Fabrication has begun of the US Navy's LPD - 29,last of the LPD - 17 San Antonio-class Flight I amphibious transport dock ship.It is to be christened USS Richard M. McCool Jr,after a Medal of Honor winner and veteran of three wars.CAPT McCool received the Medal of Honor in 1945 for leading the effort to save his ship and her crew after a kamikaze attack in World War II.
Huntington Ingalls Industries is fabricating the warship in Pascagoula,Mississippi.The vessel is designed to transport US Marine Corps expeditionary units and brigades (up to around 720 troops) and their equipment,including air cushion vehicles;amphibious assault vehicles;helicopters;and MV-22 Ospreys.The class is intended to support amphibious assault;special operations;and expeditionary warfare missions until about 2050.*
LPD - 28 and LPD - 29 are designated transition ships of the class.Flight II,formerly called LX (R),will consist of 13 ships,bringing the total to 26 ships for the entire class.Changes to the Flight II are relatively subtle,including the addition of Roller Doors for the Flight Deck Ramp and Hangar Doors;Traditional Stick Masts;an MV-22 Flight Deck Heating Structure;and an Open Upper Stern Gate.The alterations will not change the way most watches are stood,as these will stay the same at the ship operations level,according to program manager CAPT Brian Metcalf.*
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII)
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Thursday, July 26, 2018
Congress Fails to Fund Trump's 'Space Force' in Defense Budget Bill
Congress Fails to Fund Trump's 'Space Force' in Defense Budget Bill: A House-Senate conference committee working on the 2019 defense budget left out money to start building the Space Force.
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
Iraq and Syria:Operation Inherent Resolve Intensifies Effort to Disrupt Militant Plans - lines of communication
While their countrymen lay asleep,from 16-22 July 2018,Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve redoubled its campaign against Islamic State in Iraq,Syria and the Levant extremists.The international partners pulverised the takfiri terrorists with 24 strikes spread out over 40 engagements in Iraq and Syria.
Among the strikes in Syria were:
on 21 July,the Task Force engaged an ISIL tactical unit near Abu Kamal,destroying 3 vehicles and a line of communication;
on 19 July,there were 4 strikes near Abu Kamal,engaging an ISIL tactical unit and leveling 2 logistics hubs and 2 lines of communication;
On 18 July,there were again 4 strikes near Abu Kamal,engaging an ISIL tactical unit,destroying 2 vehicles and 3 lines of communication;
on 17 July,near Soor,a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit,destroying 2 motorcycles.
In Iraq:
on 20 July,the Task Force struck targets near Sulayman Bek,engaging a tactical unit and destroying 2 vehicles and a cave;
on 17 July,again near Sulaymen Bek,the Task Force engaged an ISIL tactical unit,wiping out a VBIED and 2 fighting positions;
on 16 July,near Makhmour,9 strikes destroyed 14 ISIL caves;5 tunnels;and 4 buildings.*
The strikes were carried out by fighter;bomber;rotary-wing or remotely-piloted aircraft;rocket-propelled artillery;and ground-based tactical artillery.No further details were disclosed.*
Earlier,from 24 Apil to 26 June 2018,CJTFOIR neutralised 6 ISIL leaders and planners.This campaign of kinetic strikes stifled the Islamist extremist militants' attack planning,facilitation and operations conceived against Saudi Arabia;the US;and Sweden.Killed were:
on 24 April,Munnawar al-Mutayari,a Syria-based militant plotting external attacks on Saudi Arabia;
on 2 June,Soufiane Makouh of Belgium,plotting in Syria against the US and its interests;
on 12 June,Simak,who was plotting attacks in Sweden,and his associates Abu Awf;Abu Quddamah;and Sharif al-Ragub ( killed on 26 June).
The strikes were to disrupt ISIL's ability to plan,coordinate,and carry out attacks,CJTFOIR said.*
A line of communication is a route from a supply base to an operating base for supplies or reinforcements.A military operation cannot succeed without effective lines of communication.
Among the strikes in Syria were:
on 21 July,the Task Force engaged an ISIL tactical unit near Abu Kamal,destroying 3 vehicles and a line of communication;
on 19 July,there were 4 strikes near Abu Kamal,engaging an ISIL tactical unit and leveling 2 logistics hubs and 2 lines of communication;
On 18 July,there were again 4 strikes near Abu Kamal,engaging an ISIL tactical unit,destroying 2 vehicles and 3 lines of communication;
on 17 July,near Soor,a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit,destroying 2 motorcycles.
