Sunday, April 30, 2017

Nuclear Museum.

This is coolbert:

Yet from one more field trip. The Nuclear Museum, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. I recommend this museum highly, without qualification or reservation. This blog entry concentrates on those images of atomic weapons as developed by the U.S. military to be used in a time of nuclear war.

To the images:


SIGABA. American cryptographic machine from the era of the Second World War [WW2]. Like a German Enigma but possessing three banks of five rotors each. Was used until 1959. Reputedly no message ever encrypted by SIGABA was ever read by an adversary.


Nuclear depth charge on carriage. From the era of the Cuban Missile Crisis.


British atomic bomb from the era of the Cold War.


Genie air-to-air missile on carriage with atomic warhead. Could be fired at a Soviet bomber of group of Soviet bombers over an American city and detonate without danger to the populace below! See the You Tube video of a Genie being fired from a warplane and exploding, an occurrence as it was during the Cold War when above-ground testing was still done. Genie length: 9 feet 8 inches (2.95 meters).


American Air Force officers observing a high-altitude Genie missile nuclear detonation. Sans headgear each man for uniformity, the explosion directly overhead. Perfectly SAFE as you can see!


A B-83 atomic weapon on carriage with Permissive Action Link [PAL] unit attached. That bomb could not be activated for use unless the proper "go-codes" punched into the PAL.


A close-up of the PAL unit.


A cabinet containing a whole assemblage of PAL units. PAL soup to nuts so to speak, from the earliest designs to the most recent.


Recovered Broken Arrows showing damage. "A Broken Arrow is defined as an unexpected event involving nuclear weapons that result in the accidental launching, firing, detonating, theft or loss of the weapon."


Davey Crockett. Smallest American atomic weapon as fielded. To be used against massed formations of Soviet tanks. Dimensions are: 30 inches [76 mm] long and measured 11 inches [28 mm] in diameter (at its widest point).


For some sense of scale here is an American troop next to a Davey Crockett as the weapon would have been set up prior to firing.


The back-pack atomic demolition device. SADM. An atomic weapon broken down into sections, carried by special operations troops and assembled at the target for detonation. Total weight is 163 pounds (74 kilograms).


A Lego blocks model of CP-1. Chicago Pile One. Graphite moderated experimental nuclear reactor. Achieved the first self-sustaining and controllable nuclear reaction.


Yet one more model of CP-1 Note the lab tech in the lower right corner.


Fat Man. Nuclear weapon dropped on Nagasaki. A plutonium as opposed to a uranium bomb.


This is Fat Man on carriage and personnel. It was not without reason the bomb was called Fat Man.


Little Boy. First atomic bomb. Dropped on Hiroshima. A uranium gun-type atomic bomb.


The Gadget. The plutonium implosion bomb. First atomic detonation, experimental only. NOT a use-able weapon.


The Gadget as it appeared in 1945. Before the first atomic test. That appears to NOT be J. Robert Oppenheimer in the lower left corner.

So much more to the Nuclear Museum too. Full name The National Museum of Nuclear Science and History. I have only shown those images as found inside that deal with atomic weaponry.

Outside exhibits include static displays of nuclear weapons delivery systems, bomber aircraft and missiles, thermonuclear devices, etc.

Again, I recommend the museum highly. If you are in the Albuquerque area it is well worth the visit.

coolbert.






Saturday, April 29, 2017

Patrols Syria.

This is coolbert:

From the Chicago Tribune today:

"American Troops Start Patrols To Avert Turkish-Kurd Clashes".

By Dion Nissenbaum

"WASHINGTON - - U.S forces have started patrolling the Turkey-Syrian border to prevent further clashes between Turkish troops and Kurdish fighters that have undermined the fight against [the] Islamic State."

JUST AT THAT EXACT WORST MOMENT THE TURK DECIDES TO ATTACK THE SYRIAN KURDISH FORCES. THOSE KURDISH FIGHTERS GATHERING THEIR TROOPS AND PREPARING FOR THE ASSAULT ON THE ISLAMIC STATE CAPITAL OF RAQQA!!

AMERICAN MILITARY UNITS AS ALLIED WITH THE KURD NOW PATROLLING THE BORDER BETWEEN SYRIA AND TURKEY TO PREVENT FURTHER NEEDLESS AND DOWNRIGHT BACKSTABBING VIOLENCE!!

See from Freeper that items as most recent and germane to the situation:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3547165/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3547518/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3547715/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3548517/posts

Need I say further that Turkey is a member of NATO and presumably an ally of the United States!!

coolbert.


Friday, April 28, 2017

Photoshop.

This is coolbert:

From WIZARD through Harry:

"CHINESE PHOTOSHOP FAILS - - Whoever created the image recently disseminated across China to rouse support for the People's Liberation Army's 68th anniversary apparently took a great deal of artistic license in making his vision of 'China's army.' Their patriotic poster seen all over China, has as its centerpiece their aircraft carrier LIAONING but the escorting destroyers are US Navy amphibious combat vessels and the aircraft screaming overhead are Russian MiG-35 fighters"

That average Chinese citizen of course when seeing the poster would not know the difference between a Chinese and an American naval vessel or a Chinese and Russian warplane.

To an extent this also reminds me of the fun and games at the Democratic National Convention of 2004. The Tribute to the Veteran presentation having an image in the background above and behind the speaker stand of warships steaming, those vessels identified as RUSSIAN and not AMERICAN!

Again, the average citizen American or otherwise would just not know the difference.

coolbert.




Archives 2016.

This is coolbert:

Again belatedly so as gleaned from the archives - - the most read Military Analysis blog entries of 2016:

In descending order with # 1 MOST viewed!

