The Mess - Military Forum Off Topic Thread!

BoJack Horseman · 24-12-2018 5:43pm

https://twitter.com/Tom_Antonov/status/1077210761200578562

sparky42 · 01-02-2019 12:34am

Seems the Germans have ruled out the F35 for their Tornado replacement and it's down to an upgraded Typhoon (for Nukes), and the F18, got to figure it's going to be the Typhoon.

01-02-2019 5:13pm

Colm Fennelly didn't enjoy his six years in the army.
What part was he in?

Ivan Yates yapping about it now !

TITANIUM. · 01-02-2019 7:36pm

Topgear on Dave wrote: »

Colm Fennelly didn't enjoy his six years in the army.
What part was he in?

Ivan Yates yapping about it now !

gravel agitator in Kilkenny. although by the sounds of it he was so well minded he didn't even do much of that.

08-03-2019 11:36pm

This might be an interesting story. :eek:

https://twitter.com/normcos/status/1104143295272415232

Edit: Tis true apparently

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/the-irish-isil-bride-how-former-member-of-defence-forces-was-captured-in-syria-on-suspicion-of-supporting-isil-37894888.html

BoJack Horseman · 12-03-2019 10:07am

For the glory of the empire:

I hope our contribution will be well spent

https://twitter.com/UKDefJournal/status/1105211484991303683

tac foley · 12-03-2019 10:14am

"No music, no smoking, no fighting, no drinking, no prostitution... you want a clean life like this, that is what you want, but sometimes it is not like this," she said.'

Nope. No fighting of any kind, well, apart from the daily bombing from the Infidel coalition of hate etc. Oh, and the occasional mass-shooting of prisoners, beheadings, burning alive in cages, that kind of thing...but apart from that, all is calm........

Markcheese · 12-03-2019 12:06pm

Why an aircraft carrier?
(Apart from the fact that you really need 2),I know its about force projection.. But it seems a huge first proposal...
I can see the logic on common weapons, and a hell of a lot more joint exercises to see where Europe needs to invest, (although, i can't see the public in Europe being thrilled to see several countries transport systems being shut down for a military exercise)

sparky42 · 12-03-2019 7:31pm

Markcheese wrote: »

Why an aircraft carrier?
(Apart from the fact that you really need 2),I know its about force projection.. But it seems a huge first proposal...
I can see the logic on common weapons, and a hell of a lot more joint exercises to see where Europe needs to invest, (although, i can't see the public in Europe being thrilled to see several countries transport systems being shut down for a military exercise)

Well then you get into the question on whether it's one EU carrier and a French one, or two "EU" ones. This seems to be floating around the same time frame that the French are starting up their CdeG replacement scoping exercise.

Given that the NATO nations are also looking at improving transport links etc to allow for rapid movement I think people could live with that.

That being said I don't see this as anything other than a stunt, German's defence procurement has more than enough problems before you get into a Carrier program.

AbusesToilets · 13-06-2019 12:37pm

That time of year again...

Some very damning information about the F-35 in this article, in particular the inability to sustain mach speeds for extended periods without sustaining structural damage.

https://www.defensenews.com/smr/hidden-troubles-f35/

sparky42 · 24-06-2019 11:26pm

The Germans lost two Eurofighters today, sadly one pilot was killed even though they both ejected.

sparky42 · 08-07-2019 7:44pm

Well this might have been a screw up:
https://www.breakingnews.ie/discover/swiss-air-force-team-apologises-after-fly-by-in-wrong-place-935504.html

Manic Moran · 09-07-2019 2:23am

At least they didn't overfly Liechtenstein.

According to the Pentagon, I am worthy of promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, my name just came out on the selection list.
I need to be moved into an LTC position before I can actually get promoted, though, but it's a good sign.

knucklehead6 · 15-07-2019 6:04pm

I see according to the Indo there are two new Rangers as of today.

https://amp.independent.ie/irish-news/two-emerge-from-gruelling-test-to-earn-army-ranger-green-berets-38312825.html

I have to admit, I like the nod to na Fianna with the induction ceremony and the location

AbusesToilets · 16-07-2019 12:50am

Manic Moran wrote: »

At least they didn't overfly Liechtenstein.

According to the Pentagon, I am worthy of promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, my name just came out on the selection list.
I need to be moved into an LTC position before I can actually get promoted, though, but it's a good sign.

