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The Red Dragons Strikes...Meeting Engagement II...section 5.

Badger Flight...ten A-10C's flying into Liberia...
The air was thick down low and Capt Collins was getting a fair bit of buffet on his flight in.  He was leading a 5 ship formation into hostile airspace and although top speed wasn't what the fighter jocks would be impressed with, when you're 50 feet off the ground on a pitch black night it kinda makes things a bit more relative.  The fast attack boys in the F-15E's were suppose to have eradicated the anti-air danger and had moved on to secondary targets...specifically the Chinese armor.

You can never be sure though and for the 3rd time in 10 minutes he performed  radio checks, confirmed kill boxes and established targeting priorities.  Armor first---tanks and armored personnel carriers---artillery second----self propelled and towed---infantry third, in the open or in identified fortifications and then any anti-air they ran up against.

That crazy, bible thumping, swearing Deputy CINC wanted blood.  An interesting guy Howling Mad was.  He could pray to keep his guys safe and turn around without missing a beat and pray that God allow his men to kill every son of a bitch that went up against his extended family---the United States of America.  Civilians would find that thought process to be an impossible paradox. Capt Collins thought it was beyond cool.

He paused and considered something that mad him laugh inside.  He was never a praying man himself but the more he thought about it the more he knew that on this night he was praying at the alter of death and destruction.  It was nothing personal.  He didn't know the guys on the ground...on either side...but he wanted to wipe enemy blood off his canopy when this was all over.

Dragon Flight...thirty SU-30's rocketing into Liberian airspace.
Major Tran was a rising star in the Chinese Air Force.  He was a family man and he was a patriot.  He was not one of the architects of the mission in Liberia but his nation called upon him to help defend his countrymen.

Tran liked American culture.  Enjoyed the music, loved the movies and clothes and quite honestly believed that the two country's had more in common than they had differences.

That was then.  This is now.

Tran ordered his flight to go supersonic.  American warplanes had bombed Chinese troops.  This was the first of many fighter sweeps to keep the capitalist dogs at bay.  If they could not return the respect that he and his countrymen gave to others then he would at least earn their fear.

Tran readied his AA-12 missiles, test fired his gun and watched his screens.  He saw 10 enemy airplanes flying low swirling up and down bombing his people.

The first meeting between the Chinese and American air forces was seconds away.

1stSgt Alexander.  75th Ranger Regiment on the ground in Liberia
The entire command element had been wiped out--they walked into a well laid enemy ambush.  The fighting had been intense but it really was a done deal...Rangers are good.  No.  Fuck that.  Rangers are terrific.  But terrific don't cut it when you're staring down the barrel of a 30mm cannon mounted on a Norinco 8x8.

Alexander had spent the last two days escaping and evading, making radio contact with Rangers when he could, picking up stragglers and basically---as far as he knew it, was the highest ranking Ranger left alive.  So far he had rounded up 45 of his boys and they were making their way to the coast line.  Hopefully the daredevils in the 160th would be able to extract them.  If not it was a long walk to Djibouti.

He wondered aloud how such a simple airport seizure could go so wrong.  Intel had definitely screwed the pooch and someone would taste his blade...if he made it out alive.  And considering how much enemy activity he was seeing that was a mighty big if.

All he could do is keep moving, think about his wife and kids and ask God for one more sunrise.  A bad day hasn't gotten any better and he really didn't expect it to.

section 6.  The fight is on.  USN steps in.  160th swoops low.  Chinese Mech Infantry/Tank Division lands.

42 Commando trains at 29 Palms.

Pictures: PO(Phot) Sean Clee, 3 Cdo Bde

The mortar troop fire star shells to illuminate the desert

He ain’t heavy… A Lima Company marine carries a comrade over the arid, scrawny Mojave terrain during the company-sized assault

Get some... one of the defenders of Operation Ruby tries to stop the oncoming marines with a machine-gun

Armscor is actually building the 22 TCM!

Armscor is actually building the 22 TCM.



Why SOCOM isn't all over this round is beyond me.  This could be a small arms game changer.  Add to it the work that the Marine Corps and Army Marksmanship Units SHOULD be doing to explore the possibilities and its obvious that civilian shooters are FAR ahead of anything that the military is doing.  Its really ironic.  Civilians are leading military and law enforcement when it comes to development now.  Bug out bags?  Took off in the civilian world and now the concept has come full circle to the military.  Piston driven AR's?  First sold to civilians because the Direct Impingement market was saturated and then the military climbed aboard.  Zombies?  Another marketing tactic to lure in more civilian shooters and then Federal Law Enforcement is all over it.

Hat tip to Zombie Hunter and everyone that sent info on this caliber!

The Marine Corps within the Marine Corps expands.

The Marine Corps is something I no longer understand.  Check this out.

