TF 153 Minus.

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Already Task Force 153 begins to fall apart. Almost before has even begun. Participants are leaving. This is not a good sign people. This is a very bad sign. Commercial shipping through the Red Sea/Aden to-and-fro and greatly imperiled will now refuse the route! Bad very bad.

1. "Australia Offers 11 Military Personnel but No Warship to Help Protect Red Sea"

From https://www.breitbart.com | Simon Kent | 22 Dec. 23.

Military personnel only but no war ships that has been decided by the Australian government, a pledged contributor to Prosperity Guardian.

"A vital U.S.-led mission to protect cargo shipping in the Red Sea has been met with offers of warships and aircraft from across the international community desperate to work together to keep the key trade artery free of terrorist interference."

"Australia’s left-wing Labor government announced Wednesday it will reject the direct request from its key U.S. ally for naval forces."

"Instead it is sending 11 land-based military personnel sometime in the New Year."

It is not even certain if these are naval or ground forces personnel. At least the Canadians pledged about a dozen or so naval staff officers. Canada additionally, no war ships to be sent.

2. "US Red Sea Operation Is Imploding As Attacks Spread to India"

From https://www.independentsentinel.com | By M Dowling -December 23, 2023.

"Houthi attacks have spread to India, and the coalition to protect commerce is imploding. This is a very dangerous world with a weak United States."

That is the rub as I see it. America is now seen in the world as a vacillating world power. The USA encourages everybody to join the fight, but then without any warning will one day to just pull up stakes and leave everybody in the lurch as it was done in Afghanistan. Demonstrable weakness has been shown and is properly perceived by the rest of the world. This cannot be good!

"Operation Prosperity Guardian in the Red Sea has practically Collapsed as France, Spain, and Italy have all announced their Withdrawal [sic]  from the U.S. Command Structure for the Operation, with the Three Nations stating they will only conduct further Maritime Operations under the Command of NATO and/or the European Union and not the United States."

Other nations of Prosperity Guardian as pledged will participate in the multinational force, but not under direct USA naval command. This too is it an instantaneous and dangerous sign as was acknowledged by President Eisenhower a long time ago. Coalition forces rarely fight well. Each participant has their own agenda and rarely, if ever make for a credible and unified military force.

coolbert.

Toowoomba.

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“The divers … sustained minor injuries likely due to being subjected to the sonar pulses from the Chinese destroyer,” 

"Australia Claims Navy Divers Injured by ‘Sonar Pulses’ From Chinese Destroyer"

From BREITBART LONDON 18 Nov 2023.

"BEIJING (AP) – Australia on Saturday accused the Chinese navy of likely causing minor injuries to Australian naval divers by operating its sonar while they were trying to clear fishing nets from their ship’s propellers."

"The Australian government has expressed its serious concerns to the Chinese government over what it called the unsafe and unprofessional conduct earlier this week, Defense Minister Richard Marles said in a statement on his official website."

[....]

"The HMAS Toowoomba stopped in international waters on Tuesday in Japan’s exclusive economic zone [EEZ] after fishing nets became entangled in its propellers, the defense minister’s statement said. The naval frigate had been helping to enforce U.N. sanctions in the region."

"As diving operations were underway, a Chinese destroyer moved toward the Australian ship and was detected operating its hull-mounted sonar in a way that posed a risk to the divers and forced them to get out of the water, the statement said."

Not just "unsafe and unprofessional conduct". Malicious and deliberate and without question so.

As to minor injuries consider my prior blog entry:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/11/discharges.html

coolbert.

Leaking.

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Lots of things occurring in the world that have a military dimension in addition to the war between Hamas in Israel. Here begins a series of blog entries that can have matters of concern beyond Israel and Hamas.

More classified information as compromised by President Trump? Once again the topic of classified documents.

"Trump accused of leaking submarine secrets – media”

“The former US president reportedly discussed sensitive information with an Australian billionaire at his Florida country club”

From Russian RT.com  6 Oct, 2023.

“Former US President Donald Trump has reportedly been accused of discussing sensitive information about the nation’s nuclear submarines while chatting with an Australian businessman at his Mar-a-Lago country club in Florida.”

“The conversation with billionaire Anthony Pratt occurred in April 2021, three months after Trump left office, and it allegedly included references to how many warheads US submarines carry and how close they can get to a Russian vessel without being detected”

Let me, reiterate, as I have on previous occasions that the President of the United States while in office has to classify or declassify by Supreme Court standard any information that he wants to do it at any time for any reason. This is my understanding.

