Coates LTG.

This is coolbert:

Canadian military personnel behaving badly?

From the Internet web site "Ottawa Citizen News" and thanks to same.

"Top NORAD commander had affair with American co-worker but DND says no rules were broken"

"Top NORAD commander had affair with American co-worker [civilian] but DND says no rules were broken" [North American Air Defense]

"National Defence [Canada] has confirmed that the top Canadian officer at NORAD had an affair with a co-worker but says the general broke no rules as the woman was outside his direct chain of command."

"News of the relationship between Lt.-Gen. Chris Coates and a U.S. civilian employee comes as the conduct and ethics of the military leadership have been called into question over a couple of high-profile investigations."

I am not sure what level of authority the Deputy commander [always a Canadian] of NORAD would have over American air defense assets in case of an attack on North America by opposition forces. A deputy commander in most instances however is assumed to have the same authority as the commander. Able to control ALL NORAD assets.

coolbert.

Chickens.

This is coolbert:

Sixty years later the chickens do come home to roost.

From the Internet web site "Strange Sounds" courtesy Jack.

"Radioactive Sahara sand rains on Europe"

"You remember [?] the Sahara sand that covered Europe on February 6, 2021? It was eerie, even in Switzerland where I live." [dust from a wind-storm over the Sahara turned the sky red in portions of Europe]

"Well it turns out it carried traces of French nuclear tests in the Sahara in the early 1960s in form of Cesium-[1]37."

"Dust sampled in Haut-Doubs was analyzed by the ACRO laboratory and scientists clearly determined the presence of Cesium-137, an artificial radio-active element resulting from the nuclear fission during a nuclear explosion."

"The trace amount of Cesium-137 that fell (80,000 Bq per km2) isn’t dangerous for our health. But still the dust cloud has spilled old traces of cesium-137 wherever it has passed in France and in the nearby countries."

THAT CESIUM-137 ALREADY HAVING GONE THROUGH TWO HALF-LIFE CYCLES OF THIRTY YEARS AND NOW ONLY [?] 25 % RADIOACTIVE POTENT AS WAS THE ORIGINAL IN 1960.

In passing let me also mention that the number one rated location in the USA as considered most suitable for retirement, St. George UTAH "dusted" over one-hundred times by radioactive fallout from nuclear detonation at the Nevada atomic weapons test site.

We are good to go, are we?

coolbert.

Xi'an KJ-600.

This is coolbert:

CANNOT OPERATE FROM CURRENT CHINESE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS!

Chinese KJ-600 AEW [airborne early warning warplane] now being test flown.

1. "China’s KJ-600 Early Warning Aircraft [AEW] Cannot Operate from Current Aircraft Carriers"

China’s KJ-600 carrier-based early warning aircraft cannot operate from current PLA Navy aircraft carriers such as the Liaoning and Shandong.

The early warning aircraft, compared to the U.S. made E-2 Hawkeye, recently conducted another “successful flight test,” Chinese state media revealed on Sunday.

Chinese military experts said they expect the plane to operate [only] on large aircraft carriers equipped with catapults. 

KJ-600 more or less an almost exact [?] replica of the American E-2 Hawkeye carrier borne and catapult launched AEW naval aviation aircraft.

2. "KJ-600, China’s Hawkeye, successfully completes flight test"

The KJ-600, a carrier-based airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft developed by Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation, successfully completed a new flight test, according to the Chinese state media Global Times. Entry into service is expected between 2022 and 2025.

Cannot take off from the current jump-jet class of Chinese aircraft carriers. Subsequent classes of carriers however designed to use the KJ-600 with catapult.

3. "Xi'an KJ-600 Will Make the F-22 and F-35 No Longer a Threat, China Claims"

Additionally see this You Tube video courtesy Dung Tran Air Force & Army.

The Xian KJ-600 is a twin-engine, high-wing, and airborne early warning and control aircraft, expected to be deployed on the People's Liberation Army Navy Type 003 aircraft carrier from around 2022.

coolbert.

Pantsir S1.

This is coolbert:

Captured! The most dangerous beast of them all! From Libya with love!

Thanks to the  Internet web site Defense World advanced Russian air defense [AD] system in American hands for evaluation?

"Is the Carting Away of Russian Pantsir S1 linked to U.S. Army’s IM-SHORAD Testing?"

"The U.S. military has not commented on The Times report leading to speculation that the Pantsir S1 may have been taken away as part of testing its own IM-SHORAD. In the past, U.S. military has used Russian equipment procured from former Soviet Bloc nations for testing and comparison with its own military hardware."

Wheeled version of the Pantsir in action. Effective against the kamikaze drone. Provides close-in air defense [AD] for Russian forces in Syria.

Here with the tracked version of the Pantsir. Carries surface-air-missiles [twelve SAM] and two 30 mm auto-cannon. Plus organic onboard radars. Mobile, formidable and impressive.

coolbert.

Throne II.