In Iraq:
on 20 July,the Task Force struck targets near Sulayman Bek,engaging a tactical unit and destroying 2 vehicles and a cave;
on 17 July,again near Sulaymen Bek,the Task Force engaged an ISIL tactical unit,wiping out a VBIED and 2 fighting positions;
on 16 July,near Makhmour,9 strikes destroyed 14 ISIL caves;5 tunnels;and 4 buildings.*
The strikes were carried out by fighter;bomber;rotary-wing or remotely-piloted aircraft;rocket-propelled artillery;and ground-based tactical artillery.No further details were disclosed.*
Earlier,from 24 Apil to 26 June 2018,CJTFOIR neutralised 6 ISIL leaders and planners.This campaign of kinetic strikes stifled the Islamist extremist militants' attack planning,facilitation and operations conceived against Saudi Arabia;the US;and Sweden.Killed were:
on 24 April,Munnawar al-Mutayari,a Syria-based militant plotting external attacks on Saudi Arabia;
on 2 June,Soufiane Makouh of Belgium,plotting in Syria against the US and its interests;
on 12 June,Simak,who was plotting attacks in Sweden,and his associates Abu Awf;Abu Quddamah;and Sharif al-Ragub ( killed on 26 June).
The strikes were to disrupt ISIL's ability to plan,coordinate,and carry out attacks,CJTFOIR said.*
A line of communication is a route from a supply base to an operating base for supplies or reinforcements.A military operation cannot succeed without effective lines of communication.
Friday, July 20, 2018
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Natural Notebook:Young Buck Morning
A white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) was observed at the old camp in Northern Maryland,a solitary deer,so I see it as a buck,exploring a short distance away from the doe group it belongs to.It was a young of the year buck,still in his white spots.He must have grown at an incredible pace.Say he was born in May,he is only about two months old and recently weaned.
Yet the habitat on the edge of the city is fairly rich with fields and woodlots.It seems an ideal matrix for the Virginia whitetail,one that could have brought it to its present size,about 2.5 ft /0.762 m high at the shoulder.
The young buck was foraging along the extensive stormwater management system,which is unmowed along its edges.There are some shrubs,tall grass and wildflowers.So he found a good assortment of vegetation for his breakfast.
It's so good to see him.For a long time,I wondered why I didn't see deer in this area,but saw rabbits and foxes,the whitetail's customary neighbours.It didn't make sense.Now in the past year,I have seen many of these treasured game animals around.It shows how fast a herd of deer can come out of nowhere.*
Yet the habitat on the edge of the city is fairly rich with fields and woodlots.It seems an ideal matrix for the Virginia whitetail,one that could have brought it to its present size,about 2.5 ft /0.762 m high at the shoulder.
The young buck was foraging along the extensive stormwater management system,which is unmowed along its edges.There are some shrubs,tall grass and wildflowers.So he found a good assortment of vegetation for his breakfast.
It's so good to see him.For a long time,I wondered why I didn't see deer in this area,but saw rabbits and foxes,the whitetail's customary neighbours.It didn't make sense.Now in the past year,I have seen many of these treasured game animals around.It shows how fast a herd of deer can come out of nowhere.*
Friday, July 13, 2018
Bulletin:US Army Ranger Killed in Action in Afghanistan - high achiever was admired within the Regiment
The Pentagon has disclosed that SFC Christopher A. Celiz,32,of Summerville,South Carolina,was killed by enemy small arms fire on 12 July 2018 in Paktia Province,Afghanistan while conducting combat operations along with Afghan Special Operations Forces.An Afghan SOF member was also killed in the firefight.The operation involved assisting a medevac landing zone in Zurmat district and was in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel.The incident is under investigation.
Paktia Province has been the site of several al-Qaida training camps and borders Nangahar Province,the ISIL-Khorasan stronghold.*
SFC Celiz was a mortar platoon sergeant with Company D,1st Battalion,75th Ranger Regiment out of Hunter Army Airfield,Georgia.He was on his fifth deployment and had previously served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.Among SFC Celiz's decorations were the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 3 stars;Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 stars;5 Army Achievement Medals;and 3 Army Commendation Medals.He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal;Bronze Star Medal;and Meritorious Service Medal.
