Romeo.

This is coolbert:

Consider this a military curiosity and oddity? A heavily modified Soviet era Romeo class submarine the mission of which not made entirely clear. At least to myself. I think I understand but am not sure.

Thanks to the Internet web site English/Russian. As is normal click on all images to see an enlarged view.

"RUSSIAN TWO-BARREL SUBMARINE"

"A Russian submarine with two torpedo tubes, with two HUGE torpedo tubes, was produced in the 1950s by Russian Navy engineers. A truly weird creation of Soviet engineering thought – partly beautiful, partly awkward and in many senses unique. It could carry nuclear loads, too."

Heavily modified Soviet era submarine Project 633 Romeo class RV.

Another perspective of the heavily modified Soviet era submarine Project 633 Romeo class RV. Look at the size of those torpedo tubes!!

"This submarine carried special underwater rockets, 'Vodopad' – 'waterfall'. It was 533 mm caliber and could carry a nuclear load."

Current mission of the Project 633 Romeo class submarine RV as an ELECTRIC CHARGING STATION? That apparently is a modern Russian Kilo class diesel/electric boat moored alongside the Romeo sub. Recharging batteries of the Kilo. That is what this is?

Regarding the modified section of the Romeo 633 RV class submarine:

"Project 633RV – 2 units: S-11 in 30.05.1978- and  S-49 in 09.1970-1972 For trials a anti-submarine missile complex «Veter» and «Vodopad»"

Romeo class RV submarine as modified used for testing of anti-ship, anti-submarine missiles. Missiles as can be launched from a torpedo tube of either a submarine [submerged or surfaced] or a conventional surface warship. There you have it.

coolbert.

Beluga.

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All courtesy here Associated Press.

Literally overnight this has become an international news story!!

Dog's of war? No beluga whale of war? Russian style?

"Beluga whale with Russian harness raises alarm in Norway"

Captured! Dangerous enemy foe heavily armed with a Go-Pro type "action" camera?

"A beluga whale seen as it swims next to a fishing boat before Norwegian fishermen removed the tight harness, swimming off the northern Norwegian coast Friday, April 26, 2019. The harness strap which features a mount for an action camera, says 'Equipment St. Petersburg' which has prompted speculation that the animal may have escaped from a Russian military facility."

Trained beluga whale with a military mission. Photographic intelligence mission using the GO-PRO type "action" camera or what?

Pilot whales by reputation make the best of the oceanic mammals as can be trained for a military mission? Beluga proficient too? Hi IQ, trainable and all that. Respond well to commands and answers when called? Also it is rumored the oceanic mammals to a degree have a mind of their own and when given the chance will go free and "escape" from their military handlers.

coolbert.

Coffin.

This is coolbert:

Once more from the Internet web site English/Russian we have a story with a military dimension.

Place this entry in the strange but true category? I had to read this article several times and think about for a while before I fully understood.

Additionally, I highly recommend without qualification or reservation the English/Russian web site. Lots of military related entries, seems to be done in a manner similar to the various English tabloids. Expect in the future more blog entries, extracts with commentary from English/Russian.

"SUSPENDED COFFINS FOR LANDING FORCES"

Aerial descent forces how the Soviet/Russian refers to their paratrooper units.

Container [similar in size and shape to a coffin as would contain a deceased human for burial] carrying a paratrooper and dropped from a long-range bomber aircraft as would a conventional bomb.

"A soldier lay in the box with a chute under his head . . . at the required height the pilot activated the landing of personnel with a handle. The 'coffins' opened and soldiers fell out together with their parachutes."

Parachutist in a "coffin". A pod that breaks open as the pod/paratrooper is dropped out of the aircraft.

Pod is dropped out of the bomb-bay door of the long-range aircraft. Pod breaks open and parachutist descends to the ground in a normal fashion. I am not sure if this is a static-line drop or a free-fall drop. In the latter the paratrooper must pull the rip-cord to "open" the parachute.

An "invention" and concept as never coming to fruition, but at least worthy of consideration. At least to my knowledge the Soviets until the arrival of American C-47 Dakota transport warplanes via Lend Lease did not have an adequate and reliable number of aircraft to allow for mass paratrooper landings at distance.

P.S. C-47 licensed in the Soviet Union as the Li-2. Considerable numbers built and used during the war.

coolbert.

Telefon.

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Smart phone malware, Russian style.

Thanks to the Internet web site English/Russian.

"WHAT RUSSIAN ARMY DOES WITH SOLDIERS MOBILE PHONES [PHOTOS]"

"In the Russian army soldiers are not allowed to carry mobile phones or smart phones. They can only use them during their free time, because they are considered to be working with secrets. However not every soldier hands in his phone to the commanders, and this is what happens with such phones if they are found."

Russians always noted for their draconian measures with regard to security. These smart phones confiscated from soldiers while on duty and spiked. Displayed as a warning to other military personnel. Do not carry such a smart phone while on duty!! You have been warned. Click on image to see an enlarged view.

See previous blog entries [with additional embedded links] as applicable to the topic:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/03/track.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/01/kelly.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2018/09/media.html

coolbert.

Krasmach 2.

This is coolbert:

Vlad rest assured. All is well. More hot red high priority traffic. Missiles OK.

See previous blog entry. Sarmat and Sineva the production of which is not impaired.

Refrigerators gone YES, missiles NO! At least according to Russian Times [RT].

"Massive fire engulfs fridge factory at ballistic missile plant in Siberia (VIDEO)"

"Plumes of thick black smoke rose hundreds of meters into the air as a huge fire broke out at the Krasnoyarsk plant, which makes Sarmat and Sineva ballistic missiles for the Russian military. Despite the apocalyptic pictures from the site, the Krasmash administration made assurances that the blaze was no threat to missile production facilities."

