Compass Points - Beware of Bears
Marines must be fully armed.
Compass Points - Beware of Bears
Marines must be fully armed.
April 7, 2025
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What is the difference between Timothy Treadwell and Norway? Norway is a country and Timothy Treadwell is a man -- or at least he was a man.
Norway has announced that it is doubling its cannon artillery.
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Norway plans to nearly double its fleet of self-propelled artillery, proposing to buy an additional 24 K9 Thunder howitzers from Hanwha Aerospace for a budget of 5.65 billion Norwegian kroner, or $534 million.
The 155 mm howitzers will equip a new artillery battalion within the planned Finnmark brigade being set up to bolster Norway’s defenses in the high north, according to a government proposal published on Friday.
. . . Norway already has 28 tracked K9 howitzers as well as 14 K10 ammunition resupply vehicles, and will exercise an option in its contract with Hanwha for the additional purchase, the government said. The spending plan still needs to be approved by the Norwegian parliament, the Storting.
“We are in a serious security policy situation,” Minister of Defence Tore Sandvik said. “Therefore, we will now ask the Storting to approve significant investments in various parts of the Armed Forces to strengthen Norway’s defense capability . . . ."
-- Defense News
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While Norway is adding to its cannon artillery, the Marine Corps is still doing nothing to reverse the mis-guided decision to strip the Corps of nearly 75% of its cannon artillery. Infantry needs artillery. Marines should not have to go into the next fight without the full umbrella of cannon artillery.
Total Military Insight has discussed some of the strengths of cannon artillery.
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Conventional artillery presents several advantages that make it a critical component in modern military operations. Its design allows for high levels of precision, with traditional artillery pieces excelling in indirect fire capabilities. This precision minimizes collateral damage and enhances overall effectiveness in various combat scenarios.
The logistical footprint of conventional artillery is another significant benefit. These systems generally require less maintenance and possess lower operational costs than their rocket artillery counterparts. Their availability and ease of transportation enhance their integration into existing military structures.
Furthermore, conventional artillery can deliver a variety of munitions, including high-explosive shells, smoke rounds, and illuminating projectiles. This versatility enables forces to adapt to diverse battlefield conditions effectively. When considering Rocket Artillery vs. Conventional Artillery, these advantages highlight why conventional systems remain indispensable in current warfare strategies.
-- Total Military Insight
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What does artillery firepower have to do with Timothy Treadwell? Treadell was a researcher who studied bears in their natural habitat. Treadwell went into bear country and he refused to go armed. Dean Weingarten discussed Treadwell in his article, "Bears Don’t Care About Your Philosophy: Why Firearms Matter in Bear Country."
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Timothy Treadwell was a controversial figure who insisted on approaching and viewing brown bears at close range for about 13 years. He did not carry a firearm or bear spray or any deterrents. From backpacker.com:
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Wes: Timothy thought he was the dominant bear in the ecosystem. I think he was past the point of accepting any input on that. I think he had convinced himself that they would never hurt him, and he was untouchable.
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Treadwell was repeatedly warned about the danger. From akfatal.net:
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Despite that, Treadwell refused to carry firearms or ring his campsites with an electric fence as do bear researchers in the area. And he stopped carrying bear spray for self-protection in recent years. Friends said he thought he knew the bears so well he didn’t need it.
U.S. Geological Survey bear researcher Tom Smith; Sterling Miller, formerly the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s top bear authority; and others said they tried to warn the amateur naturalist that he was being far too cavalier around North America’s largest and most powerful predator….
“I told him to be much more cautious … because every time a bear kills somebody, there is a big increase in bearanoia and bears get killed,” Miller said. “I thought that would be a way of getting to him, and his response was ‘I would be honored to end up in bear scat.’ ”
Timothy Treadwell was killed and eaten by brown bears in October 2003.
-- Ammoland
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What is the difference between Timothy Treadwell and Norway? While both of them lived in bear country, only Norway understands that when you live in bear country, you have to be armed. No philosophy, no theory, and no sincere desire for peace will provide protection when the bear attacks. When the bear attacks, there is no substitute for firepower.
The United States lives in danger of bear attacks of many kinds from many directions. The US does not want and cannot afford a poorly equipped Marine Corps. When the Marine Corps slashed nearly 75% of cannon artillery, that did not make the Marine Corps stronger. It is time for the Marine Corps to follow Norway's example and rearm before the next bear attacks.
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Defense News - 04/04/2025
Norway to nearly double its K9 howitzer fleet for around $534 million
By Rudy Ruitenberg
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Ammoland - 04/02/2025
Bears Don’t Care About Your Philosophy: Why Firearms Matter in Bear Country
By Dean Weingarten
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Total Military Insight - 07/14/2025
Understanding Rocket Artillery vs. Conventional Artillery Systems
https://totalmilitaryinsight.com/rocket-artillery-vs-conventional-artillery/
I’m convinced that the people who made these decisions to remove tanks and much artillery from the inventory are not intelligent students of our military history. They’ve somehow managed to convince themselves that small scale units and special operations are the answer. Perhaps some battles will be fought at sea, but not necessarily where they believe.
Wars will always be won on enemy territory. Where will the Marine Corps be?
Many of us have used tanks and artillery in unconventional ways because of necessity. Remember canister rounds? I’ve seen tankers hit the head of the rounds with a ball peen hammer to increase the spread. Even flame tanks. Artillery at zero depression? Air bursts? Danger close! All desperate measures taken by Marines in desperate need and the solution was available.
Where, exactly, does the Corps fit in today and precisely what is it capable of? Semper Fi
Simple question, how many Artillery Pieces do the North Koreans, Chinese, Russians and Iranians possess?? Per the Army’s experience with Black Hawk Down who is going to support Marine requirements for Arty and Armor when the proverbial $&@$ hits the fan?🇺🇸🇺🇸