CCT.

This is coolbert:

The role of the United States Air Force [USAF] Combat Controller a special operations type mission rough and tumble hard duty, hazardous.

Airman candidates MUST BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE AN ACCEPTABLE AND GOOD DEGREE OF PHYSICAL FITNESS PRIOR TO ACCEPTANCE INTO THE PROGRAM.

CCT NOT YOUR NECESSARY BUT NONETHELESS CUSHY AIR FORCE JOB!

1. "Join the Combat Controllers"

2. "Combat Control"

3. "US Air Force Combat Controllers (CCT) Selection and Training"

CCT highly qualified for a combat mission, their training to include:

* Parachutist.
* Air Traffic Controller.
* Scuba.
* Survival skills.
* Combat arms.
* Special operations.
* Very advanced level physical fitness.

The physical training event known as A HEAVE used to be called A PULL-UP? That was a new one on me.

Read it all. Very impressive!! CCT PERSONNEL QUALIFIED ALSO AT THE CIVILIAN LEVEL AS AN AIR-TRAFFIC CONTROLLER.

Chapman MoH not out of his league when embedded with SEALS.

coolbert.

Germans & French.

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From the tip as provided by Ken and in consonance with the prior blog entry this observation made by an European security expert:

"In France, after a long time they’ve reactivated the National Guard, increasing the number of reservists, strengthening the civilian defenses and increasing the number of armed people. Germany is even stranger: they are increasing their oil and gasoline reserves in more than hundred locations, checking firefighting materials and chemical defense materials as they would in a war. Now with a change in the law, the Bundeswehr (German army) can be used inside the country. What are they preparing for?" - - Georg Spöttle.

The THREAT as perceived both internal and external? Precautions prudent, preparations for "things to come"?

"ONE FOR THE MONEY, TWO FOR THE SHOW, THREE TO GET READY, AND FOUR TO GO"

Go cat go!! OH, I am telling you people!

coolbert.

1-2-3-4.

This is coolbert:

"ONE FOR THE MONEY, TWO FOR THE SHOW, THREE TO GET READY, AND FOUR TO GO"

These headlines from a variety of sources and thanks to the tip from Freeper most worrisome:

1. "Russian Navy to Hide Entire City in Smoke Screen"

Aug. 10 2016, The Moscow Times.

"The Russian Navy is to hide a city of 50,000 people behind a giant smoke screen for a military training exercise later this week. Severomorsk, one of the largest cities in Russia's northern Murmansk region, will be covered in fake fog for three days as part of the exercise for Russia's Northern Fleet."

2. "Sirens Blare in Moscow as Russia Goes on High Alert"

26 August, Anonymous Mags.

"USSIA ON EMERGENCY ALERT AS SIRENS BLARE"

"The City Of Moscow Awoke To Sirens As Russian Military Forces Went On Full alert With A General Recall"

"At 6:00 AM this morning Sirens sounded in Moscow. One hour later the Minister of Defense announced:

'Today, another unannounced inspection began in accordance with a decision by the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Forces of the Southern Military District, as well as parts of the forces of the Western and Central Military Districts, the Northern Fleet, the High Command of the Aerospace Forces, the command of the Airborne Troops are set on full combat readiness starting at 7:00Am Moscow Time.'”

3. "Russia Calls Up Civilian Reserves"

August 29, 2016, by Baruch Pletner as seen at Tzarism  

"Russia calls up reserves. These combat readiness exercises are being conducted between August 25th and August 31st and include such items as reserve call-up and the functioning of civilian authorities on war footing."

GO CAT GO?

"When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come." - - Mark 13:7.

coolbert.

Origins!

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"All wars arise from population pressure." - - Robert Heinlein.

Copied almost in entirety for your perusal the origins of warfare explained:

"Evolutionary Psychology, Memes and the Origin of War" by H. Keith Henson.

"Evolutionary psychology and memetics are used here to propose a model of war. Population growth leads to a resource crisis. An impending resource crisis activates a behavior switch in humans allowing the build-up of memes (i.,e., learned elements of culture), which lead to synchronized attacks on neighboring tribes. Hamilton's criterion of inclusive fitness is invoked to account for the evolution of this species typical behavior. War as a species typical behavior in the environment of Evolutionary Adaptiveness (EEA) of humans is discussed, first as a response to an attack and then as an unprovoked attack. Unprovoked attacks are more common when the aggressor population anticipates 'looming privation.' The well known reduction in the ability of humans to think rationally in war situations is explained in evolutionary terms as a divergence in interest between the individual and his genes. Population growth at a higher rate than economic growth is seen as a major causal factor for wars."

Robert Heinlein of course a graduate of the Naval Academy, Annapolis. ALL WARS?

"Emotion clouds reason!" - - Michael Corleone, the Godfather.

"Why are we fighting people?" - - Mick Jagger.

coolbert.

Chapman MoH.

This is coolbert:

Indeed the awarding of the Medal of Honor [MoH] to an enlisted airman [USAF] is a rare event.

Thanks to the Daily Mail and the tip from Freeper:

"Unfathomable heroics of airman left behind by SEAL Team 6 during furious Afghan mountaintop battle in 2002 revealed in new video that shows he died fighting Al Qaeda with his BARE HANDS"

• "Sgt. John Chapman was an Air Force computer technician who served as radioman [CCT for Navy SEAL Team 6"
• "He joined a mission to establish an observation post on a strategically crucial mountain in southeastern Afghanistan"
• "As his team came under heavy fire, he is believed to have been knocked unconscious, leading his squad leader to think he was dead"
• "The furious engagement became known as the Battle of Takur Ghar or the Battle of Roberts Ridge"
• "Seven US servicemen also lost their lives during the encounter in March, 2003"
• "New evidence suggests that he regained consciousness and kept fighting even though he was surrounded by Al Qaeda militants."

FOUGHT OFF THE ENEMY WITH HIS BARE HANDS AND WHILE ALONE!!

Richard Etchberger and John Lee Levitow from the era of the Vietnam War the two last enlisted Airmen to receive the MoH.