See additionally from https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/trump-australia-anthony-pratt/2023/10/07/id/1137399/ an article that claims that this is all nonsense. No such classified information was revealed to the guest of Donald Trump.

coolbert.

Salty.

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The bite of the beast is most terrible. And no, they are not cute and cuddly little animals.

More animal stuff.

The saltwater crocodile! Mr. Salty is not your friend!

"Australian soldiers attacked by crocodile after military 'failed to conduct risk assessment'"

    From https://www.telegraph.co.uk | the story by Andrea Hamblinn | IN MELBOURNE | 11 August 2023. 

"Defense department is charged with breaching work health and safety law and faces huge fine after servicemen suffered ‘significant injuries’"

Risk assessment an attack from a salty the northern area of Australia I assume 100 % danger almost 100 % of the time. Risk not worth a swim ever.

"The Australian military should have performed a risk assessment on the dangers of swimming in crocodile habitats before two servicemen were attacked in far north Queensland, an inquiry has found."

"Australia’s Department of Defense faces a AUD $1.5 million (£770,000) fine and is charged with breaching federal work health and safety laws, two years after one of the soldiers was 'death-rolled' by an eight-foot-long saltwater crocodile."

Comments:

* Death roll: "Crocodiles death roll to dismember their prey and break it into smaller pieces. Chunks of the prey fall off and make it easier for the crocodiles to swallow."

* This incident became a workplace issue? Australian military fined for insufficient "risk assessment" to personnel in the field.

* Providing protection from predator attack a primary [?] mission of the Canadian Rangers of the Far North. The threat to troops in the field the great white bear of the north, the polar bear.

* Read of the Ramree crocodile massacre [controversial]. Burma, 1945. 

coolbert.

Wedgetail.

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Australians the Ukraine Conflict? Australians?

Seems it is so!

"Australia Sends Surveillance Aircraft to Monitor Ukraine Aid Delivery"

https://www.breitbart.com/ | article by SIMON KENT  11 Jul 2023.

"Australia announced Monday it will deploy an E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft to help ensure the uninterrupted flow of military and humanitarian aid into Ukraine. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) asset will be based in Germany."

"Canberra has committed 70 military vehicles, including 28 M113 armoured vehicles, 14 special operations vehicles, 28 MAN 40M medium trucks and 14 trailers; a new supply of 105mm artillery ammunition; and $10m to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs – for the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund – to assist in the provision of shelter, health services, water and sanitation."

Strictly for monitoring the flow of aid [military and humanitarian] as provided to the Ukrainian during the conflict with Russia. Not taking any sort of active measures of a military nature and patrolling only in NATO airspace. Wedgetail can fly high and monitor activity a long way off using a combination of sensors.

coolbert.

Pillars

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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.

Chaff.

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"'The J-16 then accelerated and cut across the nose of the P-8, settling in front of the P-8 at a very close distance,' . . .  'At that moment it then released a bundle of chaff, which contains small pieces of aluminum, some of which were ingested into the engine of the P-8 aircraft,' . . .  'Quite obviously, this is very dangerous.'" - Richard Marles, Australia's defense minister.

DANGEROUS! DELIBERATE! MALICIOUS!

"Chinese fighter jet [J-16] cut in front of an Australian plane and dumped debris into its engine, likely forcing it to abort its mission, officials say"

From yahoo.com June 6, 2022 original story from "Business Insider".

"A Chinese jet cut in front of an Australian plane and fired debris [chaff] into its engine, officials said."

"Australia's defense ministry said the incident happened on May 26 over international waters."

[....]

"The incident happened on May 26 in international airspace over the South China Sea, the ministry said Sunday. The South China Sea is an area where China has tried to assert dominance to gain a strategic advantage in recent years."

NEED I SAY THAT CHAFF INGESTED INTO THE JET ENGINES OF THE POSEIDON COULD CAUSE THE MECHANISM TO STALL WITH A FATAL PLANE CRASH! THIS TOO CANNOT HAVE BEEN ANYTHING OTHER THAN DELIBERATE!!

coolbert.

Rev. Kentish.

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From the Internet web site executedtoday.com and thanks to same.

The article by Headsman dated May 4th.

"1943: Rev. Leonard Kentish, kidnapped Australian civilian"

"On lonely scrubland at the Aru Islands port of Dobo on this date [4 May] in 1943, the Japanese military beheaded kidnapped Australian Rev. Leonard Kentish."

