SNAFU!

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Open Comment Post. 14 Aug 2019

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

MRZR in its natural role, not fast attack but more like logistics mule...

Thanks to Gen Armchair for the link!

U.S. #Marines with #SPMAGTFCRAF arrived in Bamako, Mali Aug. 6 to rehearse an embassy-reinforcement at the U.S. Embassy in Mali. The Marines exercised securing the embassy compound and treating simulated casualties. @USMCFEA @USMC @2dMarDiv @USEmbassyMali @USAfricaCommand pic.twitter.com/fDEqmgPOnX
— 24thMEU (@24thMEUMarines) August 13, 2019

Do you see how they loaded up that ute? This is the natural role for this vehicle. I'm still trying to wrap my head around how the USMC declared it unfit for a fast attack vehicle but it is what it is. Logistics is probably what its destined for...and battlefield mobility. Conducting raids in them sounds like a natural but its not to be.

10th Mountain runs the bayonet assault course!

What makes the green grass grow?#FightTonight pic.twitter.com/i9aTiDJA2M
— 10th Mountain Div. (@10MTNDIV) August 13, 2019

Cool shit. Tiring, but cool...

Hong Kong Police are storming the airport occupied by protesters...

BREAKING: Police in Hong Kong appear to be storming the airport, which has been occupied by protestors for several days.

LIVE STREAM: https://t.co/5ar1PJCiSC
— Conflict News (@Conflicts) August 13, 2019

It has begun....

Iranian Raad 6x6 MRAP (pics)

Thanks to Amir for the link!

تصاویر با کیفیت امرپ رعد منتشر شد pic.twitter.com/zzoOQVIwu1
— فیلد مارشال! (@FieldMarshalPSO) August 13, 2019

Reconnaissance Marines with 3rd Marine Division train with light tactical vehicles to get to their objectives faster.

Interesting. Didn't they assess this vehicle as being unsuitable in the Light Strike role?

JLTV declared IOC...this is about getting stuff off the books...

via UPI

The U.S. Marine Corps announced that the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle is officially ready to deploy, one year ahead of schedule.

Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Combat Development and Integration said on Monday that the JLTV program had reached "initial operational capability," making the vehicles ready for use worldwide, on Aug. 2.

The four-wheeled vehicle, developed with the U.S. Army, will fully replace the Marines' aging fleet of High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles. The new transports offer different variants with multiple mission package configurations, including packages for personnel, heavy guns and close combat weapons.

"The warfighting capabilities the JLTV provides our Marines far exceed the capabilities offered by its predecessor," said John Garner of the Marines' Program Executive Office Land Systems division. "I'm proud of what our team, in collaboration with the Army, has accomplished. Their commitment to supporting the warfighter delivered an exceptional vehicle, ahead of schedule, that Marines will use to dominate on the battlefield now and well into the future."

Story here.

Make no mistake. This IOC declaration a year early has nothing to do with the vehicle's capabilities at this time (I'm sure they'll be fixed) but everything to do with the budget.

Despite the recent plus up you can rest assured that the predicted budget trainwreck is still coming.

We just got word that the US deficit is approaching a trillion dollars. With that being the case you can believe with every part of your soul that future defense budgets will be ravaged.

They'll be lucky to have things remain static. The reality is that they'll soon face REAL cuts.

This move is to try and get stuff off the books. The F-35 lags, the CH-53K is facing a potential delay unless Sikorsky gets it's act together....the JLTV they can get done now...along with the ACV.

French status of operations...

Operation Chammal, the French component of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), continues its mission of fighting Daesh and continues to support the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF).

In Iraq, North-East Syria and the Middle Euphrates Valley, the security situation is stable. The ISFs as well as the FDS are pursuing their various operations of search and security against the clandestine cells of Daesh.

Present in Estonia as part of NATO's eFP ( enhanced forward presence ) mission , the Combat Sub-Battle Group (SGTIA) battle tank platoon, armed by the 12th Cuirassier Regiment (12th RC), surrendered at the Central Training Area (CTA) of Tapa for a shooting session on Saturday, July 20th. For a half-day, several sessions followed, starting with the one conducted by Char Leclerc's Dépanneur crew (DCL), who was able to complete four 12.7 mm machine-gun firefighting sequences from the machine.

Then the two crews of the Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) also fired at the 12.7mm caliber machine gun. Finally, the Leclerc tanks carried out two types of firing: coaxial with the machine gun and shooting of 120 mm exercise shells on targets.

The Barkhane force continues its effort in the Liptako-Gourma region, with an area equivalent to a quarter of the French metropolitan territory. It consolidates the achievements in the Liptako and institutes the same dynamics in the Gourma through operations, actions for the benefit of the population, and supporting partner forces.

BARKHANE: Delivery of an Armored Front Vehicle (VAB) by A400M ATLAS

Note. The French are ramping up an already ramped up mission in Africa. This post and the previous one are all from the French Defense Dept Twitter Page. Additionally the fit inside the rather big A400M is a bit tighter than I would have guessed. Wonder what the availability rate is for the French Air Force.