GBSD III.

This is coolbert:

America answers back? With regard to the prior blog entry GBSD the response to advanced and brand new Russian atomic weapons systems? GBSD  [an intercontinental ballistic missile] as replacement for the ancient and venerable and currently in the inventory for over fifty years Minuteman III.

From the Russian Internet media outlet Sputnik and thanks to same.

"US Plans to Test Its $60 Billion Replacement for Ageing Minuteman ICBMs in 2023"

"If the tests show satisfying results, Washington is likely to order 400 such missiles to replace their ageing stockpile. The first new ICBMs are expected to be delivered by 2036."

"The Pentagon is eyeing 2023 for conducting the first test flights of the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the GBSD program manager has said. The tests will be carried out at the Vandenberg Air Force Base at the end of 2023."

GBSD will cost about $60 billion USD spent over a ten year period!

MISSILES [GBSD] IF EVERYTHING GOES ACCORDING TO PLAN WILL NOT BE OPERATIONALLY AVAILABLE UNTIL 2036 AT THE EARLIEST.

By that time the Minuteman III will be over sixty years old I would have to think reliability highly questionable!

coolbert.

Kedr.

This is coolbert:

Yet one more advanced and apparently brand-new Russian intercontinental ballistic missile [ICBM] with atomic munitions capability.

So much new Russian atomic weaponry!

First from Russian Internet media outlet TASS.

"Russia successfully test-launches latest ICBM — source"

This is Kedr!

"As was reported earlier, the Moscow Institute of thermal Technology has started developing the sophisticated Kedr silo-based and mobile ICBM modifications as part of the effort of upgrading Russia’s strategic armaments"

KEDR CAN BE EITHER SILO-BASED OR MOBILE!

Kedr by repute the successor to the current Yars missile system. Yars an improved Topol-M mobile ICBM for which there is NO American counter-part!!

Russians sure active in atomic munitions and delivery systems. Much more than anyone else! Much more.

coolbert.

Shelby.

This is coolbert:

Until just recently was not aware of this. Thanks to the tip from the recent movie "Ford V. Ferrari".

Yet further the story of another prominent American who stood tall during WW2.

Carroll Shelby.

Famous "American automotive designer, racing driver, and entrepreneur".

"Carroll Hall Shelby . . . was an American automotive designer, racing driver, and entrepreneur. Shelby is best known for his involvement with the AC Cobra and Mustang for Ford Motor Company, which he modified during the late 1960s and early 2000s. He established Shelby American in 1962 to manufacture and market performance vehicles . . . As a race car driver, his highlight was as a co-driver of the winning 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans entry."

Carroll Shelby hardly a man to shirk his duty for his country in a time of war. Hardly. His record exemplary.

"After enlisting in the United States Army Air Corps, Shelby began pilot training in November 1941. He graduated with the rank of staff sergeant pilot in September 1942 at Ellington Field. In December 1942 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant after undergoing air students' training, later serving as a flight instructor and test pilot in the Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan and Curtiss AT-9 Jeep. He went on to fly the Douglas B-18 Bolo, the North American B-25 Mitchell, the Douglas A-26 Invader and finally the Boeing B-29 Superfortress at Denver, Colorado, before being discharged following V-J Day"

From my perspective Carroll Shelby in the same league and category as Smokey Yunick. The war time combat aviator who subsequent to the war achieved a marked degree of success and repute as an "American automotive designer . . . entrepreneur". See here about the war time record of Smokey.

THAT DANGER OF WARPLANE INSTRUCTOR HARDLY TOO LET IT BE MINIMIZED.

coolbert.

Icicle.

This is coolbert:

The American athlete that stood tall during WW2.

Lloyd Mangrum.

"Lloyd Eugene Mangrum (August 1, 1914 – November 17, 1973) was an American professional golfer. He was known for his smooth swing and his relaxed demeanour on the course, which earned him the nickname 'Mr. Icicle.'"

All thanks here to the wiki.

