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minseok42 A Self-inflicted Disaster from A Six-Tatami Room (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
A Self-inflicted Disaster
#60626: Jan 29th 2021 at 6:21:50 AM

[up] When I was in the military, for most of our field exercises involving a full-scale war scenario, we had to carry them in a bag on our sides basically everywhere. Except for those times, we kept our gas masks in our lockers along with the rest of the gear.

Edited by minseok42 on Jan 29th 2021 at 11:25:11 PM

"Enshittification truly is how platforms die"-Cory Doctorow
eagleoftheninth Shop all day, greed is free from a dreamed portrait, imperfect Since: May, 2013 Relationship Status: With my statistically significant other
Shop all day, greed is free
#60627: Jan 29th 2021 at 12:45:08 PM

Today in Cold War wackiness: a US Navy project that used synthesised and coded marine animal sounds for underwater communication.

Apparently the easiest sounds to reproduce were the high-frequency ones made by small whales and pinnipeds, with pilot whale sounds being used to convey accurate messages up to 50 nmi in the trials; large whale sounds could likely travel further at lower frequencies, but were not trialled. In any case, you'd need to use the correct animal sounds at the right place and time, or else unfriendly listeners might figure out that something's up.

Some choice quotes:

During sea trials of COMBO equipment, transmission of synthesized pilot whale sounds attracted pilot whales to the transmitter. The whales' phonations added to the sonic environment without degrading the communications effort.

A six-week study of Project COMBO and of the effects of bioacoustics on fleet operations concluded that both the U.S. and the Soviet Union would have the capability to apply bioacoustics to communications tasks after 1975. Covert active sonar using animal sounds require changes in fleet sonar hardware and operating doctrine.

Marine animal sounds are ubiquitous and likely well-known to Soviet sonarmen. Signal processing techniques will aid and advance underwater military communications, but U.S. forces may face an increasingly costly race to stay below presumed detection thresholds. Covert communication by natural disguise is a psychologically confounding alternative approach that can convey considerable advantage to the adversary first employing the technique.

Edited by eagleoftheninth on Jan 29th 2021 at 1:02:00 AM

One day, we will read his name in the news and cheer.
TairaMai rollin' on dubs from El Paso Tx Since: Jul, 2011 Relationship Status: Mu
rollin' on dubs
#60628: Jan 29th 2021 at 6:01:16 PM

[up] Dude, the Cold War mantra for problem solving was was "throw money at it" - it's the reason that so many defense contractors are hating life right now. The money spigot isn't flowing like it should.

Guns make you dumb. If at all possible, fight your wars with duct tape. Duct tape makes you smart.
Michael Westen, Burn Notice

Replace "guns" with "money" and you get why the defense and aerospace industry has had so many misfires.

I tried to walk like an Egyptian and now I need to see a Cairo practor....
TuefelHundenIV Night Clerk of the Apocalypse from Doomsday Facility Corner Store. Since: Aug, 2009 Relationship Status: I'd need a PowerPoint presentation
Night Clerk of the Apocalypse
#60629: Jan 29th 2021 at 6:21:04 PM

AFP: That isn't necessarily true. Both in the Gulf War and in the US more recent conflicts troops have had to hastily don masks. Especially if the chem attack siren goes off. In more recent times the insurgents sometimes mixed chlorine agents in with their IED's. While nasty you still have time to get a mask on and keep it from being really bad. So again if you have to stop and grease your beard before you can don masks that is less than ideal.

Who watches the watchmen?
AFP Since: Mar, 2010
#60630: Jan 30th 2021 at 12:06:19 AM

It really sounds like the solution is to allow beards... in garrison only. If you are deploying to a potential hostile environment, it's time to see some baby-smooth warrior faces.

But really, in any situation where troops have to hastily don masks, like in the space of an IED going off, were they able to go back to base and grab their chem gear from whatever locker or storeroom it was kept in? Or did they have the gear with them? Because if you've got your gear with you, that's MOPP Ready or MOPP Zero already.

