FP-45.

This is coolbert:

From that era of the Second World War [WW2] a weapon I  had never heard of before. Maybe devoted readers to the blog as well?

The American FP-45.

"The FP-45 Liberator was a pistol manufactured by the United States military during World War II for use by resistance forces in occupied territories."

Single-shot, .45 [11 mm] caliber, smooth-bore handgun as to be used by insurgency units.

Effective range NO GREATER THAN FOUR YARDS [FIVE METERS]!

FP-45. Crude but never intended to be anything but that!

"The Guide Lamp Division plant in Anderson, Indiana assembled a million of these guns. The Liberator project took about six months from conception to the end of production with about 11 weeks of actual manufacturing time, done by 300 workers."

Cost per unit $2.10 USD [1942].

 "The FP-45 was a crude, single-shot pistol designed to be cheaply and quickly mass-produced . . . It fired a .45 caliber pistol cartridge from an unrifled barrel. Due to this limitation, it was intended for short range use, 1–4 yards (0–5 m)."

"It was originally intended as an insurgency weapon to be mass dropped behind enemy lines to resistance fighters in occupied territory. A resistance fighter was to recover the gun, sneak up on an Axis occupier, kill or incapacitate him, and retrieve his weapons."

We sneak up on the enemy troop and fire a shot at a distance of one yard [meter]. That is all there is to it.

 

Load, fire one round, eject. A million men each doing this once and the war is over.

"The pistol was valued as much for its psychological warfare effect as its actual field performance. It was believed that if vast quantities of these handguns could be delivered into Axis-occupied territory, it would have a devastating effect on the morale of occupying troops."

ONE MILLION OF US SNEAK UP ON THE ENEMY AND ALL FIRE ONE SHOT! EVEN BETTER!

The intention was good but the hustle was wrong? You decide!

coolbert.

Guadalajara.

This is coolbert:

From that era of the Spanish Civil War yet one more instance of the Italian military enigma.

That Italian military in both world wars the performance generally accepted as being poor to very poor with only a few exceptions.

AND EVEN IN BETWEEN THE TWO WORLD WARS THAT ITALIAN MILITARY DISPLAYING A MARKED DEGREE OF INCOMPETENCE.

This is was the Battle of Guadalajara. March 8–23, 1937.

"The Battle of Guadalajara (March 8–23, 1937) saw the People's Republican Army (Ejército Popular Republicano, or EPR) defeat Italian and Nationalist forces attempting to encircle Madrid during the Spanish Civil War. The Nationalist forces involved in the Battle of Guadalajara were primarily the Italian Corps of Volunteer Troops (Corpo Truppe Volontarie, or CTV)."

My limited familiarity with the Spanish Civil War being that foreign contingents were present, communist and fascist both, but NOT IN SUCH LARGE NUMBERS. That Italian CTV numbering rather more numerous than what I had thought.

"The battle opened with an Italian offensive on 8 March. This offensive was halted by 11 March. Between 12 March and 14 March, renewed Italian attacks were supported by Spanish Nationalist units. These were halted too. On 15 March, a Republican counter-offensive was prepared. The Republicans successfully launched their counter-offensive from 18 March to 23 March."

Initial Italian victories and advance in a straight-forward manner and to-be-expected fashion followed by battlefield defeat, rout and disarray, shameful and humiliating.

"The Italian CTV lost some 6,000 men (Spanish Nationalist losses were marginal) and a considerable number of light tanks and planes. In addition, the Republican army captured sizeable quantities of badly-needed matériel and equipment, including 35 artillery pieces, 85 machine guns, and 67 vehicles."

"Above all, Guadalajara was a severe blow to Italian morale and a loss of prestige for Italy's fascist regime, whose Duce had orchestrated the deployment of the Italian army in the hopes of stunning the world with a show of Italy's 'iron military strength.'"

Italian manpower and material advantage all for naught. The Italian military enigma. And why is this?

coolbert.

Skipjack?

This is coolbert:

Need help with this item.

Someone having served in the U.S. submarine force or familiar with same can clarify.

American military payment certificate [MPC] from that era of the Vietnam War, value of five cents.

That particular image as found on the MPC giving me trouble.

 

This is a Skipjack [?] class American submarine with some sort of bow mounted sonar?

Sonars on American subs of that period mounted internally and not externally. That bow mounted sonar array does resemble the type of array as might be found on a British diesel/electric boat of the Oberon class but not an American Skipjack.

Perhaps this is a composite image for artistic effect. I just cannot say.

Devoted readers to the blog know better?

coolbert.

Manure.

This is coolbert:

Yet one more aspect of combat on the Western Front during the Great War [WW1] not appreciated. Thanks once more to the Pritzker Military Museum and Library.

Trench warfare, that stalemated "senseless carve up" without amelioration, the wounds as suffered by the average fighting man very susceptible to infection, thanks to MANURE.

"Fighting on farmland fertilized by manure meant that wounds quickly became infected; gangrene was rife"

That battlefield area of northern France and Flanders for at least a period of one thousand years and perhaps even longer heavily fertilized with farm animal manure.

As a result, never anticipated and unexpected those soldiers wounded having their injury infected and diseased much more quickly, far faster than medical science of the period could respond.

AND WITHOUT SULFA DRUGS OR MODERN ANTIBIOTICS TO TREAT INFECTIONS THE LOSS OF LIFE AND LIMB VERY HIGH. AMPUTATION IN MOST CIRCUMSTANCES THE ONLY RECOURSE TO SAVE A LIFE FROM UNSTOPPABLE AND LETHAL INFECTION..

That enormous maze of trench works [digging] and also the multitude of repeated artillery detonations [barrages] so common during WW1 turning over and bringing to the surface animal stockyard waste and bacteria obviously essential to agricultural and as piled deep from decades or even centuries earlier only exacerbating a difficult and dangerous situation!!

Welcome to the nightmare.

coolbert.

Fencer & Fernandez.

This is coolbert:

As you can well imagine, this headline has gotten my attention right away.

"DEFENCES on the Falklands are being reviewed after it emerged Russia plans to offer Argentina long-range bombers."

THOSE LONG-RANGE BOMBERS THE RUSSIAN Su-24 FENCER.

"The aircraft, which Moscow will swap for beef and wheat, would be able to mount air patrols over Port Stanley."

. . . .

"The deal involves a lease/lend of 12 Sukhoi Su-24 supersonic, all-weather attack aircraft. They are ageing but NATO still regards what it codenames 'Fencers' as 'super-fighters', with their 2,000-mile range and laser-guided missiles."

AND now for the rest of the story. Thanks to the article as found at the StrategyPage Internet web site.

IN REALITY THE SUPER NOT SO SUPER!

"Warplanes: Su-24 Does Not Age Gracefully"

"Since 2000, Russia has lost sixteen Su-24s to accidents. Many more have been retired because of this tendency to become very dangerous to operate as they age."

There is the rest of the story in the proverbial nutshell as they say. That threat on paper not quite the same as what in actuality exists, a lots of glitz and that formidable reputation not quite what it seems.

Hopefully President Fernandez of Argentina will read this blog entry. Doubt she will but she should. Madame President I am at your service.

coolbert.

RTK.

This is coolbert:

The United States Air Force [USAF] able to employ a variety of precision guided munitions to accomplish the mission.

Warplanes such as the AC-130 and various UAV such as Predator, Reaper, Avenger all able to carry and use in combat munitions highly reliant on global positioning system [GPS] guidance.

Ordnance to include but not strictly limited to:

* Griffin. "It can be guided either by a semi-active laser seeker or guided with GPS".

* Viper Strike. "Northrop integrated the Global Positioning System (GPS) into the laser-guided munition to provide highly accurate midcourse guidance."

