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:
Edited by eagleoftheninth on Jan 29th 2021 at 1:02:00 AM
One day, we will read his name in the news and cheer.
rollin' on dubs
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.
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....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?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
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”.
rollin' on dubs
It's not just India, China has border disputes with 18 countries. Here's the list
- 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 -
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?
rollin' on dubs
These Are the Official Space Force Ranks
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.
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.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".)
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
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.
The Arctic Threat That Must Not Be Named
Edited by TerminusEst on Jan 31st 2021 at 2:49:58 AM
Si Vis Pacem, Para PerkeleY'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.
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).
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/sailor-white-supremacist-past-fired-1.5898345
Wished the Canadian Navy did fire the guy who had white supremacist ties.

Edited by minseok42 on Jan 29th 2021 at 11:25:11 PM
"Enshittification truly is how platforms die"-Cory Doctorow