Edited by AFP on Jan 30th 2021 at 12:07:56 PM

TerminusEst from the Land of Winter and Stars Since: Feb, 2010
#60631: Jan 30th 2021 at 12:07:34 AM

Chinese H-6 Bombers Heard On Radio Confirming Orders For Simulated Attack On U.S. Aircraft Carrier Near Taiwan

As already reported in detail, a total of 28 aircraft, including as many as eight PLAAF (People’s Liberation Army Air Force) H-6 bombers, “intruded” into Taiwan’s ADIZ (Air Defense Identification Zone) between Jan. 23 and 24, 2021.

In particular, we noticed that the mission on Saturday Jan. 23, was conducted as the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG), led by USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier entered the South China Sea (SCS) “to conduct routine operations”.

A confirmation that the mission flown on Jan. 23 was simulating an air strike on the U.S. aircraft carrier comes from the Financial Times, that on Jan. 29, 2020 reported: “People familiar with intelligence collected by the US and its allies said the bombers and some of the fighter aircraft involved were conducting an exercise that used a group of US Navy vessels led by the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt in the same area as a simulated target. Pilots of H-6 bombers could be heard in cockpit conversations confirming orders for the simulated targeting and release of anti-ship missiles against the carrier, the people said.”

Si Vis Pacem, Para Perkele
TairaMai rollin' on dubs from El Paso Tx Since: Jul, 2011 Relationship Status: Mu
rollin' on dubs
#60632: Jan 30th 2021 at 2:01:52 AM

It's not just India, China has border disputes with 18 countries. Here's the list

    India TV News Desk 

  • Japan — Parts of South China Sea particularly Senkaku Islands, Ryukyu Islands are claimed by Japan and both countries are at loggerheads with this boundary issue
  • Vietnam — China claims large parts of Vietnam on historical precedent (Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644). Also, Macclesfield Bank, Paracel Islands, parts of the South China Sea and the Spratly Islands.
  • India — China occupies 38,000 sq km Indian territory that goes by the name Aksai Chin. It also stakes claim on Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh. It was this expansionist policy that led to the recent clashes between the PLA and the Indian Army.
  • Nepal — China claims parts of Nepal dating back to the Sino-Nepalese War in 1788-1792. China claims they are part of Tibet, therefore part of China.
  • North Korea — Baekdu Mountain and Jiandao. China has also on occasion claimed all of North Korea on historical grounds (Yuan Dynasty, 1271-1368).
  • The Philippines — Parts of the South China Sea are contested between the two countries. The Philippines took this to the International Court of Justice, where they won the case but Chinese did not abide by the order of the ICJ.
  • Russia — 160,000 square kilometers still unilaterally claimed by China, despite China signing several agreements.
  • Singapore — Parts of the South China Sea are contested by both countries.
  • South Korea — Parts of the East China Sea. China has also on occasion claimed all of South Korea on historical grounds (Yuan Dynasty, 1271-1368).
  • Bhutan — Bhutanese enclaves in Tibet, namely Cherkip Gompa, Dho, Dungmar, Gesur, Gezon, Itse Gompa, Khochar, Nyanri, Ringung, Sanmar, Tarchen and Zuthulphuk. Also Kula Kangri and mountainous areas to the west of this peak, plus the western Haa District of Bhutan.
  • Taiwan — China claims all of Taiwan, but particular disputes are Macclesfi eld Bank, Paracel Islands, Scarborough Shoal, parts of the South China Sea and the Spratly Islands. The Paracel Islands, also called Xisha Islands in Vietnamese, is a group of islands in the South China Sea whose sovereignty is disputed among China, Taiwan and Vietnam disputes with Burma.
  • Laos — China claims large areas of Laos on historical precedent (China's Yuan Dynasty, 1271-1368).
  • Brunei — Over Spratly Islands.
  • Tajikistan — Chinese claims based on historical precedent (Qing Dynasty, 1644-1912).
  • Cambodia — China has, on occasion, claimed parts of Cambodia on historical precedent (China's Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644).
  • Indonesia — Parts of the South China Sea.
  • Malaysia — Over Parts of the South China Sea, particularly the Spratly Islands.
  • Mongolia — China claims all of Mongolia on historical precedent (Yuan Dynasty, 1271-1368). In fact, Mongolia, under Genghis Khan, occupied China.