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command recently stood up two new battalions as part of a reorganization effort designed to accommodate its influx of combat support and combat service support personnel.
The Marine Special Operations Logistics Battalion (MSOLB) and the Marine Special Operations Combat Support Battalion (MSOCSB) will house the nearly 800 Marines scheduled to join MARSOC’s support component by 2016. The new Marines will provide support in intelligence, engineering, explosive ordnance disposal and other capacities to MARSOC’s special operations teams, which often operate in forbidding and remote locations with little reach back to conventional support assets.  NOTE:  EXCEPT FOR MARINE AIR THEY'RE ORGANIZING A NEW MARINE EXPEDITIONARY BRIGADE UNDER THE BANNER OF SOCOM.
Now the need for critical support assets from conventional forces will be even less, as the new logistics battalion will fulfill roles in engineering, embarking and logistics, with Marines trained specifically to support MARSOC’s special operations missions.
“The support we’re going to be able to deliver to our deployed (Special Operations Task Forces) and companies is going to increase their survivability and their ability to conduct operations globally,” said Col. Jeffrey Fultz, commanding officer of the Marine Special Operations Support Group, which oversees the new battalions.
Fultz went on to say that MSOLB is one of the Marine Corps’s most unique logistics battalions, due to its Individual Training Program (ITP).
“For the first time in combat service support in the Marine Corps, the Marines (in MSOLB) will have an ITP,” said Lt. Col. Stephanie L. Walker, commanding officer of the new logistics battalion. “If you’ve ever been in any other unit with combat service support, you’re either deployed or you’re home doing your pre-deployment training. But you never get time to individually train. That’s what MSOLB offers these Marines; some time to hone their skills prior to going out in support of MARSOC.”
Each support Marine at MARSOC is required to complete a comprehensive checklist of individual training requirements, including the Special Operations Training Course (STC), and Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) training. Added to a combination of unit training requirements and a short dwell time between deployments, MSOLB’s new ITP is a welcome change, said Walker.
The activation of MSOCSB also brings new advances to the command, particularly in the intelligence realm. A revision of MARSOC’s former intelligence battalion, now equipped with a communications company and a headquarters company, MSOCSB is capable of bringing every intelligence asset to the battlefield, providing another platform upon which MARSOC can operate independently.
“Combat support battalion’s Marines are not only able to find and fix, they’re also able to finish,” said Fultz. “With the addition of headquarters company, which includes Multi-Purpose Canines and Joint Terminal Attack Controllers, and communications company, they’re adding a whole new piece to their kit bag, and their ability to support MARSOC worldwide.”
Fultz went on to say that MARSOC has long prided itself on its ability to task organize a fully enabled and integrated SOF capability, largely through the fusion of operations and intelligence. Combat support battalion, with its additional assets, will enhance this capability.
Growth is steady, but slow. The Corps’s gradual downsizing of 20,000 Marines is shrinking the pool that MARSOC can draw from. However, according to Fultz, that won’t be a problem. MARSOC will continue to do more with less, as all Marines do.  NOTE: THIS IS UTTER BULLSHIT.  THEY'RE NOT DOING MORE WITH LESS AT MARSOC!  WHEN UNITS DEPLOY SHORT OF CANNINE OR EOD OR ANY OTHER CAPABILITY YOU CAN BET THAT IT'LL BE A CONVENTIONAL NOT MARSOC UNIT.  CONVENTIONALS ARE BEING FUCKED FOR MARSOC!
“We’re going to continue to ask a lot of you,” said Fultz, addressing a formation of MSOSG Marines. “We’re going to continue to push you. But I know you’ll continue to accomplish the mission."

All the SOCOM cheerleaders and fan boys will cheer this announcement.  All I can see is the beginning of the end for the Marine Corps.

UPDATE:  I just realized that the US Army Rangers, US Army Special Forces, US Navy SEALs and USAF Special Operations all provide more shooters (or at least the same number) with a smaller logistics tail.  The original goal of the US Army Rangers has been realized...They're out Marine-ing the Marine Corps.

NOTE:  It occurs to me that the arguments that the entire Marine Corps duplicates Army missions on land, Air Force & Navy air missions in flight and essentially performs a role that can be accomplished by a force more the size of the Royal Marines...THEN WHY KEEP THE USMC AROUND?  I mean seriously.  Consider this.  MARSOC is about the size of the Royal Marines now. I argue against it, but if one day it is decided that forcible entry from the sea is no longer needed OR can be performed by a much smaller organization---say one the size of MARSOC then how do we justify the Marine Corps?

The Red Dragon Strikes...Power Personified...Section 4.

Brigadier General John "Howling Mad" Strepkowski, USAF, was a walking, talking dinosaur.  He said what he thought, believed what he said and believed in God first, family second and Nation third.  Always.  In that order.  No zipper control issues here, Howling Mad (HM if you were a friend) was a warrior monk in an age where so called "values" shifted with the sand...belief systems were fudgable and people were generally chicken shit.

HM had a problem.  AFRICOM's CINC was out of area, doing the political thing in DC while US Army Rangers were on the ground in Liberia hookin' and jabbin, trying there very best to see another sun rise.

The politically correct thing for HM to do would to simply sit on his hands and wait till orders came in from DC.  Meanwhile precious time would be wasted and men would continue to suck sand in a far off land.  He wouldn't have it.  He immediately ordered the 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing (-) operating at Camp Lemonier to go into action.  On deck were 20 A-10C's...another 10 F-15E were also on the ramp.  Some smart ass blogger outted the operation so most aircraft were kept inside hangars so that the real numbers would go undetected.  30 attack airplanes with Brits providing ISR, Cargo and Refueling support via their A330's and he should be able to help keep those boys on the ground alive---at least till the dumbasses in DC could finally make a decision.

The plan was simple.  The F-15E's would head out at top speed to push the issue.  The Chinese had a nice little force of mechanized Para-troopers...they might be able to give transports hell but once the F-15's got finished with them, it would be a mopping up operation for the A-10's.

HM never went for the interservice nonsense.  He always considered it one fight, one force, one mission.

He'd bring every unit he had available in Africa together with one goal in mind.  Pull our brothers out of harms way.  Hang on guys.  Heaven's angels were coming...and they were pissed.

