Tracks.

This is coolbert:

ONLY slightly vaguely do I remember this. In the case of the Swede mini-submarine incursions occurring over thirty years ago. In the case of the Norwegian incursion believed to have occurred thirty years ago.

Sworn to secrecy agreements have now expired and the truth can be told?

Mini-submarines as operated by the Soviet Navy intruding into territorial waters of a foreign nation. Clandestine military operation using submersibles with A TRACKED CAPABILITY?

Courtesy first the Barents Observer:

1. "Soviet mini-sub discovered in Jarfjord by Norwegian special forces in 1990"

"A former officer from the Headquarters of the Armed Forces in Northern Norway told about the surfacing submarine in a TV documentary . . . about the Cold War."

INTRUDER GLIMPSED SURFACING ONLY ONCE AND THEN FOR A MERE BRIEF INSTANT. VEHICLE TRACKS ON THE SEA BED INDICATING A SUBMERSIBLE IN THE AREA, TRACKED AS WOULD BE A CONVENTIONAL ARMORED VEHICLE AS USED BY MILITARY GROUND FORCES.

Additionally from the H. I. Sutton Internet web site devoted all things submarine:

2. "Soviet tracked submersibles in Baltic, 1980s"

"A spate of submarine incursions led to the suspicion that the Soviet Navy was operating tracked submersibles in Swedish waters. Track marks were found on the sea floor but the exact submarine(s) responsible has yet to surface. In the 1980s, Mana (Swedish naval intelligence . . . wrote a report which included several sketches of the tracks and hypothetical illustrations of the types of submarines which could have caused them. They suspected that Russian diesel-electric submarines  . . . operated as host submarines for smaller midget submarines and combat swimmers. Some of the midget submarines were believed to be responsible for the parallel track marks."

Swedish naval intelligence a crude but probably accurate rendering of a modified Soviet Project 1837 submersible mini-submarine, tracked. A "modified" version of the Soviet Deep Sea Recovery Vehicle [DSRV]?

Finally and in conclusion also from the H. I. Sutton Internet web site and thanks to same:

3. "Analysis of Swedish submarine incursion- Luleå 1983"

"Cold War Swedish Submarine Incursions."

"Conclusion It does appear most likely that the marks were left by some sort of manned tracked submersible which is unknown in public sources. It was probably a dry-sub as opposed to a wet-sub like most Swimmer Delivery Vehicles (SDVs)"

A "dry-sub" as meaning personnel not having to wear a wet suit and breathing from SCUBA gear.

coolbert.

Flak USN.

This is coolbert:

"'We're looking at another round called the proximity round, which detects the drone as it approaches and then blows up' . . . 'It's not a radar system, but it's something similar. That's what we're looking at for drones.'"

Once again how fortuitous and thanks to Jay for the tip. Also back to the future deja vu all over again.

Drone. Anti-drone. Proximity fuze. Pom-Pom gun.

"US Navy To Revive Flak Cannons To Combat Drone Attacks"

"The proliferation of unmanned aircraft has frightened the U.S. Navy into developing a powerful air burst round to knock drones out of the sky, reported Military.com."

"The precision air burst munition, similar to anti-aircraft flak rounds used in World War II, is being designed to combat drones that are targeting warships at sea."

"The new round is compatible with the Littoral Combat Ship's (LCS) 30mm deck gun."

ADVANCED ELECTRONICS MICRO-TECHNOLOGY ALLOWING FOR A 30 MM GUN TO FIRE A ROUND ARMED BY A PROXIMITY FUZE. SOMETHING NOT POSSIBLE IN 1945!

GOD Bless. And devoted readers to the blog be fully aware you are way ahead of the learning curve with regard to anti-drone technology.

coolbert.

VT.

This is coolbert:

VT = Variable Time. Variable time fuze. Victor Tango.

Here with some You Tube video, the VT fuze. Rated third most important Research and Development [R and D] project of the Second World War [WW2]. Third only behind the Manhattan Project # 1 and the B-29 bomber # 2.

Over sixty companies and research labs [three score as described] in the R and D process. Reputedly over two thousand companies involved to some degree in the manufacture of the VT fuze itself.

