Pics from the fall of Ramadi.

Thanks to info-infantrie for the links...

NOTE:  Many more pics here and here.  I just realized that ISIS has a plan for replenishment of weapons, ammo and vehicles.  Wait till the United States does a emergency resupply....then walk in and take the gear from the Iraqi military.

Aaron at Sage Dynamics nails it with regard to my doubts about the G43..

The talk about magazine capacity has been something I've harped on for a long time.  The ability to engage multiple assailants is a major concern in my mind.

But what has me spinning is the size comparison between the G43 and G26.

You really get no advantage with the G43...and you give up capacity.

Sidenote:  I consider myself a gun guy but never knew how to colorfill my mags.  I've seen clowns do it with crayon but there was no way in hell I was doing that to my own weapon....then I found this vid.  Awesome.   But can someone tell me what's better...nail polish, enamel model paint or something else.

Ripsaw EV 2 Ground Vehicle

I wonder how long before a major company buys the design specs on this thing...

SuperAV 8x8 press release.

BAE Systems is teamed with IVECO Defence, which brings additional proven experience having designed and built more than 30,000 multi-purpose, protected, and armored military vehicles in service today. The team’s U.S.-built, non-developmental solution has completed thousands of miles of mobility testing and a full range of amphibious operations, including demonstrations of launch and recovery of the vehicle from amphibious ship test platforms.

“Our solution will provide the Marine Corps with a truly amphibious capability, designed into our solution and backed by our more than 70 years of experience designing and building amphibious vehicles,” said Deepak Bazaz, director of new and amphibious vehicles at BAE Systems. “Our ACV 1.1 proposal offers a mature, cost-effective solution with growth capacity to meet future Marine Corps needs.”

The Marine Corps plans to award up to two initial contracts later this year to deliver 16 engineering, manufacturing, and development prototypes beginning nine months after the contract award.

Training at the SF Underwater Operations School

Everyone wants their "combat" scuba bubble, even though the salvage guys use it to do actual work about a million times more....I am really beginning to wonder about all these "insertion" methods (meaning badges/schools) and whether they're actually worth the squeeze.  On the other hand it is pretty cool.

About that "testing" of the F-35 on the USS Wasp...

I got off to a late start this morning and while going thru my e-mails I came across this note from Bryan...

This is fantastic. Six of these lawn darts on Wasp to do operational testing. Where are the rest of the aircraft that they will share the deck with? 2 x SH-60, 12 x MV-22, 4 x CH-53E, 7 x “skid kids”. Any operational testing is absolutely worthless without all the other aircraft to work around. They need to incorporate this thing into deck cycles and all the moving around involved.
False data is all they are developing in this “test”.

I think he's onto something.  Fact.  The USMC is declaring IOC this summer but the airplane is scheduled to do its first deployment in 2018...another 3 years from now...so ask yourself....why the rush to declare IOC now?

This is nothing but a choreographed publicity stunt to give supporters ammunition and an attempt to silence its critics. 

You can't ignore the obvious with the F-35.

It has destroyed the budget of the USMC, and several of our allies.  Dogged determination to complete a task or take an objective might be applauded...but as in every effort by man, there comes a time when its just better to walk away.

We passed that point with the F-35 years ago.

Sidenote:  American Mercenary has an interesting article up where he's covered the latest "moves" by the USAF, USN and USMC with regard to legacy aircraft.  Long story short?  They're behaving as if the "death spiral" is already here and that far fewer aircraft will be purchased based on the upgrades that are being made.  Read it here.

Marine Rotational Force – Darwin

An open letter to the Iraqi Army from Unprecedented Mediocrity Blog.

via UMB...

I used to feel good that America was so powerful that we could invade and sweep through Iraq twice, but now I realize you were just a whore for a good invasion and capitulation is kind of your thing. I feel so dirty and cheap.

Read it all here. 

6 F-35's head to sea for testing...

via Reuters.

WASHINGTON, May 18 (Reuters) - Six U.S. F-35B fighter jets built by Lockheed Martin Corp landed on the USS Wasp amphibious warship on Monday for two weeks of operational testing required before the Marine Corps can declare a first squadron of 10 F-35s ready for combat use in July, according to a U.S. defense official.
The testing, taking place off the coast of Virginia, will involve the six F-35 B-model jets, the highest number of F-35s ever used on a Navy warship to date, as well as Marine Corps pilots, maintenance personnel, and logistics experts, said the source, who was not authorized to speak publicly.
The tests will check the ability of the stealthy jets to integrate into flight and deck operations on board the ship. They will include operations and weapons loading at day and night, the jets' ability to coordinate digitally with an on-board logistics system call ALIS, and how well the crew can deal with scheduled and unexpected repairs at sea.

I wonder what lies we'll hear from this testing?

Ramadi falls. Our Counter Terrorism concept is failing...

via McClatchey.

The elite Golden Brigade, Iraq’s premier special forces unit, which had withdrawn to the “Stadium” neighborhood south of the city on Friday to await reinforcements and prepare a counterattack had also abandoned its positions and was retreating from the area under heavy attack by Islamic State forces, according to two officers within the unit reached by phone Sunday.
“Ramadi has fallen to Daash (ISIS),” one officer said. “There were many suicide bombers and many soldiers and officers are dead.”

Ramadi has fallen....The Iraqis were given a gift payed for in blood and they proved unworthy of it.

The "elite" Golden Brigade ran instead of standing to fight.

Isn't it obvious that all this feel good nonsense that the Pentagon has bought into isn't working?  Partnerships, Training missions, mastering the human terrain...none of it meets the test when its used in the real world.

Our counter terrorism concept is failing.

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2015/05/17/266937/islamic-state-routs-last-elite.html#storylink=cpy