Zulu Flight....6 F-15E's led by Colonel Jonathan McMasters, USAF.
McMasters had just refueled from the Brit A330's, he called off from the tankers and radioed his flight to go to full military power.  They were rocketing along at just below the speed of sound carrying a full load of small diameter bombs.  Testing had revealed that at max altitude they could lob these bad boys at over 80 miles from the target.

The mission was simple.  They were going to divide the country into sectors and then the muzzles were coming off....Fangs were out teeth were barred and the Para-troopers were going to experience true death from above.

McMasters loved the fighting spirit of the 82nd and Rangers.  But when it came to death and destruction they were rookies.  His WSO called out the first target and he felt a couple of bombs drop off.  This was gonna be sweet.  But this was just the beginning.

China stabbed his country in the eye.  China fucked with America.  China was gonna get payback.  It started on a dark night with a flight of Eagles.

That night 25 8x8's were destroyed and 200 Chinese Para-troopers met their maker....unfortunately for them it was just the beginning.  The A-10's had just arrived to start working their kill boxes.

Things had suddenly changed.  Not only were US Army Rangers hooking and jabbing and trying to see another sun rise...but so were the Chinese Para-troopers.  A long night for both sides and the angel of death was just getting warmed up.

22nd MEU steaming toward the coast of Liberia.
The warning order was simple.  Prepare for combat operations in Liberia.  Opposing force is a Reinforced Chinese Brigade of Para-troopers.  Reinforcements are arriving aboard merchant ships acting as Privateers and the CIA has indicated that unusual air activity has been spotted in the area.  Colonel Bennett, didn't expect an opposed landing but he would make sure to coordinate with the Nimitz strike group and USAF units out of Djboutti.

Everyone thought that after Afghanistan, that a peace dividend would kick in.  Well that was bullshit...the same bullshit that every peacenik dreams of.

Reality is a bitch.

The US Marine Corps was once again heading toward a real deal shooting war and Bennett couldn't be happier.

X-47B Inaugural Land-Based Catapult Launch.

9mm necked down to 22 cal!

You know what sucks?

It sucks when you think you've hit on something revolutionary and then find out that it's already been done.  That's what happened today when I shot an e-mail to a friend of mine that reloads.  I said I wanted to try a bullet that had a super flat trajectory and could defeat most soft body armor.

My idea?  A necked down 9mm to a 22 cal.  Maybe even a 45 necked to 22.

The problem.

Armscor has been there and done that!  Why it isn't widespread is beyond me but the stats on this little wildcat are impressive.  Read a bit about it here.

UPDATE:
Thanks for all the info guys.  The more I read about this round the more excited I'm getting about it.  It blows the 5.7 away in performance and its potential would make a weapon equipped with it a one shot stopper.  The velocity almost rivals that of a rifle.  The testing I've seen shows that it penetrates hard targets with ease (I'm talking steel plates).    This is definitely going on the wish list.

Ronda Rousey: Cute but she'd kick your ass.

Saw her on my MMA feed.  Supposedly Dana is about to give the girls a try in the UFC...especially since its gaining traction in StrikeForce.  I'm not sure though.  Women's boxing is only see every four years and its been around for years.  Rousey is suppose to have skills...check out this vid...



See how she passes guard and mounts...and then just when Tweet thought she got out, she transitioned to an arm bar.

Fucking Sweet!  I originally was gonna go with her interview on Jim Rome's show but this is better.  

Ship Board Pull-Up Challenge! Yeah Baby! Git' It!

First Lt. James P. Rooney, platoon commander, Weapons Platoon, pulls himself up while 1st Lt. Murphy A. Bright, platoon commander, 3rd Platoon, both with Kilo Company, Battalion Landing Team 3/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prevents him from swaying back and forth during the Campbell Cup Pull-Up Challenge in the gym of the USS Peleliu, Nov. 24. Marines and sailors of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group worked in teams of seven to see who could do the most pull-ups in ten minutes. The 15th MEU is deployed as part of the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group as a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force, providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. Rooney, 25, is form Long Island, N.Y., and Bright, 24, is from New York. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. John Robbart III/Released)

Corporal Cesar Carrillo, technical controller, Command Element, and Capt. Samuel C. Ksiazkiewicz, embarkation officer, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 (Rein.), both with 15th Marine Expeditionary unit, pull themselves up during the Campbell Cup Pull-Up Challenge in the gym of the USS Peleliu, Nov. 24. Marines and sailors of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group worked in teams of seven to see who could do the most pull-ups in ten minutes. The 15th MEU is deployed as part of the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group as a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force, providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. Carrillo, 24, is from Bell Gardens, Calif., and Ksiazkiewicz, 28, is from Jackson, Mich. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. John Robbart III/Released)

Sergeant Maj. John W. Scott, sergeant major, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, pulls himself up during the Campbell Cup Pull-Up Challenge in the gym of the USS Peleliu, Nov. 24. Marines and sailors of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group worked in teams of seven to see who could do the most pull-ups in ten minutes. The 15th MEU is deployed as part of the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group as a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force, providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. John Robbart III/Released)

Lance Cpl. Matt J. Mistretta, team leader, 1st Squad, 3rd Platoon, Kilo Company, Battalion Landing Team 3/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, pulls himself up during the Campbell Cup Pull-Up Challenge in the gym of the USS Peleliu, Nov. 24. Marines and sailors of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group worked in teams of seven to see who could do the most pull-ups in ten minutes. The 15th MEU is deployed as part of the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group as a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force, providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. Mistretta, 22, is from Reno, Nev. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. John Robbart III/Released)

Marines with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 (Rein.), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, take a moment to enjoy their recent victory, accruing 538 pull-ups during the Campbell Cup Pull-Up Challenge in the gym of the USS Peleliu, Nov. 24. Marines and sailors of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group worked in teams of seven to see who could do the most pull-ups in ten minutes. The 15th MEU is deployed as part of the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group as a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force, providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. John Robbart III/Released)

Maritime Support Vessel???