Career:

"Mangrum joined the PGA Tour in 1937 and went on to win 36 events on the Tour. He might have won more if his career had not been interrupted by service in World War II. While serving in the U.S. Army and training for the D-Day landings, Mangrum was offered the professional's job at the Fort Meade golf course in Maryland, which would have kept him out of combat, but he declined. He was awarded two Purple Hearts after being wounded at Normandy and Battle of the Bulge. He was also awarded two Silver and two Bronze Stars"

Lloyd could have taken the easy way out but he did not. And we are all the better for it too.

coolbert.

Suicide.

This is coolbert:

Consider this figure to way too high? Personally I am skeptical.

"HIGH SUICIDE RATES AMONG UNITED STATES SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS OF THE POST-9/11 WARS"

"Suicide rates among active military personnel and veterans of the post-9/11 wars are reaching new peaks. This report uses governmental data, secondary literature, and interviews to document a suicide epidemic that is emerging among post-9/11 fighters as part of a broader mental health crisis. "

"The study finds that at least four times as many active duty personnel and war veterans of post-9/11 conflicts have died of suicide than in combat, as an estimated 30,177 have died by suicide as compared with the 7,057 killed in post-9/11 war operations."

Comments:

* I had to read this article several times before I more thoroughly understood.

* I had thought they were speaking of all veterans from WW2, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War I and the wars as fought in the aftermath of 9/11.

* But no, they are speaking of veterans strictly as having fought in wars subsequent to 9/11.

* I will say again [and I have no knowledge as to what methodology was used to arrive at those statistics] but the figures from an intuitive standpoint are WAY to high.

coolbert.

Hayduk.

This is coolbert: 

The mercenary African style 1977. In the ancient and venerable manner of the European hayduk, the irregular combatant who guards the cattle.

From the era of the Rhodesian Bush War. 

A stock detective in modern parlance, guarding the cattle of the Rhodesian rancher. A lucrative trade if done right and you survive. Watch the video.

Bounty on each rustler £2,000 English pounds [1977]. A tidy sum! Equal to about $15,000 USD in 2021 dollars, purchasing power, low-ball figure.

Bring a right ear only. And how much of the bounty you split with the tracker?

coolbert.

Antonio.

This is coolbert:

"One of the finest military tacticians of the last century. Brilliant. Everything he did. A disciplinarian."

Thanks to an old African hand we have the input regarding this man. Antonio Spinola. Portuguese commander during the counter-insurgency, Portuguese Guinea. NEVER heard of this man before!

"António Sebastião Ribeiro de Spínola . . . 11 April 1910 – 13 August 1996) was a Portuguese military officer, author and conservative politician who played an important role in Portugal's transition to democracy following the Carnation Revolution."

COUNTER-INSURGENCY PORTUGUESE GUINEA ULTIMATELY FAILED. THE NEW NATION OF GUINEA-BISSAU EMERGING FROM PORTUGUESE DEFEAT.

"The Guinea-Bissau War of Independence, or the Bissau-Guinean War of Independence, was an armed independence conflict that took place in Portuguese Guinea between 1963 and 1974. Fought between Portugal and the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde,"

Tactical and operational innovations of  Antonio Spinola to include:

1. "'Africanization' of the Conflict"

2. "Tactical Changes"

Antonio fond of wearing the monocle. Monocle gone forever now?

coolbert.

Top III.

This is coolbert

For some strange reason I DO NOT believe any of this is true. Apparently item # 1 actually occurred. As for # 2 beware it is SATIRE!

1. "Exclusive — Nellis Air Force Base Hosts First-Ever Drag Queen Show: ‘Essential to the Morale, Readiness’"

From Breitbart and thanks to same.

"The Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada recently hosted its first-ever drag queen show at one of its on-base dining and entertainment clubs [Top III], according a base spokesperson."

Additionally from Freeper and as usual thanks to same.

2. "Nellis Air Force Base Commander To Retire (Satire)"

"Maj. Gen. Case Cunningham, Base Commander of Nellis Air Force Base announced his upcoming retirement this Fall. Although just recently installed as base commander, Cunningham stated personal and professional opportunities arose that convinced him to advance his retirement plans. Cunningham recently appeared [at] the base local drag queen competition for which he received rave reviews."