* Small Diameter Bomb. "The original SDB is equipped with a GPS-aided inertial navigation system to attack fixed/stationary targets such as fuel depots, bunkers etc."

* JDAMS.  "JDAM-equipped bombs are guided by an integrated inertial guidance system coupled to a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver"

GPS guidance in some circumstances the coordinates to a target as measured in CENTIMETERS of accuracy!!

A variety of methods available to obtain such precision guidance of which RTK is only one.

"How does RTK work?"

"Data from the Base Station (either raw GPS data or RTK corrections; there are different RTK approaches) is sent in real time via radio to the Rover.  With a sufficient number of common satellites visible at both GPS antennas, a 'FIXED' solution of centimeter-level precision can be calculated."

RTK is merely one of a variety of methods available to obtain CENTIMETER LEVEL ACCURACY PRECISENESS!

That "base station" with transmitter on the ground thanks to the efforts I might suppose of a special operations type unit such as American ANGLICO!

Even ANGLICO or similar type behind-the-lines element determining THEIR position again to that centimeter-level degree of accuracy and using laser range-finder to establish a line of bearing and distance to a fleeting target, that too can be used for GPS terminal guidance.

coolbert.

Aouzou Strip.

This is coolbert:

From a prior blog entry:

"Before there was ISIL THERE WAS THE DERVISH!"

"At least for a period of over one hundred years you cannot find an example of an irregular military force having enjoyed such success as has ISIL."

"That only prior example of irregulars defeating a conventional military force and doing so in such a complete and irrevocable manner, almost leisurely so, being the obliteration of the "Anglo-Egyptian" army under the command of Hicks Pasha at El Obeid."

NO! I stand corrected and do so without shame.

Having forgotten but recently remembered the Toyota War from 1987. Irregular combat "troops" as best can be described from Chad in mortal combat with the units of the Libyan army as was the case under the rule of the late Colonel Ghaddafi.

Those units of the Libyan army also in irrevocable rout and utter disarray totally obliterated by irregulars the main combat fighting vehicle of which was the ubiquitous Toyota pick up truck [a technical].

 

Chadian irregular fighters severely overloading a technical.

"The Toyota War is the name commonly given to the last phase of the Chadian–Libyan conflict, which took place in 1987 in Northern Chad and on the Libyan-Chadian border. It takes its name from the Toyota pickup trucks used as technicals to provide mobility for the Chadian troops as they fought against the Libyans. The 1987 war resulted in a heavy defeat for Libya, which, according to American sources, lost one tenth of its army, with 7,500 men killed and US$1.5 billion worth of military equipment destroyed or captured. Chadian losses were 1,000 men killed."

MANY OF THOSE LIBYAN DEAD ENLISTED MEN ABANDONED BY THE OFFICER CORPS, PRIVATES WANDERING THE DESERT SANDS UNTIL DEATH BY DEHYDRATION!

THAT AMOUNT OF SOVIET ERA MILITARY HARDWARE ALSO CAPTURED INTACT IMMENSE. IT IS NOT LIKE THE LIBYAN DID NOT HAVE THE MATERIAL WHEREWITHAL FOR THE FIGHT. THE SPIRIT AND WILL WAS LACKING.

coolbert.

120 mm.

This is coolbert:

Understand this entry to the blog edited from the original, my powers of elocution having escaped me the first time.

This headline from StrategyPage not exactly what I thought it was.

"Iraq Loads Up On 120mm"

120 mm not referring to the Soviet Cold War era mortar M1938.

120 mm that smooth-bore cast-iron Soviet mortar from the era of the Cold War. That mortar firing a cast-iron mortar round [called a bomb in most nations of the world] the splintering of which is most devastating and deadly.

What the Iraqi National Army [INA]  exactly needs.

Low-tech weaponry of simplicity and most suitable for the INA in their fight against ISIL. A towed mortar of significant and deadly caliber, almost any sort of pick-up truck [Toyota preferred in that part of the world] as a prime mover and ammunition carrier.

Instead 120 mm as the round fired from the Abrams M1 American tank. Abrams a high-technology weapon system.

THINK RATHER WHAT THE IRAQI AT THIS POINT IN TIME NEEDS NOW AND DESPERATELY SO IS WEAPONRY CHEAP AND DIRTY THAT WORKS AND IN PROFUSION!!

That defeat of the Iraqi National Army not from a lack of Apache helicopters, Hellfire missiles, Frogfoot ground attack aircraft or Abrams tanks. Is from a lack of resolve and superior leadership.

Three years at a minimum to defeat ISIL if and when the deed is finally accomplished expect it not to be from Abrams main gun tank rounds.

coolbert.

Disease.

This is coolbert:

Before there was Jefferson there was Washington.

My understanding was that inoculations for smallpox within the American context only began from the time of President Jefferson onward. THIS IS NOT SO!

Thanks to the on-air presentation from the Pritzker Military Museum & Library for this item.

That Continental Army of George Washington during the American Revolutionary War making widespread use of inoculation against smallpox, with dramatic effectiveness, most decidedly so.

The before and after results apparent even to the most casual of observers quite marked:

* 160 cases of smallpox contagion and infection per 1,000 troops prior to inoculation.

* 3 cases of smallpox contagion and infection per 1,000 troops subsequent to inoculation.

George Washington of course as a young man having been infected by smallpox and reputedly becoming sterile as a result. George and Martha never having issue.

Loss of life from smallpox about 1/3 of those infected during that period.

European armies of the period too regularly inoculated. It also being the case that from that period of turmoil resulting in the American Revolutionary War [1775-1782] smallpox epidemic very widespread and particularly deadly.

"On the 6th of January 1777, George Washington wrote to Dr. William Shippen Jr., ordering him to inoculate all of the forces that came through Philadelphia. He explained that: 'Necessity not only authorizes but seems to require the measure, for should the disorder infect the Army . . . we should have more to dread from it, than from the Sword of the Enemy.'"

Washington generally it is suggested not an outstanding battlefield strategist, tactician, or practitioner of the operational art but able to sustain his force in the field for an extended period, prophylactic measures the prevention of disease foremost!

coolbert.

Reporting.

This is coolbert:

From the Chicago Tribune today and the section "FOCUS MIDDLE EAST".

"A war in the shadows"

"Few details divulged in fight against Islamic State."

Thanks to the McClatchy group.

The news media now able to cover the air war against the Islamic State, reporters now embedded with combat units. Those combat units also to a large extent a single-seat fighter/bomber flying off an aircraft carrier or the various types of combat UAV.

Those press releases as are available from the U.S. and British military concerning the air strikes against ISIL targets those of BRITISH ORIGIN TO BE PREFERRED.

From the American:

"U.S. and partner nations conducted 14 air strikes near Kobani, destroying four ISIL fighting positions, three ISIL occupied buildings, two ISIL staging areas, two ISIL tanks, a motorcycle, a mortar, and struck eight tactical ISIL and units and two ISIL fighting positions. Near Raqqa, an air strike struck and electronic warfare garrison."

From the English:

"On Thursday evening, Kurdish peshmerga reported coming under fire from a dug-in machine-gun position, A RAF [Royal Air Force] Reaper remotely piloted air system succeeded in locating the ISIL position, and attacked it with a Hellfire missile. The crew operating the Reaper then identified further ISIL positions, allowing another coalition aircraft to conduct an attack. Before the end of its patrol, the Reaper crew used another Hellfire to engage an ISIL check-point set up to control a road."

And the difference is? Those releases attributed to the English are superior and better for what reason exactly?

coolbert.

North Pole.

This is coolbert:

Moscow is going to be infuriated by this.

