SeaFox.

This is coolbert:

 Once more from the Chicago Tribune today we have the story of the SeaFox.

Naval drone, able to locate and destroy sea mines.

 Currently deployed and being used in the Strait of Hormuz.

 "NATION & WORLD"

 "U.S. drone subs patrol Iran strait" 

 A drone for naval use.

A submersible the mission of which is to locate and destroy enemy sea mines.

 Unattended but still tethered to a "mother ship", a fiber-optic link providing a view, commands, etc.

SeaFox is referred to as an underwater unmanned vehicle [UUV] and is considered to be EXPENDABLE!!

"Only about 90 pounds a 4 feet long, the unmanned but remotely guided submersible carries a TV camera, homing sonar and an explosive charge for what amounts to a kamikaze mission."

  "When it detects a mine, the undersea craft obliterate itself as well as the mine."

 I hope these SeaFox are cheap!!

Presumably these are sea mines anchored to the bottom of the sea, more like a torpedo than a conventional mine, activated and placed into the seek mode when the presence of a vessel detected [as might have been done to the South Korean vessel recently sunk]. 

"The device [SeaFox] is controlled by a 3,000 foot fiber-optic cable and sends live video back to a camera operator. It operates at a depth of about 1,000 feet and moves up to 6.9mph."

 "can be deployed from minesweepers or other ships, as well as from helicopters and small boats, augmenting the Navy's anti-mine capabilities."

 I would have to think that the SeaFox on of those main capabilities of the Littoral Combat Ship [LCS]? 

Unmanned submersibles are the "wave" of the future?

Bandwidth is a problem? Hard to transmit so much pertinent data by sound waves underwater. That is why a tether to a fiber-optic cable is provided in the case of SeaFox.

Within the civilian sector the use of such unmanned submersibles is not new. These SeaFox can be deployed from a variety of "platforms" and are very versatile. That method of destroying a naval mine [or a land mine for that matter] rather than merely rendering the mine inactive is the current accepted and most widely used method?

 At one time, this mission of mine detection and destruction was designated as an "animal" thing? Porpoise, seal, pilot whale trained to detect and destroy with explosives enemy sea mines. That use of animals now forbidden perhaps. Intelligent creatures used in such a manner an affront to us all?

 SeaFox today, what tomorrow? Naval warfare being revolutionized as we speak.

 coolbert.

Combat Edge?

This is coolbert: 

Thanks to the Chicago Tribune, KCCI and the evening news for this update on the ever-continuing story of the F-22 Raptor pilots who continue to experience hypoxia problems.

 That most versatile and capable fighter plane in existence American pilots of which suffer from time to time a lack of oxygen while in flight, hypoxia causing disorientation, blackouts, a feeble minded state that can lead to catastrophic consequences.

 From the Tribune:

 "More problems plague F-22 jets" 

 "Recent troubles with the Air Force's [USAF] fleet of F-22 Raptor fighter jets have prompted fresh questions by two members of Congress looking for answer on the oxygen problems that have plagued the aircraft for years."

 "F-22 pilots have reported dozens of incidents in which the jet's systems weren't feeding them a proper amount of oxygen in flight, causing hypoxia like symptoms."

  According to the evening news, the PROBLEM HAS NOW BEEN CORRECTLY ANALYZED AFTER MUCH STUDY AND THE PROPER CONCLUSIONS DRAWN!!

 A compression vest, worn evidently IN ADDITION TO THE NORMAL G-SUIT the culprit, that vest working and operating under conditions other than extreme G-forces, not as intended, the flow of oxygen to the pilot cut off repeatedly and inadvertently.

THAT DEVICE SUPPOSED TO AID AND ASSIST THE PILOT RATHER A HINDRANCE AND DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS?

 As reported by KCCI:

 "Investigators are looking at whether a compression vest worn as part of the flight suit contributes to the problem . . . Investigators are focusing on a part of the suit called the Combat Edge, which can hamper breathing and cause oxygen loss when combined with a physiological condition that collapses air sacs in the lungs"

 "Combat Edge is a vest-like garment that expands and contracts on a pilot's torso to fight the effects of severe G-forces experienced while flying the F-22. What is being looked at is whether the garment may restrict the pilots' breathing beyond what is intended"

 Combat Edge not giving that combat edge. Rather working too often and placing all the pilots in mortal danger?