Major Hat Tip to Leesea.

Via fbo.gov

Added: Nov 16, 2012 8:28 amMilitary Sealift Command (MSC) requests a US flagged vessel which shall function as a Maritime Support Vessel (MSV). The vessel shall serve host to fifty (50) sponsor personnel with the ability to surge an additional one hundred fifty-nine (159) personnel, for a total of two hundred nine (209) sponsor personnel, within twenty-four (24) hours notice. Please see attached for more information. NOTE: This requirement was synopsized, and a draft solicitation was posted, under Solicitation Number N00033-12-R-2015.

Military Sealift Command is looking for a MSV?  First I heard of this.  The surge number of personnel is curious too.  Specifically one hundred fifty-nine?

Interesting.  I assumed that the USS Ponce experiment was a failure, now that is all but confirmed.  But why it failed is beyond me.  If I were to guess I would think it had to do with accommodations for the Special Ops Personnel.  Either way this bears watching.  Are we being setup for a modded JHSV?  I just don't know.

Armor and Marine Corps Historians step up...I need your help.

Photo caption: "Iwo Jima, February 21, 1945. Burrowed in the Sand: A Marine medium tank that couldn't navigate the soft volcanic sand on Iwo, is track deep in a pit off the beach. This loose sand of the island proved an asset to the Japanese defenders."
From the Photograph Collection at the Marine Corps Archives and Special Collections
OFFICIAL USMC PHOTOGRAPH

Notice the barbs around the crew hatches?  I haven't seen it on another vehicle and there is no indication of why (I assume they're anti-personnel in nature) this particular crew applied them.  Also missing is whether or not this was a platoon level modification or higher.  Any info would be appreciated.

Close Protection Unit, Royal Military Police

BMD-4M. Airborne Fighting Vehicle.

The BMD-4M.  I've always wondered whether that combo 100mm/30mm cannon was effective but on paper it seems like a pretty good idea.  What isn't in doubt is the fact that Russian Para-troopers have mobility that our own 82nd doesn't.  Sparks was a madman but he was right...M-113's would be perfect for use by the 82nd.

AP-3C Orion's last flight in Middle East

via Australian Department of Defense.

the AP-3C Orion operating in the Middle East Area of Operations passes HMAS Anzac during the last operational flight in the Middle East before returning home. As a farewell gesture the Orion dispensed flares as it heads for home. Since Operation SLIPPER commenced in 2001, Australia has maintained a maritime contribution to operations in the MEAO. Currently this consists of a Major Fleet Unit, the Anzac Class Frigate, HMAS Anzac, which is flexibly cross tasked between US-led Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Combined Task Forces (CTFs) 150 (counter terrorism), 151 (counter-piracy) and 152 (Gulf maritime security). CMF patrols more than 2.5 million square miles of international waters to conduct both integrated and coordinated operations with a common purpose; to increase the security and prosperity of the region by working together for a better future. 

40mm Case Telescoped Ammunition Time to take a look.

Cased ammo.

Maybe its time has come.  The US Army is looking into it for use with a light weight machinegun and the Brits ARE using it for their Warrior upgrade program.

My focus is on the use of 40mm CTA for use on the AAV upgrade/ACV.  We don't have to be wedded to the 30mm.  The Brits have already done the work on the development of the round and it offers much greater kinetic energy.  But what really caught my attention is that you can almost double the number of rounds carried by each vehicle and it allows for the weapon to be elevated beyond what you normally find in vehicle mounted main weapons.  I'm thinking urban combat...plus having the ability to punch behind barriers with one round instead of using multiple hits.

Read about it here.

I am actually speechless...

A buddy sent me this gif and I am quite honestly speechless.  Uh...wow...

The boys over at BlackFive get it!

via BlackFive.
(note:  they say it much better than I ever could)

I can't believe I need to explain this, but since the SecDef and his PIO aren't in a position to comment on this, I will take it from here...

It would go a little something like this:

Ladies and gentlemen, I am here today to address some of the issues surrounding the current litigation taking place regarding the placement of women in combat arms units and allowing them to serve in combat arms billets.  I will make a prepared statment and then I will take your questions afterward.

Let me start off by saying the experience of combat is unique to each individual soldier, and is based upon distance, time and location in the war zone; as well as what jobs they work in.  The fighting may be close or far, but it doesn't change the fact that it is still combat.  The experience of a helicopter pilot flying close air support missions or the artilleryman firing on distant targets will be different than the experience of the Infantryman on the ground receiving that support.

The Secretary and the service chiefs recognize that the nature of warfare has changed. The big set piece battles of maneuvering armies and massive invasions using combined arms are becoming a thing of the past.  Soldiers are now fighting the "3 Block War" and the result of that is that many occupations, such as intelligence specialists and engineers now find themselves in positions and situations that involve actual ground combat.  We have women serving in these roles in every service that in wars past were  previously reserved for men.  Today, we have women flying attack helicopters in close air support missions supporting troops fighting on the ground, flying fighter jets and gunships in support of firebases under attack, returning fire and shooting the enemy while escorting convoys, patrolling with male infantry soldiers in order to gather intelligence, provide medical support, conducting civil affairs missions, and leading engineer units in building infrastructure for local villages and at firebases far forward on the battlefield.  These soldiers have done fine work and they are an integral part of our efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq to achieve victory.  