"The fire occurred at a refrigerator-making factory, which is also located on the premises. A roof of a warehouse that stores ice-boxes, before they are shipped to customers, collapsed. There were reportedly 5,000 refrigerators inside."

Vlad happy. The General Staff happy. The Russian housewife not.happy. такова жизнь!

coolbert.

Krasmash.

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Hot red priority message traffic. From Krasmash to Vlad. Disaster.

As seen today thanks to the Russian media outlet Sputnik and thanks to same:

"Krasnoyarsk Engineering WorksPlant Producing Sarmat Missiles Catches Fire in Russia (VIDEO, PHOTO)"

"KRASNOYARSK (Sputnik) - The roof of Krasnoyarsk’s Machine-Building Plant (Krasmash), where Russia’s Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles and Sineva ballistic missiles are produced, caught fire on Friday, the local department of the Russian Emergencies Ministry said."

Consider this to be a major event? Damage if significant going to set back Russian military plans for some time?

Sarmat [NATO code name Satan-2] an intercontinental-ballistic-missile carrying multiple thermonuclear warheads of prodigious size. One such missile all three warheads detonating more or less simultaneously all of the USA state of Texas wiped out!

Sineva a liquid-fueled submarine-launched intercontinental-ballistic missile as is found on the Delta class of Russian submarine. A mainstay as it is called and now questionable if more can be produced?

Back in the days of the old Soviet Union such a fire and disaster would have been classified TOP SECRET at a minimum and never disclosed to the general public under ANY circumstances. But times have changed!

coolbert.

Number # 1.

This is coolbert:

Hypersonic again! Seems all the rage.

Within context of a prior blog entry consider this item from the British tabloid the Sun the original article by Jon Lockett.

"NUKE KID ON THE BLOCK Leaked pics of China’s ‘secret 11,509mph HYPERSONIC rocket’ capable of beating US missile defences"

"Images of the top secret Jia Geng No 1 rocket have emerged on Chinese media and will rock Donald Trump's  defence chiefs at the Pentagon"

UNSTOPPABLE AND UNBEATABLE. FAR AHEAD OF EVERYONE ELSE! ETC.

TOP SECRET and all that even though the missile images of which made available to the whole world.

"Hypersonic aircraft are a fraud and all aerospace engineers know this." - - G2mil.

Hypersonic missiles too??

Comments as usual invited. Aerospace engineers let me hear from you.

coolbert.

Blackout.

This is coolbert:

At least to my knowledge nothing like this has occurred in over fifty years. "In time of peace, prepare for war."

American military "testing" the USA populace as a means of evaluating civilian response to a stressful and wartime situation.

UNANNOUNCED POWER-OUTAGE SIMULATING A CYBER-ATTACK BY A FOREIGN POWER HOSTILE TO THE UNITED STATES. POWER GRID INTERFERED WITH. VITAL ENERGY NOT FLOWING.

Thanks to the Charlotte Observer and the article by MARK PRICE.

"Fort Bragg cut power for thousands to test ‘real-world reactions’ to a cyber-attack"

"Fort Bragg in North Carolina says the Army base had a 'blackout' for more than 12 hours overnight Wednesday as part of a cyber-attack military exercise that came as a complete surprise to its tens of thousands of residents."

 Unanticipated and unannounced.

From over fifty years ago see this You Tube video the Sonic Boom Tests [Bongo]. American warplanes repeatedly making supersonic passes over Oklahoma City USA, the citizenry and structures evaluated with regard to response to sonic booms and damage as caused by same. Believe me, these sonic booms quite loud and startling.

NOT ONLY Oklahoma City, USA. Chicago Illinois, USA also subjected to repeated sonic booms from high-flying B-58 Hustler Strategic Air Command bombers flying out of Bunker Hill AFB. I remember these night-time sonic booms well, as if it were yesterday. Reaction of the public deemed inappropriate. Persons running out-of-doors to determine the source of the house-rattling "boom". During a time of global thermonuclear war such a sonic boom might precede the detonation of an atomic weapon. So was the thought.

coolbert.

D. J. Trump.

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"Mexico’s Soldiers recently pulled guns on our National Guard Soldiers, probably as a diversionary tactic for drug smugglers on the Border. Better not happen again! We are now sending ARMED SOLDIERS to the Border." - - Donald J. Trump.

From the National Interest Internet web site and the article by Jon Dougherty. And is germane with regard to a previous blog entry from just a few days ago.

"Escalation: Trump to send ARMED U.S. troops to border after incident with Mexican soldiers"

"Following an incident involving a pair of lightly armed U.S. soldiers and a squad of more heavily-armed Mexican troops in Texas earlier this month, POTUS Donald Trump announced Wednesday that in the future, American soldiers will also carry additional arms."

Apparently the President of the USA does not have his facts right. According to what I read:

* These were active-duty regular army troops and not National Guard.

* The Mexican troops crossed over the border into American territory.

* The American troops were armed. Were detained, frisked, had their weapons taken away.

Armed troops, as with armed Border Patrol agents, do have a right to defend themselves. In the case of tha latter, some attacked on a daily basis in a manner of ways. A tense situation on the border is going to become much worse? You the devoted reader to the blog have to decide for yourself.

coolbert.

Depository.

This is coolbert:

Never knew such a thing even existed. USMA [United States Military Academy] West Point gold depository.

"A rare look inside the West Point Mint's massive gold vaults and coin operations"

"About an hour and a half's drive north from New York City lies a treasure -- the gold kind. But it's not one that you can go and find. In fact, you can't get anywhere near it. Because this treasure belongs to the United States Treasury. Nearly a quarter of the U.S. government's gold sits beneath a windowless building on the campus at West Point . . . approximately 54 million ounces here that we store, which is about 22% of the nation's gold"

That bulk of the USA gold supply stored at the depository, Ft. Knox, Kentucky. In the case of war or national emergency military troops to include the cadet corps USMA guarding the national treasury precious metal a valuable commodity and resource?

