Purge.

This is coolbert:

Joseph would approve?

NOT impending! Is NOW!

From the article by Metin Gurcan and thanks to same.

"Turkish military purges decimate career officer, pilot ranks"

"The impending dismissal of another 3,000 Turkish soldiers suspected of disloyalty is raising concerns about military readiness."

"The most affected group by the purges has been the commanding elite. Out of the 325 generals and admirals in the Turkish army, navy and air force, almost half (150) have been discharged. Among them were two four-star generals, nine lieutenant generals, 30 major generals and vice admirals, and 126 brigadier generals and rear admirals. In all, nearly 44% of army generals, 42% of air force generals and 58% of admirals were formally discharged. An additional 586 colonels were forced to retire by the Supreme Military Council on Aug. 23, 2016."

NOT MERELY 3,000 SOLDIERS BUT 3,000 OF THE UPPER ECHELON OF THE COMMAND APPARATUS.

See also my previous blog entry the topic of which was the preparedness of the Turkish air force, the  combat aviator capability of which diminished to nearly a zero!

At least not since the late 1930's has there been such a purge of a military elite? Top ranking officers and command staff as necessary to a modern military having been either cashiered to just done away with [executed/imprisoned]. I am thinking of the Soviet Great Purge during the time of Joseph Stalin.

WHEN I LOOK AT YOU AND SMILE, TREMBLE WITH FEAR!

coolbert.

C6ISR.

This is coolbert:

Institutionalized ad hoc units? A contradiction in terms? 

C6ISR? Never heard of this before.

Thanks to the Internet web site of Thomas Wictor and found quite accidentally so! Read the whole article. Worth doing so.

"Feign disorder, and then crush your enemy and his supporters"

From several years ago but the topic still valid.

"There’s no doubt in my mind [Thomas Wictor] that Israel and the Arab League have created strategic special forces, dubbed 'C6ISR forces' by IDF Brigadier General Gal Hirsch (retired). The term C6ISR stands for 'Command, Control, Communications, Computing, Cyber, Commando, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance.'”

"No need to feign."

"Open sources give me [Thomas Wictor] a good idea. A C6ISR force is based on a rapid-reaction, rapid-intervention, rapid-deployment, or expeditionary unit. Here’s the organization of a US Marine Corps Expeditionary Unit (MEU)".

That Table of Organization and Equipment, an archetype C6ISR unit all-arms and beyond that. Click on image to see an enlarged view. A unit of six self-propelled guns deemed more correctly a battery. Agreed I am being pedantic but not without good reason.

More than anything else these C6ISR units resemble what has traditionally been referred to as a "flying column".

A flying column is a small, independent, military land unit capable of rapid mobility and usually composed of all arms. It is often an ad hoc unit, formed during the course of operations. The term is usually, though not necessarily, applied to forces less than the strength of a brigade."

"As mobility is its primary purpose, a flying column is accompanied by the minimum of equipment. It generally uses suitable fast transport; historically, horses were used, with trucks and helicopters replacing them in modern times."

Minimum amount of equipment but maximum amount of firepower and able to call on assets of whatever echelon as needed during active operations. Commander a man of proven ability and experience, and given great latitude as how to accomplish a mission.

C6ISR!

coolbert.

Mike.

This is coolbert:

The contrast could not be greater. Mike and Calvin.

The former Mike Mansfield. The latter Calvin Graham.

Thanks also here to Professor Al Nofi and the item as seen at the Internet web site Strategy Page CIC # 261.

[image accompanying this blog entry that of Mike Mansfield]

Mike the underage U.S. Navy sailor falsifying his enlistment. When discovered Mike merely discharged without it seems any repercussions. Calvin also the underage sailor and falsifying his enlistment AND bravely participating in combat, in addition dishonorably discharged, decorations justly awarded taken away.

"Mike Mansfield (1903-2001): In 1917, aged 14, he altered his birth certificate to join the U.S. Navy and served on Atlantic convoys until his real age was discovered and he was discharged. Mansfield later worked as a miner, became a professor of Far Eastern History, and entered politics as a Democrat, serving ten years as a Representative and 24 as a Senator."

Mike Mansfield his curriculum vitae [CV] most impressive. His career in public service and a life worth led culminating with the man being appointed Ambassador to Japan. Mike highly esteemed across the board as they say.

Calvin his life and career after dishonorable discharge not so good. Denied his awards, benefits  and decorations. ONLY when at a rather advanced age Calvin receiving worthy recognition of his military service, that original prevarication on his part seen more or less as somewhat noble youthful indiscretion.

What worked for Mike did not work as well for Calvin.

coolbert.

Oil Spot.

This is coolbert:

Oil spot. Tache d'huile!

"Clear and hold one spot, then expand to another."

That role of the French general officer Gallieni during the Battle of the Marne [1914] well understood.

That military and combat role of Gallieni in those years prior to the Great War perhaps far more important far less understood:

OIL SPOT. A counter-insurgency strategy found to be effective and as first enunciated and put into practice by Gallieni. Suppression of Vietnamese insurgency during that initial period of  French colonial rule in what became French Indo-China.

"The oil spot approach is the concentration of counter-insurgent forces into an expanding, secured zone. The origins of the expression is to be found in its initial use [?] by Marshal Hubert Lyautey, the main theoretician of French colonial warfare and counter-insurgency "strategy."

THERE DOES SEEM TO BE A DEGREE OF CONFUSION THAT PERSON THE ORIGINAL THEORETICIAN OF THE OIL SPOT STRATEGY.

Rather than Gallieni think Lyautey?

"Lyautey adopted and emulated Gallieni's policy of methodical expansion of pacified areas followed by social and economical development (markets, schools and medical centres) to bring about the end of resistance and the cooperation of former insurgents. This method became known as tache d'huile (literally, 'oil stain'), as it resembles oil spots spreading to cover the whole surface."

