Arsenal 2023.

This is coolbert:

The Chinese want one. The South Koreans contemplate the same. Arsenal ship.

"On Point: South Korea Bets Arsenal Ships Will Give North Korea and China Second Thoughts"

https://www.strategypage.com | article by Austin Bay | May 17, 2023

"Threatened by North Korean nuclear weapons and communist Chinese conventional air and missile fires, South Korea has decided to spend serious money on an old but often spurned military concept: the arsenal ship."

"The concept is simple. Take a very large but comparatively inexpensive civilian commercial ship. Oil supertankers and huge container carriers fit the profile perfectly -- they're inexpensive when compared to navy warships."

Acquire the commercial vessel of considerable size. Gut, refurbish, retrofit with the latest bells and whistles. Development time for such a project I assume much less prior to a floating and operational naval warship.

"Now pack the ship with vertical launchers and several hundred long- and mid-range missiles capable of destroying enemy shore targets and perhaps enemy surface ships. Add short-range air and missile defense weapons and presto, enormous sea mobile firepower bang for the buck, or in South Korea's case, bang for their wons."

No mention of armaments OTHER than missiles as fired from vertical launch system. Naval gunfire, mine laying, surface-launched torpedoes, missiles of the HIMARS variety for shore bombardment not a consideration or included in a mix?

See most recent blog entry the arsenal ship [with many additional links on the same topic]:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/05/arsenal-2017.html

coolbert.

Inculcation.

This is coolbert:

"inculcation: noun | the act of inculcating, or teaching or influencing persistently and repeatedly so as to implant or instill an idea, theory, attitude, etc."

Paramilitary training young children Communist China. See the You Tube video:

"China's amazing early childhood education, training to carry explosive packs to fight the battlefield from an early age~｜The Congressional Investigation Corps"

Little Chinese children at an early age taught to carry satchel charges, navigate an obstacle course, place the satchel charge on the target. That side-wise crawling method evidently popular among the Chinese and Japanese military of World War Two.

See this additionally courtesy Jennifer Zeng:

"Inconvenient Truths by Jennifer Zeng 曾錚真言

@jenniferzeng97

#Chinese Children Taught and Encouraged to...You will find out.

I don't know why they claim Hunan people 'will be the first to perish'. Maybe this video is done in #Hunan Province, or scripted by Hunan people.

#China #CCP #Japan #japanese #CCPChina"

Go here and see the tweet with video. Once more the paramilitary training young Chinese people. Stabbing here straw dummies wearing Japanese uniforms. Carry a real [?] SKS carbine with attached bayonet. Throw hand grenades. Military summer camp for little kids. 

Film footage of this type was often leaked to and shown to an American audience during the Cold War era.. Intimidate and scare [?] the Yankee enemy. Who could possibly fight and prevail over an adversary whose young people were taught to hate the Yankee AND from the earliest age prepared to fight.

coolbert.

Cuber III.

This is coolbert:

Cubans the Ukraine Conflict? Cubans? Yes indeed it seems.

Should this surprise anyone?

"Cuban immigrants are joining the Russian army to fight in Ukraine in exchange for citizenship, a report says"

From Business Insider ^ | May 28, 2023 | Alia Shoaib. The trip from Freeper.

"Cuban immigrants in Russia are joining the army to fight in Ukraine in exchange for citizenship, a report says. Several Cubans have signed year-long contracts and were sent to the war zone on Wednesday, local news outlet the Ryazan Gazette reported. Those who signed contracts to fight will receive a one-time payment from Russia's federal government equivalent to $2,433 and another $2,500 from the region of Ryazan, along with a monthly salary of $2,545, The New York Post reported"

CUBANS EMIGRATE TO RUSSIA? LET US START WITH THAT ONE! THEN CUBANS VOLUNTEER TO FIGHT IN THE UKRAINIAN CONFLICT? MONEY AND A PROMISE OF CITIZENSHIP CAN DO A LOT.

Recall that during the Cold War the Cuban military was considered to be an adjunct of the Soviet Red Army. Wore the same uniforms, used the same gear, trained at the same academies, etc. Performed military cat's paw missions for the Soviet!

"cat's-paw: noun | A person used by another as a dupe or tool."

But that alliance supposedly ended about THIRTY YEARS ago! The tradition and familiarity continues?

coolbert.

Missilemen.

This is coolbert:

Where USA missilemen cannot, the Ukrainian can?

American surface-air-missile Patriot missiles ABLE after all to engage and destroy Russian Khinzal hypersonic missiles?

"The hypersonic missiles sending chills down the spines of military strategists"

"Blindingly fast and maneuverable, this new breed of weapon poses a tough challenge to defend – and they’re only just getting started"

From an archived article of the "New York Times" By Harry de Quetteville | 25 May 2023.

"Russia disputes Ukraine’s claim to have destroyed half a dozen KH-47M2 Kinzhal 'Dagger' missiles"

"It was supposed to be the missile that no one could stop. The hypersonic 'dagger' that Vladimir Putin could slip into Ukraine – and Nato’s – chest, like an assassin wielding a blade so fast that the lethal blow is just a blur. Dead before you know it."

"But then this week Ukraine claimed to have destroyed half a dozen KH-47M2 Kinzhal 'Dagger' missiles using anti-missile systems widely assumed to be Patriot batteries loaned to the country by America. Suddenly the assassin’s blade was apparently being parried, deflected and destroyed."

THE UKRAINIAN MISSILEMEN KNOW AND CAN DO THINGS THE AMERICAN MISSILEMEN CANNOT? SUCH AS SHOOTDOWN "UNSTOPPABLE" RUSSIAN KHINZAL HYPERSONIC MISSILES?

Dagger blunted such a thing not anticipated by even the experts. Too hard to believe? I am not sure!

coolbert.

Pillars

This is coolbert:

AUKUS = Australia/United Kingdom/United States mutual defense alliance.

"AUKUS moving from nuke subs to AI drone swarms"

"Australia-UK-US alliance accelerating cooperation across high-tech fields toward aim of defeating China in a potential conflict"

From https://asiatimes.com/  |  article by GABRIEL HONRADA | MAY 27, 2023.

"From nuclear submarines to hypersonic weapons, AUKUS is now developing AI-powered drone swarms and target identification capabilities that may prove decisive in a Taiwan Strait conflict."

"Breaking Defense reported that the UK Ministry of Defense (MOD) announced the first-of-its-kind AI and autonomy trial for aerial and ground vehicles occurred last month, with several claimed 'world firsts' at the event showcasing AUKUS Pillar 2’s capabilities."

"AUKUS’ advanced technology-sharing follows a two-pillar framework. Pillar 1 is a trilateral effort focused on supporting Australia to build a nuclear attack submarine (SSN) fleet."

"In contrast, Pillar 2 focuses on accelerating cooperation in several high-tech fields such as cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, hypersonics and counter-hypersonics."

Pillar 1 = Atomic powered attack submarines. Pillar 2 = High technology war making technology.

High-tech to include mini or micro UAV operating in the SWARM mode of attack.

coolbert.

Borghese.

This is coolbert:

Before there was Prince Heinrich there was Prince Borghese?

