Imagination - Combined Amphibious Warfare Center (CAWC

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chrisswim
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Post by chrisswim »

Nice looking ships. Look sharpe.
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Post by Hoth_902 »

A day before Amphibious Operations/Jungle Warfare training was set to begin, the fleet was tasked with performing search and rescue operations for a New Guinea Pilot whose aircraft went down. The pilot was found and is recouping on board the RODS Menelaus.

WIth this out of the way, the ROD and RPNW forces began operations with an amphibious landing. LCACs departed there ships and made there way for the beaches.

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Once they hit the beaches, AAVP-7A1s came a shore and troops spread out for the advance.

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The Rod forces soon spread and established a perimeter.

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Once a perimeter was established, Artillery was moved up to support the move further in land.

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redleg
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Post by redleg »

In Papua New Guinea, after the initial landing the 1st MEU Marines transition into jungle warfare training. The terrain is challenging, but the Marines are up to the task!

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redleg
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Post by redleg »

1st MEU has completed its jungle training and is back at sea, heading south toward their next port of call.

Meanwhile, back at CAWC headquarters in the ROD, the ROD Marine Aviation OIC has posed a question to the group: Should the ROD Marine Corps acquire fixed wing aircraft?

The ROD Marines possess AV-8B Harriers to provide close air support from amphibious assault ships, but they are considering purchasing F/A-18s as well. The USMC has been operating non-VTOL fixed wing aircraft for many years. Aircraft like the Hornet can be a tremendous combat multiplier, but they may also be a bit outside of the Marine Corps mission scope.

Pro Hornet: The F-18 can provide excellent close air support to Marines on the ground. It can also perform air superiority missions over amphibious operations.

Con Hornet: The F-18 requires an airfield or aircraft carrier to operate from. Marine aircraft operating from carriers are part of a Navy air wing.

We are eager to hear arguments for or against F-18s in the Marine Corps from others.

Hoth_902
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Post by Hoth_902 »

I say it depends on your national budget is. I think it has value to have a couple of squadrons. However if you are running with F35s, I think you could get away with a couple of extra squadrons of them 8nstead. The harrier was no f-18, but the f-35 is definetly better than the harrier and more able to be a good fighter with most aircraft out there....so well....I guess maybe just do f-35s.
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MechCommander
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Post by MechCommander »

I think they should just stick to the harriers, true that the F-35s are very good Aircraft, but it’s terribly high costs, and a bad rep for suffering mechanical issues, some leading to crashes, it kinda brings it down as a viable aircraft.

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Post by Hoth_902 »

Harriers are too old, the cost to keep them flying is too high. It will increase as the airframe gets older and parts get more rare. Though the F-35 is expensive, some cost for maintenance can be reduced if all his marine jets are the same type. As for crashes I don't think there have been very many and I would question your premis that it's not a very viable fighter. The harrier is slow and less capable than most fighters.
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MechCommander
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Post by MechCommander »

Im just going by with some reports i found on the F-35, apparently there are a TON of flaws that had since come to light in recent years.

And that honestly makes me a little worried about using the F-35 for the NCAF, not only because of the high costs of acquiring one, but the costs of fixing its MANY and ever growing issues would be even more so.

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Post by Hoth_902 »

Keep in mind that the harrier has probably exceeded it's design service objective and that means parts will start cracking and eventually need to be replaced. There are no more harriers being made and as result, no parts to replace the ones that broke. Soon you will start scavenging bone yards to get replacement parts. Macking new ones will be cost prohibitive. The harrier 8s very long in the tooth. Now it will take a while before that happens, with countries ditching theirs, but at the end of the day, how well can it compete with a peer aircraft. Chances are not very well. The F-35 is going through teething pains, while still putting up good stats. It will get better but the harrier won't. Cost is an issue, but if the US is to the south, you have the luxury of not worrying too much. The US will always be there to provide the muscle.
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MechCommander
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Post by MechCommander »

So its ether buying used Harriers, or Really expensive and yet mechanically prone F-35s?

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Post by Hoth_902 »

Mech, You do You.
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redleg
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Post by redleg »

Great discussion! The ROD will most likely acquire F35s as well, but we'll also keep the Harriers. We will probably classify them as legacy squadrons, much like the F4 and F14 squadrons that we still use because they're still cool.

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Post by MechCommander »

The NCAF has choosen the Hawker Sea Harrier and its AV8 Harrier variant as the main aircraft for our new carrier HMCS Maple Leaf, over the F-35. As they want a more reliable VTOL jet to serve the RCNs needs.

Well make a call to the the US Navy and the British Navy to acquire their retired Harriers and replacement parts.

chrisswim
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Post by chrisswim »

The USN bought all the remaining Harriers and parts from the UK a couple of years ago.
Let’s see your AV-8s Mech when you get them.
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Post by redleg »

Port of call: Sydney, Australia! 1st MEU pulled into Sydney harbor this morning for some fun and relaxation. The sailors and Marines will have 3 days to see the sights in and around Sydney, and a planned Rugby match on Monday will go on as planned with COVID countermeasures in place. After 3 days of fun, 1st MEU will conduct 3 days of hard work during live fire exercises with the Australian Defense Force.

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