1. Al-Bab/Manbij/Raqqa.

2. IT III.

3. Refused III.

4. Tartus Syria.

5. Body Count.

6. IT II.

7. IT I.

8. Refused I.

9. DDoS.

10. Refused II.

Devoted readers to the blog if you have not already done so peruse each entry at your leisure and enjoy.

coolbert.


Archives 2015.

This is coolbert:

Belatedly so but as gleaned from the archives - - the most read Military Analysis blog entries of 2015:

In descending order with # 1 MOST viewed!

1. Yuri Ivanov.

2. Sappers.

3. VLF-XXX.

4. Gallipoli.

5. Pereh.

6. PGM Artillery.

7. TC-90.

8. R2-D2.

9. Obstacles Normandy.

10. Buratino Grozny.

Devoted readers to the blog if you have not already done so peruse each entry at your leisure and enjoy.

coolbert.


Thursday, April 27, 2017

UNC Australia.

This is coolbert:

From the Australian media and the image thanks to AAP/Lukas Coch.

Warning Australia!! Stern rebukes and admonishments are directed at you.

Comrade Kim of North Korea with typical Stalinist doggerel responding at least in part I might think to that most recent  deployment of U.S. Marines to Darwin, MRF 2017?

"North Korea threatens nuclear strike against Australia if it doesn't stop 'blindly toeing US line'"

"Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has hit back at North Korea after the reclusive state warned Australia could be the target of a nuclear weapons strike if it continued to 'blindly' follow the United States."
. . . .

"The Pyongyang spokesman warned Ms Bishop to 'think twice about the consequences to be entailed by her reckless tongue-lashing before flattering the US'"

Think twice! Maybe a multitude of times! Comrade Kim let us be frank just cannot get along with anyone! As simple as that.

Consider too that the Australian military remains part of the United Nations Command Korea:

"United Nations Command Rear is located at Yokota Air Base, Japan, under a Royal Australian Air Force group captain. Its task is to maintain the SOFA that permits the UNC to retain a logistics rear and staging link on Japanese soil."

The Australian public is aware of their continued role and contribution to the United Nations Command? It might surprise many that degree of involvement existing!

coolbert.


Ransom.

This is coolbert:

From the article by Patrick Cockburn the first two paragraphs copied in entirety and thanks to the Ron Unz Internet web site we have an update most germane to some previous blog entries.

"Iraq Seizes 'World's Largest' Ransom on Route to Royal Kidnappers"

"Officials at Baghdad International Airport became suspicious earlier this month when their X-ray machines could not see into 23 large bags unloaded from a Qatari plane, producing only a black image because the contents were wrapped in a special material impenetrable to detecting devices. They were further amazed when they opened the bags to discover that they contained hundreds of millions of dollars and euros in cash worth a total of $500m (£389m), says an Iraqi source."

"It is now clear that the money was ransom for 24 Qataris, several of them leading members of the Qatari royal al-Thani family, and two Saudis who had been hunting with falcons with official permission in supposedly safe southern Iraq when they were kidnapped 16 months ago by a Shia militia task force. A deal to get them released has been complicated by negotiations involving Qatar and Iran as well as Shia and Sunni militias over the simultaneous evacuation of people long besieged in four towns, two Shia and two Sunni, in northern and southern Syria respectively."

Shia militia evidently the kidnappers. I had thought originally this was the work of the Islamic State. And too part of what is called a "package deal". NOT just payment as ransom. Kidnapping and holding important persons for ransom an important aspect of terrorism also!

Such are the ways of that part of the world? Most regrettably so too!

See previous blog entries the topic of which was the kidnappings as reported:

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2015/12/qatar_20.html

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2015/12/bustard_21.html

coolbert.


Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Moby Dick.

This is coolbert:

“THIS BOX CAME FROM THE SKY
IT IS HARMLESS
IT HAS WEATHER DATA IN IT
NOTIFY THE AUTHORITIES
YOU WILL RECEIVE A REWARD IF YOU
TURN IT IN AS IT IS”

 OUR PEOPLE PAY WITH GOLD!

Before there was Jiu-jitsu there was Moby Dick.

Moby Dick or the hunt for the Great White Balloon!

"A Brief History of Project Moby Dick, the Cold War’s Least Believable Surveillance Strategy"

"The U.S. once launched hundreds of balloons in an attempt to spy on the Soviets"

"the U.S. Air Force launched hundreds of spy balloons to float over the Soviet Union, collect photographic coverage, and hopefully reappear in friendly airspace for midair recovery."

American Cold War era high-flying balloons carrying high-resolution cameras on "spy" missions. Released from allied territory to drift freely over the Soviet Union, from west to east, cameras taking reconnaissance photos, film recovered if and when possible.

Moby Dick I think perceived and quite correctly so as not even a qualified success, rather less than that actually. 

Some key points as gleaned from the article to include but not necessarily limited to:

1. A high priority project.

2. A source of world-wide UFO sightings.

3. High percentage of failure.

4. Cost efficient from a map-making standpoint.

5. Providing high technology film for the Soviets.

6. Soviet high-flight intercept warplane.

With regard to item # 6 think the Myasishchev M-55 interceptor warplane called Subject 34. Analogous to the American U-2 "spy" plane!

"For a ten year period beginning in 1945 it would have better if the United States did not have an intelligence agency." - - Richard Helms.

In part, Richard had Moby Dick in mind?

coolbert.



Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Thrash & Thresh.

This is coolbert:

Is it a thrashing or is it a threshing?

From the Atlantic and the article by David Frum some more WW1 stuff. A perusal of which is well well worth the effort by the devoted reader to the blog.