Prince Borghese a very able Italian military commander during the second world war involved in a coup d’état 1970? 

WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH AND NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING!

Prince Borghese I had thought at the end of the Second World War having fled to Spain rather than be captured and interrogated by Allied forces.

"Junio Valerio Scipione Ghezzo Marcantonio Maria Borghese . . . was an Italian Navy commander during the regime of Benito Mussolini's National Fascist Party and a prominent hard-line Fascist politician in post-war Italy. In 1970 he took part in the planning of a neo-fascist coup (dubbed the Golpe Borghese) that was called off after the press discovered it; he subsequently fled to Spain and spent the last years of his life there.

The Golpe Borghese (English: Borghese Coup) was a failed Italian coup d'état allegedly planned for the night of 7 or 8 December 1970. It was named after Junio Valerio Borghese, wartime commander of the Decima Flottiglia MAS and a hero in the eyes of many post-War Italian fascists.

Coup d’état unsuccessful! Thwarted!

See a Mark Ames Twitter thread the subject the Borghese coup d’état. Thanks to The War Nerd.

Thread

---------------------------------------------------------

Mark Ames

@MarkAmesExiled

"This rightwing German coup story has a lot of echoes of Italy’s 1970 Borghese Coup plot during Years Of Lead, right down to the fascist-prince leader. We did a Radio series on Prince Borghese’s coup plot, history & murky US backing, with  @Annibal97783312"

@TheWarNerd

------------------------------------------------------------

Mark Ames

@MarkAmesExiled

·Jan 25, 2021

"New Radio @TheWarNerd: We talk to @Annibal97783312 on one of the murkiest events in Italy's Years Of Lead: The 1970 Borghese Coup, led by a Fascist-era war hero, with apparent backing from Washington & NATO. But was it really a fascist coup? Lotta q's". [questions]

https://twitter.com/TheWarNerd/status/1353684336176934913

---------------------------------------------------------------

The coup as alleged a response to the Cold War political instability of Italy? Forty governments in forty years creates a situation where serious statesmanship and good governance become near impossible. Italy as a constituent member of NATO in jeopardy of not being able to contribute to the alliance in a meaningful way.

coolbert.

Arsenal 2017.

This is coolbert:

As was written in 2017 but as applicable as it was six years ago.

"China is Developing Its Own Deadly 'Arsenal Ship'"

"Ships and submarines would carry hundreds of missiles."

I think not only missiles Think additionally a variety of munitions and weapon systems.

From https://www.popularmechanics.com | the article by KYLE MIZOKAMI | JUN 5, 2017.

"A new article in Popular Science points to evidence that China is developing a so-called 'arsenal ship,' a large surface ship or submarine capable of carrying hundreds of missiles. Such a ship could allow the People's Liberation Army Navy to rapidly increase firepower without an investment in large numbers of expensive aircraft carriers, cruisers, and destroyers."

Would have been called a "battleship" in days of yore but now is called an "arsenal ship".

As described the Chinese arsenal ship a surface vessel with an abundance of vertical launch system [VLS] missiles at the ready.

I might suggest in an ideal form the weaponry aboard an arsenal ship be complemented by traditional naval gunfire, HIMARS type rocket artillery, surface-launched torpedoes, naval sea mines, attack drones.

See my previous blog entries the topic the arsenal ship:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/10/usmc-himars.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/07/rum-139.html

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

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/07/arsenal-i.html

coolbert.

Gazprom.

This is coolbert:

Yet one more private military contractor [PMC] enters the fray, the Ukraine Conflict.

"fray: noun | a usually disorderly or protracted fight, struggle, or dispute"

Gazprom Neft? Never heard of them before. Fighting for the Russian side. Gazprom Russian natural gas production commercial industrial concern.

"Headed by former Arkhangelsk police chief, Gazprom Neft mercenaries are fighting in Ukraine"

"Funded with income from Arctic oil drilling, Gazprom Neft’s newly established irregular armed group fights in frontline of Russia’s invasion forces in Bakhmut."

From https://thebarentsobserver.com/ | article by Thomas Nilsen | May 23, 2023.           

"Russia’s destruction of Bakhmut is brutal. The once green and lively Ukrainian city is a smoking ruin. It has been the war’s longest and bloodiest battle. On Sunday, dictator Putin congratulated his soldiers on ‘liberating’ the doomed Bakhmut. Kyiv denies Russian control."

[....]

"Not only regular military and fighters with the Wagner Group it turns out. A new investigation by BBC News Russian Service discovered that Gazprom-linked private military corporations [have taken] part in the battle."

See previous blog entry [with further additional link] Russian PMC the Ukraine Conflict:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/02/enot.html

coolbert.

Le Prieur.

This is coolbert:

As it was in 1916 during the period of the Great War so as it is in 2023?

Le Prieur where are we when we need you?

Modern military balloons almost impossible to shoot down using conventional fighter warplane machinegun and cannon fire.

Having reviewed the move "The Red Baron | FULL MOVIE | 2008 | Action, Fighter Pilots | Joseph Fiennes" one scene [1:26:16 / 1:46:01 into the movie] especially I find to have such a modern context.

German  pilot firing a round from a flare gun into a World War One observation balloon. Setting alight the flammable hydrogen 

Gas-bag military balloons of the observation balloon type as during the Great War relatively impervious to conventional weapons fire. Holing a balloon hardly enough to bring it down. Incendiary rounds not becoming widespread in use until 1917 or so?

"An observation balloon is a type of balloon that is employed as an aerial platform for gathering intelligence and spotting artillery. The use of observation balloons began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they continue in limited use today. Synonyms include espionage balloon, reconnaissance balloon, spy balloon, and surveillance balloon."

The Frenchman combat aviator Le Prieur and his innovation of firing rockets into the balloons a partial solution to the combat observational balloon problem.

"Historically, observation balloons were filled with hydrogen. The balloons were fabric envelopes filled with hydrogen gas, the flammable nature of which led to the destruction of hundreds of balloons."

In the modern context those Chinese ESPIONAGE/RECONNAISSANCE/SPY/SURVEILLANCE balloons even more difficult to shoot down. Gas-bags filled with helium instead of flammable hydrogen making the modern war-making balloon an ever more difficult target.

Read here courtesy the BBC from 1998 a "rogue" weather balloon the attempted shoot-down by cannon fire from Canadian and NATO air forces, even one-thousand rounds not adequate to bring down the errant balloon.

coolbert.

Drill.

This is coolbert:

* Excellent military capability  * High level training * Fanatics * Enjoying fantastic financial, moral support from Iran * Ready to use WMD.

"Hezbollah Hosts War Drills For Media Amid High Tensions With Israel"

From https://www.zerohedge.com | article by TYLER DURDEN | MAY 22, 2023.

"In a rare display of its military potential, the Lebanese fighters of Hezbollah on Sunday staged a series of war drills in front of an audience of invited journalists. The show of force comes as tensions between Israel on the one side, and Hezbollah as well as Palestinians in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza on the other."

Devoted readers to the blog go see the videos and other images.

MANPAD. Rocket artillery. Drone and anti-drone. Anti-tank. Tunnel complexes and fortification. Soup to nuts Hezbollah style. Hezbollah personnel of the Shia Islamic persuasion also having a casual fanaticism their willingness to combat not questioned.