"fuze : a mechanical or electrical detonating device for setting off the bursting charge of a projectile, bomb, or torpedo"

VT described as a radio transmitter and receiver in a tiny package used to fuze an artillery round. Proximity to an object allowing for detonation without impact on the target. Radar as understood. Radio Direction and Ranging [RADAR].

As explained and thanks to You Tube.

In the modern context VT fuze as arming the warhead of a surface-air-missile missile, detonation releasing hundreds "of high-energy objects". Actual missile hitting the target not required for a shoot-down.

Anti-aircraft-artillery [AAA] rounds using VT fuze SIX times for effective. Perhaps even more effective when used by ground force tube artillery and directed against enemy troops in the open or even in dug in positions without overhead cover. That downward trajectory spew of shell fragments most deadly.

coolbert.

APKWS II.

This is coolbert:

How fortuitous! More anti-drone stuff courtesy the Internet Web site Strategy Page.

"Air Weapons: The Little Little UAV Killer"

"January 21, 2020: The U.S. Air Force recently successfully tested the APKWS II (Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System) laser-guided missile fired from an F-16 fighter and shooting down a small UAV. The F-16 was using a targeting pod, which can spot and identify small flying objects and enable the pilot to launch an AGR-20A, as the APKWS used on jets is called, to hit a small, slow-moving target operating at low altitude."

WILL SHOOTING DOWN A DRONE COUNT AS A "KILL" FOR ESTABLISHING FIGHTER PILOT ACE STATUS??

See previous blog entry [with many additional embedded links] the topic anti-drone weaponry.

It is all the rage.

coolbert.

Howler.

This is coolbert:

Drone. Counter-drone. One size fits all in the case of Coyote? Coyote and son of Coyote.

1. "US Army deploys Howler counter-UAS capability into the battlefield"

"KuRFS radar and Coyote UAS track and destroy drone threats"

DRONE COMBINED WITH MINIATURE RADAR AND YOU HAVE A DRONE WITH KINETIC KILL CAPABILITY AS ANTI-DRONE!

"TEWKSBURY, Mass -- The U.S. Army recently announced that the Howler counter unmanned aerial system achieved Initial Operational Capability, putting critical protection against drones in the hands of soldiers."

Counter-drone as designated by the U.S. Army as Howler.

"Howler, a name coined by the U.S. Army, combines the capabilities of Raytheon's Ku band radio frequency system multi-mission simultaneous radar and Coyote® unmanned aircraft system. The KuRFS advanced electronically scanned array acquires and tracks all size UAS threats. Coyote works with KuRFS using its advanced seeker and warhead to identify and eliminate UAS threats."

Read more concerning Coyote!

2. Coyote UAS.

"One System: Multiple Missions"

"The most capable in its class, the Coyote® unmanned aircraft system is small, expendable and tube-launched. It can be deployed from the ground, air or a ship. The Coyote UAS can be flown individually or netted together in swarms, and it is adaptable for a variety of missions including surveillance, electronic warfare and strike. The system will operate up to one hour and is designed for interchangeable payloads."

Devoted readers to the blog I highly recommend the embedded videos.

See previous blog entries the topic weapon systems the intent specifically anti-drone:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/09/rays.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/07/nerod-f5.html

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

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

coolbert.

CPGS.

This is coolbert:

CPGS = Conventional Prompt Global Strike.

Haven't heard about this in a while.

Was once call Prompt Global Strike. Add Conventional now for emphasis. Zumwalt back in service? A ship now with a valid mission? We shall see.

"Navy may arm new destroyer with conventional missile able to hit anywhere on Earth in an hour"

"ARLINGTON, Va. - The Navy’s newest destroyer may fire a not-yet-to-be fielded Conventional Prompt Strike conventionally-armed missile engineered to hit anywhere on earth within an hour, service program managers said. The weapon, now being considered by Navy weapons developers for the emerging USS Zumwalt, will bring new attack options to the stealthy destroyer being prepared for combat as soon as 2021"

USS Zumwalt class of destroyer, ships without weaponry [not fully so] now are slated to become an important part of American military deterrent capacity?

A MISSILE FIRING DESTROYER ABLE TO SEND A PROJECTILE TO ANY SPOT ON THE PLANET, CARRYING A CONVENTIONAL WARHEAD WITH THE DESTRUCTIVENESS OF A NUCLEAR WEAPON. CPGS.