However, those facts do not change the reality of the nature of how close combat, particularly infantry combat, has not changed in 2,000 years of warfare.  Infantry Combat continues to involve, especially in the GWOT, closing the distance with your enemy and killing them.

Soldiers in the infantry, Special Operations, Armor and Cavalry still must, despite advances and developments in technology, close within range of their weapon systems and engage their enemies with fire, maneuver and shock effect.  In order to dislodge their enemies from cities and villages, they sometimes close to within bad breath distance and are fighting hand to hand.

Infantry Soldiers still carry the same approximate weight load into battle that their comrades in the Roman Legions did.  Artillerymen, who once used wagons and horses to move about the battlefield, are now using vehicles to move powder and ammunition on the battlefield, but that ammunition and powder is larger and heavier than in any other time in history; and it is still loaded, moved and fired using hands and muscles.  Armor and Cavalry soldiers must move their ammunition by hand in order to load their tanks and vehicles and even the most basic maintenance on those vehicles is extremely labor intensive. Special Forces soldiers especially, who conduct missions far into enemy territory must take all of their equipment with them in rucksacks that at times are unbearably heavy.  Infantry combat is hard, dirty, bloody, murderous, and physically demanding.  It takes a terrible toll physically and mentally on men and they are never the same after taking part in it.

The part of this that I want everyone here to understand is not that the SecDef believes that women aren't capable, because they have proven their worth.  This is not, as the ACLU believes, a question of the denial of full citizenship of female soldiers in the US Army, as the denial of the right to vote would be.  Nor is this a zero sum game in which if male soldiers are being promoted because they have combat experience, that some female soldiers without that experience are not. Soldiers in the US Army do not compete against other soldiers across the entire Army for promotion.  Soldiers in the US Army compete with other soldiers in the Military Occupational Specialties they have chosen for promotion, so for example; Male Infantry soldiers compete against other Male Infantry soldiers for promotion.  Female helicopter mechanics do not compete against male infantry soldiers for promotions or assignments.  Female soldiers are allowed to transition to other career fields that will undoubtedly place them in combat situations; Military Police soldiers escort convoys and protect generals. Human Intelligence specialists and Counter-Intelligence work alongside Special Forces and line combat units.

And so everyone here understands, not every man that can be assigned to combat arms, espcially the Infantry or Special Forces, is accepted into those branches.  There are men who cannot make the grade physically of not only US Army Standards, but also for what is expected of them to maintain the standards of the combat units they could be assigned to. 

This is something that the ACLU cannot get injunctive relief for, The Supreme Court cannot rule on, the US Army cannot regulate nor can the US Congress legislate; and that is the fact that men and women are created differently.  Males weigh about 15 percent more on average than females and they are on average, taller as well.  Males are physically stronger than females. The difference is due to females having less total muscle mass than males, and also having lower muscle mass in comparison to total body mass. Males are stronger than females when adjusting for differences in total body mass. While individual muscle fibers have similar strength, males have more fibers due to their greater total muscle mass. The greater muscle mass of males is in turn due to a greater capacity for muscular hypertrophy as a result of men's higher levels of testosterone.  Males have denser, stronger bones, tendon and ligaments.  Male and female pelvises are shaped differently.  The female pelvis has a wider pelvic cavity which is necessary for giving birth.  Male pelvises did not evolve to give birth and are more optimized for walking.  Males typically have larger trachae and branching bronchi with about 56% greater lung volume per body mass.  They also have larger hearts, 10% higher red blood cell count, and higher haemoglobin which allows for greater oxygen-carrying capacity. They also have higher circulating clotting factors (vitamin K, prothrombin and platelets). These differences lead to faster healing of wounds and higher peripheral pain tolerance. 

This is a lot to absorb but these facts are not something, try as the ACLU might, that can be wished away because, as I stated previously, there are men that cannot meet the standards to be in the combat arms and these are men with dense bones, good lung capacity, and good red blood cell counts. The machine guns, mortar system base plates, ammunition, rucksacks and rifles are not going to suddenly become easier to pack, carry or maneuver because the ACLU demands that we allow women to serve in the combat arms branches when there are men who have been screened out because they cannot carry or use those same pieces of equipment to an established standard.

And this is about standards and what it takes to fight and win the nation's wars,   In the heat of battle, when opposing forces are locked in the fight to the death, physical strength and size will allow soldiers to carry heavy loads of ammunition hour after hour, up mountains and through cities without injury.  Thicker bones, and bigger muscles and the ability to carry heavy loads great distances will truly mean life or death.  Stronger ligaments and tendons means less possibility of injuries before encoutnering enemy forces.  Hand to hand fighting will require physical strength and muscle mass that will mean life or death not only for the individual soldier, but for the soldiers they are fighting alongside. The small unit battles will be won by strong men with muscles who are closing with their enemies and destroying them, mostly with rifles, but sometimes with knives, fists, feet, hands, clubs, rocks. Ask the Soldiers and Marines who fought insurgents in house to house fighting in the city of Fallujah how close, dirty and violent Infantry combat can be on the modern battlefield.  Sit down with British Soldiers who fixed bayonets and fought house to house in Basra and ask them about the degree of physical difficulty and bloody violence their job involves.