That depository too a mint. New quarters [?] as issued having the "W" mark signifying West Point. George Washington himself having chosen the location for West Point I am sure would be immensely proud.

coolbert.

Roar.

This is coolbert:

As is germane to a prior blog entry and thanks in this case to the Internet web site Strategy Page.

"Weapons: Roar And The Thunder Cannon"

The futuristic weapon is NOW! Non-lethal but incapacitating so they say. Allows for quick dispersal of riotous mobs.

"April 15, 2019: Israeli troops have recently been using a non-lethal crowd dispersal system called Roar (“Sha’aga” in Hebrew) to deal with violent demonstrations at the Gaza border fence. The IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) declared Roar a success but would not provide any details on how it worked. Photos and available descriptions of Roar sound like a similar system first developed in Israel in 2010. This non-lethal weapon was called the Thunder Cannon. Light enough to be mounted in a cart, trailer or hummer type vehicle, it used a new Pulse Detonation Technology that combines LPG (liquefied natural gas) with air to create a sonic boom in a cannon type barrel."

I might think the Thunder Cannon is not so totally non-lethal! Will not kill outright but can cause significant short-term and long-term damage?  Injury to the hearing from repeated exposure and possible further damage as a victim ages?

Pregnant women with child in the womb too might suffer miscarriages as a result of exposure to the Thunder Cannon? This I cannot say but anticipate the worst.

coolbert.

SS-26.

This is coolbert:

Well, why?

From Freeper yet one more troubling element in the Middle East.

"What are advanced missiles doing in Syria?"

"New satellite photos published by ImageSat International (ISI) revealed that the Russian military has been deploying ballistic missile systems in Syria, according to the photographs, which are surface-to-surface missile systems capable of reaching 500 kilometers (310 miles). The Russian army has been training the deployment of an Iskander missile system at the Russian Air Force base in Syria, the Russian news agency IRNA reported. The Iskander missiles, or the SS-26 [NATO code name], are ground-to-ground missiles designed for a range of 500 kilometers. These missiles are very effective because of their accuracy and because of their heavy warhead weighing about half a ton."

And again, WHY? Tensions in the area already high. Iskander a game-changer as they say? Israel has to be watching this one closely. Iskander when deployed and fielded and on alert will be manned by RUSSIANS? Watch out everyone.

coolbert.

Illegal.

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1848 deja vu all over again? I hope not.

American soldiers on the American side of the border between USA and Mexico [and there is no doubt it was the American side of the border] detained, frisked, disarmed by armed Mexican troops crossing over into U.S. territory. Go read the whole thing.

"Mexican Soldiers Disarmed U.S. Army Troops At Border"

"Two U.S. Army soldiers sat in an unmarked Chevrolet Tahoe owned by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on the west side of an El Paso County, Texas, Colonia known as Las Pampas."

"It was April 13, and the Army sergeant and private had set up a hasty observation post north of the Rio Grande River, but south of the border fence in U.S. territory."

A simple mistake obviously! But troubling. Tensions already high between the USA and Mexico over illegal border crossings. In almost all cases border crosses moving from south to north. This is not even a border crossing anyhow.

Deja vu 1848 all over again?

Think of the Mexican-American War of 1848. The border at that time disputed. Americans claiming the Rio Grande River as the divide and the Mexican claiming the Neuces River as the divide. Neuces somewhat to the north of the Rio Grande, the land in between disputed and no-mans-land.

American troops having crossed into the disputed territory, land-between-the-rivers and set up camp, even raising the American flag. Such a measure provoking an armed attack by Mexican army troops. The rest history as they say.

Devoted readers to the blog please do not read something into this that does exist. This is not a manufactured incident. Or is it?

coolbert.

Retribution.

This is coolbert:

Some people [and nations too] have long memories. Within the context of the cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris France being devastated by fire there is an indirect military dimension? Strange but true?

"Everything has consequences, heavenly cycles, retribution. This applies to both people and country! I only feel awe for karma, and it has nothing to do with morality."

"Karma - -  means action, work or deed; it also refers to the spiritual principle of cause and effect where intent and actions of an individual (cause) influence the future of that individual (effect)."

"Some Chinese nationalists see justice for Summer Palace razing in Notre Dame fire"

DURING THE SECOND OPIUM WAR OF 1860 FRENCH TROOPS HAVING BURNED THE SUMMER PALACE OF THE CHINESE EMPEROR.

"(CNN) As the world watched in horror at pictures of the Notre Dame burning, some in China saw another story in the flames: that of retribution."

CHINESE SOME OF THEM THEIR PERSPECTIVE THE BURNING OF THE NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL SOME SORT OF HEAVENLY PAY-BACK FOR THE EVENTS OF 1860?

"French and British troops burned the Summer Palace to the ground during the Second Opium War in 1860 and it has since become a key element in the 'Century of Humiliation' narrative taught in Chinese schools."

READ THE WHOLE EPISODE OF INVADING BRITISH AND FRENCH TROOPS DURING THE SECOND OPIUM WAR SACKING AND DESTROYING THE SUMMER PALACE OF THE CHINESE EMPEROR. LOOT AND TREASURE AS SEIZED IMMENSE.

Again, some persons and nations for that matter have long memories. It is often suggested that the Battle of Tannenberg [1914] during World War One retaliation for the defeat of the Teutonic Knights FIVE HUNDRED YEARS EARLIER at the Battle of Grunewald!!

Draw your own conclusions.

coolbert.

Decoy USA.

This is coolbert:

"Little Buddy".

Also never heard of this before either. Has been around for some time.

Combat proven. A towed decoy used to fool radar-guided surface-air-missiles [SAM].