The missionary Rev. Kentish meeting a cruel and undeserved fate, WW2.

"Nobody knew his fate at the time — his wife spent years trying to discover it — but the so-called 'Kentish Affair' was one of the true oddities of the Pacific War: a civilian of no particular import to the war effort who was snatched from Australian territorial waters."

[....]

"And then mysteriously, the pilot gestured Rev. Kentish into the vacant seat of his plane, and took off. Kentish was the only prisoner taken, and his countrymen never again laid eyes on him."

[....]

"After World War II, she [the wife of Rev. Kentish] desperately resorted to firing letters to newspaper editors, until an intelligence officer chanced to read one published in the Argus and made the necessary inquiries via U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s staff in Tokyo to unravel the mystery."

In the clipped official findings: [per the response of the intelligence staff of MacArthur presumably]

1. The Rev KENTISH was taken on board a Jap float plane on Jan 22 43 after it had sunk the patrol vessel HMAS 'PATRICIA CAM' off WESSEL IS.

2. Unfortunately no info can be obtained of the whereabouts of the Rev KENTISH until 13 Apr 43, when he arrived at DOBO.

3. The Rev KENTISH was held at DOBO as a prisoner till the 4 May 43. Throughout this period he was subjected to ill treatment by severe bashings, the most common being punches in the nose and eyes to such an extent that his nose was broken, and he had great difficulty in seeing. His diet, as such, was just sufficient to keep him alive.

4. On the morning of 4 May he was taken in to the scrub, (a distance of under 200 yds [200 meters] from the township of DOBO) where a grave had been prepared, and executed.

5. The execution was carried out by the order of 1st Lieut SAKIDJIMA.

6. The remains of the Rev KENTISH have been recovered, and handed over to Capt STOCKWELL, of the War Graves Unit. They will be transported to AMBON, and buried in the Internees cemetery there.

7. This case is now considered closed. All dates must be treated as approx.

Read further the entire incident of the HMAS Patricia Cam.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the Japanese thought with 100 % certainty that Rev. Kentish was a COASTWATCHER and had functioned as same for the allied effort during the war in the Pacific. COASTWATCHERS their surveillance activity VITAL to the allied cause.

Again, the Rev. Kentish has ultimate fate cruel and undeserved. The Japanese their minds clouded with PARANOIA, emotion overpowering reason, their response unnecessary.

coolbert.

ALH WW1.

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Australian Light Horsemen! AHL! The Great War.

"In war, it often is not what you were designed to do. It is not what in theory what you were primarily trained, manned, and equipped to do. No. More often than not it is what you must do. What you are needed to do. What you may be the only unit in place to do.

There is also, like we saw in the below - what must be done now with what is at hand. With the right leadership, a lot is possible. The dogmatic, rigid, and blinkered - things that are often rewarded in peace - are not what gets the job done in war. One hopes that in peace we accept the above truth and only have our minds dogmatic, rigid, and blinkered. Hopefully we have enough intellectual and material flexibility to be able to do what is needed and must be done. To improvise, adapt and overcome." - - Commander Salamander.

Friday, April 29, 2022

Fullbore Friday

 https://cdrsalamander.blogspot.com/2022/04/fullbore-friday_01044292494.html

Battle of Beersheba Part 2 10 31 1917 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6liLYcrlSBw&t=574s

Comments:

* German officers in command of Turkish troops.

* Artillery not able to adjust fire quick enough.

* Turk riflemen engaging charging cavalry at extreme long-distance.

* Australian cavalry riding the Waler breed of horse. Best war horse in the world!

* No obstacles hindering the horsemen other than a double row of trench.

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2012/02/waler.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2012/02/horse.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2012/03/light-horse.html

HMAS Adelaide.

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The American navy does it. The Australian navy does it too.

Breakdown at sea. Ship ineffective. Repairs needed. Get a tow?

See my previous blog entry USN LCS class of warship difficulties. Thanks in this case to the Russian Internet web site Sputnik.

"Australia's Largest Warship Suffers Power Failure During Humanitarian Mission"

"MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Australian Navy frigate HMAS Adelaide was crippled by a massive power failure after completing a humanitarian mission in Tonga, earlier devastated by a volcanic eruption and tsunami, the ship's commander, Captain Stuart Watters, said on Monday."

