Modern wars

[Walsingham]

 

I hope to Buddha that oby isn't the standard of rationality for all troll-type youngsters. Two youtube videos constituting a line of argument.

 

That line of reasoning seems to imply there's a degree of trolling that's intellectually acceptable 

 

 

 

[Gfted1]

Wait, a "secret" APC is shown on a mounted and framed poster, complete with bullet points? The Russians must be terrible at secrets.

[kgambit]

Wait, a "secret" APC is shown on a mounted and framed poster, complete with bullet points? The Russians must be terrible at secrets.

 

and announced by the Russian Defense Ministry in February of 2012

Edited December 16, 2013 by kgambit

[Gorgon]

Isn't there some truth to the idea that US forces prefer more tactical speed when securing a building. Also I would surmise that it depended on whether the job was to secure one farmhouse or 100 bungalows. 

[Walsingham]

I can't comment on how sensible it is or isn't but there's a school of thought that holds you should shock the occupants of a dwelling when you head into it. It's supposed to stun them into not counter-attacking.

 

Of course, if they aren't terrorists then it does annoy the **** out of them. But war in general isn't renowned for its easy going and relaxing qualities.

Edited December 16, 2013 by Walsingham

[Malcador]

I still like the thermobaric weapon they used for building clearing in Iraq

[Agiel]

A piece from the Atlantic on America's drone war by Mark Bowden, he of Black Hawk Down, Killing Pablo, and Guests of the Ayatollah fame. Another fantastic piece from one of investigative journalism's most lucid and elegant straight shooters.

 

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/09/the-killing-machines-how-to-think-about-drones/309434/

[Walsingham]

A piece from the Atlantic on America's drone war by Mark Bowden, he of Black Hawk Down, Killing Pablo, and Guests of the Ayatollah fame. Another fantastic piece from one of investigative journalism's most lucid and elegant straight shooters.

 

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/09/the-killing-machines-how-to-think-about-drones/309434/

 

I'd echo this. If you haven't read any Mark Bowden I wholeheartedly recommend him.

[obyknven]

Meanwhile Indian carrier pass English channel where he is encounter British rusty frigate.

 

I can imagine how many laught causing  for carrier crew this meeting with pathetic ex-Masters.

http://youtu.be/ScFcCcw1jNw

 

[Kroney]

I was under the impression that frigates were quite often smaller than aircraft carriers.

[Hiro Protagonist]

It's actually a British Carrier that's been outsourced to India

[Agiel]

Actually that would be a hand-me-down Kiev class refurbished into a full-on CATOBAR aircraft carrier. Credit where it's due... to the Indians, they were smart enough not to take Russia's Yak-38s off of their hands, which were infamously Hanger Queens at the best of times and Widowmakers at the worst, and stuck with a testament to British engineering, the Sea Harrier.

 

At any rate, they're in better shape than Russia's naval aviation. With the lion's share of procurement dollars for fixed wing aircraft going to the RuAF, the Su-33 navalised Flanker has been left in sore need of refurbishment as compared to its terrestrial brothers. Instead, the Russian navy has opted to procure the MiG-29K, which is arguably a huge downgrade on a per aircraft basis.

[Tagaziel]

the Russian navy has opted to procure the MiG-29K, which is arguably a huge downgrade on a per aircraft basis.

Isn't the usual Russian Federation strategy focusing on Zerg rushing opponents?

[Agiel]

 

the Russian navy has opted to procure the MiG-29K, which is arguably a huge downgrade on a per aircraft basis.

Isn't the usual Russian Federation strategy focusing on Zerg rushing opponents?

 

 

Believe it or not, Russia isn't exactly in a position to do this anymore for a host of reasons:

 

 

1. Despite being the "largest" SSR of the Soviet Union, it only comprised half of the entire population of the USSR. Thus, Russia now has a much smaller pool of recruits to draw conscripts from. At the moment, they have an even smaller population than Bangladesh.

 

 

2. Adding to this, Russia has had *negative* population growth ever since the break-up of the Soviet Union, a trend that's not set to reverse until 2017 at the earliest.

 

 

3. Further adding to this is the fact that they've reduced the obligatory service time in the armed forces from the two years in services that are not the navy (three years) from Soviet times to eighteen months following the break-up to a single year. In addition the retention rate for conscripts willing to re-enlist is astoundingly low, and where voluntary service is seen as a sign of fidelity and dedication for other militaries, contract soldiers (especially NCOs) are viewed with some contempt by commissioned officers and military brass.

