The ERCA system uses a service-developed, 58-caliber gun tube mounted on the chassis of a BAE Systems-made Paladin Integrated Management howitzer. (Ana Henderson/U.S. Army)

The U.S. Army is changing its approach to acquiring a long-range artillery capability and scrapping its 58-caliber Extended Range Cannon Artillery prototyping effort, according to the service’s acquisition chief.

“We concluded the prototyping activity last fall,” Doug Bush told reporters at a March 8 briefing on the fiscal 2025 budget request. “Unfortunately, [it was] not successful enough to go straight into production.”

The new plan — following an “exhaustive” tactical fires study meant to revalidate elements of the extended-range cannon requirement led by Army Futures Command — is to evaluate existing options from industry this summer “to get a sense of the maturity of those systems.”

Of the 24 new Army systems slated to make it into the hands of soldiers by the end of 2023, only the Extended Range Cannon Artillery program missed that goal. The ERCA system uses a service-developed, 58-caliber gun tube mounted on the chassis of a BAE Systems-made Paladin Integrated Management howitzer.

The Army was building 20 prototypes of the ERCA system: two for destructive testing and the remaining 18 for a battalion.

The operational evaluation of ERCA revealed “engineering challenges,” Bush said a year ago. Observations in early testing of prototypes showed excessive wear on the gun tube after firing a relatively low number of rounds.

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Aerial starboard side view of the Royal Australian Navy aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne (R21) and the destroyers HMAS Vendetta (D08) and HMAS Voyager (D04) underway, circa in 1959. On the carrier’s flight deck, two Gannet anti submarine aircraft are spotted forward with another to port abreast the island. Three Sea Venom fighters are spotted aft of the island.

 Strategic Reserve on multiple occasions. In 1965 and 1966, the destroyer undertook deterrence patrols during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation. Along with several runs escorting the troop transport HMAS Sydney to South Vietnam, from late 1969 to early 1970 Vendetta was assigned to combat operations and became the only Australian-built warship to serve in a shore bombardment role during the Vietnam War.

The ship underwent a two-year modernisation from 1971 to 1973, and in December 1974 was one of thirteen RAN warships involved in Operation Navy Help Darwin after Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin. Several more deployments were made to the Far East, up until 1978. In October 1979, the destroyer was decommissioned, and served as a parts hulk for sister ship HMAS Vampire. Vendetta was sold for ship breaking in January 1987.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Vendetta_(D08)#Websites

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The General Frank S Besson is carrying the first load of equipment to build a floating harbour

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Fiji has taken delivery of its second Guardian-class Patrol Boat, the RFNS Puamau, at a handover ceremony at HMAS Stirling, Western Australia.

The Prime Minister of Fiji, the Hon Sitiveni Rabuka received the vessel on behalf of the Government of Fiji.

The RFNS Puamau is the second vessel delivered to Fiji, and the 19th vessel delivered under the Pacific Maritime Security Program – Australia’s 30-year commitment of uninterrupted engagement with our Pacific partners in support of a stable, prosperous and secure region.

“Australia is proud to be Fiji’s security partner of choice. The delivery of the second Guardian-class Patrol Boat today is a tangible demonstration of our Vuvale Partnership,” said Pat Conroy, Minister for Defence Industry and Minister for International Development and the Pacific.

“By enhancing Fiji’s maritime security capabilities, we are more effective in tackling our shared regional challenges together.”

Fiji and Australia are Vuvale – natural partners working together to develop joint responses to emerging regional needs and priorities.

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Fiji welcomes second Guardian Class patrol boat from Australia

The Australian government has transferred a second Guardian Class patrol boat, the RFNS Puamau, to Fiji at an official handover ceremony in Western Australia.

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Despite previous recruitment issues, the Earl of Minto told the House of Lords that ‘applications are well up’ (Picture: MOD)

More than 10,000 people applied to join the British Army in January, a defence minister has revealed.

During a debate about military National Service, Timothy Lariston Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound The Earl of Minto told the House of Lords that “applications have been well up in the last few months”.