Bert is just an old stick-in-the-mud? Bert is not "with it"?  Who would not want to be "with it"?

"stick-in-the-mud  - - Fig. a dull and old-fashioned person."

coolbert.

SINKEX I.

This is coolbert:

First consider number # 1 then # 2 in that order. It seems the "heavyweights with a glass jaw" more durable and resilient than what had been thought.

 "glass jaw denotes: – (in boxing) a jaw that is excessively fragile or susceptible to punches; – (by extension) a person’s or institution’s critical point of weakness, i.e., an Achilles’ heel."

1. "USS America: Sinking A Supercarrier"

"Sinking an Aircraft Carrier"

"The USS America (CV-66) super carrier was originally intended to be scrapped, like most other US aircraft carriers. But some innovative US Navy officers found a more creative and productive end for this massive ship."

"Although aircraft carriers have been sunk in battle before, especially during WWII, a super-carrier the size of modern US Navy aircraft carriers has never reached that end. After decades of successful aircraft carrier operations, though, this started to become a bit of a weak spot."

I recommend highly without qualification or reservation the embedded video.

"No one knew exactly, with any great degree of certainty, how the massive super-carriers would hold up to strikes by modern — and very capable — anti-ship weapons in a combat scenario."

A LOT BETTER THAN WHAT I THINK THE EXPERTS ANTI8CIPATED!!

Comments:

* Four weeks of damage from a variety of weapons systems causing considerable damage and still the warship did not sink.

* Evidently no damage control parties onboard the vessel while under attack.

* Warship [USS America] finally sunk by deliberate scuttling using demolitions.

Consider also this item courtesy the Daily Mail and thanks to same.

2. "PICTURED: Navy fires thousands of pounds of explosives near USS Gerald R. Ford, creating a blast equivalent to a 3.9 magnitude earthquake to test the carrier's ability to 'take a hit' in battle"

NOT a direct hit. A nearby detonation of massive proportions. A test worthy to determine the structural integrity of the vessel. To WHAT EXTENT that explosion equal to an atomic munition being used I would be curious to know.

This explosion again of course not the same as a DIRECT HIT but nonetheless demonstrating the capacity of an aircraft carrier to take punishment and survive.

coolbert.

Swahili.

This is coolbert:

Courtesy an acknowledge African authority some observations and ruminations regarding the Mozambique situation.

* The Islamic State jihadi insurgency and threat to Mozambique undeniable.

* The military forces of Mozambique unable and even totally unequal to cope with the insurgency.

* Foreign military aid and involvement to include mercenaries generally eschewed by the regime of Mozambique President Felipe Nyusi. 

* Situation dire and yet the Mozambique response poor to nil. Hesitancy most strange!

NOW FOR THE REST OF THE STORY:

"A triangle of vulnerability: Changing patterns of illicit trafficking off Africa’s Swahili coast"

By Alastair Nelson as was written a year ago.

"Organized crime networks trafficking people, drugs, wildlife products and other goods are increasingly using the ancient Swahili coast trade routes between Africa, Pakistan and the Arab world.

Click on image to see an enlarged view. That Swahili Coast historically a major trade route, goods and services both legal and illegal.

Once more thanks to acknowledged African authority and in the nutshell:

"The trafficking routes through Cabo Delgado are long established. Mozambique has no navy or coast guards so effectively the long coastline of the northern provinces is unpoliced. Not only drugs come this way - - so do rubies, gold, timber, banned wildlife exports and of course there is a traffic in people. This was, after all, an old slave-trading coast."

Devoted readers to the blog take it from there. The relative unwillingness of the central government in Maputo to assume a more proactive approach to the jihadi insurgency is hardly related to just plain military incompetency. Factors of another sort at play. Factors of an less than savory nature.

coolbert.

EMRG Turk.

This is coolbert:

Turkey a railgun? Turkey?  EMRG = Electro-magnetic railgun.

The electro-magnetic railgun is dead! Long live the electro-magnetic railgun?

From the outstanding Internet web site "Covert Shores" and article the  topic of which is the electro-magnetic railgun. Thanks to H.I. Sutton.

