Sand.

This is coolbert:

From the Iranian Internet web site PressTV this item.

Reminds me to an extent of the Morocco Western Sahara sand berm wall.

"Israel erects sand barrier amid fear of Gaza missiles: Video"

"Israeli construction workers are building a sand barrier on the border between the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian lands."

"The Israeli military says its so-called Southern Command’s engineering unit has been erecting a sand barrier near the fence between the occupied territories and the besieged Gaza Strip."

DESIGNED TO COUNTER AND PROTECT ISRAELI PATROLS FROM DIRECT FIRE ANTI-TANK GUIDED-MISSILE [ATGM] I WOULD PRESUME.

Watch the video and observe the armored bulldozer with the slat armor. Slat armor able to defeat the shaped-charge round of an ATGM. Crew has more than adequate protection. A combat engineering vehicle most formidable.

The Western Sahara sand berm found to have been effective. Indeed, built in part with Israeli expertise way before the Gaza sand wall!

coolbert.

Observe.

This is coolbert:

Soar Eagle Taiwan Strait!

From the Internet web site The National Interest more freedom of the seas patrols U.S. Navy.

"China’s Giant Spy Drone Just Tailed a U.S. Navy Cruiser"

"But Beijing’s years of investment in drones are finally starting to pay off, if the Soar Eagle’s July 2019 mission tailing Antietam is any indication."

Chinese Soar Eagle drone. Truck with personnel included to provide a sense of scale.

USS ANTIETAM WHILE SAILING THE TAIWAN STRAIT SHADOWED BY A MASSIVE SIZE CHINESE MILITARY DRONE.

Also consider from The National Interest article:

"China's biggest shortfall is probably not a matter of hardware. It takes nearly 200 skilled pilots, maintainers and analysts to support a single sortie by a high-end UAV. 'There's nothing unmanned about them,'" - -  Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula USAF.

coolbert.

Awesome.

This is coolbert:

"Whoever commands the sea, commands the trade; whosoever commands the trade of the world commands the riches of the world, and consequently the world itself." - - Sir Walter Raleigh.

BRITISH ONCE AGAIN EAST OF SUEZ? AS IT WAS IN THE OLD DAYS AS IT IS ONCE MORE NOW?

Thanks to the Russian media outlet Sputnik for the story.

"Royal Navy in South China Sea: 'The British are Clearly Making a Point'"

"The actions of a British ship violate Chinese law and relevant international law. This is what the Chinese Foreign Ministry has stated after a British Royal Navy flagship passed through the Paracel Islands and allegedly entered Chinese territorial waters without permission. Beijing has dispatched a frigate and two helicopters to challenge it."

A FREEDOM OF THE SEAS MISSION, CHALLENGING CHINESE SOVEREIGN CLAIMS TO THE NINE-DASH LINE TERRITORY OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA.

More than anything else, take a gander at the image accompanying the Sputnik article.

Chinese naval task force on patrol. Photo as seen @ AP Photo/Li Gang/Xinhua. "In this April 12 2018 photo Released by Xinhua News Agency, the Liaoning aircaft carrier is accompanied by navy frigates and submarines conducting an exercise in the South China Sea." An impressive display of naval military might. Indeed! Spectacle quite awesome. Submarine in the lower right accompanying the surface vessels. Click on image to see an enlarged view.

Yet one more quotation as is relevant: "War makes all other of mans' activities seem trivial by comparison" - - G.S. Patton.

coolbert.

Romeo-M.

This is coolbert:

From the outstanding Internet web site H.I. Sutton we have the details of the latest North Korean weapon of mass destruction delivery system.

"New North Korean submarine: ROMEO-Mod"

"North Korea revealed its latest indigenous submarine on 23rd July 2019. Footage was shown of Kim Jong Un inspecting the submarine, probably in Sinpo on the east coast. North Korean state media (KCNA) reported that it was 'newly built' and will operate in the East Sea of Korea (aka Sea of Japan). This is consistent with North Korea’s existing Gorae Class ballistic missile submarine. "

Able to fire three atomic-tipped missiles. Missiles of the intermediate range. Appear to me to be analogous to the earliest version American Polaris submarine launched ballistic missiles with a range of about 1,500 miles [2,400 kilometers].

Modified North Korean Romeo class submarine able to launch three missiles. Romeo of the family Soviet era submarines Zulu/Whiskey/Romeo. The basic design more or less a modified clone of the World War Two German Type XXI boat. These missiles can fire if the boat is submerged? I am not sure. Click on image to see an enlarged view.

Dig this amazing stuff about the North Korean submarine force:

"On paper North Korea has the second or third largest fleet of submarines in the world, after only the United States and possibly China. While the submarines themselves may be small or antiquated, the men who man them have a proven track record of loyalty, discipline, basic naval competence and aggressive leadership."

Devoted readers to the blog also I recommend bookmarking or making a favorite of the H.I. Sutton web site.

coolbert.

Scouts GRU.

This is coolbert:

More military obstacle course stuff. See previous blog entry.

Obstacle course Russian Spetsnaz! Honestly, this is the sort of thing that during the days of the old Soviet Union which would have been classified TOP SECRET! No photographs allowed!

Thanks to the Internet web site English/Russian.

"Russian Military Intelligence Special Forces Passing an Obstacle Course Imitating NATO Fences"

"Russian blogger Smit went to see how Russian military scouts, elite Military Intilligence [GRU] special forces from six different regions of Russia were undergoing elite units training and contest. Here are his photos and the story."

Special forces = Special Purpose units = Spetsnaz.

"At first scouts had to underpass an airborne landing and then run for fifteen kilometers (10 miles).  But the most tricky part is the last mile of this trip. It’s called 'scouts path' and is an obstacle course that not anyone is able to pass."

ACCORDING TO THE SOVIET ERA DEFECTOR SUVOROV ONLY TEN RECRUITS OUT OF AN INTAKE OF TEN-THOUSAND WORTHY OF BECOMING A "SCOUT".