The Conservative peer said: “We had more than 10,000 applications for regular soldiers in January; there were 53,000 applications in the period from June 2021 to 2022 and just shy of 70,000 from June 2022 to 2023”.

* Applications to join Armed Forces rising, with Royal Navy at an eight-year high

* UK Armed Forces numbers drop by almost a third in 23 years, MOD data reveals

* Fact check: Is military conscription really going to happen?

The Earl of Minto went on to say: “My Lords, the way we address the threat is a constantly changing situation.

“Whether through procurement or through individual members of the forces, there is a constant ratio of training, retraining and readdressing the threat.”

He went on to say: “I really believe that we have the right quality of forces in place. We know that we do not have as many as we had planned, and there are some prevalent recruitment issues.

“Encouragingly, applications have been well up in the last few months.”Play VideoWatch: Defence Secretary admits proposed military housing policy is ‘problematic’

The debate on National Service follows on from the head of the British Army’s comments, suggesting that Britain should train and equip a “citizen army” to prepare the country for a potential land war with Russia.

Only last month the Defence Secretary said applications to join the Armed Forces have increased, amid rising tensions around the globe.

Grant Shapps said the Royal Navy had received an eight-year high in applications, while the British Army had seen a six-year high.

He also stated that the Royal Air Force was experiencing an increase in potential recruits.

At the time, Mr Shapps did not put a number on the applications received, but his hopes of “making progress” on recruitment come after warnings that military personnel are leaving faster than they can be replaced.

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http://dlvr.it/T3rR14

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Despite previous recruitment issues, the Earl of Minto told the House of Lords that ‘applications are well up’ (Picture: MOD)

More than 10,000 people applied to join the British Army in January, a defence minister has revealed.

During a debate about military National Service, Timothy Lariston Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound The Earl of Minto told the House of Lords that “applications have been well up in the last few months”.

The Conservative peer said: “We had more than 10,000 applications for regular soldiers in January; there were 53,000 applications in the period from June 2021 to 2022 and just shy of 70,000 from June 2022 to 2023”.

* Applications to join Armed Forces rising, with Royal Navy at an eight-year high

* UK Armed Forces numbers drop by almost a third in 23 years, MOD data reveals

* Fact check: Is military conscription really going to happen?

The Earl of Minto went on to say: “My Lords, the way we address the threat is a constantly changing situation.

“Whether through procurement or through individual members of the forces, there is a constant ratio of training, retraining and readdressing the threat.”

He went on to say: “I really believe that we have the right quality of forces in place. We know that we do not have as many as we had planned, and there are some prevalent recruitment issues.

“Encouragingly, applications have been well up in the last few months.”Play VideoWatch: Defence Secretary admits proposed military housing policy is ‘problematic’

The debate on National Service follows on from the head of the British Army’s comments, suggesting that Britain should train and equip a “citizen army” to prepare the country for a potential land war with Russia.

Only last month the Defence Secretary said applications to join the Armed Forces have increased, amid rising tensions around the globe.

Grant Shapps said the Royal Navy had received an eight-year high in applications, while the British Army had seen a six-year high.

He also stated that the Royal Air Force was experiencing an increase in potential recruits.

At the time, Mr Shapps did not put a number on the applications received, but his hopes of “making progress” on recruitment come after warnings that military personnel are leaving faster than they can be replaced.

http://dlvr.it/T3r7zp

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Despite previous recruitment issues, the Earl of Minto told the House of Lords that ‘applications are well up’ (Picture: MOD)

More than 10,000 people applied to join the British Army in January, a defence minister has revealed.

During a debate about military National Service, Timothy Lariston Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound The Earl of Minto told the House of Lords that “applications have been well up in the last few months”.

The Conservative peer said: “We had more than 10,000 applications for regular soldiers in January; there were 53,000 applications in the period from June 2021 to 2022 and just shy of 70,000 from June 2022 to 2023”.

* Applications to join Armed Forces rising, with Royal Navy at an eight-year high

* UK Armed Forces numbers drop by almost a third in 23 years, MOD data reveals

* Fact check: Is military conscription really going to happen?

