Multinational Amphibious Assault

It is so weird to see the USMC devolve into a naval infantry force with no staying power. Over 200 years of evolution thrown away in order to influence a sea battle with penny packets of the GCE. The unsaid part that everyone knows? These Marines turned Missile Marines/Stand-In-Force/Naval Infantry are simply meant to be a trip wire force...a force designed to die so a destroyer doesn't have to.

RIMPAC 2022 Amphibious Raid

From right, an AH-1Z Viper, attached to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 169, a UH-1Y Huey, attached to HMLA 169, an MV-22B Osprey, attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 363, and a CH-53E, attached to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 462, participate in flight operations from the flight deck of U.S. Navy Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) in support of an amphibious operations exercise during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022, July 29. Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, three submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug. 4 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brett McMinoway)

 Republic of Korea Navy Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAV) and U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aircraft conduct amphibious operations during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022, July 29, during an amphibious raid. Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, three submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug. 4 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Isaak Martinez)

How are the S. Koreans able to keep their AAVs "swimmable" and yet the Marine Corps was incapable?  Not sure if its a vehicle problem, an excuse for doctrine change or poor leadership/planning.

Thanks for the well wishes. I appreciate ya'll....Open Comment Post. 3 Aug 22

 

KC-46A Pegasus assigned to Pease Air National Guard Base takes off March 21, at Morón Air Base, Spain...via Reddit

 

Open Comment Post. 2 Aug 22

Gonna have to roll with open posts.  Discuss the subject of the day among yourselves.

Dad died last week and today is his funeral.  I'm a bit "unsteady".

Open Comment Post. 1 Aug 22

Pelosi will arrive in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, tomorrow night, the Taiwanese broadcaster TVBS reports citing sources.

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Chinese PLA Tri-Motor UAV operating in Japan's ADIZ...carrying what looks to be anti-ship missiles

Three PLA drones found in Japan's Air Defense Identification Zone! Why only these three models? Click the link for more detail. (Please Like and Subscribe to my channel and click the bell icon to get new video updates. Thanks)https://t.co/L7VFiICkOP pic.twitter.com/2jGtTEOgLQ

— 彩云香江 (@louischeung_hk) July 27, 2022

Interesting. So let me get this straight. A Light Amphibious Warship will utilize stealth to avoid detection while transporting Marines ashore...then the Stand-In-Force will use stealth while avoiding detection by these same drones while setting up Forward Bases?

Sounds good on paper but between Chinese spies, locals working for the Chinese and with the persistent observation that they're establishing I'm not sure it'll work so good in person.

The Marine Corps is wedded to the Defense Battalion/Missile Marine Concept.  

I've tried to tell them better.  Marines more accomplished than myself have tried to tell them

Enough.

Let them reap what they're sowing.  I'm done.  Let the bodies hit the floor.

Looking at Chinese capabilities this plan is batshit stupid on a shit covered stick.

Does China have better fighter pilots than the US? They're getting twice as many flight hours!

I've known for a while that the Chinese Air force pilots are getting more flying hours than USAF pilots.

But I didn't know it's as high as twice the flying hours compared to American pilots.@RupprechtDeino @louischeung_hk pic.twitter.com/VttVOaDHPY

— Zhao Dashuai 无条件爱国 🇨🇳 (@obsidianstatue1) March 19, 2022

Wow. I've read and heard numerous times that time in the air makes a good pilot. It can't be simulated. You have to "strap on" an airplane and get in the air to be good at the skill set. So having said that, what do we make of the news that Chinese fighter pilots are getting twice as many flight hours as our own?

CH-53E Super Stallion External Lifts