Bulldog.

This is coolbert:

More British army stuff. The English army had just won the war. Using FV432?

From the English tabloid Express and the article by MARCO GIANNANGELI.

"British army to use the 'oldest equipment in Nato'"

"BRITISH troops will be using 70-year old armoured vehicles by 2030"

"The army has confirmed it will continue to run the Bulldog armoured vehicle, which entered service in the 1960s, for a further 15 years."

The FV432 armored personnel carrier with improvements referred to as the Bulldog.

"improvements including power upgrades and enhanced armour protection mean more performance, reliability and endurance on the battlefield.”

NONETHELESS AS NOTED BY THE EXPRESS ARTICLE:

"It means our [British] forces will be using some of the oldest equipment in Nato."

And to all this Monty of El Alamein would say wot?

coolbert.

AI Glock.

 This is coolbert:

AI si, human no! "Glock" swims with the fishes. Artificial intelligence victorious.

More the simulator air battle, AI versus USAF combat aviator. AI victorious and almost in a leisurely manner.

From the War Zone, The Drive and thanks to both.

"Navy F/A-18 Squadron Commander's Take On AI Repeatedly Beating Real Pilot In Dogfight"

"Everyone has an opinion when it comes to the stunning results of DARPA's AlphaDogfight trials, now hear what the skipper of a fighter squadron thinks.

Devoted readers to the blog will want to read the comments of naval combat aviation COMMANDER COLIN 'FARVA' PRICE.

Apparently this really is "Glock" Mock. Defeated five times by the AI. Mano-a-mano duel in the ancient and venerable tradition. Mock a goner and openly admitting it is so. Machine si, "Glock" no. Again, shameful.

I guess it can be reasoned that this only a "mock" battle, a simulator and not a real aircraft. Reality will come into play and the human will emerge as triumphant. Is that what it is? 

coolbert.

Ansar.

This is coolbert:

The hydra-headed monster! ANSAR = helpers.

From the outstanding Internet web site Strategy Page an item of interest and in consonance with a recent prior blog entry:

"Potential Hot Spots: Mozambique Goes Malignant"

"August 20, 2020: On August 11th several hundred gunmen belonging to the local Islamic terrorist group Ansar al-Sunna seized the northern Mozambique port town of Mocímboa da Praia. This is the third time Ansar al-Sunna has attacked this town. A 2017 attack was repulsed but an attack in March 2020 briefly succeeded. The August attack worked because the army garrison withdrew after several days because the troops had run out of ammunition. The army says it will retake the town but so far that has not happened."

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

Insurgents of the jihadi persuasion their goal in all cases to capture and exercise dominion over a territory. Institute sharia law. Become the boss. As in  Mocimboa da Praia right now.

That population of Mozambique the religious affiliation Islamic a meager 20 %. A concentrated 20 % perhaps? Without question the jihadi where ever found having determination and staying-power.

coolbert.

Pulaski.

This is coolbert:

An iconic military figure from American military history was a WOMAN?

Casimir Pulaski.

From the English tabloid Daily mail and the article by Emily Crane.

"Was Revolutionary War hero Casimir Pulaski actually a WOMAN? Shocking discovery suggests the 'father of American cavalry' who led the charge against British forces was biologically female"

"DNA testing and examination of skeletal remains shows Pulaski was biologically female. . . Pulaski had an intersex condition known as congenital adrenal hyperplasia"

CASIMIR IN ALL LIKELIHOOD A MAN IN THE MENTAL AND COMPORTMENT SENSE OF THE WORD. CONSIDERED HIMSELF TO BE A MAN AND WAS RECOGNIZED BY HIS PEERS AS SUCH. DNA BE DAMNED!

With context see this prior blog entry the saga of the best swordsman in all of New Spain:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2018/09/don-alonzo.html

coolbert.

Challenger II.

This is coolbert:

7th Armored gone? Desert Rats gone? The English army had just won the war?

"'Challenger 2 has been in service without a major upgrade since 1998. During this time the US, Germany and Denmark have completed two major upgrades, whilst Russia has fielded five new variants, with a sixth pending.'" - - Penny Mordaunt.

BRITISH CHALLENGER II TANK TO BE DECOMMISSIONED? NO MORE TANKS BRITISH ARMY?

Thanks to Freeper and the tip from Alcazar.