ALE-50. Expendable while performing yeoman duty. 

"The AN/ALE-50 towed decoy system was developed by Raytheon to protect multiple US military aircraft from radar-guided missiles. The AN/ALE-50 towed decoy system is an anti-missile countermeasures decoy system used on multiple U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps aircraft . . . The ALE-50 system consists of a launcher and launch controller installed on the aircraft (usually on a wing pylon), and one or more expendable towed decoys. Each decoy is delivered in a sealed canister and has a ten-year shelf life."

"When deployed, the decoy is towed behind the host aircraft, protecting the aircraft and its crew against RF-guided missiles by luring the missile toward the decoy and away from the intended target."

MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE CONSIDER THAT THE COST OF ONE EXPENDABLE AND NEVER-TO-BE-USED-AGAIN DECOY IS $22,000 USD!

Nobody ever said war was cheap, did they? F-21 if and when taking to the air to be equipped with ALE-50.

coolbert.

F-21.

This is coolbert:

A little bit country, a little bit rock and roll?

Was not even aware such a warplane existed. F-21. A joint venture of American and Indian concerns. A fourth generation multi-role combat-aircraft [MRCA] based on the original design of the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Falcon the original aircraft over forty years old now!

"Meet the 'New' F-21 Fighter: An F-16 On Steroids (With F-22 and F-35 DNA)?"

"Is this the fighter India needs?" Thanks to the article by David Axe from The National Interest.

"Lockheed Martin in mid-February 2019 offered to sell India a new fighter the company calls the 'F-21.'"

"In fact, the F-21 is an F-16 that Lockheed has upgraded with new cockpit displays, conformal fuel tanks, a larger airframe spine that can accommodate additional electronics, fittings for towed radar decoys, a new infrared sensor and a refueling probe that's compatible with India's Russian-made aerial tankers."

FIGHTING FALCON A PROVEN WINNER AND F-21 TO BE EVEN MORE SO. FOURTH GENERATION PLUS!

The Indian Air Force for a period of decades has standardized on Soviet/Russian warplanes with mixed [?] results. MiG-21 for instance having a bad record of CRASHING!

Again, F-21 to be a JOINT venture of American and Indian concerns and probably to the advantage of everyone.

coolbert.

Honor.

This is coolbert:

I make this blog entry with great trepidation.

WARNING! All devoted readers to the blog and those merely perusing in a casual manner.

If you are easily offended by material of an intense, adult, frank, risque' and graphic nature hit escape now.

DO NOT SCROLL FURTHER DOWNWARD!

"We train young men to drop fire on people, but their commanders won't allow them write 'fuck' on the their airplanes because it's obscene!" - - Colonel Kurtz, "Apocalypse Now". As is normally the case click on images accompanying this post to see an enlarged view.

Now for the rest of the story. Thanks to Reddit and the tip from DeeDee.

THE STRANGE TALE OF THE AMERICA F-105D FIGHTER-BOMBER DURING THE ERA OF THE VIETNAM WAR WITH NOSE ART OF A "SUGGESTIVE" NATURE, ALMOST PORNOGRAPHIC BY THE STANDARDS OF THE PERIOD!!

PUSSY GALORE!!

Nose art of the F-105D as seen by the boom operators of a KC-135 during aerial operations in the skies over Vietnam during the Second Indo-China War. Target for the mid-air refueling boom that particular part of the female anatomy.

"The instant Ms. Galore showed up, there were cries of  'SHE’S HERE!' and Vic [Vizcarra] can see crews crowding the boom operator window for a view, with camera flashes going off also."

"One of the most famous, or infamous, depending on your point of view, F-105D was known as Pussy Galore. This aircraft was flown by Captain Victor 'Vic' Vizcarra."

"According to an interesting post appeared on Reddit, the original Pussy Galore I marking was painted in July 1965. The idea came about as an inside joke for the KC-135 tanker crews, especially the boom operators who had trouble putting the boom into the receptacle so Capt. Vizcarra painted Pussy Galore right on the nose so that her umm………'Strategic Part' was right over the receptacle! She was named after the female executive pilot to the evil Goldfinger in the James Bond film of the same name."

. . . .

"The marking itself though, didn’t last that long. It was found out by the new Wing commander three weeks after application. The commander was Robert Scott, a WW II war hero and great pilot. He immediately went apoplectic ape S_____ and ordered Galore removed on the spot! Thus ending the Pussy Galore story."

YOU WERE WARNED, WEREN'T YOU! BUT YOU DO KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY AND ARE SO MUCH THE BETTER OFF FOR IT TOO!

coolbert.

Fraud.

This is coolbert:

From the Internet web site G2mil this item copied and posted in entirety. All thanks to G2mil!

"Hypersonic Aircraft are a Fraud"

"Profiteers are collecting billions of dollars for bogus hypersonic aircraft concepts, i.e. aircraft that fly over Mach 5. Billions were spent on this idea in the 1950s and 1960s until it was proven impractical. The SR-71 with a Mach 3 dash speed was the best ever produced."

"Sustained flight over Mach 3 was proven impossible due to the fuel consumption and skin heating problems. There are no new magical ideas or materials to overcome these limiting factors. Even if these are solved, limited payload fraction makes hypersonic aircraft a loser, as the Russians recently rediscovered while testing Putin's promised super weapon."

"To fly at Mach 5+, an aircraft must be extremely aerodynamic to reduce friction that causes skin heating and greater fuel consumption. But his leaves almost no room for payload. It also requires the aircraft to be much longer, which makes it much heavier. It also needs a much stronger and heavier airframe to withstand extreme forces, and much larger engines to produce the needed thrust. Finally, it needs much more fuel to push this very long and heavy aircraft fast through the air, but the narrow airframe has no room for lots of fuel, or payload. Hypersonic aircraft are a fraud and all aerospace engineers know this."