"Covert Shores Guide: World Navy's Rail Gun Projects"

"The Navy’s [USA] FY2021 budget submission did not request funding for EMRG in FY2022-FY2025"

Lots of money, time, energy spent in EMRG research and development. Results scant compared to the money spent? Project [USA] more or less terminated. 

"There are a lot of reasons for navy's to be interested in EM RailGuns [EMRG]. They offer very long range fire support, relative to traditional naval guns. The new ranges are in the order of 100 nautical miles, which is 5 or more times current naval guns. And because of their higher projectile speeds they are able to get the round on target much quicker than missile systems. This fills the much desired Time Critical Strike role. All the while the greater range reduces the vulnerability of the warship to counter-fire (unless the enemy too has rail guns)."

Rounds as fired from an EMRG the cost far less than a single missile. Primarily that was the interest in the EMRG concept.

American EMRG project "dead". The Chinese however as believed their own EMRG a product "still in the works". Surprisingly so [?] and as elaborated upon by "Covert Shores" it seems the Turk also has TWO EMRG weapon designs in development.

Do not under-estimate Turkish weapons research and development. In some regards the Turk at the forefront of new weapons systems, some field-tested with positive results.

Where the USA cannot, the Turk can?

coolbert.

Marinha MM.

This is coolbert:

World's fastest military boat. Mozambique? Mozambique?

From the outstanding H.I. Sutton Internet web site "Covert Shores" and thanks to same.

Strong on paper, weak in actuality?

"Covert Shores Guide To Mozambique Navy: New, Fast, and Stuck In The Mud"

"Mozambique has one of the most impressive fleets of any small navy. On paper. It is equipped with futuristic trimaran offshore patrol boats, robust interceptors and the world's fastest military boat. But the arms deal behind the brand new fleet went sour and the boats are barely operational."

THAT SWAHILI COAST [EAST AFRICA] A MEANS OF ENTRY FOR THOSE DESIRING JIHAD AND TO JOIN THE MOZAMBIQUE INSURGENCY? MARINHA MM THEIR RESOURCES SCANT TO NONE!

See previous very recent and pertinent blog entries the Mozambique situation:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/04/iscap.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/04/adf.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/04/asjw.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/03/moz-i.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/03/moz-ii.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/03/palma.html

coolbert.

Recondo.

This is coolbert:

Recondo Afghan? Recondo?

From the Internet web site Small Wars Journal and the article as written in 2013.

Wonder if it ever came to pass? Recondo Afghan.

"OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM RECONDO SCHOOL"

"RECONDO School was one of the most unique schools in the Army’s history. Your final exam was a real mission in enemy territory. In other words the final exam could and sometimes did result in enemy contact. RECONDO, was coined by General Westmoreland taken from the words: Reconnaissance, Commando, and Doughboy. The school was staffed by a 54-man Special Forces cadre, Australian and Korean liaisons, support personal and a company of the Civilian Irregular Defense Group [CIDG]"

ADDITIONALLY some video of Recondo training:

"WATCH: LEGENDARY MACV RECONDO TRAINING WITH VIETNAM GREEN BERETS

"The instructors of MACV Recondo school were among the best soldiers in the Army, and so-called triple volunteers: for the Army, Airborne, and Special Forces. The cadre were also supported by Australian and South Korean liaisons during the 20-day course."

See also this video:

Recondo USA. Not limited to jungle warfare training Vietnam. Think Fort Carson Colorado USA in this case.

My understanding was that Recondo:

* Was not strictly limited to combat arms personnel. Was branch immaterial as can be referred to.

*  Recondo more than anything else a confidence builder and leadership training course for those of the  lowest level non-commissioned officer ranks.

* Cadre always of superior caliber individuals who had already seen combat action in Vietnam. Troops that knew their stuff.

coolbert.

Bates II.

This is coolbert:

Bates, 1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery. American Civil War.

From the Coffee or Die webzine of the Black Rifle Coffee Internet web site the article by Matt Fratus.

A feel good story.