"British Army could axe ageing tanks as part of modernisation plans"

"axe - -  n, pl axes. 5. (Industrial Relations & HR Terms) Brit severe cutting down of expenditure, esp the removal of unprofitable sections of a public service"

"Previous defence reviews have also seen tank numbers slashed from more than 500. Theoretically, the Army still has 227 Challenger 2 tanks. But in reality only about half of those are out of storage and ready to be deployed."

ONLY HALF THE TANKS IN THE INVENTORY COULD BE SENT INTO COMBAT?

. . . . 

"But senior Army officers have also confirmed to the BBC that they've recently been considering whether they could do without them altogether. While mothballing them could also be an option, there seems to be little point in storing old tanks - unless they're for a museum."

AND TO ALL THIS MONTY OF EL ALAMEIN WOULD SAY WOT?

See additionally recent blog entries the topic the tank in modern warfare:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/07/dead-il.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/07/dead-ii.html

coolbert.

Norway.

This is coolbert:

Before there was the Battle of Britain there was the Battle of Britain?

Normally the historians generally agree that German invasion of Great Britain was thwarted in the main by the inability of the German Air Force [Luftwaffe] to gain air supremacy [or superiority] over the British Royal Air Force [1940].

NOT ENTIRELY CORRECT?

Thanks to a recent edition of BBC History Magazine and as extracted from the article by Nick Hewitt.

"THE FORGOTTEN BATTLE OF BRITAIN."

"The Battle of Britain was a humiliation for the Luftwaffe, which may have lost almost 2,000 aircraft and well over 4,000 airmen . . . "

"But in truth, there's little chance that Germany could have invaded England, even if the RAF [Royal Air Force] had been defeated in the Battle of Britain. That's because, some weeks earlier, Britain had already, in effect, been saved."

SAVED AS A RESULT OF THE NORWEGIAN CAMPAIGN AND THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE GERMAN KRIEGSMARINE.

THE GERMAN NAVY IN THE AFTERMATH OF NORWAY UNABLE TO MORE OR LESS CARRY OUT ANY MISSION IN SUPPORT OF AN AMPHIBIOUS INVASION OF ENGLAND!

Damage to the German Kriegsmarine: "perhaps the single most determining factor undermining proposals for the invasion of England."

And to this assertion the RAF fighter pilot would say??

coolbert.

Better.

This is coolbert:

"Better is the enemy of good enough!" - - Russian proverb.

Some extracts; entries of interest from the outstanding Internet web site isegoria.net

1. "The one great fault of American ordnance is that it can never let well enough alone"

THE AMERICAN BROWNING AUTOMATIC RIFLE [BAR].RATED #1 BEST AMERICAN SMALL ARM OF THE KOREAN WAR.

2. "The bazooka is a fine example of the Ordnance procedure"

AMERICAN ANTI-TANK WEAPON "LIGHT, CHEAP AND SIMPLE" BEFORE MODIFICATION. THEN WATCH OUT!

The Russian is right and the American is wrong? Can it be?

coolbert.

Loyal.

This is coolbert:

Originally I had thought the "Loyal Wingman" concept was a world beater! I am wrong?

Once again from the Breaking Defense Internet web site this time the article by  BRENT SADLER and JOHN VENABLE.

"Skyborg: Bold Example Or Another Joint Mistake?"

SKYBORG THE VALKYRIE NOT ABLE TO MEET EXPECTATIONS? HOW DISAPPOINTING IF TRUE.

"Is the Air Force about to make the same mistakes with Skyborg that it made with the F-22 and F-35? Sure, they created the most capable aircraft in the world, but they neglected to give them the capacity to share their assessment of the air battlespace situation with our other fighters—and sharing data is the crux of joint operations."

SKYBORG THE THREAT AS IS TOUTED WILL NEVER MATERIALIZE IN THE SKY? BEST LAID PLANS OF MICE AND MEN AND ALL THAT?

See prior pertinent blog entries Valkyrie and Skyborg:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/06/ai-usaf.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/08/x-ex.html

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

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/03/valkyrie.html

coolbert.

Banger.

This is coolbert:

"One for the money. Two for the show. Three to get ready. And four to go."

Some items of interest from the Internet website Breaking Defense. Rise of the machines closer than we might think. Artificial Intelligence [AI] triumphant and decisive beyond question.

1. "DARPA’s AlphaDogfight Tests AI Pilot’s Combat Chops"

The article by THERESA HITCHENS everyone has made ready.