This is coolbert:

Do not think the artist Cristóvão Canhavato alone in the creation of objet d'art from discarded war munitions.

"objet d'art: n. An object of artistic merit. n. A work of art with some artistic merit. n. An artwork exhibited for the purposes of decoration or the reflection of social status."

Think also the artist Gonçalo Mabunda.

"FURNITURE MADE FROM DISCARDED WEAPONRY AS AN ARTISTIC ENDEAVOR"

"Goncalo Mabunda is a mixed-media sculptor [Born in Maputo, Mozambique, in 1975. He lives and works in Maputo] whose work examines the collective memory of a nation recovering from decades of conflict. He expertly fashions masks, thrones, and figures from the material wreckage of war— dispossessed AK-47s, pistols, and military accessories— to form the armature of his distinctive creations."

I hope those mortar rounds are defused!! See additional Gonçalo Mabunda art work, military munitions turned into "armed chairs" and such.

"Just two years after Mozambique won its independence from Portugal in 1975 following a ten-year insurrection, the new nation embarked on a sixteen-year-long civil war. When that war ended in 1992, several aid organizations launched an initiative to collect and deactivate the weapons that remained scattered throughout the countryside. Mabunda often sources his materials from these collections, deconstructing and fusing their parts into new forms that are influenced by recognizable motifs from traditional African art."

Sadly war, insurrection, terrorism has returned to Mozambique. See prior relevant and recent blog entries:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/11/dag.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/10/machababos.html

coolbert.

Throne I.

This is coolbert:

"Most eloquent object".

Never even such a genre' of art ever existed

"Throne of Weapons"

"objet d'art: n. An object of artistic merit. n. A work of art with some artistic merit. n. An artwork exhibited for the purposes of decoration or the reflection of social status."

FURNITURE MADE FROM DISCARDED WEAPONRY AS AN ARTISTIC ENDEAVOR?

"The Throne of Weapons is a 2002 sculpture created by Cristóvão Canhavato out of disused weapons. It is owned by the British Museum and has been called the Museum's most "eloquent object" and has been shown in a wide variety of ways."

As usual click on image to see an enlarged view.

"The sculpture was created by Cristóvão Estevão Canhavato . . . Canhavato works under the name Kester as part of a co-operative called Associação Núcleo de Arte. Kester's artistic education took place at the artist's collective . . . The artists collective was supported by Christian Aid and another Christian group led by Bishop Dinis Sengulane as part of an organisation called 'Transformação de Armas em Enxadas' or 'Transforming Arms into Tools'".

That throne consisting of parts of discarded weapons of war. To include parts of:

* AK-47.

* H&K G3.

* AKM.

* PPSh-43.

" . . . Then He will judge between the nations and arbitrate for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor train anymore for war." - - Isaiah 2:4

Mozambique for over two and one-half decades a theater of war, awash with all sorts sof small arms, mines, etc.

Swords into plowshares? You decide.

coolbert.

 

LSD II.

This is coolbert:

Semper fi dude, you are melting!

"EXCLUSIVE: BOOT MARINES DIVULGE ILLICIT DETAILS OF BATTALION-WIDE LSD TRIP"

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL DURING A BATTALION LEVEL FIELD EXERCISE THEIR DRINKING WATER SPIKED WITH THE HALLUCINOGENCE DRUG LSD!!

"Marine officials have denied that the events Leary and Fitzgerald allege ever took place, and the two Marines, who happen to be the most junior members of the battalion, claim they’ve been made to take the fall for whoever spiked the battalion’s water supply with the drug that day."

American Marines battalion while on field exercise their drinking water spiked with LSD. Evidently done knowingly and maliciously so. A serious crime! That entire battalion rendered ineffective. 

"spiked: 5. Informal a. To add alcoholic liquor to: spiked the punch with rum. b. To add a poison or other chemical to: a drink spiked with barbiturates."

DEVOTED READERS TO THE BLOG READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE. ESPECIALLY THE EDITOR'S NOTE IN CONCLUSION. 

coolbert.

LSD I.

This is coolbert:

Experimentation British style. From a number of decades ago but still relevant.

Once more thanks for the tip the "Coffee or Die" webzine and the article by Matt Fratus.

"WATCH: BRITISH ROYAL MARINE COMMANDOS LAUGHING ON LSD DURING A TOTALLY SERIOUS MILITARY EXERCISE"

"The British Royal Marines that made up the 41 Royal Marine Commando unit were battle-hardened warriors . . . There was simply no opponent that was tough enough or smart enough to outwit these badass commandos. Unless, of course, their enemy secretly infused their water bottles with LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), the psychedelic drug."

Just about the best light-infantry in the world reduced to level of children and done so with a medical experiment [surreptitious infusion of drugs in the drinking water] for which informed consent was not received or even asked for. I imagine this "experiment" possibly legal within the context of "medical care or treatment" if understood in a very broad and general sense. Royal Marines too their confidence in leadership diminished?

coolbert.

