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USMC Assault on “the 5”

taxi1

Well-Known Member
pilot
Lol, followed up by the world’s biggest “I TOLD YOU SO”


A 155-millimeter shell fired during a live-fire demonstration for the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton on Saturday prematurely detonated, dropping fragments of the shell on a California Highway Patrol vehicle and motorcycle that were part of Vice President JD Vance’s protective detail, according to a patrol report.

No officers were hurt in the mishap, which dropped shrapnel onto the vehicles parked on a ramp to a major freeway that had been ordered closed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The governor had objected to the plan to fire over the freeway, Interstate 5, and ordered a 17-mile stretch closed — against the guidance of military officials, who had said it was safe for it to remain open.

According to the patrol report, one officer described what sounded like pebbles hitting his motorcycle and the area around him, and two others saw a two-inch piece of shrapnel hit the hood of their patrol vehicle, leaving a small dent. The report says shrapnel was also found on the road near the motorcycle.


And

A Marine spokesman accompanying reporters witnessing the exercise was pulled aside by another Marine after the initial volley was fired by M777 howitzers, then told members of the news media that the initial plan for multiple volleys had been scaled back.

I’d have loved to have heard that conversation.
 
The NY Times asked the Marine Corps when they last fired over the I-5. They didn’t respond....

“The decision to fire live artillery shells from the oceanfront training area was described as unusual by an active-duty Marine artillery officer and a former Marine artillery noncommissioned officer who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they feared reprisal. Those Marines said the only howitzer training they had previously observed at Camp Pendleton had taken place at approved artillery ranges on the main side of base, east of the interstate, which they said were a much safer option for training.”

More lethal dog-and-pony shows for SecWar! They all agreed that Army parade was boring as fuck.
 
Several of my friends who should have known better mocked Newsom for shutting down the 5. I guess safety is "woke."

There's a reason we don't do this regularly.
 
Looks like he's having a good time though being SecWar. Really important to highlight your 3rd wife in the video prominently if you include her on Signal chats I guess.


AH yes, the fearless SECDEF got an incentive ride and didn't puke. Roll out the hero shots!

Dan Cain is an F-16 Fighter Weapons School grad. I wonder what he really thinks about it.
 
AH yes, the fearless SECDEF got an incentive ride and didn't puke. Roll out the hero shots!

Dan Cain is an F-16 Fighter Weapons School grad. I wonder what he really thinks about it.

I always thought Cabinet positions were demanding, but I guess they're more like the reading in PME schools. It's only a lot of work if you do it.

Lots of time to go cosplay, apparently.
 
I thought the Governor of California was being a bit dramatic with the road closure over the weekend to make some political hay out of a local dispute, I didn't realize the Marines would be kind enough to justify his concerns.

One of the offending pieces of shrapnel (or splinter if you want to be pedantic), thoughts and prayers for the CHiP car.

View attachment 43743
It seemed to play off as a fight, but:

- Feds directed the closure of the railway but insisted the road was safe :/.

- Per the LA Times, they did a test fire on Friday night over traffic without telling anyone; and CalTrans has it on video.

 
I thought the Governor of California was being a bit dramatic with the road closure over the weekend to make some political hay out of a local dispute, I didn't realize the Marines would be kind enough to justify his concerns.

One of the offending pieces of shrapnel (or splinter if you want to be pedantic), thoughts and prayers for the CHiP car.

View attachment 43743

To be fair, this type of shit happens frequently at SLTE and WTI. Every course or class has something go silly. I have yet to attend a SLTE or WTI where a Marine or sailor didn’t end up in the OR or ER. The amount of live fire training we do compared to the other services exponentially increases the chance of error (human, mechanical, procedural, or otherwise).

That being said, shooting live fire munitions West of the I-5 is fucking retarded. All the way around, I feel for the aircrew and maintainers who had to put up with this clown show.
 
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