Over a fence as might be used to guard a NATO installation of some sort. Team effort stressed. Fences I might imagine guarding important NATO facilities considerably more robust.

Surmounting a wall of considerable height. Using a knotted rope to do so.

An obstacle consisting or rubber tires wired together. Climb over the top and then back down. Tires swaying as the soldier uses for support. Looks hard.

Crawl under the tangle-foot barbed wire a goodly distance. Keep low and do not get caught on the wire.

Troop wearing gas mask enters a tunnel filled with some sort of gas. Probably tear gas.

Same soldier [?] emerges from tunnel filled with gas [tear gas?]. Crawl underground with hindrance.

Get up to the top of a horizontal ladder using a buddy system. Then cross that ladder under your own power.

Elite troops specially selected and doing specialized and rough training. Analogous to American Ranger units.

Russian Special Purpose units during a time of overt war with NATO their primary purpose to destroy nuclear assets. Airfields, nuclear munitions depots, delivery systems. Kill to the greatest possible extent command and control personnel at the very highest level of decision making responsibility.

coolbert.

Obstacles.

This is coolbert:

I recommend highly without reservation or qualification these You Tube video and thanks to You Tube.

French Foreign Legion [FFL] combat training courses. Obstacle courses. Desert and jungle.

1. CECAP.  The Combat Training Center at Arta Beach (CECAP), or Centre d'entraînement au combat d'Arta Plage, is a French Army training facility located in Arta, Djibouti.

Obstacle course. "It is by 50 ° C. [122 F.] in the shade and 80 per cent humidity"

This course looks very dangerous. Each man wears a harness attached to a safety line. Nonetheless, one wrong move and you could be gone.

A water obstacle course. And must be completed as a team. A single man could not get through the course by himself.

A land obstacle course that also must be completed as a team. Team building and physical fitness combined

2. CEFE. The Jungle Training Center (CEFE), or Centre d'entraînement à la forêt équatoriale, is a French Army jungle warfare school located in French Guiana.

Jungle course. Both individual and team building obstacles must be overcome. Lots of water. I especially like the event where the troop has to swing rope-to-rope Tarzan like. It is reputed the record time for completing the course is 45 minutes. It is also reputed that a unit of U.S. Marines took seven hours to complete the same course. One woman present in the video completing the course along with the men!

Such obstacle courses function as a filter mechanism. The soldier without a whole lot of motivation and "try" will fail these type of courses. Officers are able to separate the enlisted into two groups. Those that "can" and those that "cannot".

French Foreign Legion [FFL] troops the selection process meticulous. Only the best prospects are selected for enlistment. An elite force undergoing the most arduous training. As you can see for yourself.

AND YES, NONE OF THAT LOOKS EASY!!

coolbert.

55-T.

This is coolbert:

More disposable decoys for combat aircraft state-of-the-art!

BriteCloud 55-T!

Itty-bitty decoys able to deceive an incoming enemy SAM [surface to air missile] that missile using radar guidance. Dispenser released, units expendable.

Hand held unit! Just look at the small size. As I said before, itty-bitty! Remarkable how much technology can be fitted in a modern micro-electronics module. Fits perfectly well into existing combat warplanes flare dispenser.

As to pricing per unit, I cannot find a reference on the Internet. I bet they are not cheap.

 coolbert.

Nerod F5.

This is coolbert:

From WIZARD though Harry at Sharkhunters more anti-drone weaponry.

Mini-copters beware! Measures and counter-measures.

* "The futuristic-looking Nerod F5 microwave jammer, a rifle-shaped weapon designed to target drones by blocking the pilot's signals, and plans have been unveiled to use robots to support French troops in Mali, with experiments currently underway."

Carried by a squad of apparently special operations troops in this You Tube video. Jams the radio-frequency signal used to control the drone. Also defeats frequency hopping technology!

See previous blog entries anti-drone technology:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/07/aud.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/07/madis.html

coolbert.

LANCA.

This is coolbert:

Once again the topic of drones as "wingman" to manned aircraft. See also relevant previous blog entry.

Thanks to the Russian media outlet RT:

"Britain confirms it is developing DRONE SWARMS, joining arms race with Russia, US and India"

"The drones will accompany the RAF’s Typhoon jets"

"The Ministry of Defence [UK MoD] is hoping to provide pilots with increased protection and survivability while also feeding them additional combat operations intelligence through the use of the Lightweight Affordable Novel Combat Aircraft (LANCA) concept drone"

Missions of the drone swarm to include:

1. "a so-called 'loyal wingman' drone that will provide additional intel [intelligence] and close-quarter protection to human fighter pilots . . . 2. "create drone swarms which will overwhelm enemy anti-aircraft defenses for long enough to allow for successful bombing raids."

Within the context of drone and SWARM I usually associate the mini-drone or the micro-drone. These "loyal wingman" appear to be unmanned drones of considerable size according to artist conceptions. More or less a full size combat warplane [albeit reduced somewhat in size] but not of the micro or mini variety.

coolbert.

BW Cuba.

This is coolbert:

BW = Biological Warfare.

Non-lethal but debilitating bio-warfare agents. Incapacitates but does not kill. Does not kill healthy and ordinary persons that is.

This former director at Fort Detrick I heard him on TV talking about this one time quite candidly.

Bio-warfare as to be against the Cuban people and regime of Fidel Castro, in case of an American invasion, a response to the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.

"The plan was to attack all of Cuba with incapacitating agents, in a biological strike that would affect millions of Cubans. The scientific director at Fort Detrick said that one alternative considered was spraying Cuban troops with lethal botulinum toxin, arguing that this would be 'a good thing' since it would save American lives in an invasion . . . it [the bio-agent] involved a 'cocktail' of two germs and a biological toxin producing extreme nausea, fevers of up to 106 degrees Fahrenheit."