"WASHINGTON: DARPA’s AlphaDogfight Trials, which culminate Wednesday with a simulated aerial dual pitting the winning AI F-16 ‘pilot’ against a human pilot, aims to determine the viability of relying on machines in a fast-paced, unpredictable air-to-air combat environment."

STRICTLY A SIMULATION THE LAB ONLY. HUMAN VERSUS AI WARPLANE A DOGFIGHT MANO-A-MANO MAN VERSUS MACHINE.

2. The human beaten by a machine. For shame.

"AI Slays Top F-16 Pilot In DARPA Dogfight Simulation"

ALSO by THERESA HITCHENS the battle has been fought and the human has lost.

"Heron Systems’ AI pilot scores the final kill against AF F-16 instructor 'Banger' in AlphaDogfight Trials"

"WASHINGTON: In a 5 to 0 sweep, an AI ‘pilot’ developed by Heron Systems beat one of the Air Force’s top F-16 fighter pilots in DARPA’s simulated aerial dogfight contest today."

FIVE TO ZERO MACHINE BEAT MAN! AGAIN FOR SHAME!

See previous blog entry the topic a dogfighting drone piloted remotely by a human with enhanced AI capability as envisioned.

THIS PARTICULAR SIMULATION THE DRONE NO HUMAN INTERFACE OR CONTROL. MACHINE AS TOTALLY AUTONOMOUS. SO I READ IT.

coolbert.

X & EX.

This is coolbert:

X or EX? That is the question?

I am confused but only partially so.

American F-15 warplane retrofit. But is it X version or EX version? Or both?

Thanks to the Internet website The National Interest:

1. F-15X. Retrofitted with a STAND-OFF weapons capability. Firing American hypersonic missile.

2. F-15EX. Retrofitted with technology enabling the warplane to function with the LOYAL WINGMAN [Valkyrie].

YOU CAN HAVE ONE BUT NOT BOTH? BUDGET CONSTRAINTS AND ALL THAT!

See my previous blog entries the topic F-15EX and Valkyrie:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/03/f-15ex.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/03/valkyrie.html

coolbert.

La Bataille.

This is coolbert:

WE ARE NOT SPEAKING HERE OF MILITARY BAND MARCH MUSIC!

From the "Reader's Companion to MILITARY HISTORY" edited by Cowley and Parker extracted from the entry by Jon Sumida.

"Representations of War in Western Music".

"The spectacle and political importance of war have made it a popular subject of music for the purposes of simple entertainment or the expression of deep sentiment."

That listing of Sumida; music to include but probably hardly limited to:

* "La bataille de Marignan 1515" 

* "Heinrich Biber - Battalia à 10 (1673)" 

* "Beethoven Wellingtons Sieg / Wellington's Victory Op. 91"

* "Tchaikovsky - 1812 Overture (Full with Cannons)"

 * "Alexander Nevsky: V. The Battle on Ice"

* "Shostakovich: Symphony #07 -"

* "Shostakovich - Symphony No. 8" 

* "Victory at Sea by Richard Rodgers"

Courtesy in all instances to You Tube video and we are all the better for it too. Enjoy!

WITH CANNONS!

coolbert.

RAF Hiroshima.

This is coolbert.

RAF = Royal Air Force. British.

Courtesy Mark Felton a You Tube entry that possible role of the British RAF in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. British Lancaster long-range bomber having been made ready [1944].

Consider this one a new one on me.

RAF Hiroshima? Atomic bomb as carried to Hiroshima not by an American B-29 long-range bomber but rather think a British Avro Lancaster? Indeed this was a possible. Until the advent of Silverplate version of the B-29 more than a possible. B-29 as in the inventory prior to Silverplate not able to accommodate an atomic device of the dimensions of a Thin Man, Little Boy or Fat Man. Lancaster the only alternative. And Lancaster made ready as described in the Mark Felton You tube video.

A Lancaster carrying the atomic bomb to Hiroshima from a base at Tinian barely able to do so with regard to range? Consider the Lancaster: Range - - 2,530 mi (4,070 km, 2,200 nmi). That range with a medium bomb load of fourteen one-thousand pound bombs? [Tinian to Hiroshima and back about 2,400 miles, 3,840  kilometers]

AERIAL REFUELING AS A MEANS OF ACHIEVING REQUIRED RANGE TO TARGET WITH SAFE RETURN AND A CONSIDERATION DURING TRAINING.