NOW Sgt. John Chapman add to that list of distinguished USAF enlisted personnel!

coolbert.

Rangers SMLE.

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Canadian Rangers that quasi-military unit their mission sovereignty patrols in the far north. SOVPATS.

See these You Tube videos regarding the Canadian Rangers:

1. "Canadian Rangers Participating in Operation Nunalivut 08. Part 1 of 3."

2. "Canadian Rangers Participating in Operation Nunalivut 08. Part 2 of 3."

3. "Canadian Rangers Participating in Operation Nunalivut 08. Part 3 of 3."

4. "What Canadian Rangers need in a new rifle"

That symbol of the Canadian Rangers to include as the devoted reader to the blog will instantly realize the British Small Magazine Lee-Enfield [SMLE] rifle, caliber .303. From that period BEFORE the Great War but the ideal weapon for the far north.

SMLE to be replace with a newer weapon, bolt-action, carbine barrel, NATO 7.62 round ten round magazine, Picatinny rail for optical or open sights, wooden and not plastic stock.

coolbert.

Folgore.

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“The remnants of the Folgore division put up resistance beyond every limit of human possibility.” - - BBC.

"While the WWII Italian fighting man is often maligned in the US, the reality is many Italian men showed incredible bravery and dedication on the battlefield."

The ITALIAN MILITARY ENIGMA! Why did the Italian military in both world wars fare so poorly as perceived? THINK NOT ALL ITALIAN UNITS GUTLESS COWARDS NOT WILLING TO FIGHT HOWEVER.

QUITE THE OPPOSITE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

The Folgore Division [paratroopers] at the Second Battle of El Alamein.

Thanks to the tip from Manteuffel:

"The heroic behavior of the Folgore Division during the Second battle of El Alamein in resisting the attacks of six British divisions (two armored and four infantry) inspired the respect and admiration of its enemy. Lacking effective anti-tank weapons, the Italian paratroopers managed to stop British tanks only with a few obsolete 47/32 guns and petrol bombs."

"The Folgore, having run out of water, withdrew from the El Alamein front at 2:00 a.m. on 3 November 1942, carrying their anti-tank weapons. At 2:35 p.m. on 6 November what was left of the division was captured by the British. They had exhausted their ammunition and destroyed their weapons, but refused to raise their hands in surrender or show the white flag."

See this previous blog entry the topic of which was Italian bravery and comportment on the WW2 battlefield:

coolbert.

 

Kim III.

This is coolbert:

Hail Caesar, hail Pyongyang?

Roly-poly but having nuclear weapons? That is the question?

"The Incredible Bulk’ is Alive and Not So Well in North Korea"

"Based on actuarial tables, no insurance company is likely to issue him a life policy."

"He will be 33 years old on January 8, but over the past four years his weight has ballooned from 198 pounds to 287. He parties, he smokes, he drinks heavily. He runs a country-a role in which he has had to make some very stressful decisions, such as which family members to execute. All this seems to be taking a toll on his health."

. . . .

"South Korea's leadership, which closely monitors on-going activities to the north including Kim's health, has been trying to get a handle on the Hermit Kingdom leader's physical condition. With Pyongyang's 'Pillsbury Doughboy' putting on an average of 22 pounds of additional bulk per year for four years, Kim's health has become a matter of national security for Seoul."

THINK RATHER AS I INSTANTLY DID OF TIBERIAS, CALIGULA AND NERO FROM THE TIME OF THE ANCIENT ROMAN EMPIRE. BUT THIS TIME THE VILLAIN HAVING ATOMIC MUNITIONS AT HIS DISPOSAL.

Momento mori!

P.S.: This blog entry from some time ago and when edited Blogger showing as a new post. Forgive me.

coolbert.

Situational Awareness.

This is coolbert:

As is germane to some previous blog entries the latest version of the American Abrams tank now described with the suffix SA. SA = Situational Awareness.

Extracted from the Strategy Page article:

"Armor: M1 Versus T-90 In North Africa"

"The M1A1SA is a special model of the M1 that was developed based on 2003-2008 U.S. experience in Iraq. . . .  the U.S. Army also developed an inexpensive (under a million dollars per tank) 'reset' process that refurbished and upgraded war weary M-1 tanks to M-1A1SA models. What the crews particularly liked about these SA (Situational Awareness) models was the many new sensors that gave the crew a better sense of what was going on outside"

"The new equipment included . . . a phone box mounted on the side, for the infantry to use to talk to the crew . . . a GPS powered 'Far Target Locate' function, which enables him to accurately locate and hit targets up to 8,000 meters away."

Phone box only installed as an afterthought based on the experience of combined operations in Iraq.

The Far Target Locate function allowing the tank to operate as an indirect fire weapon? High-explosive fragmentation rounds not available for the M1 tank in any version negating such a capability? That 8,000 meters is about five miles and beyond the normal direct line-of-sight!

See previous blog entry the topic of which was those perceived deficiencies of the Abrams M1 as compared to the previous American M-60 MBT [main battle tank]:

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2016/05/m-60-iii.html

coolbert.

Jerry Coleman.

This is coolbert:

One of the good guys now newly departed but A HERO WHO SHOULD NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!

"Jerry Coleman, 89, Yankee Infielder, Fighter Pilot and Voice of the Padres"

"Jerry Coleman, a former fighter pilot who played in six World Series as an infielder for the Yankees but who made his most lasting mark as a broadcaster, first for the Yankees and then more indelibly for the San Diego Padres, died Sunday near his home in San Diego. He was 89."

Jerry the journeyman baseball player of able and competent ability but not outstanding level during a time of war NOT eschewing his duty to this country. Rather the opposite.

Both in the Second World War and Korea seeing combat action as a pilot.

THE BEST YEARS OF HIS BASEBALL CAREER CUT SHORT BY MORE IMPORTANT DUTY! Jerry not a man to shirk his responsibility. Again, rather the opposite.

With regard to military service alone Jerry can be favorably compared to a Ted Williams, a Tyrone Power, Bobby Locke or an Edmund Hillary.

Outstanding if I must say so!! And do so.

coolbert.

Betrayed!!