"The Fort Detrick director argued that there was 'a humane aspect' to the plan, because it would reduce the number of casualties from fighting. The plan was to spray from East to West, to take advantage of the prevailing trade winds, and blanket Havana. And this 'humane' U.S. biological warfare would 'only' kill 1 to 2 percent of the Cuban population. Given the island’s population of roughly 7 million at the time, this means the Pentagon was planning to kill between 70,000 and 140,000 Cuban civilians. Actual fatalities would probably have been far higher."

PERSONS HEALTHY ADULTS DEBILITATED BY THE "COCKTAIL" OF BIO-AGENT AND MADE SICK BUT NOT LETHAL. PERSONS ELDERLY, THE YOUNG, THE INFIRM OR THOSE WITH WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEM THEIR LIVES IN JEOPARDY.

coolbert.

DEW.

This is coolbert:

Tomorrow is now! Directed energy weaponry!

Forewarned is forearmed!

"Air Force Wants Simulated War games to Plan For Lasers, Electro-Magnetic Weapons"

"Air Force [USAF] Wants Simulated War games to Plan For Lasers, Electro-Magnetic Weapons"

"The war games are meant to teach airmen about these new weapons and help the Air Force [USAF] develop new tactics and procedures."

"Directed energy weapons—i.e., lasers and high-powered electro-magnetic weapons—are fast becoming a reality for troops and the Air Force [USAF] wants its airmen to be prepared."

MY EYES! MY EYES!

See previous blog entries directed energy weapons:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/07/aud.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/07/madis.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/02/zombie.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2018/07/growth.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2018/07/skyguard.html

coolbert.

Emerge!

This is coolbert:

"I've got a secret I've been hiding under my bed!"

At least until now! Thanks to Bloomberg.

A FOUR MONTH LONG MISSION AND ONGOING! MORE MONEY NEEDED! ALWAYS MORE MONEY NEEDED.

"Army Lets Slip That It's Conducting Secret Operation Around D.C"

"The Pentagon has revealed a few details about a secret Army mission that has Black Hawk helicopters flying missions over the Washington, D.C., area backed by active-duty and reserve soldiers."

"The mysterious classified operation was disclosed when the Army asked Congress for approval to shift funds to provide an extra $1.55 million for aircraft maintenance, air crews and travel in support of an 'emerging classified flight mission.'"

PSST! It's a secret classified mission. Just don't let it get in the news.

coolbert.

Mainstay.

This is coolbert:

Consider such an event to be a big news item?

Warning shots fired!!

Deliberate provocation by Russia as directed against the Republic of Korea [South Korea/ROK and Japan].

"First Russian-Chinese air patrol in Asia-Pacific draws shots from South Korea"

"MOSCOW/SEOUL (Reuters) - Russia carried out what it said was its first long-range joint air patrol in the Asia-Pacific region with China on Tuesday, a mission that triggered hundreds of warning shots, according to South Korean officials, and a strong protest from Japan."

A Russian airborne warning and control system warplane straying into South Korean airspace, evidently in a provocative and malicious manner designed to incite. Disregarding many commands by radio on international frequencies to cease and desist. Scrambled South Korean fighter jets intercepting and having to fire warning shots at the Mainstay [NATO code name] aircraft.

South Korea airspace as intruded the Liancourt Rocks. Tiny fly-speck islands as occupied and administered by ROK but also claimed as integral Japanese territory. Land mass the sovereignty of which is disputed.

Liancourt Rocks. That what you see is it!

Controversy as with regard to the intercept of the Russian A-50 Mainstay a matter between ROK and Japan. Both claim the duty and responsibility for defense of the "realm" Liancourt Rocks their sole prerogative.

coolbert.

Ticks.

This is coolbert:

To war with tick. Bio-warfare.

"Pentagon Ordered to Tell Congress If It Weaponized Ticks And Released Them Into the Public"

Thanks to the article by Jennings Brown courtesy Gizmodo.

"Some members of the United States House are concerned the Pentagon may have unleashed disease-infected ticks that caused the spread of Lyme disease."

"Roll Call reports that on July 11, the House stealthily decided via voice vote to support an amendment to the 2020 defense authorization bill that would require the Department of Justice look into weaponized ticks."

WEAPONIZED TICKS USED AS BIO-WARFARE VECTORS. VECTORS A MEANS OF DISTRIBUTING DISEASE.

ALLEGED FIELD TRIALS OF TICKS USED AS VECTORS FOR BIO-WARFARE DELIVERY CARRIED OUT BETWEEN 1950 AND 1975. USING A NON-LETHAL BUT DEBILITATING ILLNESS, LYME DISEASE.

I can tell you with a pretty good degree of certainty what this is. Bio-warfare agents being tested using ticks as a vector. Lyme disease debilitation but not fatal for healthy persons used as the agent. A disease as I have said debilitating but not fatal. AT LEAST FOR NORMAL AND HEALTHY PEOPLE.

But might be fatal for those with a weakened immune system or suffering sickness.

Read about one such bio-warfare experiment from almost seventy years ago now. The city of San Francisco, California, USA doused with bio-warfare agent. 800,000 persons contaminated. Agent non-lethal.

coolbert.

AUD.

This is coolbert:

From Strategy Page more on drone defense.

Directed energy weaponry!

"Air Defense: Ray Guns Versus Small Threats"

"July 17, 2019: The U.S. Air Force is testing two AUD (Anti UAV Defense) systems that use strong microwave electronic transmissions to disrupt the electronics in UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and cause them to crash. The air force has tested two such weapons which differ mainly in terms of range and price. The system closest to combat zone use is THOR (Tactical High Power Microwave Operational Responder), which is a $10 million system that is shipped in and used from a standard 40 foot shipping container."

Read the entire Strategy Page article. Everything you always wanted to know about defense against drone attack and then some.

Current AUD to include systems with names like: THOR [USA]. CHIMERA [USA] . DRONE DOME [ISRAEL].