Further consider the comments of an acknowledged aviation authority regarding air-to-air refueling during WW2:

"The military services of the world did not go beyond testing during that war, though it appears the British were about to introduce aerial refueling as a tactic toward the end of the war to increase its bombers' ranges for attacks [Tiger Force] against Japan. To the best of my knowledge, aerial refueling was not used operationally by any air forces during WWII, and stories of continuing experiments seem to remain with the UK. I never heard of the US air forces (USAAF, USN, USMC, and USA) dealing with the effort during that time frame"

See previous blog entry the topic British RAF Tiger force during WW2:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2011/08/tiuger-foprce.html

coolbert.

OPS K.

This is coolbert:

Read first from the "RETURN of KINGS" Internet website the story of the
South African Koevet counter-guerrilla/counter-terrorist operations during the time of the South African Bush War period. Then see the You Tube video. Mind you the quality of the video not the best nor is the close-captioned translation so very valid.

"THE STORY OF HOW THE SOUTH AFRICAN KOEVOET KILLED THOUSANDS OF COMMUNISTS"

"spoor: noun - - 1: a track, a trail, a scent, or droppings especially of a wild animal. 2: a trace by which the progress of someone or something may be followed."

Koevet hardly a conventional military unit conducting conventional military operations. A quasi-military police unit organized ad hoc and becoming in a grudging manner institutionalized. Trackers in the ancient and venerable manner attempting to "cut-sign" as would the American Indian fighting army in the days of the Old West.

COIN [counter-insurgency] often come to rely on unconventional units such as koevet. Theoreticians such as David Galula having commented on the inadequacy of conventional military forces when engaging the insurgent/terrorist enemy. Ad hoc units such as koevet become the rule rather than the exception.

See additional You Tube video the subject the South African Bush war:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/07/a-j-venter.html

coolbert.

Stress.

This is coolbert:

“This firing rate is not considered normal for the weapon”

From the tip courtesy Veterans Today the You tube video a Soviet/Russian assault rifle AK [Avtomat Kalashnikov] put through the paces.

"Destroying an AK, Russians 'Stress Test' 70 year old 'supergun'”

Not considered normal. Of course it is not. Hardly ever if at all the average-everyday infantry wielding an AK would ever expend that amount of ammunition in such a short time. Could not carry that amount of ammunition to begin with and would be considered to be wasteful in such a profligate expenditure of ammunition. Absurd. Nonetheless the AK design as generally conceded a robust design.

coolbert.

SMASH.

This is coolbert:

With SMASH no BRASS? "Transformation"?

BRASS = Breath, relax, aim, sight, squeeze.

Once more from the Russian Internet media site Sputnik:

"UK Reportedly Mulls Buying Smart Rifles Which May ‘Transform the Battlefield’"

"mulls : to consider at length : PONDER"

Worth more than it's weight in gold if it works as claimed. Every troop an expert marksman?

"The sophisticated scope has already been tested by Delta Force, the United States' most elite tactical combat group, which praised the device as 'outstanding'."

"The UK’s Special Air Service (SAS) is considering the purchase of so-called SMASH smart scope rifles which may turn all SAS soldiers into sharpshooters, The Sun [English tabloit] cited an unnamed British defence source as saying. The scope's price tag is estimated at about £800 ($900)."

Here with the comments from an acknowledged weapons authority on the difficulties of the traditional firearm sight with regard to accuracy:

"The eye can focus on one object, be it near, intermediate, or distant. The standard requirement for shooting calls for centering the front sight of a handgun or rifle in the middle of the rear sight while lining it up on the target: near, intermediate and far. In short, an impossible task . . . In combat and hunting, it is very difficult to avoid focusing on the target, be it deer or human (who is shooting back at you), so many shooters tend to miss or to hit where they didn't intend to on the target. What happens even on the range is a constant shifting between rear and front sights and the target, to ensure all is lined up and held steady in order to make more accurate shots. This frequent/constant shifting contributes to inaccuracy, though it can't be avoided. It can only be compensated for--until the advent of something new that changes the game to a single focus problem."

SMART SCOPE SMASH WITH THAT EXORBITANT COST PRIMARILY IF NOT EXCLUSIVELY WILL BE FOUND IN THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS/RANGER/COMMANDO TYPE UNITS. BUT DOES IT WORK??

coolbert.

RKKA.

This is coolbert:

RKKA = Workers and Peasants Red Army. Soviet Union Red Army.