TL;DR -

I tried to walk like an Egyptian and now I need to see a Cairo practor....
TuefelHundenIV Night Clerk of the Apocalypse from Doomsday Facility Corner Store. Since: Aug, 2009 Relationship Status: I'd need a PowerPoint presentation
Night Clerk of the Apocalypse
#60633: Jan 30th 2021 at 4:03:15 AM

AFP: The first time it happened they didn't have them, they started packing their masks for a while after that. Thankfully chlorine isn't going kill you through skin contact alone but it getting in your eyes and in your lungs is bad news. In the Gulf War they carried chem gear around pretty much constantly because Sadam was a nasty bastard with a record of using Chemical weapons.

Who watches the watchmen?
TairaMai rollin' on dubs from El Paso Tx Since: Jul, 2011 Relationship Status: Mu
rollin' on dubs
#60634: Jan 30th 2021 at 4:28:35 AM

These Are the Official Space Force Ranks

    Miliary.com | By Oriana Pawlyk 

The U.S. Space Force finally has an official rank structure for its enlisted members and officers, a service spokesman has confirmed to Military.com.

A leaked memo first posted on the popular Facebook page Amn/Nco/Snco detailed the new ranks, which nearly mirror Air Force ranks.

Instead of "airman," junior enlisted members between E-1 and E-4 will be called specialists, according to the document. The Army is the other service with a specialist rank, for troops in the E-4 paygrade.

While the Air Force has staff and technical sergeants, the Space Force E-5 rank will be known as sergeant, followed by technical sergeant for E-6. Officer ranks — second lieutenant to general — will remain the same as its sister service.

The new rank structure takes effect Feb. 1, the memo states.

The most senior member is the Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force, an E-9 rank, the memo adds. Chief Master Sgt. Roger Towberman, the senior enlisted adviser to the service, will officially assume that title effective next week, the spokesman said.

There will be no changes to benefits entitlements, according to the memo.

Some speculated that the Space Force, which is part of the Department of the Air Force, would adopt its parent service's rank structure; others argued for using the Navy's rank system — which is what some lawmakers intended.

In July, Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, proposed an amendment in the fiscal 2021 National Defense Authorization Act requiring "the same system and rank structure as is used in the Navy" for the Space Force, according to a House summary of the text.

Space Force officials said they were ready to move forward, but because of the measure, the service halted announcing its decision at that time.

A Navy rank system would make sense for the Space Force, experts have said. Other space enthusiasts have noted on social media that "Space Admiral just sounds better."

"A good reason to use Navy ranks in the Space Force is to better distinguish [Space Force] personnel from Air Force personnel, kind of like [the Marine Corps] using different ranks than the Navy," Todd Harrison, director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, said in July following Crenshaw's proposal.

But last month, lawmakers ultimately ditched Crenshaw’s provision on naval ranks.

Even William Shatner — the actor who portrayed Capt. James Kirk of the USS Enterprise in the original "Star Trek" series — initially backed Crenshaw's idea.

In an op-ed titled, "What the heck is wrong with you, Space Force?" published in Military Times in August 2020, Shatner said there is historical precedence — in the entertainment industry, anyway — for space commanding officers to take naval ranks.

"When you unveiled the Space Force logo, many immediately saw it as an homage to 'Star Trek' (even though our Delta was an homage to the previous military space insignias). Why not borrow back from 'Star Trek' and adopt our ranks as well?" he wrote. "We took them from the Navy for good reason."

While its rank structure seems to be set, the Space Force still lacks an official dress uniform, physical fitness uniform and mess dress uniform; an official song; patch and insignia wear.

The service has so far debuted its organizational structure; official logo, seal, flag and motto; a dark navy-colored name tape; and a lapel pin.

It has also issued guidance on how to wear the camouflage uniform. (Like the Army and Air Force, Space Force members wear the Operational Camouflage Pattern as the official service duty uniform.) And it has released three commercials to attract new recruits.

Last month, then-Vice President Mike Pence announced that space professionals would be called Guardians.

I tried to walk like an Egyptian and now I need to see a Cairo practor....
Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#60635: Jan 30th 2021 at 4:47:17 AM

So the argument is whether future spacecraft rank structure should mirror Star Trek or Stargate?