Battalion commander LTCOL Sean McGee said:
SFC Celiz led from the front and always put himself in the decisive point on the battlefield.*
This is the second US combat death in Afghanistan this year,and indeed the second within the last seven days,having been preceded by the loss of US Army CPL Joeseph Maciel last Saturday.
There will reportedly be a government review of the US military's current posture in Afghanistan in the near future.
Paktia Province has been the site of several al-Qaida training camps and borders Nangahar Province,the ISIL-Khorasan stronghold.*
SFC Celiz was a mortar platoon sergeant with Company D,1st Battalion,75th Ranger Regiment out of Hunter Army Airfield,Georgia.He was on his fifth deployment and had previously served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.Among SFC Celiz's decorations were the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 3 stars;Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 stars;5 Army Achievement Medals;and 3 Army Commendation Medals.He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal;Bronze Star Medal;and Meritorious Service Medal.
Battalion commander LTCOL Sean McGee said:
SFC Celiz led from the front and always put himself in the decisive point on the battlefield.*
This is the second US combat death in Afghanistan this year,and indeed the second within the last seven days,having been preceded by the loss of US Army CPL Joeseph Maciel last Saturday.
There will reportedly be a government review of the US military's current posture in Afghanistan in the near future.
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
Tuesday, July 10, 2018
Afghan War:Green on Blue Attack Kills US Soldier
A so-called "green on blue" attack,which is an attack by an enemy posing as an ally,killed US Army CPL Joseph Maciel,20,of South Gate,California on 7 July 2018 in Tarin Kowt district of Uruzgan Province.Uruzgan borders Kandahar Province to the south.The incident is under investigation.Two other US Soldiers were wounded and are in stable condition.*
CPL Maciel was a member of 1st Battalion,28th Infantry Regiment,3rd Infantry Division out of Fort Benning,Georgia.He was serving with the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade,one of the new units set up to help implement the President's South Asia Strategy in Afghanistan.CPL Maciel received the Purple Heart Medal,Bronze Star Medal and Army Achievement Medal,along with the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.*
The unit was returning the US Army to the practice of having US infantry troops training and advising the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces,rather than just Special Operations Forces doing that task.The SFAB had received special training at Fort Benning in establishing rapport with the ANDSF and in foreign languages.
CPL Maciel was engaged in providing force protection for the unit's trainers and advisors.The SFAB numbers about 800 trainers and advisors and 300 support troops across Afghanistan.*
A Taliban spokesman said the attacker acted alone;but the Taliban "appreciated" his deed.It was the third US combat death this year in Afghanistan,and the first US green on blue fatality since June 2017.1st Battalion commander LTCOL David Connor said that CPL Maciel was:
an excellent Soldier beloved by his teammates and dedicated to our mission.He will be greatly missed by the entire Black Lion family.
CPL Maciel was a member of 1st Battalion,28th Infantry Regiment,3rd Infantry Division out of Fort Benning,Georgia.He was serving with the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade,one of the new units set up to help implement the President's South Asia Strategy in Afghanistan.CPL Maciel received the Purple Heart Medal,Bronze Star Medal and Army Achievement Medal,along with the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.*
The unit was returning the US Army to the practice of having US infantry troops training and advising the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces,rather than just Special Operations Forces doing that task.The SFAB had received special training at Fort Benning in establishing rapport with the ANDSF and in foreign languages.
CPL Maciel was engaged in providing force protection for the unit's trainers and advisors.The SFAB numbers about 800 trainers and advisors and 300 support troops across Afghanistan.*
A Taliban spokesman said the attacker acted alone;but the Taliban "appreciated" his deed.It was the third US combat death this year in Afghanistan,and the first US green on blue fatality since June 2017.1st Battalion commander LTCOL David Connor said that CPL Maciel was:
an excellent Soldier beloved by his teammates and dedicated to our mission.He will be greatly missed by the entire Black Lion family.