AUD INDEED DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPONRY! APPARENTLY FOILS A DRONE ATTACK WITH EITHER JAMMERS OR A BURST OF HIGH INTENSITY MICRO-WAVE ENERGY THAT "FRIES" THE INTERNAL ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM OF THE DRONE.

Those mini-drones of the type AUD designed to counter from the UAS Group to include:

Group 1. Type specimens to include: RQ-11 Raven, WASP.

RQ-11 Raven.

Group 2. Type specimens to include: ScanEagle, Flexrotor.

Scan Eagle.

Group 3. Type specimens to include: RQ-7B Shadow, RQ-21 Blackjack

RQ-7B Shadow.

Group One, Two, Three drones NOT able to carry large amounts of munitions [if any at all]. Drones of group one, two, three for reconnaissance and surveillance and not for delivering "bang stuff" on a target.

I can well imagine that the radar of the various AUD can be linked to other systems that have a "kinetic kill" capability.

DRONE DOME PROTECTING BRITISH GATWICK AS WE SPEAK. DRONE DOME COMBAT TESTED!

coolbert.

Four & Five.

This is coolbert:

MADIS [anti-drone system] as per the previous blog entry designed to engage and destroy enemy drones of the Group 4 and Group 5 category.

From the wiki those groups defined.

1. Group 4.  Type specimens to include: MQ-8B Fire Scout, MQ-1A/B Predator, MQ-1C Gray Eagle.

MQ-8B Fire Scout. Personnel giving you some sense of scale.

2. Group 5. Type specimens to include: MQ-9 Reaper, RQ-4 Global Hawk, MQ-4C Triton.

RQ-4 Global Hawk. Again personnel giving you some sense of scale.

Group four and five sized drones able to carry considerable munitions, "bang-stuff" with lethal consequences if used in the manner of a kamikaze!

Smaller sized drones MADIS not able to counter? More on this to follow.

coolbert.

MADIS.

This is coolbert:

From only today an instance of "directed energy" weaponry in use?

Iranian drone approaching too close, the USS Boxer in danger, drone engage and destroyed. Courtesy U.S. Marines.

Thank MADIS.
 
"Marines Took Out Iranian Drone for the Cost of a Tank of Gas"

Story courtesy the US Naval Institute and the article by Sam LaGrone. July 19, 2019 5:42 PM.

"During a transit through the Strait of Hormuz into the Persian Gulf on Thursday, Marines – operating a new electronic warfare system on the deck of USS Boxer (LHD-4) – downed a hostile unmanned aerial vehicle 1,000 yards from the amphibious warship."

"The new Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) used is a combination of components that includes electronic jammers, radars and gun systems to take out UAVs."

MADIS does work. Evidently uses radars, jammers of both the radio frequency and electro-opto type with some sort of "kinetic kill" capability. A multiplicity of means and methods used simultaneously to counter the drone threat. Directed energy usually refers to laser or particle beam weapons. MADIS not exactly in the same sense. MADIS described as Urgent Operational Need [OUN]. "Kinetic kill" appears to be a fifty caliber [12.7 mm] machine gun.

AND AGAIN, MADIS DOES WORK. NOW BATTLE TESTED. GO MADIS AND GO MARINES.

coolbert.

Pessimism.

This is coolbert:

Again from the New York Times and the article by Thomas Gibbons-Neff, Taimoor Shah, Najim Rahim.

"International"

"On the Front Lines of the 17-Year War in Afghanistan"

More correctly on the front lines during the American involvement in Afghanistan since 9/11.

"KABUL - - Afghanistan - - The war in Afghanistan has rage for nearly 18 years, cost billions of dollars, shattered countless families and consumed the administrations of three American presidents. But it has taken a particularly heavy toll on Afghan troops and police officers, 45000 of whom have been killed in the past years of fighting alone."

The U.S. government for the last eight months in negotiation with the Taliban, seeking an amicable and agreed upon solution to the conflict, final withdrawal of all USA forces from Afghan to be accomplished.

Here with anecdotal accounts from various Afghan military and police sources, in particular with regard to the negotiations:

"THE NEGOTIATIONS"

* "I wonder what kind of peace talks these are"

"I am not optimistic. the American forces are preparing to leave Afghanistan and the Taliban see the potential to take over Afghanistan from the current government."

* "Our soldiers get attacked two or three times every day and we lose our friends in these attacks. I wonder what kind of peace talks are these . . . the ongoing peace talks have a very bad effect on the morale of our soldiers"

* "To achieve peace, you always need to be powerful. The Taliban are using these peace talks just for getting more power. They have intensified their attacks on the battlefield."

IT DOES NOT SOUND GOOD! Pessimism abounds!

coolbert.

Hlaing.

This is coolbert:

Burma the predominant ethnic group. Myanmar the political entity.

From a recent edition of the New York Times the article by Richard C. Paddock.

"Myanmar Generals Are Barred From the U.S."

"Secretary of State Cites Roles in Atrocities Carried Out Against the Rohingya"

"BANGKOK - - The United States has imposed sanction of Myanmar's top military commander. Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, and three of his highest-ranking generals for their roles in the atrocities carried out against Rohingya Muslims since 2017, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced."

General Hlaing and his immediate subordinates FORBIDDEN TO TRAVEL to the USA.

An almost totally meaningless gesture. Burmese military figures both paranoid and reclusive, NEVER even leaving the country period!!

So paranoid and reclusive are the Burmese junta on the advice of astrologers the capital city was moved in entirety from Yangon [Rangoon] several hundred miles inland to forestall an attack by U.S. Marines the general officers greatly fear was going to occur.

"junta - - noun: a small group ruling a country, especially immediately after a coup d'état and before a legally constituted government has been instituted."

And General Hlaing there never were any U.S. Marines on the way!!

coolbert.

Project 57.

This is coolbert:

Please do not do this! Beware! No aliens to be found! Invasion Area 51!

