Sumpter.

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Still another extract from the archives of the New York Times, events as reported, prelude to the  American Civil War. Thanks also to Freeper for the tip. 

"HIGHLY IMPORTANT NEWS: The Fort Question to be Decided Immediately; FORT SUMPTER TO BE EVACUATED; THE REPUBLICAN COURT (3/11/1861)"

New York Times archives – Times Machine ^ | 3/11/1861

"WASHINGTON, Sunday, March 10. The question of reinforcing Fort Sumpter has been under consideration in the Cabinet, and it is understood that the question whether or no it is not desirable to withdraw all the troops, except two or three men, rather than incur the bloodshed which will probably occur before troops and supplies are put into it, is now to be decided. The immediate necessity of settling this question grows out of the fact that there is only a limited supply of bread at Fort Sumpter, but plenty of salt meat"

Fort Sumter I have heard of. Fort Sumpter I have not heard of. Perhaps various spellings exist and were valid [1861] at the time.

Previous attempt to provision the fort [Star of the West] unsuccessful. Fort as of early March [1861] very low on basic supplies, victuals in particular. Plans to abandon the fort but  for a skeletal force contemplated.

Major Anderson commanding indeed realizing his position dire, plight becoming extreme.

coolbert.

Eyes.

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From our good friend Commander Salamander and thanks to same.

"Do not act shocked ... do not avert your eyes ... look harder"

"We started the 'Keeping and Eye on the Long Game' over a decade and a half ago. Many of you have been loyal members of the Front Porch since that time, so I know you are not surprised where 2021 finds us." [please click on image to see an enlarged view]

"Look at it. Don't avert your eyes."

Consider just from a number standpoint the Chinese navy operating hardly that far from home ports. Chinese able to mass assets and resources in the manner the U.S. Navy cannot. 

It can always be argued that American naval units possess just a whole lot more experience at naval warfare and have vessels their firepower greater plus the quality of personnel much better.

"Quantity has a quality all of it's own!!" - J. Stalin.

Sadly that does seem so!

coolbert.

C-40 B/C.

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Distracted! Malfunction! Missteps!

INCOMPETENCE!

Thanks to Kay for the tip.

"Distracted Guard, Gate Malfunction Allowed Intruder to Board Aircraft at Joint Base Andrews"

"The U.S. Air Force says a series of missteps at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, led to a Feb. 4 breach at the installation in which an unauthorized civilian was able to board a C-40 Clipper transport aircraft on the flight line."

"The service on Thursday released a 23-page Inspector General review into the incident. It concluded that a 'distracted' Security Forces [SF] airman overlooked the proper procedures to vet the man as he came on base." 

Joint Base Andrews. Think Air Force One. Air Force Two. SAM's flights [dignitaries and VIP}.

This C-40 B/C used for Special Air missions [SAM's] I am assuming.

I would have to think Andrews one of the most closely guard installations in the U.S. military. And yet some unauthorized person able to gain entry to the base and ACTUALLY  BOARD an aircraft while on the flight line.

See also the Russians with a similar problem. Doomsday warplanes as deemed boarded by unauthorized personnel and valuable gear stolen.

coolbert.

Views.

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As is done annually here with a list of TOP-TEN most viewed blog entries from 2020.

# 1 most viewed during the past year entry Werx.

Herewith those TOP-TEN blog entries 2020:

1. Werx.

2. Wagner PMC.

3. Shahid Roudaki.

4. Malaya.

5. Mercury.

6. Guards USMC.

7. Loyal.

8. SFF II.

9. Reprise.

10. Beirut.

Devoted readers to the blog enjoy!

coolbert.

Elephant.

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Elephant Walk German style goes awry??

From the Aviationist.

"Elephant Walk at Bavarian Air Base involved 18 Eurofighters at Neuburg Air Base. Parked on the runway, rather than taxiing on it."