Denmark is all instances hoping and perhaps even praying for NATO backing in this case.
 
"Denmark to claim North Pole control based on ‘scientific data’"

All this based on a single underwater geological feature linking Greenland to the North Pole. OWNERSHIP!

"Denmark plans to claim partial control over the North Pole based on what it says is scientific data that shows Greenland’s continental shelf is linked to a ridge beneath the Arctic Ocean."

"Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark."

. . . .

"Several countries lay claims to areas of the North Pole, where significant amounts of undiscovered oil and natural gas resources are estimated to lie under the ground. Besides Denmark, the US, Russia, Norway and Canada are among those countries."

UNDISCOVERED AND ESTIMATED AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO EXTRACT GIVEN THE WEATHER OF THE REGION AND CURRENT TECHNOLOGY. AND HAVING ALTERNATIVES AVAILABLE.

Denmark is now a major player on the world stage, engaging in geo-strategic and political machinations on a scale as only previously reserved to large nations with significant military potential?

Denmark having laid claim to Greenland for some time and conducting continual military sovereignty patrols [SOVPATS] as legally mandated by international treaties.

Russia has already made their claim, well, Copenhagen can too!!

coolbert.

Warden & ISIL.

This is coolbert:

Once more from Al Arabiya:

"Experts warn killing top ISIS leaders not enough to cripple group"

My instantaneous thought when reading this headline from Al Arabiya was Warden's Five Rings.

"Warden's Five Rings represent a theory of military strategic attack, based on five levels of system attributes"

The Five Rings include:

    * Leadership
    * Organic/System Essentials/Key Production
    * Infrastructure
    * Population
    * Fielded Military Forces

THAT PRIMARY GOAL OF MILITARY COMBAT AVIATION DURING WARTIME TO DESTROY OR NEUTRALIZE THE ENEMY LEADERSHIP.

THAT APPLICABILITY IN THE IRREGULAR TYPE OF WARFARE SCENARIO CHALLENGED!!

"Eliminating key leaders is a means to disrupt plots and degrade capabilities. But they do not defeat or destroy terrorist organizations," said Bruce Riedel, a former CIA agent and adviser to U.S. President Barack Obama who is now a leading terrorism expert."

. . . .

"the real impact is hard to quantify, especially as the command structure of ISIS is largely a mystery to intelligence services, with its members masters at disguising themselves through a multitude of false identities, nicknames and noms de guerre."

"And the Western view of a pyramid-like command structure with a supreme leader, deputies and cascading line of subordinates does not take into account a reality where tribal, regional, cultural and historical ties often take precedence."

WITHIN THE CONVENTIONAL MILITARY CONTEXT THOSE CONCEPTS OF WARDEN APPLICABLE BUT NOT SO MUCH IN THE IRREGULAR CONTEXT/

We shall see, won't we!!

coolbert.

Al Roz.

This is coolbert:

From Al Arabiya News as of 20 December 2014and thanks to the tip from Daniel:

 "Iraqi Diyala residents face ISIS ‘water war’"

An Iraqi official warned on Saturday of a “humanitarian disaster” after Islamist militants diverted Al-Roz River away from Bildoz district in the eastern province of Diyala, affecting thousands of people in what he described as a 'water war,'”

“'ISIS, for the fourth consecutive day, diverted Al-Roz River, considered to be an essential water source to Bildoz, and supplying drinking water to 150 thousand people as well as irrigating vast areas of land,' . . .  'thousands of people in Bildoz and other adjacent areas will be affected if water is not returned to its previous course into the river.'”

NOT only is ISIL controlling dams but also regulating the flow of water as an intimidating factor. A warning is being sent and heard loud and clear.

THAT ENGINEERING CORPS OF THE SADDAM HUSSEIN IRAQI ARMY NOTED FOR THEIR EXCELLENCE AT DIVERTING WATER TO CREATE BARRIERS AND OBSTACLES.

For 5,000 years water obviously so essential to any sort of civilized living in that part of the world, and eveyone knows it. Either deny or create an inundation literally of Biblical proportions and you have disaster.

coolbert.

Baltics

This is coolbert:

Those nations bordering the Baltic TO INCLUDE MEMBER STATES OF NATO now subjected to widespread Russian intimidation. This part and parcel of an ongoing process.

Thanks to Radio Free Europe and the tip from Freeper.

1. "Poland: 'Unprecedented' Russian Action In Baltic Region"

"Polish Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak has said Russia's military is engaging in an unprecedented amount of activity around the Baltic Sea."

"'Over the past few days we have seen unprecedented activity by the Russians in the Baltic Sea, both the Baltic fleet and Russian aircraft,'"

2. "Russian Military Jet Nearly Collides With Passenger Plane"

"Swedish defense officials have said a Russian military aircraft nearly collided south of Sweden with a commercial passenger plane shortly after takeoff from Copenhagen, Denmark, on December 12."

"Sweden's air force chief, Major General Micael Byden, said the Russian warplane's transponders -- which make the plane detectable to commercial radar -- were shut off."

That transponder on the military aircraft shut off had to be a deliberate action and in violation of internationally agreed upon air traffic treaties of which the Russian are a signatory to.

These provocations designed to scare and intimidate those NATO allies of the United States. Firm response needed and NOW!

coolbert.

Helmet II.

This is coolbert:

Conclusion!

More on the American M1 helmet from that era of the Second World War, Korea, Vietnam.

More Q & A.

"The Better to See You With"

"In 'The High Price of Valor' there are photos of a submarine deck gun crew and others firing on a Japanese sampan. If I'm not mistaken, all those men are wearing their helmets backward. Was there a reason for this?"

YES, indeed there was!

"the front lip on the versatile American 'steel pot' offered protection from the sun and overhead shrapnel, but for naval gun crews - - when a clear view of the action from sea level to the air, from which and an enemy plane could appear, was paramount- - that was not necessarily an asset. Naval gunnery personnel on large vessels had specialized helmets, but for those on smaller vessels . . . it was common to turn the helmet backward to expand the vista"

Absolutely!!

Even my own experience [1966] during the fifth week of basic training for qualification with the M14 rifle it was mandated that all personnel wear the HELMET BACKWARDS. So as to give you better vision and an unobstructed view of the field of fire..

All the better to see you with my dear!!

And now you know the rest of the story and once more also thanks to WW2 magazine.

coolbert.

Helmet I.

This is coolbert:

From that era of the Second World War, Korea and Vietnam the American M1 helmet as worn by the soldiers of those periods, some extracts regarding same as found in the most recent issue of WW2 magazine. Myths repeated and exposed.

The truth is out there! Thank you WW2 magazine.

Q: "Why didn't U.S. Army and Marine infantry connect their helmet chinstraps when under fire? Newsreels and even Hollywood movies show chinstraps dangling on the side of heads or connected around the rear of the helmet."

A: "Men had two reasons - - one valid, one specious - - to leave helmet straps loose or clip them behind. A man strapped into his steel bucket risked an attacker coming from behind grabbing his helmet visor to thrown him off balance. men also believed wrongly - - that if a shell or bomb went off nearby, a tightly fastened helmet would snap its wearer's neck."

This too is what I was told in basic training having to wear the M1 helmet the entire time. That helmet consisting of two parts, the steel pot outer element and the inside helmet liner [plastic]. NOT comfortable to wear and yes indeed, "infantry advancing with one had holding helmets down and the other holding their weapon" was exactly the case. That helmet uncomfortable and awkward, bouncing around as you ran!

Personally, that an enemy soldier would be able to approach you from behind and throw you off balance by grabbing the visor seems like a "specious" reason also. What troop allows the enemy to approach you from behind? Always keep your foe to the front!