"Yup. That tasted purple."
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#60636: Jan 30th 2021 at 4:49:44 AM

Trek for officers, Stargate for enlisted.

Oh really when?
eagleoftheninth Shop all day, greed is free from a dreamed portrait, imperfect Since: May, 2013 Relationship Status: With my statistically significant other
Shop all day, greed is free
#60637: Jan 30th 2021 at 4:50:41 AM

Why is it "Chief Master Sergeant" and not "Master Chief Sergeant"? This is why we can't have nice things. And while we're at it, why are they missing the opportunity to bring back the rank of Master and Commander?

On a more serious note, I kind of wonder whether we should put some thought into controlling hard-kill ASAT weapons going forward. The US, China and Russia have them. India is well on the way there. Someone is probably going to use them and run the risk of triggering the Kessler syndrome before too long. And when that happens, never mind crewed spaceflight; the impact on communications and climate monitoring satellites alone is potentially catastrophic to the world at large.

It'd probably be challenging, because a lot of the tech involved is quite similar to space launch and (anti-)ballistic missile development — unlike nuclear enrichment, which is hard to keep secret and involves a lot more controlled materials. And I have no idea what's going to happen when nations start turning to soft-kill means like EW and cyberwarfare to knock out their adversary's satellites. But the stakes are high enough that the bright minds at the Space Force should probably start thinking it over.

One day, we will read his name in the news and cheer.
Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
#60638: Jan 30th 2021 at 4:59:24 AM

[up]x7 Is this something we should be concerned about?

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#60639: Jan 30th 2021 at 5:02:15 AM

It's perfectly normal Cold War era posturing.

Right now we're basically getting into Cold War: Round 2 so this kind of thing is going to become much more common.

Oh really when?
nrjxll Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Not war
#60640: Jan 30th 2021 at 5:38:46 AM

I mean, the entire reason that carrier was there was to send a tacit signal that the US would have Taiwan's back if the Chinese actually turned one of these saber-rattling incursions into an actual attack. They'd be nuts to not have a plan to attack it.

Of course, by that same token the US would have been nuts to not send it in the first place, since if the US doesn't keep sending those signals then China will attack. So yeah.

Like I keep saying - it's a sub-optimal situation given the risk of human error, but it's not like there's a better alternative. This is pretty much, yeah, Cold War II. (Or arguably just a continuation of the first one, the same way some people like to say that WWs I and II are really just the "Second Thirty Year's War".)

FluffyMcChicken My Hair Provides Affordable Healthcare from where the floating lights gleam Since: Jun, 2014 Relationship Status: In another castle
My Hair Provides Affordable Healthcare
#60641: Jan 30th 2021 at 5:27:05 PM

I can't help but imagine Patrick Star joining the Chinese air force and single-handedly starting a great power war.

Control: Red Star 1, you are to now rehearse the anti-ship engagement procedure. Understood?

PLAAF Pilot: Solid copy. Standing by for orders.

Control: Spot the enemy aircraft carrier.

PLAAF Pilot: Roger. I see the carrier on my screen.

Control: Now mark it with your designator.

PLAAF Pilot: Roger. Enemy carrier is marked.

Control: Fire weapon when ready!

PLAAF Pilot: Copy! Missile away!

Control: Good work, Red Star 1. That concludes the exercise. Those Americans won't know what hit them when we invade Taiwan for real.

PLAAF Pilot: . . . wait, that was an exercise?

Edited by FluffyMcChicken on Jan 30th 2021 at 5:28:14 AM

AFP Since: Mar, 2010
#60642: Jan 30th 2021 at 9:35:12 PM

It's "Chief Master Sergeant" because it goes "Master Sergeant" "Senior Master Sergeant" and "Chief Master Sergeant", the three flavors of Master Sergeants (even though, strictly speaking, Chiefs are not any flavor of Master Sergeant but a whole other thing).

