PLAN 2018 Review (Jeff Head)

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
The US Navy MUST recognize this and itself continue to build, and in fact increase its build rate. Particularly in terms of capable frigates and LCS vessels. The PLAN enjoys a significant lead in this area now. The US can address this with the LCS class and the follow on class of 24 or more Fast Frigates it intends to build if it will act.

In addition, the PLAN is building up new, very capable cruiser sized vessels and will be building them rapidly. The US Navy simply must find and settle on a replacement for the Ticodneroga class cruisers and begin replacing them as soon as possible. This is the Zumwalt class where the second of three has just been launched. A Cruiser, anti-air centric version could and should be developed to build 20 to replace the Ticonderoga class. No need to spend many years developing something all new. That vessel is already largely developed and revamping it to have more PVLS with one main gun and appropriate laser or rail gun CIWS along with at least one Sea-RAM launcher, could relative quickly be made and then continue building them.

Finally, the US Navy should continue to rapidly build up its new generation of Virginia class vessels as they are now doing. This is a very signifiant area for the US in terms of having a significant lead over the PLAN which will allow the US Navy to operate with near impunity in the deep waters...but must develop its litoral capability with these submarines, with surface vessels built to find and address the many conventional, quiet AIP submarines the PLAN has developed and built.

US designers and Naval personnel indicate that the Virginia class has a very strong litoral capability and can already take on the best conventional subs. The US Navy has leased/had a temporary loan (for over two years) one of the better conventional designs from its allies and developed this capability precisely to counter this issue.

Also, the US Navy must continue developing and build the Flight III Burkes and use them as the replacement for the older Flight I Burkes as they reach the end of their service life. The Flight III Bukre could also be upgraded. This author would recommend a US version of the KDX III Korean version of the Burke with 128 VLS, 16 anti-surface missiles, one Sea- Ram and one Phalanx. Ultimately a 127mm rail gun, which General Atomic has already developed could be used to replace the 127mm gun forward.
A V-22 AEW aircraft and a V-22 ASW aircraft would be a significant and needed development for the US Navy (and US Allies). A small squadron of the AEW version for each Wasp and America class, and a small squardon of the ASW version for all of the carriers, LHDs, and LHAs.

In addition, put the active version of the ASW weapon now being fitted to the Nimitz and Ford carriers on all of the LHDs, LHAs, LPDs, LSDs and the cruisers and destroyers.
As a arting note, with my terminal cancer, this will most likely be my last release of this annual report.

It has been my privilege to produce it and hope it has been beneficial to those who have read it.

Jeff Head
Idaho, USA
 

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
how are you Jeff?
Feeling okay right now.

Latest scans show the tumors multiplying and increasing in size.

The good Lord want me to be here on earth a while longer. The Drs cannot say why things have gone as slow as they have and why I am not doing a lot worse.

I decided in Sept of 2016 to not do any more surgeries, clinical trials, or experimental treatments...though the docs want me to.

I have seen several friends who ahve this disease (Sacral Chordoma) try them and spend months and onths being miserable, feeling like tey were dieing and in much worse pain...and then dieing a few months later anyway.

I decided since I was not feeling too horrible, to let myself feel as good as I could for as long as I could. At the time the Drs though I had 3-4 months left and that was 18 months ago.

So I count my blessings, thank God for the time I have. Spend as much tiome with family as I can, do work for my church...still work on some models and check SD and other sites.

I am grateful for those tender mercies.

And I am grateful from my friends here and I thank you Jura for asking.

God's speed to you and yors my friend!

...and I thank my Father in HEaven and His Son JEsus christ every day.
 
Feeling okay right now.

Latest scans show the tumors multiplying and increasing in size.

The good Lord want me to be here on earth a while longer. The Drs cannot say why things have gone as slow as they have and why I am not doing a lot worse.

I decided in Sept of 2016 to not do any more surgeries, clinical trials, or experimental treatments...though the docs want me to.

I have seen several friends who ahve this disease (Sacral Chordoma) try them and spend months and onths being miserable, feeling like tey were dieing and in much worse pain...and then dieing a few months later anyway.

I decided since I was not feeling too horrible, to let myself feel as good as I could for as long as I could. At the time the Drs though I had 3-4 months left and that was 18 months ago.

So I count my blessings, thank God for the time I have. Spend as much tiome with family as I can, do work for my church...still work on some models and check SD and other sites.

I am grateful for those tender mercies.

And I am grateful from my friends here and I thank you Jura for asking.

God's speed to you and yors my friend!

...and I thank my Father in HEaven and His Son JEsus christ every day.
God bless you!
 

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
God bless you!
And you too my friend.

I have had several discussions in the last couple of weeks with ranking naval personnel that I know and trust.

I believe we will see things happening in most of the areas of concern in the US Nay over the next couple of years.

Things were allowed to go to pot on maintenance and training...they just took the money and used them for political BS.

This hurt the US Navy and caused numerous aircraft and even some ships to have parts taken to keep other things running, and was not allowing Jr. officers to get the experience and training they needed.

Also, several programs were in their words, purposely allowed to wither on the vine and start to look bad...even when the solutions for exosting problems were known and they themselves announced fixes that could ahve helped...they then simply drug their feet and did not do them.

The new admin is trying to step up and address things...I gave them as much insight and input as I could and believe the things I discussed, which I have tried to hint at in this report, are going to be done, or at least seriously considered.

Anyhow...time will tell.
 

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
I saw you had announced it on Facebook several weeks ago, so I feared you're in a hospital
NO...I did have a few bad days and had to increase the pain meds...but no hospital.

I am hoping not to have to spend much time there if I can avoid it at all.

And I have been blessed to do a little better and keep doing sme of the things I enjoy with my wife, kids, and grandkids.

I have been richly blessed, despite the health problems.
 

Iron Man

Major
Registered Member
Nice report. Just a couple nitpicks: the Supply class is classified as AOE (rather than AOR), as should the 901 class. The other is that the new EM gun has its electrical supply visibly spread out along the top deck, so it's very likely to be a working test unit.
 
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