Frankly too I would expect the danger from splinters of a nearby detonating enemy shell would pose a much greater danger to your body and being than having the neck snapped from the detonation. But what do I know?

coolbert.

General Terry.

This is coolbert:

From Sheldon Adelson and Israel Hayom Internet web site we have the pronouncements that most Americans reluctantly want to hear.

"Islamic State fight to take at least 3 years, says US general"

"Lt. Gen. James Terry, commander of U.S. forces fighting Islamic State, says turning point will 'at least take a minimum of three years' • Several hundred more troops to deploy to train Iraqi forces •"

General Terry wearing his dress blue uniform and having the appearance at least from my perspective of the average, everyday Latin American dictator as used to be the case.

A MINIMUM TO DEFEAT ISIL NOW SEEN AS A THREE YEAR CAMPAIGN!!

From that era of the American Indian Wars one of those general officers making his mark during that period also a General Terry. I wonder if the two are related in some manner?

And that THREE YEAR MINIMUM again hardly what the American public wants to hear. Keep in all under wraps I might assume.

coolbert.

Santa Claus.

This is coolbert:

As was stated in a previous blog entry, at least in over forty years I have not seen that juxtaposition of Santa Claus with the military dimension.

Until now that is.

"Islamic State mocks US with photoshopped Santa held hostage"

"'The cropped image of Santa Claus about to be beheaded isn’t just part of the Islamic State’s humor or entirely a joke. It emanates from a supremacist worldview that seeks the forced extinction of all contrary beliefs.' 'Islamic State Mocks US With Photoshopped Santa Held Hostage,'”

 

That is not a real person about to have his head cut off be aware. A photoshop image extracted, copied and paste onto another image using photoshop type editing software.

The real and true Saint Nicholas it should be noted FROM that part of the world [the Middle East], an Anatolian.

"Merry Christmas you Infidels!". Those being however the true sentiments of those ISIL adherents, very hateful!!

coolbert.

Sheridan.

This is coolbert:

"WHY IT'S CALLED SHERIDAN ROAD" (or how the general saved Chicago)

From the article in the Chicago Tribune "CHICAGO FLASHBACK" by Professor Ron Grossman.

Little Phil. Phil Sheridan, famous general from the time of the American Civil War and whose destiny seemed to be inextricably linked to the city of Chicago.

 The Battle of Cedar Creek. Victory from the jaws of defeat as they say.

AND those Chicago Tribune headlines from one hundred fifty years ago:

"NEWS BY TELEGRAPH."

"MORE THUNDER FROM THE SHENANDOAH."

"Gen. Sheridan Defeats Longstreet, and Captures 43 Guns."

"A CRITICAL SITUATION TURNED TO A VICTORY."

"Full Official Dispatch from General Sheridan."

"Full Notes of Wednesday's Battle."

"Sheridan's a Appearance Saves the Day and the Army."

"To Chicagoans scrambling to catch a bus at Belmont Avenue and Sheridan Road, the statue of a man on a horse probably fades into the urban blur of their daily commute. The busy corner doesn't lend itself to pondering questions at the intersection of art and history. Like why the name on the statue, 'Sheridan', is also that of the nearby street. Or why Sheridan Road runs 20 miles north to the former site of Fort Sheridan; a military base set amid the bucolic North Shore suburbs that closed in 1993."

Phil Sheridan in the famous photo as taken by Matthew Brady. Phil was only 33 years old at the time. A most courageous commander who led with panache', able to assume a personae and use theatrics as a leadership style to inspire those troops under his command. Quite often described as a man of diminutive stature. But then too so was Napoleon.

And thank you Professor Grossman. Well done.

coolbert.

Pemberton.

This is coolbert:

An American military man behaving badly?

First accused, then charged, now having made the first court appearance.

And innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, at least by American standards.

"They are young, they are aggressive, they drink a lot!"

1. "US refuses to hand over marine accused of killing transgender Filipino"

"Joseph Pemberton currently held at US military base in Philippines US embassy says position is in line with bilateral forces agreement"

"The United States embassy in Manila has turned down a request from Philippine authorities to hand over a marine accused of the killing of a transgender Filipino, a move that could spark anti-American protest in the former US colony."

2. "US marine charged with killing Filipino transgender woman"

"Joseph Pemberton faces 20 years in jail if found guilty of murder of Jennifer Laude in case that has fanned anti-US sentiment"

"Prosecutors in the Philippines have filed murder charges against a US marine accused of killing a Filipino transgender woman in a case that has fanned anti-American sentiment."

3. "Marine in Philippine transgender murder case makes first court appearance"

"A United States Marine accused of killing a transgender Filipino appeared in court for the first time on Friday, as his lawyers sought the suspension of the trial, in a case that could test the strength of security ties between the two allies."

Mr. Pemberton faces the camera in this image. This man is in serious trouble.

Mr. Pemberton having met a met a person HE OBVIOUSLY THOUGHT WAS A WOMAN. MR. PEMBERTON HOPING FOR A ROMANTIC INTERLUDE BUT MUCH TO HIS DISMAY QUICKLY FINDING OUT THAT LAUDE HAD ORIGINALLY BEEN A HE! Mr. Pemberton then responding in an emotional and violent manner. That is how I see it.

coolbert.

Decimate!

This is coolbert:

Those American advisers in Iraq now in mortal combat with ISIL elements. That first encounter having gone to the advantage of U.S. forces.

"ISIS Attacks American Base In Iraq In First Ever Clash With U.S. Troops"

"American troops in Iraq had their first actual battle with ISIS troops after the Islamist militants tried to overrun a base, an encounter that left the ISIS troops decimated and in retreat. The attack took place near the Ein al-Asad base, which includes close to 100 U.S. military advisers. The U.S. troops, armed with 'light and medium weapons,' and were able to inflict casualties against the ISIS fighters, forcing them to retreat, Shafaq News reported. The American troops were also aided by fighter jets, which directed air strikes against the ISIS troops that 'silenced their heavy sources of fire.'"

That word decimate normally meaning one-in-ten but meaning much more than that within the military context.

Advisers armed with only "light and medium weapons" but presumably able to call on national assets if required. An AC-130 for instance.

coolbert.

Yarmouk Brigade.

This is coolbert:

Defections and those swearing true faith and allegiance to ISIL regrettably continue. Thanks to a special hot item from DEBKAfile that tip from Freeper.

"Syrian rebel Yarmouk Brigades ditch US and Israel allies, defect to ISIS"

"The Syrian rebel militia Al Yarmouk Shuhada Brigades, backed and trained for two years by US officers, mostly CIA experts, in Jordan, and supported by the Israeli army, has abruptly dumped these sponsors and joined up with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, DEBKAfile’s exclusive military and counter-terrorism sources reveal."

"The sudden defection of this 2,000-strong anti-Assad force leaves IDF defense formations on the Golan, US and Jordanian deployments in the northern part of the kingdom, and pro-Western rebel conquests in southern Syria in danger of collapse."

That Yarmouk Brigade have tossed their lot in with ISIL. Those rebels opposed to Assad and TRAINED AND SUPPORTED BY AMERICAN ENTITIES NOW TAKE THEIR COMMANDS FROM THE CALIPH!

Also had been counted on [?] by Israel to guard the Golan Heights and that border separating Syria and Israel preventing incursions by ISIL combat elements. Reasonableness now replaced with extreme militancy and this cannot be but worrisome to the Israeli.

coolbert.

Russian OTH!

This is coolbert:

Once more some over-the-horizon [OTH] radar news. This is astonishing. Such a sudden burst and flurry of activity regarding what is normally an arcane and esoteric subject.