"THE MAN WHO MARCHED A US FLAG ACROSS THE SOUTH 3 YEARS AFTER THE CIVIL WAR"

"Sgt. Gilbert Bates was a Civil War veteran of the 1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery Regiment. Bates had returned to Wisconsin as a farmer when he told some neighbors he thought he could march across the just-defeated rebel states of the South wearing his old Union uniform and carrying an American flag. He thought the country, after the trauma of the war, was united and would welcome him."

THIS WAS EVEN SEEN AT THE TIME AS A FOOLHARDY GESTURE, FRAUGHT WITH DANGER. NOT SURE OF WHAT THE RECEPTION WOULD BE SOME SUGGESTING BATES MIGHT EVEN BE KILLED!!

"The complete opposite happened. Bates was treated to dinners, parties, and parades provided by crowds of welcoming Southerners present to cheer on the faith Bates had in them." 

That Great Compromise as agreed upon in the aftermath of the American Civil War. 1. Southerners generally agreeing it was probably better the Union was preserved [it was] and 2. Northerners generally agreeing that the Southerner had indeed fought very bravely for his cause [he did] and should be accorded respect for having done so.

Please also do not confuse Gilbert Bates with another Bates from the era of the American Civil War. 

coolbert.

F-16 Viper.

This is coolbert:

Was not aware of this. This should be deemed as well beyond the ordinary. 

Thanks to The Drive and the article by THOMAS NEWDICK APRIL 19, 2021.

"Japan-Based USAF F-16s Flew South China Sea Mission Fully Loaded With Live Air-To-Air Missiles"

"Flying far from their home in Japan, the four F-16s, each armed with six missiles, executed operations in one of the tensest areas of the planet."

"The four U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jets that recently flew a mission over the highly contested South China Sea were photographed landing at Yokota Air Base in Japan, en route to their home base at Misawa. The images confirm that these jets were armed for counter-air operations with a heavy load of live air-to-air missiles. The jets’ appearance in the South China Sea last week coincided with the biggest presence of People’s Liberation Army aircraft in Taiwan’s southwest air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in recent times:"

FLEW FROM BASES IN JAPAN TO VICINITY THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND EVEN INCLUDED A FLY-OVER OF THE AMERICAN AIRCRAFT CARRIER THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

Warplanes flying that far from their home base armed with live missiles and including several mid-air refueling indeed a rather extreme "show of force" and a demonstration of American resolve in the region of the South China Sea.

I WOULD ALSO HAVE TO ASSUME THE JAPANESE WERE NOTIFIED IN ADVANCE OF THIS OPERATION AND GAVE THEIR O-KAY!

coolbert.

Display.

This is coolbert:

Once more from the Internet web site English Russia we have images of captured Islamic State [ISIL] munitions. As displayed at the "Patriot Park", Moscow.

1. "Examples of ISIS Artillery on Display in Moscow"

"In Moscow there is an exposition showcasing different Syrian armaments that were seized there and brought by military planes to Russia. We already had a display of Syrian militants armored vehicles and trucks. And today here thanks to Twower we can see the artillery of Syria militants."

Not necessarily artillery as thought of in the normal sense. Rather think rocket artillery and heavy mortars. The Islamic State munition makers seem to be aware of the spigot mortar. Useful when fire a propane canister to function in the manner of a fuel-air explosive.

2. "Hand Grenade Launchers of Syrian Militants on Display in Russia"

"Russia’s 'Patriot Park' featured an exhibition of hand grenade launchers seized from various militant groups in Syria. The weapons have various makers – Russian, Soviet, NATO countries and self modified ones. Here are some of them, thanks to Twower"

NOT hand-grenade launchers. Launchers for anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade rounds. AND as mentioned from a variety of nations.

See additionally further displays of captured ISIL weaponry.

Russians seem to be quite proud of their military success in Syria!

coolbert.

Standard.

This is coolbert:

Within context of a recent prior blog entry see what other web sites have to say about combat drone Turkish style.

1. "The standard-bearer of the latest armed-drone revolution emerged last year on the battlefields around Turkey"

"On the first day of the Nagorno-Karabakh War, Azerbaijani drone strikes focused heavily on Armenian short-range air-defense vehicles, and now, the Wall Street Journal reports, armed low-cost drones made by Turkey are reshaping geopolitics"

RESHAPING GEOPOLITICS!

