Navy doing their part in support of Marines

[Rocketman]

Clux is right about Marines and FROGs, too. There's either a MARADMIN or MARCENT directive (I can't remember which) that specifically states that the uniform for Marines conducting convoy operations will be the FROG.

I'm glad to hear that those guys are getting the good stuff now. I know for certain that as late as the end of Aug 08 the guys in CLB-1 Security Company (at least the ones I know of pictured below) were still wearing bags on daily missions outside of the wire. Many of them were issued A4's instead of M4's as well even though their job required moving in and out of Humvees and MRAPS.

They also had several rows of new unissue MRAPs that stayed parked inside the wire for 2 or 3 months before they were used. On 2 May CLB-1 Security Co lost 4 KIA to a single IED. By 10 May the MRAPs were all issued.

I point this out to say that even though the Marine Corps pushes hard for uniformity sometime it just doesn't happen.

 

[gaijin6423]

MRAPs were a mixed bag for us. From what I've seen and read, they're incredibly survivable (if you're wearing all your PPE and properly strapped in) in an IED attack. But then, so are the ECV versions of the HMMWV, which are shown in your first pic. Our MRAPs had serious issues with getting stuck in soft sand in Afghanistan, and they had a tendency to have small, but important, shit break on them. (Imagine what happens when the brake pedal snaps off while the convoy comes to a sudden halt.) Still, though, the MRAPs are tough, tough beasts when comes to enemy actions, as illustrated by some of the serious poundings that some of our trucks took in southern Afghanistan. I've got pictures on one of several hard drives here, and I'll see if I can dig them up.

 

[HueyCobra8151]

In that first picture everyone is all straight faced - except for the chick on the right doing the Fonzi impression. Aaaay

 

[Rocketman]

In that first picture everyone is all straight faced - except for the chick on the right doing the Fonzi impression. Aaaay

Actually the chick on the right doing the Fonz is a dude and the dude on the far left is a chick (I asked to confirm)

 

[Rocketman]

MRAPs were a mixed bag for us. From what I've seen and read, they're incredibly survivable (if you're wearing all your PPE and properly strapped in) in an IED attack. But then, so are the ECV versions of the HMMWV, which are shown in your first pic. Our MRAPs had serious issues with getting stuck in soft sand in Afghanistan, and they had a tendency to have small, but important, shit break on them. (Imagine what happens when the brake pedal snaps off while the convoy comes to a sudden halt.) Still, though, the MRAPs are tough, tough beasts when comes to enemy actions, as illustrated by some of the serious poundings that some of our trucks took in southern Afghanistan. I've got pictures on one of several hard drives here, and I'll see if I can dig them up.

Cpl Rocketman said he felt better about doing convoy escort duty in an MRAP than in an up armored Humvee. (As long as they stayed on the road) He felt almost any IED was survivable in an MRAP. RPG's and EFP's not so much. As a gunner his biggest fear was a roll over in an MRAP. If he deploys to Afghanistan I'm hoping he gets a Humvee. My guess is that it's plenty easy to roll an MRAP off the road. I'm thinking that's bad juju in Afghanistan.

He also loved the A/C in the MRAP. Kept his ass cold while his upper body roasted.

Here's a pic of a CLB-1 MRAP on a vehicle recovery mission. Like you said they work best on the hard ball.

 

[gaijin6423]

Found one of the pics I was looking for. I had to lower the quality a bit to upload it, but you can get the general idea of how fucked up this truck was. Without going into too many details: MAK up-armored HMMWV; relatively small IED; no fatalities.

Edit: Was it raining when they left the hardball? It looks like they ran into a mud hole and it dried around them. (Kind of like my cot/bivy sac in Afghanistan.)

 

[Rocketman]

Edit: Was it raining when they left the hardball? It looks like they ran into a mud hole and it dried around them. (Kind of like my cot/bivy sac in Afghanistan.)

Nope. They got stuck just before the pic was taken. They went out to support recovery of a truck stuck in exactly the same way. Don't know why they thought they wouldn't get stuck as well but there it is. It ended up causing an uncomfortable and unplanned overnight clusterfuck in that open area. They were worried about the little ville in the distance.

I'm told areas of deep sticky mud covered in a hard crust are common in Iraq. I think they are called sabkhah.

Glad to hear the Humvee team got out ok

 

[pourts]

Explanation here.

So I have a question... how do you mix FROG and MOPP? Do you just throw a MOPP 1 on a FROG 2, etc? Or do they just figure they are mutually exclusive situations?

 

[bubblehead]

081201-M-0301S-063 RAMADI, Iraq (Dec. 1, 2008) Command Master Chief Michael R. Ruiz, from Morenci, Ariz. assigned to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, keeps watch as members of Personal Security Detachment Team 3 change a flat tire on their Humvee in Ramadi, Iraq. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lindsay L. Sayres/Released)

For those who are wondering.. http://www.mnfwest.usmc.mil/MNF/mnfw_IM.nsf/(ArticlesRead)/805490DF32BC302043257405004184A5

Master Chief Michael R. Ruiz is a native of Morenci, Arizona. He entered the Navy on November 8, 1983. After graduating Recruit Training and Basic Seaman Apprenticeship School at Naval Training Center San Diego, he began his military service onboard the USS CARL VINSON (CVN70) deploying on the ships’ maiden WESPAC (84-85).