From MARCONI and MARCO POLO through Harry:

"Russian defense ministry sources have just said that Russia will set up a powerful OTH (Over-The-Horizon) radar in Crimea to reinforce the Black Sea Fleet. The radar is called 'Podsolnuch' (meaning 'sun flower' in Russian). It is sea-based."

 

 "This radar will detect surface and aerial targets 450 kilometers [280 miles] away, which are not within the line of sight. It can simultaneously detect, track and identify up to 300 surface, and up to 100 aerial, targets in an automatic mode."

 

  "The radar will be 'looking to the Bosporus'."

 

SEA-BASED AND PORTABLE THEREFORE! CAPABILITY AWESOME AND AIMED AT THAT POINT WHERE AMERICAN OR OTHER FOREIGN WARSHIPS ENTER THE BLACK SEA!

 

coolbert.

 

 

Over-the-Horizon.

This is coolbert:

Here with descriptions of those American and Australian OTH radars with images showing coverage.

1. OTH-B. American.

"The United States Air Force Rome Laboratory had the first complete success with their AN/FPS-118 OTH-B. A prototype with a 1 MW transmitter and a separate receiver was installed in Maine, offering coverage over a 60 degree arc between 900 and 3,300 km. A permanent transmitting facility was then built at Moscow AFS, a receiving facility at Columbia Falls AFS, and an operational center between them in Bangor, Maine."

 

Presumably this American Air Force OTH-B radar watches for enemy warplanes approaching from the oceanic regions and not over the North Pole from Russia.

2. ROTHR. American.

"The United States Navy created their own system, the AN/TPS-71 ROTHR (Relocatable Over-the-Horizon Radar), which covers a 64 degree wedge-shaped area at ranges from 500 to 1,600 nautical miles (925 to 3,000 km) . . . The first production systems were installed in the test site in Virginia for acceptance testing, but were then transitioned to counter the illegal drug trade, covering Central America and the Caribbean."

ROTHR. Monitoring that area of Central and South America for the presence of drug traffickers, ships at sea and low-flying aircraft both.

3. Jindalee. Australian.

"the Jindalee Operational Radar Network developed by the Australian Department of Defence in 1998 and completed in 2000. It is operated by No. 1 Radar Surveillance Unit of the Royal Australian Air Force. Jindalee is a multistatic radar (multiple-receiver) system using OTH-B, allowing it to have both long range as well as anti-stealth capabilities."

Please forgive me. This image greatly enlarged from the original so some labeling not legible. Also note that a portion of that coverage possibly is within range of where that Malyasian airliner was thought to have disappeared.  Jindalee apparently an improved and better version of OTH-B.

NONE of these OTH systems by reputation are used in a callous manner to create havoc and interference with the high-frequency radio bands as did the Russian Woodpecker?

At least I am not aware of any problems. Devoted readers tot he blog know better?

coolbert.

C-Element.

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First KW, then Normandy and the Atlantic Wall.

The C-Element. Also called the Belgian Gate.

A portable anti-tank obstacle captured in enormous numbers by the German and used as a barrier intended to thwart the allied landing craft coming ashore at Normandy, D-Day!

"The Cointet-element, also known as a Belgian Gate or C-element, was a heavy steel fence of about three metres [nine feet] wide and two metres [six feet] high, typically mounted on concrete rollers, heavily used as a mobile anti-tank obstacle during World War II . . .  Besides its use as barricade to the entrance to forts, bridges and roads, the heavy fences are most-known for their use in the Belgian Iron Wall of the KW-line and the re-use as beach obstacles on the Atlantikwall.

"The gate illustrated has been rigged with explosive 'sausages' for demolition using a technique described in the article on UDT." NO LESS than sixteen demolition charges required to destroy and collapse a C-Element in such a fashion that landing craft would be able to pass over the pile of junk in an unhindered manner.

 

"The Cointet-element formed the main barricade element of the Belgian KW-line, a tank barricade that was built between September 1939 and May 1940."

"Thousands of Cointets were installed on the KW-line between the village Koningshooikt and city Wavre to act as the main line of defence against a possible German armoured invasion through the heartland of Belgium, forming one long iron wall. The Cointet-elements were placed next to each other in a zigzag-line and connected with steel cables."

"Large numbers of gates were brought to Normandy during the construction of the Atlantikwall to be used along the other wide variety of beach obstacles. Instead of connecting them, the Germans used them singly next to other items, especially at the low tide line . . . Notes from 1944 cite the placement of 23,408 Cointets over 4340 km of coastline."

Those forerunner of the modern American SEAL the underwater demolition team [UDT] combat swimmer whose task was to place the charges in place and blow the obstacle, clearing a path for allied landing craft.

That KW Line ineffectual but the Belgian Gates acknowledged as effective and put to good use by the German. Casualties among the American UDT teams very high, men repeatedly exposing themselves to enemy fire heedless of the danger. American troops sadly also hiding amongst the gates seeking shelter on occasion also blown to bits by the detonations.

coolbert.

Battlecruiser.

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As seen at Freeper and copied in entirety:

"The Enduring Myth of the Fragile Battlecruiser"

"The repetition of the myth of the fragile battlecruiser continues even as the greatest victory of the class is now just over 100 years in the past. This particular capital ship has been on the receiving end of the naval world’s harshest criticism since three of their British number met untimely ends at the May 31-June 1, 1916 Battle of Jutland. In fact, the battlecruiser was a hybrid, cost saving platform designed specifically to support a mature British strategic concept of seapower. Its heavy losses at Jutland were more to do with early 20th century capital ship design and poor British tactical doctrine than the thickness (or lack thereof) of its armor belt. That particular myth was constructed in the wake of Jutland for good reasons of operational security, but there is no reason to continue to repeat it in the present day. The experience of the battlecruiser still has important lessons for contemporary warship designers. Every warship is a compromise of weapons, protective features, speed, and operational range. Operational employment is as important as physical design and construction in determining a warship’s vulnerability. Time marches forever forward and today’s invincible front line combatant can become tomorrow’s proverbial fighter with a glass jaw if not modernized to reflect technological change. Warship designers seeking lethal, high speed and survivable platforms on a limited hull would do well to consider the battlecruiser’s performance in their deliberations on how much of these qualities can be achieved in a single class. Sometimes operational employment and tactical doctrine can be just as deadly to a ship in battle as its lack of speed, armament and robust construction."

That battlecruiser from the era of the Great War a warship having the armament of a battleship but only having the armor plate of a cruiser. Designed for fast movement, speed equated to protection.

This was not to be!!

"The three British ships—Invincible, Indefatigable, and Queen Mary—were all sunk by magazine explosions, with heavy loss of life". HMS Lion also mortally wounded BUT saved by a flooding of the magazine when the forward turret hit, a Royal Marine officer giving the command, both his legs blown off!!

NOT SO much operational deployment or compromised design to blame for the disastrous sinking of all three British battlecruisers.SAFETY FEATURES BUILT INTO THE SYSTEM IN A DELIBERATE FASHION DISABLED. THOSE INTERLOCKING DOORS CONNECTING THE MAGAZINE TO THE TURRET THROUGH THE BARBETTE "TIED OFF" IN SUCH A FASHION TO ALLOW FOR FASTER RELOADING, HEEDLESS OF DANGER!!

DISASTER IN ALL CASES THE RESULT! FLASH FROM A HIT ON THE TURRET TRAVELING DOWN THE BARBETTE AND CAUSING A SPONTANEOUS AND CATASTROPHIC EXPLOSION IN THE MAGAZINE!!

See this amazing animated image of the process by which a shell and powder charge were transferred from the magazine to the turret through the barbette.

Beatty in the aftermath of the running surface battle at Jutland and having made his famous comment “There seems to be something wrong with our bloody ships today!”, promptly then laying down and falling asleep!!

coolbert.