The Earl of Minto went on to say: “My Lords, the way we address the threat is a constantly changing situation.

“Whether through procurement or through individual members of the forces, there is a constant ratio of training, retraining and readdressing the threat.”

He went on to say: “I really believe that we have the right quality of forces in place. We know that we do not have as many as we had planned, and there are some prevalent recruitment issues.

“Encouragingly, applications have been well up in the last few months.”Play VideoWatch: Defence Secretary admits proposed military housing policy is ‘problematic’

The debate on National Service follows on from the head of the British Army’s comments, suggesting that Britain should train and equip a “citizen army” to prepare the country for a potential land war with Russia.

Only last month the Defence Secretary said applications to join the Armed Forces have increased, amid rising tensions around the globe.

Grant Shapps said the Royal Navy had received an eight-year high in applications, while the British Army had seen a six-year high.

He also stated that the Royal Air Force was experiencing an increase in potential recruits.

At the time, Mr Shapps did not put a number on the applications received, but his hopes of “making progress” on recruitment come after warnings that military personnel are leaving faster than they can be replaced.

http://dlvr.it/T3qcMf />

http://dlvr.it/T3qsyy

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via IFTTT March 10, 2024 at 12:05AM See all posts in full – click here https://jcsnavyandmilitarynews.blogspot.com/ 

Despite previous recruitment issues, the Earl of Minto told the House of Lords that ‘applications are well up’ (Picture: MOD)

More than 10,000 people applied to join the British Army in January, a defence minister has revealed.

During a debate about military National Service, Timothy Lariston Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound The Earl of Minto told the House of Lords that “applications have been well up in the last few months”.

The Conservative peer said: “We had more than 10,000 applications for regular soldiers in January; there were 53,000 applications in the period from June 2021 to 2022 and just shy of 70,000 from June 2022 to 2023”.

* Applications to join Armed Forces rising, with Royal Navy at an eight-year high
* UK Armed Forces numbers drop by almost a third in 23 years, MOD data reveals
* Fact check: Is military conscription really going to happen?

The Earl of Minto went on to say: “My Lords, the way we address the threat is a constantly changing situation.

“Whether through procurement or through individual members of the forces, there is a constant ratio of training, retraining and readdressing the threat.”

He went on to say: “I really believe that we have the right quality of forces in place. We know that we do not have as many as we had planned, and there are some prevalent recruitment issues.

“Encouragingly, applications have been well up in the last few months.”Play VideoWatch: Defence Secretary admits proposed military housing policy is ‘problematic’

The debate on National Service follows on from the head of the British Army’s comments, suggesting that Britain should train and equip a “citizen army” to prepare the country for a potential land war with Russia.

Only last month the Defence Secretary said applications to join the Armed Forces have increased, amid rising tensions around the globe.

Grant Shapps said the Royal Navy had received an eight-year high in applications, while the British Army had seen a six-year high.

He also stated that the Royal Air Force was experiencing an increase in potential recruits.

At the time, Mr Shapps did not put a number on the applications received, but his hopes of “making progress” on recruitment come after warnings that military personnel are leaving faster than they can be replaced.