2. "SAY HELLO TO TURKEY’S LITTLE FRIEND: HOW DRONES HELP LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD"

"Turkey has pioneered drone use for the social media age, splicing together videos of the TB2’s kills and rapidly spreading these videos and imagery through semi-official social media accounts. The videos shape narratives about the efficacy of Turkish drones and their battlefield prowess, reinforcing ideas about the future of combat."

COMBAT DRONES NOT ONLY THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE BUT ALREADY ARE. WE HAVE ONLY JUST BEGUN TO FIGHT.

coolbert.

Silly.

This is coolbert:

Courtesy the Coffee or Die Internet webzine more counter-drone "weapons" in the arsenal.

"WATCH: DRONE-HUNTING DRONES SLING SILLY STRING"

That article by James R. Webb | June 10, 2021

"Kids famously love Silly String battles, shooting each other with strings of synthetic foam. But parents — equally famously — do not, because the fun strings turn to crusty webs, sticking to hair, clothes, and just about everything else. Now, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, is putting the same concept to use against those small, screaming brats of the sky: drones."

"Silly String (generically known as aerosol string) is a toy of flexible, sometimes brightly colored, plastic string propelled as a stream of liquid from an aerosol can. The solvent in the string quickly evaporates in mid-air, creating a continuous strand. Silly String is often used during weddings, birthday parties, carnivals and other festive occasions, but it has also proven useful militarily to detect tripwires."

Counter-drone UAV emitting a spew of silly string. Jamming mid-air the motors and controls of the enemy UAV. This is the idea? Sorta like a spider spinning a web? Counter-drone UAV also AUTONOMOUS!

See previous blog entries the topic counter-drone measures.

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

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

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2017/04/blighter.html 

Measures and methods to combat the drone threat a major area for research I might well suspect.

coolbert.

Cannibal.

This is coolbert:

The French do it. The Americans do it too!

See previous blog entry. Also think not merely PARTS. Think rather entire SECTIONS.

From Strategy Page Internet web site and article with a specific paragraph extracted.

"Attrition: Cannibalizing SSNs For Parts"

"The U.S. Navy was also the first to keep an older SSN in service by replacing a damaged section of one with the same section from a recently retired boat. The work took two years and cost $79 million. The expense was justified by the fact that damaged [USS SSN] San Francisco had recently (2002) completed a mid-life refueling and upgrade that was to keep the boat in service until 2017. The San Francisco is still in service and expected to be retired later in the decade. This is because in 2016 the San Francisco was withdrawn from sea service and, for at least ten more years, given a stationary assignment as one of two moored training ships for new Los Angeles SSN crew"

"replacing a damaged section of one [submarine] with the same section from a recently retired [submarine] boat."

The French do it but the Americans do it first!

Read the episode of the damage to the USS San Francisco. Ran into an undersea seamount while traveling underwater at high speed. Miracle the boat did not sink with all hands lost.

coolbert.

Virus 19.

This is coolbert:

Personally I am perplexed by all this. Incomprehensible actually. I do not know what to say.

American Gulag? Pariah? Cadets at the military academy West Point refusing inoculation outcasts?

"BREAKING! WEST POINT [USMA] IS TREATING UNVACCINATED CADETS LIKE PRISONERS!"

"West Point, the famed military academy, is treating unvaccinated cadets like prisoners! That’s according to one woman we spoke with who says her son and four other cadets are living in gulag-type conditions."

"To the best of our knowledge, West Point is subjecting cadets who refuse the vaccine to be quarantined in their rooms 23 hours a day for a total of seven days. The military academy labels these cadets as, 'susceptible' to getting Covid-19, while at the same time refusing to test them for the virus. Their mandate is to just isolate them from society rather than seek the truth by testing these, 'anti-vaxxers' for the virus."

As I have said prior, according to the best of my knowledge and personal experience military personnel USA cannot refuse medical treatment. Medical treatment so broadly defined as to mean and sort of prophylactic medicine [to include any and all vaccines as mandated by command].

The cadets USMA are not required to get the vaccine?  Army personnel in particular accoeding to what I have read only 14 % fully inoculated against the virus COVID-19.

