Thanks to Overwatsh DVA for the link!
SOCOM should be proud. They took the idea of "spreading knowledge" of how they operate and partnerships so seriously that supposed enemies like Russia look exactly like our guys (is it just me or does it seem that the Russians really are embracing unmanned ground combat vehicles).
Spare me all the talk about similar requirements resulting in similar solutions. This is the result of "partnerships" and "outreach".
I think we've reached a point where conventional USMC/US Army units probably need to pivot from training with SOCOM to training against them. In the upcoming big fight we're going to see raids against one of our forward command elements by enemy SF and it would do us well to be drilled on defeating them with a quickness (instead of relying on mass and firepower to wear them down).
Sunday, December 11, 2016
China's new RWS.
via IHS Janes by Christopher Foss.
The UW4A RWS is armed with an electrically operated 30 mm dual-feed cannon and a 7.62 mm co-axial machine gun (MG), and is fitted with two banks of six 76 mm electrically operated grenade launchers on the lower part of the mount.Story here.
The RWS carries 120 rounds of 30 mm ammunition and 200 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition in the ready use position, with additional rounds carried in the hull for manual reloading. Ammunition is fed from the left and once the ready-use rounds have been expended one of the crew members is required to leave the platform in order to reload the weapons.
The weapon station traverses through 360° at a maximum speed of up to 45° per second and elevates from -5° to 55° at a maximum speed of up to 25° per second.
The UW4A's sensor pack in installed externally on the right side and consists of a day sight, a colour CCD camera, an uncooled thermal imager, and a laser rangefinder. The latter not only increases accuracy but makes certain that targets are engaged within the effective range of the armament.
The Chinese are making steady strides in improving their mechanized forces. Think about it. Only a decade or two ago they only operated obsolete equipment that couldn't measure up against Western armor. Today? At least on paper its every bit as good as what we're using.
The only confusing thing is this domestic/export market divide. I think they're gonna find that unless the Chinese military operates the equipment that's being offered then they're gonna have a hard time selling it. Think back to the F-20. On paper everybit as good as the F-16 but not operated by the US. It got no sales.
More than 4,000 IS militants attempt capturing Palmyra...that's almost MEB sized!
via TASS
MOSCOW, December 11. /TASS/. More than 4,000 militants of the IS terrorist organization (outlawed in Russia - TASS) have re-grouped to make a new attempt to capture Palmyra, trying to get inside the city to shelter from airstrikes by the Russian air force, the center for reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria said on Sunday.Story here.
"More than 4,000 IS militants after having re-grouped undertook another attempt to capture Palmyra," the center said. "Despite big losses in force and equipment, the terrorists are trying to get inside the city, as the Russian air force does not deliver strikes on Palmyra's residential areas."
The military say, IS have relocated forces to Palmyra from Raqqa. Groups, controlled by the U.S. and the international coalition, suspended combat actions there against terrorists. IS's big reserves and armored vehicles were also relocated to Palmyra from Deir ez-Zor.
"The reconnaissance earlier revealed the relocation of up to 5,000 IS militants to Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor from Iraq’s Mosul," the center said. "Now, the Syrian military continue defensive actions in Palmyra."
That's an impressively large action by a terrorist group. You do realize that is almost Marine Expeditionary Battalion sized force don't you?
And you think that the Company Landing Team Concept is still viable in today's form of combat? You still think that long distance raids by 600 plus Marines (I read that they performed that size op at Steel Knight just a bit ago) is still relevant?
We're setting ourselves up for a Marine Corps Ft. Apache somewhere.
What we're seeing in Syria is the death throes of ISIS. They're about to wrap up that conflict and the clean up by the Syrian Forces (probably Iranians too...I expect the Russians to sit out the blood letting) will be brutal, shocking and extremely effective. Its time to start learning the lessons from the fighting in Syria.
Lesson #1? Terrorists have made the transition from ragged groups of light infantry type fighters to hybrid combined arms forces that can stand toe to toe with weak nation state conventional forces (and they will slaughter old skool Special Ops outfits too....Special Operations are vulnerable to conventional forces).
Do we have any national (American) heroes left?
Above you see John Glenn's Mig Mad Marine F-86 that he flew in combat over Korea. I was thinking about his passing and it left me with the question. Do we have any widely acclaimed national heroes left in America? Have they all passed away?
The last war that was truly a national effort and had the full backing of the public was WW2. In my way of thinking, those that followed were either never fully explained as to why we were fighting them or they were so badly managed that support fell away. So while those in the military or have an association might be able to readily point to those that should always be remembered I wonder about the general public.
We see the Presidential Medal of Freedom but in my opinion its a joke. You're gonna award the nation's highest civilian award to a singer, entertainer or other type of celebrity?
The question remains. With the passing of John Glenn do we have any widely acclaimed national heroes left?
Saturday, December 10, 2016
ISIS defeated in Aleppo, Exxon Chief SecState, Neo-Cons destroyed
Breaking. ISIS defeated in Aleppo, Exxon Chief selected as SecState and apparently the Neo-Cons have been destroyed.
I couldn't be happier.
Meanwhile we hear that Russia according to intel sources tried to influence our elections and the President has ordered an investigation into their role.
No one has suggested that the Russians or whoever the hackers were supplied the American people with false information.
This is turning into a great day. Common sense might be making a comeback!
I couldn't be happier.
Meanwhile we hear that Russia according to intel sources tried to influence our elections and the President has ordered an investigation into their role.
No one has suggested that the Russians or whoever the hackers were supplied the American people with false information.
This is turning into a great day. Common sense might be making a comeback!
Friday, December 09, 2016
Gleeful Croatian Nazi-collaborators
Pic via Historical Times Tumblr Page.
Simply amazing. Check out the guy in the background. I don't know if he's SS or a Croatian, but he has the look of a guy that is not amused.
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| Gleeful Croatian Nazi-collaborators covered in the blood of their recent victims via reddit |
Czech Defense Ministry buying more Pandur II's.
via Defense News.
The Czech Ministry of Defence is planning to acquire new radars, 20 Pandur armored personnel carriers (APC) and Nexter Titus six-wheel drive armored vehicles for the country ’s military, according to Deputy Defence Minister Pavel Beran.Everyone looks at the small forces of the former Soviet Union and think that they're incapable. Those that think that are wrong. What I didn't realize though is that they're also somewhat innovative. Do you know that the Czech's were one of the first forces to adopt a large caliber RWS for their APC/IFVs? They've been using that 30mm mount for awhile now and appear quite happy with its performance.
The latest announcement comes as the Czech Republic is intensifying efforts to raise its military expenditure from 1.08 percent of its gross domestic product this year to 1.4 percent by 2020, and 2 percent by 2025.
While continuing to buy Pandurs is somewhat mystifying to me (are they getting a great deal on them?) they seem quite pleased with the vehicle and all indication point to it being very effective in Afghanistan.
It all doesn't matter though. The uparming of Europe continues. The only question is if its being done the right way.
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