Hezbollah not so long ago rated by the American FBI as # 1 best light infantry in the world.

Taking into consideration only conventional munitions Hezbollah having an arsenal with a firepower capability GREATER than such medium-level world powers such as Great Britain or France. That amount of bang-stuff especially with regard to rocket artillery immense.

coolbert.

Crossing.

This is coolbert:

The Russian moves east?

Russian dissident combat factions favorable to the Ukrainian cause the Ukraine Conflict cross the border into Russia proper. Here with several links as applicable thanks in both cases to Freeper.

1. "Moscow running scared: Kremlin evacuates nine border villages and admits there is 'cause for serious concern' as pro-Ukraine fighters capture territory within Russia's Belgorod region"

"* Two groups of anti-Kremlin Russian troops have launched attacks on Russian soil * Belgorod was hit by drone strikes overnight and several settlements were seized"

From the Daily Mail ^ | 5/23/2023 | David Averre.

"Russian authorities have ordered residents of nine villages in the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine to evacuate their homes after anti-Putin rebel groups began capturing territory on Russian soil . . . Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov confirmed the aerial bombing raid had caused fires at government buildings and urged citizens to take shelter amid the rebel attacks."

This too that border-crossing raid and perhaps should frighten everyone!

2. "Russia evacuates nuclear warheads amid Ukraine incursion"

From Asia Times ^ 5/23/2023.

"Ukraine launched an operation into Russia in the morning of May 22 focused on the outskirts of Belgorod, where the Ukrainians initially took three settlements. A Russian border crossing in the Belgorod oblast was reportedly destroyed by artillery shelling from the territory of Ukraine. After that, the incursion of troops supported by armored vehicles from Ukraine into the Belgorod oblast began. This operation had both a political and strategic objective."

RUSSIAN NUCLEAR WEAPONS DEPOT VICINITY BELGORAD NEEDING EVACUATION? DEPOT HAVING ATOMIC MUNITIONS AS FIRED BY THE SOVIET/RUSSIAN 240 MM MORTAR?

I can only imagine what sort of reaction there would be to a compromise and perhaps even capture intact of Russian atomic munitions by the Ukrainian.

coolbert.

Sacrament?

This is coolbert:

Death before dishonor? Better to die free than live as a slave?

See the wiki entry for Masada. The First Jewish War 70 A.D. Ritual slaughter by the defenders when position hopeless.

"According to Josephus, the siege of Masada by Roman troops from 73 to 74 CE, at the end of the First Jewish–Roman War, ended in the mass suicide of the 960 Sicarii rebels who were hiding there."

Masada however not a lone instance as the practice of ritual suicide during a time of war. More common perhaps than thought with an international dimension!

1. Jauhar.

"Jauhar, sometimes spelled Jowhar or Juhar, was a Hindu practice of mass self-immolation by women, in the Indian subcontinent, to avoid capture, enslavement and rape by Muslim invaders, when facing certain defeat during a war."

2. Puputan.

"Puputan is an old Javanese loanword or term for mass ritual suicide in preference to facing the humiliation of surrender. Notable puputans in the history of Bali occurred in 1906 and 1908, when the Balinese were being subjugated by the Dutch.

3. Dance of Zalongo.

"The Dance of Zalongo refers to the mass suicide of women from Souli and their children that occurred in the aftermath of the invasion of Ottoman troops on December 16, 1803. The event is commemorated in Greece in the context of the Greek War of Independence."

4. Pilėnai.

"Pilėnai . . . was a hill fort in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Its location is unknown and is subject to academic debates, but it is well known in the history of Lithuania due to its heroic defense against the Teutonic Order in 1336. Attacked by a large Teutonic force, the fortress, commanded by Duke Margiris, tried in vain to organize a defense against the larger and stronger invader. Losing hope, the defenders decided to burn their property and commit mass suicide to deprive the Order of prisoners and loot."

Jew. Hindu. Javanese, Greek, Lithuanian. An international spectrum of players in the historical sense, the cultural imperative to die free than live as a slave!!

coolbert.

WZ-8.

This is coolbert

Looked for cannot be seen! Listened for cannot be heard! Felt for cannot be touched!

Deadly Shaolin assassin? 

"Satellite photographed the secret Chinese WZ-8 drone, which can reach speeds in excess of 3,700km/h and is designed to destroy F-35 and F-22 fighters"

From | https://gagadget.com/en/ | article by Maksim Panasovskyi | 20.05.2023.

"Satellite photographed the secret Chinese WZ-8 drone, which can reach speeds in excess of 3,700km/h [about 2,300 mph] and is designed to destroy F-35 and F-22 fighters"

"Defense News reporters have obtained an image of China's secret supersonic WZ-8 drone. The drone is parked outside one of the new hangars at Lu'an Air Base in Anhui province."

"The People's Republic of China is actively upgrading the airbase where the People's Liberation Army bombers are stationed. As you can see, a hypersonic unmanned aerial vehicle capable of speeds of Mach 3 (more than 3,700km/h) is also located there."

Chinese combat drone with the specific mission of dogfighting and destroying America air-superiority fighter warplanes F-22 and F-35.

Stealthy to the extent it will not be visible to the sensors of either American F-22 or F-35? WZ-8 can find you but you cannot find WZ-8?

See also previous blog entry AI enhanced warplane [drone] a formidable adversary for the human-piloted combat aircraft:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/08/banger.html

coolbert.

Saturation.

This is coolbert:

Ukrainian air defenses the Kiev region to INCLUDE American Patriot SAM system dumbfounded by massive Russian attack! See previous blog entry as germane.

A soap to nuts type of attack, Ukrainian defenses against aerial attack just overwhelmed. American Patriot radar and firing batteries also stupefied and stunned, unable to respond as touted.

"from soup to nuts | idiom - 'from start to end' or 'from start to finish'"

1. "Russia stated that its Kinzhal destroyed 5 Patriot missile system launchers with one attack {strange when Ukraine only has 3 patriot systems}"

From Pravda ^ | 17 May 2023 | Pravda the tip from Freeper.

"The Russian Defense Ministry claims that five launchers of the American Patriot air defense system were completely destroyed' by a hypersonic Kinzhal strike on 16 May in Kyiv. 

Source: Russia’s Ministry of Defense on Telegram.

Quote: According to reliably confirmed data, on 16 May, as a result of the strike by the Kinzhal hypersonic missile system on Kyiv, a multifunctional radar station was hit and completely destroyed, as well as five launchers of the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system manufactured in the United States."

2. "These missiles [Khinzal] are likely completely stealth to the Patriot radar for the majority of their ballistic arc"

From https://www.isegoria.net | May 19th, 2023.

Simplicius breaks down Russia’s recent Patriot attack:

"Russia was said to have conducted a layered, multi-vectored attack which came from various sides including north, east, and south, which included both Geran drones as screening cover, Kalibr missiles, Kh-101s, and finally the Kinzhals. The attack also likely included other cheaper types of drones as decoys to saturate the air defense, and in fact Kiev does attest to that"

Slow-mover drones, cruise and hypersonic missiles in a coordinated attack! A plethora of decoys complicating matters. Defense near impossible under such circumstances.

coolbert.

