Monday, November 24, 2014

The Australian Navy’s game-changing $1.5 billion warship


Read the story here.

Want a "what the fuck" moment?  Check out this statement from the story...
Senator Johnston said....“We have learnt the lesson of the Anzac ships and Collins submarines that worrying about schedule can cause problems.”
Really?

Seriously?

Worrying about a schedule can cause problems?

Absolutely amazing.

RoK Marines launching Spike anti-tank/vessel missiles to sea & A side-note on repulsing an amphibious assault.

The Marine Corps is launching precision guided weapons hit the spike firing exercises at sea conducted in the last 21 days (Google Translate)





Side-note:  The SecDef suggested that the US Army utilize its Patriot missiles to allow it to participate in operations in the Pacific.  Additionally the idea of them using anti-ship missiles so that they could integrate with Navy aircraft/ships and US Air Force assets was also mentioned.  I wonder why some Marine Corps general wasn't pounding the table saying bullshit!  One of the core competencies of the Marine Corps is suppose to be not only assaulting and then establishing forward operating bases (amphibious assaults) but port seizures AND repelling enemy assaults...even those that come from the sea (enemy amphibious assaults).  The focus has been too much on tech and not enough on doing the "Marine thing".  Re-doing Bold Alligator into a port seizure exercise and then turn it around and have the forces repulse an enemy attack would prove more instructive then the dog and pony show its become.

Riddle me this...and take your time. When was the last time the United States Marine Corps practiced port seizures.  

Side-note 1:  The above illustrates what I've been saying about the idea of using LCACs and JHSVs to carry AAVs and MPCs to an "in stream launch" approx 3 miles from the beach.  You're still going to have to do the hard work of destroying enemy fortifications, missile systems etc.  Same applies with heliborne assaults using MV-22s and CH-53Ks.  Leadership wants a free lunch.  There are none.  You want the beach?  You got to put in the work!  Of course this leads to an even more troubling question.  If you have to fight to the beach then do you need (trying to take out my bias here) amphibious vehicles?  Does a marinized Stryker make sense in this constrained budget era?

Sunday, November 23, 2014

French Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV)...

#Drones - the Sterenn - of the (Black Star in breton) is a 17 m long aluminum catamaran, 7.50 m wide, with a displacement of 24.5 tons.
It is an Unmanned Surface vehicle (USV), a surface vehicle without crew for the mine action.
The purpose of this program, intended to replace the current tripartite mine hunters, is to have gear without crews, staff work remotely on boat-mother - Credits: A.Monot / Navy (Translated by Bing)

Venezuelan Marines set to receive Chinese VN-1 Wheeled Amphibious Vehicles...


via Janes.
Images from the official Twitter account of the Venezuelan Navy indicate that the Bolivarian Naval Infantry could soon be equipped with three different Chinese amphibious fighting vehicles: a development that would make Venezuela's marines one of the most potent amphibious forces in Latin America.
Images posted on 16 November show a delegation led by Venezuelan Admiral Jairo Avendano Quintero receiving the VN1 8x8 wheeled amphibious infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), while others show the delegation inspecting VN18 and VN16 amphibious IFVs, apparently at a China North Industries Corporation (Norinco) plant.
The Venezuelan Navy confirmed the VN1 purchase in July and the most recent images probably date from then.
The Venezuelan Marines operating VN-1's, 16's and 18's wouldn't put them ahead in the neighborhood.

They'd merely be keeping pace.

The Brazilian Marines are/will operate AAVs, VTBP-MRs and soon the 8x8 version of that vehicle.  Additionally the Brazilians are developing a family of vehicles from that chassis.

The State Dept has been occupied in the Middle East, Europe and the Pacific.  The Dept of Defense has been focused on the same areas and in S. America the attention has been all over the map...drug running, illegal migration and the possibility of terrorist using S. America as a conduit to the US.

No one has been paying attention to the massive arms race that is taking place.

You buy a new toy, you use a new toy.

There are lots of new toys in S. America and the buying spree shows no sign of ending soon.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Chinese Marines in Tanzania, Africa...

All pics via Chinese Military Review Blog.

Note:  Interesting that the Chinese military is making moves toward Africa.  I was under the impression that they were only involved economically.  If they're actually doing "partnership" exercises then I need to re-assess.  Additionally they seem to take "partnership" to another level.  It seems that the Chinese allow "host nation forces" to actually operate their vehicles during these exercises.  Is this a sales trip or something more?




C Sword 90 & FS46 pics...

Note:  C Sword 90 page here.  FS46 page here.

C Sword 90



FS46


CMN-Group's FS46 & C Sword 901 Brochures...