"What If the Allies Had Lost World War I?"

"To understand the conflict’s legacy, consider what might have been."

"The question confronting the U.S. in 1917 was the same question that confronted Americans in 1941, and again after World War II, and now again as China rises: Who will shape world order?"  


Germans on the left, Austro-Hungarians on the right, French, Russians and English on the ground. WW1 was nearly this way? Those Kaiserschlacht battles of 1918 nearly did destroy the allies on the Western Front. Without American intervention what is shown as a cartoon might have very well been reality! Thanks for the image The Atlantic and (Museum of Hungarian Military History / Wikimedia).

And even if total and 100 % German victory not possible, whatever negotiated settlement to the war might have occurred would have been much to the favor of the Kaiser and his Empire?

coolbert.


Monday, April 24, 2017

Jiu-jitsu.

This is coolbert:

Before there was the U-2 you had the B-45, reconnaissance version!

Until just a few minutes ago I was neither familiar with the warplane or missions as engaged in.

Where the American would not the English could and did!

From the wiki entry:

Operation Ju-jitsu.

"The only other nation to use the RB-45C was the United Kingdom, where it was operated by an ad hoc unit of crews. " .

"Whilst the USAF was prohibited by the President of the United States from overflying the Soviet Union unless under a state of war, US allies closer to the European theatre of war could" . . .

"As a result, under Operation Ju-jitsu, in July 1951 four aircraft were leased to Britain from the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing to form a Royal Air Force (RAF) Special Duties Flight ": . . 


B-45 the first all-jet American bomber aircraft!

"The aircraft were tasked with flying deep-level reconnaissance missions over the Soviet Union to gather electronic and photographic intelligence. The Special Duties Flight conducted missions during the period 1952–54."

THIS WAS JU-JITSU!

Sounds to me sort of like like Guy Gibson and Dam Busters stuff. Those elite aircrews on those most secret and dangerous missions.

"Subsequent flights over the Soviet Union were carried out using English Electric Canberras under the codename Project Robin, operating at higher altitudes of around 54,000 ft (16,000 m)."

You learn something new every day! And are more the better for it too!

coolbert.


Sunday, April 23, 2017

Disturbances!

This is coolbert:

Until just the other day I was not aware of such a document as even existing!!

"Japanese declaration of war on the United States and the British Empire"

"The declaration of war by the Empire of Japan on the United States and the British Empire was published on December 8, 1941 (Japan time; December 7 in the United States), after Japanese forces had executed an attack on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor and attacks on British forces in Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong."

TEXT OF HIROHITO'S WAR DECLARATION December 8, 1941. [those elements most germane}

"By the grace of heaven, Emperor of Japan, seated on the throne occupied by the same dynasty from time immemorial, enjoin upon ye, our loyal and brave subjects"

"We hereby declare war upon the United States of America and the British Empire . . ."

Those key points:

* "More than four years have passed since China, failing to comprehend the true intentions of our Empire, and recklessly courting trouble, disturbed the peace of East Asia"

* "the regime [National Government of China] which has survived in Chungking, relying upon American and British protection, still continues its fratricidal opposition."

* "America and Britain, giving support to the Chungking regime, have aggravated the disturbances in East Asia." . .

China is to blame, China is to blame, China is to blame! Aided and abetted by the world powers of the United States and Great Britain. DISTURBS the peace of East Asia. First and foremost, China was to blame!

Modern warfare does not need nor require declarations? That is old fashioned?

coolbert.


St. Catherine's.

This is coolbert:

From the latest edtion of the DEBKAfile newsletter.

St. Catherine's monastery under attack! A fourteen hundred year old agreement has been violated by the Salafi to their discredit in the extreme:

"ISIS affiliate takes responsibility for attack on Sinai monastery"

    "An Islamic State affiliate claimed responsibility early Wednesday morning for the attack on a security post at the entrance to Saint Catherine's Monastery in the southern part of the Sinai Peninsula. One Egyptian soldier was killed and four others were wounded in the attack on Tuesday evening. The Greek Orthodox shrine was built in the 7th century at the foot of Jebel Musa, a mountain that many Christians believe to be Mount Sinai. The monastery, one of the oldest working Christian monasteries in the world, contains a priceless treasury of relics, art and ancient documents."

ANCIENT DOCUMENTS TO INCLUDE A LETTER OF PROTECTION AND SUCCOR FROM MOHAMMAD HIMSELF SO IT IS ALLEGED. COMPLETE WITH HAND PRINT AS SIGNATURE!


Make your mark! Mohammad was an illiterate and using a hand print was the manner which a pact or treaty was agreed to.

coolbert.

Saturday, April 22, 2017

Rubbers.

This is coolbert:

From Capt'n CHRIS thanks to Harry at Sharkhunters we have some details of the measures as taken by the Soviet/Russian submarine fleet the purpose of which was to defeat active/passive sonar. Thick rubber slabs on the outside of the hull [defeat active sonar] and an additional "coating" on the inner hull [defeat passive sonar] That latter referred to as de-coupling.

Soviet/Russian submarines their designers preferring a double-hull design for reasons all their own!

As described by Capt'n CHRIS as copied more or less in entirety:

"Russian submarines since the 1950's have used hull coatings - - multiple layers in fact. On early first generation nuclear submarines, like the Project 627A [November] SSN or Project 675  [Echo II] SSGN, the outer hull was coated with Medusa-2, a reversed engineered rubber coating based on the German Alberich. Medusa-2 was purely an anechoic coating. That is it was designed to reduce the submarine's vulnerability to detection by active sonar. There was another coating on the pressure hull that was a decoupling or sound attenuating coating to help reduce the boat's noise signature."