This USAF Major General says so and therefore it must be so!

I pray that vest is discarded or whatever is the source of the problem remedied.

And quick too.

 This also from the Tribune article catches my attention:

 "in response to concern about the planes, it had imposed new safety restriction s to protects pilots. They include wearing a device that measures the amount of oxygen in the blood and taking blood samples."

 This is some sort of medical device you might encounter during a stay in the hospital?

Is geared as well to the aircraft in some manner? NOT only is the plane providing data to the pilot, but NOW the pilot provides data to the plane? Someone knows better about this?

 coolbert.

Biofuel.

This is coolbert:

 Again from the Tribune today:

 "'Green Fleet' ships sail amid cost debate" 

 "WASHINGTON - - A Navy oiler slipped away from a fuel depot on the Puget Sound in Washington state recently headed toward the central Pacific and into the storm over the Pentagon's controversial green fuels initiative."

 "the USNS Henry J. Kaiser carried nearly 900,000 gallons of biofuel blended with petroleum to power the cruisers, destroyers and fighter jets of what the Navy has taken to calling the 'Great Green Fleet,' the first carrier strike group to be powered largely by alternative fuels."

 An American aircraft carrier strike group while on one six month deployment will normally use about 1 million gallons of AVGAS [aviation gasoline] A PORTION OF WHICH WILL BE MERELY DUMPED AT SEA!!

 "The Pentagon hopes it can prove the Navy looks as impressive burning fuel squeezed from seeds, algae and chicken fat as it does using petroleum"

 Please note THIS IS NOT PURELY BIOFUEL BUT A MIX OF BIO9FUEL AND NORMAL PETROLEUM PRODUCT!! WHAT PERCENTAGE IS BIOFUEL IS NOT MENTIONED!!

 That cost however for the biofuel [mix?] just staggering!

 "Some Republican law-makers have seized n the fuel's nearly $27-a-gallon price, compared to roughly $3.60 for conventional fuel."

 This project more than anything else an attempt to demonstrate the feasibility of allowing the American military to become totally self-sufficient with regard to fuel!! That dire circumstance of a general war and the U.S. military cut-off from an abundance of foreign supply by some sort of unforeseen conflagration now avoided!!

Cost also much reduced when such biofuel manufactured on an industrial and massive scale.

 And according to Senator John Mc Cain:

 "I don't believe it's the job of the Navy to be involved in building - - new technologies,"

 NO! Senator John is wrong!

That man who might have been President is obviously not aware of that program prior to the Second World War [WW2], the U.S. Navy funding research into diesel engines of prodigious size. Research as done by the railroads, an engine sought that could power locomotives [rather than coal-fired steam engines] OR submarines.

Research most fruitful, American subs during WW2 indeed propelled into battle by diesel engines having a dual purpose, civilian railroads and military warships!!

 coolbert.

Olympics.

This is coolbert:

 Lots of good stuff in the Chicago Tribune today all of which has a military dimension.

 We begin.

 "FOCUS ROAD TO LONDON" 

 "Olympic-size security" 

 "Britain will deploy troops, fighter jets and even missiles for the London Games, but critics see tactics as overkill."

 London's security measures to include, military forces terribly arrayed and ready for battle:

* Personnel - - 13,500 military. [not including civilian security and police]

 Naval forces consisting of:

*  HMS Ocean. [amphibious assault ship]

*  Marine units. [Royal Marine Commando]

*  HMS Bulwark. [assault ship and landing dock]

 Air defense consisting of:

 * Typhoon fighter jets.

 * Puma helicopters.

 * Rapier missile system.

 * Starstreak missiles.

 * E-3D Sentry.

 I would have to think all and every measure having been taken to prevent a repetition of Munich 1972 or the 9/11 attacks.