CPGS a kinetic bombardment weapon. Often referred to as "Rods from God". Missile warhead not atomic but rather hundreds or thousands of tungsten rods descending on a target from a high angle at enormous speed, everything within a mile radius of ground-zero obliterated.

Zumwalt  the proverbial "white elephant" now given new life and mission. Navy will be happy? I hope so.

coolbert.

Gone.

This is coolbert:

As we speak. Occurring!

GPS [Ground Positioning System] negated.

Thanks to Freeper.

"GPS JAMMING EXPECTED IN SOUTHEAST DURING MILITARY EXERCISE"

"GPS reception may be unavailable or unreliable over a large portion of the southeastern states and the Caribbean during offshore military exercises scheduled between January 16 and 24. The FAA has posted a flight advisory for the exercises that will require jamming of GPS signals for periods of several hours each day of the event."

GPS denied to the military during military exercise [war games]. Hardly unique and done for good reason. Test the ability for ground/air/naval forces to navigate using the ancient and venerable methods. Map reading, land navigation, compass reading, pacing for the ground forces. Celestial and astral navigation using the sun, moon, stars and sextant as aids for the sailors.

Military combatants resorting to traditional and time-worn navigation in case of war, high-level-technology of the GPS variety denied through hostile action, jamming or destruction of satellites in orbit.

I am fond of saying that sometimes the old ways are the best ways. Undeniably this is so.

See previous blog entries, American military forces denied GPS during training exercises, intentional and done for good reason:

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

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/02/gps-jam.html

coolbert.

Numbers.

This is coolbert:

"On page 459, question number 35, on page 913, question number 55, on page 135, question number 86, on page 257, question number 2…" 

WHEN KIM SPEAKS, EVERYONE LISTEN. ESPECIALLY THOSE OF THE 27TH BUREAU!

From Popular Mechanics and the article by Kyle:

"North Korea Is Sending Mysterious Coded Radio Messages Again"

After nearly two decades, a spy 'numbers' station is back on the air.

NORTH KOREAN SPY "NUMBERS" STATION!

"A North Korean short wave radio station abruptly returned to the airwaves last Friday after a sixteen year absence."

SIXTEEN YEARS AND NOT HEARD! ALL OF A SUDDEN ACTIVE!

And this is all about? I am sure persons of some importance are scratching their heads over this one.

NORTH KOREA PREFERS THE OLD WAYS! RELATIVELY CRUDE ANTEDILUVIAN TECHNOLOGY OF THE NORTH KOREAN STILL IS EFFECTIVE AND IS KNOWN QUANTITY? THIS IS SO?

coolbert.

Foxxx.

This is coolbert:

The American military man behaving badly?

West Point military academy cadet relatively speaking still a stripling lad of barely legal age prefers the older mature woman?

"West Point Cadet Crowdfunding Date With US Porn Star Faces Discipline - Reports"

"A cadet from the prestigious West Point military academy decided to find his other half in a peculiar and not really romantic way. The young man apparently used such qualities as candor, directness and non-hesitancy, that are natural for a good soldier in a private battle for settling his personal life."

DIAMOND FOXXX.

AN ASSIGNATION AS PLANNED OF THE UNSEEMLY TYPE? AND USING FUNDS FROM INTERNET WEB SITES NORMALLY USED TO SEEK CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS.

And what sort of exact violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice [UCMJ] if any was done here?

CONDUCT UNBECOMING A GENTLEMAN AND POTENTIAL OFFICER?

And no, the image accompanying this blog entry is not of Diamond Foxxx.

coolbert.

Desperado.

This is coolbgert:

To be honest I am surprised that such film footage [in color] even exists.

The overland relief march to lift the siege of Dien Bien Phu. Partisan units of hill tribesmen loyal to the French during the First Indo-China War as commanded by Captain Jean Sassi. This was Operation Desperado.

Sasse at the time a relatively junior officer and initiating the overland relief operation to Dien Bien Phu on his own authority. A relief operation aborted, permission denied by higher authority, Jean Sassi and his forces in position, poised, ready. From the video settings you can turn on auto-translate to English or other languages.