Shaman.

This is coolbert:

Courtesy to the "Coffee or Die" webzine of the "Black Rifle Coffee" Internet web site and the article by Ethan E. Rocke so apropos especially when taken within the context of the previous blog entry.

Jacob Anthony Chansley/Jake Angeli major idiot, moron and rioter at the USA Capital building 6 January 2021.

MILITARTY VETERAN AND DISCHARGED [PROBABLY UNDER LESS THAN FAVORABLE AND HONORABLE CIRCUMSTANCES] FOR REFUSAL OF MEDICAL CARE AND TREATMENT!

VACCINATION THE ANTHAX VACCINE.

"‘QANON SHAMAN’ ARRESTED AFTER CAPITOL SIEGE IS A NAVY VETERAN DISCHARGED FOR REFUSING VACCINE"

"Arizona resident Jacob Anthony Chansley, who goes by Jake Angeli and calls himself the 'QAnon Shaman,' surrendered to the FBI field office in Phoenix on Saturday and was charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, the Department of Justice announced. He was also charged with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds."

DISCHARGE I AM ASSUMING UNDER LESS THAN HONORABLE  CIRCUMSTANCES, GENERAL DISCHARGE PERHAPS!

By law it is impermissible to refuse medical treatment in the military. Again, treatment so broadly defined as to include any sort of prophylactic medicine. As would be an injection of the vaccine for anthrax.

coolbert.

One-third.

This is coolbert:

"prophylactic- - defending or protecting from disease or infection, as a drug, preventive or protective."

Here with an item that gets my interest instantly and without fail.

As reported and seen at the New York Post thanks to the tip from Miguel.

"One-third of US military members are declining COVID-19 vaccinations"

"Roughly one-third of US military members have declined to get vaccinated for COVID-19, a Pentagon official said in a report Wednesday."

Strange indeed! Uniformed military personnel of the armed forces USA BY LAW cannot refuse medical treatment. Medical treatment so broadly defined as to mean ANY SORT of prophylactic care. If the military orders you to take an inoculation YOU CANNOT REFUSE.    

AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

Failure to comply with such an order and you are subject to discharge with less than an honorable record!!

ADDITIONALLY ACCORDING TO MY UNDERSTANDING THE CURRENT VACCINES AS BEING USED IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY TESTED FOR EFFICACY OR  NEGATIVE REACTION AS WOULD BE A NORMAL VACCINE! FAST-TRACKING IS THE NORM FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINES.

coolbert.

Flawed.

This is coolbert:

From Strategy Page a beginning paragraph of an article shamelessly extracted and for your perusal.

"Murphy's Law: Iranian Submarine Crises"

SOMETHING VERY SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THE IRANIAN NAVY KILO CLASS SUBMARINES.

"February 16, 2021: In January 2021 satellite photos revealed that all three of Iran's Russian built Kilo class submarines were still out of the water, apparently undergoing repairs or refurbishment. Previous photos indicated the three subs had been out of the water since late 2020. It is not normal practice to have all of a warship class out of action at the same time. These three subs are not only out of action in a shipyard, but they are out of the water in a drydock situation. That means some serious work is being done, work that cannot wait. This usually means a common flaw with all the ships. Since no other Kilo users report or indicate a similar problem, this situation is unique. The major difference between Iranian Kilos and those of other export customers is that Iran refuses to send their Kilos back to Russia for major maintenance and insisted on doing it themselves. This is risky if you have no experience building similar subs or maintaining them with local parts rather than original parts from Russia. Iran is not commenting on their Kilo crisis."

See my previous blog entry thanks to You Tube the most recent movement of one such Kilo class Iranian submarine to drydock.

Kilo class quite a popular Russian military export item. NO ONE else has encountered such a problem of apparently vital importance? Strange indeed.

coolbert.

Irish.

This is coolbert:

American military men acting badly?

Apology made. If you apologize and freely admit you made a honest mistake all should be forgiven.

From the Russian media outlet Russian Times [RT].

"US apologizes to Ireland after American troops flout strict Covid-19 regulations during overnight stopover"

"US officials have apologized to the Irish government after more than 50 military personnel broke Irish Covid-19 rules by spending a night at a Limerick hotel without supplying negative tests or filling in contact-tracing forms"

"Negative coronavirus tests and fully completed passenger locator forms are mandated under strict Irish government rules to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Failing to fill out the locator form carries a six-month prison term and a fine of €2,500 ($3,000). Failing to provide a valid Covid-19 test also carries a €2,500 fine."

Trans-Atlantic flights of military personnel and war munitions what is involved here. 

Ireland not a DECLARED neutral nation but rather ADOPTING a position of neutrality in international affairs.

The Irish rather touchy and sensitive with regard to these chartered flights. In most instances NOT military warplanes but merely the movement of military personnel and munitions through Irish airspace and territory creating an interest and even worry..