"The next generation of outer hull coating was called 'August' and it was fitted on later second generation and early third generation Russian subs. August was much more robust and heavier than Medusa-2, being 3 inches/76 mm thick and had 'golf-tee' like cavities instead of circular ones. The August coating has been described as multi-purpose in that it had both anechoic and decoupling properties . . ."


An image of August. That rubber coating is three inches/76 mm thick!!

"When the Project 677E/AMUR-1650 was being advertised, a new external hull coating was also being pushed on the arms market. It is called 'Molniya' and is described as a multipurpose anechoic and decoupling coating."


Capt'n CHRIS it seems is an authoritative source in such matters and we thank him for his insight.

coolbert.

Friday, April 21, 2017

WW1 II.

This is coolbert:

Once more from a variety of sources and authors that American perspective of the Great War [WW1], with one-hundred years of hindsight.

1. "US Marks Centennial of Entry Into the 'Great War'"

C. Maddux - VOA News

"The United States formally entered World War I a hundred years ago, on April 6, 1917. The nation set aside its posture of neutrality nearly three years after the start of the bloody conflict that came to be known as the “Great War.” ... The legacy of the Great War is hard to overstate."

2. "One Hundred Years of Using War to Try to End All War"

David Swanson - CounterPunch

"This April 4th will be 100 years since the U.S. Senate voted to declare war on Germany ... This was the Great War, the war to end all wars, the war without which the conditions for the next war would not have existed."

3. "Five Myths About World War I"

Michael Kazin – The Washington Post

"One hundred years ago, on April 6, 1917, Congress voted to declare war on imperial Germany. The First World War was the pivot of the 20th century: It took the lives of 17 million people and resulted in the collapse of three major empires (the German, the Ottoman and the Austro-Hungarian)."

4. "From Wristwatches To Radio, How World War I Ushered In The Modern World"

G. Myre - NPR

"... The [1914-1918 world war] is best remembered for the brutal trench warfare, the millions of deaths, and the failure to bring a lasting peace to Europe. But the conflict also saw a convergence of emerging technologies that would remake life on and off the battlefield ..."

FOUR EMPIRES ACTUALLY COLLAPSING IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE GREAT WAR! DON'T FORGET THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE [BECAME THE SOVIET UNION].

New nations in eastern Europe also emerging as part of the dissolution process of empire! Poland, Czechoslovakia, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, etc.

coolbert.


WW1 I.

This is coolbert:

Over there!!

The Yanks are coming!! One hundred years ago now!

From a variety of sources and authors some items of interest, the Great War [WW1] the topic for discussion in all instances.:

1. "Should America Have Entered World War I?"
By Michael Kazin - The New York Times

"One hundred years ago today, Congress voted to enter what was then the largest and bloodiest war in history ... The intervention led to big changes in America, as well as the world."

2. "When America Joined WWI and Became a Global Power"
By Carlos Hamann – AFP

"When America entered World War I, a century ago this week, the European powers were bogged down in a grinding trench war that had killed millions and ravaged the European continent."

3. "Should the U.S. Have Entered World War I?"
By Christopher Klein – History / A+E

"On April 6, 1917, the United States entered World War I after the U.S. House of Representatives followed the lead of the U.S. Senate in approving a declaration of war against Germany."

American perspectives on the Great War [WW1] thanks to one-hundred years of hindsight. Hindsight ALWAYS 20/20 perfect vision. It SEEMED like the correct thing to do at the time.

coolbert.


Joseph Kony LRA.

 This is coolbert:

One-hundred men will test today, NONE will win the green beret!

Regrettably so more on Joseph Kony. Thanks to the BBC and Getty images.

"Uganda ends hunt for LRA leader Joseph Kony"

"Ugandan troops have pulled out of the hunt for rebel leader Joseph Kony in the Central African Republic (CAR), the army has said."

"He and his Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) group had become 'weak', and no longer threatened Uganda, it added."

"The LRA was notorious for chopping off people's limbs and abducting children to use as soldiers and sex slaves."

Joseph has only about a hundred followers with him remaining the bush. He will not be heard of again? I fear he will be, in some way, some how!

See previous blog entry the topic of which was the hunt for Joseph and his minions:

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2017/03/kony-lra.html

coolbert.


Thursday, April 20, 2017

SAM Syria.

This is coolbert:

See first item # 2 from my prior blog entry.

Then read the entire Russia Insider article and draw your own conclusions as to the deployment of the Russian naval vessel to the vicinity of Syria, the boast being that American Tomahawk cruise missiles can be intercepted and shot down.

"There Was No Way for Russia to Shoot Down Trump's Syria Cruise Missiles"

"The earth is round. There was never a way Russia's radars 200 km away could detect relief-hugging missiles"

"Could Russia have in some way thwarted Trump's April 6th cruise missile strike against the Syrian military but chose not to? According to Russian military analysts the answer is no. Bringing down those missiles was never a possibility for the Russian air defense systems in Syria because they are stationed too far away and are not primarily designed to counter cruise missiles."

Slow and old but terrain-hugging. Tomahawk. That was all that was needed.

Devoted readers to the blog again draw your own conclusions.

coolbert.




Wednesday, April 19, 2017

RMC MOC.

This is coolbert:

British Royal Marines Commando [RMC] tasked with a special mission. Guard the coastline of England from seaborne jihadi attack. Also respond with alacrity, on-call to any similar threats or piracy anywhere in the world!

From the article by Chris Hughes thanks to the tip as seen at Freeper.

