Insects.

This is coolbert:

Here with some images of micro-drones! Swarms of such micro-drones able to be reproduced by 3D printing on a massive scale and with the potentiality as a weapon of war.

Swarms of micro-drones on the attack the numbers of which awesome and overwhelming.. Locust-like and a plague of Biblical proportions, MICRO-DRONES IN MANY CASES EVEN HAVING THE APPEARANCE OF AN INSECT!!

That is the finger tip of a person for the sake of scale!

Micro-drone with a quarter [American currency] as the background for the sake of scale. That quarter the diameter is 0.955 inches [24.26 mm]. 

Once more the finger tip of a human juxtaposed with a micro-drone for a sense of scale purpose.

I cannot tell if this a real insect or a man-made micro-drone! Resembles that type of biting insect in the natural world a spreader of disease in a variety of manifestations.

A cyborg. Cyber-organism. A real live beetle with the back-pack of electronics and remotely controlled. This particular specimen not autonomous however, apparently tethered to a control mechanism. Tethered at least for now. Note the marker on one centimeter for scale purposes.

Micro-drones in the manner of a "biting insect" as a delivery system carrying biological agents and  able to induce sickness or disease in an individual fatal or otherwise? Biological warfare vectors as deemed?  One application alone?

coolbert.

Chemputer 3D.

This is coolbert:

Once more the topic of Rise of the Machines. Drones of all sizes with a military application, 3D printing combined with Artificial Intelligence [AI] making for a formidable combination.

BAE Systems a firm part and parcel of the world-wide military-industrial complex surely things so. Thanks to Freeper:

"BAE Systems reveals plans for Chemputer 3D printer that chemically grows military drones"

"This futuristic concept was unveiled ahead of this year’s Farnborough International Airshow. The Chemputer sounds like something that is coming straight out of science fiction, but this is molecular-level 3D printer that grows everything from wings to electronic systems is really under development. The idea, of course, is to quickly build military equipment close to the battlefield and adapt it to overcome any geographical, technological or numerical disadvantages an army might have. What’s more, the drones are envisioned to be highly functional, flying at ultra-fast speeds and high altitudes to even outpace missile systems and provide a rapid response behind enemy lines"

The self-replicating 3D printer robots, drones, mini-drones and micro-drones. The latter specifically so deployed in enormous swarms as if a Biblical scale infestation!! Locust-like and unstoppable!!

The future is almost now? And if that AI becomes self-aware, sentient and developing an antipathy toward the human race, watch out!! Arnold, we need you now!!

coolbert.

Lorenz.

This is coolbert:

Lorenz has been found! At least half of it!

German "code" machine from the era of the Second World War considered to be MUCH MORE secure than the Enigma cryptograph. Used the Germans for high-level secure communications as would be the case direct from Hitler to his immediate subordinates. Personal and of the highest priority! From A.H to . . .!

A portion of such machine [Lorenz} purchased from eBay on line auction.

"'Hitler's code machine' snapped up off eBay for £9.50 after discovery in Essex shed"

"Part of a covert code machine used by Adolf Hitler has been snapped up off eBay for £10 after being discovered in an Essex shed."

"Lorenz was a key tool in the use of strategic communications and was far more complicated than the highly publicized Enigma machines."

Lorenz a COMPLICATED contraption and apparatus as can be seen from the image of the assembled machine. You can see the keyboard/printer on the far right for comparison/scale sake.

WITHIN A PERIOD OF TWO WEEKS THE FAMOUS SWEDISH MATHEMATICIAN ARNE BEURLING ABLE TO PROVIDE A GENERAL SOLUTION TO LORENZ. A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT!

Anyone know of a history of the Second World War based on decrypts of messages enciphered with the Lorenz machine?:

coolbert.

Metz II.

This is coolbert:

From that prior blog entry:

"second-rate German troops fighting strictly defensively with second-rate equipment but occupying formidable fortifications and commanded by superior commanders who knew their battlefield savvy a tough combination to beat."

IT WOULD SEEM IN THIS REGARD TO "SECOND-RATE" TROOPS I AM INCORRECT.

The German defender at Metz [1944] consisting for the most part of ad hoc units lacking any sort of unit cohesiveness of integrity but the personnel for the most part anything but second-rate.

German ad hoc units formed and consisting predominantly of soldiers of proven and demonstrable ability and in the process of matriculating from officer and non-commissioned officer courses.

Feeble and second-rate troops in the minority!

That order of battle of the German 462 Division during the defense of Metz consisting of:

*  "One regiment was formed by the Officer Candidate  Regiment, Military District XII – Oberst von Siegroth."