See thanks to the Irish Times some articles indicative of Irish concerns in this area:

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/troops-and-munitions-passing-through-ireland-what-is-happening-1.3915855

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/more-than-750-000-troops-use-irish-airspace-in-five-years-1.3915889

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/at-least-730-us-military-flights-in-shannon-airport-in-2016-1.2930295

coolbert.

Cafard.

This is coolbert:

"His madness may turn into a senseless explosion or fit of fury; men suffering from 'cafard' will run a bayonet through their comrade’s body, without any reason, without any outward cause.  Sometimes they rush out into the desert; sometimes they tear every piece of their outfit into rags, just to vex themselves and others thoroughly."

Once more from the Internet web site "Kaiser Cross" and thanks to same yet again a description of what is termed in modern parlance PTSD. Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder. Physiological and psychological breakdown of a soldier a result of extended exposure to extreme conditions of danger and deprivation. 

"The 'Cafard' in the Foreign Legion".

Within the ranks of the French Foreign Legion [FFL] hard and unremitting military duty in the remote areas of the North African desert exacerbated by extreme loneliness and isolation leading to insanity.

“'Le Cafard' is a form of depression . . . The 'Cafard' is described as a depression that feels like a cockroach crawling inside the brain, slowly driving the victim insane."

Those of you interested might want to view this PowerPoint presentation listing all those "WARRELATEDILLNESS" nowadays termed PTSD.

* Nostalgia. [Napoleonic Wars]

* Melancholy. [American Civil War]

* Soldier's Heart. [American Frontier]

* Shell Shock. [World War One]

* Combat Fatigue. [World War Two]

* PTSD. [Vietnam]

coolbert.

BILA.

This is coolbert:

Military punishment battalions during wartime I had heard of. Germans and Soviets both had them during World War Two. The French army during the colonial period also having penal units and deploying even in times of relative peace.

From the Internet web site "Kaiser Cross".

"Maroc 1923: Hell on earth in the Bat' d'Af"

"The Bataillon d' infanterie légère d' Afrique better known as the BILA or Bat d´Af served for over a century as the infamous penal battalions of the French Army."  

"Men with prison records who still had to do their military service or soldiers with serious disciplinary problems were shipped of to Tatahouine, headquarters of the Bat d´Af, to serve a term in a hell."

Bat' d'Af' personnel with typical convict tattoo body art. Manpower deemed as less than worthy performing duty mostly of an engineering aspect, road building, construction of all sorts, hard pick and shovel labor. Still soldiers and expected to engage in combat with a colonial opponent on demand.

coolbert.

AD EU.

This is coolbert:

AD = Air defense. EU = European Union.

Euro Force. Euro Corps. Euro Army. Etc. An independent military force other than NATO.

Gonna have to spend some money. 

Within context of many previous blog entries consider the relative unpreparedness of European military forces. To include Austria [non-NATO, not a constituent member of the Atlantic alliance].

As seen at the Internet web site Strategy Page and extracted from same:

"Air defense - during business hours only?"

AIR DEFENSE OF NATIONAL SOVEREIGN AIRSPACE FROM INTRUDER AIRCRAFT SCANT IF AT ALL!

"It was revealed [in 2014] that an Austrian Air Force Eurofighter (the Typhoon combat jet) squadron had to reduce its pilot roster by a third because of budget cuts. It wasn’t payroll cuts that caused this, but a much lower budget for jet fuel. There was now insufficient fuel available for all 18 pilots to fly enough hours to maintain their skills. Moreover two of the 12 Typhoons in the squadron have been grounded and used as a source of spare parts. Availability of Typhoons to intercept aerial intruders is also now restricted to what can best be described as 'business hours' (eight hours a day for five days a week)"

"The Austrian solution to cuts in the military budget was not unique and twice in 2014 such mandatory economies led to embarrassing incidents where a European air force was unable to send a jet fighter into the air to confront an aerial intruder."

See a previous blog entry applicable to Germany alone [with many embedded links] European military readiness at a low level:

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

coolbert.

SABR.

This is coolbert:

Controversial all this to be sure. But interesting nonetheless.

"THESE ARE THE 10 BEST GENERALS OF ALL TIME, ACCORDING TO STATISTICS"

From the Coffee or Die webzine of the "Black Rifle Coffee' Internet website HISTORY By Blake Stilwell and thanks to Blake.

"Someone [Arsht] went and moneyball-ed military history. Ethan Arsht applied the principles of baseball sabermetrics to the performances of history’s greatest generals’ ability to win battles. It starts with comparing the number of wins from that general to a replacement general in the same circumstances."

WAR = Wins Above Replacement. Get it? War! Get it?

"Sabermetrics or SABRmetrics is the empirical analysis of baseball, especially baseball statistics that measure in-game activity."

"Sabermetricians collect and summarize the relevant data from this in-game activity to answer specific questions. The term is derived from the acronym SABR, which stands for the Society for American Baseball Research."