"The German Air Force has arranged an Elephant Walk that involved 18 Eurofighter jets of TLG (Tactical Luftwaffengeschwader) 74 at Neuburg Air Base on Mar. 6, 2021."

Elephant Walk = A massive display of combat airpower, warplanes in abundance on the tarmac awaiting the go-signal prior to take off! A show of force and capability designed to impress an adversary or potential adversary.

"The benefits of an elephant walk include being able to show the capability of the units as well as teamwork. It is often performed to prepare squadrons for wartime operations and to prepare pilots for the launching of fully armed aircraft in one mass event."

AS NOTED BY THE AVIATIONIST HOWEVER THIS PARTICULAR ELEPHANT WALK APPEARS TO NOT BE A REAL-WORLD DEMONSTRATION OF AERIAL MARTIAL FORCE!!

"While the reason for the Elephant Walk has not been made public, the way it was carried out is somehow weird. In fact, if you look closely, you’ll notice that the aircraft were not taxiing when the shots were taken as the wheel chocks are clearly visible in the head-on photographs. Actually, not even the pilot can be seen aboard the aircraft. In other words, it looks like the aircraft were towed in position and parked for the shooting."

A STAGED EVENT WITH IMAGES FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION BUT BEARING NO REALITY TO ACTUAL COMBAT POTENTIALITY?

And to all this Johannes Steinhoff or Gunther Rall would say?

coolbert.

Dr. Seuss.

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Once more into dangerous waters as they say. A blog entry with a semi-political nature. Normally if not totally exclusively I avoid such topics. But in this case I feel compelled to proceed without hesitation.

1. "6 Dr. Seuss books won't be published anymore because they portray people in 'hurtful and wrong' ways"

From CNN and the article by Amanda Watts and Leah Asmelash,

THE BELOVED AUTHOR OF BOOKS FOR CHILDREN DR. SEUSS UNDER ATTACK IN SOME QUARTERS. ILLUSTRATIONS SEEN IN SOME INSTANCES AS PROBLEMATIC.

And now for the military dimension to Dr. Seuss. Dr. Seuss during the Second World his production of war propaganda art as prolific. Axis enemy portrayed in a manner that today would be looked upon with disfavor.

2. "When Dr. Seuss Went to War"

"Explore the children’s author’s little-known work penning political cartoons and producing propaganda films during World War II."

From the History.com Internet web site and the article by CHRISTOPHER KLEIN.

As was common at the time the Japanese portrayed in very less than a flattering manner. Japanese racially stereotyped with the pig nose, buck teeth and slitty-slanted eyes showing from behind thick lensed wire-rimmed glasses.

Some of the cartoon images as drawn by Dr. Seuss during the Second World War:

Dr. Seuss indeed. The World War Two cartoons of  Dr. Seuss quite a voluminous collection. Devoted readers to the blog go and Google Dr. Seuss WW2 images and see the whole lot for yourself.

coolbert.

Ferrari?

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From the outstanding Internet web site "Bayou Renaissance Man" and thanks to same.

"How do the Italians achieve the 'tactical Ferrari' look?"

"There's something about Italian designers that I can't quite put my finger on, but which shows through in almost everything born in that country. It's an élan, a visual zeitgeist, a style that's very distinctive. One sees it in Ferrari and Lamborghini automobiles, in Piaggio executive aircraft, in Aermacchi jet trainers, and so on."

All-terrain special operations vehicles too?? Visual zeitgeist? Devoted readers to the blog decide for yourself.

Italian LTATV. All-purpose all-terrain vehicle used by special operations troops. Zeitgeist unmistakable? Needs a winch and snorkel?

American RAZR ATV. Less sexy-looking than the Italian version?

U.S. Navy SEAL team using RAZR military-style all-terrain vehicles during a beach patrol exercise perhaps in Washington state.

Those ATV you need to strap yourself in tightly and wear a helmet either as a driver or passenger. Also can be found in street drive-able versions.

And to all this Rolls Royce would say??

coolbert.