Saturday, September 11, 2010
Military News: US Marines Gain Control Of The M/V Magellan Star From Pirates
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Paracargo: New Uses For UAV’s–The K-MAX Dropping LCLA Or JPADS Paracargo
This is cool. To be able to drop paracargo like this, would be a very interesting capability, and especially dropping JPADS. The K-MAX is such a work horse as well, and can totally handle high elevations a lot better than others in it’s class. So for unmanned cargo missions, this might be the helicopter/UAV we will see more of in the near future.
Some other interesting uses for this helicopter, would be SPIE operations or moving around people with a long line. Although that would probably be for only special incidents where survival would depend on having a means of getting out of a spot quickly (medevacs, attacks, etc.), and manned helicopters are not available. Weaponizing it would be cool too, and to have a dual use helicopter UAV for anything that pops up would be a nice little tool to have in the battlefield tool kit for a commander.
Having a robotic cargo hauler like this, will probably inspire many innovative uses for the thing as troops utilize it on the battlefield. Especially if they could harden up this bird a little to give it some more combat survivability. Kind of like the A 10 Warthog of UAV helicopters. Interesting stuff. –Matt
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by Graham Warwick
5/5/2010
No sign yet of an RFP from the US Navy for umanned cargo resupply of Marine Corps units in Afghanistan, but team-mates Lockheed Martin and Kaman continue to develop the capability of their unmanned version of the K-Max external-lift helicopter. In late April, they demonstrated the ability to airdrop supplies, which would improve the helicopter’s survivability in combat zones.
The 11 drop tests from 300-400ft altitude used the US Army’s LCLA low-cost low-altitude parachute, a one-time-use aerodynamic decelerator that costs just $375 and can be used with loads up to 600lb, the team says. Loads were dropped from the K-Max’s four-hook carousel. Kaman says future tests could include the JPADS precision airdrop system, a GPS-guided steerable parachute that would allow loads to be dropped from higher altitudes and take advantage of the K-Max’s ability to lift 4,300lb to 15,000ft.
The airdrop tests were conducted with a safety pilot on board, but the K-Max operated unmanned during a cargo resupply demonstration for the Marine Corps earlier this year. Boeing’s A160T Hummingbird unmanned helicopter participated. Both teams are now waiting for an RFP from the Navy. Inside Defense, meanwhile, is reporting the Army is pushing for an unmanned cargo demonstration.
Story here.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Parachuting: Special Forces Get The New MC-6, Marines Get The New T-11
I perked up when I saw a story mentioning smokejumpers in the Stars and Stripes, and this is what they were talking about. Strategy Page just posted about it as well. The parachute that they were discussing is called the MC 6, and it has a different name in the smokejumpers. It is called the FS 14 canopy. It is a round (shape of the canopy) chute, and it is great for steep descents into tight jump spots surrounded by tall trees. It is also steerable, and you can get different sizes of chutes, depending on the weight and size of the jumper. I jumped a large when I was using the canopy in the Forest Service, and they are the ones who primarily use this canopy. I think the smallest spot surrounded by trees that I ever jumped with this parachute was the size of a small house. This parachute struggles in higher winds though, and I like a different parachute for that stuff.
When it comes to a great all around parachute for rough terrain parachuting, I preferred the RAM Air DC 7 canopy or square canopy. The MC 5 is the military equivalent. This parachute looks like the sport parachutes you see in the civilian world, and they are very nice.
This parachute is primarily used by the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service is slowly transitioning to this parachute. As we speak, they are doing cross training between the two organizations in order to gain proficiency. The BLM uses this parachute for the Great Basin in the western US, and up in Alaska. Both areas have higher winds, and big open areas. But both areas also have their mountains and trees to jump into. Having jumped rounds and squares (parachute types), I would have to go with squares as being the best all around parachute to use for all types of terrain. What I imagine the SF is doing, is just having the option to use either the MC 5 or the MC 6, depending upon the mission. That is smart, but hopefully they are proficient on both, and muscle memory doesn’t screw them up while using one parachute or the other. You definitely have to know each parachute and it’s deployment system very well in order to get a good parachuting strategy for getting on the ground safely and in rough terrain.
As for the T 11, it looks interesting, but I really cannot comment on it. Just as long as it is stable, easy to control, and gets the guys on the ground safely, then I am all for it.
Now what is exciting about the T-11 and the MC-6 is that both of these parachutes will make parachute operations a tad more safer, and make the option of airborne operations in war a little more feasible for future missions. Who knows, maybe the military might take another look at Fire Force type operations as a viable way of attacking enemies? Parachuting troops in places like Afghanistan, might be a safer option than flying in with helicopters or driving in via convoys. Parachuting also distributes the forces more. One missile or one IED can take out a multitude of troops in a helicopter or vehicle. Parachuting soldiers who are only exposed in the air for around 40 plus seconds, can make them very spread out and very hard to shoot.
And because the Taliban are such poor shots, I don’t think they could be very effective at shooting soldiers out of the sky as they parachute to the ground. Especially if there is a sniper team on the ground, or some airship circling around and lighting up any enemy forces that want to take a shot. With good night vision kit, and safer parachutes, night time operations might also be more feasible as well. I am sure airborne troops have thought about all of this stuff for our current wars, and it would be interesting to hear some of their ideas. You just don’t hear a lot about parachuting operations in this war, and it might be worth some further exploration. Especially if the military is going to invest millions of dollars into two new canopies for the troops, as well as cycle thousands of troops through airborne training. By the way, bravo to the guys at Paraflite for making some awesome parachutes. –Matt
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MC 6 parachute.