 Quite a contrast with the ancient Olympics. Even during a time of war, TRUCE declared for the duration of the Olympics and contestants the safety and safe passage of which was deemed inviolable without exception.

British strong boys of the Royal Marine Commando and Special Air Services [SAS] I would have to think on call and ready for any contingency, practiced and at the ready.

 Pray and hope for the best, prepare for the worst. And it must be so!

 coolbert.

Moulin.

This is coolbert:

 Jean Moulin. The Frenchman in the fedora with scarf.

 Jean that man little known outside of France but that one man whose remains enshrined in the Pantheon, the ideal most epitomizing and exemplifying the French Resistance during World War Two [WW2] those in opposition to Vichy and the German occupier.

 Moulin dying either by torture [at the hands of the infamous Klaus Barbie] or a self-inflicted death again after having been subjected to prolonged and frightful torture.

 Jean without question a hero of the first magnitude, even "perhaps" beyond that of Joan of Arc?

 "Jean Moulin, who unified [the] French Resistance, is one of the greatest heroes in France, perhaps supplanting even Joan of Arc."

 "Yet he is completely unknown outside France."

At least until now that is.

And the betrayal of the man to the German still a subject of controversy even after seventy years!!

 Those Free French of the Interior [FFI] under the command of General De Gaulle, Moulin specifically tasked with the mission of organizing the Resistance, creating a viable military force of the various guerrilla factions, BUT MUCH MORE THAN THAT!!

 Moulin NOT A MILITARY MAN but an organizer and planner able to bring order out of dysfunction and chaos and bringing focused and concentrated energy where previously only dissipation existed!!

 That FFI properly understood as MORE than a mere military force, NOT just guerrillas/partisan FIGHTING UNITS but also a civilian apparatus and PREPARING FOR THE LIBERATION OF FRENCH FROM THE GERMAN OCCUPIER and political transition in the aftermath of the war!!

 Moulin FIRST able to unify the three non-communist partisan factions, those fighters most aligned with De Gaulle but practicing factionalism.

 A unified military structure most desirable for concerted and focused military action under a single command, DE GAULLE ANTICIPATING AND PREPARING FOR THE D-DAY INVASION BUT NOT WANTING TO MAKE THE FRENCH POPULACE TO SUFFER GERMAN RETALIATION AND RETRIBUTION [Ouradour Sur Glane during the war just one instance]!!.

 This was the Secret Army [maquis]! "Secret Army"

 "three major non-communist resistance movements, whose leaders were Captain HENRI FRENAY (Combat), EMMANUEL D'ASTIER DE LA VIGERIE (Libération), and JEAN-PIERRE LÉVY (Franc-Tireurs)." 

Moulin and De Gaulle wanting at some point to also incorporate into the French Resistance those communist and socialist elements and fighting units, again, the desire for focused and concerted action, military action to be taken as part of the Allied invasion of France and the subsequent battle that was to follow.

 [guerrillas and partisans most effective when their operations in support of a conventional military campaign!!]

 In addition to the fighting units, the consolidation thereof, Moulin also able to organize and bring under control:

 * "Services des opérations aériennes et maritimes (SOAM) for parachute drops and landing" [Lysander aircraft operations and parachute drops of men and supplies from England.]

 * "Wireless Transmissions (WT)" [communication with England and De Gaulle.].

 * "Bureau d'Information et de Presse (BIP), a central press agency for the Resistance, to furnish clandestine writers and editors with all the information they needed for their journals." [black, white and gray propaganda.]

 * "Comité Général d'Etudes (CGE), a consultative commission of eminent jurists who would draft a plan for the political, economic, and administrative structures of France immediately after the liberation."

 De Gaulle and his representative within the FFI Moulin knowing full well that the insurrectionist/guerrilla/partisan fighting elements ONLY ONE part of the whole, that structure of French government as existed prior to WW2 inadequate those Free French preparing not only for the D-Day invasion and the Liberation of France but for the aftermath of the war and  inevitable political upheaval as well. The context properly understood steps and measures taken!!

 coolbet.

AAMG.