Chinese Dragon.

This is coolbert:

From another amateur radio forum courtesy of Zenki we have more on the two over-the-horizon [OTH] radar systems, Chinese and Iranian causing havoc on the high frequency radio band:

"The two most obnoxious radars at the moment are the Chinese Dragon that wipes out whole chunks  of HF spectrum and the Iranian 28 MHZ radar which is an annoying high pitch whine that wipes out most of the 10 and 12 meter bands. Why I don't think that this a Russian Woodpecker is that it can be heard when I typical don't have propagation  to the USSR [Russia]. The well behaved over the horizon radars are tolerable. The Chinese Dragon is  the most offensive and obnoxious QRM [man made interference] that we have heard in a  very long time. My feeling is that the Chinese Dragon has more to with jamming internal broadcasts in China rather than being a useful radar. You typically hear  jamming right from 3 MHZ through to  10 MHZ"

OTH radars allowing for coverage of oceans and airspace well beyond the line-of-sight, tracking of ships at sea and low-flying aircraft [or low-flying cruise missiles] in a COST EFFICIENT MANNER. That original investment in such an OTH system rather large I might think but cost efficient in the long run.

Such interference with international broadcast and allocated high frequency channels of communications as they occur also treaty violations as agreed upon?

coolbert.

Dragon.

This is coolbert:

From that previous blog entry:

"NOT in forty years or so has this sort of thing occurred."

NO! Over-the-horizon [OTH] radars more common and active than what I had thought. STEEL YARD did not and does not exist in a vacuum. NOT one of a kind.

China, Iran, United States, now Canada and perhaps even Australia possess such radar systems.

AND causing havoc in some instances to listeners in the high frequency bands.

From an amateur radio forum, thanks to aa7ae:

1. "HF bands being invaded by the Chinese Dragon"

"Lately I've started to notice the 30 meter band is being completely trashed by this mysterious pulses noise extending over a wide portion of the band when trying to receive WSPR signals. In doing some research on the net, I've located several references to this as the 'Chinese Dragon', a form of over the horizon [OTH] radar. Several people have also reported the same thing on a wide portion of the 40 meter band as well. Here are some links to a few youtube videos documenting this unfortunate nasty signal. Maybe gone are the cold-war days of the infamous Russian Woodpecker, but now we have to contend with this new problem. But if any of you come across this and are wondering what it is, this may help explain it. I was going to attach my own WAV file and WSPR screenshot, but this board does not seem to allow such files to be attached.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6bqRq07wjI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPxHCu3k6sU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AthoPqyWy_M

 http://wsprnet.org/drupal/node/2695

2. "OTH Radar from Iran on 10 m"

Thanks to  DK2OM.
 
"The Over The Horizon (OTH) Radar from Iran is daily transmitting on our 10 m-band, often long lasting on 28245 kHz. You can hear a high and a low tone, corresponding to the sweep rates of 870 and 307 sweeps/sec. The system is  about 60 kHz wide, the splatters are covering +/- 250 kHz."

http://www.iaru-r1.org/index.php/iarums-news/1125-oth-radar-from-iran-on-10-m

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6c_4Krsexk

Note in all instances these OTH up and active for some time now. NOT just yesterday!

coolbert.

Woodpecker Canada.

This is coolbert:

NOT in forty years or so has this sort of thing occurred.

I am familiar with the Russian Woodpecker.

But now we have the Canadian Woodpecker.

And over the horizon high frequency radar.

From MARCONI through Harry: "The RADAR like signal noted of late on or about 1910 kHz has been tentatively identified. This was posted to the Top Band Reflector by XXXX K1DG earlier today. I have been monitoring and it has been active on 3250 kHz since I started to listen at 21:33 UTC and went OTA on 3250 kHz at 22:50 UTC. Nothing heard on 1915, 4400, or 5300 at this time."

- "It is a high-frequency surface-wave radar (HFSWR) system, developed by Raytheon Canada for the Canadian military. It seems to be a new version of the SWR503 MK2 HFSWR system. It is intended to detect ships up to 200 miles from a country's coast (EEZ) to protect against terrorists, smugglers, and unauthorized fishing vessels as well as locate vessels in distress. The present system has been detected at 1915, 3250, 4400, and 5300 kHz."

- "It is located at Hartlen Point, NS, near Halifax (Google Earth to 44 35 29.47 N 63 26 49.68 W )"

- "The frequency band 1850-2000 is a shared allocation in Canada, among amateur, radionavigation, and radiolocation services."

- "A previous version of this system was installed in several other regions.  1915 kHz is not the primary operating frequency for the system. The higher frequencies generally work better for the intended purpose."

That Russian OTH radar causing massive interference for A NUMBER OF YEARS on the high frequency radio band. ONLY became defunct with the Chernobyl disaster. That RECEIVING ANTENNA for the system within the forbidden radioactive contaminated area. Called STEEL YARD and designed to detect an incoming cruise missile or low-flying aircraft at long distance.

Listen to these recordings of the Russian Woodpecker here, here and here.
And to if you have a high frequency receiver you may want to try and listen to the live and up and running Canadian Woodpecker too.

Have fun and good hunting.

coolbert.

Sinai.

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More from DEBKAfile as of 10 December.

"New ISIS forward command posted to Sinai"

"A group of at least ten ISIS operations and intelligence officers, led by a senior commander, has arrived in Sinai and taken charge of the local Ansar Beit al-Maqdas jihadis, thereby opening up a dangerous new front against Egypt and Israel, in proximity to the Suez Canal, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, DEBKAfile reports. Since Ansar pledged allegiance to IS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdad considers Sinai a province of his Islamic caliphate."

The Ansar having pledged true faith and allegiance to the Caliph. NOW the caliph through his minions assumes command.

That threat to the Suez Canal real and not be ignored? That historic Al Shams to include the modern nation of Israel it should be noted.

coolbert.

Red Lines.

This is coolbert:

Russian, Israel, Syria all in conflict!!

From DEBKAfile various dates and entries, that Russians having just delivered the latest air defense weaponry to the despot Assad THE ENTIRE SHIPMENT DESTROYED ON THE GROUND BY AN ISRAELI AIR STRIKE AT THE DAMASCUS AIRPORT! NOT ANY OF THIS COVERED BY THE MAIN STREAM MEDIA TO MY KNOWLEDGE..

1. 7 December. "Israel air strikes hit Russian weapons bound for Syria and Hizballah"

"Israel's air strikes near Damascus international airport and the Syrian-Lebanese border Sunday, Dec. 7, are depicted by Middle East military and intelligence sources as Israel's first overt military clash with Russia in the course of the Syrian war. Those sources assert that the strikes demolished components of Russian Buk and other types of top-line anti-air missile systems that Moscow had shipped in for Syria and the Lebanese Hizballah."

2. 8 December. "Russia: Israel must explain 'aggressive action' in Syria"

"In a Note filed with the UN Monday, Moscow accused Israel of "aggressive action" [against Syria] and 'demanded that such attacks should not happen again… Moscow is deeply worried by this dangerous development, the circumstances of which demand an explanation,' the Note went on to say"

3. 8 December "Hizballah's logistics chief killed in Israeli air raid over Syria"

"DEBKAfile reports that the head of Hizballah's logistics administration was killed in the Israeli air strike near Damascus international airport Sunday. The officer was apparently supervising the transfer of advanced weapons to Lebanon from a depot at the base of the 103rd brigade of the Syrian army's 4th Division"

4. 8 December. "Israel wiped out Russian hardware for thwarting US no-fly zone plan"

"High-ranking US military sources revealed Monday, Dec. 8, to DEBKAfile that Israel's air strikes near Damascus the day before wiped out the highly mobile Russian Buk mobile, radar-guided surface-to-air (SAM) missile, which is mounted on tracked vehicles, and the Pantsir-S1, which is effective against cruise missiles as well as aircraft. They were dispatched post haste by Moscow to help Syria and Hizballah frustrate a US no-fly zone plan for northern Syria"

5. 9 December. "Israel has red lines, Netanyahu and Ya'alon tell Moscow"

"Responding to Russia's demand to 'explain' Israel's Sunday air strike over Syria, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Tuesday: 'Israel has red lines and won't let them be crossed.'"