Invasion Area 51 will create a nationwide catastrophe.

It was supposed to be a joke. But has gone way beyond that now.

Thanks to FOXTROT ALPHA and the tip  from Jay:

"Here's What You'll Face When You Try to Invade Area 51"

"This week, the Internet is going crazy with talk of a mass People’s Invasion of Area 51. More than one million people have signed up on Facebook to breach the gates of the most famous top secret government facility in the world. The event, which sprang to life as a joke started by social media shit posters, has now racked up an enormous amount of publicity worldwide, with media outlets taking it utterly seriously and others as the joke it always was."

FOR THOSE OF YOU EVEN POSSESSING THE MOST DIMINISHED OF MENTAL CAPACITY, DO NOT JOIN ATTEMPT AN INTRUSION OF AREA 51! YOU WILL PERHAPS RECEIVE A LETHAL DOSE OF PLUTONIUM POISONING AND THAT AT A MINIMUM!!

This all a result of Project 57. From the era of the Cold War. 

"Project 57, the Atomic Energy Commission, the U.S. Air Force, and defense contractor[s] . . . would work together to simulate an Air Force airplane crash involving an XW‑25 nuclear warhead—a crash in which radioactive particles would 'accidentally' be dispersed on the ground. The land around the mock crash site would be contaminated by plutonium, which, according to scientists, would take 24,100 years to decay by half. At the time, scientists had no idea what accidental plutonium dispersal in open air would do to beings and things in the element’s path. The 57 Project was a test that would provide critical data to that end."

DETONATIONS OF ATOMIC MUNITIONS, HIGH EXPLOSIVE ONLY, A ZERO-YIELD TEST TO STUDY THE DISPERSAL PATTERN OF PLUTONIUM IN CASE OF A NUCLEAR WEAPON FIZZLING [A DUD]!

Chances are hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands of persons tramping through Area 51 will kick up immense clouds of sand and dust, some particles of which will be radioactive and ingested/inhaled. Or carried back home on clothes to spread further contamination.

As many as six [?] of such tests occurred? Anyhow, stay away from Area 51. You have been warned!

coolbert.

SANDF.

This is coolbert:

SANDF = South African National Defense Force.

Military as an internal police force? Martial law? Thanks to the tip from Matt.

"South Africa military deployed to quell Cape Town gang crime"

The Tavern of the Seas. The Fairest Cape. The Mother City. Cape Town. Street gangs run amok.

MILITARY FORCE REQUIRED.

"Cape Town. South African soldiers on Thursday started patrolling Cape Town's crime-ridden townships under a deployment order by the government to counter a surge of shootings, gang violence and murders."

Street gangs posing a severe internal security threat within many nations.

TO INCLUDE THE UNITED STATES!

Street gangs posing that proper combination of numbers, weapons, money, organization AND ruthlessness.

Traditional policing just does work in such circumstances.

The article suggest the use of military units patrolling for a period of three months only. Don't count on it.

See previous blog entries the threat as posed by street gangs:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/02/3g2-i.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/02/3g2-ii.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/03/3g2-atomic.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2018/07/mtgm.html

coolbert.

Old.

This is coolbert:

The old ways are the best ways? With regard to the modern [2019] battlefield it may become so.

From Freeper and thanks to same:

"U.S. Field artillery back to learning manual methods after Russian intervention in Ukraine"

 "The U.S. Army Field artillery going back again to manual methods of fire direction and gunnery after lessons of Russian intervention in Ukraine. The U.S. Army has not had to contend with electronic warfare during the long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but the conflict in eastern Ukraine’s Donbass region showed an increase of electronic attack threat levels. With the growing threat of cyber attacks, the U.S. Army Field Artillery School has placed a renewed emphasis on learning manual methods."

ELECTRONIC WARFARE IN ALL MANIFESTATIONS AS DIRECTED AGAINST AMERICAN ARTILLERY UNITS TO INCLUDE CYBER ATTACK.

Jamming, intrusion, spoofing! Communications, data links, GPS all either denied or severely degraded.

"spoof - - INFORMAL - - verb: 1.imitate (something) while exaggerating its characteristic features  2. hoax or trick (someone)."

WE ARE GOING BACK TO THE ERA OF WORLD WAR ONE, IN PARTICULAR THE METHOD KNOWN AS "FLASH SPOTTING" AND "SOUND RANGING".

American military men their abilities at math and arithmetic are questionable? Tables will not be good enough! Hand held calculators and slide rules are going to become predominant again?

Back to the future and then some. Good luck one and all!

coolbert.

Mike.

This is coolbert:

Bq = Becquerel. A measure of radiation.

First from Freeper:

1. "Radiation Levels of Sunken Russian Nuclear Submarine 100,000 Times Higher Than Normal"

"Radiation levels in the water around a sunken Soviet-era nuclear submarine are some 100,000 times higher than normal, scientists have warned, raising fears that the K-278 Komsomolets may still pose a threat 30 years after it sunk"

Mike class Soviet era submarine K-278 Komsomolets on it's first operational patrol foundered and sank. 

Additionally from the Barents Observer and the article by Thomas Nilsen:

2. "'Komsomolets' leaks radioactivity"

"One sample taken from an open ventilation hole of the wreaked Soviet nuclear powered submarine shows levels of about 800 Becquerel [Bq] per liter." [one liter equals about one-quarter gallon U.S.]

Undersea ROV [remotely operated vehicle] at the site of the sinking taking multiple water samples to measure the radiation sample at the boat itself.

"The highest level researchers found was around 800 Bq per litre. Typical levels for seawater in the Norwegian Sea today are around 0.001 Bq per litre. In other words; the samples shows radioactivity 800,000 times higher than normal"

A radioactive level of 100 becquerel/liter is not considered to be dangerous!

"'Komsomolets' (K-278) rests at the seafloor at a depth of 1,680 meters, where there are very little marine life, so the risks of having the radioactivity into the food chain is very little."