IN ALL LIKELIHOOD THE RELIEF OPERATION TO DIEN BIEN PHU WOULD HAVE PROBABLY FAILED, SO DOOMED WAS THE FRENCH GARRISON! ABOUT ONE-HUNDRED FIFTY FRENCH ESCAPEES HOWEVER WERE REPATRIATED DUE TO THE EFFORTS OF JEAN SASSI AND HIS PARTISANS.

coolbert.

Patrol II.

This is coolbert:

Conclusion!

Yet one more instance, the alpine military competition. A competitive event, cross-country mountaineering skiing.

Patrouille des Glaciers (PDG).

The Patrouille des Glaciers (PDG) is a ski mountaineering race organized every two years by the Swiss Armed Forces, in which military and civilian teams compete. It takes place once every two years at the end of April, in the south part of the canton of Valais below the summits of the Pennine Alps.

"The Patrouille des Glaciers has military origins. During the Second World War, the Swiss army organized a race to test the abilities of its soldiers. The first military patrol edition was held in April 1943. . . That year, 18 patrols, each consisting of three members, travelled 63 kilometres [forty miles] to reach Verbier. In 1944, 44 teams participated, but for a few years, no races were organized because of World War II"

APPARENTLY NO RIFLE SHOOTING AS AN ASPECT OF THE COMPETITION!

coolbert.

Patrol I.

This is coolbert:

At the insistence of Adolf Hitler! And who could refuse?

"Military patrol". A demonstration sport at the 1936 Olympics. Military personnel alpine troops demonstrating a competitive proficiency at mountaineering, mountain skiing and rifle shooting.

"Military patrol was a team winter sport in which athletes competed in cross-country skiing, ski mountaineering and rifle shooting. It was usually contested between countries or military units.
Start of a German Reichswehr military training patrol team in the Giant Mountains, January 1932."

"The military patrol competition encompassed 25 kilometer [sixteen miles] cross-country skiing (15 km for women) and rifle shooting. The size of the patrol was four members. The total climb had to be from 500 to 1200 meters (300m. to 700m. for women). The rules were very similar to modern biathlon"

Cross-country skiing while carrying load and in the mountain alpine environment. Long-range rifle shooting using military-grade high-power weapons and not sissy like small-bore firearm competition done at short-range.

coolbert.

Club.

This is coolbert:

Caveman warfare almost literally so.

World War One [WW1] the trench club.

Thanks to the Internet web site American Shooting Journal and the tip from Freeper.

Devoted readers to the blog are encouraged to read the entire article.

That most vicious and personal aspect of WW1 the trench raid, weaponry as carried by the attacker unconventional and used in an unconventional manner.

The trench raid an offensive action [nearly 100 % of the time during hours of darkness?], crossing the four-hundred meter to eight-hundred meter gap "no man's land" between the warring adversaries. Squad/platoon/company and sometimes even battalion trench raids quite common.

"Trench Raiding Clubs of WW1."

"Far Outweighs the Firepower in Trench Warfare"

"You would think having extreme fire power would be the ideal thing to have when entrenched in a world war. However, in trench warfare during World War I having medieval/zombie types of weaponry was a better choice and more effective while fighting in the trench at close quarter.

The trench raid the objective to capture both prisoners and documents, cause casualties, keep the enemy on their toes.

Across no-man's land at a run, into the enemy trench, accomplish your assigned tasks, withdrawn back to your trenches. FAST IN, FAST OUT!

CONSIDER THAT WITH REGARD TO THE TRENCH RAID THE LESS GEAR THE BETTER! SPEED OF THE ESSENCE.

Weaponry again unconventional. Trench club, bayonet, grenades, trench knife, riot gun [an American specialty] , handguns [.45 autoloading pistol or .455 Webley] preferred. In some instances, boots and fists also lethal.

coolbert.

Admit.

This is coolbert:

"The truth is out there." And sometimes it is found.

From CNN and conclusively so it has now been admitted that an Iranian Tor [?] air defense system shot down the Ukrainian airliner, inadvertently. Small comfort to the now deceased passengers.

"Iran says Ukrainian passenger plane was shot down unintentionally in fear of US aggression"

"Iran admitted Saturday that it mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet, blaming human error and 'US adventurism"for the crash that left 176 people dead."