From "The Reader's Companion to MILITARY  HISTORY" as edited by Cowley & Parker extracted from an article by William C. Fuller Jr.

Some STARTLING statistics as gleaned from the Fuller Jr. article:

* By 1922 [end of the Russian Civil War] the RKKA numbering 5. 5 million troops.

* Without hesitation the RKKA employing the services of 75,000 professional officers of the ancien régime [Czarist Imperial Army].

*During 1919 alone: 1.7 million AWOL. Persons either absent without leave or deserters.

* At any given moment only 11 percent [%] of troop strength ever at the front, and less than 5 percent [%] of troop strength ever in action.

* Able to muster only 40,000 personnel for the invasion of Poland [1940].

YET, even with such difficulties the RKKA did prevail in the Russian Civil War.

And have you? "Have You Volunteered for the Red Army?" Well, have you?

coolbert.

SFF II.

This is coolbert:

“At a geostrategic level, the moves in the Himalayas are an attempt by China to pressure India to stay at an arm’s distance from the U.S.,” - - James Stavridis. Admiral USN.

From the Coffee or Die Internet web site a historical instance within a new perspective.

"A CIA OPERATION TO TRAIN TIBETAN GUERRILLAS LOOMS OVER INDIA-CHINA HIMALAYAN CLASH"

SPECIAL FRONTIER FORCE [SFF]. INDIA.

"In 2016, India announced it was rebuilding the outfit — now known as the Special Frontier Force"

Native Tibetan of the Khamba tribe opposed to the Chinese conquest and occupation of what had been the nominally independent nation of Tibet. Chushi Gangdruk.

Also known as Establishment 22 within Indian army circles.

Tibetan nationals their military mission to wage guerrilla warfare in Tibet during a period of conflict between China and India.

See previous blog entries the topic SFF

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2013/10/sff.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2010/04/tibetans.html

coolbert.

Kilotons.

This is coolbert:

"As is alleged about 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate went sky high literally. Equal to about a one kilo-ton atomic detonation." 

See my previous blog entry.

Exactly how big was that blast in Beirut? About a kiloton of TNT?

"Beirut Blast: How Many Kilotons?"

Lawrence having done the figures for us based upon the reports of damage Beirut.

"calculate the explosive yield using the Nukemap, based on shattering windows at the airport (the 1 psi over-pressure ring) and ignoring radiation effects."

* 300 kiloton blast. [based on reported blast damge]

* 1.155 kilotons [ammonium nitrate only]

* 1.98 kilotons [ammonium nitrate mixed with fuel oil]

THOSE TWO LATTER FIGURES MORE CORRECT! ABOUT ONE KILOTON! ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE THE CASE WITH A TACTICAL ATOMIC WEAPON.

No radiation, no burns, but  lots of blast damage!!

coolbert.

Reprise.

This is coolbert:

Here with regard to the prior blog entry, consider previous blog posts the topic being Gladio.

NATO organized stay-behind clandestine units their mission conduct guerrilla warfare in all manifestations in case of Soviet invasion of western Europe. The BIG RED moves west scenario..

"In a stay-behind operation, a country places secret operatives or organizations in its own territory, for use in the event that an enemy occupies that territory. ... Small-scale operations may cover discrete areas, but larger stay-behind operations envisage reacting to the conquest of entire countries."

Those  previous posts to the blog Gladio:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2014/05/gladio.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2017/10/kontrgerilla.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2017/10/deathbed.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2016/12/washtub.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2016/12/auxiliary-units.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2016/12/absalon.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2016/12/kaitseliit.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2016/10/fs-5000.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2015/09/grey-wolves.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2014/09/american-gladio.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2014/05/radio-gladio.html

With the demise of the old Soviet Union Gladio units dismantled? Maybe are being re-constituted even as we speak?

coolbert.

Beirut.

This is  coolbert:

From yesterday in Beirut the massive explosions at the level of a tactical nuclear weapon. As is alleged about 2,700 tons of  ammonium nitrate went sky high literally. Equal to about a one kilo-ton atomic detonation. 

"A massive explosion has rocked central Beirut, damaging buildings and blowing out windows and doors as a giant mushroom cloud rose above the capital of Lebanon."

Detonations spontaneous or otherwise the magnitude so devastating not so terribly unique. Consider Albania 2008. Excess military ammo being "decommissioned" the process also resulting in a massive explosion. Thanks to the tip from Sheldon.