Oil spot the strategic conceptualization courtesy Gallieni? As put into practice, "emulated" by Lyautey?

Devoted readers to the blog more conversant with the topic let me hear from you.

coolbert.

S-500.

This is coolbert:

Weaponry. Offensive and defensive.

The Russian wants both and has both?

Unstoppable and unbeatable? That is the question?

From CNBC and the article by Amanda Macias:

"Russia quietly conducted the world's longest surface-to-air missile test"

SAM! SURFACE-AIR-MISSILE.

"Russia quietly conducted the world's longest surface-to-air missile test, according to sources with direct knowledge of U.S. intelligence concerning the weapons program."

"The S-500 surface-to-air missile system successfully struck a target 299 miles [480 kilometers] away, which the U.S. assessed is 50 miles [80 kilometers] further than any known test"

S-500 ANALOGOUS TO THE AMERICAN THAAD? THEATER SAM DEFENSE.

Hyper-sonic and maneuverable missiles. Nuclear-powered cruise missiles. Tsunami producing autonomous nuclear torpedoes. Etc. NOW long-range surface to air missiles! President Putin wants it all and has it all?

coolbert.

Stew.

This is coolbert:

Who would have thought of such a thing?

Came across this quite by accident.

Budae-jjigae.

Comfort food Korean style with an added American element.

"Budae-jjigae ("army base stew") or sausage stew is a type of jjigae (stew), made with ham, sausage, spam, baked beans, kimchi and gochujang. The dish was created shortly after the armistice that ended the Korean War, using the scrounged or smuggled surplus foods from the U. S. army bases. Although the dish was born in the period of post-war impoverishment, it continued to be popular during the period of rapid growth, and is still popular today. There are many restaurants specializing in budae-jjigae; the most famous ones on the budae-jjigae street in Uijeongbu, where the dish was first made."

A combination of ramen noodles, kimchi, fish and vegetable based broth with added American meats to include spam and frankfurters [hot dogs].

"Budae is a military unit, often a 'troop'. As a troop's camp is also called budae, the word gun budae ('military camp') is often used to refer to military camps in general, and migun budae ('U. S. military camp') to the U.S. military bases. Jjigae , often translated into 'stew', means a soup thicker than guk (soup)."

Meats not even traditionally Korean to include American spam and frankfurters quite thrown away and discarded by American troops, deemed as unwanted or unpalatable!

American soldiers deployed to all parts of the world taking their culture with them to include food.  The local society incorporating into their own diet those aspects of American cuisine found to be favorable.

Et frui cibum!!

coolbert.

Scheme # 1.

This is coolbert:

Invasion USA Canadian style!

A plan, on paper, never to be implemented. This was Defence Scheme No. 1.

"Defence Scheme No. 1 was a plan created by Canadian Director of Military Operations and Intelligence Lieutenant Colonel James 'Buster' Sutherland Brown, for a Canadian counterattack of the United States".

"Defence Scheme No. 1 was created on April 12, 1921, and details a surprise invasion of the northern United States as soon as possible after evidence was received of an American invasion of Canada."

CANADIAN MILITARY FLYING COLUMNS CROSSING THE BORDER SOUTH ON COMBAT MISSION BUT ONLY IN CASE OF WAR BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN!

"The purpose of invading America was to allow time for Canada to prepare its war effort and to receive aid from Britain."

CANADA THE NATION-STATE WE KNOW TODAY NOT WHOLLY AND FULLY 100 % INDEPENDENT UNTIL 1982! DOES THAT SURPRISE ANYONE?

Confrontation between the United States and Great Britain continuing on the world stage at least until the years just before the Great War [WW1]. Most specifically so the Venezuelan Crisis of 1902.

coolbert.

P & B.

This is coolbert:

The state of Maine USA versus the British Empire? Almost.

The Aroostook War.

Only the most vaguest terms possible was I familiar with this incident. Incident as best characterized.

 "The Aroostook War (sometimes called the Pork and Beans War was a military and civilian-involved confrontation in 1838–1839 between the United States [militia of the state of Maine and not federal U.S. troops involved] and the United Kingdom over the international boundary between the British colony of New Brunswick and the U.S. state of Maine. Several British were captured; no one was killed, but two Canadian militia were injured by U.S. Army troops [Maine militia?] prior to the diplomatic compromise . . . The term 'war' was rhetorical; local militia units were called out but never engaged in significant combat. The event is best described as an international incident."

CONSEQUENCES OF THE "WAR" HOWEVER MORE LONG-LASTING AND PROFOUND THAN THE INCIDENT ITSELF!

"Despite the lack of military action the episode had major consequences on the states' right to use military force on their own with the understanding that the main purpose was to address internal conflicts. In the aftermath of the crisis, the Federal government assumed complete control over military matters. The episode was to be the last serious confrontation between the US and the United Kingdom."

NO STATE ALLOWED TO FIGHT A WAR AGAINST A FOREIGN POWER! PERIOD!

See also the "54° 40' or Fight" crisis of 1846. The United States and Great Britain continuing to be at loggerheads.

coolbert.

Failed!

This is coolbert;

Hardly things are what they are reputed to be?

The latest test of the brand-new Russian nuclear-powered cruise missile, undetectable and having unlimited range, is a failure?

As has been reported by various news and media outlets to include CNBC and thanks to same:

"Putin claimed a new nuclear-powered missile had unlimited range — but it flew only 22 miles in its most successful test yet"

OF FOUR TEST FLIGHTS THIS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL/

"Russian President Vladimir Putin bragged that a new nuclear-powered missile had unlimited range, but it has yet to perform a successful test, according to sources with direct knowledge of a U.S. intelligence report on the weapons program."

"The cruise missile was tested four times between November 2017 and February 2018, each resulting in a crash."