Dagger.

This is coolbert:

"With our leading mainstream outlets having become so unreliable, many of us now draw our information from alternative sources, but unfortunately these are often just as bad if not worse. As a result wildly exaggerated or incorrect stories can easily propagate across the Internet, including outright hoaxes." - Ron Unz.

Dagger = Russian Khinzal unstoppable hypersonic missile.

 9 March 2023 missile attack Ukraine, Underground military bunker Ukraine destroyed.

1. "Horrific Slaughter: Russia Finally Admits to Destroying NATO’s Deep Underground Command Bunker in Kiev"

Written by  Jonas E. Alexis. Originally published on VeteransToday

[....]

"As reported on March 12 by the Greek portal of political and military information Pronews, citing American sources, in the course of an operation to retaliate for a provocation in the Bryansk region, a Russian hypersonic missile 'Dagger' struck at a joint Ukrainian-NATO command and communications center."

DEPENDING on the source, the underground joint Ukrainian/NATO command bunker located in Lvov or Kiev.

2. "« NATO forces catastrophe in Ukraine »: Russia with one blow « Dagger » on a secret bunker pushed back the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces"

[click on English to see translation from the Russian.]

"Russian hypersonic missiles « Dagger » destroyed a secret bunker with 200 NATO and AFU officers"

LOSS of life that combined Ukrainian and NATO personnel very severe.

3. "Did Russian Forces Strike a 'NATO Command Center' in Lviv, Ukraine?"

From https://www.snopes.com | the article by Alex Kasprak | Apr 3, 2023.

"A lazy piece of obvious propaganda has become incorporated into several false claims about the war in Ukraine."

Claim:

"In early March 2023, Russian forces used a Khinzal [Dagger] hypersonic missile to strike an underground NATO command center, killing up to 300 people including at least 40 high level foreign advisors."

4. "Disaster: Russian Hypersonic Missiles Wipe Out US/NATO Secret Command in Kiev, Dozens of Top US Officers Vaporized"

Written by INTEL-DROP March 9, 2023.

"According to sources familiar with the political behind the scenes of Bandershtat, the blow fell on the bunker control and planning centers, as well as on air defense / radar. Insiders reported heavy losses among the officers, including American ones. It seems that the 'shadow General Staff' of the proxy-NATO got a lot."

Bandershtat some sort of Ukrainian nationalist and cultural organization?

5. "Did a Russian Missile Strike Kill 200 NATO Officers in a Ukrainian Bunker?"

By Ron Unz | The Unz Review | May 9, 2023. Tip courtesy the Lew Rockwell Internet web site.

"The Anatomy of an Internet Hoax"

I highly recommend reading the Ron Unz article.

During the Cold War Lvov was where the headquarters of the Carpathian Military district was located. It is not unreasonable therefore to imagine some sort of command post dug deep into the ground with reinforced concrete protection of extraordinary thickness and robustness.

As to any such facility being occupied by a combined contingent of Ukrainian and NATO serving officers in command and command staff role, I just cannot confirm or deny. Can ANYONE else?

coolbert.

Nightwatches.

This is coolbert:

During a time of world crisis such an exercise is perhaps unwarranted?

"The US Air Force lifted two 'doomsday planes' into the air at once"

From https://en.topcor.ru/ | 12 May 2023.

"The night before [11 May], two Boeing E-4B Nightwatch air command posts were unexpectedly raised into the sky over the United States of America late in the evening. Simultaneous presence in the air of two 'doomsday planes' is extremely rare, since the flight of one side costs the budget $ 400 per hour."

MORE LIKE $400 THOUSAND USD PER HOUR!!

"One of the aircraft made a circle over the southeastern states and circled over the Gulf of Mexico, the second made several circles over the Great Lakes in the north of the United States. The Pentagon has not previously announced any major events or exercises that could involve two Boeing E-4B Nightwatches."

Simultaneous patrol of several flying atomic command posts tends to create a degree of skittishness and unease. Activity most unusual causing undue concerns that something is being planned of a monumental nature .

"skittishness: noun | the feeling of being nervous or easily frightened, or nervous behavior"

See previous examples of such air missions that created at the time needless anxiety:

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

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2016/11/airborne.html

coolbert.

SAG.

This is coolbert:

SAG, Russian Special Aviation Group the Ukraine Conflict gone in minutes. 

"Four Russian Aircraft Downed, Ukraine Denies Responsibility"

 From https://www.avweb.com | By Russ Niles | May 14, 2023.

"The Russian air force had one of its worst days of the war with Ukraine and lost four aircraft but it’s not clear who shot them down. An Su-35, Su-34 and two Mi-8 helicopters were destroyed within minutes of one another in the same general area of Russian territory bordering northeastern Ukraine. They were apparently all on the same strike mission against Ukraine and the ability to carry out that kind of defensive strike would have been a stunning victory for Ukraine forces. But the Ukrainians claim they didn’t do it."

UKRAINIANS DO NOT ADMIT RESPONSIBILITY? WHO THEN?

Russian SAG a combination of fast-mover fixed-wing and rotary wing aircraft operating in concert?

Russian helicopter Mi-8 comes in an attack configuration and an electronic warfare [EW] mode both. The latter [EW] apparatus able to protect fixed-wing warplanes attacking ground targets.

coolbert.

Exhumation.

This is coolbert:

"We were under the orders of an Allied command center at Saint-Fréjoux, and they were the ones who gave the orders to kill them"

Allied atrocity World War Two. A subject that arouses the instantaneous interest of some.

"French Resistance man breaks silence over German prisoners executed in 1944"

By Hugh Schofield | BBC News, París.

"Excavation [exhumation] work is to start soon to find the bodies of up to 40 German soldiers who were executed by the French Resistance in June 1944."

"It follows the testimony of an ex-Resistance fighter who recently broke eight decades of silence to reveal how the Germans were shot in a wood near Meymac in central France."

"Edmond Réveil, 98, is the last surviving member from the local branch of the FTP (Francs-tireurs et partisans) Resistance group, and personally witnessed the mass execution at a place called Le Vert."

FTP as needs to be noted communist organized French partisans WW2.

Tit-for-tat retaliation the shooting of civilians and military captives hardly a unique phenomenon in wartime. Even understood better within the context of events as transpired in France, that period of June 1944. The day of reckoning for the German was now at hand, the war becoming a no-holds barred fight between the German invader and the French resistant!

coolbert.

Exceptional.

This is coolbert:

American Patriot air defense missile system Ukraine in action. Versus Russian Khinzal in the skies over Kiev. And the winner is?

"Kyiv breathes sigh of relief after air defenses shoot down barrage of Russian rockets"

From https://www.cnn.com | many contributors to include: Josh Pennington, Tim Lister, Kostan Nechyporenko, Olga Voitovych, Ivana Kottasová and Yulia Kesaieva, CNN | May 16, 2023.

"One after another, bright flashes pierced through Kyiv’s night skies early on Tuesday morning, as Russia launched an 'exceptional' aerial assault against the Ukrainian capital."