In addition, US Army regulations require theater commanders to provide Female soldiers in combat theaters specific kinds of medical and life support.  There are medical needs that the US Army is required to provide for and female soldiers have specific housing requirements that must be met.  These kinds of support are impossible to provide at small firebases and combat outposts where small footprints and close living situations are the norm.  These factors will affect combat readiness of the unit and will expose all soldiers to more danger.

The bottom line, bottom dollar, nature of the world is that like it or not, men who have bigger muscles, thicker bones, and nastier dispositions; who are trained and hardened in these small units are the people to get this nasty, dirty, and dangerous work of fighting and winning the nation's wars done.  We as a society have to decide what the assignment of women to these jobs means and how it will affect readiness. The fields that involve direct ground combat as the main part of their mission are the tip of the spear of our military and the fact remains that women are denied entry to these career fields not only because the law does not allow it but because, as a group and by percentages, they do not possess the requisite physical skills to be successful on the battlefield as a combat arms soldier.

The number one mission of the US Military is to fight and win the nations wars and anything that takes away from that not only weakens our freedom, it affects our society.  Allowing women to serve in the Combat Arms branches for which they are not physically qualified weakens our forces.  Saying that we as a society measure full citizenship by allowing the equal opportunity to both men and women who volunteer for military service to plunge a bayonet into the torso of an enemy soldier while fighting to clear an assigned sector of the enemy during war is a poor measure of what it means to be a citizen.  Our military is large enough that women seeking to advance need not have infantry combat experience to advance to higher rank or receive preferred assignments.  

Iraqi Army. Better Scout Helicopters than the US Army.

via IraqMilitary.org (interesting to note that the Iraqi's are already flying one of the helicopters competing in the Advanced Army Scout Helo competition...it must be a kick in the teeth to see a former enemy flying more advanced helicopters than the military that defeated it)

Hey Lockheed! Heard you guys owe me money!

via ELP's blog...

Anonymous said...
Solomon Shorter is not the sharpest tool in the shed. His blog is sponsored by Lockmart where he routinely spews hatred and vitriol at anyone that questions the F-35.
Quite frankly I don't give a damn about his opinions on anything....

Pretty damn amusing considering I can't even get an interview regarding the Marine Personnel Carrier.

But as far as hatred and vitriol?  Damn right.  I adapt to the type of war I'm involved in.  I won't fight with one hand tied behind my back... so I WILL give as good as I get.

If I actually WAS sponsored by Lockheed Martin, I'd have to be MUCH more gentle in how I approach things.

Independence is a wonderful thing!

*What's really awesome is that I've been accused of being on the payroll of BAE, Lockheed, General Dynamics, Sikorsky, Augusta Westland...basically everyone except the Russian and Chinese design houses.  I've even been accused of being overly enthused by an offering from FNSS...I must be doing something right huh?

Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Alejandro A. Santana with Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, carries ammunition for the M777A2 Lightweight Howitzer during Eager Mace 13, aboard Forward Operating Base Sword, Kuwait Nov. 14, 2012. The purpose of the exercise is to expand levels of cooperation, maritime capabilities, as well as promote long-term regional stability and interoperability between U.S. forces and regional partners. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Bobby J. Gonzalez/Not Reviewed)

U.S. Marines with Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, wait to fire the M777A2 Lightweight Howitzer as part of Eager Mace 13, aboard Forward Operating Base Sword, Kuwait Nov. 14, 2012. The purpose of the exercise is to expand levels of cooperation, maritime capabilities, as well as promote long-term regional stability and interoperability between U.S. forces and regional partners. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Bobby J. Gonzalez/Not Reviewed)

U.S. Marines with Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, load ammunition into a M777A2 Lightweight Howitzer as part of Eager Mace 13, aboard Forward Operating Base Sword, Kuwait Nov. 14, 2012. The purpose of the exercise is to expand levels of cooperation, maritime capabilities, as well as promote long-term regional stability and interoperability between U.S. forces and regional partners. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Bobby J. Gonzalez/Not Reviewed)

U.S. Marines with Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, adjust the sights on the M777A2 Lightweight Howitzer as part of Eager Mace 13, aboard Forward Operating Base Sword, Kuwait Nov. 14, 2012. The purpose of the exercise is to expand levels of cooperation, maritime capabilities, as well as promote long-term regional stability and interoperability between U.S. forces and regional partners. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Bobby J. Gonzalez/Not Reviewed)

A U.S. Marine with Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, swabs the breach of an M777A2 Lightweight Howitzer Lightweight Howitzer after firing as part of Eager Mace 13, aboard Forward Operating Base Sword, Kuwait Nov. 14, 2012. The purpose of the exercise is to expand levels of cooperation, maritime capabilities, as well as promote long-term regional stability and interoperability between U.S. forces and regional partners. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Bobby J. Gonzalez/Not Reviewed

U.S. Marines with Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire the M777A2 Lightweight Howitzer as part of Eager Mace 13, aboard Forward Operating Base Sword, Kuwait Nov. 14, 2012. The purpose of the exercise is to expand levels of cooperation, maritime capabilities, as well as promote long-term regional stability and interoperability between U.S. forces and regional partners. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Bobby J. Gonzalez/Not Reviewed)

U.S. Marines with Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire the M777A2 Lightweight Howitzer as part of Eager Mace 13, aboard Forward Operating Base Sword, Kuwait Nov. 14, 2012. The purpose of the exercise is to expand levels of cooperation, maritime capabilities, as well as promote long-term regional stability and interoperability between U.S. forces and regional partners. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Bobby J. Gonzalez/Not Reviewed)

U.S. Marines with Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire the M777A2 Lightweight Howitzer as part of Eager Mace 13, aboard Forward Operating Base Sword, Kuwait Nov. 14, 2012. The purpose of the exercise is to expand levels of cooperation, maritime capabilities, as well as promote long-term regional stability and interoperability between U.S. forces and regional partners. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Bobby J. Gonzalez/Not Reviewed)

Hellfire missiles tested in Med

One of the world’s leading tank-busting missiles has been fired from Apaches based on HMS Illustrious during a firing exercise in the western Mediterranean.