Ya'alon the Israel Defense Minister.

6. 10 December "Russian official in Damascus to discuss response to Israel's air strikes"

"The arrival in Damascus of Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov Wednesday has set up new military tensions in the region, since it turned out, according to DEBKAfile's sources, that he had come for two days of discussions with the 'Syrian leadership' on how to react to Israel's air raids on Sunday."

THAT PART OF THE ALREADY TENSE ENOUGH. ADD THIS TO THE MIX!!

coolbert.

Deir a-Zor.

This is coolbert:

From DEBKAfile:

For some time, at least since the siege of Kobane has begun, ISIL has not had a lot of recent major victories. Until now. This since 6 December and I have not seen reported elsewhere.

"Fresh ISIS conquest: Syrian air base at Deir a-Zor"

"The Islamic State achieved an important gain Saturday with the conquest of the eastern Syrian air base of Deir el-Zor near the Iraqi border. Its fighters routed the Syrian army defenders of the 137th Brigade and so lifted the threat of Syrian air assault on the oilfields it captured and the road links between Syria and Iraq."

The ISIL onslaught continues unabated? We hold our breath for but for too long.

coolbert.

Fullback.

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First there was FENCER and now there is FULLBACK!

The Sukhoi Su-34!

Fullback the NATO code name for the most recent and latest deployed Russian combat warplane. A aircraft apparently [?] having a mission that can be both tactical and strategic!

The low-level supersonic fighter-bomber [with emphasis on bomber] versatile performing a variety of missions and doing them all well!

"Based on Sukhoi Su-27 'Flanker', the two-seat Su-34 is designed for tactical deployment against air, ground and naval targets (including small and mobile targets) on solo and group missions in daytime and at night, under favourable and adverse weather conditions and in a hostile environment with counter-fire and EW counter-measures deployed, as well as for air reconnaissance."

 

"The Sukhoi Su-34 . . . NATO reporting name: Fullback) is a Russian twin-seat fighter-bomber. It is intended to replace the Sukhoi Su-24."

A long-range strategic mission within the capability and it having been designed so from the start? Comfort of the two-man tandem crew a major consideration!

"Much of the design work went into crew comfort. The two crew members sit side by side in a large cabin, with the pilot-commander to the left and navigator/operator of weapons to the right . . . Since long missions require comfort, the pressurization system allows operation up to 10,000 metres (32,800 ft) without oxygen masks, which are available for emergencies and combat situations. The crew members have room to stand and move about the cabin during long missions. The space between the seats allows them to lie down in the corridor, if necessary. A toilet and a galley are located behind the crew seats . . . The cockpit is a continuous capsule of armor."

. . . .

With in-flight refueling the Fullback capable of providing a "global reach"! Exercises involving a fully loaded Fullback in the long-range mode of mission already demonstrated:

"The Su-34's long range was shown in a July 2010 exercise when Su-34s and Su-24Ms were moved from Russian bases in Europe to one on the Pacific coast, 6,000 kilometres [3,750 miles] away, which requires in-flight refuelling. The exercise included aircraft carrying weapons at full load, simulated delivering them on a target before arriving at the Pacific coast base. Su-24Ms were refuelled three times, while the Su-34 was refuelled twice."

A Russian combined strategic aviation force consisting of BEAR, BLINDER, BLACKJACK,  MIDAS, MAINSTAY and FULLBACK using stand-off weaponry posing a significant threat to an adversary! Fullback in particular able to make that low-level supersonic dash in advance of the heavy bombers, using air-to-ground missiles to obliterate radars, dispersal airfields and enemy air defense? This is do-able and should now be anticipated!

coolbert.

XF5U.

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From a comment to the blog:

"It is almost sad that the jet engine matured when it did. It was the deathnell of some of the most advanced aeronautical designs ever seen. The XF5U for instance."

This XF5U I had never heard of before.

"The Vought XF5U 'Flying Flapjack' was an experimental U.S. Navy fighter aircraft designed by Charles H. Zimmerman during World War II. This unorthodox design consisted of a flat, somewhat disc-shaped body (hence its name) serving as the lifting surface."

The "flying Flapjack" having characteristics inherently advantageous for carrier and naval aviation operations? HIGH speed in flight but LOW speed during take off and landing?

"The configuration was designed to create a low aspect ratio aircraft with low takeoff and landing speeds but high top speed."

THOSE PROPELLERS ARE TOO BIG? Landing of the airplane having to be text-book perfect or catastrophic disaster the result.

This schematic better shows the "flapjack" lifting body of the fuselage.

The "Flapjack" reminds me too of some of those innovative German designs from the same period and as illustrated at Luft46.

That brute force approach of using the jet engine to obtain high speed of course preferred over the elegant and sophisticated aeronautical design. Rocket engines allowing for even higher speed but that throttle control and fuel volatility too great for practicality?

coolbert.

Web Cam.

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From MARCONI through Harry the URL for a Russian web cam of some interest.

A web cam located the vicinity of the naval base Severodvinsk.

"On Yagry beach not far from Severodvinsk naval base, - and due NE from the inlet to Severodvinsk harbour, there is a web cam with a one minute update rate. The lag from picture taken to web cast seems to be variable, but well within one minute too, making it fast enough to spot all ships, including Russian submarines entering the harbour."

"On the web cam image, the inlet to the harbour is in the upper left section of the view. The wind- and kite surfing station located on the beach, - and seen in the web cam images, is located at 64 35 41.06N 39 47 19.87E for those of you who would like a view of the area in GE [Google Earth] too."

Daylight and nighttime images available, all  times in Universal Time Coordinated [used to be called GMT or Zulu time to American communicators].

AND ACCORDING TO MARCONI THE ENTRY OR EXIT OF NAVAL VESSELS CAN BE OBSERVED FROM THIS WEB CAM.

Very cool. This is the sort of thing that during the Cold War era would be classified TOP SECRET!!

Soviet/Russian submariners their duty most arduous in the extreme according to reports. Six months of duty in the far north followed by SIX MONTHS OF REST AND RECUPERATION AT THE BLACK SEA, LISTENING TO THE RECORDINGS OF SONG BIRDS WHILE IDLING AWAY ON THE BEACH!!

coolbert.

Comanche Moon.

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Riders of Hell!

North American style!

The Comanche and the Comanche Moon!

Read both Part 1 and Part 2 of the outstanding article by Jay Sharp "THE COMANCHE WAR TRAIL - AN AVENUE TO GLORY, A TUNNEL OF DEMONS". Thanks to Jay Sharp in all instances.

Of this I was vaguely familiar with and having visited Big Bend National Park only last week stood at the two points where the Comanche crossed over the Rio Grande, remnants of the thousand-mile long mile-wide trail no longer visible but perhaps only so from the air.

"The Comanches called September’s full moon, the annual signal for raiding, the 'Mexican Moon,' a season which brought opportunity and fueled spiritual renewal and material gain. The People preferred early fall to follow the Comanche War Trail to raid in Mexico and, often, western Texas, because the weather had cooled. The southwest wind had slackened. Game usually remained plentiful. Grazing remained nutritious. More of the Comanches’ horses, the plundered stock, and captives could survive the long, hard race home, northward up the trail."