T 11 parachute.
Special Forces look to smoke jumpers for new parachutes
By Warren Peace
May 4, 2010
STUTTGART, Germany — Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group recently got a chance to try out the Army’s new MC-6 parachute, which they say will be put to good use when dropping into tight combat zones in Afghanistan.
The MC-6 is more maneuverable than the aging MC-1, which has been used by Special Forces soldiers for years, and the Stuttgart-based soldiers are the first unit in Europe to train with the new chute.
When searching for a new parachute that could drop them into a small landing area, Army Special Forces looked to the smoke jumpers, who are tasked with descending into the heart of Rocky Mountain forest fires, said David Roy, program leader for the MC-6.
“The U.S. forest services have been using this canopy for about 16 years now,” Roy said. “They use it to get into postage-size drop zones in the Rockies as they go to put out fires.”
Plus, the small drop zones and high altitudes of the Rocky Mountains are very similar to the conditions faced by airborne soldiers in Afghanistan, said Maj. Jason Morneault, assistant product manager for Program Manager Clothing and Individual Equipment for the Army.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Books: Every Day Is Monday, By J. Michael Raab
I want to get the word out about a cool new war memoir that I just came across. I have not read the thing, but it has been recommended by friends, and I know my readership digs these kinds of books. Plus they make for great reads during your down time while deployed.
Also, Mr. Raab is self publishing, which I have a lot of respect for. Self publishing is tough because you do not have the same marketing and distribution resources as one of the big publishers. It is still cool, because at least you can control all aspects of what you are doing with that book, and sometimes these books take a life of their own without the power of a big publishing firm. Either way, most authors would like to get their books out there to the masses and sell a bunch, and I am sure this author would appreciate some help. So if you are a big time publishing firm that is reading this, or even a Hollywood guy, I would highly recommend checking out this book and getting in touch with Mr. Raab.
One final mention. At the website, you can see all of these Marines mentioned in the book, via some excellent youtube videos. It is quite a thing these days to not only read about these men and the war they fought, but to see them in action through film only makes the story they have to tell that much more interesting and personal. That is new media and that is pretty damned awesome. Check it out and Semper Fi. –Matt
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Every Day Is Monday
By J. Michael Raab
J. Michael Raab chronicles the emotions, heartache, and bond of five lifelong friends during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
*****
In the wake of the September 11th attacks close friends are given the opportunity to come together and embrace the war on terrorism head on. Reuniting after being Honorably discharged from the Marine Corps five years prior, they find themselves re-enlisting in the military for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Every Day is Monday chronicles the emotions, heartache, and the bond of five men in their quest to find themselves, while dueling with an unforeseen insurgency in Iraq’s legendary Triangle of Death.
Struggling with the Rules of Engagement and the politics of war, the team must skillfully maneuver through enemy territory as a sniper element to combat the ever-growing invisible enemy that hunts them. Daily events bring them closer together as they face the challenge of not letting their friendship come before military rank, and the desire for each of them to lead the pack. The only thing that keeps them from losing their sanity in the fog of war is the bond of calling one another…Friends.
Buy the book here.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Legal News: Marine’s Father Will Not Pay Court-Ordered Funeral Protester’s Fees!!!
This is disgusting. These pathetic losers from the Westboro Baptist Church are a stain on society and the US. Any court should recognize that maybe common sense and human decency should for once dictate in ruling like this? Because if they don’t, then I could see this protest method gaining traction, and we will see even more disgusting examples of freedom of speech gone horribly wrong.
Now if they say that the ruling should stand, and this father should pay, then that’s that. If I was that father, I would do the time in prison or whatever for not paying and be highly vocal once in the joint. He would become a martyr, and it will surely make a mockery of the justice system–every day he serves. It is as ridiculous as holding a court martial for the Navy SEALs who punched the terrorist in the stomach, after the animal was responsible for killing, mutilating and hanging from a bridge, the Blackwater contractors in Fallujah. What the hell is going on? –Matt
Edit: Please join the Facebook Page in support of the Snyder Family in their fight against the WBC.
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Marine’s dad ordered to pay protesters’ court fees
March 30, 2010
BALTIMORE — The father of a Marine killed in Iraq and whose funeral was picketed by anti-gay protesters was ordered to pay the protesters’ appeal costs, his lawyers said Monday.
On Friday, Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ordered Snyder to pay $16,510 to Fred Phelps. Phelps is the leader of the Westboro Baptist Church, which conducted protests at Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder’s funeral in 2006.
The two-page decision supplied by attorneys for Albert Snyder of York, Pa., offered no details on how the court came to its decision.
Attorneys also said Snyder is struggling to come up with fees associated with filing a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court.
The decision adds “insult to injury,” said Sean Summers, one of Snyder’s lawyers.
The high court agreed to consider whether the protesters’ message is protected by the First Amendment or limited by the competing privacy and religious rights of the mourners.
Story here.
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Marine’s Father Will Not Pay Court-Ordered Funeral Protesters’ Fees
March 30, 2010
The father of a Marine killed in Iraq whose funeral was picketed by anti-gay protesters told Fox News he will defy a court order and not pay the protesters’ appeal costs.
The father of a Marine killed in Iraq whose funeral was picketed by anti-gay protesters told Fox News he will defy a court order and not pay the protesters’ appeal costs.