Congrats Manic, well earned no doubt.

Have your Californian Abrams received the newest M1A2 SEPv3 upgrades?

tac foley · 16-07-2019 10:29am

YAY!!! Drinks are on you, Sir! Next promotion you'll have gone past me...........

Manic Moran · 29-08-2019 4:37am

This is amusing.

CalFire has put out a recognition guide for the various aircraft one may see fighting fires in the State. Raise an eyebrow at Page 31.
https://www.fire.ca.gov/media/4950/aviation_firefighting_webbooklet.pdf

You're a little behind, AT. I left CalGuard in 2007. I left NVGuard in 2019. I now belong to Texas. But no, there are no Abrams left in California. To my surprise, there are no Abrams left in Texas either (Excluding regular army), though I have it on good authority that some will return.

AbusesToilets · 06-09-2019 4:12pm

Manic Moran wrote: »

This is amusing.

CalFire has put out a recognition guide for the various aircraft one may see fighting fires in the State. Raise an eyebrow at Page 31.
https://www.fire.ca.gov/media/4950/aviation_firefighting_webbooklet.pdf

You're a little behind, AT. I left CalGuard in 2007. I left NVGuard in 2019. I now belong to Texas. But no, there are no Abrams left in California. To my surprise, there are no Abrams left in Texas either (Excluding regular army), though I have it on good authority that some will return.

Are you still Branched for Armor? That is surprising.

tricky D · 14-04-2020 9:39pm

Inconsequential trivia...

Some might remember Tony Hart who did the kids art show back a few decades ago. He came across as one of the gentlest and kindest presenters of children's
programming. I never would have imagined him in any army but during the war he was actually a captain in the 1st Gurkha Rifles.

Anybody got any other 'He was in the military and did that, really?' examples.

ohnonotgmail · 14-04-2020 9:45pm

I always liked this christopher lee anecdote

At one point during the filming of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, the second installment of the acclaimed trilogy, the crew filmed the scene in which Saruman gets stabbed in the back by Grima Wormtongue. Although the scene didn’t end up in the theatrical release, it can be seen in the extended edition of the trilogy. During the filming of the scene, Jackson wanted Lee to scream after being stabbed in the back. However, Lee refused to scream; he told the director that he witnessed many men getting stabbed in the back and none of them ever screamed. According to the late actor, they merely sighed as air escaped their lungs. Peter Jackson listened to his feedback, and the scene was filmed without any screaming.

Lee was LRDG and SOE during ww2

ohnonotgmail · 14-04-2020 10:30pm

Not related to the above but this gave me a laugh. There have be easier ways to get a new tie.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/14/man-accidentally-ejects-himself-from-fighter-jet-during-surprise-flight

h (320mph), an investigation into the debacle in France has found. The 64-year-old civilian got the most unwelcome ride of his life after the force of the take-off made him “float” off his seat, causing him to stand up and involuntarily grab the ejection handle to steady himself.

h (320mph), an investigation into the debacle in France has found. The 64-year-old civilian got the most unwelcome ride of his life after the force of the take-off made him “float” off his seat, causing him to stand up and involuntarily grab the ejection handle to steady himself.

Larbre34 · 16-04-2020 3:25pm

Former Chief of Staff Lt. General James Parker (rtd) has died one day short of his 92nd birthday from the effects of Covid-19.

Gen. Parker was CoS between 1989 and 1992 and among a wide variety of Army postings in a 44 year career, was a veteran of the Siege of Jadotville.

Normally he would be afforded a State funeral but this is currently not possible, so will be laid to rest by his immediate family and a memorial held at a later date

May he rest in peace.

sparky42 · 16-06-2020 7:39pm

LÉ Shaw and HMS Tyne have spent the last couple of days doing a joint exercise in the Celtic Sea:
https://twitter.com/hms_tyne/status/1272923365490274305

tricky D · 18-06-2020 5:15pm

Vera Lynn shuffled off today.

Iconic song, helluva lady who ventured to some of the more neglected flea ridden back waters of the War to do her duty.

RIP

sparky42 · 12-07-2020 9:02pm

The US navy has a major fire on board LHD 6 in San Diego.

thomil · 12-07-2020 11:03pm

sparky42 wrote: »

The US navy has a major fire on board LHD 6 in San Diego.