Missile attack Kiev consisting of cruise missiles and the brand-new and unstoppable Khinzal hypersonic missile, so highly touted.

Khinzal was intercepted? Was it or not? Choose your source with a degree of skepticism either way, yea or nay!

coolbert.

Frozen.

This is coolbert:

An armistice, a truce, a cease-fire. A long and prolonged period of seemingly fruitless and even futile negotiations.

As in Korea so too it will be in Ukraine?

1. "Ukraine could join ranks of ‘frozen’ conflicts, U.S. officials say"

Yahoo News ^ | 5/18/23 | Nahal Toosi thanks to the tip from Freeper.

"U.S. officials are planning for the growing possibility that the Russia-Ukraine war will turn into a frozen conflict that lasts many years — perhaps decades — and joins the ranks of similar lengthy face-offs in the Korean peninsula, South Asia and beyond. The options discussed within the Biden administration for a long-term 'freeze' include where to set potential lines that Ukraine and Russia would agree not to cross, but which would not have to be official borders."

See also a more in depth discussion of the topic:

2. "Defeated NATO and Kiev Will Soon Say ‘A Frozen Conflict Anyone?’"

By Natasha Wright | Strategic Culture | May 15, 2023. Thanks to the tip from Lew Rockwell.

Keep in mind that in the Donbass there has been a persistent conflict that has been waged for seven years PRIOR to Feb. 2022. A conflict with a stalemated situation, neither side able to prevail. A conflict raging from a situation of low-intensity to medium-intensity warfare.

I hardly think too that the Ukraine Conflict will be resolved with negotiations. Both sides too adamant in their pronouncements and stated goals. Unless something dramatic is to happen, whatever that might be.

coolbert.

Hotline.

This is coolbert:

Consider quite correctly so to be an instance and indicator of waning American influence in the world? USA perceived and again perhaps quite correctly so to be an unreliable partner when it comes to bi-lateral defense?

"waning: intransitive verb | 2. to fall gradually from power, prosperity, or influence."

"Defense Ministers of China, Japan launch direct naval, aerial communication line"

"The new mechanism has reportedly been established based on the consensus, achieved by the two states’ authorities"

"BEIJING, May 16. /TASS/. Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu and his Japanese counterpart Yasukazu Hamada launched a direct phone line for bilateral naval and aerial communication, the Chinese Defense Ministry reported Monday."

"According to the Ministry statement, published on the WeChat social platform, the two sides 'had a phone call via the direct line of the bilateral mechanism for naval and aerial communication, exchanging opinions about inter-state and defense Chinese-Japanese ties.'"

See at this web site a discussion of bilateral hotlines worldwide: https://www.electrospaces.net/2012/11/bilateral-hotlines-worldwide.html

"The hotlines between the heads of governments, are meant to prevent war [nuclear or otherwise] in times of severe crisis. For preventing misunderstandings and miscommunications in less critical situations, countries have also set up lower level telephone hotlines between their defense or foreign ministers."

Even if not totally 100 % so America no longer reliable as a defense partner the reality is that leaders throughout the world will discern it as being so!

coolbert.

Next-Gen.

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British warship even before launching construction halted. Internal sabotage.

"British Next-Gen Warship ‘Sabotaged’"

By RT | May 14th 2023. Russian controlled [?] media Russian Times.

"A probe was launched into suspected “intentional” damage aboard the frigate HMS Glasgow."

"British defense contractor BAE Systems is assessing the scope of repairs needed following an alleged act of sabotage on the Royal Navy’s newest frigate, which is still under construction."

"According to the UK Defense Journal, which first reported the incident, more than 60 cables were cut aboard the vessel. The publication said it is believed that 'an issue related to payment disputes' could have been the motive."

The disgruntled, disaffected, aggrieved worker with huge chip-on-shoulder to blame? A pay dispute for which an individual would risk the lives of others?

BAE now as reported to do a costly quality control check of previous assemblies and systems critical in all cases. Further internal sabotage suspected?

Think too of the sad end to the American nuclear submarine USS Miami. Sabotaged by a lazy worker the ship having caught fire, damage so great that vessel had to be scrapped. A $ half-billion warship done in by a single civilian worker with chip-on-shoulder grudge.

coolbert.

Cursed.

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NO! A thousand times NO!

None of this is keeping good faith with an ally.

"U.S. Calls for Bombing Taiwan’s Semiconductor Industry… Nord Stream Sabotage Redux"

From https://strategic-culture.org/news | article by Finian Cunningham |  May 15, 2023.

"Taiwan is facing the curse of being an ally of Uncle Sam in the same way that Germany and the rest of Europe have."

"Taiwan has been obliged to give its American ally an extraordinary warning: don’t even think about blowing up our semiconductor industry."

"The warning follows growing calls by U.S. politicians and military analysts that Washington should destroy the island’s vital technology sector in order to purportedly prevent China from gaining control of lucrative exports and as a way of damaging China’s economy."

Recall that 80 % of micro-electronic semi-conductors absolutely essential to the modern world technology fabricated and originate in Taiwan. 

Capture of Taiwanese manufacturing facilities intact by Chinese coup de main would mean the entire world to include the USA would be at the absolute sufferance of the Chinese communist rulers.

Destruction of Taiwanese micro-electronic production facilities by pre-wired and planned destruction devices a possible but ONLY decided upon by the Taiwanese themselves and NO ONE else!

See previous blog entries as relevant:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/10/fabs.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/10/on-shoring.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/10/benefits.html

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

coolbert.

Vickers.

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Think yet in addition the Maxim machinegun of the Great War primarily if not almost exclusively used in the direct fire mode of action.

"Indirect fire with the #VickersMG (principles apply elsewhere though): First need to understand that in #VickersMG parlance: DIRECT fire is targets that can be seen from the gun position; INDIRECT fire is for targets that are obscured."

The Maxim machinegun the Ukrainian have an abundance of these old-fashioned but still effective weapons the usage of which during the Ukraine Conflict cannot be denied!

The British during the Great War employing the famous Vickers machinegun [a contemporary of the Maxim gun] in an indirect fire mode of operation. What the British did one-hundred years ago the Ukrainian can do now? Maybe already are.

"The Vickers machine gun was used for indirect fire against enemy positions at ranges up to 4,500 yards with Mark VIIIz ammunition. This plunging fire was used to great effect against road junctions, trench systems, forming up points, and other locations that might be observed by a forward observer, or zeroed in at one time for future attacks, or guessed at by men using maps and experience.2 The British Machine Gun Corps were noted for their use of Vickers machine guns in an indirect fire role, and the ANZAC forces were fond of this as well. Angle-measuring devices (clinometers) and range tables were provided to calculate indirect fire."

Indirect fires by machinegun use to neutralize of suppress the enemy. Institutionalized by the British as they day.

"neutralize — 1. As pertains to military operations, to render ineffective or unusable. 2. To render enemy personnel or materiel incapable of interfering with a particular operation."

"suppression — Temporary or transient degradation by an opposing force of the performance of a weapons system below the level needed to fulfill its mission objectives."

A bunched number of Maxim guns with drone feed for accuracy of fire correction and you are ready to go!

coolbert.

Feed.