"New commando force will raid ISIS at sea to safeguard ships around the UK coast"

"The 450-strong amphibious Maritime Operations Commando [MOC] team will be sent on emergency missions amid fears jihadis will attack vessels and ports"

"42 Commando are to be given new role as a maritime commando unit in support of special forces operations"

"A new counter-terror unit of elite troops will tackle the terrorist threat to ships on the UK coast."

"The Maritime Operations Commando will also be sent on global raids against enemy ships or terrorist vessels."

"The amphibious force will be on short notice for emergency missions."

JUST AT THAT EXACT MOMENT RMC BEING STRESSED BY CUTBACKS THEY RECEIVE NEW AND MORE COMPLEX MISSIONS! GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

coolbert.



MRF 2017.

This is coolbert:

American Marines on the move. Australia here we come!!

"US troops arrive in Top End for Marine Rotational Force Darwin"

As seen at the Australian news.com.au the tip from Freeper.

"THE first of 1250 US Marines have begun to touch down in Darwin as they 'stand ready to fight' against North Korea should the situation escalate. The Marines began arriving in Australia’s tropical north on Tuesday for a six-month deployment during which they will conduct exercises with Australian and visiting Chinese forces."

Six months of brisk and intense training in preparation for any and all eventualities! To include obviously the Korean problem.

See previous blog entries the topic of which was the MRF Darwin:

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2015/03/mrf-darwin.html

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2011/11/darwin.html

coolbert.

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Pundonor!


This is coolbert:

Finally from WIZARD through Harry at Sharkhunters:

1. "SPAIN vs ENGLAND - - In today's saber rattling between the USA, Russia, North Korea and the Middle East, who could imagine that these two nations would be involved in various face-offs."

17 April

NOT MERELY SPAIN VS. ENGLAND. NATO VS. NATO!

"Royal Navy's Gibraltar-based fast patrol boat HMS SCIMITAR was forced to respond to a Spanish warship incursion into Gibraltar waters for the second time in a month.  The UK Ministry of Defense confirmed that the Spanish Navy corvette INFANTA CRISTINA was escorted out of Gibraltar waters on Thursday morning."

. . . .

"This is the latest in a row of stand offs between Spain and Great Britain in Gibraltar waters . . . This territory has remained a point of contention between the two countries as Spain never relinquished its claims to the territory."

Also from WIZARD:

2. "BEAR ON THE MOVE - - the Russian Navy is moving some assets out of the Baltic and into the North Atlantic"

17 April.

"A group of Russia's Baltic Fleet warships comprising the corvettes BOIKIY and SOOBRAZITELNY, the tugboat MB-123 and the tanker KOLA has left for the North Atlantic."

"The group of warships . . . successfully passed through the Kattegat and the Skagerrak straits in adverse weather conditions and entered the North Atlantic."

STRICTLY A TRAINING MISSION AND NOTHING MORE!! WORRY NOT!

Pundonor - - from the Spanish point of honor!

coolbert.


RMC English.

This is coolbert:

Again from WIZARD through Harry at Sharkhunters:

1. "GOODBYE ROYAL MARINES - - Britain's Royal Marines are facing huge cuts in order to fund sailors for the UK's forthcoming multi-billion-dollar aircraft carriers, the HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. Experts fear this latest move could negatively impact the UK's defense systems even further."

14 April.

"The royal Marines will see 200 jobs cut in order to help Britain's Royal Navy crew its new US$6.2 billion aircraft carriers. This shake up will see at least hundreds of posts transferred from the Marines to the Royal Navy, which has struggled to find enough sailors to crew Britain's warships."

See previous blog entry the topic of which was the manning problem as regards the two most recent Royal Naval aircraft carriers.

. . . .

"A government source has said that half of the cuts would affect backroom functions - - such as drivers and admin staff - - and not directly impact the defense Marines are sable to provide their country with."

REAR-ECHELON ELEMENTS, NON-COMBAT TROOPS TO BE CUT AND NOT THE MEAT-AND-POTATOES COMBAT ARMS ROYAL MARINES!

Also from WIZARD and dated 14 April.

2. "TOMAHAWK DEFENSE? - - The Russian Black Sea Fleet's frigate Admiral Grigorovich will boost the Russian air defenses in Syria . . . the frigate's weapons systems are capable of shooting down the Tomahawk long-range subsonic cruise missiles.  On 8 April the . . . frigate . . . returned to the Mediterranean . . . the warship's firepower will strengthen the air defense of troops, forces and facilities in Syria."

Russian naval ship as tasked with the mission - - the shoot-down of American cruise missiles as fired at Syrian targets? More protection for the despot Assad under orders from Vlad?

coolbert.

Semper Fi.

This is coolbert:

From WIZARD through Harry at Sharkhunters several items of interest:

1. "SEMPER FIDELIS Maybe Should be Semper Paratus USMC planes in trouble"

11 April.

"Quarter of US Marine Aircraft Idle Due to Lack of Spare Parts"

"Assistant Deputy Commandant for Aviation and Sustainment William Taylor said that almost a quarter of the aircraft belonging to the US Marine Corps are grounded because spare parts for them are not immediately available."

YOU CAN PAY ME NOW OR YOU CAN PAY ME LATER! EVENTUALLY THE CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST!

2. "USS OHIO XO FIRED - - Lt. Commander Joseph Ferrari relieved; NCI investigation."

11 April .

"The second in command aboard the guided missile submarine Ohio was fired on April 3 because of a 'loss of confidence in his personal judgment and ability to lead.'"

. . . .

"the investigation . . . may stem from allegations that Ferrari made unwanted advances toward a female junior officer."

