SNAFU!

Monday, November 28, 2016

Russia considering naval base in Libya?

Thanks to Adi for the link!

via LilbyanExpress.

The commander of the Operation Dignity forces of the Tobruk-based House of Representatives (HoR) Khalifa Haftar arrived in Moscow Sunday to discuss military and weapons support for his forces in the east.
According to DEBKA website, The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, began to envision a second Mediterranean base on the coast of Benghazi, twin to Hmeimim in Syria’s Lattakia. This one would accommodate Russian naval as well as air units and be located 700 km from Europe.

Interesting. If I was a believer in the "Russia is a threat" meme this would be extremely alarming. Between improved relations with Egypt, almost a free hand to do as they please in Syria, almost the same in Iran and now a potential base in Libya, we're seeing an almost total realignment of regional power/alliances in the region.

The Middle East has been an American playground for over two decades but that looks to be under threat.

The multi-million dollar question will be whether or not Russia can help moderate the Sunni-Shia divide and if they can whether or not they can keep the Arab countries from making another run at Israel.

No matter how this plays out we're facing trouble. China is pressing us in Djibouti, and now the Russians are doing the same throughout the region. Oh and I don't know how they do it but the Russians and Chinese can station troops and there is no outcry from the local populations. Let one Marine set foot on territory and everyone goes bat shit crazy.

I won't shed a tear and look forward to the Russians trying to deal with the craziness in that part of the world. Others will see this as diminished US power and influence. One thing is certain. Russia is making moves to become a superpower again.

Giraffe wrecks a Lion!

Thanks to 61 Mech for the link!

Did you see that? Talking about hurdling the dead and trampling the weak! I keep forgetting that predator and prey simply indicates a food source and doesn't guarantee success for the hunter or defeat for the hunted. Mother Nature is a fascinating thing.

Regardless, I've got to start watching this BBC documentary.

Skipper of a Dock Landing Ship walked off the job!

via Navy Times

The commanding officer of a dock landing ship called it quits Monday.
She walked off her job leading the roughly 420-person crew of the dock landing ship Rushmore, Navy Times has learned, an option that isn't available to most other service members without serious repercussions.

Cmdr. Sarah DeGroot told the head of Amphibious Squadron 3, Capt. Homer Denius, on Monday that she was resigning as the Rushmore's CO. Three sources were unable to immediately specify why she'd taken this highly unusual and likely career-ending move.

While the Navy relieves commanding officers for substandard performance or misconduct several times per year, it is highly unusual for a CO to resign voluntarily. Reached for comment by phone, DeGroot declined to comment.

"I don't think I have anything to say at this time," DeGroot said.

A spokesperson for Naval Surface Force Pacific confirmed that DeGroot was no longer in command of the San Diego-based ship and that Cmdr. DeWayne Sanders has assumed temporary command of the ship. There are no administrative or disciplinary actions against DeGroot pending at the moment, Lt. Cmdr. Rebecca Haggard said.

Well at least she didn't decide to quit in the middle of combat. What is going on with the selection boards and how can they keep getting it so wrong? Don't answer that. Targeted promotion instead of picking the best person for the job leads to these types of results...and yeah its been happening for generations. Ass kissing to get promoted has been an irritant for as long as there has been a thing called a "military".

Challenger 2 Theatre Entry Standard (CR2 TES) fitted with a Mobile Camouflage System (MCS).

Pictured is the UK Main Battle Tank, Challenger 2 Theatre Entry Standard (CR2 TES) fitted with a Mobile Camouflage System (MCS). ..This platform is the reference vehicle for the British Army and it is held at the Armoured Trials and Development Unit (ATDU) in Bovington. This tanks internal nickname is Megatron. It is shown during testing at the Bovington test ground.

Unusual Vehicle Concept From The Past. German anti-tank complex PARS 3 LR in MAN Truck

via bmashina Tumblr Page

German anti-tank complex PARS 3 LR in the accommodation on the MAN truck with the “mast” that allows you to raise the launcher to a height of about 10 meters for the realization of the maximum firing range ATGM.

Terrorists in the Philippines seize town, raise ISIS flag...

Thanks to DWI for the link!

via ABSCBN News.