The thing that a lot of folks don't get about Air Force style enlisted rank structures/insignia is that we actually designed our system to be easy to understand. We don't do that weird nonsense with the two SNCO paths the Marines do, or "First Sergeant" being a rank rather than a duty title, or that thing the Navy does where nobody uses the ranks anyways and instead just addresses everyone by their duty titles.

eagleoftheninth Shop all day, greed is free from a dreamed portrait, imperfect Since: May, 2013 Relationship Status: With my statistically significant other
Shop all day, greed is free
#60643: Jan 30th 2021 at 9:40:53 PM

So we're just gonna have a Space Force without a Master Chief? That sucks.

One day, we will read his name in the news and cheer.
TerminusEst from the Land of Winter and Stars Since: Feb, 2010
#60644: Jan 31st 2021 at 2:48:40 AM

The Arctic Threat That Must Not Be Named

In May 2019, former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo traveled to Finland to deliver remarks to the Arctic Council, using the occasion to do some serious saber rattling. “The region has become an arena for power and for competition,” he declared, calling out China and Russia as aggressors. Not once, however, did he mention the reason competition, “opportunity and abundance” in the Arctic were even on the table. As with other Trump-era declarations of Arctic intent, Pompeo referred only vaguely to “reductions in sea ice.”

Edited by TerminusEst on Jan 31st 2021 at 2:49:58 AM

Si Vis Pacem, Para Perkele
eagleoftheninth Shop all day, greed is free from a dreamed portrait, imperfect Since: May, 2013 Relationship Status: With my statistically significant other
Shop all day, greed is free
#60645: Jan 31st 2021 at 3:44:06 AM

The Arctic is unusual in that climate change is agitating underlying frictions that are geopolitical in scope and involve some of the most advanced and well-armed societies in the world. While World War III is unlikely to start at the North Pole, there is a risk of miscalculation, which could lead to escalation. Moreover, the friction in the north between the United States, Russia, and China is part of a larger pattern. What happens in the Arctic reflects what is happening in the South China Sea and Ukraine, and vice versa. Climate change has the potential to light a fuse in a formerly frozen place, with impacts across the geopolitical landscape — or this formerly frozen place may be where a fuse lit elsewhere explodes.

Y'know, real estate haggling over Santa's workshop with Russia and China is one thing, but this might also be a good time to mention that:

  • North Korea's ICBM arsenal (Hwasong-14/15) can theoretically reach the US mainland via an Arctic trajectory, and
  • The only defensive system currently capable of shooting down the ICBMs in flight is the 40-odd GMD missiles stationed in Alaska, which cost $75 million a piece and has, uh, a bit of a spotty record.

The Arctic isn't exactly new to nuclear scares, and I imagine that things will only get livelier once Russian SSBNs gain the ability to reach North American waters via the Arctic Ocean all year without having to transit through the GIUK gap. Though by that point, it'd probably be way down the list of climate-related worries that we'll all have to deal with.

One day, we will read his name in the news and cheer.
TheWildWestPyro from Seattle, WA Since: Sep, 2012 Relationship Status: Healthy, deeply-felt respect for this here Shotgun
#60646: Jan 31st 2021 at 10:02:50 AM

A reminder that giving the Marines their armor back would be nice:

TuefelHundenIV Night Clerk of the Apocalypse from Doomsday Facility Corner Store. Since: Aug, 2009 Relationship Status: I'd need a PowerPoint presentation
Night Clerk of the Apocalypse
#60647: Jan 31st 2021 at 1:15:53 PM

Or at least giving the Corps something like the M8 Buford to make up for the difference.

Who watches the watchmen?
AFP Since: Mar, 2010
#60648: Feb 1st 2021 at 3:10:58 AM

@eagleoftheninth: Why would we? Master Chief wasn't in the Space Force to begin with. He was in the Navy.

eagleoftheninth Shop all day, greed is free from a dreamed portrait, imperfect Since: May, 2013 Relationship Status: With my statistically significant other
Shop all day, greed is free
#60649: Feb 2nd 2021 at 6:53:06 PM

Grrr, fair.

Speaking of militaria in pop culture: the guy who ran the I, Clausewitz blog on LiveJournal wrote a couple of helpful posts on how formations work (at least on the small-unit level).

One day, we will read his name in the news and cheer.
Ominae Since: Jul, 2010

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