MIXED GENDER CREWS ON SUBMARINES JUST DOES NOT WORK?

coolbert.







Monday, April 17, 2017

Constant Phoenix.

This is coolbert:

Preparations underway! The game is afoot! Everyone make ready!

From the military oriented newspaper Stripes and the article by Matthew M. Burke and Chiyomi Sumida and the tip from Captain Al.

"Nuke-sniffer aircraft arrives on Okinawa as tensions rise on Korean peninsula"

"CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — A U.S. aircraft that specializes in detecting radioactive debris after the detonation of a nuclear device has arrived on Okinawa amid rising tensions on the Korean peninsula."

The Constant Phoenix "sniffer" warplane deploys to Okinawa in anticipation of a North Korean nuclear test? An analysis of nuclear particles as might be release from an atomic detonation will enable American physicists to obtain valuable information otherwise unobtainable.

Combat Phoenix last we hear was active over the Barents Sea. But of that mission and results no more was ever heard.

See previous entries regarding Combat Phoenix:

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2017/02/cobra-55.html

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2017/03/sniffer.html

coolbert.


Sunday, April 16, 2017

WW1 Rockford.

This is coolbert:

Some images from a World War One re-enactment. The Great War one-hundred years later from the American perspective. Soldiers of various nations demonstrating the uniforms, weapons, tactics of that era.

Russians, English [Scots], Turks, Germans, French Senegalese, British Indian all accounted for and participating. Battlefield Rockford, Illinois, USA.

Without further ado to the images:


Headquarters of the 353 Infantry Regiment, 88th Prussian Reserve Infantry Division.


A German soldier gesticulates fervently while speaking to a reporter. Gott mit uns!!


Evidence of time travel in the year 1914? That man on the far right is wearing a camouflage uniform as might have been worn by a soldier of one-hundred years later!!


German troops man a machine-gun position guarding their regimental headquarters.


An armored narrow-gauge train.


General Pershing himself in full regalia. Four stars, sword, spurs. A fine figure of a man.


American troops in the Argonne prepare for a patrol.


The brutal Hun interrogates a captured Canadian soldier. The latter not having been properly disarmed. Poor form.


A German officer in a length of trench observes the Scottish adversary prior to the advance of the latter.


More poor form! German troops leave their weapon and battle kit out of reach.


The inside of a dug-out. Accommodations for eating and sleeping. All the comforts of home.


A German trench mortar of 7.58 cm. bore. I would like to own one of these!

Re-enactment well done and almost professionally so. Congratulations to everyone and job well done!!

coolbert.


Monday, April 10, 2017

Carabinieri Iraq.

This is coolbert:

When thinking of war, always think of a war as existing in three distinct stages.

1. What lead up to the war. 2. The fighting of the war itself. The mortal combat. 3. The aftermath of the war, what occurred, the rebuilding process.

As it has always been, as it is now in Mosul Iraq. Even while combat continues to liberate the city from the Islamic State, Iraqi police [predominantly Kurdish] are being trained for maintaining peace and order when the battle is over.

"Mosul Needs 35,000 Cops"

"The Italians are on the job"

"With the sound of small-arms fire popping away at a range in the background, an instructor from Italy’s military police force — the Carabinieri [Italian paramilitary police]  — expertly flips over a rifle to demonstrate a swift and efficient reload to the students in front of him."

. . . .

"The Italians estimated it could take more than 30,000 skilled policemen to maintain order in Mosul alone, once Islamic State surrenders the strategic city."

Please take note the men being trained are apparently Kurdish and not Iraqi Shia. Para-military Shia cannot be trusted to maintain law-and-order in a fair and equitable way?


coolbert.



Essential Truths.

This is coolbert:

From the Victor Davis Hanson Internet web site and thanks to the Professor as extracted and in the nutshell a listing of those elements of intrigue, calculations and geo-political considerations part and parcel of war-making!

"Ancient Laws, Modern Wars"

Essential and eternal truths, elements of intrigue and geo-political considerations to include but not necessarily limited to:

1. "Avoid making verbal threats that are not serious and backed up by force."
2. "The unlikely is not impossible."
3. "Big wars can start from small beginnings."
4. "Do not confuse tactics with strategy."
5. "Human nature is unchanging — and not always admirable."
6. "Majestic pronouncements and utopian speechifying . . . mean nothing to rogue nations."
7. "Public support for military action hinges mostly on perceived success."
8. "War is a harsh distillery of talent."
9. "War is rarely started by accident and far more often by mistaken calibrations of relative power."
10. "Deterrence that prevents war is usually smeared as war-mongering."

"Finally, it is always better to be safe and ridiculed than vulnerable and praised."

My instantaneous thought regrading "better to be safe and ridiculed" is George W. Bush and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Devoted readers to the blog may agree or disagree but that was my response.  Instantaneous!

coolbert.

IDF Haredi.

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Haredi = ultra-Orthodox.

"I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO MENTION THAT SOME ULTRA-ORTHODOX YOUTH DO VOLUNTEER FOR MILITARY SERVICE, IN DEFIANCE OF THEIR ELDERS AND PEERS!"

As mentioned by myself and now regrettably so in the context of that prior blog entry this item from Israeli Ynet:

"Haredi IDF soldier egged and cursed in Jerusalem’s Mea Shearim"

"The violence towards ultra-Orthodox Jews who elect to report for military duty continues in Jerusalem with residents of the Haredi neighborhood screaming and hurling eggs at a Givati soldier."

The ultra-Orthodox attacking one of their own! A soldier, an ultra-Orthodox who has not refused conscription attacked by those that REFUSE conscription!!