Extremely! Greater! Longer! Stronger! Heavier! Larger! More! 

Putin and the much ballyhooed hypersonic weapon threat way overdone? This is what we are being told?

"ballyhoo - - noun - - 1. extravagant publicity or fuss."

Aviation authorities out there! Do you confirm or deny or it is middle of the road? Let me hear from you.

coolbert.

Binge.

This is coolbert:

From the  Russian controlled [?] media Sputnik the type of item as favored by the Russian. Make the American military look bad.

"US Military Personnel Heaviest Drinkers By Profession - Study"

"A new study using data from nearly 27,000 professionals across 25 industries has concluded that members of the US armed forces drink most often and most heavily over the course of a year."

"The study, conducted by Delphi Behavioral Health Group using data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), also found that the number of alcohol consumers in the US armed forces has been rising steadily since 2014."

"Employees of the armed forces spent the most days engaging in binge-drinking, the researchers found."

The study was limited in scope due to the low number of armed forces members that reported on their drinking habits. Out of a total of 26,743 people whose responses were surveyed for the study, only 81 were in the armed forces at the time of the survey.

POPULATION FOR THE STUDY NOT INCLUDING A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF MILITARY PERSONNEL TO MAKE REASONABLE STATISTICAL INFERENCES.

coolbert.

Eddie.

This is coolbert:

All courtesy here You Tube and the trip from Freeper!

Eddie Heimberger American naval officer comporting himself with courage during the Battle of Tarawa. Yeoman duty literally his leadership unmistakable.

Eddie Heimberger the actor. Better known as Eddie Albert. Famous for his Hollywood cinematic roles. Eddie one of a number of Hollywood personalities volunteering for duty during the Second World War and seeing combat action. Combat action such as at Tarawa of an almost unparalleled nature.

Even more and to the point some items as discussed in the You Tube video concerning Tarawa.

* Fighting at Tarawa about THIRTY TIMES AS INTENSE as during the Guadalcanal Campaign. My figure based on number of ground force dead for the period of time.

* Guadalcanal campaign: "Marines lost 1,592 men" killed in action. Additionally: "Army divisions lost 550" killed in action. Guadalcanal campaign last six months. Tarawa the battle lasting three days!!

* Comparing Guadalcanal to Tarawa: "The 2nd Marine Division suffered 894 killed in action . . . while an additional 84 of the wounded survivors later succumbed to what proved to be fatal wounds."

* Even beyond the ground force casualties at Tarawa add those killed in action from the sinking of the USS Liscome Bay. Escort carrier torpedoed and blown to bits the result catastrophic casualties.

Recognize also that Eddie Albert only one of many American heroes at Tarawa. "Uncommon valor was a common virtue on Iwo Jima". As it was at Iwo Jima so it was it previously at Tarawa.

coolbert.

Lies.

This is coolbert:

Thanks to the outstanding Internet web site South Front a Russian perspective of the Second World War. Myths as described in the western world dispelled by a Russian scholar.

"Opinion: The New Lies About WWII Which The West Is Making People Believe In"

"After the end of the bloodiest war in the history of humanity, a lot of myths arose and were turned into 'facts' by the West and even some Russian elites."

 Written by Viktor Stoilov exclusively for SouthFront; Edited by Yoana with input from Andrey Fursov.

* "One of the biggest lies according to [academician]. Fursov is that the USSR and Stalin are to blame for the war and arguing with the meaning of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact."

Hitler too timid to attack Poland and start World War Two unless a non-aggression pact first signed with the Soviet Union. Guard the eastern boundaries of Germany while waging war against the allied powers of France and England. Hitler did not want a two-front war.

* "The second big lie according to the academic is that Stalin was preparing to attack but Hitler surprised him and did it first."

This is Icebreaker as proposed by the Soviet defector Suvorov.

* "The 3rd big lie that Fursov points out is that Stalin didn’t know that Hitler was going to attack and he left his army vulnerable to the forces of the Nazi."

Warnings from Stalin's spies and from no less person than Churchill ignored.

*  "4th and extremely important: Who are winners of the war?"

Without a doubt the primary winner of the war was the United States of America. More food than could be eaten. More oil than needed for vehicles. Sole possessor of the atomic bomb. The beginning of the consumer society and general prosperity for all. The only super-power, combining economic, military and political might.

Without a doubt that secondary winner of the war the Soviet Union. Hegemony over Eastern Europe and the movement of communist-controlled governments westward, threatening all of Europe. The Soviet military a proven winner and seen as a real and existential threat to the United States [especially from 1950 onwards].

Myths become facts and facts become myths? Devoted readers to the blog each and everyone can reach their own opinion. Orthodoxy always open to question?

coolbert.

Plan Z.

This is coolbert:

As it was in the days of the Kaiser before the Great War so was it too in the days of Hitler before the Second World War.

The German Navy in strength able to confront and defeat the British Royal Navy in a great climactic sea battle. As was the desire of the Kaiser so was it too the desire of Adolf Hitler.

A plan for naval expansion afoot but ONLY AGREED UPON IN 1938. Plans too that would not have come into fruition not until 1948!!

This was Plan Z as advocated by Admiral Raeder!!

Plan Z the nucleus to consist of ten massive battleships plus four aircraft carriers. Smaller vessels getting short shrift to include submarines. U-boats seen as an adjunct weapon and not as a major component of Plan Z.

"When Hitler rises to power in 1933, he sets about rebuilding his armed forces, focusing on the Navy. Hitler sees the battleship as the ultimate status symbol for his Third Reich, and orders two vessels to be constructed that are bigger, more powerful and more heavily armored than anything else at sea."