Tuesday, July 3, 2018
Testing of B61 Upgrade Continues in Nevada on B-2 Bombers - NATO nuclear deterrent
On 9 June 2018,an upgrade of the B61 guided nuclear gravity bomb,the B61-12,was tested on a US Air Force B-2A Spirit bomber at the high security Tonopah Test Range,Nevada.The B61 is stored on NATO bases in Europe under a dual key arrangement.
In the course of the two flight tests,an unarmed B61-12 test assembly was released from the B-2,according to a National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) press release.The NNSA,which is part of the Department of Energy,designed the test assembly and the US Air Force provided the Boeing tail assembly.According to BGEN Michael Lutton,NNSA Assistant Deputy Administrator for Military Application:
The flight tests demonstrate the B61-12 design meets system requirements and illustrate the continued progress of the B61-12 life extension program to meet national security requirements.The achievement is also a testament to the dedication of our workforce and the enduring partnership between NNSA and the US Air Force.*
Conducting the tests was the 419th Test and Evaluation Squadron out of Edwards Air Force Base,California.The tests were the first end-to-end qualification tests on a B-2A Spirit for the B61-12.They were part of a series of joint tests to demonstrate both the aircraft's ability to deliver the weapon and the weapon's non-nuclear functions.The flight tests included hardware designed by the Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory and manufactured by Nuclear Security Enterprise plants.
The B61 LEP will consolidate and replace the existing B61 bomb variants in the Nation's nuclear stockpile.The first production unit is on schedule for completion in fiscal 2020,NNSA said.*
NATO Allies Belgium,Germany,Italy,the Netherlands and Turkey host the current B61 variants on their bases.Panavia PA-200 Tornado IDS (Interdictor/Strike) and F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft are the authorised Allied delivery aircraft for these legacy weapons.
Besides the B-2A and the F-16C/D and MLU,another aircraft that can deliver the current B61 variants is the F-15E Strike Eagle.In future,the F-35 Lightning II and B-21 Raider will be able to deliver the B61.*
The B61s are guarded by US Air Force personnel and stored in vaults within hardened Protective Aircraft Shelters on the NATO bases.Their Permissive Action Links,or codes that enable the weapons to be armed,are in US custody.NATO's Nuclear Planning Group oversees the Alliance's nuclear deterrent.The annual NATO nuclear exercise,Steadfast Noon,is held in the autumn.
In the course of the two flight tests,an unarmed B61-12 test assembly was released from the B-2,according to a National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) press release.The NNSA,which is part of the Department of Energy,designed the test assembly and the US Air Force provided the Boeing tail assembly.According to BGEN Michael Lutton,NNSA Assistant Deputy Administrator for Military Application:
The flight tests demonstrate the B61-12 design meets system requirements and illustrate the continued progress of the B61-12 life extension program to meet national security requirements.The achievement is also a testament to the dedication of our workforce and the enduring partnership between NNSA and the US Air Force.*
Conducting the tests was the 419th Test and Evaluation Squadron out of Edwards Air Force Base,California.The tests were the first end-to-end qualification tests on a B-2A Spirit for the B61-12.They were part of a series of joint tests to demonstrate both the aircraft's ability to deliver the weapon and the weapon's non-nuclear functions.The flight tests included hardware designed by the Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory and manufactured by Nuclear Security Enterprise plants.
The B61 LEP will consolidate and replace the existing B61 bomb variants in the Nation's nuclear stockpile.The first production unit is on schedule for completion in fiscal 2020,NNSA said.*
NATO Allies Belgium,Germany,Italy,the Netherlands and Turkey host the current B61 variants on their bases.Panavia PA-200 Tornado IDS (Interdictor/Strike) and F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft are the authorised Allied delivery aircraft for these legacy weapons.
Besides the B-2A and the F-16C/D and MLU,another aircraft that can deliver the current B61 variants is the F-15E Strike Eagle.In future,the F-35 Lightning II and B-21 Raider will be able to deliver the B61.*
The B61s are guarded by US Air Force personnel and stored in vaults within hardened Protective Aircraft Shelters on the NATO bases.Their Permissive Action Links,or codes that enable the weapons to be armed,are in US custody.NATO's Nuclear Planning Group oversees the Alliance's nuclear deterrent.The annual NATO nuclear exercise,Steadfast Noon,is held in the autumn.
Monday, July 2, 2018
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