"Residents of the ultra-Orthodox Mea Shearim neighborhood of Jerusalem threw eggs and yelled insults at a Haredi Givati soldier Wednesday afternoon"

This incident not even so it seems hardly isolated. Dig this:

"The police have been active in the wake of numerous attacks on Haredi soldiers; a police detective went undercover as an IDF soldier in the Jerusalem neighborhood, and when a group of extremists came to attack him, police jumped on the suspects and arrested them."

For shame all those that participate in such attacks. Everlasting shame. And for those that encourage such bad behavior even that much greater shame!!

coolbert.


Sunday, April 9, 2017

VBIED.

This is coolbert:

VBIED Mosul!! 

VBIED! Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device. A truck bomb  driven on a suicide mission a favorite weapon of the Islamic state.

"Isis Used 17 Suicide Car Bombs to Help Leader al-Baghdadi Flee Mosul'"

From the article by Patrick Cockburn thanks to the Ron Unz Internet web site.

"Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of Isis and self-declared Caliph, escaped from the siege of Mosul two months ago when the road to the west was briefly re-opened by a fierce counter attack by Isis fighters, according to a senior Kurdish official."

“Isis used 17 suicide car bombs from Mosul and some of their units from Syria to clear the road leading out of Mosul for a few hours,” said Fuad Hussein,

DEDICATION AND WILLINGNESS TO THE POINT OF CERTAIN DEATH FOR THE ESTEEMED LEADER

See also this described as a MUCH WATCH!!

"MUST WATCH (Drone view ): ISIS VBIED ambush Dozens retreating PMU and Iraqi soldiers west of Mosul"

See also the entire Live Leak index of similar video, VBIED attacks.

coolbert.


Draft Dodger.

This is coolbert:

Draft dodger Israeli style!

We dare you! We dare you!

"3,000 haredi draft dodgers to be honored at upcoming conference"

Thanks to the Sheldon Adelson Internet web site Israel Hayom!

"Conference will be first gathering of this size held by anti-draft Jerusalem Faction • 'It will be easy for the Military Police to come, but we know they won't do anything because the military has no real interest in these guys,'"

"Leaders of the anti-enlistment Jerusalem Faction are planning to hold a special conference next week, to honor some 3,000 ultra-Orthodox [haredi] draft dodgers, Israel Hayom learned Wednesday. The event is set to take place on Monday, at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem."

That perspective being that conscription as applied to the Israeli citizen is universal and mandatory.

EVERYONE GOES INTO THE MILITARY AND THAT IS THAT!

This is not so and has never been so!

* Israeli Arabs [about 25 %] of the population not subject to conscription!!

* Those RELIGIOUS STUDENTS of the extreme Jewish sects, ultra-Orthodox, haredi, also not subjected to conscription!

That percentage of ultra-Orthodox within Israeli society as a whole now rather significant and the number constantly increasing. MOST ALL ultra-Orthodox young men dodge the draft by a skewed interpretation of what constitutes a "religious student"? A broad interpretation of what constitutes a "religious student" abused with intent.

Persons their avoiding conscription into the Israeli military a major source of resentment among Israeli draft-age youth! "IF I HAVE TO GO, WHY DON'T THEY HAVE TO GO" IS THE ATTITUDE! AND WITH REASON.

The ultra-Orthodox rabbinical authority in Israel for the most part opposing universal conscription and actively encouraging draft-dodging! Able to muster thousands of persons in support of their position.

I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO MENTION THAT SOME ULTRA-ORTHODOX YOUTH DO VOLUNTEER FOR MILITARY SERVICE, IN DEFIANCE OF THEIR ELDERS AND PEERS!

coolbert.


Friday, April 7, 2017

tDCS.

This is coolbert:

“'In experiments, people who were watching these screens … their ability to concentrate would fall off in about 20 minutes,' . . . 'But they did studies whereby a little bit of electrical stimulation was applied, and they were able to maintain the same peak performance for 20 hours.'”

Cyborg? Cybernetic organism? It works or it doesn't work? That is the question?

"U.S. Navy Is Zapping SEALs Brains To Make Them Super Soldiers

From the article By Jennings Brown thanks to the tip from Jeff.

"But many researchers think neuro-stimulation [transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS)] probably doesn't work"

"The Naval Special Warfare Development Group, also known as Seal Team Six, is just one of the United States Navy teams testing out technology that would zap soldiers’ brains with electricity to boost their cognitive skills.'

The jury is still out on this one. Any and all means and methods that can give the special operator that slightest advantage need to be investigated.

As with tDCS.

 coolbert.

Thursday, April 6, 2017

John Dewar.

This is coolbert:

Archaeology with a military dimension! Artifacts from the recent history and not ancient antiquity. A "window on the past" as the adage goes!

1. "Hundreds of WWI British soldiers' liquor bottles uncovered near Ramla"

"Hundreds of liquor bottles were discovered in excavations of the Israel Antiquities Authority prior to the construction of Highway 200 near Ramla; the bottles apparently belonged to British soldiers who were garrisoned in the are during World War I."


2. "Polish Archaeologists Uncover Chilling Remnant Of WWII"

. . . .

"The legacy of German aggression during World War II looms over the little town of Zlocieniec, Poland. Yet today, a buried treasure, hidden beneath the ground for over 80 years, may help to shed some light on the dark history of this European city. What archaeologists found has to be seen to be believed…"

You have to read it all but I gather the "take" rather scant and disappointing?

coolbert.






Weaponized.

This is coolbert:

To war with laptop and cell phone!