NO POWER period? Even back-up failing? Sailors having to sleep on the deck the inside of the vessel is so stifling in the tropical climate.

These modern warships are extremely "touchy", the slightest damage even in a non-combat environment renders a ship out-of-action.

HEY! No one ever said life in the military was going to be easy, did they?

coolbert.

B*tch.

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"The 'bitch' was an automatic SLR [Self-Loading-Rifle]  which was built [modified] by one of the armourers and sounded like a 50-calibre machine gun . . . It was great because the enemy used to think they'd hit a heavy weapons company . . . and not a small patrol" - - Trooper Malone. SASR.

SASR = Australian Special Air Services Regiment. Special operations troops of the highest caliber.

From the Internet web site "We Are The Mighty" a description of how the FN FAL assault rifle [called the Self-Loading-Rifle, SLR] by the Australian military was modified to provide deadly firepower for SAS small unit patrols during a reconnaissance mission. 

Modifying a weapon in this manner without prior approval highly frowned on. You are destroying government in the process. Modification even IF useful mostly a no-no received by authority with disapproval.

Modifications in this instance consisting of: * Shortened barrel and stock. * No flash suppressor. * Auto-fire only. * Forward pistol grip.

Used primarily [?] as a "shock and awe" weapon. A thirty round magazine emptied with one burst, bang and flash causing the enemy to go to ground. Time bought for an expedited and more safe team extrication.

This You Tube video showing a SAS small unit patrol  Troops carrying American M-16 with 40 mm grenade launcher.

See additionally from the era of the Rhodesian Bush War a Soviet era machine gun modified and carried by Rhodesian light infantry.

Yet one more instance of a modified weapon as used by small-unit patrols to provide maximum firepower on demand. Shock and awe. Here a Rhodesian troop [from the era of the Rhodesian Bush War] carries a modified Soviet RPD machine gun. Heavily modified, barrel and stock [?] shortened. Front pistol grip added. Retains the one-hundred round barrel magazine, 7.62 X 39 round. Also I assume used to suppress an enemy when a patrol breaking contact with the foe. I would like to own one of those but I doubt any are available.

I might think too "authority" having much less regard for the modification of a captured enemy weapon. 

coolbert.

Austral.

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So much for globally accredited certification company.

Within context see a recent prior blog entry.

"Warship construction hits major delay as faulty aluminum imported from China found"

From Pal Joey the article by Abby Liebing, The Western Journal [Australia]

"The Royal Australian Navy [RAN] is now experiencing this firsthand after getting poor-quality aluminum from China, which is now prohibiting the launch of new patrol boats."

"In March, shipbuilders announced a delay due to the botched materials, which are believed to have been sourced from Wuhan [China] , the Australian Broadcasting Corporation [ABC] reported."

"Austal, the shipbuilder company awarded a contract to supply the navy with six vessels, said that 'the aluminum had been independently certified by a globally accredited certification company prior to arriving at Austal,' according to the ABC."

Questions to be asked at a minimum to include: * Is this a random event or was it deliberate? * Why was the independent "accredited certification company" unable to detect the faulty metal? * Have other ships been made with similar defective aluminum and for how long?

The famous economist Adam Smith had two exceptions to the concept of free trade. One of which was that a nation must have the independent capacity to produce whatever materials are needed for defense and security. Soup to nuts. Raw ore to finished metal to a ship.

coolbert.

Monash.

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Yet more thanks to our good friend Commander Salamander.

General Sir John Monash.

Best general officer on the Western front in Europe? World War One!

"Most Americans and others outside the Commonwealth may not know of General Sir John Monash, Australian Army. He passed away 90-yrs ago [8 October 1931] today. "

I daresay many "inside" of the Commonwealth also not knowing of General Sir John.

From that Commander Salamander Internet web site article;

"'a great bullock of a man... though his manners were pleasant and his behavior far from rough, I have seen few men who gave me such a sensation of force... a fit leader for the wild men he commanded' …  '…the best general on the western front in Europe' … 'the only general of creative originality produced by the First World War.'"

"bullock: noun - 1: a young bull"

Australia that nation as a result of participation in the First World War no longer merely regarded as a colony/dominion of the British Empire. Australia fully recognized by the international community as a peer among the nation-state world order system. 

AND LEADING THE WAY GENERAL SIR JOHN MONASH. THE BEST!

coolbert.

SEA 1000.

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SEA 1000 = The Australian Navy project to replace the current Collins class submarines currently in the inventory.