He then attended Basic Hospital Corps School at Naval School of Health Sciences, San Diego, graduating in April 1986 and was assigned to Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton.

In 1988, then HM3 Ruiz, attended Field Medical Service School Camp Pendleton and was later assigned to 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines of the 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. There he deployed under the Unit Deployment Program (UDP) to Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan from August 1988 to February 1989. Upon return from deployment HM2 Ruiz was re-assigned to the Division Surgeon’s Office until December 1990 when he deployed with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD/STORM participating in combat operations with Regimental Landing Team-5.

In July 1991, HM2 Ruiz attended Naval Aircrew Candidate School (NACCS) in Pensacola, Florida. Upon graduating NACCS, he was assigned to the Search and Rescue Unit at Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, California from 1991 to 1994. Later, HM1 Ruiz was selected for assignment to the Naval Special Warfare Development Group in Dam Neck, Virginia from 1994 to 1997 where he was selected for Chief Petty Officer in July 1997.

From 1997-2000, HMC Ruiz was assigned to Field Medical Service School Camp Pendleton. In April 2000 he was selected for Senior Chief Petty Officer and later appointed by the Navy Bureau of Medicine as the Field Medical Service Technician (NEC 8404) Enlisted Technical Leader. HMCS Ruiz was then assigned to 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division and participated in combat operations during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF-I) as the Medical Planner for the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit in Southern Iraq.

In November 2003 he returned to Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton and was augmented to 1st Force Service Support Group, 1st Medical Battalion in July 2004 as the Senior Enlisted Leader to Bravo Surgical Company, in support of OIF II-2 during Operation AL- FAJR in Fallujah, Iraq. Upon returning from Iraq, he was selected to Master Chief Petty Officer in April 2005 and was assigned as the Command Master Chief of 3D Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force from July 2005 until January 2007. CMDCM Ruiz was selected for the Command Master Chief Program (NEC 9580) in January 2006. CMDCM Ruiz is the Command Master Chief (CMC) of 1stMarine Division and currently serving as CMC, Multinational Forces-West, I Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD) Iraq.

CMDCM Ruiz’s personal awards and accomplishments include the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4), Joint Achievement Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. A graduate of the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy, an Enlisted Fleet Marine Force Warfare Specialist, Naval Aircrewman, Naval Parachutist, Army Military Freefall Parachutist, and Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) Green Belt qualified.

CMDCM Ruiz is married to the former Callie M. Maldonado of Morenci, AZ and has three children, daughters Erin and Bianka, and son Miguel.

 

[bubblehead]

A Navy and Marine Corps Medal, two Combat Action Ribbons, and a Presidential Unit Citation.. yeah.. I'd say he's been around the block..

 

[gaijin6423]

"Okay" is a relative term. We launched the CASEVAC bird to get them out in time so that no one died, but two of the guys inside were messed up pretty badly. That's one benefit of having a FRSS/STP a stone's throw away and shit-hot aircrews.

Here are a couple more pics. One of another MRAP, stuck in sand. And another of some Navy docs, doing their thing for an injured child.

 

[Flash]

I find it interesting that some of the MRAP's, some of which I think orginate from South African designs, are not so off-road friendly. Off-road desert enviroments is where the South Africans fought in Namibia and Angola and I wonder if American add-ons have rendered them better protected but less mobile.

 

[gaijin6423]

Given that's what happened with the HMMWV, I'd say you were correct. Granted, I don't know the pre/post-US weights, etc., but our (DASC) trucks have a LOT of trouble with all the weight we've dumped onto them.

 

[lmnop]

I find it interesting that some of the MRAP's, some of which I think orginate from South African designs, are not so off-road friendly. Off-road desert enviroments is where the South Africans fought in Namibia and Angola and I wonder if American add-ons have rendered them better protected but less mobile.

Aside from the V shape, they're completely different animals. An RG-31 comes in at about 16K lbs curb weight versus 39K for a 6x6 Cougar or 32K for a 4x4 Cougar. The difference is from the hull armor, with Force Protection vehicles being much beefier than the old South African MRAPs such as the RG-31. Because of the heavier hulls, everything else ends up being heavier to support and power it. The result of course, is that it sucks off road and can be prone to some suspension failures. At least the drivetrain is designed for the weight, as opposed to the same old shit in an 1151 or 1114 with 2/3 of the original vehicle weight tacked on. The newer vehicles that BAE is rolling out, like the Caiman, are comparable weight wise to Force Protection's offerings.

 

[Rocketman]

I find it interesting that some of the MRAP's, some of which I think orginate from South African designs, are not so off-road friendly. Off-road desert enviroments is where the South Africans fought in Namibia and Angola and I wonder if American add-ons have rendered them better protected but less mobile.

Yup. The V shaped bottoms came from early South African designs. Seems like the American way sometimes, trying to protect ourselves to death.

The good news is the A/C is super cold and they have Recaro or maybe Corbeau seats.