This is coolbert:

As it has been in the past, as it is now, as it always will be perhaps!

The Kurdish people once again betrayed by the geo-political machinations of the world powers. This time to include the United States. FOR SHAME!

Thanks here in all instances to the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter.

1. "Biden in Ankara: Kurds must withdraw immediately to east bank of Euphrates"

24 August.

 "US Vice President Joe Biden said Wednesday during a joint press conference with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim in Ankara that Syrian Kurdish forces will lose US support if they don't withdraw to the east bank of the Euphrates . . . Biden's statement shows that the US has accepted all of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's terms regarding the Kurds and exposed them to a Turkish military attack if they fail to withdraw. Just last week, the US did not respond to a similar Turkish demand immediately after the capture of the northern Syrian city of Manbij from ISIS by a joint force made up of Kurdish fighters and US officers from special forces units. Washington has now changed its position."

2. "ISIS pulls out of Jarablus; Kurdish militias accuse US of abandoning them"

25 August.

"DEBKAfile military and intelligence sources: More than a day after Turkey launched its invasion of northern Syria aimed at capturing the city of Jarablus from ISIS, it appears that the terrorist organization has left the city without a fight . . . Meanwhile, US Vice President Joe Biden said Wednesday during a joint press conference with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim in Ankara that Syrian Kurdish forces will lose US support if they don't retreat to the east bank of the Euphrates River . . . The Kurdish militias operating in northern Syria accuse Washington of abandoning them . . . The Kurds have announced that they will fight the Turkish invasion."

3. "Ankara: Kerry says Kurdish withdrawal toward E. bank of Euphrates underway"

25 August.

"Turkey's Foreign Ministry announced Thursday that US Secretary of State John Kerry had spoken to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and informed him that the Syrian Kurdish militias supported by the US have started withdrawing toward the eastern bank of the Euphrates River. DEBKAfile's military sources cannot confirm the report and they seriously doubt that such a move is underway."

4. "Syrian Kurds clash with Turkish forces"

26 August.

"Syrian Kurdish militia commanders are flouting the ultimatum US Vice President Joe Biden handed them Wednesday, Aug. 24 to retreat to east of the Euphrates or else forfeit US support. Instead, DEBKAfile's military sources report, they decided to stand their ground and fight it out with the Turkish army. By backing Ankara against the Kurds, the US has forfeited its main spearhead for the campaigns to oust ISIS from Raqqa and Mosul."

The Syrian Kurd and their fighting force the YPG in concert with those further assets of the SDF just at that moment of making significant progress against the combatants of the Islamic State their forward effort rendered void. Those embedded [?] American Special Forces directing air strikes not wanting to be in conflict with the Turk, NATO versus NATO.

coolbert.

SDF Manbij.

This is coolbert:

"Most of the mines are handmade, few are Russian mines, and the majority are landmines. Others are distributed throughout houses: in doors and entrances, refrigerators, cooking utensils and even teapots. They even included behind wall paintings and inside shops."

As it was at Palmyra as it is now in Manbij.

A city when liberated from the combatants of ISIL found to be infested with a multitude of mines. Thanks to Global Voices for this item.

"ISIS Left Thousands of Mines in Manbij Before Fleeing. It Hid Them Inside Everything."  

"After two years of rule, ISIS was expelled from most of the city of Manbij in Northern Syria on August 13, 2016. The battle between ISIS and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)—a US-backed coalition made up of of Kurdish, Arab, Assyrian, Armenian, Turkmen, and Circassian militias—lasted 73 days"

. . . .

"Before withdrawing, however, ISIS left thousands of mines planted throughout various parts of the city. As of August 15, the SDF had already cleared more than 13,000 mines."

SDF predominantly Kurdish [60 %] but also including a variety of factions in opposition to the despot Assad. SDF A COALITION STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY THE UNITED STATES!

"The Syrian Democratic Forces . . . commonly abbreviated as SDF or QSD, are an alliance of Kurdish, Arab, Assyrian, Armenian, Turkmen and Circassian militias in the Syrian Civil War, fighting against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and against those parts of the rebellion who cooperate with Army of Conquest, Fatah Halab and other Salafist and Islamist groups and coalitions. The SDF claims to be fighting to create a secular, democratic and federal Syria"

The ruthlessness of the Islamic State unmistakable. IF WE CAN'T HAVE IT SO NEITHER WILL ANYONE ELSE!!

coolbert.

Seven.

This is coolbert:

Seven against Rome?

NOT exactly so!

As described by the title of the Internet article seven famous shipwrecks five of which have a military dimension.

"Sunken Treasures: The Curious Science of 7 Famous Shipwrecks"

Regarding the Swedish naval vessel Vasa now a resurrected museum piece there is this curiosity:

"the Vasa [1628] . . . more of its hull and detailed woodwork have survived the centuries under the sea. Marine archaeologists say the main reason for the Vasa's remarkable state of preservation was the heavily polluted waters of Stockholm's harbor until the 20th century, which created a toxic environment for microorganisms that break down wood"

ALSO THOSE AMERICAN WARSHIPS SUBJECTED TO SHOT BRAVO REMARKABLY STAYING AFLOAT IN A MANNER NOT ANTICIPATED BUT HEAVILY DOUSED BY RADIOACTIVITY THAT COULD NOT BE DECONTAMINATED!

WATER TIGHT DOORS ON THOSE SHIPS SHUT? ALL SHIPS SANS CREW NO DAMAGE CONTROL POSSIBLE.

See here and here You Tube video of Shot Bravo. The latter video in slow-motion.

coolbert.

 

Fury & Brad.

This is coolbert:

The character of Collier in the recent movie "Fury" is based on the real-life person of Lafayette G. Pool. Prior to my recent blog entry this I was not aware of. Devoted readers to the blog will forgive me

See the various trailers for the movie a this Internet web site.

Pool that most famous U.S. tank commander of the Second World War [WW2], the best American tank ace!

"Don 'Wardaddy' Collier (Brad Pitt), a battle-hardened U.S. Army staff sergeant and commander in the 2nd Armored Division, commands an M4A3E8 Sherman 'Easy Eight' tank named Fury and its five-man, all-veteran crew . . . as the Allies make their final push into Nazi Germany."