This is coolbert:

 From a variety of Internet sources some images from the Great War [WW1] - - machine guns as used by ground forces in the anti-aircraft role.

 Especially from that period of 1917 onward:

 "As aircraft started to be used against ground targets on the battlefield, the AA guns could not be traversed quickly enough at close targets and, being relatively few, were not always in the right place (and were often unpopular with other troops), so changed positions frequently. Soon the forces were adding various machine-gun based weapons mounted on poles. These short-range weapons proved more deadly"

 German blitzkrieg tactics as first used at Riga, 1917, always incorporating the three elements of:

 * Movement forward by special units of Storm Troop [Sturmabteilung] using infiltration tactics.

 * Poison gas delivered on target by artillery shell.

 * Ground strafing aircraft.

 That means to combat the ground strafing aircraft [often flying nape-of-the-earth] the machine gun, mounted either with an ad hoc apparatus or atop a pole. That pole allowing for total three hundred sixty [360] degree coverage if and when the target presented itself, engagement from any direction possible.

 Heavy machine guns the weapon of choice during the WW1 era. That anti-aircraft-machine-gun [AAMG] best defined as:

 "Heavy machineguns"

 "A machine gun is rated heavy when it cannot be carried and operated by a single man. The class can be extended to all machineguns with a recoil too powerful (because of caliber or rate of fire) to be controllable without a mount."

 Heavy in my mind defined as a machine gun of fifty [12.7 mm] or greater even or having a water-cooled jacket for the barrel or the entire apparatus [gun, tripod, ammo] not being able to be carried by ONE man. 

To the images. Posed I would think in most instances and not real coverage of combat action:

British troops manning a Vickers AAMG ad hoc mounted.

British Lewis gun with bipod and air-cooled barrel.

French St. Etienne gun operated in an ad hoc manner and NOT aiming at a ground strafing aircraft.

American gun crew manning what I believe is a Hotchkiss AAMG.

This is obviously a posed picture? Gun is mounted on a pole in this case.

Maxim guns mounted on poles. Total traverse available if needed.

This Maxim gun able to engage low-flying ground strafing aircraft. An ideal. 

 A "clump" of massed AAMG even if not successfully engaging and shooting-down an approaching enemy aircraft, force that adversary to fly higher and take evasive action, negating an efficient strafing or bombing mission.

 coolbert.

Conscription!

This is coolbert:

From only today, thanks to Ynet we have these articles, the secular Israeli mad as hell and ain't gonna take it anymore.

Universal conscription, the military draft, a hot button item in Israel.

For many decades, contrary to popular opinion, NOT ALL Israeli youth reaching the age of eighteen required for perform military service. Those secular Israeli YES but not those of the ultra-Orthodox.

Haredim [ultra-Orthodox] young men and women exempt from conscription, those in religious rabbinical studies not required to perform their military service. This having been the case ever since the time of David Ben Gurion.

Haredim at one time a very small segment of the total Israeli population, that exception to the rule [universal military conscription] not being a matter of significance.

The haredim now a much larger percentage of the overall Israeli population, this now becoming A MATTER OF SIGNIFICANCE. Those haredim seen as draft dodgers and shirkers.

What was true in 1948 is not true now. Rabbinical students in name only getting a deferment to their advantage and creating a lot of anger and resentment among the secular Israeli.

"Disabled IDF veterans gear up for protest rally"

"Protesters to lead procession in Tel Aviv, urge PM Netanyahu to enact universal draft legislation"

"Protesters call for equal burden"

>"Some 12,000 people hold mass rally in Tel Aviv urging government to enact universal draft legislation. 'Equal draft – social justice,' call activists. Diskin: Something is rotten in our leadership"

"Halutz leaves Kadima, slams Mofaz"

"Former chief of staff says politicians should take action rather than demonstrate. 'We can't let this issue turn into political capital; we can't hide behind words'"

The famous Israeli author Amos Oz writing on the subject thirty years ago the secular Jew in conflict with the religious Jew, the latter taking advantage of the former and not appreciative as seen by the general Israeli public.

A few yes for deferment, a whole bunch NO! That is the perception.

coolbert.