First from the Israeli Ynet Internet web site and then from the Sheldon Adelson Internet web site Israel Hayom we have some info regarding the ban on carry-on electronics devices so very recently enunciated.

1. "Terror groups develop bombs that can pass airport security"

"According to intelligence assessments, terrorist organizations obtained advanced airport security equipment currently in use and conducted a series of experiments until they found a way to successfully plant bombs in electronics."

NOT ONLY PLACE THE BOMBS INSIDE OF ELECTRONICS BUT DO SO IN A MANNER AS TO EVADE ALL CURRENT KNOWN METHODS OF DETECTION!!

2. "Report: ISIS develops bombs that can evade airport security"

"Assessment plays key role in President Donald Trump's laptop travel ban at 10 airports in eight Middle East and Africa countries • Australia joins U.S., boosts security checks on passengers from Muslim countries • Experts fear weaponized civilian drones."

. . . .

"In a related development, the U.S. National Counter-terrorism Center sees weaponized drones as the next threat to aviation security. The small drones, which are sold without restriction, can be weaponized with explosives and launched at the engines of passenger airliners during takeoff or landing. "

THE VILLAINS EVIDENTLY HAVE GOTTEN THEIR HANDS ON ONE OF THE MACHINES AS CURRENTLY USED TO SCAN AND SCREEN DEVICES AND BAGGAGE FOR EXPLOSIVES. THE VILLAINS HAVE STUDIED AND EXPERIMENTED AND FOUND MEANS AND METHODS TO CIRCUMVENT THE MACHINE!!

coolbert.

Blighter.

This is coolbert:

For every measure there is a counter-measure!

Drones back in the news in an alarming way. Near-miss repeatedly, drones nearly hitting or interfering with the take-off or landings of commercial aircraft. HEATHROW AIRPORT [UK] IN PARTICULAR A CENTER OF SUCH ACTIVITY!

1. "UK reports 70 drone near-misses at Heathrow in 2016"

"UK Heathrow is apparently a magnet for drone pilots fond of flying their devices near planes. According to the latest report from the UK Airprox Board, three planes narrowly missed drones roaming the skies near the airport last year."

NEED IT BE SAID THAT A COLLISION WITH A DRONE AT THE EXACT WRONG MOMENT MIGHT CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC CRASH WITH A TREMENDOUS LOSS OF LIFE! INGESTION INTO AN ENGINE ALSO AT THE WORST MOMENT ALSO A POSSIBLE!

DRONE WHEN WEAPONIZED AND CARRYING EVEN A SMALL AMOUNT OF PLASTIC EXPLOSIVE AN OBVIOUS DANGER!!

2. "AUDS Anti-UAV Defence System"

"Blighter AUDS Anti UAV Defence System"

DETECT/TRACK/DISRUPT. AND USE ELECTRONIC MEANS TO DO SO! AUDS!

"AUDS (Anti-UAV Defence System) is a counter drone system that is designed to disrupt and neutralize unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) engaged in hostile airborne surveillance and potentially malicious activity"

"Malicious activity" as it is deemed I might suspect a major worry for which the Blighter AUDS system has been developed. NEUTRALIZE THAT DRONE AND NOW!

Interference with commercial aircraft [a public transportation vehicle] even with a drone cannot be construed as anything less than MALICIOUS UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES! Under certain circumstances drone operators if discovered while in the act are in the same legal category as an ARSONIST and run a risk of BEING SHOT ON SIGHT?

coolbert.

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Blockrats.

This is coolbert;

The English do it too lads!!

Images racy and risque' of naked women having sex with soldiers INSIDE THE BARRACKS.

And posted ONLINE! For shame!

Warning! If you are a person easily offended by material of an adult and intense nature, hit escape now.

Thanks to the English tabloid The Sun and the article by Laura Burnip.

"SLEAZY SQUADDIES X-rated pictures of girls taken back to British Army barracks for sex are being shared online"

"The shocking site offers soldiers prizes for sharing explicit pictures of women they have bedded at their barracks"

"SLEAZY soldiers posted X-rated photos online of girls they have had sex with in their barracks."

"Army bosses are said to be furious and have threatened the culprits with military prison."

There is even a name for young women brought onto base in a surreptitious manner and into a barracks for the purpose of illicit sex. Blockrats!!

AND prizes of what sort for posting "explicit pictures" ONLINE?

BEWARE BOYS THAT WEB SITE! IMAGES THAT MAY CONTAIN MALICIOUS EMBEDDED SOFTWARE THAT WHEN DOWNLOADED CAN BE USED AGAINST YOU BY THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE OF A FOREIGN HOSTILE POWER.

See previous blog entry the topic of which is quite similar.

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2017/03/racy-risque.html

coolbert.










Baseball.

This is coolbert:

An article from the Washington Examiner thanks to the tip from Freeper:

"Opening Day: Remember that time Eisenhower had a secret baseball career?"

"Yet not making the ( West Point) baseball team may have been a blessing in disguise, because Ike had a potentially-explosive secret. After finishing high school in 1909, he spent two years working at a creamery to help pay Edgar's way through the University of Michigan. He also played baseball for money under an alias. Taking money, regardless how small the amount, would have ended his amateur status. If he had made the Army team, and had word of his earlier play for pay leaked out, he would have been expelled for breaking the Academy's Honor Code."


 The Abilene high school baseball team. Ike is in the back row, second from the right.

See the wiki entry regarding Eisenhower and the baseball controversy. Amazing how mountains can be made out of mole-hills!

The Battle of France [1944] also was won on the baseball playing fields of West Point? Omar Bradley also an outstanding baseball player and had even while attending West Point.played semi-professionally while not accepting money.

coolbert.