From the trailers it appears the Sherman tank as commanded by Collier is actually a British Firefly tank but in this regard I am in error. That M4A3E8 was equipped with the longer-barreled 76 mm gun in the American inventory by at least August 1944.

Is that haircut of Brad Pitt REGULATION? At least the white side-walls are OK but I am not sure about the rest. Get that hair cut correct first if necessary and then let us talk tank tactics. We start from there.

Brad at age fifty plays the role of a much younger man [half his age] in a remarkable manner! Lafayette G. Pool age twenty-six at the time of WW2.

But then Brad is an actor. He should be able to play the role of a man much his junior and do so with panache' and does!


coolbert.

Iconic.

This is coolbert:

Wave the bloody shirt?

As it was in China almost eighty years ago as it is now in Syria?

Courtesy of gettyimages this most famous and described as iconic image [1937] from the Sino-Japanese War. A child in the bombed-out railway station of Shanghai after a Japanese air raid. Denounced by some [Japanese] if not a staged photograph at the least embellished!

The Aleppo Boy. Child obviously in a state of shock, a victim of an  air raid, Aleppo, Syria, 2016. Also denounced by some as being if not staged at the very least embellished! 

"'Critics have suggested that [the video] is part of a propaganda war, aimed at creating a 'humanitarian' excuse for Western countries to become involved in Syria,'" [Russian Times]

 "'The workers did not make rapid rescue efforts, and instead quickly set up a camera.'" [Russian Times]

That use of small children and victims of war to "make your point", embellishing or staging photographs if indeed done an obnoxious and abhorrent behavior.

coolbert.

Ottomans.

This is coolbert:

The Turk moves south!!

From the Sheldon Adelson Internet web site Israel Hayom this move should be seen by American authorities as ominous?

 "Turkish tanks enter Syria, aim to free ISIS-held town"

"Move is Turkey's most significant military involvement in Syria to date • Turkish incursion also aims to address growing power of Kurdish forces in region • Operation involves intense Turkish artillery fire followed by warplanes bombing ISIS targets."

"After a pre-dawn barrage of heavy artillery and airstrikes, Turkey sent tanks and special forces into Syria on Wednesday to help clear a border town of Islamic State militants in Ankara's most significant military involvement so far in the Syria conflict."

The goal at this moment IS THE DESTRUCTION OF ISLAMIC STATE COMBATANTS!

A tank of the Turkish army, an American M-60 that has recently been refurbished and improved? A Sabra?

THE TURK PERHAPS EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY HAVING DESIGNS IN THE LONG RUN ON THAT ENCLAVE OF U.S. BACKED AND SUPPORTED ANTI-ASSAD SYRIAN KURDS?

"Turkey said its intention was to clear the Islamic State presence from the town of Jarablus, located right across the border from Turkey. But Turkey is also concerned about the growing power of U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces, who it says are linked to Kurdish groups waging an insurgency in southeastern Turkey."

A move against those Syrian Kurds by the Turk would place America Special Forces and the military units of a NATO ally in direct conflict with one another?

This threat too might be used as a bargaining chip as part of negotiations for the return of Gulen to stand trial in Turkey for his role in the recent coup attempt. Biden might act as a repentant but to the Turk that might not be good enough?

coolbert.

Hastings & Schlieffen.

This is coolbert:

From the Pritzker Military Library and Museum podcast, the eminent historian Sir Max Hastings being interviewed with regard to his book "Catastrophe". A history of the Great War [WW1].

German troops circa 1914 in that first month of the war advancing through French [?] territory and moving cross-country. A tempting target for any French or British machine gunner. Reminds me of another image as seen in a previous blog entry.

 

Hastings stating in his book that the Schlieffen Plan as executed in 1914 was doomed from the start for two reasons:

1. Too much demanded from the German rank and file soldiers. The physical effort of the prolonged march as had to be sustained exceptionally rigorous.

2. Communications of the time too primitive. German commanders executing the operational art not able to coordinate their movements in consonance with the orders as issued by the General Staff in Berlin. Reliable two-way communications lacking!

That operational art the movement of large-size units to accomplish strategic goals.

Two other reasons also as cited by historians and military experts as being responsible for the failure of the Schlieffen Plan.

* The size of the German army not increased 50 % in that period between 1905 and 1914.

* The ability of the Russian to mobilize in two weeks [1914] as compared to the estimated four weeks as was thought to be the case in 1905.

Assumptions as made by Von Schlieffen in 1905 not valid by 1914.

Read further from the wiki entry for the Schlieffen Plan the various interpretations of the experts.

Devoted readers to the blog take it from there.

coolbert.

Pacifism ISIL.

This is coolbert:

As obtained from a quick perusal of various Internet web sites the point of view of the pacifist toward ISIL. When confronted by violence a response with violence is not now or EVER warranted?

1. "How do pacifists think we should react to ISIS?"

"By doing what any other pacifist would do. Nothing. Believe it or not that is the best solution to defeat ISIL."

2. "Is There a Nonviolent Response to ISIS?"

 "Erin Niemela proposes these three commonsense pathways to peace"

    1) "Immediately stop sending funds and weapons to all involved parties."

    2) "Fully invest in social and economic development initiatives in any region in which terrorist groups are engaged."

     3) "Fully support any and all nonviolent civil society resistance movements."

3. "Practical Pacifism: How We Defeat ISIL"

"We’re glad people are asking this question, because we have a great answer. How can pacifists defeat ISIL?"

"Answer: carefully and slowly."

4. "A Pacifist Response to the Islamic State"

"So what’s the alternative? If crushing the Islamic State under the weight of all the western military can throw at it will only produce something worse in the end, what other option can there be that doesn’t allow the IS to simply continue? I’m no military strategist, so take what I’m about to say with a grain of salt, but the pacifist answer is in two forms of sabotage, direct and indirect."

Read here from the perspective of the pacifist those actions as deemed appropriate in response to a regime despotic and cruel.

coolbert.