Normally the military leader in such medical treatment. Just stand in line and get your battery of shots. I guess not so this time?

coolbert.

Air Assault.

This is coolbert:

Courtesy the ARMY ROTC Internet web site and Tulane University a video of the "entrance exam", an obstacle course part of the course of instruction, qualification U.S. Army air assault course.

"Air Assault School US Army Air Assault School is a two-week (10 days) course of instruction conducted at several locations across the Army, including Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Fort Drum, NY; Camp Smith, USMA; and at overseas locations in Germany and Hawaii. In each case, the course of instruction is focused on Combat Assault Operations involving US Army rotary-wing aircraft . . . ZERO DAY On Zero Day, you will report to the school no later than 4:30 am for in processing. At 5:45 PM, the class moves to the obstacle course for the entrance examination . . . You must complete the first two obstacles and can only fail one of the remaining seven obstacles. You will have two chances to complete each obstacle."

YOU HAD BETTER BE PREPARED.

I believe this the air assault course for both the two week [ROTC] cadets and the active duty troops too. Quite humiliating I would think to not pass the obstacle course early in the morning of the first day of instruction. You clean floors and latrines the rest of the two weeks if you fail?

More video U.S. Army air assault course. This is beyond the ROTC two week course. Normal air assault course active duty troops is six weeks. By reputation harder than the parachutist course. You learn more and complete each field exercise with a rucksack march.

Anyone want to volunteer to give it a try?

coolbert.

Retired.

This is coolbert:

Courtesy KOB and the good-news story by SOPHENG CHEANG

"Mine-sniffing rat Magawa ends years of hard work in Cambodia"

"PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) - After five years of sniffing out land mines and unexploded ordnance in Cambodia, Magawa is retiring."

"The African giant pouched rat has been the most successful rodent trained and overseen by a Belgian nonprofit, APOPO, to find land mines and alert his human handlers so the explosives can be safely removed. Last year, Magawa won a British charity's top civilian award for animal bravery - an honor so far exclusively reserved for dogs."

THE GIANT GAMBIAN POUCHED RAT PE3RFORM "YEOMAN" SERVICE. MINE DETECTION, AN OCCUPATION MOST ARDUOUS AND DANGEROUS.,

"yeoman's/yeoman work/service - US: very good, hard, and valuable work that someone does especially to support a cause, to help a team, etc."

All thanks to Magawa and also take into consideration that Magawa worked for peanuts too. Literally. 

coolbert.

Emaciated.

This is coolbert:

First. North Korean armor forces immense and a serious threat in case of war on the peninsula. That article by Eli Fuhrman as seen at The National Interest.

"North Korea Has 4,300 Tanks Ready For War (If They Work)"

"In the event of a major conflict on the Korean Peninsula, North Korea is likely to pursue an early termination of the conflict before the U.S. and South Korea can effectively bring their full military power to bear and before the United States can introduce follow-on forces to the peninsula. In such a scenario, North Korea would likely attempt to inflict significant physical and phycological damage on U.S.-ROK forces and the civilian population, with the KPA’s armored forces would form an important element of any early North Korean offensive."

An early termination to hostilities while the advantage with the North Korean. To be followed by a negotiated settlement of some sort. North Korean not wanting a protracted war.

"According to the South Korean Ministry of National Defense, North Korea operates roughly 4,300 main battle tanks, a significant advantage over the 2,300 main battle tanks operated by the South Korean military. But could they actually get going and fight? "

Secondly and perhaps more importantly, think not the number of tanks or the functioning/malfunction of the vehicles or not but rather the crews of the tanks physically able to perform their tasks during a shooting war.

"Korea: Sullen Skinny Soldiers"

"June 1, 2021: In North Korea the military has been ordered to establish special military hospitals to deal with the growing number of soldiers unfit for duty because of malnutrition. Food shortages have been worse the past few years and a lot more people are simply not getting enough to eat. Since the covid19 border closings in early 2020, the food shortages have become common in the military and even the national capital. The food shortages in the military have been so severe that many units have a growing number of troops who are emaciated and visibly too weak to carry out their duties. The government does not want these malnourished soldiers to die and the new hospitals are a short-term solution until cross-border trade is resumed and food can get in." [all thanks to Strategy Page]

There you have the rest of the story? Could very well be the case. Emaciated and malnourished troops not in any condition to function in a blitzkrieg offensive and be successful?