http://dlvr.it/T3qcMf

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1,000 US troops will deploy for temporary port operations to move aid into Gaza The Pentagon will soon deploy about 1,000 American troops to build a temporary seaport just off the coast of war-torn Gaza to provide its inhabitants some 2 million meals per day, a Pentagon spokesman said. None of the American forces will enter Gaza at any time  Army mariners work to construct a causeway off the coast of Bowen, Australia, on July 28, 2023. The causeway forms a floating pier enabling the discharge of equipment to shore showing the capability of Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore, or JLOTS. (David Resnick/U.S. Army) The Pentagon will soon deploy about 1,000 American troops to build a temporary seaport just off the coast of war-torn Gaza to provide its inhabitants some 2 million meals per day, a Defense Department spokesman said Friday. The American troops will deploy a floating pier and a roughly 1,800-foot causeway in the Mediterranean Sea off Gaza’s coast, where commercial vessels can dock and offload aid to be transported by smaller vessels and vehicles into Gaza, said Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon’s top spokesman. The operation will use a makeshift dock known as a Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore, or JLOTS, and include Navy and Army personnel, Ryder said. None of the American forces will enter Gaza at any time, including to deliver aid or build the temporary pier, he said at the Pentagon. Ryder said the pier should be operational within about 60 days. “We’re working to set this up as quickly as possible, but we expect that it will take several weeks to plan and execute,” he said. “Once operational the actual amount of aid delivered will depend on many variables and will likely scale over time. However, we expect that deliveries via JLOTS could provide more than 2 million meals to the citizens of Gaza per day.” Not all the forces to be used in the operation had been selected as of Friday, Ryder said. However, the Army’s 7th Transportation Brigade based at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia had already been notified it would be deployed, he said. That unit is described by the Army as its JLOTS experts. President Joe Biden announced Thursday during his State of the Union speech that he ordered the Pentagon to conduct the new aid mission. He also called on Israel to do more to protect civilians and ensure they receive humanitarian aid as the Israelis fight Hamas militants in the Palestinian enclave. The U.N. said the roughly 2.3 million people in Gaza now face near-famine conditions amid the fighting launched in the wake of Hamas militants’ surprise assault on Israelis on Oct. 7. Humanitarian aid has been slow getting into Gaza for reasons including blockades at land crossings and tight controls of aid trucks by Israel, which has accused Hamas of stealing humanitarian goods. The United States in recent days has begun airdropping some humanitarian aid into Gaza via Air Force C-130s. The U.S. and Jordanian militaries airdropped about 11,500 meals into northern Gaza on Friday, according to U.S. Central Command, which oversees American military operations in the Middle East. To date, the United States has airdropped about 124,000 meals to Gazans, Ryder said. He also said the U.S. would continue to press Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza via land crossings, but it would continue to work to find creative ways to get meals to the enclave’s civilians. “This is part of a full-court press by the United States to not only focus on working on opening up and expanding routes via land — which of course are the optimal way to get aid into Gaza — but also by conducting air drops, and now, as the president has said, not enough aid is getting in, and so this is a capability that we have [and] it’s a capability that we are going to execute,” the general said. It was not clear Friday how much the new aid operations would cost U.S. taxpayers, Ryder said. The Navy will deploy the floating pier and causeway toward Gaza via ships, and soldiers and sailors will prepare them for use, Ryder said. Commercial vessels will be able to dock at the floating pier, where their cargo can be offloaded and reloaded onto smaller Navy logistics support vessels, he said. Those Navy ships will then deliver the aid onto the causeway, where it will be loaded onto trucks that will drive it onto the beach in Gaza for delivery, Ryder said. The aid will be driven into Gaza by vetted U.S. partners and not American troops, he said. The U.S. was in talks with partner nations, nongovernmental organizations and Israel about who would conduct those operations. “The concept that is being planned involves the presence of U.S. military personnel on military vessels offshore but does not require U.S. military personnel to go ashore,” Ryder said. He said the U.S. military would work to ensure proper security measures were in place on the ground and would take precautions to protect its troops offshore. He declined to provide specifics about such plans to protect American forces. Ryder also said the United States would take measures aimed at ensuring Hamas does not commandeer aid coming into Gaza via the temporary seaport. “It’s a combat zone right and you’ve got active combat operations going on with Hamas in the area,” he said. “That’s certainly a risk. But, if Hamas truly does care about the Palestinian people, then one would hope that this international mission to deliver aid to people who need it would be able to happen unhindered.” FEATURED ON INSTAGRAM COREY DICKSTEIN Corey Dickstein covers the military in the U.S. southeast. He joined the Stars and Stripes staff in 2015 and covered the Pentagon for more than five years. He previously covered the military for the Savannah Morning News in Georgia. Dickstein holds a journalism degree from Georgia College & State University and has been recognized with several national and regional awards for his reporting and photography. He is based in Atlanta.

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