I
believe! Say it with me, brothers. I believe!
I believe
that simulators provide all the training I need and that chaos, shrapnel,
smoke, power outages, and noise are just stories told to frighten the untrained. Say it, brothers. I believe!
I believe
that GPS will be with me always, to comfort and guide me. Say it, brothers. I believe!
I believe
that air superiority is my birthright. Let
the Air Force bear witness. Say it,
brothers. I believe!
I believe
that minefields can be cleared through the Power of Point and True Belief. Wish with me, that we may pass
untouched! Say it, brothers. I believe!
I believe
that although I jam the heathen’s electronic systems, their jamming shall pass
me by. Say it, brothers. I believe!
I believe
that manufacturer’s claims are true and right.
So sayeth Lockheed. So sayeth
Raytheon. So say we all. Say it, brothers. I believe!
I believe
that stoutness of heart will armor my ship.
The purity of Aluminum will transcend damage. Steel is the Devil’s Material. Say it, brothers. I believe!
I believe
that the Accountants of Optimal Manning will be my strength and my Damage
Control. Praise be the Minimal
Crew. Say it, brothers. I believe!
I believe
that “F” is the Holy Letter and “35” is its Number. Long has my faith been tested as I have
awaited its coming and though it be longer still till I shall see it serve, I
remain steadfast in my belief. Say it,
brothers. I believe!
Finally, and
most importantly, I believe that, though all else be lost, I will still build
new ships as shrines to the Gods of Acquisition. Let me not blaspheme by walking the false
paths of Upgrade or Maintenance. Keep me
true to the Way of the New Build. Say
it, brothers. Say it with faith and
fervor. I believe! I belieeeeve!
________________________
OK, fine, I’m
mocking the culture of blind faith that all too often substitutes for objective
and analytical thinking in the Navy.
Blind faith is only way to explain so many of our obvious shortcomings
and capability gaps. As you ponder
various Navy matters, continually ask yourself if they are grounded in logic
and reality or, instead, blind faith.
Note: This is a re-post from July 2014. There are a lot of new readers since then and, although it's the responsibility - and privilege! - of new readers to be familiar with the archives, I know that some are not. This post was just too good not to share it with newer readers. Amazingly, and disappointingly, the post is still completely relevant today. I guess that shows how little progress the Navy has made over the intervening nine years.
I'm considering making re-posts (possibly slightly updated?) of old posts a regular occurrence. What do you think?
Ive read a good chunk of the Archives, but somehow this gem eluded me!!!
ReplyDeleteI think a lil recycling at times could be a good thing. It's been interesting reading older posts and seeing the early takes on trends and programs, and yes...how CNO is almost disturbingly prophetic somtimes!!
Chunk??! Chunk? As a longtime reader you should have read and memorized the entire archives. Most people have the accumulated wisdom of the archives printed off into a bound book so that they can carry it with them, always. It is, after all, the bible of naval matters! :)
Delete"and yes...how CNO is almost disturbingly prophetic"
DeleteI'm from the future.
"somtimes!!"
Sometimes??? I think the word you were looking for, there, was 'always'! :)
Apologies...I will amend my habits and verbiage/adjectivery appropriately... ;)
DeleteIn local news, the Armys new landing craft prototype was launched here in Vancouver last week. Its great to watch new military hulls coming from the eastern portion of what used to be the Kaiser yard that churned out 50 escort carriers and numerous other ships during WWII. With all the problems with Navy doctrine and amphib connectors, its interesting to see the Army expanding and replacing their LCs, while the USN pursues the new LCAC...
" its interesting to see the Army expanding and replacing their LCs, while the USN pursues the new LCAC..."
DeleteIt is! I've considered a post on a comparison btw the two but any assessment depends on understanding the CONOPS and I do not have a grasp on how the Army envisions using the vessel in combat. Does the Army even know how they're going to use it? Or, is this one of those 'figure it out later' acquisitions.
Maybe you have a better understanding of the Army's CONOPS? If so, I'd love to hear an explanation!
I wish i did. Besides being a replacement for the old LCM-8, im not well versed in their purpose or the Armys true CONOP. Ive read mention of things like "intra-theatre" movement of weapons, men, and logistical supplies, whatever that means. Its spec'd to carry a single tank, or multiple trucks, humvees, etc. The thing is, its not likely meant for hitting a hostile beach, since its made of aluminium. The range of 360nm suggests its more than a connector, although a tougher (steel?) version might be somthing the Marines could be looking at vs the fragile LCACs. Would have to look at welldeck dimensions to see if itd be LH platform compatible, although if it needed a trim to fit/work, it shouldnt be that difficult...
DeleteA related Ukraine event is that the Russians left many of their helicopters out in open even when they knew ATACMS was coming. Based on the videos somewhere between 4-10 helicopters plus a lot of ground equipment and ammo got shredded. By missiles built in the 1990s that only have inertial guidance capability. We are replacing those (technically expired) missiles with Precision Strike Missiles that only have unitary or fragment warheads and couldn't deal the same damage to a target like that.
ReplyDeleteWait, what?!?!
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean that was satire?
Lutefisk
Get thee behind me foul demon of TESTING,
Deleteyou stink of cordite, and will befoul my pristne
MK 41s.
Highly amusing, Comnavops!
ReplyDeleteI believe we can use bases in the Philippines in a war with China over Taiwan.
ReplyDeletePhilippines sees no current, future engagements with Taiwan - military chief
Reuters
Wed, October 18, 2023 at 10:06 PM CDT·1 min read
https://www.yahoo.com/news/philippines-sees-no-current-future-030624895.html
How close to land would you expect the US carriers in the Eastern Mediterranean to sail? Or, the other way round, how far from land must they stay to be reasonably safe from land-based missiles?
ReplyDelete