"In a statement, the nation's armed forces said it targeted the passenger plane unintentionally. It attributed the crash to radar activity and fear of US action."

See all recent blog entries as pertinent:

https://currently.att.yahoo.com/att/iran-says-ukrainian-passenger-plane-055946610.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/01/737-800.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/01/coincidence.html

Heat-of-battle-incident? The devoted reader to the blog will have to decide for themselves!

coolbert.

Tor.

This is coolbert:

From the Internet web site Right Journalism further details the Ukrainian airliner crash Iran.

The Ukrainian 737 was shot-down and now pictures have emerged to suggest this is go?

"Iranian Claims To Take Photo Of Missile Part Near Ukrainian Plane That Crashed Today (Photos)"

"The crash of a Ukrainian jetliner that killed 176 people in Iran touched off mourning Wednesday in both Ukraine and Canada — where many of the victims were from or were headed — and raised a host of questions about what went wrong. But U.S. intelligence officials said there was no immediate evidence it was shot down."

MISSILE PARTS FROM A SOVIET/RUSSIAN AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM SA-15 [NATO CODE NAME GAUNTLET] REPUTEDLY FOUND NEAR THE CRASH SCENE OF THE AIRLINER.

IRAN DOES ACCORDING TO THE WIKI ENTRY POSSESS THE GAUNTLET SYSTEM.

The Tor missile system . . . is an all-weather low to medium altitude, short-range surface-to-air missile system designed for engaging airplanes, helicopters, cruise missiles, precision guided munitions, unmanned aerial vehicles and short-range ballistic threats (Anti-Munitions) . . . the system is commonly known by its NATO reporting name, SA-15 "Gauntlet"

From the Russian Internet web site Deagel we have an image of a Tor system missile, vertical launch. Eight such missiles carried in the Tor self-contained and autonomous weapons system. And thank you Deagel.

The final word on this will never be known with 100 % exactness? I fear that is so.

coolbert.

737-800.

This is coolbert:

Further concerning the crash of the Ukrainian airline during take-off.

IRANIANS NOW OBFUSCATING? THE IRANIAN DID SHOOT THE PLANE DOWN BY ACCIDENT THIS DOES LOOK BAD!

From the Israeli DEBKAfile today:

"Mystery over deadly Ukraine plane crash. Iran won’t hand over black boxes"

"All 176 passengers and crew were killed when a Ukrainian Boeing 737-800 jet engine caught fire moments after takeoff Wednesday from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini airport. Iran’s civil aviation authority has said it will not hand over to Boeing the black boxes found from the crashed airliner. Both were damaged but data could still be retrieved"

LET ME REPEAT, THAT WITHIN HISTORICAL CONTEXT THE ACCIDENTAL SHOOT-DOWN OF A COMMERCIAL AIRLINER BY A MILITARY AIR DEFENSE [AD] NOT SUCH A RARE EVENT. ESPECIALLY DURING A TIME OF CONFLICT, AD CREWS SKITTISH AND TRIGGER-HAPPY, SHOOT FIRST AND ASK QUESTIONS LATER.

coolbert.

Intercepts.

This is coolbert:

As is reported by Iranian Internet media PressTV the attack on the American air bases, a combined rocket artillery and ballistic missile strike accomplished.

BUT NOT A WHOLE LOT MORE TO REPORT.

"IRGC: No missiles intercepted in attack on US bases, casualties reported"

"Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says none of its missiles were intercepted during Wednesday's heavy strike that targeted two US bases inside Iraq to avenge the United States’ assassination of its senior commander, Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani."

"There have been initial reports of casualties."

OTHER [?] IRANIAN MEDIA REPORT EIGHTY AMERICAN CASUALTIES. A DOZEN MISSILES LAUNCHED, NINE HITTING THE AIR BASE, THREE OFF COURSE. NONE INTERCEPTED!

Mike Morrell [ex-Deputy Director CIA] reports this attack was merely a face-saving gesture on the part of the Iranian. Missiles not striking targets [?] a sign the Iranian wants to de-escalate.We wait for further announcements.

coolbert.

Coincidence.

This is coolbert:

I would not preclude the possibility.

Thanks to Freeper this story I am sure will be a controversial item for some time to come.