Warning!

This is coolbert:

From CNN and germane to several previous blog entries as seen here and here, American forces have now issued a warning to both Syria and Russia. Leave our Kurdish enclave in Syria ALONE! Indeed, this has the potentiality to be quite major.

"Top US commander warns Russia, Syria"

"Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend talks to CNN from his HQ in Baghdad"

"The commander of US forces in Iraq and Syria predicted the defeat of ISIS by next year"

 "(CNN) — In the most direct public warning to Moscow and Damascus to date, the new US commander of American troops in Iraq and Syria is vowing to defend US special operations forces in northern Syria if regime warplanes and artillery again attack in areas where troops are located."

"'We've informed the Russians where we're at ... (they) tell us they've informed the Syrians, and I'd just say that we will defend ourselves if we feel threatened,' Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend told CNN in a telephone interview Saturday from his Baghdad headquarters."

As to that prediction that ISIL will be defeated by next year, I hate to sound pessimistic but I will believe it when I see it.

coolbert.

Water.

This is coolbert:

As it has been in the past, as it is now, but will not be in the near future?

Thanks here to Strategy Page for this item:

"Logistics: Water Purification Made Simple And Cheap"

In the historical sense the two biggest killers in warfare have been feet and water.

1. Having bad feet, unable to keep with the march and becoming separated from your unit, the straggler set upon by local civilians, marauders or partisans and killed.

2. Water! NOT having enough water to drink or drinking bad water.

"For the military clean water is a necessity, otherwise the troops will suffer more than the locals (who have developed some resistance to the bad water). The foreigners often have digestive systems with little experience with bad water and are thus more vulnerable."

AND A CHEAP AND EASY SOLUTION TO THIS AGE-OLD PROBLEM HAS BEEN FOUND? Read the entire Strategy Page article and decide for yourself.

Water purification thanks to the advances of modern science now available to everyone and at a cheap price! Thanks to the research with a military application in mind BUT ALSO useful to the civilian populace as well!

Who could ask for more?

coolbert.

Tectonics.

This is coolbert:

“This is a tectonic movement that is bigger than a mere transfer of weapons, even nuclear. There is an extremely dynamic geopolitical context here. The Moscow-Ankara-Tehran axis now in the making would radically change the situation [in] the region,”

From the Russian Internet news media Sputnik some updates good and bad regarding the American atomic munitions stationed in Turkey. Tectonics of course referring to the geological movement of continents on a grand planetary scale.

1. "Kremlin Presses Turkey for Access to NATO's Incirlik Air Base, Home to US Nukes"

Russian officials have reached out to Ankara to request access to the American-built base as a convenient launch pad for airstrikes in the Syrian theater, but it remains to be seen whether such cooperation will roil NATO’s feathers.

2. "Man Who Wrote About US Nukes Moving From Turkey Stands by His Report"

Georgi Gotev, the author of an article about the US transferring its nuclear weapons in Turkey to Romania, insists that the information obtained from his own sources can be trusted, and promised to follow up on this subject.

3. "Could Terrorists Gain Access to US Nukes at NATO's Incirlik Base in Turkey?"

"Some worry that US-made nuclear weapons are not safe at the Incirlik air base in Turkey, but Ismail Hakki Pekin, former head of the intelligence unit of the Chief of Staff of the Turkish army, told Sputnik these comments serve to 'exert pressure on' Turkey so as to prevent Ankara from changing its foreign policy strategy.

More likely worry about determined and suicidal terrorists of the Islamic State for instance using a truck bomb or satchel charges as wielded by sappers attacking the storage facility of the nuclear weapons and destroying same in situ. A radioactive plume sent skyward and much of Anatolia being "dusted" with plutonium!! That is how it could go down?

Incirlik only about sixty miles [100 kilometers] from the Syrian border!! To be brutally honest it was a big mistake to allow IN THE FIRST PLACE ATOMICS TO BE STORED SO CLOSE TO SUCH A VOLATILE AREA!!

See previous blog entries regarding this topic:

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2016/08/atomics-incrilik.html

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2016/08/atomics-turkey.html

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2016/08/karagul.html

coolbert.

Fencer & Raptor.

This is coolbert:

From the Aviationist an article by David Cenciotti that answers the question as posed in a previous blog entry:

"Syrian Su-24s attempting to fly close to U.S. Special Forces in Syria get intercepted and 'encouraged to leave' by F-22 Raptors"

"Two Syrian Su-24 Fencer attempting to fly over a Kurdish-held area in northeastern Syria where U.S. SOF (Special Operations Forces) are operating, get intercepted by U.S. F-22 and encouraged to depart the airspace."

These are Syrian Fencer as piloted by Syrians? Those Syrian Kurds from the American perspective friendlies, only in recent days their "enclave" bombed by pro-Assad forces. About three hundred American Special Forces also active in the area.

THIS INCIDENT ALSO NOT THE FIRST TIME SUCH AN EVENT HAS OCCURRED. APPARENTLY A NO-FLY ZONE EXISTS OVER THAT SYRIAN KURDISH ENCLAVE, INTRUDERS BEWARE!

coolbert.

Atomics Incirlik.

This is coolbert:

Yet more confirmation that American nuclear weapons are being evacuated from Turkey.

From the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter:

"Rushed evacuation of US nukes from Incirlik"

19 August.

 "In an earthshaking Middle East development, the United States has begun secretly evacuating the tactical nuclear weapons it had stockpiled at the southern Turkish air base of Incirlik and is transporting them to US bases in Romania . . . DEBKAfile's military and intelligence sources report that Washington decided to remove the nuclear arsenal to safety after talks between American and Turkish talks on releasing 1,500 US airmen serving at the base from the siege clamped down a month ago broke down. The airmen were running the US air campaign against ISIS in in Syria just 112km away."

See previous blog entries the topic of which was atomic munitions vis-a-vis Incirlik:

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2016/08/karagul.html

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2016/07/incirlik.html

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2016/07/turkey-i.html

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Enclave.

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Without question this is not a good sign. Anti-Assad elements in Syria and friendly to the United States bombed by Russian jets.

