Supporting SOCOM, not the USN/USMC team.

via SLD.

On 24 January 2012, the Military Sealift Command posted a bid request to retrofit the USS Ponce to make it a “mothership” for helos and smaller high-speed boats.  By mid-April 2012, the Ponce was being prepared for its new role.
If anything was needed to demonstrate the ability of the MSC to contract effectively and to support the USN-USMC team’s global mission, this performance certainly was it. The mother ship will perform a “lilypad” role for the MH-53 helicopters in a mine-clearance role, as well as for other assets.
In a comprehensive interview with Second Line of Defense on April 13, 2012, Rear Admiral Mark Buzby, Commander of the MSC, underscored the performance of MSC to meet the USN-USMC needs. The full interview will be published soon on Second Line of Defense.
Admiral Harvey, Commander Fleet Forces Command, asked Admiral Buzby: “Can your mariners operate the Ponce as an afloat operating base?”
And Admiral Buzby commented: “Although we don’t have a forward operating base in MSC, operating a steam ship which has a flight deck, which has a well deck we can operate that.  And under the authorities which I have in MSC, I can refurbish the ship as well.  I can do that very quickly for you.  I can give you high value for the dollar.  I can deliver that capability quickly. And my mariners along with USN personnel can execute the mission.  I can probably give you that capability faster than anyone else.

Besides the usual bravado that accompanies any interview given by a Flag Officer these days, the article is wrong on another level.

This entire effort isn't to support USN/USMC operations.

This effort is to support SOCOM.

SOCOM alone.

As usual, the Admiral in charge of SOCOM spouts off a bit much (something thats seen throughout the SEAL community...check out Webb's new book...) and somehow he has in essence captured for his services use a retired LPD and seems to be getting ready to rope in a couple of MH-53's to boot.

Left unsaid is the fact that the USN is already rushing mine sweeping assets to the Middle East.  Which means that the cover story about this ship acting as a mine sweeping base is pure bull shit.

Its going to be a SOCOM mothership.

The MH-53's will be used to establish Forward Rearming and Refueling Points.  The SOCOM Admiral is even putting forth a battle plan that would keep conventional units in Afghanistan to SUPPORT SOCOM while his units attack terrorist holdouts.

Let that sink in.

A Division plus of Special Operations Personnel still need the support of conventional units.

The arrogance makes me sick!

Cut these bubbas loose and let them operate on their own.  That includes the "Maritime Raid Force"....a Battalion Landing Team is part of every MEU.  If all they're good for is holding the perimeter while the "Raid Force" does its thing then let them spend time with the family instead of deploying.

Its all BULLSHIT.

Reconnaissance Marines perform craft operations

Photos by Sgt. Elyssa Quesada

Reconnaissance Marines with Battalion Landing Team 3/1 move an inflatable boat aboard USS Makin Island here April 4. The team serves as the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Reconnaissance Marine Capt. Brendan Mahoney checks a piece of equipment aboard USS Makin Island before conducting a shoreline reconnaissance here April 4. Mahoney serves as a platoon commander with Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Reconnaissance Marines with Battalion Landing Team 3/1 mount inflatable boats aboard USS Makin Island before conducting a shoreline reconnaissance here April 4. The team serves as the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Reconnaissance Marines with Battalion Landing Team 3/1 push off USS Makin Island's stern gate in inflatable boats before conducting a shoreline reconnaissance here April 4. The team serves as the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Reconnaissance Marines with Battalion Landing Team 3/1 float away in an inflatable boat from USS Makin Island's stern gate to conduct shoreline reconnaissance here April 4. The team serves as the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Reconnaissance Marines with Battalion Landing Team 3/1 float away in an inflatable boat from USS Makin Island's stern gate to conduct shoreline reconnaissance here April 4. The team serves as the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Reconnaissance Marines with Battalion Landing Team 3/1 prepare inflatable boats aboard USS Makin Island here April 4 before conducting shoreline reconnaissance. The team serves as the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Reconnaissance Marine Sgt. Tommy Gill prepares equipment aboard USS Makin Island here April 4 before conducting shoreline reconnaissance. Gill serves as a team leader with Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Reconnaissance Marine Capt. Brendan Mahoney briefs his Marines aboard USS Makin Island before conducting a shoreline reconnaissance here April 4. Mahoney serves as a platoon commander with Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Are we witnessing Afghanistan's Tet Offensive?

via SkyNews.