This map and the insets by Olszewski very well done. That area south of the Arkansas river in what is now Kansas USA and the panhandle areas of Texas and Oklahoma the homeland of the Comanche.

"The Comanche War Trail, 1000 miles in length, ran across the short grass prairie of the eastern High Plains Region, through the Monahans Sands, the basin and range country of Texas' Trans Pecos Region, and more than four hundred miles deep into northeastern Mexico's Chihuahuan Desert. The trail served as an avenue to glory, plunder and adventure for the Comanches . . . It became a tunnel of demons for the ranchos, haciendas, villages and towns of northeastern Mexico"

"Going away tonight,
 Be gone a long time.
 While I'm gone,
 I'll be thinking of you."

Large war parties of Comanche very well organized and for THE BETTER PART OF TWO CENTURIES ON AN ANNUAL BASIS RAIDING THOSE SETTLEMENTS OF NORTHERN MEXICO ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO MEXICO CITY!

That capture of livestock and persons taken into slavery the goal. THIS ALSO BEING AN ASPECT OF AMERICAN INDIAN HISTORY THE AMERICAN INDIAN WOULD RATHER FORGET OR NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT!

Comanche warriors [The People with a capital letter to distinguish themselves from all other tribes and nations] outstanding equestrians needing only a minimum of weapons, bow and arrow, club, tomahawk, a fourteen foot [four and one half meter] long lance and a few stolen or bartered firearms, able to live off the land, moving during periods of day and night with equal ease, experts at tracking, scouting and terrorism.

NOT necessarily the placid and peaceful hunter/gatherers living in total harmony with nature and one another.

coolbert.

Scuttling.

This is coolbert:

Thanks to Bubbleheads we have the info on the most recent episode of naval scuttling to deny a port access to hostile warships.

"The Weird War History of 'Strategic Scuttling' "

"Russians (or Russian sympathizers) sank a ship to block Ukraine's access to an important harbor. This tactic isn't as unusual as you might think."

"As the Ukrainian-Russian rift over Crimea intensifies, a new tactic has emerged: intentionally sinking a ship to prevent Ukrainian government ships from leaving a southern port."

IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE THE RUSSIANS SCUTTLING A SHIP TO PREVENT THOSE NAVAL VESSELS IN PORT FROM SAILING.

That Russian even we might consider a master of such military technique. Consider from the Crimean War:

"During the Crimean War, in anticipation of the Siege of Sevastopol, the Russians scuttled ships of the Black Sea Fleet to protect the harbor, to use their naval cannon as additional artillery, and to free up the ships' crews as marines . . .  After the war, it became a technological challenge to recover the ships."

Those sunken ship representing a considerable force, even perhaps the ENTIRE RUSSIAN BLACK SEA FLEET DELIBERATELY SENT TO THE BOTTOM. Preventing enemy egress into Sevastopol.

coolbert.

Osprey & AC-130.

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American warplanes continuing with weapons development upgrades and improvements as reported by Foxtrot Alpha:

1. "The V-22 Osprey Finally Gets The Missiles And Rockets It Needs"

Osprey having already a rearward firing ramp gun but now will possess forward firing organic weapons of formidable capability. Those American Air Force special operations units in particular need this sort of firepower during missions into enemy held and hostile territory. The Marines also of course!

2. "The U.S. Air Force's New AC-130 Gunships Are Really Bomb Trucks"

AC-130 the ancient and venerable flying "battleship" those early versions having the firepower equal to a tactical nuclear weapon. NOW getting an upgrade and improvement all part of an ongoing and long-term continuing process. MISSILES AND GLIDE WEAPONS FOR THE AC-130 SEEM TO BE ALL THE RAGE. Allow for stand-off capability and pin-point accuracy, ENEMY BEWARE!

Missiles and glide weapons to include:

Griffin, Viper Strike, Hellfire, Small Diameter Bomb [SDB], SDB II.

Previously existing rapid fire cannon as found on AC-130 to be all replaced with Bushmaster 30 mm cannon, that 30 mm round an exploding round!

All of it most formidable!! Awesome even!!

coolbert.

Five Rings.

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From an article as found in "The Atlantic" magazine:

"Why Air Force Cadets Need to Study Philosophy"

"Greater emphasis on humanities means more well-rounded decision making"

"Ten years ago as a member of the U.S. Air Force, Jim Solti was charged with briefing a three-star admiral with some technical analyses that were 'going to be a difference-maker in the height of the Iraq war.' He and his team had spent a month analyzing data about the relationships of infrastructural networks, like the electric grid and railroads, to derive the best recommendation for future military actions that would have the fewest secondary consequences as possible."

I would highly suspect that this "technical analysis" is based on "Warden Five Ring" theory!

"Warden's Five Rings represent a theory of military strategic attack, based on five levels of system attributes."

The Five Rings include:

* Leadership
* Organic/System Essentials/Key Production
* Infrastructure
* Population
* Fielded Military Forces

"Each level of system or 'ring' was considered one of the enemy's centers of gravity. The idea behind Warden's five rings was to attack each of the rings to paralyze their forces, an objective also known as physical paralysis. To optimize a strike attack the attacker would engage as many rings as possible with special emphasis on taking out the center ring, which is the enemy's leadership. This would result in total physical paralysis."

Engaging all "rings" at once with the center as priority and working outward. The senior leadership of the adversary a special target, rendering impotent and ineffectual if not outright killing.

That organic/System Essentials/Key Production I believe to include what is commonly referred to as the military/industrial complex?

Warden's Rings best thought of as a tool rather than theory. Analogous to the American Special Forces matrix CARVER?

coolbert.

Northern Archer.

This is coolbert:

That recent Swedish episode of "submarine hysteria" does have a context? As not reported elsewhere.

"Sweden’s Mysterious Submarine Hunt and Its Significance for Nordic-Baltic Security"

"The Swedish ASW operation comes right after the end of the multinational naval exercise Northern Archer, where Swedish, Danish, Polish, and Dutch frigates, submarines, and jets practiced, among other things, how to combat a submarine threat. It is not far-fetched to think that the Russian submarine infiltrated into Swedish waters to observe the exercise, record ship signatures, and study the capabilities of the participating units."

These type of things do not exist in a vacuum and surely Northern Archer was a catalyst for renewed and more vigorous Russian naval reconnaissance in the Baltic.

Without Northern Archer a Russian submarine incursion of Swedish waters appears strange indeed, within the context of the military exercise not so strange but to be expected.

coolbert.

Scotland.

This is coolbert:

From MARCONI through Harry at Sharkhunters:

First submarine hysteria in Sweden. NO sub caught or even positively identified. Sightings and nothing more.

NOW ENGLAND! Most specifically so Scottish waters. Scapa Flow and all that I might assume.

"RUSSIAN SUB?  Britain called on the help of aircraft from NATO allies after a reported sighting of a submarine periscope off the west of Scotland last month. The search continued until last week, with planes from the US, France and Canada flying out of RAF Lossiemouth.  Britain no longer has its own fixed-wing aircraft specifically designed to search for submarines.  The Ministry of Defence would not confirm it was looking for a foreign submarine . . . At the height of the search, two US Navy P-3 Orions, a Royal Canadian Airforce Aurora and a French Dassault Atlantique were involved. An RAF Sentinel spy-plane and a Royal Navy warship also took part."

 

Again, no sub detected and nothing of a positive nature ever confirmed.

 

Hysteria and nothing more? Le Queux would be proud.

P.S.: And recall that the British three years ago unable to provide a single warship for the detail of guarding home waters. Since that time the situation has been remedied?

 

coolbert.