This is coolbert:

"Direct fire or line-of-sight fire refers to firing of a ranged weapon whose projectile is launched directly at a target within the line-of-sight of the user."

"Indirect fire is aiming and firing a projectile without relying on a direct line of sight between the gun and its target, as in the case of direct fire."

Direct fire you see what you shoot at. Indirect fire you do not see what you fire at.

From the Internet web site isegoria.net and as extracted weapons systems normally direct fire only being used extensively in the indirect fire mode.

"Ukraine uses artillery fire as a long-range sniper weapon"

May 16th, 2023.

"Increasingly drone-enabled Ukrainian tanks are acting in an indirect fire role, engaging Russian armor beyond normal combat ranges and beyond line of sight. In August 2022, a video posted on social media showed a Ukrainian T-64BV destroying a Russian tank at a claimed range of 6.5 miles [about ten Km.], which would make it the longest ever tank vs. tank kill. This required some twenty 125mm projectiles, but the Russian could not fire back to the ‘duel’ was entirely one-sided."

[…]

"Older, supposedly obsolete weapons are being transformed into effective indirect-fire platforms. Videos show 100mm T-12 Rapira anti-tank guns dating from 1961 in this role, and even a T-12 mounted on an MT-LB tracked vehicles. The 73mm SPG-9 recoilless rifle (from 1962), again originally a direct-fire anti-tank weapon, is being also used for precision indirect fire, as is the AGS-17 Plamya 30mm automatic grenade launcher."

Weapon systems of all types normally direct fire only now can use the indirect mode of fire thanks to drone video feed providing data necessary for aiming correction to be made.

Necessity is the mother of all invention?

coolbert.

Rising.

This is coolbert:

If the Russian really was worried about depleted uranium munitions, they need to be more careful where they aim their missiles.

"Huge 'Mushroom' Blast in Khmelnytskyi Reignites 'Depleted Uranium' Claims"

From https://www.newsweek.com | article by YEVGENY KUKLYCHEV ON 5/15/23.

"A viral video of a huge explosion near the city of Khmelnytskyi in Western Ukraine has been shared widely along with unverified claims that a 'depleted uranium' storage facility was hit and reports that radiation levels were 'rising' in the aftermath of the strike (which have been dismissed as false by the IAEA)."

Not necessarily a depleted uranium storage facility. A storage facility which contains depleted uranium rounds but not strictly depleted uranium munitions.

[....]

"But with little official commentary from Moscow or Kyiv about the Russian strikes on targets across Western Ukraine, which took place on the night of May 13, 2023, striking images of a huge explosion recorded near Khmelnytskyi added fuel to social media speculation and resurrected existing narratives about the so-called 'depleted uranium' shells."

Go here and see the tweet courtesy Spriter the first detonation of the weapons depot followed by a secondary explosive of lesser intensity [but still rather significant]. My immediate thought was that of the recent Beirut blast 2020 [equal to about a 1 Kt tactical atomic weapon going off].

According to Spirter:

@Spriter99880

"According to  information, the value of the ammunition destroyed in the Khmelnytsky ammunition depot is about 500 million dollars."

Information which cannot be either confirmed or denied.

coolbert.

Shocking.

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Not necessarily a case of prevarication, dissimulation, down-right lying?

"Navy suddenly tells retiring troops they owe 3 more years of service amid recruiting troubles"

From https://americanmilitarynews.com/  MAY 09, 2023 | KYLE KLEEMAN. That tip from Dragula.

"At least 65 military doctors and dentists in the Navy Reserves were told on Friday that they still had to undertake at least three more years of service, a shocking development caused by administrative record-keeping errors in their retirement credits, officials claimed as the U.S. military continues to face a historic decline in military recruits."

Military doctors and dentists their education and training as health care professionals courtesy the U.S. Navy now being DENIED full retirement benefits due to administrator error?

Military doctors and dentists all SELECTIVE RESERVISTS their retirement package from the USA military in jeopardy, promises made but promises not kept?

Reserve career personnel needing TWENTY GOOD YEARS to be eligible for full retirement benefits. Three years of professional education NOT counting as GOOD YEARS toward retirement.

Recruiters perhaps in GOOD FAITH having told the recruits at the time of enlistment that their period of professional education would count as GOOD YEARS toward retirement MISTAKEN with regard to contractual agreement? Not a case of lies and deception?

Devoted readers to the blog will have to decide this one for themselves.

coolbert.

Borderline.

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Not without precedent!

Years ago now and under which administration I cannot recall troops deployed "to the border". That previous occasion as stated the number was about 10,000 personnel.

Announced that the 10,000 would be sent to the southern border [with Mexico] but over a period of eighteen months. Meaning that generally speaking at any given moment about six-hundred military soldiers in the capacity of border duty.

"Active-duty troops heading to southern border will largely do ‘support tasks’"

From https://www.washingtonexaminer.com | by Mike Brest, Defense Reporter | May 02, 2023.

"Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin approved a plan that would send an additional 1,500 active-duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico border in preparation for the possibility of an influx of immigrants next week when Title 42 expires."

"The troops are expected to arrive as early as a week from this Wednesday, according to Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, one day ahead of when Title 42, which was invoked at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and has allowed border authorities to more quickly expel migrants, is set to expire."

BORDER DUTY often so BROADLY DEFINED as meaning that military vehicle mechanics doing routine maintenance of Border Patrol vehicles within a two-thousand mile radius [3,200 Km.] of the border deemed as "on border duty". That radius to include all parts of the USA other than the Pacific Northwest or New England.

Say what you will. Until I see different it is all a hustle and the American public should know so! Hustle as meaning not totally honest/dishonest. More cosmetics and for headlines.

coolbert.

Willy Peter.

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Willy Peter = White phospherous = WP.

Structures the city of Bakhmut as still occupied by Ukrainian troops those last remnants of resistance imperiled by a massive bombardment of WP rounds as fired by the Russian. Conflagration on an epic scale a finale to the many-months-long siege and battle.

"Ukraine accuses Russia of dropping white phosphorus bombs on Bakhmut"

From https://nypost.com/2023 | By Jacob Geanous | May 6, 2023. 

"The besieged city of Bakhmut was set ablaze by white phosphorus bombs dropped by Russian forces, the Ukraine Defense Ministry claimed."

The Ukrainian military released drone footage that showed what appears to be buildings burning while white phosphorus raining down on the city Friday.

Go see the entire video here. A mini-Stalingrad, mini-Verdun, mini-Berlin 1945.

coolbert.

Squeaky.

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The squeaky wheel gets greased!

Thanks here to a tweet from Spriter.

@Spriter99880 | 6:14 AM · May 7, 2023.

"Prigozhin announced that the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation agreed to provide all the necessary ammunition and equipment to the Wagner [PMC], and Surovikin was appointed as the commander who will oversee all this."

Tirade successful! Yevgeniyy gets the power but not unconditionally so it seems. Distribution will be monitored and supervised.

"'The squeaky wheel gets the grease' is an American proverb or metaphor used to convey the idea that the most noticeable (or loudest) problems are the ones most likely to get attention".

coolbert.

Upstage.

This is coolbert:

Wagner PMC leaves the field! The Chechen boys take the field? May 6, 2023.