The irony of the roly-poly overweight leader Kim considering sending starving troops into battle cannot be denied either.

coolbert.

Ejection.

This is coolbert:

Once again the malfunctioning of an ejection seat in a combat warplane having resulted in death. As reported by the Russian Internet media outlet Russian Times.

"2 Iranian fighter jet pilots killed in ‘collision with hangar roof’ as ejector seat malfunctions – reports"

"Iranian state-affiliated media has reported the death of two fighter pilots at Dezful Air Base, with claims a 'technical defect' caused their ejector seats to engage, firing the pilots into the hangar roof."

See previous blog entries the failing ejection seat with loss of life the topic:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/03/eject-ii.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/03/eject-i.html

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

See additionally the American Northrop F-5 lightweight fighter plane a great success, highly popular with the air forces of many nations. To include the IRANIAN:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_F-5

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

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

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

MY UNDERSTANDING THE EJECTION SEATS ON THESE COMBAT WARPLANES THE DEDICATED SERVICE OF A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL NEEDED FOR MAINTANANCE.

coolbert.

HX Finland.

This is coolbert:

As seen at the Internet web site Corporal Frisk a description of the HX Challenge. What warplane is going to replace the current inventory of Finnish combat aviation?

1. "The Finnish HX Challenge Begins"

 Thanks to the article by ALBERT L 

"The Finnish HX Challenge began on 9 January, with the arrival of two Royal Air Force Eurofighters at Pirkkala Air Base, near Tampere in southern Finland. The HX Challenge is the first stage of capability assessments for the HX Fighter Programme, which intends to replace the fleet of F/A-18C and D Hornets currently in service with the Finnish Air Force."

Five warplanes from four different nations to be considered and to include:

* Grippen. [Sweden]

* Super-Hornet. [USA]

* Eurofighter. [Euro Consortium]

* F-35. [USA]

* Rafale. [France]

Additionally from Corporal Frisk and thanks to same:

2. "The Further Adventures of the F-35 (and the Super Hornet)"

"The HX Challenge intends to verify the performance claims of the manufacturers of the five aircraft contending in the HX Fighter Programme in Finnish conditions and in tests devised in Finland."

"The HX competition continues to provide surprises in the post-BAFO era, and this week’s media event courtesy of the US Embassy was no exception." 

BAFO = Best and Final Offer (BAFO) means a revision to an Offer submitted after negotiations are completed that contains the Offeror’s most favorable terms for price, service, and products to be delivered.

American F-35 it is suggested does NOT need a dedicated and distinct Electronic Warfare [EW] warplane adjunct the F-35 to accomplish the mission. F-18 Super Hornet in the Growler version is EW capable and dedicated to task. That gives the Super Hornet an advantage?

coolbert.

Force 21.

This is coolbert:

Force 21 from Navrone. NO, Force 21 to the Pacific.

As has been noted by the Internet web site Strategy Page that voyage of the British Royal Navy aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth unique in that the combat air contingent consisting of American and British aviators.

"Naval Air: Anglo-American Air Wing"

"May 31, 2021: The British Royal Navy and U.S. Marine Corps have undertaken a unique joint operation aboard the new British carrier Queen Elizabeth. This carrier, the first of two, is currently undertaking its first operational cruise. This consists of seven months at sea, carrying out joint exercises with allied navies starting in the Atlantic, then the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Indian Ocean, South China Sea and finally the waters off Japan and South Korea. The joint exercises will involve French and American carriers as well as numerous other ship types from all participating countries."

Read the entire article. A mixed combat aviation wing of American and British pilots serving on the same warship unheard of? Let us hope it will all go well. A learning experience for every one in many ways I am sure.

See previous blog entries as relevant:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/05/elizabeth-ii.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/04/britannia-ii.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/04/britannia.html

coolbert.