"On Same Night Iran Fires Missiles – Ukraine Passenger Flight Leaving Tehran Airport Crashes Killing 170…."

"Horrific coincidence that might not entirely be a coincidence. A Ukraine 737 Airliner, Flight 752 from Tehran to Ukraine, is lost shortly after take-off. The incident takes place only hours after Iran fires ballistic missiles into Iraq targeting U.S. bases Video of the plane crashing shows the airliner in flames as it nears the ground and explodes. Some preliminary reporting indicated the flight might have been accidentally shot down by Iranian anti-aircraft defenses."

NOT TO PRECLUDE THE POSSIBILITY THAT IRANIAN AIR DEFENSE [AD] SHOT THE PLANE DOWN BY ACCIDENT. AS PREPOSTEROUS AS SUCH AN ALLEGATION MAY SEEM.

To place such a possible even in context consider that during that period of the Cold War, it is alleged.The Soviet Union AD shot down FORTY of their own aircraft, so skittish and trigger happy were the defenders of Soviet air space.

coolbert.

Panic.

This is coolbert:

Wars and rumors of war.

FAFSA = Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Here with yet one more response to the current Iranian crisis. A response I fined to be pathetic.

Panic mode American college students seeking tuition aid from the federal government. The devil is in the details as they say. From CBS News and the article by Li Cohen and thanks to same.

"College students panic over FAFSA's fine print about registering for the draft"

TO RECEIVE COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT [USA] IF YOU ARE A MALE YOU MUST BE REGISTERED FOR THE MILITARY DRAFT!!

"Any person assigned the sex of male at birth who is between the ages of 18 to 25 is required to register for the draft. Eligible citizens are required to register within 30 days of turning 18, and immigrants must register within 30 days of entering the U.S."

"If someone who is eligible for the draft has not yet registered, they're generally unable to get federal financial aid for higher education. FAFSA offers applicants a way to register for the draft in the aid application. Those who are ineligible for draft exemption and who failed to register are not granted federal financial aid"

"After a U.S. airstrike killed Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's Quds military force, in Baghdad on Thursday, Iran vowed "crushing revenge" against all responsible. Now, with #NoWarinIran, #TrumpsWar and #WorldWarIII trending on Twitter, users are looking into the draft — particularly college students about how the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) could play into their potential future military service."

CONCERNS OF YOUNG AMERICAN MEN AS TO THEIR REGISTRATION STATUS THE REASON FOR THE SELECTIVE SERVICE COMPUTER CRASHING??

NOW these students are realizing the importance of following the laws, all of them. When it can hit the pocketbook most are more than concerned so it seems. OH please.

coolbert.

Shamkhani.

This is coolbert:

Shamkhani speaks!

From the Internet web site DEBKAfile only today. Just prior to the Al-Asad air base rocket and missile attack evidently.

"Shamkhani: Iran mulls 13 scenarios against the US"

"Iran’s security council secretary, Ali Shankhani, said on Tuesday that Tehran is considering 13 'retaliation scenarios' – the least of which is 'a historical nightmare for the United States.' He warned that vengeance for the death of Qassem Soleimani would not take the form of one operation but offered no further information. The statement was the Tehran regime’s response to Shiite militias’ impatience for punitive against the United States and the orders to hold their hands until the order for jihad came from the supreme leader."

SCENARIOS AND AS TO WHAT IS PLANNED NOT MENTIONED!

HISTORICAL NIGHTMARE!! THE LEAST OF WHICH!!

See today's previous blog entries as are relevant:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/01/martyr.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/01/massive.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/01/unfit.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/01/al-asad.html

Rumors of war and way beyond rumors of war.

coolbert.

Massive.

This is coolbert:

Loaded for bear, ready to go, cocked and locked as they say.

A massive display of strength. United States Air Force [USAF].

Trouble was a-brewing as they say and had been anticipated?

Thanks once more to the Internet web site The Aviationist and again without any further elaboration on my part.

1. "52 F-35A Jets Take Part In Massive 'Elephant Walk' At Hill Air Force Base, Utah"


2. "First Two Of Six B-52 Bombers Deploying To Diego Garcia Amid Growing Tensions With Iran"

Refer to both articles for all the details.

The game is a-foot. The die has been cast. The dogs of war have been unleashed. So it seems. Stay tuned and as always hold onto your hats.

coolbert.