So as reported by the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter:

"Russian jets bomb US-backed Kurdish enclave"

19 August.

"DEBKAfile's intelligence and military sources disclose that the aerial bombardment Wednesday of the pro-US Kurdish enclave Hassake and Kurdish positions in Asayish in northeastern Syria was conducted by Russian jets. Many casualties were reported by the Kurdish Arab militia which is armed and trained by the US."

This ENCLAVE under protection [a NO-FLY zone] by the fighter planes of the USAF? Operations from Incirlik now cancelled [?] with the Russian taking advantage of the situation?

AND THE AMERICAN RESPONSE IS?

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Baikal & Amur.

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From Sputnik and as portions copied in entirety and shamelessly so.

The armored train. A real blast from the past. An anachronism I think most persons think is a concept gone with the dodo! But not in Russia.

"Heavy Metal Meets the Rails: Russian Armored Trains Begin Exercises in Volgograd"

"On Monday, the Russian army kicked off military exercises in the Volgograd region, using its 'Baikal' and 'Amur' armored trains for the first time in nearly fifteen years."

"Diagram of the Baikal and Amur armored trains: The Baikal (top) features 1) cover platform 2) anti-aircraft gun 3) locomotive 4) kitchen and dining car 5) sleeper car 6) radio station 7) headquarters 8) jammer; the Amur (bottom) features 1) freight car 2) anti-aircraft gun 3) locomotive 4) kitchen and dining car 5) sleeper car 6) sleeper car 7) radio station 8) jammer 9) headquarters 10) freight car 11) freight car, 12) crane 13) cover platform"[click on image for expanded view]

"armored trains are highly functional, especially when it comes to low intensity conflicts, i.e. counter-terrorism operations…The presence of terrorists in an area makes it impossible to ensure the security of the rail transport network through its entire length; therefore, a mobile fortification equipped with heavy weapons solves this task very well."

"The Baikal and Amur are from a different school of military thought. The armored trains were used in the conflicts in Chechnya, where four such trains were operated as troop trains, simultaneously providing cover for sappers engaged in track demining operations, and to protect important infrastructure."

RUSSIA IS THE LAST NATION ON THE PLANET THAT CONTINUES TO USE THE MILITARY ARMORED TRAIN? THIS MIGHT BE SO! COSSACK CAVALRY UNDOUBTEDLY NEXT ON THE AGENDA.

coolbert.

Atomics Turkey.

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HOT Flash intel from only today and most germane in the context of the previous blog entries as seen here and here:

"US moves nuclear weapons from Turkey to Romania"

"EXCLUSIVE/ Two independent sources told EurActiv.com that the US has started transferring nuclear weapons stationed in Turkey to Romania, against the background of worsening relations between Washington and Ankara . According to one of the sources, the transfer has been very challenging in technical and political terms. 'It’s not easy to move 20+ nukes,' said the source, on conditions of anonymity"

Expedite and quick too!!

At least someone at the highest level of the national command authority is THINKING!!

coolbert.

Gandamark 2016.

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The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray! And if there are no plans?

"The next Benghazi? State Department leaves contractors in Afghanistan without escape plan" by Sara A. Carter

What do we do now ma?

"Surrounded by increasing violence and instability, U.S. contractors left behind in Afghanistan are raising alarm about the potential for another Benghazi tragedy, saying the State Department isn't sharing with them a plan to evacuate if insurgents launch a debilitating attack."

IN ALL INSTANCES WHEN THINKING EVACUATION OF AMERICAN AND ALLIED PERSONNEL [TO INCLUDE LOCAL FRIENDLIES] FROM KABUL, FIRST OF ALL REMEMBER THE BRITISH RETREAT , CHRISTMAS DAY, 1842. ONLY ONE MAN OF EIGHTEEN-THOUSAND SURVIVING THE NINETY MILE TREK TO THE KHYBER PASS AND SAFETY!!

The English 44th of Foot at Gandamark 1842.

WE MIGHT ACTUALLY SEE SAIGON, 1975 DEJA VU ALL  OVER AGAIN?

Furthermore, from a conversation with an authority whose judgment can and should be heeded:

"the improvement in instant communications works to degrade the ability to respond."

RESPOND TO A CRITICAL AND HEATED SITUATION, FLUIDIC, FOR WHICH DECISIONS BY THOSE IN COMMAND MUST BE MADE IN AN ALMOST INSTANTANEOUS AND CORRECT MANNER SANS A WHOLE LOT OF INFO!! 

Evacuate or not evacuate and how! That is the question and the decision that must be made!

"Now, such decisions are passed on to 'higher headquarters'--all the way to the Top, where Presidents, Cabinet Secretaries . . . are the ones who have to be briefed and make decisions without knowing everything about the assets, local situation, etc.  It takes time to bring them all 'up to speed' . . . Instead of a local Lt. Col. or local embassy official making the decisions, they have to pass everything on to the people in Washington who don't have a clue about the local situation and options. For them, out of the line of fire, the best decision becomes 'no decision'."

NO decision within the current Afghan context would mean disastrous consequences for all parties.

British, Kabul, 1842. Gondarmark, 2016?

coolbert.

Terracotta China.

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From the exhibit at the Field Museum, Chicago, Illinois, USA the Chinese Terracotta Warriors a series of images with emphasis on the facial features.

That question has been asked: "are the facial features of the 8,000 or so warriors as found in the mass burial pit each and everyone unique? As fashioned and based on a real person?"

Without further ado and a minimum of comment to the images.

Obviously this is a replica painted in the manner as would have been done for the original.

Obviously also this is a replica additionally painted as would have been an original.

And the consensus opinion regarding this topic is? The devoted reader will have to read further here and here for a more elaborate explanation and analysis..

Personally the ears have it!!

coolbert.

U-2 & F-22.

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The tale of two warplanes. One ancient and venerable. The other brand-spanking new and for the first [?] time committed to a war zone.

Both performing apparently yeoman service.in furtherance of the anti-ISIL campaign. Daesh = ISIL.

Thank you Daily Beast [U-2] and Dave Cenciotti. [F-22].