I guess we are OK then?

coolbert.

Doomsday II.

This is coolbert:

"if someone really wanted to risk the extinction of humanity, starting a C-bomb [cobalt bomb] arms race is arguably one of the most promising strategies."

Further regarding the near disaster of the Russian AS-12 Losharik submarine. Thanks in this instance to Russian Insider.

"Russian Servicemen ‘Averted Planetary Catastrophe’ During Nuclear Submarine Accident"

"Just What Was That Stricken Russian Submarine Carrying?"

THE SUPER-WEAPON THAT CAN ERADICATE ALL MANKIND?

"Russian servicemen ‘averted planetary catastrophe’ during nuclear submarine accident, military official claims at funeral..."

"Among other reports we've seen (not verified so grain of salt) is that seven of the dead were captains, meaning whatever they were up to was pretty important."

"The best guess I've seen is a high-yield, 100 - 200 megaton, cobalt thermonuclear bomb."

Read the entire wiki entry for the cobalt bomb. This was an atomic weapon with radiological significance as used to scare the public during the era of the 1950's especially. Nuclear war was not probably going to happen but could/would eradicate mankind forever.

Russian Insider more Russian Internet controlled [?] media used to spread disinformation, agitprop, scare tactics? See a previous blog entry Russian Internet media as described.

coolbert.

MQ-8C.

This is coolbert:

"It also has the ability to autonomously take off and land on any aviation-capable ship and from prepared and unprepared landing zones."

"US Navy's Helicopter Drone Is Ready For Combat"

The article by Tyler Durden from Zero Hedge thanks to the tip from Jay.

"Last summer, we [Zero Hedge] reported how the US Navy completed the first comprehensive Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOTE) of the Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter. One year later, the Navy declared initial operational capability (IOC) for the MQ-8C"

NAVAL UAV COMBAT DRONE ROTARY WING NOW READY TO GO!! MQ-8C.

"The MQ-8C is a sea-based unmanned helicopter for reconnaissance, aerial fire support and precision targeting missions".

"The MQ-8C uses the Bell 407 airframe, with the insides completely stripped out and replaced with automated systems and extra fuel tanks."

An existing design, a fly-able and long-time in the inventory [almost ancient and venerable] warplane. Good to go now rather than better tomorrow. Manned aircraft now unmanned.

"The 407 uses the four-blade, soft-in-plane design rotor with composite hub developed for the United States Army's OH-58D Kiowa Warrior"

UAV as used by the U.S. Navy for combat operations hardly new. From the era of the Cold War over fifty years ago now read of the Gyrodyne QH-50 DASH anti-submarine drone.

coolbert.

Horizontal.

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The threat awesome but can be countered?

See these two previous blog entries here and here as pertinent to the topic.

USUALLY IF SOMETHING SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE IT IS NOT TRUE.

Again from the Internet web site of Bloomberg and the article by Hal Brands.

"The Too-Good-to-Be-True Way to Fight the Chinese Military"

“'Horizontal escalation' is a new strategy to shift a war to the enemy’s weak spots. Unfortunately, it won’t work on its own."

"An American war against China or Russia would be truly awful. Even if the U.S. won — no sure thing — it could well suffer costs and casualties that would make the toll of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars seem minor by comparison. So is there a way the U.S. could stymie a Chinese attack in the Pacific, or a Russian land-grab in Eastern Europe, without having to defeat enemy forces head-on?"

READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE. EXPLAINS IN DETAIL ALL ASPECTS OF HORIZONTAL ESCALATION.

coolbert.

Pivot

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South China Sea. Updates. EEZ = Economic Exclusion Zone.

Filipino and Chinese interests and territorial sovereignty claims clash.

From the latest edition of the Wall Street Journal and the article by Jake Maxwell Watts.

"Sea Collision Tests Philippine Ties to Beijing"

"The alleged sinking of a Philippine fishing boat by a Chinese vessel has emerged as the biggest test yet of President Rodrigo Duterte's pivot to China, as his decision not to push Beijing over the incident prompts condemnation from critics who say he is selling out his country's sovereignty for economic gain."

Territorial flash points: [recent incidents maritime incidents South China Sea]

* Sandy Cay November 2017.
* Fiery Cross and Mischief Reef April 2018.
* Scarborough Shoal March 2019.
* Thitu Island April 2019.
* Reed Bank June 2019.

Duterte has chosen a policy in the South China Sea of go-it-alone. No aid or assistance of a bilateral nature with the Americans.

Hope go-it-alone goes well. You have to ask if it has.

coolbert.

Media.

This is coolbert:

RT = Russian Times.

From the latest edition of the DEBKAfile news letter:

A freedom of the press issue?

"London bars Russia’s RT and Sputnik from media conference"

9 July.

"The UK Foreign Office refused accreditation to RT and Sputnik to attend a media freedom conference in London, accusing them of an 'active role in spreading disinformation.' The Russian Embassy complained to the Foreign Office, accusing the UK of a 'months-long smear campaign' against RT, which said in a statement: 'It takes a particular brand of hypocrisy to advocate for freedom of press while banning inconvenient voices and slandering alternative media.'"

Often I extract material for blog entries the source is Russian Times [?] and Sputnik. To what extent these Russian Internet media outlets are controlled either totally or even partially by the Russian government I cannot say.

Stories as found at RT and Sputnik having a degree of validity but nonetheless part of a Soviet-style agitprop operation on behalf of the Russian government?

RT AND SPUTNIK NOT LEGITIMATE A JOURNALISTIC EFFORT?

I would be remiss not to mention that noted blogger Spengler has rated the DEBKAfile totally unreliable under all circumstances. So there!

coolbert.

Skyborg.

This is coolbert:

From Russian Internet media Sputnik SkyNet and the terminator closer than we think?

Skyborg!

"US Air Force to Begin First Tests on New AI Algorithms For Skyborg Program"

"The US Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) Skyborg program is getting its first flight test this summer, with officials focusing their attention on autonomy algorithms and artificial intelligence."