 

"There was a mushroom cloud explosion in Tirana, Albania in 2008 when a NATO project to decommission Enver Hoxha’s old anti-world ammunition went catastrophically wrong"

ALSO AS REPORTED THE BLAST IN BEIRUT PRECEDED BY NUMEROUS SMALL EXPLOSIONS. 

A HEZBOLLAH WEAPONS DEPOT? I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED.

THE TRUTH WILL NEVER BE KNOWN? 

 coolbert

Det A.

This is coolbert:

Before there was Gladio there was Det A?

Detachment A Berlin, American Special Forces. Stay-behind!

From SOFREP and thanks to same.

"SPECIAL FORCES ETACHMENT A: AN ELITE COLD WAR UNIT"

"The unit was called Detachment A, with the classified name of 39th Special Forces Operational Detachment (SFOD). It was a clandestine Special Forces unit. Technically illegal under the Four Powers Agreement, Det A was on 24-hour standby in Berlin in the event that the USSR pushed over the wall from East Germany and invaded Western Europe. Secreting themselves in safe houses, the Det A members would activate once the forward line of Soviet troops passed over their positions, then carry out acts of sabotage and guerrilla warfare."

TECHNICALLY  ILLEGAL! AMERICAN NATO DESIGNATED STAY-BEHIND UNIT STATIONED BERLIN. IN CASE OF WAR WITH THE SOVIET UNION THEIR MISSION TO FORM THE NUCLEUS OF AN INSURGENT GUERRILLA WARFARE MOVEMENT.

"In a stay-behind operation, a country places secret operatives or organizations in its own territory, for use in the event that an enemy occupies that territory. ... Small-scale operations may cover discrete areas, but larger stay-behind operations envisage reacting to the conquest of entire countries."

See also Part 2, Part 3, Part 4. Interesting how a mission for these elite units changes over the decades.

coolbert.

Egyptian.

This is  coolbert:

Egyptians in Syria? Egyptians?

Once more that peculiar aspect of the Syrian Civil War the presence of foreign interventionists by the score..

From our good friends at the outstanding Internet web site "South Front" an item of interest.

"TURKISH-BACKED MILITANTS LEAK ALLEGED RECORDING OF EGYPTIAN TROOPS IN SYRIA"

"On July 31, Arabi 21 shared a voice recording claiming to be of Egyptian troops recently deployed around the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib."

"The news outlet said the recording was provided to it by Maj. Youssef al-Hamoud, a spokesman for the Turkish-backed Syria National Army (SNA). The spokesman claimed that the SNA intercepted calls between Egyptian troops in western Aleppo."

"The 33-second voice recording is supposedly a call between two Egyptian service members in Syria. However, nothing in the recording indicates that those speaking in Egyptian dialect are soldiers or that they are indeed in Syria."

We can reasonably infer [?] this is not so much a reaction of the Egyptian to Turkish intervention in the Syrian Civil War but rather a reaction of the Egyptian to the Turkish intervention in the ongoing Libyan Civil War [more correctly referred to as the Second Libyan Civil War]!

Turkish proxy forces [SNA] being sent to Libya by the Turk? Aid, abet and assist that element of the Second Libyan Civil War as favored by the Turk!

coolbert.

Kilo 877.

This is coolbert:

Courtesy the Forbes Internet web site the article by our good friend H I Sutton:

"Video Shows Massive Iranian Navy Submarine Being Moved By Road"

"Iran’s three Kilo Class submarines are the most potent warships in their navy. A video has surfaced on social media showing one of them being transported by road. With the serviceability of the fleet in question, it may be revealing. The move does not appear to be routine. The implication is that at least one of the boats is not currently seaworthy."

That apparatus the submarine rests on a one-of-a-kind manufactured strictly for this one movement? From the wiki the displacement of the Kilo not submerged 2,300–2,350 tons. Actual road movement to be tenuous and slow I assume. A special roadway even needing to be constructed?

H.I. SUTTON CORRECT! HARDLY THIS A ROUTINE PROCEDURE.

coolbert.

AlphaZero.

This is coolbert:

Extracts from an Internet web site article borderline germane to the blog but still in my opinion very relevant and presented as such for consideration.

Artificial intelligence [AI]. Skynet. Skyborg. Now AlphaZero. No persons need apply! Rise of the machines and only the machines. Human/machine interface a zero.