There has been a series of attacks across the Afghan capital Kabul, with insurgents targeting Western embassies and the parliament building.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the co-ordinated strikes - adding that a group of armed suicide bombers had launched attacks on Nato's headquarters, the parliament and a number of diplomatic residences.
"These attacks are the beginning of the spring offensive and we had planned them for months," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid was quoted as saying.
Several explosions rocked the US, British and German embassies and a Nato military base.
One report said a rocket-propelled grenade had hit the residence of the British diplomat in Kabul.
The Foreign Office confirmed in a statement: "There is an ongoing incident in the diplomatic area of Kabul. We are in close contact with embassy staff."
A spokesman for the US embassy said it was in lockdown, but staff there were safe.
A US defence official, who did not want to be named, said the attackers were using mostly small arms and rocket-propelled grenades, and "perhaps even suicide bombers".
Afghan security forces, who are responsible for the safety of the capital, have been scrambling to reinforce areas around the diplomatic enclave of the city centre.

Read the whole thing but I wonder...

A series of coordinated attacks all across the city?

Announcements from both NATO and the Afghan government that the Afghans are ready to take control of their own security?

Years of warfare and the American public finally saying enough is enough?

If you're a student of American Military History this is really looking similar to stuff seen in the history books....as a matter of fact all we're missing is attacks in the countryside to tie this all together.

Historians will one day mark the end of this war as beginning when we went from a pure anti-terrorist mindset and shuffled ourselves into a nation building project.

And that's the shame of this whole thing.

I bleed red, white and blue but common sense tells me that this is now a civil war.  Only that nations people can decide who the winner or loser is.  Only they can decide if women are going to be given equal rights.

All we're doing now is wasting time, money and lives.

Its time to go. 

Sidenote:  If you don't think that this was beyond coordinated then check out this story.  384 prisoners were freed from a Pakistani prison after a 4 hour gunbattle in which ---- wait for it-----4 guards were "injured"----after a 4 hour gunbattle i'm expecting to see at least a few bodies on the floor, but not in this case.  This is another example of an inside job in my opinion.  This war is over.  We didn't lose it.  The diplomats/State Dept/NGO's lost it.

The UK debate: Which one, Harrier or Tornado?

The debate between the Harrier and Tornado....and which one would have proved more useful to the UK nation still rages.

You might ask why....it would be a good question and the answer is credibility.  Senior Military Leadership along with a willing aviation media went along with the lie that the Tornado was more effective.  We all know that to NOT be the case.

Your next question is why continue the debate since the UK sold its Harriers to the US.  The answer again is that since Senior Military Leadership and the aviation media both participated in the lie that the Tornado was more effective, its important to take a good look at the issue with an eye toward future procurement.

Unfortunately service politics, media muscle flexing and a few deranged individuals all have conspired to weaken UK's defense posture.

Arrogance run amok is a site to behold.

Fortunately, Grand Logistics cuts thru the noise and gives nothing but the "facts" in his latest blog piece.  Check him out here.

Awesome. Finally some balanced reporting on the F-35.

via The Dew Line.

Lockheed Martin is being awarded a $258.8 million not-to-exceed undefinitized modification to the previously awarded low rate production contract for the F-35.

The contract modification to the fifth production lot adds one additional F-35A conventional take-off and landing aircraft for the US Air Force, and one additional F-35C carrier variant aircraft for the US Navy.  According to a US Department of Defense release the modification includes undefinitized line items, which will be definitized as fixed-price-incentive-firm.

The low rate initial production (LRIP) V contract has fluctuated before. Back in October 2011, the Department of Defense reduced the LRIP V procurement amount by five aircraft. That cut some combination of F-35As and F-35Cs but preserved three orders for the F-35B.

That meant the LRIP V order droped from 35 to 30 aircraft.

Lockheed offers an explanation.

"The president's budget calls funding for up to 32 jets in LRIP 5. The UCA signed in December was for only 30 jets," says company  spokeswoman Laurie Quincy. "This action today funds two additional jets equaling the President's budget proposal. We look forward to continuing to work with our government customer to finalize details for a LRIP contract."

Wow.

Finally a main stream media news source reports on the F-35 without the negative spin that oozes out of every report from the usual suspects like Aviation Week.

I don't know this Dave guy that's writing over at the Dew Line now but he is a breath of fresh air.  

NOW.  If he reports a setback in the program I'll take it seriously...meaning.  I won't automatically dismiss it as being part of an agenda to either...

1.  Save European manufacturing.
2.  Save the RAF from the Royal Navy (as if they need saving...really the same applies to number one).
3.  Save Air Forces from Naval Aviation (an extension of number two but it covers air forces around the world in relation to their naval forces)
4.  Part of a loose net cabal/conspiracy of writers to just bash the F-35 every chance they get.
or...
5.  All of the above.

