VMFA-121 Green Knights 2017

[spazsinbad]

Bunch O'photos: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/268097/31 ... deployment

USMC prepares for F-35B maiden operational embarkation
05 Mar 2018 Gareth Jennings

"...An undisclosed number of the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) jets from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VFMA) 121 currently stationed in Japan have been deployed to the USS Wasp amphibious assault ship to undertake final preparations ahead of the unit’s first shipborne deployment...."

Source: http://www.janes.com/article/78340/usmc ... mbarkation

[spazsinbad]

VIDEO: Marine F-35Bs Arrive on USS Wasp for First Pacific JSF Deployment
05 Mar 2018 Sam LaGrone

"...Six F-35Bs from the “Green Knights” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 landed on the deck of amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) as part of the Wasp Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) and 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit Western Pacific patrol....

...The addition of the F-35 to the Navy’s amphibious fleet has the promises of greatly increasing the capability of ARG/MEUs to wage high-end war. For example, as part of the Navy’s Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air (NIFC-CA) construct, Marine F-35s could provide targeting information of enemy ships and aircraft to attached destroyers in an ESG. In 2016, Lockheed Martin proved that a ship-launched Raytheon Standard Missile 6 could be cued from the sensors on an F-35.

While not as capable as a full-sized carrier strike group, an upgunned ESG would have more lethal capability on its own than previous amphibious deployments. Forces in the Western Pacific have been experimenting with non-traditional surface group deployments in last several years.

A second F-35B squadron, the Avengers of VMFA-211, is set to deploy from the West Coast aboard USS Essex (LHD-2)."

Photo: "Marines assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121) look on as an F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 prepares to touch down on the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1). US Navy Photo" https://news.usni.org/wp-content/upload ... 5-0022.jpg (1.22Mb)

Source: https://news.usni.org/2018/03/05/video- ... deployment

[spazsinbad]

"Lt.Gen Rudder USMC: ...VMFA-121 is permanently stationed in Japan and has assumed the 31st MEU and F/A-18 UDP commitments. The squadron deploys six aircraft with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) this week – the first operational F-35 shipboard deployment. Our second F-35B squadron, VMFA-211, deploys six aircraft to the 13th MEU this July; we will have two MEUs deployed with the F-35B this summer...." HASC 07 Mar 2018 http://docs.house.gov/meetings/AS/AS25/ ... 180307.pdf (135Kb)

[spazsinbad]

‘Island Knights’ train with F-35Bs
April 2018 AFM

"A FORWARD detachment from the US Navy’s Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 ‘Island Knights’ recently completed two weeks of tactics exchanges and multi-mission training flights with the F-35Bs of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.

HCS-25’s Detachment 6, based at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, met with pilots and aircrew of VMFA-121 to share expertise on close air support procedures and interoperability to support the Expeditionary Strike Group.

The ‘Island Knights’ and VMFA-121 are slated to embark together aboard the USS Wasp (LHD 1) for a scheduled patrol, which will be the first time F-35Bs deploy aboard a US Navy ship in the Seventh Fleet area of operations...."

Source: AirForces Monthly Magazine April 2018 No.361

[spazsinbad]

[zerion]

Marines Use 3-D Printer to Make Replacement Part for F-35 Fighter
April 19, 2018
By Marine Corps Cpl. Stormy Mendez
31st Marine Expeditionary Unit

PACIFIC OCEAN --
Marines with Combat Logistic Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, are now capable of “‘‘additive manufacturing,’“ also known as 3-D printing.

3-D Printing is the Future

“I think 3-D printing is definitely the future -- it’s absolutely the direction the Marine Corps needs to be going,” Willis said.

The Marine Corps is all about mission accomplishment and self-reliance. In boot camp, Marine recruits are taught to have a “‘figure-it-out’” mindset, and 3-D printing is the next step for a Corps that prides itself on its self-sufficiency.

“Finding innovative solutions to complex problems really does harken back to our core principles as Marines,” Willis said. “I’m proud to be a part of a new program that could be a game-changer for the Marine Corps.”

The Marines deployed here use their 3-D printer as an alternative, temporary source for parts. As a permanently forward-deployed unit, it’s crucial for the 31st MEU to have access to the replacement parts it needs for sustained operations. The 31st MEU’s mission -- to deploy at a moment’s notice when the nation calls -- is not conducive to waiting for replacement parts shipped from halfway around the world. So 3-D printing capabilities dovetail with the MEU’s expeditionary mandate.

‘Fix it Forward’

“While afloat, our motto is, ‘‘Fix it forward,’” said Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 2 Daniel Rodriguez, CLB-31’s maintenance officer. “3-D printing is a great tool to make that happen. CLB-31 can now bring that capability to bear exactly where it’s needed most -- on a forward-deployed MEU.”

