story on this ships...

...as far as the platform goes, an LSV–with its slow speed, tiny draft, mid-sized crew (a core of about 30) and long legs (5,000 miles) would be a perfect “presence” tool for Africa and the Pacific Islands. Capable of carrying the equivalent of 28 Abrams M1A tanks, the LSV can bring a lot of stuff to a lot of places.

28 Abrams ashore in one lift?

That's approaching the old LST in lift capability.  No.  That is matching the old Newport class LST in capability.

The Army and Navy signed an agreement to transfer ships...I don't recall if these were included or if it was just the JHSV's, but if they were then the Army should seek to reverse that decision and possibly base a few of these in Guam or Japan or even Hawaii.

The future is in the Pacific or in operations off Africa stretching into the Middle East.  Either way, Soldier would be well served by keeping these ships in Army hands.

CLB-26 at Bold Alligator.

A landing support Marine with Combat Logistics Battalion 26, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group watches as a French armored vehicle makes landfall, Feb. 6, 2012, during exercise Bold Alligator 2012 aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. Bold Alligator is a multinational amphibious exercise designed to test the Marine Corps’ readiness by executing a beach assault. Landing support Marines are responsible for accounting for all gear and personnel on ground and orienting troops toward the fight.

French armored vehicles drive on the shores of Onslow Beach, Feb. 6, 2012, during exercise Bold Alligator 2012 aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. Bold Alligator is a multinational amphibious exercise designed to test the Marine Corps’ readiness by executing a beach assault. Landing support Marines are responsible for accounting for all gear and personnel on ground and orienting troops toward the fight.

A landing support Marine with Combat Logistics Battalion 26, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group runs to meet an armored assault vehicle after it makes landfall, Feb. 6, 2012, during exercise Bold Alligator 2012 aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. Bold Alligator is a multinational amphibious exercise designed to test the Marine Corps’ readiness by executing a beach assault. Landing support Marines are responsible for accounting for all gear and personnel on ground and orienting troops toward the fight.

A landing support Marine with Combat Logistics Battalion 26, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group talks to an armored assault vehicle passenger, Feb. 6, 2012, to get an accurate count of vehicles and passengers during exercise Bold Alligator 2012 aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. Bold Alligator is a multinational amphibious exercise designed to test the Marine Corps’ readiness by executing a beach assault. Landing support Marines are responsible for accounting for all gear and personnel on ground and orienting troops toward the fight.

A landing support Marine with Combat Logistics Battalion 26, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group talks to an armored assault vehicle passenger, Feb. 6, 2012, to get an accurate count of vehicles and passengers during exercise Bold Alligator 2012 aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. Bold Alligator is a multinational amphibious exercise designed to test the Marine Corps’ readiness by executing a beach assault. Landing support Marines are responsible for accounting for all gear and personnel on ground and orienting troops toward the fight.

SEAL Blowback part two.

Thanks to my bud USS Helm for sending me this link.  This is getting good!   When you have a retired Special Ops General tell an active duty Special Ops Admiral that he's in the media too much then you're seeing a real culture clash.  Something tells me that it isn't necessarily between generations of Special Ops warriors either...this feels more like a clash between SEALs and the rest of the Special Ops community.  Buckle up tight guys!  Even if it never makes it to the public, I'd bet body parts that I highly cherish, that this thing is coming to a head.  And if I were a betting man then I'd have to say that it will be the US Army Special Forces that leads the charge to get the SEALs to shut the fuck up!

via Yahoo.  Go there to read the whole thing but the good bits are below.

Since the time when your wonderful team went and drug bin Laden out and got rid of him, and more recently when you went down and rescued the group in Somalia, or wherever the hell they were, they've been splashing all of this all over the media," Vaught, 85, said. "I flat don't understand that.

"Now back when my special operators extracted Saddam [Hussein] from the hole, we didn't say one damn word about it," he continued. "We turned him over to the local commander and told him to claim that his forces drug him out of the hole, and he did so. And we just faded away and kept our mouth shut.

"Now I'm going to tell you, one of these days, if you keep publishing how you do this, the other guy's going to be there ready for you, and you're going to fly in and he's going to shoot down every damn helicopter and kill every one of your SEALs. Now, watch it happen. Mark my words. Get the hell out of the media," he concluded, as laughter broke out at a meeting of the National Defense Industrial Association in Washington, D.C.

Wow.

I said the exact same thing a couple of days ago. 

Oh and to the media that broke out in laughter.

FUCK YOU!

New Amphibious Truck from Gibbs might have military applications.

via Gizmag

I don't know who this vehicle is marketed to but it would appear to have some military and first responder applications.

I'd love to take one for a spin!