Rise of the Machines indeed With regard and in context with  the incorporation of artificial intelligence "thinking" system in robot war-making devices consider:

SOFTWARE NOW NOT EVEN NEEDING ANY HUMAN INTERFACE. SOFTWARE NOW ABLE TO THINK FOR ITSELF AND QUITE WELL TOO.

"[Moreover] as AI continues to improve, even jobs that demand high intelligence and creativity might gradually disappear. The world of chess serves as an example of where things might be heading. For several years after IBM's computer Deep Blue defeated Garry Kasparov in 1997, human chess players still flourished; AI was used to train human prodigies, and teams composed of humans plus computers proved superior to computers playing alone."

"Yet in recent years, computers have become so good at playing chess that their human collaborators have lost their value and might soon become entirely irrelevant. On December 6, 2017, another crucial milestone was reached when Google's AlphaZero program defeated the Stockfish 8 program. Stockfish 8 had won a world computer chess championship in 2016. It had access to centuries of accumulated human experience in chess, as well as decades of computer experience. By contrast, AlphaZero had not been taught any chess strategies by its human creators—not even standard openings. Rather, it used the latest machine-learning principles to teach itself chess by playing against itself. Nevertheless, out of 100 games that the novice AlphaZero played against Stockfish 8, AlphaZero won 28 and tied 72—it didn't lose once. Since AlphaZero had learned nothing from any human, many of its winning moves and strategies seemed unconventional to the human eye. They could be described as creative, if not downright genius."

"Can you guess how long AlphaZero spent learning chess from scratch, preparing for the match against Stockfish 8, and developing its genius instincts? Four hours. For centuries, chess was considered one of the crowning glories of human intelligence. AlphaZero went from utter ignorance to creative mastery in four hours, without the help of any human guide."

THIS SOFTWARE ENABLES THE COMPUTER TO ACTUALLY "THINK" FOR ITSELF! A COMBINATION OF WEAPONRY AND SUCH A COMPUTER WILL BE UNBEATABLE? HUMANS BEWARE?

coolbert.

W93.

This is coolbert:

From the Russian Internet media outlet Sputnik:

"UK Wants US to Take Up Part of Spending Burden for New Warhead for Trident Missile, Report"

"The Pentagon leaked the UK’s plans to purchase a new generation of W93 nuclear warheads for its submarine-based Trident weapons system earlier this year, with the upgrade expected to cost in excess of £11 billion ($14 billion) for the warheads alone, and £31 billion ($40 billion US) total."

British nuclear deterrent up-grade due. New nuclear warheads for the Trident missiles of the Royal Navy [RN] nuclear ballistic missile fleet.

SHARE THE COST? OR ASSUME PART OF THE COST FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW WARHEAD?

Comments:

* British nuclear deterrent the ballistic missile firing submarine.

* British ballistic missile firing submarines and warheads historically of strictly indigenous design and development. Missiles [Trident] as purchased from the USA.

Trident always [?] a hot-button item with the British public and government circles both.

See previous blog entries with many additional embedded entries the topic the British Trident fleet:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/03/last.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/03/trident-uk.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2017/10/visit-usa.html

coolbert.

Chickens.

This is coolbert:

The chickens come home to roost. German style. Frau Merkel enjoy! You were warned!

Courtesy The Alex Jones Info Wars Internet web site.

"DONALD TRUMP PULLS 12,000 TROOPS OUT OF GERMANY SLASHING PRESENCE THERE BY A THIRD BECAUSE ANGELA MERKEL IS ‘DELINQUENT’ ON NATO SPENDING"

"The U.S. will bring about 6,400 forces home from Germany and shift about 5,600 to other countries in Europe, the Pentagon said Wednesday – as Donald Trump said it was because the country is ‘delinquent’ on defense.

"He [Trump] attacked Germany’s failure to spend more of its budget on its military as the Pentagon outlined a plan to slash the U.S. presence there by a third, a move which will cost ‘single digit billions.’"

"Trump bluntly said Wednesday morning at the White House: ‘We’re reducing the force because they’re not paying their bills. It’s very simple. They’re delinquent.’"

GERMANS UNWILLING TO SPEND THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY AS WAS AGREED UPON FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE. USA HAVING TO ASSUME TOO MUCH OF THE BURDEN!

About half that American force presently devoted to NATO duty merely to be re-located to other locales. Poland or the Baltic nations perhaps.

See the previous blog entry the topic European Union stingyness:

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

coolbert.