Straight outta options!

via Corey's FaceBook Page.

Kinda sums things up huh?

One thing though.  I find it interesting that Trump's illegal immigration stance is being used as a talking point.  Our laws are being broken and that's ok?  AMAZING!  He talks about banning Muslim immigrants.  Well what he was actually saying and what the talking heads are ignoring is that he wants strict vetting of people from countries linked to terrorism!  How is that offensive?

They're crying about how free trade is endangered!  We are getting our face stomped in because of free trade and to want to stop the current system is a bad thing?  Fucking seriously?

I didn't leave the Republican party, the party left me!

Royal Air Force at Latvian Independence Day (pics)

Pic via RAF Tumblr Page.

U.S. Naval Update Map via STRATFOR...this is interesting....

STRATFOR offers updates on US Naval maps free and I've latched onto it the way a sinking man grabs a lifeguard.

This week's map is quite interesting.  If I didn't know better (and I don't) it seems like we're seeing a pause in ship deployments.  Is this planned?  Issues with maintenance?  I just don't know.

Brazilian Jungle Training (pics). Why isn't Southern Command all over this?

pics via   Exército Brasileiro Oficial Flickr Page.

Cold weather training hurts.  You're never warm....its often wet....its always miserable.  Jungle training is weird.  At night the jungle moves....even the trees.  Stuff is always crawling and you start seeing some of those creatures they warned you about whether they're actually there or not.

Having said all that I wonder why Southern Command hasn't pushed for a Joint Service Jungle School sponsored by one of our S. American partners.  Brazil would be all over it (I'm betting anyway) as would several others.  Barring that we could always get with the French and use the course they have setup down there.

Considering the changes in Ranger School I'm betting that if Southern Command bit they'd have a line stretching around the block to get in the door.

Flag raising error?

Thanks to Mordechai for the link!

Story here.

My take.  This investigation is insulting.  To reopen this after so much time has passed?  The Marines involved know the truth and history has ruled.  If someone did not step forward to correct the record OR if officials for some reason did not correct the record is not for us to decide.

This is our history and is not to be fucked with by some historian looking to make a name...besides...the names aren't really important.  The symbol is and its ENDURING!

I can't believe HQMC is even entertaining this. 

Russian Airborne Field Manual! Must read!

Thanks to Info Infantry for the link!

Hey folks,

As usual, I ask and my readers provide!  Follow this link to get eyes on the Russian Airborne Field Manual.  As with most manuals, it just lays down markers on how they operate but I'm loving it because it gives insight into Russian elite forces.

I consider it a must read.  Be advised that you'll need Google or Babel Fish translate and its on a message board but don't let that stop you.

Oh and the part that I found fascinating?  Chapter 5 that covers raids!

Upgraded BMP-1 developed in Ukraine via IHS Janes.

Thanks to Jonathan for the link!

via IHS Janes.

Ukrainian industry has developed to the prototype stage a major upgrade package for the Russian BMP-1 tracked infantry fighting vehicle (IFV).


The first prototype vehicle, designated the BMP-1 UM IFV, is being tested in Ukraine.


The extensive modifications include the replacement of the original one-man BMP-1 turret, which was armed with a 73 mm 2A28 smoothbore gun, a 7.62 mm PKT co-axial machine gun (MG), and a KBM 9K11 Malyutka (Sagger) anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW) that was originally mounted on top of the main gun's barrel.


Many operators have removed the original wire-guided ATGW as it is difficult to control, especially in windy conditions.


In the upgrade, the baseline turret has been replaced by the locally dehttp://www.janes.com/article/59935/new-bmp-1-upgrade-developed-in-ukraineveloped Shkval overhead weapon station (OWS), production quantities of which have been developed for installation on a number of platforms including the locally manufactured BTR-3 8x8 series of armoured personnel carriers (APCs).

The OWS is armed with a stabilised 30 mm ZTM-1 dual-feed cannon, 7.62 mm KT coaxial machine gun (MG), and a 30 mm AG-17 automatic grenade launcher, which is mounted externally on the left side of the turret.

The ZTM-1 has an effective range in the ground-to-ground role of up to 2,000 m and can also be used to engage some types of aerial targets. It has a maximum muzzle velocity of 960 m/s.