Martyr.

This is coolbert:

Further and thanks to The Aviationist and without hardly elaboration on my part.

"Sources Unclear on Specific Weapons and Targets, But Say At Least Two Waves of Attacks Have Been Carried Out As Part Of  'Operation Martyr Soleimani'."

"Iran has claimed that its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has launched an attack against the al-Asad and Irbil military bases in Iraq. In the United States, the White House says it knows about the attacks, but has not made additional statements. The U.S. President [Trump] is reported to already be in consultation with the appointed National Security Team."

AN ATTACK COMBINING ROCKET ARTILLERY AND EVIDENTLY A DOZEN OR SO BALLISTIC MISSILES OF SOME VARIETY.

See my two previous blog entries:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/01/al-asad.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/01/unfit.html

coolbert.

Unfit.

This is coolbert:

As is most germane to the previous blog entry and within context of the killing of General Soleimani.

1. See all recent blog entries the topic was Qods Force commander Soleimani:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/10/harried.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/08/zap.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2017/12/khazali.html

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

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2018/05/kidnap.html

2. Criticism of President Trump from political factions in the USA and abroad negative.

Trump seen as having made a rash/impetuous/foolhardy/ decision to order the drone strike that killed General Soleimani. Trump not taking into consideration the ramifications of such an action with sufficient deliberation or consultation. Trump possibly setting off a chain-reaction of events the consequences of which are unpredictable and best and possibly could result in catastrophe.

The go-ahead for the drone strike again perceived as rash/impetuous/foolhardy/ and will be used as demonstrable evidence the President of the USA is mentally unfit to have access to the nuclear codes and  have his finger on the nuclear trigger.

So it will be perceived in some quarters!!

coolbert.

Al Asad.

This is coolbert:

"The rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air"

As was feared is occurring. Iranian retaliation only today and was expected.

From The War Zone the story by Trevithick thanks to the tip from Freeper. From War Zone introductory items as copied in entirety.

"Iran Strikes Back: Missiles Rain Down On American Forces In Iraq (Updated)"

"This unprecedented attack is in retaliation for an American strike that killed a top Iranian commander and could provoke a U.S. response."

"Details are still coming in, but Iran has launched a missile attack against U.S. forces in Iraq, including Al Asad Air Base, in retaliation for the American drone strike that killed Qasem Soleimani, a top Iranian commander, last week. A major rocket barrage on Al Asad, which sits around 115 miles west of Baghdad, may have also preceded the strikes. U.S. President Donald Trump has already threatened a major response, including potential strikes on cultural sites, against Iran in the event of any such attack."

RETALIATION USING ROCKET ARTILLERY IT SEEMS. DETAILS OBVIOUSLY TO FOLLOW BUT HOLD ONTO YOUR HATES EVERYONE THAT IS CLEAR.

We have just begun? I fear so.

coolbert.

TB2.

This is coolbert:

TB2 Turkish armed drone bites the dust. 

Thanks to Russian Internet media outlet Russian Times [RT] more on the latest news, the Second Libyan Civil War. See also most recent previous blog entry.

"Libyan forces claim to have shot down Turkish aircraft after Haftar declares 'jihad' on Ankara"

"The Libyan National Army (LNA) said it shot down a Turkish drone over Tripoli, shortly after its leader General Khalifa Haftar called for a holy war against Turkey for supporting a rival government. On Friday, the LNA said it had shot down a Turkish drone south of Tripoli, the seat of the Government of National Accord (GNA). One report identified it as a Bayraktar TB2 armed drone, downed after targeting a column of LNA vehicles."

Four-barrel Soviet era 12.7 mm AAA Dhuskha. This evidently is not the weapons system that shot down the Turkish armed drone. Russian Pantsir to blame for the shoot-down. Pantsir a much more sophisticated AAA system. Uses gunfire and missiles both, radar guided. Formidable.

From a tweet: 

 Babak Taghvaee: @BabakTaghvaee "#BREAKING: An hour ago, 2 #Turkish Bayraktar TB2 armed drones supporting Islamist militias of #GNA targeted a convoy of #Libya National Army on its way to #Tripoli at Mizda. 30 mins later one of them was shot-down by a Pantsir S1 SAM system of #LNA in south of #Mitiga airport!"

