Quietly the USMC got its full allotment of LPD-17 class ships.

via UTSanDiego.

Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems division in San Diego has been awarded $55 million to help provide advanced electronics for LPD 27, a planned San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock warship. The 684-foot vessels are designed to carry and land Marines, as well as amphibious assault vehicles. They are among the toughest troop carriers ever built.

The Defense Department says Raytheon will work on the ship's control, navigation and communications systems, and search sensors. Much of the work involves integrating the complex systems carried aboard such vessels.

Two of these ships -- the New Orleans and Green Bay -- are home-ported in San Diego. And the newly built San Diego is scheduled to operate out of San Diego Bay.

Long lead items are already being awarded for the LPD-27.  On the down low the USMC got its full allotment of these ships.

Interesting.

With the capability that we've seen for these ships to operate MANY more helicopters than the ships that they're replacing (they're almost a mini-LHD) I'm finally understanding why there wasn't a bigger roar from HQMC when it came to the Navy reducing the number of amphibs.

If these ships can be made to operate reliably then the Secretary of the Navy's view that a smaller Navy doesn't mean a less capable one will be borne out....at least in the Gator Navy that is.

Chart via Wikipedia.

Ships of the class

Name	Number		Launched		Home port	Status
San Antonio	LPD-17		12 July 2003		Norfolk, Virginia	Active
New Orleans	LPD-18		11 December 2004		San Diego, California	Active
Mesa Verde	LPD-19		19 November 2004		Norfolk, Virginia	Active
Green Bay	LPD-20		11 August 2006		San Diego, California	Active
New York	LPD-21		19 December 2007		Norfolk, Virginia	Active
San Diego	LPD-22		7 May 2010			Under construction
Anchorage	LPD-23		12 February 2011			Under construction
Arlington	LPD-24		23 November 2010			Under construction
Somerset	LPD-25					Under construction
John P. Murtha	LPD-26					Under construction[7]
	LPD-27					Materials being purchased[8]

The best snipers in the world...US Marine Scout Snipers

A Marine Scout Sniper conceals himself as he sites in on his target aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., during the Scout Sniper Training Course. Sniper students must successfully complete three phases of training: marksmanship and basic field craft; unknown distance and stalking; and advanced field skills and mission employment before obtaining the 0317 military occupational specialty.
PHOTOGRAPHER: Lance Cpl. Cody A. Fodale

HMLA-167 trains with reconnaissance Marines

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, Force Reconnaissance Company, 3rd Platoon Marines prepare to SPIE rig from the HMLA-167 UH-1Y Huey helicopter, Feb. 14.
, Lance Cpl. Manuel A. Estrada, 2/14/2012 11:23

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, Force Reconnaissance Company, 3rd Platoon Marines, fast rope out of a Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 UH-1Y Huey helicopter, Feb. 14.
, Lance Cpl. Manuel A. Estrada, 2/14/2012 9:59

ARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 Marines observe 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, Force Reconnaissance Company, 3rd Platoon Marines, fast rope out of a UH-1Y Huey helicopter, Feb. 14.
, Lance Cpl. Manuel A. Estrada, 2/14/2012 9:34

F-35B External Stores Flight Test

I can't wait for this to come out.

Turkish Defense Products Guide.

Product Guide 2009

The Turks have put together a very interesting military program.  Not only are they assembling what will soon be the most powerful military in Europe, but they're also putting together a very robust defense industry.

I would list the following countries as bearing watching when it comes to defense matters in Europe...

1.  Romania.  They're not hardly rich but they are extremely innovative and have made some unique defense ties.  They were the first to start training with the Israeli's, have a strong relationship with US forces and are taking steps despite the current financial difficulties to upgrade their military.

2.  Poland.  Again, they also are developing a strong defense industry having recently partnered with Sikorsky and are upping defense spending while others are decreasing outlays.

3.  Georgia.  With a clear and present threat from Russia, this small country is developing a very strong force for its size, established strong relationships with the USMC and has a large cadre of combat experienced troops.

4.  Turkey.  Combat experience due to ongoing warfare with the Kurds, a quickly developing industrial defense sector and the buys of advanced systems from Europe and the US.

SNR's Landing Ship Tank.

An interesting design from Turkey.

While the rest of the world has basically abandoned the large tank landing ship, the Turks have embraced it in a big way and are trying to sell them on the open market.  If nothing else its an interesting take on an old concept.



LST

Camp Lemonier in Djibouti

Interesting stuff on Google Maps as far as Camp Lemonier is concerned.  Go here to see for yourself but I see (at least as far as the map is oriented on my computer screen) on the western side of the airport a spot that has 5 CH-53's, four C-130's and on the opposite side of the airfield I see six F-15's and a couple more C-130's in addition to a couple of P-3's.

The secret war in North Africa is becoming more intense.  Digging for information on what's going on over there, several years ago Africa Command stated publicly that rotations of 200 US Army Special Forces troops were going in and out of this base.

That doesn't include what the French are doing (they have a French Foreign Legion Brigade and a Marine Regiment there) and of course with all of them playing you know the rest of the Special Ops of the world can't be far behind...I wouldn't be surprised to see British, Polish, Romanian, German, Italian...heck the entire western world participating in operations there.

UPDATE:

A couple of readers have spotted French ATL2 MPA's, Transol 160's, and C-27's...that's in addition to the F-15's, C-130's and CH-53's that were pointed out earlier but doesn't account for what's hidden away in the hangars and you can bet body parts that at least a couple of UAVs are present.

THIS IS A MAJOR LEAGUE OPERATION NOW.  THIS IS A BLACK OP THATS ABOUT TO BUST WIDE OPEN.  NEXT WAR ZONE...AFRICA!