See the Internet article by Ethan Arsht with a complete description of the statistical analysis involved to include acknowledged limitations and imponderables. 

Also view this You Tube video:

Comments:

* I might well suspect if you ask one-hundred experts who are the TEN Best generals of all time and I would anticipate one-hundred different lists to be submitted. Best in most circumstances whatever the topic a very subjective term 

* Two of the TEN Best generals I was totally unfamiliar with.

* Many important military personages from the era of the Second World War their names significantly absent. MacArthur, Patton, Rommel, Montgomery. Well known commanders such as R.E. Lee, Thomas Jackson and Moshe Dayan also conspicuously not listed among the TEN Best.

* Von Moltke the Elder his criteria of a great general a successful commander who had additionally displayed proficiency during a retreat.

coolbert.

Nelson.

This is coolbert:

One more from Commander Salamander and thanks to same.

"Fullbore Friday [Friday, February 05, 2021]"

"HMS Nelson. One of the more curious, no, the most curious Battleship classes (2) ever built."

"The first thing that comes to mind is 'Shipmate, where is your stern?' If it looks like a ship built by committee, well that is because it is."

Indeed, even with a passing glance the HMS Nelson as a battleship the appearance most peculiar. Often I have remarked about this to myself.

THREE TURRETS OF THREE SIXTEEN INCH [400 cm.] BIG-BORE NAVAL GUNS EACH FORWARD OF THE BRIDGE AND OTHER ESSENTIAL VITALS OF THE SHIP! AREA TO THE REAR OF THE BRIDGE AND OTHER "VITALS" A MUCH REDUCED STERN SECTION!

"the main gun turrets were all mounted forward to shorten the armoured citadel . . .  in the Nelsons, this was taken further and all three were in front of the bridge; 'B' mount superfiring over 'A', with 'X' turret on the fo'c'sle deck behind 'B', and therefore unable to fire directly forward or aft"

Click on either image to see an enlarged view.

My assumption has always been that the design of the HMS Nelson peculiar but innovative in some manner that allowed the vessel some sort of distinct advantage in a naval battle with a similar class of warship. This is not so however!!

Seems that the design of the Nelson was a compromise to comply with the Washington Treaty of 1922. Capital ships their standard displacement confined to 35,000 tons or less. Nelson as originally designed beyond the proscribed limit and radical modification were needed. 

Additionally see this You Tube video an entire discussion of the HMS Nelson and those considerations taken into design as modified from the original.

coolbert.

Cally RN.

This is coolbert:

WARNING: If you are easily offended by material of a frank, adult and intense nature hit escape now!

The tale of Claire and Liam. Two young lovers with nothing to do. Royal Navy [RN] scandal.

Thanks to the British tabloid The Sun and the article by Jerome Starkey.

"HUMPIN' SAILOR Royal Navy [RN] officer caught shooting X-rated films with her seaman lover at top secret nuclear base"

"A ROYAL Navy [RN] officer has been caught shooting X-rated films with her seaman lover at a top secret nuclear base."

"Lieutenant Claire Jenkins, 29, who uses the name Cally Taylor, has been making money selling 'porn to order' on an adult website."

I encourage devoted readers to the blog to peruse the entire article. Again, do so however at your own  risk.

FROM THE MILITARY ASPECT THE WORST PART OF THE "AFFAIR" IS THAT THE WOMAN IS AN OFFICER AND HER PARAMOUR AN ENLISTED MAN!! CONSORTING STRICTLY FORBIDDEN!

In conclusion, let us say that the two of them have just EXPOSED themselves far too much!!

coolbert.

USRC.

This is coolbert:

"Tell Lieut. CALDWELL [Second-in-command the McClelland] to arrest Capt. BRESHWOOD, assume command of the cutter, and obey the order through you. If Capt. BRESHWOOD, after arrest, undertakes to interfere with the command of the cutter, tell Lieut. CALDWELL to consider him as a mutineer, and treat him accordingly. If any one attempts to haul down the American flag, shoot him on the spot."

USRC = United States Revenue Cutter. USLHT = United States Light House Tender.

From Homer Simpson and the archives of the New York Times courtesy Freeper more yet the continuing crisis the Southern secessionist movement creating much national turmoil.

"THE NATIONAL TROUBLES: Nothing Done yet by the Peace Conference; Editorials: Strengthen the Navy, Disunion and the Poor Whites; 'KING COTTON' (2/8/1861)"

New York Times archives – Times Machine ^ | 2/8/1861

WITH REGARD TO THE SURRENDER OF THE USRC McCLELLAND TO INSURGENT FORCES. ORDERS EXPLICIT BUT NOT OBEYED. 

"WASHINGTON, Thursday, Feb. 7."