"The U.S. assessed that the longest test flight lasted just more than two minutes, with the missile flying 22 miles before losing control and crashing."

NUCLEAR POWER EITHER NOT CRITICAL OR OPERATIONAL FOR THIS FLIGHT TEST? THIS IS NOT CLEAR. I CAN WELL IMAGINE A NUCLEAR-POWERED CRUISE MISSILE  UPON CRASHING WOULD SEND A SPEW OF DEADLY RADIOACTIVITY ALL OVER THE AREA.

Read from the wiki an American B-29 bomber crashing [Travis AFB] with nuke weapon on board, an explosion then occurring with the release of radioactivity..

"Only in 1994 was it revealed that an atomic bomb . . . The Mark 4 nuclear bomb contained a depleted uranium tamper as well as radioactive material inside the electronics making up the arming and firing circuits . . .  A public health assessment found no detectable levels of uranium at the crash site."

coolbert.

Karl.

This is coolbert:

My instantaneous thought when reading of the Syrian Golan-1000 multiple-rocket-launcher was the German World War Two "Karl" siege mortar. Karl having a bore of 24 inches [600 mm] and firing a round of prodigious size.

"'Karl-Gerät' . . . was a World War II German self-propelled siege mortar designed and built by Rheinmetall. Its heaviest munition was a 60 cm (24 in) diameter, 2,170 kg (4,780 lb) shell, and the range for its lightest shell of 1,250 kg (2,760 lb) was just over 10 km (6.2 mi). Each gun had to be accompanied by a crane, a heavy transport trailer, and several modified tanks to carry shells."

See this You Tube video of a Karl as being fired in combat at the Siege of Sevastopol, WW2.

"Seven guns were built, six of which saw combat between 1941 and 1945. It was used in attacking the Soviet fortresses of Brest-Litovsk and Sevastopol, bombarded Polish resistance fighters in Warsaw, participated in the Battle of the Bulge, and was used to try to destroy the Ludendorff Bridge during the Battle of Remagen."

Read from the wiki that instance of  "Karl" as was used by the German during the Battle of Warsaw, 1944. Damage as done perhaps quite similar to the destructiveness of Golan-1000? A whole city block of an urban area reduced to absolute rubble with a single shot. Golan using a thermobaric detonation as opposed to the "Karl" high-explosive but the result more or less the same.

coolbert.

Fallout.

This is coolbert:

"During a time of peace prepare for war" - - Cicero.

Consider this item from the Internet site of the English Guardian and the article by Jon Henley.

"Sweden distributes 'be prepared for war' leaflet to all 4.8m homes"

"Defence pamphlet shows how population can prepare in event of attack and contribute to country’s ‘total defence’"

"The new pamphlet prepares the population for cyber and terror attacks and climate change, and includes a page on identifying fake news."

"The Swedish government has begun sending all 4.8m of the country’s households a public information leaflet telling the population, for the first time in more than half a century, what to do in the event of a war."

Consider also this particular image from the Guardian article. Click on image to see an enlarged view. Measures as can be taken to protect yourself from nuclear radiation and fallout as the result of atomic weapon use. Protection as taken ameliorating to a degree the danger from radioactivity. A little amount of preparation and knowledge can go a long way?

See prior blog entry with links to additional posts the subject of which was Swedish preparation for a Third World War. Shapes of things to come? You the devoted reader of the blog have to decide.

coolbert.

Huns.

This is coolbert:

One more from the book: "THE FALL of the ROMAN EMPIRE" by Arthur Ferrill.

1. With regard to the Roman general Aetius:

"Aetius saved the Western Roman Empire from the Huns, the scourge of God, and he stood out as a popular, active champion of Roman civilization at a time when the dynasty of Theodosius seemed lethargic, incompetent and degenerate. Possibly the great general did not deserve the high repute he achieved . . . but in the tragic drama of Rome's fall, history assigned him one of the leading, heroic roles."

2. And with regard to Chalons:

". . . the battle of Chalons was genuinely one of the great decisive battles in western history . . . it is true that the victory did not save the Roman Empire and that the Empire of the Huns might have collapsed on Attila's death anyway . . . Yet, as a a conflict between Christians and heathen, as an engagement that seemed to confirm Christian power in western Europe, indeed as a formidable, real blow to the power of the Huns in their relations with Rome, it was one of the world's most important battles."

See also the wiki entry as pertains to Chalons, the importance of the battle or the lack thereof, depending on perspective.

coolbert.

Horses.

This is coolbert:

"Not e'en the Centaurs - - offspring of the Cloud
Were horsed more firmly than this savage crowd.
Brisk, lithe, in loose array they first come on,
Fly, turn, attack the foe who deems them gone."
-  Marcellinus

My impression of the Huns [and all the images I can find seem to suggest this is so] is that of the steppe nomad light cavalry warrior, wreaking havoc from the back of a horse. Light cavalry eschewing any body armor, using primarily the horse-bow as a weapon while also being able to close with the adversary using lance and short sword, but always fighting from horse back.

THIS IS NOT SO?

From the book: "THE FALL of the ROMAN EMPIRE" by Arthur Ferrill.

". . . nomadic horse nations require enormous stretches of suitable territory for the support of their horses. To get the speed, mobility and range necessary for effective raiding, nomads needed many remounts for every cavalryman . . . If one assumes that the Huns used ten horses per cavalryman for large-scale horse campaigns and that the Great Hungarian Plain (with some 42,400 square kilometers of pasture) could have supported only about 150,000 grazing horse, then there were enough for approximated 15,000 cavalry."

"'when the Huns first appeared on the steppe north of the Black Sea, they were nomads and most of them may have been mounted warriors. In Europe, however, they could graze only a fraction of their former horse-power, and the chiefs soon fielded armies which resembled the sedentary forces of Rome.'"