1. "The Cold War Spy Plane Fighting ISIS"

"Two years ago, the U.S. Air Force had hope to retire the iconic U-2, first flown in 1955. But in the war on ISIS, it's all spy lanes on deck - - and those planes for retirement have been put on hold."

AS STATED, THE U-2 HAVING FLOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME OVER SIXTY YEARS AGO! DUE FOR RETIREMENT A LONG TIME AGO. THE VETERAN WITH EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.

2. "The most up-to-date F-22 Raptor jets are currently fighting Daesh"

By David Cenciotti

The F-22 I was not aware of now active in the war-zone, NO WHERE else has this been covered to my knowledge. Air superiority fighter with clean lines AND THE WEAPON OF CHOICE THE SMALL-DIAMETER-BOMB! SDB carried internally not from pylons.

"The Raptors of the latest Block can drop GBU-39 small diameter bombs on ISIS targets."

See "Jaw-dropping NVG video of F-22 Raptors refueling at night during air strikes on Daesh"

By David Cenciotti

"Here’s how the F-22s that take part in the air war on ISIS look at night through the Night Vision Goggles."

That F-22 Raptor now combat tested to the satisfaction of everyone? This is a big plus.

WHO CAN HELP BUT NOT TO BE IMPRESSED?

The F-111 during that era of the Vietnam War having been sent to the war zone six planes total, two of which almost immediately crashed. The record almost fifty years later is much better!

coolbert.

Shark!

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Consider this blog entry borderline germane but within the context of atomic munitions and atomic above-ground testing is valid.

"Eye lens radiocarbon reveals centuries of longevity in the Greenland shark 400 (yo) years old"

"We tend to think of vertebrates as living about as long as we do, give or take 50 to 100 years. Marine species are likely to be very long-lived, but determining their age is particularly difficult. Nielsen et al. used the pulse of carbon-14 produced by nuclear tests in the 1950s—specifically, its incorporation into the eye during development—to determine the age of Greenland sharks. This species is large yet slow-growing. The oldest of the animals that they sampled had lived for nearly 400 years, and they conclude that the species reaches maturity at about 150 years of age."

That Greenland shark the longest-lived vertebrate! Lives normally in the depths of the Arctic ocean and contiguous waters. Might very well be a man-eater also

THAT ABILITY TO MEASURE THE LONGEVITY OF THE GREENLAND SHARK ONLY DUE TO ABOVE-GROUND NUCLEAR TESTING OF THE 1950'S. WHO WOULD EVER HAVE THOUGHT IT.

Who ever said atomics were not good for anything at all?

coolbert.

Robert Golka.

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Ball Lightning that ephemeral event too difficult to both produce in the laboratory and so fleeting it is difficult to study by any given method.

As seen in these You Tube videos there being a military dimension to Ball Lightning that cannot be denied.

1. "Submarine Battery Bank shorted initially called ball lightning, now 'Leidenfrost Effect'"

"In the time of about 1992 - 1994 Robert K. Golka was working with very large currents from shorted power supplies and submarine battery banks in his never ending quest to make and understand Ball Lighting".

"Many thousands of amps discharges, just like the high currents of natural lightning, were a clue that this may be one way to make Ball Lightning."

"In this video, the discharges take place at two electrodes at the edge of a water tray, with white hot balls spinning off on the water surface"

"In WW2 submarines, sometimes when switching the large electric motors to the batteries, a Ball Lightning type discharge resulted, most often if the switching was done wrong, like to an inactive generator, loading the system and making an extra surge. Thus, Golka's research in trying to make it happen with short circuits."

"Later in years, the result of these experiments was come to be accepted by Golka as not being Ball Lightning but rather as Leidenfrost Effect or Critical Heat Flux."

2. "Robert K. Golka Conducts Fireball experiments in Submarine"

"In WW2, There were reports of Ball Lightning type fireballs on board U.S. submarines. It was suspected that these rare events were caused by the very high inrush currents when the switch was closed from the huge capacity battery banks into the powerful DC electric motors which propelled the submarines."

"In his four decade search to understand some of the many possible causes of Ball Lightning, Robert K. Golka managed to 'borrow' a submarine [Silversides] for experiments, using the many thousand amp generators used to recharge their huge battery banks."

"On board the USS Silversides submarine, he short circuits the DC generator outputs in attempts to duplicate this in rush current with the hopes of creating the rare fireballs reported only in this series of submarines."

3. "Ball Lightning reports, Movie, found by Robert K. Golka"

"Some reports of Ball Lightning located by Robert K. Golka . . . A study team in Los Alamos films one for 150 frames, several are described through history." That experiment as conducted at Los Alamos labs begins 3 minutes and 35 seconds into the video and purportedly shows man-made produced Ball Lightning.

Ball Lightning just too difficult to replicate and study? Ephemeral what it is called!

coolbert.

Raptors.

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As it was in the days of yore so it is again now.

It being recognized that the commercially available mini-drone in all types as  purchased by terrorists are a possible weapon of war! 

A solution however to this problem has been found?

Mini-drones having a multiplicity of applications in war time, to include intelligence gathering or reconnaissance, delivery of explosives on target, interference with commercial airliners during take-off or landing, the danger most acute.

The remedy in the ancient and venerable method birds of prey. Raptors!! In this specific instance apparently the golden eagle.

"Dutch Firm Trains Eagles to Take Down Drones"

"Its wings beating against a gathering breeze, the eagle moves gracefully through a cloudy sky, then swoops, talons outstretched, on its prey below. The target, however, is not another bird but a small drone, and when the eagle connects, there is a metallic clunk. With the device in its grasp, the bird of prey returns to the ground."

Trained birds able to intercept and "bring down" the mini-drones when spotted. Danger averted.

Within the military and historical context this method of aerial intercept very rare but not so uncommon as might be believed.

* Crusader castles when besieged by Islamic armies able to communicate by carrier pigeon. Falcons as sent aloft by the Muslim able to intercept and "bring down" the Crusader birds. Crusaders denied to the advantage of the Muslim. The Muslim also able to develop military intelligence based on the content of those messages as "intercepted".