Those two vessels [battleships] the Bismarck and Tirpitz. More as the "ultimate" status symbol but a beginning. H-class battleships to follow enormous and dwarfing even the Musashi and Yamato of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Raeder somewhat lagging with regard to naval theory and doctrine as it existed at the time. His concern the massive naval confrontation the battleship to be the main weapon, without however not ignoring the role of the aircraft carrier.

Raeder ignoring an asymmetric approach to countering the Royal Navy? More or less not taking into serious consideration the possibility of naval sea mines, submarines and land-based naval aviation as OFFENSIVE naval weaponry. Cheap, quick and dirty as a means of fighting and defeating the RN. Or at least causing some serious aggravation..

But Raeder wanted big and the rest is history as they say.

coolbert.

2B25 82.

This is coolbert:

This is not in keeping with tradition.

Soviet/Russian mortars of the era World War Two and the Cold War noted as a low-technology weapon, big bore, cast-iron, firing a mortar bomb also cast-iron. Easy and cheap to manufacture.

Require a lot of maintenance when not in use or in the aftermath of use but effective. You can proliferate the battlefield with cheap and dirty mortars of the old Soviet/Russian variety.

BUT NOT ANYMORE!

Thanks to the tip from the outstanding Internet web site isegoria.net the original story courtesy Jane's and the article by Dmitry Fediushko. MoD = MNinistry of Defense.

"Army 2018: Russian MoD receives new 2B25 82 mm silenced mortars"

"The Russian armed forces are receiving the new 2B25 82 mm silenced mortars"

“'The Ministry of Defence [MoD] is acquiring new towed and man-portable mortars for the land troops. In particular, the special forces are slated for receiving several dozen 2B25 silenced mortars,' . . . 'The 2B25’s noise level does not exceed that of a Kalashnikov AKMB assault rifle fitted with the PBS-1 silencer. The mortar produces almost no muzzle flash or smoke.'”

SILENCE IS GOLDEN!

As of this exact moment the 2B25 the use thereof will be confined to the special purpose units of the Russian military? Spetsnaz! The 2B25 also firing a pre-fragmented round?

From the writings of the Soviet era defector Suvorov his observations on the advantages of the big-bore smooth-bore, cast-iron mortar firing a cast-iron mortar bomb:

"Soviet commanders value the mortar so highly because of its reliability and its almost primitive simplicity, because it only takes a few minutes to teach a soldier how to use it, and because it needs almost no maintenance - - its barrel is not even rifled! . . . The pressure inside a mortar barrel when it fires is relatively low and therefore a mortar . . . can fire cast-iron rather than steel bombs. This adds two further advantages - - firstly, simplicity and cheapness of production, secondly the fact that when a cast iron bomb bursts it shatters into very small small splinter, which for a dense pattern."

coolbert.

Lavrov.

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Within context of the Venezuelan crisis and historical perspective the subject of a previous post, see the discussion and comments from various Internet web site, the possibility of a military clash by foreign interventions.

1. "Lavrov certain Cuban Missile Crisis will not be repeated due to events in Venezuela"

"If there is an attempted military intervention, the overwhelming majority of Latin American countries will be adamantly opposed to that, Russia’s top diplomat said"

2. "Lavrov: Venezuela Won’t Become ‘Second Syria’"

"Tensions over Venezuela won’t escalate into a new Caribbean Crisis or turn the country into “a second Syria,” Russia’s FM Sergey Lavrov has assured, bashing the US for treating the Western Hemisphere as its backyard."

3. "Events in Venezuela are similar to what happened in Syria – Assad tells visiting FM"

"The war in Syria has much in common with the political crisis gripping Venezuela, where outside players try to meddle in domestic affairs and undermine sovereignty, Syrian President Bashar Assad told Venezuela’s Foreign Minister."

"Much in common!" "Won't escalate!" "Overwhelming majority!" "Will not be!"

Reassurances of reassurances. "Will not be" means it will be? 

You the devoted reader to the blog have to decide for yourself.

 coolbert.

Defiant.

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WORST?

Thanks to the tip from Davey we have an instance of WORST within the military context.

The British Boulton Paul Defiant combat warplane. Of a design I had not even knew existed.

An interceptor aircraft designed to shoot-down intruding and unescorted enemy bombers.

AERIAL COMBAT DOCTRINE AT THE TIME DID NOT STRESS ESCORTED BOMBER WARPLANES. A FORMATION OF BOMBERS WITH ORGANIC FIREPOWER AND ACTING IN CONCERT THOUGHT BE ADEQUATE TO WARD OFF ANY ATTACK BY ENEMY FIGHTERS.

"The Boulton Paul Defiant is a British interceptor aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War II. The Defiant was designed and built by Boulton Paul Aircraft as a "turret fighter", without any forward-firing guns"

The Defiant referred to as a "turret fighter". Engage enemy bombers using a rearward firing machine guns [four .303 caliber Browning per turret].

DEFIANT EFFECTIVE WHEN ENGAGING UNESCORTED ENEMY BOMBER FORMATIONS.

Defiant again as an interceptor effective when engaging enemy bomber formations without fighter escort. Flying underneath an enemy bomber with the four machine guns of the turret firing upwards found to be a most potent and deadly aerial maneuver. Identical to the German schrage müsik system as employed by German night-fighters.

Defiant quickly relegated to other mission and duties. Encounters with German day-fighters proving the warplane not an air superiority combat aircraft. But was never intended to be.

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Persia WW1.

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From Iranian controlled [?] media Press an aspect of the Great War I was not familiar with. Persia as it existed at time divided into sectors several of which controlled by foreign powers. Persia indirectly a participant in the Great War [WW1]!

As was the Bengali Famine of World War Two [WW2] so was the Persian Famine of World War One [WW1].

MORE PERSIANS [IRANIANS] DIED FROM FAMINE ALONE THAN ALMOST ALL OF THE COMBATANTS OF THE GREAT WAR DURING THAT CONFLICT? SO IS THE ASSERTION MADE!!