Analysis first by Corporal Frisk:

1. "A Pounding in the Pacific"

"In a move that sent shock-waves around the Pacific Ocean, Australia is bound to become the third-largest operator of nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN’s). But let’s start from the beginning."

Corporal Frisk his analysis of WHY the Australian reasoning to go with nuclear submarines instructive.

Further as described by Corporal Frisk:

"The triple [AUKUSA] pact announced between the US-UK-Australia is far from a submarine deal, but rather a comprehensive security package including a number of practical steps, announced arms deals, and general security cooperation on an increased level"

Again correct. Think the pact [AUKUSA] not merely about submarines. Something more major.

Secondly from Commander Salamander further comment the AUKUSA security pact:

2. "AUKUS and the Nuclear Roo". Roo as in kangaroo.

"I guess this is submarine week at CDR Salamander, because right after the Wednesday post, the Anglosphere decided to wake everyone up"

That Anglosphere generally describes the English speaking nations of Canada, USA, New Zealand, Australia, Great Britain.

3. See from Twitter the Royal Australian Navy [RAN] their historical experience with submarines not so happy or glorious.

Thanks here in all cases to the various contributors, the Corporal and the Commander both.

coolbert.

Informal.

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India. USA. Australia. Japan. The Quad.

An informal alliance between nations in the Indo-Pacific region the importance of which of recent has become much more significant 

From The Diplomat and the article by Sumitha Narayanan Kutty and Rajesh Basrur.

1. "The Quad: What It Is – And What It Is Not"

"The Quad is no Asian NATO. And that may be its greatest strength."

"The March 12 [2021] summit meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad, comprising the United States, India, Japan, and Australia, has not been fully grasped by most analysts. The Quad’s recent resurgence – after an abortive start in 2007 – has been driven by uneasiness about the rise of China and the security threat it poses to the international order."

2. "Biden to Host First In-Person Quad Summit With Eye on China"

"Strengthening ties between the US, Japan, Australia, and India is a key aspect of Biden's strategy against China"

Thanks to the Internet web site Anti-War and the article by Dave DeCamp

"President Biden will host the leaders of Japan, India, and Australia at the White House on September 24th [2021]. The summit will mark the first in-person meeting between the leaders of the Quad, a four-nation group that the Biden administration seeks to strengthen as part of its anti-China strategy."

Indeed. All eyes on China now it seems. Quad represents Grand Strategy in the classical sense. As does AUKSA. Machinations and maneuver among nations, forming alliances formal and informal with geo-political considerations in mind.

coolbert.

Excluded.

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ANZAC gone? Australia and New Zealand part ways with regard to military and allied defense initiatives?

ANZAC = Australian New Zealand Army Corps. A WW1 creation.

From the Russian Internet media outlet Sputnik.

"New Zealand Being Left Out of AUKUS Shows Canberra, Wellington 'Going in Very Different Directions'"

"On Wednesday, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison together with British counterpart Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden announced the formation of the new AUKUS defence and security partnership to 'protect and defend" the three nations' 'shared interests in the Indo-Pacific'."

NEW ZEALAND CONSPICUOUSLY NOT INCLUDED IN THE SECURITY ARRANGEMENT.

"The fact that New Zealand is not part of a new security pact between the US, the UK, and Australia exposes Wellington's current differences with its traditional allies"

Traditional allies the most important [?] has been of course historically Australia. The Australians having opted to go nuclear with the acquisition of atomic-powered submarines. Able to project power over a wide are of the Indian and Pacific ocean. New Zealand ANTI-NUCLEAR and hesitant to get involved due to "green issues"? Both Australia and New Zealand currently declared nuclear-free zones.

Excluded but perhaps by choice. That is my perception!

coolbert.

AUKUS.

This is coolbert:

Consider this to be very major? A sure warning to the Chinese? And will not be taken lightly by the Chinese either!

Once more from Freeper original story the Citizen Free Press.

1. "Biden ‘major joint defense’ announcement to counter China…"

"#BREAKING: The Age is reporting that there will be a major security announcement from President Joe Biden tomorrow of significance to Australia, the US and the British Governments . . . Australia, the US and UK to announce landmark new defense pact"

AUKUSA. AUSTRALIA, UNITED KINGDOM [GREAT BRITAIN] AND THE UNITED STATES A MILITARY ALLIANCE THE MISSION OF WHICH IS TO COUNTER CHINA! WITHOUT QUESTION.