Looks like it. 21 injured so far, fire apparently started in the well deck and has worked its way forward. The ship may be a total loss.

sparky42 · 12-07-2020 11:40pm

thomil wrote: »

Looks like it. 21 injured so far, fire apparently started in the well deck and has worked its way forward. The ship may be a total loss.

In the Well Deck? Wow given what we've seen from the hanger the fire would have spread massively alright, certainly likely to a write off in such a case.

sparky42 · 13-07-2020 3:09pm

A clip of the morning after:
https://www.facebook.com/denis.bondarenko.56/videos/10220491883020080/
The fire burned through the Bridge superstructure with one of the masts collapsing and reports one of the CWIS collapsed as well, they are now using Bambi bucket drops as well as the other water hoses. Hard to see anything of value being left in her now.

thomil · 13-07-2020 7:41pm

sparky42 wrote: »

A clip of the morning after:
https://www.facebook.com/denis.bondarenko.56/videos/10220491883020080/
The fire burned through the Bridge superstructure with one of the masts collapsing and reports one of the CWIS collapsed as well, they are now using Bambi bucket drops as well as the other water hoses. Hard to see anything of value being left in her now.

The only way I can see her ever being recommissioned is if they strip her down to the waterline and rebuild her to the standards of an America class LHA. The latter is almost identical in dimensions to the Wasp class after all, and given the damage that the fire has caused, I doubt that there's anything above the waterline that's worth saving.

sparky42 · 13-07-2020 7:46pm

thomil wrote: »

The only way I can see her ever being recommissioned is if they strip her down to the waterline and rebuild her to the standards of an America class LHA. The latter is almost identical in dimensions to the Wasp class after all, and given the damage that the fire has caused, I doubt that there's anything above the waterline that's worth saving.

Far cheaper just to order another America Class I would imagine, as you say it's hard to see how anything above the waterline is of use, even the steel must be suspect after over 24 hours of burning on board, there's some reports that the flight deck has collapsed. Currently they are managing to hold the fire from the fuel tanks though which is a good thing.

Wonder is anyone downwind arguing about wearing masks now?

14-07-2020 11:36pm

They seem to have the fire under control but apparently its still burning in there. Surely it has to be a write off by this stage?

It will surely be an interesting investigation as to the causes. It sounds like the shipyard had it wide open from one end to the other for maintenance with the fire fighting systems disabled and few crew or workers aboard.

Its not even the first time this type of thing has happened. The USS Miami sub also had a fire in 2012 but it was found to have been deliberately set, the sub was a write off and the shipyard worker who set the fire got 17 years in prison.

sparky42 · 14-07-2020 11:49pm

Topgear on Dave wrote: »

They seem to have the fire under control but apparently its still burning in there. Surely it has to be a write off by this stage?

It will surely be an interesting investigation as to the causes. It sounds like the shipyard had it wide open from one end to the other for maintenance with the fire fighting systems disabled and few crew or workers aboard.

Its not even the first time this type of thing has happened. The USS Miami sub also had a fire in 2012 but it was found to have been deliberately set, the sub was a write off and the shipyard worker who set the fire got 17 years in prison.

In fairness, it seems the yard had the proper mechanisms for closing all the hatches, the reports now suggest they were in the middle of shutting the fire zone and activating the fire fighting systems when "something" in the area on fire exploded driving the crews back and spreading the fire further. After that it was impossible to control. Add in it seems that area had plenty of flammable material (cardboard, drywall, oil, rags...) so it had plenty of fuel.

After this long burning and with those temperatures it would seem highly unlikely to be repairable, I mean you have to think you've steal weakening issues now.

sparky42 · 16-07-2020 10:27pm

So four days later, the Navy reports that all fires have been extinguished... Now comes the clean up and investigation.

sparky42 · 21-08-2020 4:05pm

So the French are back building Star Forts across Africa...
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/35863/the-french-army-is-building-renaissance-style-fortresses-in-africa

Manic Moran · 04-10-2020 3:14pm

An American leadership coach (And former green beret) interviewing the Irish Chief of Staff last week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_TUttOByGc

01-12-2020 6:41pm

sparky42 wrote: »

After this long burning and with those temperatures it would seem highly unlikely to be repairable, I mean you have to think you've steal weakening issues now.