"The following statement in relation to the surrender of the revenue cutter [USRC] Robert McClelland, is derived from an official source"

"The cutter [McClelland] is one of the largest and best in the revenue service, just rebuilt and refitted. Her commander was Capt. BRESHWOOD, of Virginia"

SEE THIS PARTICULAR PDF DOCUMENT A LISTING OF USRC AND USLHT AS SEIZED BY THE SECESSIONIST STATES PRIOR TO THE BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMPTER [APRIL 1861]. THAT NUMBER OF SHIPS QUITE GREATER THAN WHAT I MIGHT HAVE SUSPECTED.

coolbert.

TF Albatros.

This coolbert:

The Islamic state combatants [ISIL] laid low. Italian style. And we are the better for it.

"The little known EC-27J JEDI (Jamming and Electronic Defense Instrumentation) aircraft is the only non-American asset flying the Electronic Support and Protection mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR)"

Five-thousand hours in the air and counting! Great praise due!!

"The EC-27J JEDI is a variant of the successful Leonardo C-27J Spartan military transport aircraft that has been heavily modified to perform Electronic Warfare missions: the aircraft carries an internal JEDI system that is coupled with a tail antenna to to jam the frequency bands used to remotely operate IEDs and UAVs, in order to neutralize them and thus protect personnel on the ground around areas of interest."

Image and article also courtesy "The Aviationist"and David Cenciotti.

See from the wiki entry a description of ELECTRONIC WARFARE. JEDI aircraft also able to control remotely drone UAV.

ALL CREDIT DUE THE ITALIANS AND A BIG THANK YOU. WE MUST NOT DISMISS THE ITALIAN MILITARY!

coolbert.

Evacuation.

This is coolbert:

Continuing further extracts from the archives of the New York Times, 1861. The National Crisis as reported at the time. 

"THE NATIONAL TROUBLES: Proceedings of the Peace Convention at Washington; THE DISUNION CRISIS: Women and Children Leave Fort Sumter (2/7/1861)"

New York Times archives – Times Machine ^ | 2/7/1861

"WASHINGTON, Wednesday, Feb. 6."

"FROM FORT SUMTER."

"THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN SENT AWAY. THEIR ARRIVAL THIS PORT ON BOARD [the commercial steamship] MARION - - CONDITION OF THE GARRISON."

"The sending away of the families of the officers and men at Fort Sumter, in anticipation of a possible attack, was announced by telegraph several day ago. yesterday the steamer Marion arrived from Charleston, having among her passengers these persons, fifty-six in all, twenty five of them children."

REMOVAL OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN A SURE AND CERTAIN SIGN OF IMPENDING MILITARY ACTION! A SIGNAL UNMISTAKEABLE AND SURE RECOGNIZED AS SO BY THE INSURGETS BESIEGING FORT SUMTER!

coolbert.

Parole.

 This is coolbert:

Some clarification with regard to military parole. An anachronistic practice not done anymore. At one time very popular.

From the Military History Now Internet web site and thanks to same.

"You’re Free To Go — Military Paroles in the 18th and 19th Centuries" 

You can go but only if you promise first and on your honor!

"‘on one’s word of honour.’"

"Discharged Paroled prisoners often swore an oath to their captors that in return for their freedom, they would refuse subsequent military service until the war ended or the opposing factions negotiated an exchange (i.e. each side might agree to release a certain number of paroled prisoners from their obligation to abstain from future hostilities). Paroled militia typically returned to their farms, homes and families. Some received certificates from the general [commanding officer authorizing parole] that exempted them from being pressed back into service. Surprisingly, militaries would abide by these agreements as a matter of course. Punishment for breaking one’s word could be severe."

Lieutenant Jouett the "first" prisoner-of-war of the American Civil war released on a condition of parole. His word and honor as an officer and a gentleman of the highest order satisfactory for his captors. 

 

Such concepts as parole "on word of honor" are laughable in the modern world? I fear it is so!

coolbert.

Black Douglas.

This is coolbert:

Within context of a previous blog entry consider my instantaneous reaction. 

The saga of Sir James Douglas. Known also as the Black Douglas.

The Black Douglas. Sir James. Scottish knight and lord, A liegeman of Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland.

"Sir James Douglas (also known as Good Sir James and the Black Douglas) . . . was a Scottish knight and feudal lord. He was one of the chief commanders during the Wars of Scottish Independence."

That "Final Campaign" of Sir James as deemed having the nature of a saga.

"saga: noun - - a modern heroic narrative resembling the Icelandic saga  [historic or legendary figures and events]"

"Robert Bruce died in 1329. According to Jean le Bel, when Bruce was dying he asked that Sir James, as his friend and lieutenant, should carry his heart to the Holy Land and present it at the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem as a mark of penance. John Barbour, alternatively, has Bruce ask that his heart should simply be carried in battle against 'God's foes' as a token of his unfulfilled ambition to go on crusade . . . When Bruce was dead, his heart was cut from his body and placed in a silver and enameled casket which Sir James placed around his neck. Early in 1330, Douglas set sail from Berwick upon Tweed, accompanied by seven other knights with twenty six esquires and gentlemen."