* French partisans in WW2 of the FFI [Free French Interior] also communicating with British SOE [Special Operations Executive] by carrier pigeon. Again, falcons as dispatched by German counter-intelligence able to intercept and "bring down" the pigeon messengers. Once more, when read, those messages as "intercepted" providing valuable military intelligence to the German.

Sometimes in war the old ways of doing battle are the best ways? Always have been and always will be!!

coolbert.

29B6.

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First there was Duga. NOW we have Sunflower and Container?

Newly operational Russian over-the-horizon [OTH] radar Container..

"Container (29B6) radar . . . is the new generation of Russian over-the-horizon radar, providing long distance airspace monitoring and ballistic missile detection. The first radar, near Kovylkino, Mordovia, Russia, became operational in December 2013"

An image of the Container antenna array? Receiving or transmitting?

"Radar is capable to monitor airspace up to 100 km 60 miles] altitude and has range of 3000 km [1,800 miles]."

"Radar system consists of two separate antennas: transmitter and receiver. Receiver antenna array contains 144 antenna masts, each 34 m height . . . Transmitter antenna array has 36 varying configuration masts and is 440 m width."

"Radar signals were detected by some amateur radio operators in 9.2-19.745 MHz frequency band. Pulse repetition rate is 50 pulse per second, bandwidth about 14 kHz, frequency modulation on pulse (FMOP) is used . . . The received signal has a sound similar to the nicknamed Russian woodpecker, a Soviet early warning system radar Duga-3 operated from 1976 to 1989."

As with the Russian Woodpecker/Duga-3 Container also CAN and IS causing interference in the high-frequency band? Listen to what purports to be the new Russian OTH!

coolbert.

Sunflower.

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From Freeper and the original article at War is Boring we have the story of SUNFLOWER.

"Don’t Sweat Russia’s Stealth-Fighter-Detecting New Radar"

"Russia is the latest country to claim that it has developed a new radar system that can detect stealth warplanes. But the Sunflower low-frequency over-the-horizon radar likely suffers all the same drawbacks that have plagued previous generations of similar sensors. Namely, Sunflower might be able to detect a low-observable airplane. But it probably can’t do so with great fidelity — nor generate a useful targeting track for a missile to follow."

From Russian Times this image the antenna for SUNFLOWER? Big enormous apparatus reminding one of the STEELYARD antenna used with the WOODPECKER!

The last time we heard about something similar was decades ago with the Soviet Over-The-Horizon [OTH] radar nicknamed the "Russian Woodpecker"

That too [the "Woodpecker"] an over-the-horizon radar the mission of which was to detect and track cruise missiles and low-level flying intruder aircraft.

The "Woodpecker" operating in the high-frequency radio band [3-30 MHZ] and a serious nuisance. For a period of decades causing havoc, interference and a lot of aggravation in the "short-wave" radio bands, especially for amateur radio operators. Listen to the WOODPECKER.

There will be similar problems with SUNFLOWER? Low-frequency not defined with any accuracy.

The WOODPECKER finally disabled and taken out of commission in part because of the Chernobyl disaster.

That story of Russian OTH and interference with the high-frequency band not finished? BEYOND SUNFLOWER there is now too CONTAINER?

coolbert.

Tanks British.

This is coolbert;

Surprisingly to myself, British armor during those initial stages of the North African campaign NOT SO superior to Italian tanks. That Cruiser class of tank while slightly [if that except for the Matilda] more armored than an Italian counter-part, less well GUNNED!!

Those Cruiser tanks it was said of that SPEED WAS ARMOR! That proved to be a dubious proposition.

That Matilda tank very well armored but still lacking a main gun superior to that of the Italian tank as encountered in the North African desert.

"From October 1940 the Cruiser Tank Mk IVA [A13] was sent to North Africa, where it was used with the older [Cruiser] A9 [Mark I], and A10 Cruiser Tank MkII"

Matilda Mark II tank. An infantry tank and heavily armored. Firing a 40 mm gun with armor 20-78 mm. A heavy tank for the period but relatively ponderous [?].

This image courtesy of Bundesarchive. A damaged Cruiser Mark IV tank, the North African desert. Fires that 40 mm gun with armor 6-30 mm. There seems to be some discrepancy regarding the armor of the MK IV. Original intent was for the entire tank to have armor of 30 mm but this did not occur.

Cruiser Mark IV tanks passing through an English village. Equipped with that 40 mm gun, lightly armored.

Cruiser Mark I. Lightly armored, armor 6-14 mm only. Uses that 2 pounder English 40 mm gun.

Mark II Cruiser 40 mm gun with armor 6-30 mm.

Cruiser tank Mark III. 40 mm gun with armor 6-14 mm.

And as repeated for emphasis:

From this Internet web site article it makes clear that the British tanks during the various battles of the North African desert during WW2 100 % dominant.

Armor also not always in a duel, mano-a-mano, tank versus tank. Tanks destroyed or put out of action quite often the victim of anti-tank guns.

coolbert.

Tanks Italian.

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Here with some images of Italian tanks as might have been encountered by British tank men during those North African battles of the Second World War [WW2]. These are the type of tanks the British tank ace Alfie Nicholls would have faced during the North African desert campaigns?

M13/40 tank on parade. 47 mm gun. Armor 6-42 mm. Thirteen ton tank first brought into active service in 1940 [13/40]!

M13/40 tank. 47 mm gun. This is what Alfie Nicholls might have seen during tank versus tank combat, the Western Desert, WW2!

L6/40 tank. 20 mm gun. Armor 6-40 mm.

M13/40 tank. 47 mm gun.

An Italian M11/39 light tank armed with a 37 mm gun and as captured and put to good use by Australian troops fighting in the North African desert. Armor 6-30 mm. Note the kangaroo painted on the side of the tank. To prevent instances of fratricide!

From this Internet web site article it makes clear that the British tanks during the various battles of the North African desert during WW2 100 % dominant.

Armor also not always in a duel, mano-a-mano, tank versus tank. Tanks destroyed or put out of action quite often the victim of anti-tank guns.

coolbert.