Is is reputed the Mongol Horde on the advance more than anything else resembled a moving menagerie or stockyard. Four to five remounts [?] per warrior, sheep, camel and oxen pulling the platform mounted yurts of the most senior commanders.

At Chalons for instance, the Hun fielded an army mostly of men-a-foot and not cavalry? This is so? Devoted readers who know about this can comment?

coolbert.

Fortitude.

This is coolbert:

"Every Colonel,
Adjutant or Captain
knows well that no doctors,
learned-men or other God-fearing
people come to him,
but a mob of bad boys from
all sorts
of nations and strange people who
have left wife and
babe, food and everything to
follow the war." - - Adam Junghaus.

From several sources to include: "The THIRTY YEARS' WAR" by Herbert Langer.

“The most important qualification of a soldier is fortitude under fatigue and privation. Courage is only second; hardship, poverty and want are the best school for a soldier.”
– Napoleon Bonaparte.

As was noted by Napoleon so was noted before him by Gustavus.

"The Swedish soldiers were regarded as brave fighters  who 'preferred to die chivalrously rather than flee'. The social background of such soldiery qualities was described by Gustavus Adolphus [King of Sweden] in a letter to Maurice of Orange, the outstanding Dutch commander. He wrote that he had not hired his soldiers for money nor had recruited them in taverns with handsome promises. On the contrary, they [soldiers as recruited] were raised from the peasantry, accustomed to hard work and toil. They could withstand cold and heat, hunger and guard-duty without difficulty. Unaccustomed to luxuries, the soldiers of the army were satisfied with less and became used to obeying their commanders."

"You must help God and Fatherland,
For protection and honour,
And often duck, hump your load and crawl,
Often sleep but little, lie uncomfortably,
Often hunger, thirst, sweat and shiver,
And everywhere to be ready
for your fate or  fortune."

A FATE OR FORTUNE OFTEN QUITE GRIM!!

AND BE BRAVE!

coolbert.

Su-57 Six.

This is coolbert:

In the nutshell!

From Sputnik and the original article by Tyler Rogoway courtesy The Drive:

"US Analyst Describes Six Most Impressive Aspects of Russia’s Su-57"

"US defense journalist Tyler Rogoway illustrated six points about Russia’s 'misunderstood' Su-57 that people may not know."

Those six points to include: [I hardly think totally inclusive]

* . . . "side-mounted active electronically scanned array X-band radars"

* . . . "advanced 101KS ‘Atoll' infrared search and track sensors"

* . . .  [able to] "fire modulated laser beams at an incoming missile's seeker"

* . . . "well-suited for taking off and landing from rugged airfields"

* . . . "engines . . . capable of 3D thrust vectoring"

​* . . . "internal weapons bay"

Comments:

* Infra-red sensors for detection of enemy warplanes and missiles.

* Laser capable of defeating enemy infra-red guided missiles.

* Internal weapons bay critical for stealth.

Formidable without question in all regards!

coolbert.

Golan-1000.

This is coolbert:

From a variety of sources to include the latest edition of the DEBKAfile news letter we have details of a new Russian [Syrian??] multiple-launch rocket-system [three tubes] firing an artillery rocket round of immense size and destructiveness.

An artillery rocket round the warhead having the destructive power and force of a tactical nuclear weapon!!

1. "Russian heavy Golan-1000 rocket launchers for Assad, Kalibr cruise missiles off shore"

16 May.

With special regard to the Golan-1000:

" . . . Military sources in Moscow also revealed that the Assad regime's 4th Armored Division had received heavy rocket launchers deliberately dubbed Golan-1000, which can deliver 500mm caliber rockets [20 inch] loaded with 500kg [1,000 pound] of high-explosive fragmentation ammunition. They have a range of up to 6km and are capable of knocking over IDF [Israeli Defense Forces]  fortifications on the Golan"

GOLAN-1000 DELIBERATELY NAMED TO SIGNIFY THE INTENDED TARGETS ISRAELI TROOPS CONCENTRATIONS AND FORTIFICATIONS LOCATED PROXIMITY THE GOLAN HEIGHTS.

2. "Syrian Army Roll Out New Secret Golan-1000 Rocket System"

"Built on a T-72 tank chassis, the new rocket system has already been put into service with the Syrian Army's 4th Armored Division and participated in its counter terrorism operations throughout the country."

"Presumably called the Golan-1000 out of reference to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, the new rocket system carries three massive 500 mm [20 inch] rounds, each packed with 500 kg [1,000 pounds] of high-explosive fragmentation ammunition."

MOUNTED ON A SOVIET/RUSSIAN T-72 TANK CHASSIS. THE SHORT-RANGE MLRS REQUIRING PROTECTION FROM COUNTER-FIRE!!

3. "Golan-1000"

"Description: The Golan-1000 is a short-range flamethrower developed by Syria utilizing the T-72 tank chassis fitted with three 500mm [20 inch] rocket launchers to conduct counter-terrorism operations. The massive Golan-1000 rocket carries a 500 kilograms [1,000 pounds] high explosive fragmentation warhead capable of engaging personnel, armored vehicles and enemy fortifications."

That 500 kg. [1,000 pound] warhead primarily if not exclusively so a thermobaric round!

EVEN PERSONNEL HAVING COVER IN HEAVY FORTIFICATIONS AND PROPERLY PROTECTED AGAINST CONVENTIONAL MUNITIONS AT DANGER FROM THE THERMOBARIC DETONATION!

coolbert.

SGM.

This is coolbert:

SGM = Small Glide Munition.

The decision has been made. Small Glide Munition now authorized to be placed into production and carried by the Air Force AC-130 gunship. Capability of the gunship now significantly enhanced. Other projects of a similar nature [glide-munitions] to be discontinued.