"Chechen Troops To Replace Wagner In Bakhmut? Kadyrov Aims To Upstage Prigozhin In Ukraine-Russia War"

"Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov said he would send his troops to fight in Bakhmut. Kadyrov’s May 5 vow follows Yevgeny Prigozhin’s announcement that Wagner fighters would withdraw from Bakhmut. Prigozhin has declared that his mercenaries would leave Bakhmut, where they have been engaged in brutal combat for months, on May 10. It appeared that Prigozhin was attempting to put pressure on the Kremlin with his threat of a withdrawal from Bakhmut. Watch the video to find out why Prigozhin is pulling his troop back and if Chechen troops can fulfil the gap."

Yevgeniyy his tirade a demonstration of strong emotions openly expressed in a manner unprecedented in a country of strong-man and authoritarian rule indeed placing himself in peril?

coolbert.

M21 AT.

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More American munitions sent to Ukraine. Anti-tank [AT] land mines in this instance. Ancient and venerable as they say. Reliability questionable?

From an article as seen at the Internet web site Strategy Page.

"Attrition: Anti-Tank Mines In Ukraine"

"May 4, 2023: In the latest arms shipment to Ukraine the United States included thousands of M21 anti-tank mines. The metal, 8 kg (17.5 pound) mines that, once planted and armed, will detonate when anything moving over it weighs more than 136 kg (300 pounds), sending a curved metal bar upwards. This will blow the track off a tank and can also penetrate up to 50mm [about two inches] of [belly] armor"

"STATUS: The M15, M19 and M21 AT mines were last procured in FY52, FY58 and FY62 respectively. The case, fuse well and the explosive charge of the M15 have deteriorated and a rehabilitation program is underway to upgrade the stockpile. No procurement actions are pending."

AT land mines taken from stockpile at least in the case of the M15, reliability understood to be poor!

As for other versions of the American landmine inventory we can only speculate if the mines will go bang or maybe not so. And if going bang, with the lethality as desired!

See previous blog entries further examples of American munitions the "soundness" of which was arguable to dubious:

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2018/08/tubes.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W47#Reliability_controversy

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/hyunmoo.htm 

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2018/08/defective.html

coolbert.

De-nial.

This is coolbert:

“'An adversary that may be able to deny use of a military base or an airfield is going to have a nearly impossible time trying to defend every single linear mile of roads,' . . . 'It’s just too much territory for them to cover, and that gives us access in places and areas that they can’t possibly defend.'” -Lt. Col. Dave Meyer.

Wartime aviation dispersal training. Additionally feasibility of being able to operate out of improvised air strips and highways also evaluated.

"Remote Wyoming roads provide proving ground for Air Force special operators"

By From https://www.stripes.com |  STARS AND STRIPES • May 3, 2023 |   JOHN VANDIVER. 

"U.S. Air Force special operators broke ground this week when they landed planes on highways in Wyoming, marking the latest effort by commandos experimenting with ways to ensure that air power can be delivered when airfields aren’t an option."

"During Exercise Agile Chariot, the Air Force for the first time landed an MQ-9 Reaper drone on a highway along with an MC-130J Commando II, two A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and two MH-6 Little Birds, the 1st Special Operations Wing, headquartered at Hurlburt Field, Fla., said in a statement Tuesday."

See previous blog entries military aviation training to operate out of expedient or unimproved air fields:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/09/austere.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/08/ace.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/09/gripen.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/09/highway.html

coolbert.

DISCORD.

This is coolbert:

 An extract of an article the topic those Daily Briefs highly-classified documents as posted on the DISCORD game-player message forum web site.

"Pentagon Leaks: RQ-170 Flights, Ukrainian War Briefings And Other Interesting Details"

From https://theaviationist.com | STEFANO D'URSO | May 4, 2023.

"As the arrested guardsman awaits trial, let’s talk about what happened, the info he leaked and how the Department of Defense is reacting to the ‘Pentagon Leaks’."

To the extract:

"the daily briefings provide snapshots from the main battlefields, detailing the numbers and composition of defending and attacking forces. The documents show that the Russian forces, while in some areas they largely outnumber the Ukrainian forces (up to a 7 to 1 factor), are advancing very slowly, at a pace of less than 3 km [1.8 miles] a month. As a matter of fact, the intelligence assesses that Russia settled into an attrition campaign, with the Ukrainian defense facing daily artillery fires, airstrikes, and repeated multi-pronged, small-unit ground assaults."

Graphic here courtesy warmapper.org. Yellow area unoccupied Ukrainian territory. Area in purple those areas of Donbass under Russian control prior to 24 Feb. 2022. Area in red that land as seized and continuing to be occupied by Russian army. From my perspective gain rather scant compared to effort. Forward movement of Russian army proceeding at what can be only described as "glacial" in nature! Click on image to see an enlarged view.

"glacial: adjective | Extremely slow, like the movement of a glacier."

"Another daily briefing details the losses of both countries, with up to 43,000 Russians and 17,500 Ukrainians killed in action. Adding the wounded, these numbers rise to 223,000 and 131,000, respectively. Equipment wise, Russia lost about 75% of its deployed artillery systems, while Ukraine lost about 10% of them."

Three-quarters of Russian deployed artillery gone! No wonder the Russian using tanks as artillery.

HEY! With regard to the comparative glacially-slow advance of the Russian army, whatever happened to blitzkrieg, deep operations and such?

coolbert:

Uptick.

This is coolbert:

As it was in the days of  World War Two so as it is in the Ukraine Conflict.

Partisan activity the sabotage of railroads carrying war munitions to the front!

"Russia Unable to Protect Its Railways, Crucial For Their War Effort, From Sabotage: UK"

From https://www.breitbart.com | OLIVER JJ LANE | 5 May 2023.

"Russia has experienced a recent 'uptick in rail accidents' near the Ukraine border and the country will struggle to protect its internal railway system it relies on to move military supplies, a British intelligence report says."

See this You Tube video railroad sabotage WW2:

See additionally this wiki entry railroad sabotage as engaged in by various partisan entities of a whole host of nations, WW2.

Partisan activity most successful when accomplished in conjunction with conventional military of operations as part of an overall plan.

coolbert.

UUV.

This is coolbert:

Naval asymmetric weaponry. Autonomous loitering torpedoes! Ukrainian and Iranian both.

Both item # 1 and # 2 courtesy http://www.hisutton.com | by H I Sutton |

1. "Russia Faces New Threat: Ukraine’s ‘Toloka’ Underwater Maritime Drone"

26 April 2023.

Russia Faces New Threat: Ukraine’s ‘Toloka’ Underwater Maritime Drone

"The Russian Navy has a new problem in the Black Sea. Ukrainian group Brave-1 have shown their Toloka weaponized UUV (uncrewed underwater vehicle). The design is evidently intended to operate as a form of loitering torpedo."

[....]

"This is a natural evolution of Ukraine’s maritime drones which are uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) packed with explosives. Being an underwater vehicle it is less prone to detection and harder to neutralize with gunfire. Its warhead is also impacting below the waterline so may be more likely to sink its target."

[....]