For the second time this year the Army Air Corps gunships were launched from the deck of the Portsmouth-based aircraft carrier to fire live Hellfire missiles.

Two Apaches from 656 Squadron AAC flew from the helicopter carrier’s flight deck as the sun rose over the western Med near Gibraltar to practise shooting at specialist targets.

With the ranges clear of all other shipping and aircraft, the two gunships sent five Hellfire missiles into specialist targets up to 2.5km (1.5 miles) away, obliterating them and sending debris and shrapnel spinning across the water.

The Hellfire has proven itself repeatedly in Afghanistan and was used extensively in last year’s Libyan campaign, when Apaches flew from the deck of HMS Ocean against Colonel Gaddafi’s forces – the first time the gunships had been used in anger at sea.

In the spring, HMS Illustrious carried out the first live Hellfire firings in UK waters and now has repeated that exercise in the Med.

As well as training for the Apache crews, the firings allowed Illustrious’ specialist air engineer weapons supply team to practise safely moving the missiles (each carries a 9kg/20lb warhead) from the carrier’s magazine to the flight deck, where the squadron’s armourers loaded them on to the helicopters.

Apaches can carry up to 16 Hellfires, mounted in sets of four on pylons beneath the helicopter’s wings.

The missile leaves its launch rail and accelerates to a speed of Mach 1.3 – 425 metres every second or 950mph – meaning it takes fewer than 20 seconds to reach a target at its maximum range of eight kilometres.

In this instance the missiles were launched at special radar-designated targets –aluminium sheeting with attached radar reflectors – which could be picked up by the fire control system on the Apaches and by the Hellfires themselves.

“Just as we successfully proved earlier this year, the latest Hellfire firings conducted from Illustrious have once again demonstrated the combination of Army Apache helicopters launched from the deck of HMS Illustrious are a potent mix, capable of combat against targets on land and at sea anywhere in the world,” said Captain Martin Connell, HMS Illustrious’ Commanding Officer.

HMS Illustrious is now heading back to Portsmouth, having completed her part in the Cougar 12 deployment to the Mediterranean.

Cougar saw the UK’s Response Force Task Group; led by flagship HMS Bulwark, carry out amphibious exercises with the French Navy off Corsica, then with the Albanians in the Adriatic.

Look, assess, act!

Little kid goes to a dinosaur park and runs up against hell on two feet.  He does the proper thing.  He sees the danger, assesses the danger and then decides to get the fuck outta dodge!  Priceless!

Old Old Skool...

via Lone Sentry Blog.

Definitely does not apply today!

The ground work is being laid.

Wow.  I had an epiphany when I read this article from Marine Times.  Read it all but its all making sense when taking all together.  First the Washington Times comes out with a story on Sunday about Women in Combat.  Then earlier today we get word that 4 service women are suing to drop the prohibition on women in combat...and now we have the story stating that women will now perform pull ups.  Check out this portion.

But come 2014, women will be required to do at least three pull-ups to pass the PFT, with eight needed for a perfect score on that portion of the test.Men must do three pull-ups to pass the test, with 20 required for a perfect score.The flexed-arm hang will remain a part of the Corps’ Initial Strength Test for all female enlisted recruits and as part of the initial PFT required for female officer candidates, according to Amos’ message. However, starting in 2014, pull-ups will be a graduation requirement for boot camp and Officer Candidates School.

This is all to lay the ground work for a decision that has already been made.  Women will be allowed in combat.  Standards will be lowered or ignored.  I'm speechless.

NOTE:  Spare me the women's rights activist bullshit, the liberal drumbeat and the peacenik nonsense.  Head over to USNI Blog to find fellow travelers in that belief system.  Today I'm more than likely to cuss you and then pray to all that's holy that you live nearby so I can setup a meeting.  The pussification of America's military is almost complete.


NOTE 1:  Are you people kidding me?  Do you really think that 3 pullups is considered satisfactory?  Find me a Male Marine in the Infantry that is only doing 3 pulllups and I'll show you a Marine whose life is hell.  He will be hating life, he'll never get promoted until he improves and he won't be able to keep up.  Some of you are so lost you can't see straight....your lack of experience with anything military is stunning.

Ship to shore enhanced. Introducing the hover barge.

Concept.
via Columbia Helicopters...

In June 1982, Columbia Helicopters was hired by Sohio to participate in a test on Alaska's North Slope. The purpose of this test was to evaluate the ability of a helicopter - the Boeing Vertol 107-II - to tow a fully-loaded hover barge over water, snow and ice.
The test began in Prudhoe Bay on June 17. The Vertol's 600-foot long line was connected to hover barge ACT-100, jointly owned by Global Marine Development and VECO. Air blowers on the 170-ton barge forced a cushion of air under the barge, which was kept in place by rubberized skirt material.
This first test was run around Prudhoe Bay with an empty barge, and was successful. During this and subsequent tests, the aircraft often flew with a nose-down angle approaching 25 degrees. Next, ACT-100 was loaded with 40 tons of cargo for another close-in test run. Once more, the helicopter showed it could move the barge despite the additional weight. The final aspect of the test was to tow the hover barge over a 50-mile course to a drill site named Alaska Island where Sohio had just completed an oil well.
During the tow to the island, headwinds over 30 knots were encountered, and snow and ice buildup were also factors. Regardless, the Vertol was able to bring the empty barge to the island successfully. On the return trip to Prudhoe Bay, when this photo was taken, the barge carried 50 tons of cargo, bringing the total weight to 220 tons. As with the previous tests, this task was accomplished successfully.
This photograph is one of longtime Columbia Helicopters' photographer Ted Veal's most famous photographs. The use of a powerful telephoto lens makes it appear as though the helicopter is closer to the ice than is actually the case.
Hover Barge Tow Photo © Columbia Helicopters, Inc. 1982