 

 

4. *Adding to this* is the fact that there exists many ways for those of legal age to get an exemption or deferral (oby) from military service. There being a growing number of Russians getting a college education who have aspirations for other things and the institution of corruption being what it is in Russia, I don't think I have to paint you a picture. 

 

 

All that said, the MiG-29K is significantly smaller than the Su-33, which does mean they can fit more of the aircraft on board the Kuznetsov. With the Su-33 as its sole fixed-wing aircraft, the Kuznetsov had a very small complement of fleet-defense fighters (fourteen at max, as compared to the 64 F/A-18s of varying types normally carried on board a Nimitz)

Edited December 18, 2013 by Agiel

[Walsingham]

The frigate is rusty because it goes to sea. Show me a working ship which isn't.

 

LoFoby won't recognise the symptoms because the Russian fleet rarely goes anywhere.

[Kroney]

The frigate is rusty because it goes to sea. Show me a working ship which isn't.

 

LoFoby won't recognise the symptoms because the Russian fleet rarely goes anywhere.

That's not just any old rusty frigate, either. It's HMS Monmouth. She's got the most honours out of any of our current fleet. Having her escort you would have been a mark of respect.

[Tagaziel]

Believe it or not, Russia isn't exactly in a position to do this anymore for a host of reasons:

 

 

1. Despite being the "largest" SSR of the Soviet Union, it only comprised half of the entire population of the USSR. Thus, Russia now has a much smaller pool of recruits to draw conscripts from. At the moment, they have an even smaller population than Bangladesh.

 

 

2. Adding to this, Russia has had *negative* population growth ever since the break-up of the Soviet Union, a trend that's not set to reverse until 2017 at the earliest.

 

 

3. Further adding to this is the fact that they've reduced the obligatory service time in the armed forces from the two years in services that are not the navy (three years) from Soviet times to eighteen months following the break-up to a single year. In addition the retention rate for conscripts willing to re-enlist is astoundingly low, and where voluntary service is seen as a sign of fidelity and dedication for other militaries, contract soldiers (especially NCOs) are viewed with some contempt by commissioned officers and military brass.

 

 

4. *Adding to this* is the fact that there exists many ways for those of legal age to get an exemption or deferral (oby) from military service. There being a growing number of Russians getting a college education who have aspirations for other things and the institution of corruption being what it is in Russia, I don't think I have to paint you a picture. 

 

 

All that said, the MiG-29K is significantly smaller than the Su-33, which does mean they can fit more of the aircraft on board the Kuznetsov. With the Su-33 as its sole fixed-wing aircraft, the Kuznetsov had a very small complement of fleet-defense fighters (fourteen at max, as compared to the 64 F/A-18s of varying types normally carried on board a Nimitz)

I know, I was being facetious. But the state of the Russian military does explain why oby's so desperate to improve his mood by posting agitprop on the forums.

[Walsingham]

 

The frigate is rusty because it goes to sea. Show me a working ship which isn't.

 

LoFoby won't recognise the symptoms because the Russian fleet rarely goes anywhere.

That's not just any old rusty frigate, either. It's HMS Monmouth. She's got the most honours out of any of our current fleet. Having her escort you would have been a mark of respect.

 

 

Sorry. I get easily confused where the sea is concerned. did you know fish f*** in it? Unsanitary.

[obyknven]

Russian warship troll entire British Fleet.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2533846/Battle-stations-Navy-scrambles-destroyer-challenge-Russian-warship-British-coast-takes-24-hours-make-600-mile-journey-Portsmouth-base-Putin-testing-response-time.html

http://youtu.be/t0jgZKV4N_A

[Walsingham]

So you're saying the Russian navy is reducing to trolling?

 

<joke for Americans>

Edited January 7, 2014 by Walsingham

[obyknven]

http://youtu.be/S1Hdek0QDDU

Allahu akbar! Iran strong!

[Agiel]

USN has been there, done that:

 

 

Fun fact: I guess the artist did not know that the thing on the F/A-18's centerline hardpoint is not a bomb, but an external fuel tank.

Edited February 24, 2014 by Agiel

[Tagaziel]

USN has been there, done that:

 

 

Fun fact: I guess the artist did not know that the thing on the F/A-18's centerline hardpoint is not a bomb, but an external fuel tank.

Hey, I was born on 18/04/88.

[Guard Dog]

You're making me feel old Tagaziel!

[Lexx]

Damn, that makes me a year older than the catman.