"A book on Britain’s role in famine that killed 8-10 million Iranians in WWI"

"the widespread famine coupled with a disease epidemic killed around 8-10 million Iranian between 1917 and 1919, nearly half of the country’s population back then."

The historical aspect as extracted from the wiki and thanks to same:

"Persian famine of 1917–1919"

"The Persian famine of 1917–1919 was a period of widespread mass starvation and disease in Persia (Iran) under rule of Qajar dynasty during World War I. The famine took place in the occupied territory of Iran that had declared neutrality."

"According to the estimates acknowledged by the mainstream view, about 2 million people died between 1917 and 1919 because of hunger and from diseases, which included cholera, plague and typhus, as well as influenza infected by 1918 flu pandemic."

Persons their immune systems weakened by hunger and perishing from the Swine Flu epidemic.

FIVE TIMES AS MANY PERSONS SUCCUMBING TO THE SWINE FLUE PANDEMIC AS ALL THE BATTLEFIELD CASUALTIES OF WW1!

coolbert.

Azov.

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"Clarifying to Moscow and everyone else that the United States will defend freedom of navigation and Ukrainian sovereignty in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov is no less important than doing so in the South China Sea."

Azov. Sea of Azov. An extension of the Black Sea. Bordering both Ukraine and Russia. Now a hot-button item. Access to the Sea as an international water-way.

Where World War Three potentially could begin? Seems strange doesn't it?

From the Russian controlled [?] media outlet TASS and the story by © Sergei Malgavko/TASS.

"NATO set to guarantee free passage of ships via Kerch Strait — US envoy"

"A package of measures will be approved during a two-day conference to begin in Washington on Wednesday [2 April]"

"WASHINGTON, April 3. /TASS/. NATO is set to guarantee the safe passage of ships via the Kerch Strait, connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, and to step up aerial surveillance in the area, US envoy to NATO told foreign journalists on Tuesday."

From the American perspective and also as applicable to NATO issues access to the Sea of Azov through the Strait of Kerch a freedom of the seas issue.

See from additional sources articles the topic of which is the Sea of Azov and the importance of:

https://nationalinterest.org/feature/neither-russia-nor-ukraine-will-easily-give-sea-azov-37552

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/why-is-the-sea-of-azov-so-important

Nations constituent members of NATO [Bulgaria/Turkey/Romania] their borders contiguous to the Black Sea allowed to operate naval vessels on the Black Sea and by extension the Sea of Azov at all times. Other NATO nations only able to have an individual warship present within the confines of the Black Sea for a twenty-one day period max.

It does seem strange doesn't it? A place [Sea of Azov] 99.9 % of Americans have neither heard of or could point to on a map becomes in a very short order a matter of the highest geo-political importance.

coolbert.

Clash!

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Forget about Syria. It is in Venezuela that World War Three will begin? Foreign interventionists making ready?

As it is now in Venezuela so was it just over one hundred years ago? Major world powers with rival claims having [?] a vested interest in Venezuela  internal politics.

"Venezuela: Clash of Empires"

"Geo-politics predominantly explains why Trump wants Maduro out and Guaidó in. Venezuela borders on the Caribbean Sea. Caracas is only 1,368 miles from Miami. The U.S. regards the Caribbean as its lake. The U.S. doesn’t want its underbelly to be a soft spot vulnerable to the intrusions of foreign empires."

"As long as Venezuela was safe for U.S. investment and trade, the U.S. was dominant in that country. Under the wreckage produced by the policies of Chavez and Maduro, which drove American interests out of the country, Venezuela became an opportunity for the intervention of two distant empires: Russia and China. They moved in as the U.S. moved out, and that foothold spells risks of further advances and even military bases. It also spells trouble for surrounding countries in which the U.S. empire has further interests."

"Venezuelan crisis of 1902–03"

"The Venezuelan crisis of 1902–03 was a naval blockade imposed against Venezuela by the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy from December 1902 to February 1903, after President Cipriano Castro refused to pay foreign debts and damages suffered by European citizens in the Venezuelan civil war."

OIL RESERVES OF VENEZUELA ALMOST BEYOND CALCULATION. GREATEST KNOWN OIL RESERVES OF ANY NATION ON THE PLANET!!

See also from a variety of sources recent articles the topic of which is the role of foreign interventionists in the current Venezuelan crisis:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-russia-colombia/colombia-rejects-russia-warning-against-venezuelan-military-action-idUSKCN1RE23C

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/04/02/russia-opens-military-helicopter-training-centre-venezuela/

https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2019/04/02/39793672/if-you-are-not-paying-attention-the-world-ending-storm-of-a-third-world-war-is-gathering-in-venezuela

"You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come." - - Matthew 24:6-13.

coolbert.

Escape.

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Military archeology, artifacts of significance as from the era of the Second World War. Interesting stuff indeed! Click on all images to see an enlarged view.

Thanks to the tip from my Aunt C. The topic the escape of captured British aviators from prisoner-of-war [POW] camp. Tunneling and as the subject of the famous movie "The Great Escape".

Read at the wiki entry the full and complete details of the Great Escape.

"The Great Escape:  untouched for almost seven decades, the tunnel used in the Great Escape has finally been unearthed. The 111-yard passage nicknamed 'Harry' by Allied prisoners was sealed by the Germans after the audacious break-out from the POW camp Stalag Luft III in western Poland . . . The tunnel remained undisturbed over the decades because it was behind the Iron Curtain and the Soviet authorities had no interest in its significance.But at last British archaeologists have excavated it, and discovered its remarkable secrets."

"Many of the bed boards which had been joined together to stop it collapsing were still in position. And the ventilation shaft, ingeniously crafted from used powdered milk containers known as Klim Tins, remained in working order."