It would have to be tweaked for military use, but hover barges have been in use by the commercial industry for a number of years.  If towing a barge with a CH-53 (even if you're more than quadrupling its normal payload) doesn't make sense militarily then how about this system from Hovertrans from Singapore.

Basically it takes an LCAC (in military terms) and has it act as a tow ship to four 50 ton barges.  One trip ashore and you have moved 200 tons instead of 50 or 60.

Ship to shore can be solved.  Oh and you're asking how do we transport these "extra" hover barges to theaters?  Easy.  They're with the follow on echelon aboard the MPF ships.  Besides the added benefit of being able to discharge cargo directly across the beach...without the need for port facilities (think Haiti if disaster relief is your primary motivation).

Turn up the speakers in your office....

via Joe (already been playing this but I'll post this for others that haven't heard it...God I love this song)...

Time for a real Afloat Forward Staging Base.

This is going to make some people punch walls but here we go again(sorry but its too good to not bring it back up every couple of months)!  I've seen the reports of the USS Ponce in action as an Afloat Staging Base-Interim.  I've read the thinking that the Mobile Landing Platform can be used in the role.  I've seen all that and I remain unconvinced.

Instead of expensive adhoc solutions how about an inexpensive (relatively) conversion that fulfills the mission?  How about the Maersk Conversion?  SOCOM quickly pushed the ship in hand toward a base for mine warfare...even in that role it was probably inadequate.  How many MH-53's could you get on the deck of that LPD?

Consider the response that could have been possible if SOCOM had the capabilities of this ship available for the troubles in Libya?  You could have a forward based Command Element from Tampa onboard...a flight of USAF CV-22's...Task Force 160 guys with Little Birds and MH-47's...a couple of SEAL Teams, Special Forces A-Teams, MARSOC and Rangers...not to mention all the support personnel these units would require.

One ship...a ton of shooters.  SOCOM should be all over this if the Navy isn't.  Additionally the flight deck behind the bridge could be converted to a high tech communications array ala the Blue Ridge Class and it would be complete.  This idea is beyond ready for prime time.  All it needs is a brave soul in the Pentagon to get the ball rolling.  Seriously.  Consider the ship concept above with the Ponce...

I was wrong.

Count this as one of the few times I'll admit that I was wrong.

Well I was when it comes to the war in Afghanistan.  I have it from a person down range that will remain unnamed that the Afghans are indeed much better than they were when he was last there.  His estimation alone means more than anything said by a  spokesman from NATO, the Pentagon or the White House.  I'm putting words in his mouth but it appears that he's hinting that we could actual win the thing.

It either happened too late OR the architects of the war didn't properly explain it AND support it in the halls of Congress or in the media.

Another issue that came up concerns the rules of engagement.  They still suck and still put guys in jeopardy.  On a related side note, the Wing is bringing the pain.

YOU GUYS GET AN APOLOGY.  MARINE AIR WILL GET PROPER RESPECT ESPECIALLY YOU ROTOR HEADS (hey...I say that with love)....

All in all...I'm pleasantly surprised.  Now.  Will the administration adjust its timetable or is this a done deal?

Haast Eagle. Badass of the week.

If you aren't subscribed to Badass of the week then you're missing out.  Here's a tidbit of his latest...

Haast's Eagle is a brain-aneurysm inducing species of gigantic man-eating winged monstrosities that became notorious among the Maori tribes of pre-colonial New Zealand thanks to their horrific propensity to silently dive-bomb down from the tree tops in absolute silence, crush the skulls of 450-pound beasts like a Volkswagen driving over a soda can, then fly off into the darkness clutching the tribe's women and children in a fist full of razor-sharp 4-inch talons so they could be slowly and painfully shredded to death at the beast's leisure.
This is not a myth or a legend. This is a real thing that actually lived on Earth-One's material plane as late as 1600 AD.
Known as the "Tiger of the Skies", Haast's Eagles are one of the only birds to ever be the apex predator of an ecosystem, a distinction they hold mostly because there are no predatory mammals on New Zealand, but also because what the fuck is going to step to a pissed-as-hell mega-raptor so ungodly gigantulous that it's wings blacken the sky and its insanity-causing shrieks presumably caused deafness and incontinence in anything unlucky enough to hear it. Gigantic, feather-covered instruments of God's Unadulterated Fury, Haast's Eagles stood six feet tall, weighed a little over 35 pounds, and had a wingspan of roughly ten feet. These goddamned things were, no exaggeration, the size of hang gliders, tore ass through the densest jungles of New Zealand with the dexterity of a howler monkey, and boasted black, pointy, fuck-off claws that were about the same size as a modern-day Bengal tiger's.

I have never laughed so hard at primitive man's fight against nature in my life.  If this bird was around today he'd make one hell of a hunt...I mean seriously, you go into the woods and you hunt him and he hunts you.  Anyway, read the rest of it here.