"The tests, set to take place at Edwards Air Force Base in Kern County, California, are expected to be conducted on a 'small, but representative high-speed surrogate aircraft,'”

Those "small but representative" surrogates to include:

* Kratos XQ-58A.
* Composite Engineering BQM-167.
* Boeing QF-16.

Combat UAV [UCAV] as envisioned to function in aerial warfare as a "wingman" for a manned combat warplane. UCAV not operating totally independently but having a limited autonomous capability nonetheless.

coolbert.

Planetary.

This is coolbert:

In summary and finally with a full [?] understanding of the recent Russian nuclear submarine disaster.

From the Internet web site of Bloomberg and the article by Henry Meyer and Stepan Kravchenko.

It could have been worse. Even much more so?

"Crew of Russian Nuclear Sub Prevented ‘Planetary Catastrophe,’ Officer Says"

"The 14 sailors who died during a fire last week on a nuclear-powered Russian military submarine prevented a 'planetary catastrophe,' a top naval officer said at their funeral, according to media reports."

A "PLANETARY CATASTROPHE" OF EXACTLY WHAT NATURE UNSPECIFIED. A SPEW OF RADIOACTIVITY OF PRODIGIOUS PROPORTIONS WITH DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES FOR THE ARCTIC OCEAN AND BEYOND?

AND NO AMERICAN SUBMARINE FIRED UPON AND SUNK BY THE RUSSIAN MOTHER SHIP EITHER.

See previous blog entries the Russian Losharik AS-12 submarine disaster:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/07/scuttle.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/07/as-12-loshark.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/07/research.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/07/losharik.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/07/batteries.html

coolbert.

WSJ IV.

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Conclusion!

Historical headlines the Wall Street Journal those with a military dimension.

August 15, 2002.

"DON'T ATTACK SADDAM"

By Brent Scowcroft

"Our nation is presently engage in a debate about whether to launch a war against. Iraq. Leaks of various strategies for an attack on Iraq appear with regularity. The Bush administration vows regime change, but states that no decision has been made whether, much less when, to launch an invasion"

"It is beyond dispute that Saddam Hussein is a menace. He terrorizes and brutalizes his own people. He has launched war on two of his neighbors. He devotes enormous effort to rebuilding his military forces and equipping them weapons of mass destruction. We will all be better off when his is gone."

"That said, we need to think through this issue very carefully. We need to analyze the relationship between Iraq and our other pressing priorities - - notably the war on terrorism - - as well as the best strategy and tactics available were we to move to change the regime in Baghdad."

And we all know the rest of story, don't we. Gulf War II. The end of Saddam. The Iraqi Insurgency. The rise of the Islamic State and the defeat of same. And the beat goes on.

coolbert.

WSJ III.

This is coolbert:

Yet more continuing historical headlines the Wall Street Journal:

December 8, 1941

"WE HAVE A DUTY"

"The business and financial discussion which customarily appears on this page in Monday morning's issue of the Wall Street Journal was written Saturday evening and given to the compositors yesterday. As the galley proof reached the editorial room, press association wires carried the flash that the Japanese had attacked Hawaii."

. . . .

"Every citizen has and knows his duty. It will be heavy for all. The sacrifice will be particularly heavy for the business and financial community of America."

"We say that the sacrifices will be made. The duty will be performed."

AND IT WAS! ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY!

coolbert.

WSJ II.

This is coolbert:

Continuing with historical Wall Street Journal headlines those having a military dimension:

December 8, 1941

"What's News - - World-Wide"

"JAPAN ATTACKS HAWAII, DAMAGE AND LOSS OF LIFE REPORTED HEAVY; JAPAN DECLARES WAR ON U.S., ENGLAND"

"ROOSEVELT TO ADDRESS CONGRESS TODAY TOKYO ENVOY DELIVERS REPORT TO U.S.; HULL: 'INFAMOUS,' FILLED WITH LIES REDS CLAIM GAINS ON ALL FRONTS BRITISH, AXIS TANKS IN MAJOR BATTLE"

"JAPAN ATTACKED U.S. bases at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Guam and Cavite on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, occupied the international settlement in Shanghai and then declared war on the U.S. and Britain"

THE DAY THAT WILL LIVE IN INFAMY!

coolbert.

WSJ I.

This is coolbert:

Here begins a series of blog entries from the Wall Street Journal edition as of yesterday..

"A HISTORY OF THE WORLD. AS SEEN THROUGH THE EYES OF THE WALL STREET JOURNAL SINCE ITS DEBUT IN 1889"

Headlines as having a military dimension.

August 5, 1914.

"GERMANY WARS ON FRANCE; ENGLAND STANDS BY BELGIUM"

"GERMANY GIVEN TWELVE HOURS TO DECLARE ITS POSITION TOWARD THE BELGIAN NATION"

"100,000 German Troops March to Invade France - - Germany Appeals to Italy to Rejoin the Alliance - - Switzerland Completes Mobilization - - Skirmishing Along Prussian Frontier - - English War Party in Power"

"Developments followed in quick succession yesterday in the European conflict expanded to include practically entire Continent"

And well we know the rest of the story!

coolbert.

BW Navy.

This is coolbert:

Declassified!! 

U.S. Navy bio-warfare. Film as dated 1952. Original classification unknown. When declassified also unknown.

I recommend highly without qualification or reservation.

Primary consideration of the U.S. Navy with regard to biological munitions dispersal. Development of such toxins a responsibility of the U.S. Army. Three experimental dispersal as described vicinity San Francisco bay area, Key West, Florida, USA and the Southeastern states of continental mainland America.

Dispersal methods involving air, surface and sub-surface delivery. The latter submarine using naval sea mine.

Naval commando units also as envisioned as having a role in bio-warfare agent dispersal. SEALs.