A recreation of the tunnel. A tunnel two feet by two feet [66 centimeters by 66 centimeters]. Escapees not crawling through the tunnel but being pulled by a trolley mounted on what amounts to railroad tracks!!

"Scattered throughout the tunnel, which is 30ft below ground, were bits of old metal buckets, hammers and crowbars which were used to hollow out the route."

Here shown excavations of the tunnel name "George". Never was used.

"A total of 600 prisoners worked on three tunnels at the same time. They were nicknamed Tom, Dick and Harry and were just 2 ft square for most of their length. It was on the night of  March 24  and 25, 1944, that 76 Allied airmen escaped through Harry."

"The site of the tunnel, recently excavated by British archaeologists . . . The latest dig, over three weeks in August, located the entrance to Harry, which was originally concealed under a stove in Hut 104."

"The team also found another tunnel, called George, whose exact position had not been charted. It was never used as the 2,000 prisoners were forced to march to other camps as the Red Army approached in  January 1945."

Brave and courageous. Dynamic, bold, plucky, ingenious. All those words applicable.

Honestly, I personally have to wonder if the results justified the amount of energy and effort.

Only "76 escapees, 73 were captured", fifty executed on the direct order [?] of Hitler. Those three men not captured only one able to repatriate to friendly territory.

coolbert.

ESV.

This is coolbert:

ESV = Emotional Support Vest.

"THIS DEFIES LOGIC!"

From a variety of sources including Harry at Sharkhunters we have this item of interest:

"Navy to Allow Emotional Support Animals on Ships Starting 2020"

By: Jangus Brownstone, Navy Crimes Staff   

"Millington, TN - News coming down from high atop Navy Brass says coming as soon as FY 2020, Sailors will be allowed to bring emotional support animals aboard select Navy ships. . . . Sailors (not Marines) E-7 and above will be allowed dogs under 50 pounds and cats of any size. E-6 and below will only be allowed 'cageable' rodents such as hamsters, gerbils and guinea pigs. Strictly  prohibited are snakes and other reptiles and birds of any kind. All Sailors will be required to seek a letter for approval from a psychologist and is limited in number allowed on board and all animals must wear an Emotional Support Vest [ESV] at all times . . . Navy Crimes will bring you more as information becomes readily available."

Devoted readers to the blog please be assured this particular entry in keeping with an old and venerable American tradition and is not to be taken seriously. Cheers and April Fool!!

P.S. "An emotional support animal (ESA), assistance animal, or support animal, is a companion animal that a medical professional says provides some benefit for a person disabled by a mental health condition or emotional disorder"

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Mehdi.

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Proxies of a proxy.

War veteran heads home to less than auspicious welcome.

Thanks to the tip from Freeper.

 "Afghan veterans of Syrian war struggle back home"

"HERAT, Afghanistan (AP) — Too poor to even buy pens and notebooks for school, Mehdi left his home in Afghanistan soon after his 17th birthday and headed to Iran, hoping to make his way to Europe and find work."

"Instead, Mehdi ended up fighting in Syria’s civil war, a conflict he had nothing to do with, 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) from home. He was one of tens of thousands of Afghans recruited, paid and trained by Iran to fight in support of Tehran’s ally, Syrian President Bashar Assad."

Mehdi a Hazara I suspect. A tribal group in Afghan, adherents to the Shia form of Islam and also reputed to be the descendants of the army of Genghis Khan.

Mehdi and his returning fellow war veterans greeted with less than enthusiasm. Seen as possible security risks by the Sunni majority in Afghan.

THAT CIVIL WAR IN SYRIA CHARACTERIZED IN MEASURE BY THE USE OF PROXY FORCES TO DO THE FIGHTING ON THE SIDE OF ASSAD. RUSSIAN, AFGHAN, IRAQI, LEBANESE, IRANIAN, ETC.

Proxies no longer needed and cast aside. No benefits or pensions for them or American VA health care. As you were before so as you are now.

coolbert.

Runner.

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Runner = "A runner was a military courier, a foot soldier responsible for carrying messages during war. Runners were very important to military communications, before telecommunications became commonplace."

During that period of the Great War [WW1] the mission of runner being most important. Radio communications not reliable or secure and the buried copper wire of field telephones often cut by the constant shelling as occurred on he battlefield of the period.

Men-a-foot specially designated and carrying messages to and fro on the battlefield. That mission of runner quite hazardous as you might well understand. And a mission not totally relegated to the delivery of messages.

"Trench Runners. Clearly identifiable - at least in daylight - by the red arm-bands fixed around their left forearm, trench runners (or messengers) were drawn from both a specialized and everyday background.  The function of a runner was not simply to bear messages from one area or command unit to another, although this featured prominently"

Read here and here further the mission, duties, function, experence of the runner WW1:

Comments:

* Red arm bands on the left forearm war so the runner could be indentified and not arrested by military police as a shirker or malingerer. Or worse shot dead on the spot by an officer. A troop running to the rear perceived as a a troop deserting in the face of the enemy.

* Mission of the runner as was mentioned not strictly relegated to the carrying of messages. Used also as ground guides. New units being brought into the forward trenches during a period of darkness not wanting to get lost. Ground guides of the runner type familiar with the lay-of-the-land needed.

* Casualties among runners exceedingly high. My thought has been 95 % of runners a casualty during WW1. This seems to be not correct. It is reputed stretcher bearers their rate of inury the highest, 80 %.

* Nor must we forget that most famous/infamous runner of them all. Adolf Hitler. Decorated twice for bravery, the equivalent of the American Bronze star awarded to the man. It has been noted however that Hitler functioned as a regimental runner, not so terribly exposed to direct fire, even if wounded severely once and gassed also with temporary injury.

Runner anyone?

coolbert.