"esquire: (in the Middle Ages) - - a young man of noble birth who as an aspirant to knighthood served a knight."

Sir James vanquished in mortal combat with the Saracen enemy in Spain. Saracens as the Muslim was referred to by the Europeans during that era. Mission of Sir James not accomplished. In death however the actions of Sir James indeed chivalrous and worthy of a saga.

coolbert.

USS Brooklyn.

This is coolbert:

Still yet again thanks to Freeper an extract from the New York Times archives of 1861. 

"IMPORTANT FROM WASHINGTON: Reinforcement of Fort Sumter by the Brooklyn; EFFECTS OF SECESSION IN FLORIDA; Editorial-Fort Sumter Reinforced! (2/4/1861)"

New York Times archives – Times Machine ^ | 2/4/1861

"WASHINGTON, Sunday, Feb. 3. I have information which, though not official, leaves very little doubt on my mind that Fort Sumter has actually been reinforced, in spite of the vigilance of the Charleston volunteers. I think it will turn out that the steamer Brooklyn [USS] took some three hundred soldiers and ten or twelve officers to the entrance of Charleston harbor, and that in the night time they rowed in small boats, with muffled oars, past the batteries on Morris Island and Fort Moultrie, and are now inside of Fort Sumter."

The "Charleston volunteers" as deemed students of what has become known as the Citadel. Military academy cadets manning the coastal artillery that previously had fired on the Star of the East supply ship. Fort Sumter besieged, in peril.

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POW FLA.

This is coolbert:

Yet still one more extract from the New York Times archives courtesy Freeper and Homer Simpson.

Conflict brewing, Charleston, South Carolina, USA. Secession. War a-brewing.

"THE NATIONAL TROUBLES: A Lieutenant in the Navy Treated by the Floridians as a Prisoner of War; THE POLITICAL CRISIS: EMANCIPATION OF THE BORDER STATES (2/2/1861)"

New York Times archives – Times Machine ^ | 2/2/1861

"WASHINGTON, Friday, Feb. 1. The first prisoner of war, Lieut. JAMES E. JOUETT, arrived here to-day, and reported himself to Secretary TOUCEY. Lieut. JOUETT is attached to the steamer Crusader, now in the Gulf, but was temporarily employed on the Wyandotte. He went ashore at Pensacola, and was immediately seized as a prisoner, but released on parole of honor not to bear arms against the State of Florida, and a passport was furnished him. Having proceeded to New Orleans, with the hope of being able to join his vessel from that point, he was again threatened"

LIEUTENANT JOUETT USN THE FIRST PRISONER-OF-WAR [POW] OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR? CAPTURED BY INSURGETS PENSACOLA, FLORIDA, IMMEDIATELY PAROLED AND RELEASED. 

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Troubles.

This is coolbert:

More extracts from the archives of the New York Times. Tenseness unprecedented in the aftermath of the secession of South Carolina in December 1860. Threats to Washington D.C. and the Capital as alleged taken very seriously. Courtesy the tip from Freeper.

"THE NATIONAL TROUBLES: The Communication of Col. Hayne to the President; A Citizen of Washington on the Conspiracy to Seize the Capital (2/1/1861)"

New York Times archives – Times Machine ^ | 2/1/1861

"WASHINGTON, Thursday, Jan. 31. . . . THE WASHINGTON CONVENTION. It is understood here that the first movement in the Board of Commissioners from the States, to meet here on Monday next, will be propositions by Virginia for the withdrawal of the Federal troops from the Capital, the States guaranteeing that there shall be no hostile..."

THAT WASHINGTON CONVENTION AN ATTEMPT TO FORESTALL FURTHER SECESSION. NO ATTACK OR HOSTILE ACTION AGAINST WASHINGTON D.C. CONTINGENT ON THE WITHDRAWAL OF FEDERAL TROOPS AS GARRISONED.

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Crisis.

This is coolbert:

More extracts from the archivges of the New York Times as of 1861. Those actions as preceded the actual combat of the American Civil War. Secession of South Carolina as having occured in December 1860. Thanks to the tip from Freeper.

"THE NATIONAL CRISIS: A Peremptory Demand for the Surrender of Fort Sumter; THE DISUNION MOVEMENT; Editorial-Kansas Admitted! (1/29/1861)"

From the: "New York Times archives – Times Machine ^ | 1/29/1861"

"WASHINGTON, Monday, Jan. 28. The sailing of the Brooklyn [USS Brooklyn] continues the topic of excited discussion in official circles here, and a collision is certainly anticipated at Pensacola, should that be her destination, as is generally believed. Mr. CRITTENDEN [U.S. Senator] had a long interview, to-day, with Mr. TYLER, and expressed his regret at the act of the Administration in sending troops southward at this particular juncture. Mr. TYLER will be detained till to-morrow, awaiting disptaches [sic] from Judge ROBINSON, the Commissioner of Virginia to the seceding States. Judge R. is expected to reach Pensacola to-night."