Its refreshing.

Oh and check out your usual news sources to see if they pick up this story.  I can tell you that they haven't...Bob Cox at Ft. Worth Star hasn't....Aviation Week or Ares Blog hasn't....the follower up in Canada hasn't....the prick in up state New York hasn't....

Nope, the merry band of F-35 bashers with an Australian bent (no I haven't forgotten about you assholes at APA) choose to ignore this story.

But we have at least one main stream writer bucking the trend.  That's at least a little good news.

RSAF gets its AEW airplane.

via AsiaOne.

Singapore gets new early-warning aircraft as four Gulfstream jets went operational on Friday in a ceremony at Tengah Air Base, officiated by Minister of Defence Ng Eng Hen.
With a detection range of more than 200 nautical miles, the Gulfstream 550 Airborne Early Warning (G550-AEW) aircraft allows the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) to see farther, and respond more effectively to aerial threats in various operational situations.
The four Gulfstream 550s are the same business jets used by the rich. They were converted for military use and replace the RSAF's E-2C AEW Hawkeye that had served the Air Force for more than 20 years.
The G550-AEW is one of the most sophisticated airborne early-warning (AEW) platforms in the world today. AEW eliminates risks of surprise from the air as they provide persistent and all-weather ability to detect, identify and track aerial threats.
The jet is equipped with a sophisticated mission suite that includes an active electronically scanned array radar to detect, identify and track aerial targets.
It has a modern 'glass' cockpit that comprises four 14-inch multifunction LCD screens and a state-of-the-art avionics suite which includes a weather radar to warn the pilots of any adverse weather that potentially affects the aircraft's flight path.
For self protection, the G550-AEW is equipped with a radar warning receiver, a missile warning system, and a chaff and flare dispensing system.
Since the arrival of the first G550-AEW aircraft in Feb 2009, pilots, air warfare officers and maintenance crew of 111 Squadron have undergone intensive training to operate and maintain the aircraft, as well as to integrate the aircraft to support the Singapore Armed Forces' round-the-clock operations.
During this period, the squadron also participated in major exercises such as Exercise Cope Tiger and Exercise Bersama Lima.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Ng described the AEW platforms as "critical for a small country like Singapore".
"They eliminate risks of surprise from the air as they provide us a critical edge with persistent and all-weather ability to detect, identify and track aerial threats the whole year round."

Interesting on a couple of levels.

I guess the first is that Sinapore maintains its lead in the Pacific as far as fielding one of the most technologically advanced forces in the region.

Second is the comparison of this airplane, not to the E-3 but rather to the E-2.  It flies higher and stays in the air longer.

And the last is the competition between the G550 and the 737 is becoming a bit more interesting.  I can't compare the electronics but its 737 two three (Korea and Australia+ Turkey....thanks Aussie Digger!) and the G550 two (Isreal and Singapore)...this race should be good.

Is the Battalion Landing Team dead?

via UPI.

The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Pendleton will be training along the central California coast April 15-21 in preparation for deployment to the Western Pacific and Middle East later this year.
The 15th MEU will send its Maritime Raid Force and some of its aviation units to a Navy base in Ventura County where they will practice assaults on offshore platforms near Carpenteria. The exercises will also include "urban flying and navigation" by helicopter crews that could produce some noticeable aircraft noise.
The Marines said in a written statement they were taking steps to minimize any inconvenience to the folks in Ventura County but noted the exercises were critical to their upcoming deployment.
"This realistic training allows the MEU to operate as a complete Marine Air Ground Task Force in an urban environment," said Col. Scott Campbell, the unit's commanding officer. "The importance of an exercise such as this cannot be understated; our future success depends greatly upon the amount of practice repetitions we have during training exercises like this one."

This is a disturbing question for me, but one which must be asked.

SOCOM is taking on more and more missions...even missions that were traditionally done by conventional forces.

But now.

The premier unit in the Marines.  The most visible and forward deployed.  The MEU is sweeping aside its BLT and focusing on its Raid Force.

This doesn't sit well with me but its obvious...just read the article.

My real question then becomes....

Why send a BLT out on these pumps if they're just tasked to play backup for the raid force.  We can chop the BLT down to company size and let them play nurse maid to the raid force.  If all they need are perimeter guards then recruits from Boot Camp can fill that role.

The Marine Corps has been bitten with the Special Ops bug and its destroying its own infantry in order to support SOCOM.

This is a sad day.

A MEU should consist of the Raid Force, a company of Infantry and Aviation.  The rest of the MEU can go home.  Chesty must be punching walls.