See further and perhaps even more important so the topic the Second Libyan Civil. Greatly resembles the situation in Syria. So many players and actors foreign and domestic.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libyan_National_Army

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libyan_Civil_War_(2014%E2%80%93present)

coolbert.

Murad.

This is coolbert:

Fighting for a people they do not know, for a cause they do not understand?

Libyans, Turkmen, Turk, Syrian, Russian, Egyptian, United Arab Emirates. As in Syria, it becomes proxy forces and the backers of proxy forces that end up having the most concern in a conflict. Regional and global geopolitical considerations of the worst sort?

From the latest edition of the DEBKAfile news letter:

"Turkey is sending Syrian rebel force to fight Haftar in Libya"

28 December.

"Large contingents of two Syrian Turkmen rebel militias are being transferred to Libya by Turkish airlift and sealift to help the Tripoli government repel the assault on the capital by Gen. Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army [LNA] . . .The LNA has just broke through the government’s defense lines and is driving toward the center of Tripoli. It is backed by Russia, Egypt and the UAE. Sources in Syria and Turkey disclose that the rebel Syrian units heading for Libya are the Sultan Murad Brigade and the Faylaq al-Sham, most of whose fighters belong to the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood.  This is the first time that combatants from Syria’s civil war are participating in the conflict of a fellow Arab nation."

UP UNTO THE TIME JUST BEFORE THE GREAT WAR [WW1] LIBYA A PROVINCE AND POSSESSION OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE. THE TURK HAS A LONG MEMORY.

coolbert.

Tiger.

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Cheap, stingy, miserly? Guns or butter and all that?

From Russian media outlet Sputnik yet one more item the lack of German military preparedness.

"Most German Military Helicopters Not Ready for Use - Report" 

"The readiness of the German Armed Forces, the Bundeswehr, has been the topic of heated debate amid reports of staff-shortages, problems with ammunition, weapons, and even aging jets – as well as under-funding. Germany has also been the target of US criticism for spending less than 2% of GDP on defence, as NATO countries agreed to do years ago."

HELICOPTERS OF THE EUROCOPTER TIGER VARIETY. ATTACK CHOPPERS WITH SOME FORMIDABLE COMBAT CAPABILITY.

20 % NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMBAT AT THIS EXACT MOMENT IF CALLED UPON. THAT IS NOT SUCH A SERIOUS PROBLEM?

Refusal to budget for and spend money to enhance military preparedness to blame? See previous blog entries as most relevant:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/11/annegret.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/11/negotiate.html

coolbert.

CL-84.

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From a NavWeaps Forum [Naval Weapons] we have a discussion of a problem of modern concern but as was originally perceived from over fifty years ago now.

Thanks to bager1968 for the input.

"ASW/AEW VSTOL aircraft for SCS/VSS"

Light American aircraft carriers used in the sea control mode [SCS] lacking organic combat support warplanes. ASW, EW, AEW, tanker. Anti-submarine-warfare, electronic warfare, airborne early warning, tanker.

Mission accomplished the possibility of a SCS vessel greatly enhanced by the presence of combat support warplanes organic. Mission accomplishment greatly reduced if combat support warplanes organic lacking!

That solution as proposed again from over fifty years ago now a VSTOL aircraft greatly resembling the current American Osprey. This was the Canadian CL-84.

CL-84 SCS (Sea Control Ship version) as to be used for ASW/AEW mission. Fuel tanks on the bottom? Image from NAVWEAPS forum.

"This was the planned production version being developed when the program was cancelled in the aftermath of the cancellation of the USN SCS program."

"The CL-84/SCS was intended as an ASW/radar surveillance aircraft for operations from a short flight deck, like the various Spruance DDV proposals . . . [or a] Sea Control Ship [SCS]."

Yet one image, another perspective of the CL-84 in flight. VSTOL. This was state-of-the-art aviation technology at the time.

Modified Osprey warplane able to be configured to perform the same type of missions as was envisioned for CL-84? Has consideration been to such measures being taken? I cannot say.

Let me remind you each time you remove a F-35 VSTOL combat warplane and replace with a Osprey or similar that reduces your SCS combat potentiality. Obvious.

coolbert.