Star of the West merchant vessel sailing with provisions for Fort Sumter fired upon and damaged by South Carolina secessionist military coastal artillery. USS Brooklyn USN warship dispatched in response. 

Unprecedented tenseness and acrimony. Attempts at compromise and reconciliation ongoing regardless.

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SHOCK.

This is coolbert: 

From our good friend Commander Salamander we have an article the extract of which the first few paragraphs I have copied verbatim and done so unashamedly.

"The War on (Military) History: Half a Century In"

"Over the weekend I saw a few people commenting on Max Hastings's [Sir Max] latest over at Bloomberg, American Universities Declare War on Military History. I couldn't help but laugh at times the shock - SHOCK - some showed when reading it. My take is, 'Where have you been?'"

"Yet in centers of learning across North America, the study of the past in general, and of wars in particular, is in spectacular eclipse. History now accounts for a smaller share of undergraduate degrees than at any time since 1950. Whereas in 1970, 6% of American male and 5% of female students were history majors, the respective percentages are now less than 2% "

Centers of learning = those most elite universities and colleges.

I highly recommend all devoted readers to the blog the entire article without qualification. The study of history and particularly the study of WAR in the historical context low-on-the-totem-pole of intellectual pursuits. And done so primarily for ideological and political considerations. 

A PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR AT LEAST FIFTY YEARS!! DISENCHANTMENT WITH AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT IN THE SECOND-INDO CHINA WAR UNDENIABLY AS THE CATALYST. 

coolbert.

Choppers.

This is coolbert:

Some items courtesy the Iranian PressTV.

American military forces Afghanistan and Iraq both AIDING fighters of the Islamic State [ISIL]? 

So it is alleged.

1. "US military lands Daesh terrorists behind PMU positions in Jurf al-Sakhar: Expert"

"The US military airlifts groups of Daesh Takfiri terrorists to areas behind the positions of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) in Jurf al-Sakhar region in the central province of Babil, says an Iraqi security expert."

2. "US forces ‘transporting by choppers’ Daesh terrorists in Afghanistan: Taliban"

"The Taliban says the US occupation forces in Afghanistan are engaged in 'transporting by their choppers' members of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in the war-torn country’s east."

Daesh = Islamic State = ISIL. PMU = Popular Mobilization Unit = Iraqi Shia paramilitary fighters.

Within the context of a previous blog entry all of this sounds very strange indeed. As was previously posted the Taliban much to their amazement has benefited from apparently deliberate American close-air-support. 

The enemy of my enemy is my friend? How the world turns.

coolbert.

 

Disunion.

This is coolbert:

Disturbance, United States Capital. As it was recently as it was nearly one-hundred sixty years ago!!

Thanks to the New York Times archives the tip from Freeper.

"THE NATIONAL CRISIS: The Anticipated Descent on Washington; THE DISUNION MOVEMENT; Editorial-Compromise-The Border States and the Union (1/28/1861)"

"New York Times archives – Times Machine ^ | 1/28/1861"

"WASHINGTON, Sunday, Jan. 27. The rumor was rife to-day that Gen. SCOTT [General Winfield Scott] had received new intelligence relative to designs on the Capital, by secession invaders, which causes him much anxiety. If it is so, he keeps the secret admirably, for no facts in support of the rumor can be ascertained. Mayor BERRET [Washington D.C.] scouts the idea of any danger of an attack on this city, and says he has no intelligence denoting it, which he is confident he should have if the purpose existed."

"scouts: To reject with disdain or derision."

DISTURBANCE DID NOT MATERIALIZE IN 1861! BUT THE THREAT FROM SECESSIONIST FORCES DID EXIST AND WAS WORRISOME TO MANY.

coolbert.

Au FBI.

This is coolbert:

Au = Gold.

Within the military dimension the long-lost hidden treasure has been found? American Civil War. 

"Did the FBI [Federal Bureau of Investigation] Find $400M in Civil War Gold in a Pa. Forest? Harrisburg Lawyer Says He Has New Clue in the Case"

Courtesy the tip from Freeper the incident as reputed to have occurred several years ago now..

"A Harrisburg attorney said Thursday that a state appeals court has just given him the next clue toward hopefully solving the mystery of whether the FBI dug up a cache of lost Civil War gold worth about $400 million [USD] from a remote Pennsylvania forest nearly three years ago"

American FBI unearthing a treasure trove of gold, buried from the time of the American Civil War. Three years ago now as alleged. The claim is in the courts for all that time without resolution. 

As to the value of the treasure consisting of:

"26 or 52 bars [each] weighing 50 pounds [22 1/2 kilograms]  $56 million USD. Based on a gold price of $1,800 USD per ounce [28 grams].

See previous blog entry with many additional links:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/12/boudicca.html

And to all this J. Edgar would say?

coolbert.