* "One regiment was formed around the 1010. Sicherheits Regiment – this regiment had retreated from France and was comprised mostly of weak, elderly and convalescents -  Oberst Richter."

* "One regiment was formed out of the NCO School of Military District XII – Oberst Wagner."

Again, according to the  calculations of Trevor Dupuy those fortifications of Metz acting as a significant force multiplier. Increase the combat capacity of the ad hoc German defender by 60 %!! Under such circumstances even troops described as "weak, elderly and convalescent" can give a good account of themselves when fighting strictly defensively!!

Such was the performance of the German defender at Metz and recognized at the time a special award what seems to be analogous to the American Presidential Unit Citation awarded to participants in recognition of their three-month effort. Metz 1944. Thanks to the info from COL Scott Pritchett.

coolbert.

Metz I.

This is coolbert:

Regarding the German fortifications around Metz as defended 1944 consider the timeless verity of combat as enunciated by Dupuy # 6:

"Defenders chances of success are directly proportional to fortification strength."

Construction of the Metz fortifications even if DECADES OLD rather robust:

"The fortifications around Metz consisted of casemates, concrete barracks, infantry strong points, and concrete batteries, equipped with rotating steel turrets (100–150 mm). Each position was surrounded by several ditches, or concrete trenches, with shelters and observation cupolas. A large barbed wire belt, defended by machine gun and rifle positions, completed the defensive system."

Cross-sectional diagram of the forts as the American might have encountered at Metz. Fortifications as designed and constructed seventy years earlier but nonetheless strong fighting positions. Consisting of a moat, an infantry strong point and an artillery firing position. Underground living quarters and connection tunnels allowing for a dynamic and robust defense.

"Forts had usually several large blockhouse style barracks. These had 3-meter thick reinforced concrete roofs with 2-meter thick walls. They were partially buried under as much as 6 m (20 ft) of compacted earth. Underground tunnels connected all of the structures. The fort also had deep wide trenches, some as much as 9 m (30 ft) in both dimensions. They were also surrounded by a thick layer of barbed wire entanglements."

According to the calculations of the American  military authority/historian/analyst fortifications of this type a force multiplier enhancing the combat capability of a given unit by 60 %!!

I MIGHT THINK TOO THE GERMAN USING LOTS AND LOTS OF LAND MINES!

No wonder why Patton got such a "bloody nose" at Metz!

coolbert.

GPS Mojave.

This is coolbert:

Thanks to the tip from Paul:

"This is Likely Why the Navy Is Causing a Massive and Mysterious GPS Outage in the Western US"

"The Pentagon is addicted to GPS, and the intervention is just getting underway."

ADDICTION in a bad way [is there good addiction?] that there is too much reliance on machines and not the man!!

"the Department of Defense is coming up with new concepts, and dusting off old ones as well, to deal with a GPS-denied reality. On the low end, one measure once again sees the Navy teaching and practicing celestial navigation."

Men in ships. Men on the ground. Men in planes. Too reliant on GPS and NOT ABLE to navigate in the venerable and ancient methods. WEAKNESS!

Map reading and land navigation as taught by the U.S. Army non-commissioned officer schools the number # 1 impediment to successful graduation!!

See previous blog entry regarding celestial navigation:

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2015/08/r2-d2.html

Devoted readers to the blog ALWAYS far ahead of the learning curve and are so much the better for it too!

coolbert.

Hannibal!

This is coolbert:

From that latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter some clarification regarding the Israeli military "Hannibal Directive".

"IDF chief of staff cancels 'Hannibal' directive on foiling abduction of troops"

Courtesy DEBKAfile | 28 June 2014.

NOT necessarily cancelling? Clarifying and modifying?

"IDF sources said Tuesday that the chief of staff, Lieut. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot, had cancelled the military's 'Hannibal' directive and ordered the preparation of a new operational order. The directive is a series of orders carried out when IDF soldiers are abducted. It was established as an automatic response to thwart abductions without receiving authorization, which can take some time. It includes placement of roadblocks, attacks on infrastructure such as bridges and roads to prevent any escape, and the use of massive fire against the abductors. The sources said the directive was not clear and that commanders of various units used it differently for many years. No details were released on how the IDF will respond to the abduction of soldiers from now on."

See previous blog entries regarding Hannibal:

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2011/12/hannibal.html

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2014/08/hannibal.html

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2014/09/oron-shaul.html

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2016/06/sultan-yacoub.html

coolbert.