Ready-use ammunition typically consists of 225 rounds of 30 mm ammunition and 2,500 rounds of 7.62 m ammunition; additionally it can carry 116 rounds of 30 mm grenade ammunition (of which 29 are ready use).

Mounted on the right side of the turret is a bank of two Kyiv Design Bureau Bar'er laser-guided ATGW, which are semi-automatic command-to line-of-sight (SACLOS). The missile has a maximum range of 5,500 m and a minimum range of 100 m; it is fitted with a tandem high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead that is designed to neutralise targets fitted with explosive reactive armour (ERA).

This is turning into a crowded field.  Everyone and their mother is designing some type of upgrade for the BMP-1.  Seems like we're looking at the Russian version of the AAV...another 70 plus year old vehicle that keeps going and going. 

Finnish Soldiers train with 2nd Cav...pics by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Bunn

Russia working on Tracked Air-droppable Anti-Air Missile System

via TASS

The world's first air-droppable air defense missile system is being created for the Russian Airborne Forces on the basis of the BMD-4M combat vehicle, a source in the Russian Defense Ministry told TASS on Wednesday.
"The work is underway on the on the creation of an air-droppable anti-aircraft missile defense system based on the BMD-4M airborne combat vehicle. The experimental design work is codenamed Ptitselov (Fowler)," the source said.
According to him, the system will be parachuted.
The Russian Airborne Forces currently have in service various modifications of the Strela-10 air defense missile system the basic model of which had been made operational in 1976.
The track-mounted Sadovnitsa BMD-4M combat vehicle is a version of the BMD-4 vehicle with a new body, engine, chassis and other units. It is equipped with the Bakhcha-U combat unit, which comprises two guns - one of 100-mm caliber and another - of 30-mm caliber, and a machine gun. Previously, a Russian Defense Ministry source told TASS that the BMD-4M vehicle, along with the BTR-MDM (Rakushka) armored personnel carrier entered service. According to other previous reports, under the existing contract the Russian Defense Ministry should receive within three years up to 250 of these airborne combat vehicles and armored personnel carriers.

This is interesting.  So the Russians see their forcible entry units needing a dedicated, mechanized anti-air system.  I really need to get ahold of a VDV manual and read up on their operating concepts.

34 years ago today...HMS Sheffield sunk by Argies.

Thanks to JF for the correction. I originally titled this incident as happening 20 years ago. My mistake. Obviously multi-tasking is not a personal strength!

Comment by Andrew Newson on the Royal Navy FaceBook Page.

How disappointing that the Royal Navy's first post of the day is about a science fiction film with a picture of an aircraft.
34 years ago today the Royal Navy lost its first warship in anger since the Second World War when two Argentinian aircraft launched Exocet missiles against HMS Sheffield in the South Atlantic with the loss of 20 souls.

Well said Mr. Newson.

Today marked a turning point in modern warfare.  The precision weapon system arrived full force and naval warfare was forever changed.

The Royal Navy is on the Star Wars bandwagon declaring "may the fourth" be with you.  Just like all military forces in the Western world, they should focus on the serious instead of the trivial.  Sailors lost their lives.  This should be a day of reflection for them, not a time to glob onto silliness.

Concept art of armed V-280

The decline and fall of Marine Aviation...Told ya so....

via Foreign Policy

We can argue about what caused it. (I think that sticking with the V-22 Osprey after the Army quit the program bankrupted Marine aviation acquisition and is still killing the Corps’ O&M budget.)
But it appears there is no question that Marine aviation is in a bad way. An article in the May issue of Marine Corps Gazette says that in January, of 147 Ch-53Es in the USMC inventory, there was an average of 31 ready to fly. And, depending on who you ask, the V-22 costs somewhere between $10,000 and $70,000 an hour to fly. (I defer to @MarkThompson_DC on such rotary questions.)

How long have I been bitching about the high cost of Marine Aviation?  How long have I been criticizing the "game plan" being forwarded by HQMC.

Told ya so.

This train wreck that is Marine Air deserves more than a few heads to roll.  All the camp followers that knew better but said nothing need to be  dispatched along with the architects.

The terrible part?  Now we must again delay modernization of the ground component to fix the air side...after watching a few idiots worshiping air power tip the whole cart over in the first place.