From Zero Hedge and thanks to same.

"Special Ops Getting 1000s Of Small Glide Munitions That Pack A Bigger Punch Than Hellfires"

THE LITTLE MISSILE THAT CAN! SON OF HELLFIRE BUT BETTER!

"As global counter terrorism operations show no signs of slowing down, U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) are receiving thousands of light, gliding missiles that are smaller and more powerful than an AGM-114 Hellfire and fired from a Lockheed C-130 Hercules above the modern battlefield."

With regard to SGM:
* Slightly over a meter [yard] long.
* About 2/3 of the weight of the SGM devoted to "bang" stuff.

SGM YES and these NO:
* NO Viper Strike.
* NO G-CLAW.
* NO Griffin.

I might well imagine the AC-130 able to carry prodigious numbers of the SGM. And use in a profligate manner as is needed. It cannot get better.

coolbert.

Krim.

This is coolbert:

Of this man and the Rif War I was only the most vaguely familiar with.

Abd el-Krim. Berber insurrectionist waging war against the Spanish and French colonial powers. An amateur, indeed, the archetype of the insurrectionist leader and commander able to formulate grand strategy, strategy, operational art and tactics, wage a guerrilla war and do so quite successfully.

"The Rif War was an armed conflict fought from 1920 to 1927 between the colonial power Spain (later joined by France) and the Berber tribes of the Rif mountainous region. Led by Abd el-Krim, the Riffians at first inflicted several defeats on the Spanish forces by using guerrilla tactics and captured European weapons."

"Abd el-Krim (1882–83 – February 6, 1963) was a Riffian political and military leader. He and his brother Mhemmed led a large-scale revolt by a coalition of Berber-speaking Rif tribes against French and Spanish colonization of the Rif, an area of northern Morocco. The rebels established the short-lived Republic of the Rif. Abd el-Krim's guerrilla tactics influenced Ho Chi Minh, Mao Zedong, and Che Guevara."

Comments:

* Nothing in the early background of Abd el-Krim seems to have prepared him for the role of insurgent and guerrilla leader.

* The Rif War Insurgency only suppressed with the use of massive French military intervention, methods and techniques as employed draconian in nature, including the use of poison gas against civilians.

* Strangely enough too, Abd el-Krim when captured sent to comfortable [?] and prolonged exile not executed or even it seems held captive under excessive duress.

If Ho, Mao and Che all agree that Abd el-Krim the insurgent leader to be emulated, we must do so also? I do think so.

coolbert.

Vanuatu.

This is coolbert:

As seen at the outstanding Internet web site Scholar's Stage. I recommend Scholar's Stage highly without qualification or reservation.

Think not merely String of Pearls! Think also Vanuatu?

"Losing Games We Don't Know Are Being Played"

"The Sydney Herald Morning Post has this on their front page"

"China eyes Vanuatu military base in plan with global ramifications"

CHINESE NAVAL PORT FACILITY VANUATU, SOUTH PACIFIC, OCEANIA.

"China has approached Vanuatu about building a permanent military presence in the South Pacific in a globally significant move that could see the rising superpower sail warships on Australia’s doorstep."

Geopolitical ramifications of the power projection variety using naval power! And of particular concern to Australia.

Nine-Dash Line/South China Sea/Spratly Islands we can all appreciate. Waters at least to a degree contiguous to the Chinese mainland. String of Pearls we can too appreciate. Energy supply routes and countering what is perceived as also geopolitical concerns vis-a-vis India.

Vanuatu is different however? Chinese naval forces no longer coastal-hugging sailors but with a pelagic [deep water] capability and far from home.

Devoted readers to the blog can comment? Australians! Obey tremble-ing-ly!

coolbert.

BONE.

This is coolbert:

BONE = B-1B bomber. Bad to the BONE!

Close-air gunship ground support? That is the question?

From The Drive and the article by Tyler Rogoway:

"Boeing's Been Granted A Patent For Turning The B-1B Into A Gunship Bristling With Cannons"

"The patent includes various concepts that would allow multiple cannon configurations to be uploaded into the B-1's weapons bays."

"B-1B Lancer 'gunship' may sound like something a kid doodles on his desk during a 4th-grade math class, but Boeing has actually been awarded a patent for just that."

"U.S. Patent 9,963,231 B2 was awarded on May 8th to Boeing. It depicts a number of cannon configurations that can be stowed in a B-1B's weapons bays and extended down outside of those bays for use"

See also this You tube video the concept of a bomber aircraft [medium-range] in use as a close-air support gunship. This was Pave Gat the concept of which was first formulated and proposed as an add-on for the B-57 Canberra. An idea never brought to fruition but apparently never discarded either. Think AC-47, AC-119, AC-130.

Bushmaster gun system with a variety of exploding ammunition available on demand if and when the B-1B ever configured as a ground-assault warplane of formidable capability.

But for now remains a concept and idea and nothing more.

coolbert.

Transplant.

This is coolbert:

War! What is it good for? 

Developments in plastic surgery and transplant techniques?

Read the latest!

"scrotum - - n. - -  The external sac of skin enclosing the testes in most mammals."

"Injured veteran gets first complete penis and scrotum transplant"

"Patient's lower abdomen was completely reconstructed"

"A veteran badly injured by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan is recovering from the first-ever transplant of a penis and scrotum"

"The soldier lost both legs above the knee, his penis and the area around it when the IED — improvised explosive device — blasted him."

Scrotum transplant complete to include a new penis. Testicles not transplanted [undoubtedly a prosthesis will be provided for cosmetic purposes] as an unwanted issue with parenting might occur. Procedure evidently successful in entirety, doctors optimistic.

A first ever and done in a response to war injury of a very severe nature.

See this Internet web site [courtesy of the BBC] as devoted to war wounds and the plastic surgical techniques as applied to same. Very amazing stuff! Surgeons able to perform procedures almost miraculous in nature.

coolbet.