THE USE OF NAVAL CARRIER BORNE AIRCRAFT AS A MEANS OF DELIVERING ON TARGET BIO-WARFARE TOXINS HIGHLY STRESSED. A STRATEGIC CAPABILITY FOR SUPER-CARRIER AS IT WAS IN 1952.

coolbert.

BASH USA.

This is coolbert:

The Indian Air Force has such occurrences. The U.S. Air force has such occurrences. BASH. Bird Accident Strike Hazard!

From the Aviationist:

"An A-10 Accidentally Lost Three Practice Bombs After Bird Strike in Florida."

"Accident Happened Over Controlled Range, Practice Bombs Remain Missing."

SOUNDS DIRE! THESE ARE PRACTICE BOMBS HOWEVER AND CONTAIN NO EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL. NO "BANG STUFF".

"A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II was involved in a bird strike incident that resulted in the loss of three practice bombs over a restricted bombing range in northern Florida on Monday. There were no injuries reported."

Regarding those missing bombs [BDU-33]:

"BDU-33 is a standard 25-pound practice bomb used by both the USAF and the U.S Navy . . . The BDU-33 does not carry a destructive explosive warhead, but a small spotting charge that releases smoke when the bomb strikes a target as an aid in judging bombing accuracy in training."

Unless you are directly under the bomb and it hits you on the head, nothing to worry about then.

coolbert.

Dragons.

This is coolbert:

Naval commando World War Two, Japanese style!

This was a new one on me. Thanks to the tip from Billy and the article "Suicide Squads" by R O'Neill.

Fukurya. Combat divers functioning as a human mine, a suicide mission.

"The fukuryu 'crouching dragons,' were divers armed with lunge mines, each capable of sinking a landing craft up to 950 tons."

"These divers could stay submerged for up to 10 hours, and were to thrust their explosive charges into the bottom of landing craft and, in effect serve as human mines."

"1,200 Fukuryu graduated from Kawatana and Yokosuka Mine School with 2,800 still under training, They had a 'clumsy helmet', and were equipped with bulky air circulation and purification tanks. If this worked a man could stay at 50 ft down for 10 hours sustained by a supply of liquid food."

"They were to use a 22 lbs. (10 kg) impact fuzed charge on the end of a stout pole, rather like the anti-tank 'lunge mine'. Underwater pill boxes were to be constructed to provide shelter. These were arranged so each Fukuryu could cover an area of 390 sq, meters [20 X 20 yards]."

These Fukuryu ascending vertically and detonating their demolition on the bottom of a vessel. Death for the combat diver of course a certainty.

THERE WERE NO RECORDED INSTANCES [?] OF FUKURYU EVER BEING USED IN COMBAT. THE WAR CAME TO A CLOSE BEFORE THEY COULD BE EMPLOYED!

 Japanese also during the earliest stages of the war in the Pacific having surface combat swimmers, naval commandos referred to as "Kaiyu":

"a Kaiyu swimmer unit was 22 men strong each equipped with 3 grenades a knife and a wooden box 160 cu. inches ( 2,620 cu. cm) filled with the explosive Lyddite. These were surface swimmers and such swimmers had been used earlier in the war . . . to clear mines in Hong Kong."

Kaiyu similar to and having a mission analogous to American UDT [Underwater Demolition Team]. Fukuryu in a league all by themselves.

coolbert.

Batteries.

This is coolbert:

Batteries!

More on the incident of the Russian AS-12 Losharik research/reconnaissance submarine fire. Some hands lost but ship saved.

"Russia reveals its fire-hit mystery submarine was nuclear powered"

Thanks to CNBC and the article by Holly Ellyatt

KEY POINTS:

* "A top secret Russian military submarine hit by a fire earlier this week was nuclear powered, Russia has admitted, with the country’s defense minister saying the nuclear reactor has been contained."

* "Russia has been accused of something of a cover-up after it failed to reveal details of a fire on a military submarine that led to the deaths of 14 sailors."

* "President Putin asked his defense minister about the condition of the vessel on Thursday."

DEVOTED READERS TO THE BLOG WILL NOTICE NOTHING NEW HERE!

The cause of the fire the batteries? Batteries on submarines traditionally a problem. Out-gassing of hydrogen creating a combustible situation that the slightest spark can set off. These nuclear submarines ALL have batteries in case back-up and emergency power needed?

coolbert.

BAMS-D

This is coolbert:

"That platform [Global Hawk UAV] was sent to be sacrificed in an effort to fine tune our intelligence of Iranian anti air order of battle."

BAMS-D = (Broad Area Maritime Surveillance-Demonstrator). Global Hawk.

American Global Hawk drone as shot-down by the Iranian. Much more to  the story than is realized?

From Soldier of Foirtune [SoF] by Babatim  Free range international.

"U.S. Navy Suckers Iran into Shooting Down Surplus Drone: Scores Big Intelligence Coup"

"Intentionally or not, in the current contest of wills with Iran, the United States is now in a dominant geo -political and military position. Intentionally or not, the United States now has the most accurate, comprehensive, intelligence on Iran’s order of battle that any adversary has ever harvested from its opponent in history."

American drone as shot-down by the Iranian sent in a provocative manner so as to be engaged and destroyed by Iranian air defense. A sacrifice worth the cost of a demonstrator model about to be scrapped? So is the THEORY!

THE ENTIRE AIR DEFENSE NETWORK OF THE IRANIAN WOULD HAVE BECOME ACTIVE IN RESPONSE TO THE INTRUSION [DELIBERATE] OF THE UAV! RADARS, COMMUNICATION NETS, AIR INTERCEPTORS, MISSILE FIRING BATTERIES ALL AT THE READY. AMERICAN MILITARY FORCES POISED FOR ACTION VERY VALUABLE INTELLIGENCE GAINED!!

See recent blog entries as germane: [note the Triton drone is not the same as the Global Hawk]

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/06/triton.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/06/sayyad-3.html

coolbert.