Proving this concept April 16, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 successfully flew an F-35B Lightning II aircraft with a part that was supplied by CLB-31’s 3-D printer. The F-35B had a plastic bumper on a landing gear door wear out during a recent training mission. Though a small and simple part, the only conventional means of replacing the bumper was to order the entire door assembly -- a process that’s time-consuming and expensive.

Using a newly released process from Naval Air Systems Command for 3-D printed parts, the squadron was able to have the bumper printed, approved for use and installed within a matter of days -- much faster than waiting for a replacement part to arrive from the United States.

“As a commander, my most important commodity is time,” said Marine Corps Lt. Col Richard Rusnok, the squadron’s commanding officer. “Although our supply personnel and logisticians do an outstanding job getting us parts, being able to rapidly make our own parts is a huge advantage.”

VMFA-121 also made history in March as the first F-35B squadron to deploy in support of a MEU...

https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Ar ... 5-fighter/

[doge]

Discover interesting pictures.
https://www.facebook.com/VFA115/posts/10160480845515722

VFA-115
April 4
The opportunity to conduct operations with co-located US Marine Corps tactical aviation units has been one of the major benefits of our move to MCAS Iwakuni. These photos show one of our recent sorties with F-35B Lightning IIs assigned to the "Green Knights" of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121. US Navy photos by LT Steve Bachman.

An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the "Eagles" of Strike Fighter Squadron 115 conducts aerial refueling operations with an F-35B Lightning II assigned to the "Green Knights" of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121. US Navy photo by LT Steve Bachman.

[charlielima223]

Buddy air refueling just never looks right to me. Can't wait to see in the not to distant future a picture of F-35s getting a drink from a MQ-25

[spazsinbad]

USS Wasp Headed Back to Norfolk Next Year after Brief Japan Deployment [LIGHTING STRIKES AGAIN!]
06 Dec 2018 Sam LaGrone

"After less than a year in Japan, the amphibious warship USS Wasp (LHD-1) is preparing its sailors to return to the East Coast next year, USNI News has learned. Wasp, one of two amphibious warships certified to operate Marine F-35B Lighting II Joint Strike Fighters, is set to return to Naval Station Norfolk, Va., in late 2019 as part of a previously set plan to balance the F-35B capability across both coasts, a defense official confirmed to USNI News.

A U.S. Pacific Fleet spokesperson confirmed the ship would eventually move to Norfolk but would neither provide a timeline for the move nor what ship would replace Wasp, citing a Pacific Fleet policy of not discussing future ship movements. “We don’t have any additional announcements on homeport shifts at this time,” Lt. j.g. Rachel McMarr told USNI News....

...USNI News understands the Navy is committed to have a F-35B-capable amphibious assault ship operating in Japan to support the forward-deployed JSFs of the “Green Knights” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121.

Of the nine big-deck amphibious ships in the U.S. inventory, only Wasp, the currently deployed USS Essex (LHD-2) and USS America (LHA-6) have launched and recovered Marine F-35Bs at sea. USS Makin Island (LHD-8) began an availability last year that would upgrade the ship to operate the fighters, USS Boxer (LHD-4) underwent a similar maintenance availability that completed in 2017 and Bonhomme Richard is set to start a maintenance period that would add that capability to the big deck...."

Photo: https://news.usni.org/wp-content/upload ... 60x434.jpg

Source: https://news.usni.org/2018/12/06/uss-wa ... deployment

[tailgate]

Those capabilities are a huge boost to operational commanders. Looks to me like the 35 era is going smoothly

Tailgate

[spazsinbad]

An F-35B called 'Wanda' (A Fish Called Wanda) aboard USS Wasp in the Philippine Sea Feb 2019. Wanda Wots inside?

[zerion]

USS Wasp arriving in the Philippines for exercises.

https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp ... aign=Train

[Corsair1963]

USS Wasp arriving in the Philippines for exercises.

https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp ... aign=Train

Interesting.....They usual deploy with just "6" Harriers or F-35B's. Yet, the flight deck has at least ten Lightning's???

[mixelflick]

USS Wasp arriving in the Philippines for exercises.

https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp ... aign=Train

Interesting.....They usual deploy with just "6" Harriers or F-35B's. Yet, the flight deck has at least ten Lightning's???

Noticed that too. And don't forget, there may be more below deck of aft of the ship. Whatever the case, 10 Panthers makes for a formidable force. Given their capabilities, should be a quantum leap vs. the Harrier's carried prior. The Marines can now claim some of the most deadly "carriers" in America's inventory. At least until the F-35C makes it to the fleet.

19,000lbs of fuel goes a long way. The fleet will finally buy back some of the reach it lost when it retired the A-6. The A-7 wasn't that bad on gas, but the A-6 was stingy. Sure, it wasn't capable of defending itself but that's why Tomcats would escort them. No need in the F-35, it can perform both roles..

[gc]

Good to see them flying around the SCS, showing its presence and sucking up regional ELINT and SIGINT to fine tune its mission data files.