Al Kiswa.

This is coolbert:

From the latest edition of the DEBKAfile news letter and update on the Iranian response to the most recent Israeli air strike.

Iran apparently undeterred and continuous to be determined. And all this in the aftermath too of the American withdrawal from the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal. Tensions unprecedentedly high! And should be recognized as so.

"Constant flow of Iranian missiles replenishes arms destroyed by Israel, including new Fateh 313"

10 May.

"Tehran is keeping new missile supplies landing at Syrian airfields, undeterred by the Israel's air strikes that destroy incoming supplies, including the large-scale IDF bombing raids which destroyed units, missile stores and command centers in Syria. early Thursday, May 10 in the Damascus region. A long confrontation lies ahead since Tehran is determined to keep going with its plans, while the IDF is equally resolved to thwart Iran's effort to establish a base in Syria as a platform for aggression. In the air strike on Al Kiswa Tuesday night [8 May] - directly after President Trump announced US withdrawal from the nuclear deal - Israel hit the Iranian command center for southern Syria headed by Maj. Gen. Hossein Hamadani, destroyed a consignment of Fateh 313 missiles, indicating that Iran is upgrading its weaponry in Syria, and killed 8 Revolutionary Guards officers and men as well as Hizballah members."

I am somewhat confused here. I thought there was only one Israeli air strike, 8 May. There was an additional air strike 10 May also? I am confused.

Iran rated # 1 as a threat to the United States by the late David Hackworth. Due to ideological hatred.

P.S. Apparently there were two independent Israeli air strikes. May 8 and May 10 both. The latter in response to Iranian Fajr-5 rocket artillery being fired at the Golan Heights.

coolbert.

Twin.

This is coolbert:

I have always thought this warplane to be and oddity and curiosity of which there was no real usefulness. But I am wrong! An expedient design [?] but nonetheless successful to a degree.

The P-82, later F-82 Twin Mustang. Long-range escort fighter and air defense interceptor.

A warplane as described by an acknowledged aviation authority:

"Long range fighter to be used with B-29s on missions where the single cockpit Mustang didn't have the range. Didn't arrive before the end of WWII and Iwo Jima negated the need for a super long range fighter--numerous P-51 squadrons were now based there to escort the B-29 Tokyo raids."

"Extra pilot to give the other some rest.  Later plans included long range escort for B-50 and B-36 nuclear operations. Shot down the first enemy aircraft (3) in one mission over Korea.  (Lagg-9, Lagg-11, unknown)"

"Betty Jo" as on display at the National United States Air Force Museum, Dayton, Ohio, USA. Established distance and speed records for a propeller-drive aircraft that still stand!

Yes, two P-51 Mustang joined. Two engines, two pilots, two tails, one and one-half wing per plane. A heavy-fighter warplane concept similar to the American P-38 [P-38 having only pilot]. Allowed for long-range bomber fighter escort all the way to the target and back again. Also useful as an interceptor in the traditional mode in areas of the world where airfields few and far in between [such as Alaska].

Method of attack [similar if not downright identical to the American P-38] once again as described by acknowledged aviation authority:

"Start the attack from above, at high speed, dive through the enemy formation firing that concentrated cone of fire from guns and auto cannons, and keep going, zooming up to altitude to sit on the perch and contemplate the error of your last attack. From the perch, like a patient hawk, you were supposed to choose your fights, not just flip on down to turn and burn with the others.  That is not what your plane was designed to do."

The F-82/P-82 performing yeoman service in those immediate years after World War Two, and the only warplane able to escort Strategic Air Command bombers to the target and back again.

And thank you acknowledged aviation authority! You input and insight appreciated.

coolbert.

Har-Magedon.

This is coolbert:

Strike and counter-strike. Israel versus Iran. See previous post items as are now seen to be most germane. What has occurred evidently well anticipated.

The Syrian Civil War if not already having become so has now escalated into a regional conflict. With all that means now and all it may mean in the future.

All items courtesy the Sheldon Adelson Internet web site Israel Hayom.

1. "If it rains in Israel it will pour in Iran, defense minister warns"

"I hope we finished this chapter," Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman says hours after Israel bombs Iranian targets in Syria in response to Iranian rocket barrage • White House: Israel "absolutely has a sovereign right to defend itself and we support it."

2. "After Quds Force missile attack, Israel pounds Iranian targets in Syria"

"In 'one of the air force's largest operations in recent decades,"'over 50 Iranian targets in Syria destroyed after Iran fires 20 missiles at IDF bases"

Apparently [??] this rocket artillery as fired on Israeli military [not civilian] targets in the Israeli occupied Golan Heights. Details unknown.

More to follow as available. Armageddon is upon us? I hope not!

coolbert.

F & M.

This is coolbert:

From the book "WAR on the EASTERN FRONT" by James Lucas.

As describing a display of military tactics and as witnessed by Hitler prior to World War Two.

"The few professional officers who did join the SS brought with them new ideas of tactics which had been considered revolutionary by the Army commanders. One of the most successful innovators was Felix Streiner who abolished barrack square drill and replaced it with training using live ammunition. His regiment Deustschland astounding Hitler in the spring of 1939 with the new tactics which he had designed were demonstrated. Hitler, who had been searching the ground with his binoculars, asked when the attack was about to begin, only to be told by Steiner that it had been in progress for twenty minutes. Then there appeared within storming range of the objective small groups of assault troops moving rapidly and easily forward, almost undetected, not pausing or allowing themselves to be pinned down by fire. This demonstration group of Deutschland Standarte had been advanced a distance of three kilometers in less than twenty minutes, but had still arrived at the objective so fresh that they could fight a close quarter battle using hand grenades, demolition charges and machine pistols in place of rifles."

