Operation Lion Claws IX

I finally got around to putting together a brief photo/video compilation from this year's big airsoft battle in Hesperia over Memorial Day weekend and you can see it at

http://www.youtbue.com/my_videos?feature=mhum.

Let me know what you think.

David Baker
The Airsoft Lawyer

HB Civil War Days 2010 Video

Check out a short video featuring some of my photos from this year's Civil War Days in Huntington Beach at www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TGZgFdPSes.

Let me know what you think.

David Baker
The Airsoft Lawyer

GenDyn EVF a Bargain at $150 Million?

Big, ugly, cumbersome, expensive....and just what the U.S. Marine Corps needs right now? The Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle; an 80,000 pound war machine which, if it can deliver on its promises, would deliver a crew of 3 and a contingent of 17 armed Marines to the shores of even the most hotly contested beach in the world in the air-conditioned comfort of a heavily armored fighting vehicle. Equipped with two massive waterjet propulsion nozzles, a retractable hydropneumatic suspension and hydraulically actuated bow, the EFV would be launched from U.S. Navy ships miles offshore (and presumably out of range of land-based cannons and missiles) in order to secure a hostile, well-defended beachhead.

Also mounting a Mark 44 Bushmaster II 30mm cannon (capable of firing up to 250 rounds per minute at a range of 2,200 yards) in a rotating, armored turret, the EFV could take out enemy firing positions before disgorging its squad of heavily armed Marines. Reminiscent of LVTs (Landing Vehicles, Tank) used in U.S. island hopping campaigns of World War II and the LVTP 5 used in Korea and Vietnam as well as the AAVP used in Kuwait (and still stocked in the Marines' inventory), the EVP may well be the priciest armored vesicle on the world market at $150 million for seven prototypes.

General Dynamics Land Systems and Marine Commandment James Conway believe "The EFV is essential to the Marine Corps mission. There are programs that are absolutely and vitally important. One of those is our EFV." GenDyn and General Conway have not yet explained why the Marin Corps mission cannot be accomplished with existing technologies such as teh Osprey VTOL aircraft and the even more massive LCAC. Also, no one has yet explained to the public what beach landings against hostile forces are anticipated within the roughly 30 year lifespan of the EFV program.

I am one of the loudest proponents of new, technologically advanced warfare systems (if they make military and economic sense) and fully support U.S. armed forces, but even I have to question the wisdom of such ridiculous expenditures when U.S. military action of the next thirty years is likely to be waged against (1) low level insurgents such as in Iraq and Afghanistan, or (2) superpowers such as Communist China. If nothing else, the program and the systems need to be publicly vetted before additional funds are committed to the EFV.

[Images are courtersy of The Orange County Register and copyrighted 2010]

David Baker

The Airsoft Lawyer

Worst College Football Game Ever

USC 17
Virginia 14

The score doesn't really tell the story of the game unless the story was one of (if not the) worst college football games I've ever watched. Unfortunately, I watched this one in person at the Coliseum with my son, Tristan, on a cold, windy September night. Dropped passes, repeated inside runs for little or no gain, absolutely no imagination on the offensive or defensive side of the ball, and penalties galore added up to a very disappointing effort by the Trojans and the Cavaliers.

David Baker
The Airsoft Lawyer

No, It's Not a Copyright Thing

David Baker

The Airsoft Lawyer

Poor Only "Real" Americans - Obama

"American families making more than $250,000 are not true Americans

and they should be taxed out of existence. Shame on them all." Barack Hussein Obama

Oh, really?

David Baker

The Airsoft Lawyer

Rebels Crush Yanks in Huntington Beach

Battle lines formed, casualties begin to mount.

New York Zouaves prepare to fight for the preservation of the Union.

A Union Parrot fires in support of the advancing lines of blue-clad infantry.

Most of us learned in grade school that after four long years of strife the war (known both as the Civil War and the War Between the States, depending upon your allegiances and/or point of view), Union and Confederate forces laid down their muskets and swords and began the process of rebuilding the nation that we know today. However, for some, if not many, the battles of the war still echo across the years and find relevance in the form of reenactments.

If you were anywhere near Central Park in Huntington Beach over the Labor Day weekend, you might have been surprised to hear the roar of cannon. the chatter of musket fire, and the shouted Rebel yell as grey-clad Johhny Rebs took on blue clad Billy Yanks in mock battles marked mostly by the lack of blood and carnage but also as much by the camaraderie of the participants before and after the firing.

Surprisingly, there are quite a few opportunities to witness first hand battles from the Civil War in southern California even though the closest battle of any real size occurred in New Mexico (a small engagement also took place in Arizona). Fort Tejon offers the most opportunities, Huntington Beach offers the most readily accessible, and Moorpark offers the largest event. If you need directions or dates and times, just check the Web.

"Huzzah" from the frontlines.

David Baker

The Airsoft Lawyer