24th MEU at African Lion 12.

Photos by Cpl. Michael Petersheim

The following photos by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein

Maybe China should feel nervous....

via The Hindu.

The 2012 edition of the annual India-U.S. naval exercise, ‘Malabar,' will be held in the Bay of Bengal from April 7.

Frontline units from both navies will take part in the 10-day exercise, says an official release.

The ‘harbour phase' will begin in Chennai, with both navies taking part in professional seminars. The ‘sea phase,' will encompass a wide spectrum of exercises, ranging from conventional war fight mission to asymmetric warfare. The focus areas will be boarding operations, air defence exercises, helicopter cross-deck operations and co-ordinated anti-submarine warfare.

The U.S. Navy will be represented by ships from the Carrier Task Force (CTF) 70 of the US 7 Fleet based at Yokosuka in Japan. The CTF will include aircraft carrier USS Carl Vision, guided missile cruiser USS Bunkerhill, guided missile destroyer USS Halsey and logistics ship UNNS Bridge. Los Angeles-class submarine USS Louisville and a P3C Orion aircraft will also be involved.

The Indian Navy will be represented by indigenously built guided missile frigate INS Satpur, guided missile destroyers INS Ranvijay and INS Ranvir, missile corvette INS Kulish and fleet tanker INS Shakti. Maritime patrol aircraft Tu-142M and other rotary wing aircraft will also take part in the exercise.

Naval co-operation between the two countries is a long-term relationship. Over the years, the two navies have collaborated in a wide spectrum of activities and exercises to advance the maritime partnership, says the release.

Hmmm.

India just recieved an Akula II attack sub from Russia.

India has placed orders for P-8 aircraft.

They're buying aircraft for an aircraft carrier and other Western Fighters...

And now they have a Carrier Task Force operating with them during a training exercise.

Add to all this the Singapore Defense Chief stating that closer ties between Asian countries and the US should be strengthened through the Association of South East Asian Nations (China is not a member) and you have a reason why China might feel surrounded.

I love it!

EMOD Stock and P-Mags...

Sgt. Michael Trevino, personal security detail, non-comissioned officer, 172nd Infantry Brigade, utilizes a foot bridge to cross a swollen river outside of the village of Marzak while locals wash clothing on the far bank. Marzak has historically been a stronghold for the insurgency over the past decade until the Afghan and U.S forces took advantage of the winter months to establish a local police force at the request of the elders and secure the village from foreign fighters who transit the area during the fighting season.

I'm digging his EMOD stock and P-Mags...I thought chest rigs for your sidearm was a no-no now...and I can't identify his optics.  Was this a unit or private purchase?

Interesting News. HMH-461 have been some busy, quiet boys.

via Navy Recognition.

Off the coast of Djibouti, a Sikorsky CH-53 "Sea Stallion" from United States Marine Corps (USMC) Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 (HMH-461) conducted several approaches and landings on the Dixmude, French Navy's newest LHD.

Dixmude is the third ship of Mistral Class and is curently used to form and train future French Navy's Officers. The French vessel's flight deck directors dubbed "yellow dogs" were present on the flight deck to assist the Marines crew of the Sea Stallion in his deck landing maneuvers. The CH-53 was able to perform all its TAG (Touch and Go), and obtain the landing qualification on this French type of LHD.

Marines mechanics disembarked from the CH-53 to spend some time on the Dixmude and watch the approach of their aircraft. It was an opportunity for sailors of both nations to exchange a few words, visit parts of the French ship and exchange their unit patches.

Thanks Navy Recognition!

Now we know the name of the unit operating those CH-53's at Camp Lemonnier.  We also know for a fact that the images of that base have indeed been frozen...indeed the images of the region have been frozen.

But even more telling is the fact that in addition to French Foreign Legion, French Airborne Marines and French Paratroopers (and not counting French Special Ops Forces) we also have a French Warship operating off the coast of Africa.

Interesting indeed.

UPDATE:  Bryaxis states that this is indeed a training cruise for the junior officers.  Wow.  I couldn't imagine the US Navy taking out a frontline warship and using it for a training cruise.  Different ways of doing business I guess.  BUT!  The Legion, Airborne Marines and Paratroopers from France are all running wild and wooly on the African Continent.  

Marines in or headed to--The Fight.

Marines with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, navigate the water before loading their Assault Amphibious Vehicle onto the USS New York, March 29 before embarking upon a scheduled eight-month deployment. The 24th MEU, partnered with the Navy's Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is deploying to the European and Central Command theaters of operation to serve as a theater reserve and crisis response force capable of a variety of missions from full-scale combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Michael Petersheim)

Marines with Engineer Support Company Detachment, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) dig into the Afghan dirt during a two-day road reconstruction project along Route Yellow near Shir Ghazay, Afghanistan, March 13-14.
(U.S. Marine Corps phot by Cpl. Anthony Ward)

The Wild Man of the Air Force..

Read about this Wild Man (and hero) over at Black Five's place.

Seriously jacked up Harrier.

The amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) arrives in Sasebo, Japan. Bonhomme Richard is relieving USS Essex (LHD 2). (U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Joe Kane/Released)

That is one seriously jacked up Harrier.

I've seen training jets moved around.  Cars in hangars but I wonder what the story is behind this airplane.

If you know then please hook me up.  I'm beyond curious.