"The German Infantry Squad in Action - A Demonstration of minor field Tactics"

Tactics now referred to as fire and movement. Not so innovative or novel as was understood by Steiner or other professional officers of the period. Was thought to be too complex to be taught to and mastered by novice soldiers and also delegated too much responsibility to non-commissioned officers at the rank of sergeant and corporal. But that video indicative of what Hitler saw?

coolbert.

Ritual.

This is coolbert:

Warning: If full frontal nudity what it is called offends you hit escape now! You have been warned!

We do not have to imagine how prehistoric warfare might have been fought. We can see for ourselves how prehistoric warfare was fought and even to this very day is fought now. Not so much warfare as a modern would understand the term but rather ritual combat.

The highlanders of New Guinea a battle as having been filmed [circa 1961 and edited as presented] and made available for your perusal.

Read further thanks to You tube remarks about the film:

"'Dead Birds'. Robert Gardner, 1964 . . . Dead Birds is a film about the Dani, a people dwelling in the Grand Valley of the Baliem high in the mountains of West Papua. When I [Robert] shot the film in 1961, the Dani had a classic Neolithic culture. They were exceptional in the way they dedicated themselves to an elaborate system of ritual warfare. Neighboring groups, separated by uncultivated strips of no man’s land, engaged in frequent battles. When a warrior was killed in battle or died from a wound and even when a woman or a child lost their life in an enemy raid, the victors celebrated and the victims mourned. Because each death needed to be avenged, the balance was continually adjusted by taking life. There was no thought of wars ever ending, unless it rained or became dark. Wars were the best way they knew to keep a terrible harmony in a life that would be, without them, much drearier and unimaginable."

Warfare of this type occurring normally as a result of: 1. Inter-tribal blood feud. 2. Bride-snatching. 3. Inter-tribal raids.

Lots of foot-stomping, making faces, ribald and obscene jokes, taunts, insults. Combatants not closing on the adversary, exchanging arrows at a prodigious rate.

THE GOAL MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IS TO SAVE FACE, REVENGE SOME INSULT, SHOW YOUR MANLINESS AND GRIT, ATTAIN HONOR WITH A WOUND! NOT TO OBLITERATE YOUR OPPONENT, KILL AND DESTROY IN A GRATUITOUS MANNER!

Men as wearing a penis sheath from what I can discern the length of the sheath designating some sort of rank. The higher your rank the longer your penis sheath.

Go watch it all.

coolbert.

Kidnap.

This is coolbert:

Also from the latest edition of the DEBKAfile news letter and as described a conclusion to an item that was previously the subject of a prior blog entry.

"Soleimeni received $50m cut of large Qatar payout to release hostages"

29 April

"Qatar paid at least $275m to terrorist and Iranian officials to free nine members of its royal family and 16 other citizens kidnapped during a hunting trip in southern Iraq, the Washington Post reports. The individuals who cashed in on an additional app. $150m of the Qatar payout were named as Iran's Al Qods chief Gen. Qassem Soleimani - $50m; Hizballah-Iraq chief Abu Hussain - $25m, an Iranian official called 'Banhai' - $20m and a Sulaymaniyah provincial government official - $50m."

See also other previous blog entries as germane to the topic:

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2017/04/ransom.html

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

coolbert.

Preparations!

This is coolbert:

From the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter.

Everyone is now making ready and in a big way?

Confrontation and mortal combat between Israeli military forces and those various foreign interventionists in the Syrian Civil War is at hand. So it can be reasonably inferred?

All extracts here dated 30 April.

1. 'Unusually heavy Israeli military traffic heads north"

"since Monday midday, columns of IDF tank-hauling trucks were seen heading north along the national Highway 6."

2. "Two Israeli opposition parties withdraw no confidence due to security situation"

"Two leading opposition parties, Yesh Atid (Future) and the Zionist Union (former Labor), decided to withdraw the motions of no confidence in the government they were due to table Monday, in consideration of the security situation."

3. "Northern Israeli air space closed to civilian traffic"

"Israel has just announced that the skies over the Golan, Upper Galilee and areas east of the Jordanian River will be closed to civilian traffic up until the end of May."

4. "The Knesset empowers PM and Defense Minister to declare war"

"A law empowering the security cabinet to authorize a war or order a substantial military operation without recourse to the full cabinet passed its second and third reading in the Knesset Monday night. The text contained a clause that vests in the prime minister and defense minister the authority to commit the country to fighting a war or conducting a major military operation without prior approval by the full cabinet or the security panel."

5. "Israel's security cabinet in urgent session"

"Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has called ministers to attend an urgent meeting of the security cabinet on Monday [30 April] at 1.30 p.m. in Tel Aviv. The session was convened in the wake of the string attacks Sunday night on pro-Iranian targets in Syria. A visit by cabinet members at the homeland security command scheduled for Tuesday has been cancelled."

All the precursors and specific indicators are present. Some big-time military action on the part of Israel is going to occur?

Stay-tuned and hold on to your hats!

coolbert.

CF.

 This is coolbert:

I am very confused about all this. Devoted readers to the blog can offer assistance?

Counterfactual history versus alternative history. And what is the difference?

"Counterfactual history, also sometimes referred to as virtual history, is a form of historiography that attempts to answer 'what if' questions known as counterfactuals . . . 'It is, at the very root, the idea of conjecturing on what did not happen, or what might have happened, in order to understand what did happen.'"

COUNTERFACTUAL NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH ALTERNATIVE HISTORY SO WE ARE TOLD!

1. "On Counterfactual History"


2. "What if the Crossing had Failed?"

Items # 1 and # 2 as seen above courtesy of Professor van Creveld.

My understanding of this topic basically as follows:

A. Alternative history an account of what COULD have happened, but never did!

B. Counterfactual history an account of what DID happen but might have occurred otherwise.

"What did not happen . . . what might have happened . . . what did happen."