"Although it has now been shown publicly by Brave-1, it is unclear whether it is being used operationally. Multiple versions are expected, including one which is 4 meters long and claimed to have a range of 1200 km [720 miles] or 400 km [240 miles] operation radius. The figures may be ambitious, but the project is interesting and clearly has potential."

2. "New Iranian Weaponized Underwater Drone"

16 March 2022.

"Iran’s IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) has unveiled yet another new weapon. This one appears more useful than many previous grand unveilings, and is also being produced in quantity. It is essentially a blending of uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) technology and a torpedo.

"The weapon was revealed at a ceremony showcasing newly acquired boats for the IRGC-N (-Navy). It was attended by Major General Salami, Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC, and Sardar Tangsiri, Commander of the IRGC-N. These parades have become a frequent occurrence, and usually have one or two new systems. Often these are ‘toys’. But sometimes, like now, they appear very credible.

Midget submarines carrying a pair of these autonomous loitering torpedoes strapped to the outside of the sub would allow for relatively covert approach to a target, fire and forget, the torpedo at leisure attacking targets, making for a safe get-away for the "mother" vessel!

coolbert.

Dramatic.

This is coolbert:

Once again, Yevgeniyy speaks! Yevgeniyy - Wagner PMC.

"Russia's Prigozhin Says Wagner Fighters Will Quit Bakhmut to 'Lick Our Wounds'"

From Reuters US News ^ | 5/5/2023 | Felix Light and Caleb Davis the tip from Freeper.

"Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of Russia's Wagner Group mercenary force, said in a sudden and dramatic announcement on Friday [28 April] that his forces would pull out of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut that they have been trying in vain to capture since last summer. Prigozhin said they would withdraw on May 10 - ending their involvement in the longest and bloodiest battle of the war - because of heavy losses and inadequate ammunition supplies."

Consider this to be a sure [?] sign of problems with the Russian war effort. When a man such Prigozhin makes negative comments and does so quite openly so you can reasonably infer something very wrong. 

Yevgeniyy as is known a personal confidant of no less personage than President Putin! You can't get any higher than that. Prigozhn his disgust with events apparent and without equivocation.

coolbert.

Exceedingly.

This is coolbert:

Some interesting graphics costs for the Ukraine Conflict. Thanks to Statista in both cases. Click on  either image to see and enlarged view.

Cost for Ukraine military hardware alone, no American military troops deployed into the Conflict. Spending for other conflicts the cost I am assuming including expenditures for uniformed personnel.

From left to right: Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Lithuania, Norway, Slovakia, Czech, United States, Great Britain, Austria, Denmark. No Germany? USA contribution to the war greatest of all NATO nations in dollar figures but a rather small percentage of GDP [in % as noted]!

See additionally and interesting discussion with commentary on the cost of waging war according to the writing of the famous Chinese military author Sun Tzu.

coolbert.

LCS-31.

 This is coolbert:

SNAFU LCS-31. Last vessel of the LCS class [littoral combat ship] to be build damaged during launch!

"Distracted, Woke US Navy Can’t Launch A Ship Without Breaking It"

From https://armedforces.pres | the article by John Hughes  | April 23, 2023.

"On April 14, 2023, the US Navy launched its newest vessel in its fleet. The USS Cleveland, LCS-31, is a Freedom Class littoral combat ship. At 388 feet, it weighs in at 3,410 metric tons and can exceed 46 mph [74 kph] on the water. Ordinarily, a ship launch is a publicized event with local coverage but rarely rises to the level of national attention. This event, however, was different and not in a good way."

See the You Tube video:

"Since its founding in October 1775, the US Navy has proudly and effectively served the nation in peacetime and wartime. As a maritime branch of service, it is intuitive that part of its essential existence involves building and launching ships. After 248 years, it would seem that the Navy has had time to perfect the process of putting a newly built ship made with taxpayers dollars into the water without mishap."

From the You Tube video it seems the Cleveland when it strikes the water just creates a huge wave of water that merely envelopes the tug and nothing more than that. Apparently when viewing from different angles it can be seen the Cleveland did indeed strike the tug with minimal damage done.

Minimal damage or not this launching can be only interpreted as a bad omen. Sailors will perceive the Cleveland from this moment forward to be a jinxed vessel. Beware duty aboard the Cleveland.

"jinxed: adjective - having or believed to bring bad luck" 

coolbert.

TUSK II.

This is coolbert:

"This technology is very old - but it works really well."

Indeed! Sometimes in war the old ways are the best ways.

"Ukraine war: How old tech is helping Ukraine avoid detection"

From https://www.bbc.com/news | By Jonathan Beale.

"Ukrainian troops along the eastern front line are aware of Russia's ability to intercept or block communications"

INTERCEPT AND JAM! RUSSIAN MISCHIEVIOUS MISCHIEF!

"As Ukraine prepares for its major offensive, it will only get harder to hide the troop build up from Russia's forces. So Ukraine is having to work out ways to confound the enemy."

"In a trench on the eastern front, a Ukrainian mortar team knows Russia's not just trying to hunt them down with drones - it's also using electronic warfare to try to locate their position."

THE HAND CRANKED FIELD TELEPHONE. WIRE TO WIRE HARD-LINE COMMUNICATIONS. FORWARD OBSERVER IN CONTACT WITH INDIRECT FIRING UNIT VIA TELEPHONE.

"The men of Ukraine's 28th Brigade may have access to 21st Century technology - satellites, smart phones, and tablets - to help communicate and identify targets. But they're also using a machine from the distant past."

FIELD TELEPHONES. PHONE TO PHONE AND ALSO CAN BE CONNECTED TO A SWITCHBOARD.

"An antique that wouldn't look out of place in a trench during World War One: an old wind-up phone."

An antique ancient and venerable device indeed, but it works and does have advantages.

See my previous blog the TUSK field telephone retrofit as now found on American Abrams tanks.

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/02/tusk.html

coolbert:

Flight III.

This is coolbert:

Arsenal of Democracy gone long time ago!

Thirty-one knot Burke of World War Two fame would not be pleased!

"US shipyards can’t build destroyers fast enough; can’t even build 2 a year, official says"

From https://americanmilitarynews.com | Liz Lawrence | MAY 02, 2023.         

"U.S. shipyards cannot build destroyers fast enough to meet Congress’ push for three Arleigh Burke-class Flight III warships each year, according to a top Pentagon official."

"Defense Department comptroller Mike McCord told United States Naval Institute News that shipyards can’t even produce two warships a year, making Congress’ request for three unrealistic."

Within context and also contrasting the outstanding war effort of American industrial capacity that ability to produce military cargo ships of the Liberty class.

"Liberty ships were a class of cargo ship built in the United States during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding Program. Though British in concept, the design was adopted by the United States for its simple, low-cost construction. Mass-produced on an unprecedented scale, the Liberty ship came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output."

"The class was developed to meet British orders for transports to replace ships that had been lost. Eighteen American shipyards built 2,710 Liberty ships between 1941 and 1945 (an average of three ships every two days), easily the largest number of ships ever produced to a single design."

UNPRECEDENTED MASS PRODUCTION, THREE SHIPS EVERY TWO DAYS LAUNCHED!!

And never going to occur again rather obviously! See previous blog entry as also relevant.

coolbert.