Additionally from the Internet web site Zero Hedge read the Chinese response.

2. "Beijing Fumes Over New US-Led Arms Pact: Australia Aspiring To Be 'Enemy Of China' & 'Anti-China Superpower'"

BY TYLER DURDEN

"China wasn't specifically invoked in any of the leaders' remarks, but the pact known as AUKUS, (an acronym for Australia, United Kingdom and the US) is being widely interpreted as part of Washington efforts to thwart China and its influence in the Indo-Pacific region." 

"WIDELY IHNTERPRETED" AS DIRECTED AT CHINA AND UNDERSTOOD PROBABLY CORRECTLY SO.

Until relatively recently Australia one of only two nations in the world [Norway the other] having a budget surplus. A budget cash-cow predominantly from the sale of raw material [iron ore in particular] to China.

How the worm can turn! "the worm turns: informal—used to talk about how a situation can suddenly change". And dramatically so too!

coolbert.

Scrapped.

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Here begins a series of short and terse blog entries courtesy Freeper.

The Australian submarine saga continues. Replacements for the Collins class submarines an on-going issue for some time and the subject of a number of previous blog entries. First the French, then the Japanese, and now ... .

Original story from ABC news.

"Australia to get nuclear-powered submarines, will scrap $90b program to build French-designed subs"

"Australia's next submarine fleet will be nuclear-powered under an audacious plan that will see a controversial $90 billion program to build up to 12 French-designed submarines scrapped. The ABC understands Australia will use American and British technology to configure its next submarine fleet in a bid to replace its existing Collins class subs with a boat more suitable to the deteriorating strategic environment."

A BOAT MORE SUITABLE AND NUCLEAR-POWERED. USING A COMBINATION OF AMERICAN AND BRITISH TECHNOLOGY. THIS CANNOT BE SEEN AS ANYTHING LESS THAN A VERY MAJOR COMMITTMENT.

My understanding the Australians and New Zealanders for that matter very GREEN and hesitant to go atomic. Nuclear-power for submarines normally reserved for those navies their mission requiring high speed, long-range, very long underwater endurance.

See previous blog entry [with many additional links] the Australian submarine replacement controversy:

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

coolbert.

Loggerheads.

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From Australian Internet media and thanks to same.

Captured. Chinese UUV. Unmanned underwater vehicle.

"Sinister catch exposes China’s underwater spies on Australia’s doorstep"

"An unexpected catch has revealed Beijing’s sneaky underwater spying activities right on Australia’s doorstep – a scary new escalation in tensions."

"Three undersea spy drones have been caught in Indonesian waters. They appear to be a Chinese design, and they were in shipping lanes crucial for Australia’s security."

Chinese UUV as shown for a sense of scale. I imagine you can proliferate an area with these the data take immense.

UNTIL RELATIVELY RECENTLY AUSTRALIA ONE OF THE TWO NATIONS IN THE WORLD WITH A GOVERNMENTAL REVENUE SURPLUS. ALMOST [?] EXCLUSIVELY FROM THE EXPORT OF RAW MATERIALS TO CHINA. IRON ORE AND COAL.

Now China and Australia at loggerheads. Continual disclosures and confrontation resulting much less that cordial relations?

"loggerheads - - quarrelling, opposed, feuding, at odds, estranged, in dispute, at each other's throats, at daggers drawn, at enmity "

coolbert.

Taxi.

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From the Aviationist and the article by STEFANO D'URSO the Loyal Wingman almost and up-and-going flying concern.

"Boeing’s Loyal Wingman In New High-Visibility Paint Job Completes First High-Speed Taxi Test"

"Boeing Australia and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have completed the first high-speed taxi test of the Airpower Teaming System (ATS) unmanned aircraft, also known as Loyal Wingman. The unmanned aircraft is undergoing low-, medium-, and high-speed taxi testing at a remote test location in Australia, with Boeing’s technicians closely monitoring the aircraft’s performance and instrumentation from a ground control station."

AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME THE AIRCRAFT ONLY ABLE TO TAXI ON THE RUNWAY. JUST PRIOR TO LIFT-OFF.

Loyal Wingman will be able to take-off and land without human interface? This I am not sure about.

See also this video. Five scale-model radio-control type aircraft with AI [artificial intelligence] able to take off, land, sortie and assemble, maneuver apparently without ANY human intervention. 

SKY NET and the rise of the machines no longer science-fiction. Is NOW!

coolbert.