MANILA - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) pushed into Butig, Lanao Del Sur on Sunday, a day after the Maute Group, a terror organization behind the September bombing in Davao City, occupied Butig's town center.
Military SF-260 trainer aircrafts were seen dropping 150-pound bombs over the town center, where Maute fighters have occupied the municipal hall, national high school and mosque.

Story and vid here.

No one has been paying attention to it but the Philippines is the new Special Operations Olympics for US forces. The whole band is operating there from Special Forces, MARSOC, Navy Seals...the only people that you find little to no footprint there are the Rangers and USAF Special Tactics folks...but you can bet that they're getting in on the act too.

The bad news?

This insurgency has been raging for years and will last at least a couple more decades. I don't believe the Philippine military is equipped or trained to adequately deal with this threat

The worse news?

Despite all common sense we insist on participating.

Corps Wants Silencers

Thanks to Bryan for the link!

via Military.com

In a series of experiments this year, units from 2nd Marine Division will be silencing every element of an infantry battalion -- from M4 rifles to .50 caliber machine guns.
The commanding general of 2nd Marine Division, Maj. Gen. John Love, described these plans during a speech to Marines at the Marine Corps Association Ground Dinner this month near Washington, D.C.
The proof-of-concept tests, he said, included Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, which began an Integrated Training Exercise pre-deployment last month at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms.
"What we've found so far is it revolutionizes the way we fight," Love told Military.com. "It used to be a squad would be dispersed out over maybe 100 yards, so the squad leader couldn't really communicate with the members at the far end because of all the noise of the weapons. Now they can actually just communicate, and be able to command and control and effectively direct those fires."

Do you know how long they've talked about this in the infantry community? Its gotta be at least 20 years. The reason why it hasn't been pursued earlier is funding.

I really hope this happens but I have to wonder...are they doing this because of the Company Landing Team and Expeditionary Rifle Squad concepts? For units that small to survive they're gonna need serious, almost Special Forces A-Team like noise discipline. I hate to play doubting Thomas but are they testing it at the Battalion level with an eye toward the CLT/ERS?

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Oka crisis - 1990, Canada.

via fnhfal Tuamblr Page

Canada buys F-18s? Big deal...they still haven't decided....

This is another story that hit while I was gone. So Canada is going to buy around 18 Super Hornets. Big fucking deal. The reality is that they still haven't chosen a direction with the F-35, they're still contributing to the program and Lockheed Martin appears to have the Candaian govt scared shitless.

The Prime Minister ran on the idea that he would "get Canada out" and he's failed to deliver.

This means nothing as far as the F-35 is concerned. The action is and always has been with the USAF and USMC. If both entities are determined to buy airplanes that will be too expensive to upgrade and if the civilian leadership of the pentagon is more concerned with maternity uniforms than our ability to maintain air superiority then the program will continue.

The Air Force developed a scheme to make the program unkillable. The USMC participated in the fraud and went one step further by altering its battle winning combined arms formations to accommodate the plane.

The corruption is ingrained into the very fabric of the defense establishment and a penny packet buy of Super Hornets changes nothing.

About that pipeline protest.

Just got back from a short trip out of town and I had a bunch of comments and a few e-mails about subjects that I didn't hit on. Well to be honest not much of it has really grabbed me by the short hairs. But I'll give my take on a few of the subjects that I was accused of ignoring. First up is obviously the pipeline protest.

Long story short? I don't see the victim here. I don't know if I see any good guys either. I'm not much of an environmentalist even though I bet I spend more time in the woods than 99 percent of the tree huggers saying that they want to save the planet.

Specifically about this protest, I saw standard protest tactics, I've seen security contractors and deputies act in ways that I find questionable (Fire hoses used against protesters in the US???? I thought that went away after the idiocy and abuse during the 60's against civil rights activists...noteworthy is the fact that fire depts weren't involved in their use like they were back then), the news that a young girl might lose her arm because a grenade was used improperly is also disturbing.

To be fair you also had officers injured in fights at the scene and its just a mess.

The thing that hangs over this whole affair is the stark difference in tactics used against the Bundy Ranch/Wildlife Refuge participants and this thing. If I didn't know better I would think that showing up armed at a protest guarantees proper (passive?) behavior from authorities. Many of you won't like that assessment but the incidents share many similarities with the difference being that one group was armed and the other wasn't.