Again, I am confused here and need input as to my error, correctness or just plain confusion. 

coolbert.

Comments.

This is coolbet:

My fully sincere and profuse apologies to devoted readers and those also just "passing by", perusing the blog in a more leisurely manner.

It seems I have not moderated comments in a prolonged period and am remiss in this matter.

The situation has now been remedied and will not [hopefully so] occur in the future.

Again, my fully sincere and profuse apologies to one and all.

Comments of whatever nature greatly appreciated, and always of interest. Thank you in advance in all cases.

coolbert.

Kaput.

This is coolbert:

So much of this recently. German military unpreparedness in the extreme so it seems. Disastrously so even!

"Only 4 of Germany’s 128 Eurofighter Typhoon jets ‘ready for combat’ – report"

"Just four out of 128 Eurofighter jets operated by the German Air Force are ready to fly real combat missions due to dysfunctional self-defense systems and lack of air-to-air missiles, Spiegel magazine has revealed."

"Spiegel’s Wednesday report said the problem with a critical device installed in the tips of the jet’s canard delta wings makes most of German Eurofighters unfit for service."

Defensive Aids Sub-System (DASS) is to blame. To properly under DASS read the whole article.

These Fifth Generation MRCA [multi-role combat-aircraft] expensive to begin with. Hard also to maintain. One little glitch and you are down or at least amber.

German military preparedness woefully inadequate. The welfare states takes precedent. Guns and butter and all that. Not enough money for the former if more needed for the latter.

The ability of the German to execute combat role as pursuant to NATO mission highly suspect? See previous blog entries as germane:

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2017/12/leopard.html

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2018/02/readiness.html

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2018/03/broomsticks.html

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2018/03/u-31.html

coolbert.

Reverse.

This is coolbert:

Only until several days ago this aspect of the Second World War [WW2] of which I was almost 100 % totally unaware.

That policy of "Lend-Lease" as it was during WW2 I think most everyone is familiar with.

"The lend-lease policy . . . was a program by which the United States supplied Free France, the United Kingdom, the Republic of China, and later the Soviet Union and other Allied nations with food, oil, and materiel between 1941 and August 1945".

Almost ninety percent of all oil/refined petroleum product as used by the allied forces [minus the Soviet Union] during the Second World War supplied by the United States!

Products and material as from allied nations supplied to the United States during WW2 we are less familiar with or perhaps not even at all?

Reverse Lend-Lease what it is called!

"How Much Help Do We Get Via Reverse Lend-Lease?"

WE as the United States!

"Many people think that lend-lease is a one-way affair, operating just for the benefit of our allies. In August 1943, when we had been in the war twenty-one months, the Office of War Information conducted an extensive survey and found out that more than four out of five people had not heard of reverse lend-lease."

Read further from the wiki entry regarding Reverse Lend-Lease.

Merely one instance of reverse lend-lease was the British Beaufighter [night-fighter version] and as flown by Army Air Force pilots [USA].

A Beaufighter. Image courtesy of the National United States Air Force Museum, Dayton, Ohio, USA. Click on image to see an enlarged view.

"When the USAAF formed its first radar-equipped night fighter squadron in January 1943, the only American night fighter available was the makeshift Douglas P-70, a modified A-20 bomber using the U.S. version of the Mk IV radar. After initial training in the P-70, the first USAAF night fighter squadrons went to war in the more capable British Beaufighter."

"The 414th, 415th, 416th and 417th Night Fighter Squadrons [USAAF] received more than 100 'reverse Lend-Lease' Beaufighters. They arrived in the Mediterranean during the summer of 1943, achieving the first victory on July 24 . . .  USAAF Beaufighters continued to fly night cover for Allied forces in Italy and France until the closing days of the war."

And thank you all allies. You contributions of whatever sort appreciated and always should be!

coolbert.

Gas WW1.

This is coolbert:

"it is sweet and honorable..."

From a recent visit to the National World War One Museum and Memorial a blog entry dedicated to a special exhibit highlighting the use of poison gas during the Great War [WW1]. Of great interest the famous painting on display "Gassed" by John Singer Sargent. Click on all images to see an enlarged view.

Without further ado or commentary:

"Gassed by John Singer Sargent is currently not on display at IWM [Imperial War Museum] London. It is on tour to various institutions in North America and will return to IWM North in late 2018. image: A side on view of a line of soldiers being led along a duckboard by a medical orderly. Their eyes are bandaged as a result of exposure to gas and each man holds on to the shoulder of the man in front. One of the line has his leg raised in an exaggerated posture as though walking up a step, and another veers out of the line with his back to the viewer. There is another line of temporarily blinded soldiers in the background, one soldier leaning over vomiting onto the ground. More gas-affected men lie in the foreground, one of them drinking from a water-bottle. The crowd of wounded soldiers continues on the far side of the duckboard, and the tent ropes of a dressing station are visible in the right of the composition. A football match is being played in the background, lit by the evening sun." - - The Imperial War Museum.

Original battlefield sketch art.

Original battlefield sketch art. 

English soldier from the period as in in proper uniform and masked, protection from poison gas. Face mask with filter in musset sack worn over chest, complete with connection hose. Forgive the quality of the image. Hard to take a suitable image, lighting and display in case make for a hard combination, photography difficult.

Poster from the era of the Second World War.

Poster from the era of the Second World War.

Poster from the era of the Second World War.

Additionally and included at my discretion thanks to the tip from Mann JESUS on the cross wearing gas mask. Very intense. This was not part and parcel of the special museum exhibit but should have been.

I recommend highly without qualification or reservation a visit to the National World War One Museum and Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri, USA. Superb, exceptional in all regards and plan to dedicate a full day for an in-depth and meaningful visit.

coolbert.