Your correct Sparky, she's going for the scrapper.

https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2020/11/30/navy-will-scrap-fire-ravaged-bonhomme-richard/

She had just been in the ship yard for 18 months and had 250 million buck worth of an upgrade. Holy moly :pac:

sparky42 · 01-12-2020 10:33pm

Topgear on Dave wrote: »

Your correct Sparky, she's going for the scrapper.

https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2020/11/30/navy-will-scrap-fire-ravaged-bonhomme-richard/

She had just been in the ship yard for 18 months and had 250 million buck worth of an upgrade. Holy moly :pac:

Somebodies insurance company is going to get a hell a bill I imagine, though I'd guess the USN is going to go through her with a fine toothcomb to learn all they can from the fire damage, after that wonder will we see a Sinkex?

sparky42 · 02-12-2020 4:18pm

Dohvolle wrote: »

Not much to be learnt from a sinkex with a hull that has already suffered structural weakening. She'll be recycled.

Word is JAG is going after the contractors who caused the initial fire.

Not much, but it would be a nice exercise for those involved given her size, or sunk for an artificial reef, though as you say most likely recycled.

Claw Hammer · 02-12-2020 4:45pm

Larbre34 wrote: »

Former Chief of Staff Lt. General James Parker (rtd) has died one day short of his 92nd birthday from the effects of Covid-19.

Gen. Parker was CoS between 1989 and 1992 and among a wide variety of Army postings in a 44 year career, was a veteran of the Siege of Jadotville.

Normally he would be afforded a State funeral but this is currently not possible, so will be laid to rest by his immediate family and a memorial held at a later date

May he rest in peace.

Jim Parker was not in Jadotville.

Claw Hammer · 02-12-2020 5:45pm

Dohvolle wrote: »

Jim went out with the 35th as assistant Int Officer. Not "A" Coy though.

There were those who were in Jadotville and those elsewhere in the Congo. Some at BN HQ broke off communication with "A" Coy and left them to their fate.

sparky42 · 02-12-2020 7:36pm

Dohvolle wrote: »

Not long since a flat top was subject to Sinkex(USS America CV66 in 2005). Little has changed weapon wise in the meantime.

Big difference though between a CV and a LHD in terms of internal compartmentalisation, not too mention the age gap in terms of construction methods and design, so it could still be a learning experience, just as how the fire got out of control is likely to be a massive study for the USN and others.

sparky42 · 04-12-2020 11:50am

Dohvolle wrote: »

Do you think?
The only significant difference is one had steam catapults, the other didn't. One had a well dock, the other didn't.
Both had flat tops, both had internal aircraft hangars accessed by deck edge lifts.
One was 70m longer than the other..

You really think the survivability of a CV and a LHD is the same? The Well Deck alone is a huge difference (for example the issues Ro-Ro's have when they get water on their car decks). Moreover you are talking about ships separated by over 30 years in design and construction, the CV's are in a different league to LHD's in design and suriviability.

The Black Oil · 11-12-2020 2:47pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_xWinz_rIQ

Well told and moving.

notobtuse · 03-02-2021 5:28pm

Is the Chief of Staff for the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Virginia a pretty big deal?

ohnonotgmail · 03-02-2021 6:08pm

notobtuse wrote: »

Is the Chief of Staff for the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Virginia a pretty big deal?

In what context? the position is held by a colonel.

notobtuse · 03-02-2021 8:13pm

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

In what context? the position is held by a colonel.

Also, Chief instructor of all Army prosecutors throughout the world. In the context of a glowing letter of recommendation in order to get into a top US law school.

ohnonotgmail · 03-02-2021 9:22pm

notobtuse wrote: »

Also, Chief instructor of all Army prosecutors throughout the world. In the context of a glowing letter of recommendation in order to get into a top US law school.

Chief of staff is a management position. They wouldn't be teaching in that role. Manic Moran might be able to confirm. He is more au fait with the workings of the US Army.

notobtuse · 04-02-2021 6:19pm

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

Chief of staff is a management position. They wouldn't be teaching in that role. Manic Moran might be able to confirm. He is more au fait with the workings of the US Army.

Thanks.

knucklehead6 · 15-04-2021 8:23pm

Bonhomme Richard was decommissioned yesterday

Manic Moran · 19-04-2021 5:01pm

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

Chief of staff is a management position. They wouldn't be teaching in that role. Manic Moran might be able to confirm. He is more au fait with the workings of the US Army.

That would be correct. Above battalion level, there starts to be a separation between the "management" role and the "second-in-command role" which is combined in one position held by the Executive Officer in companies, battalions, on warships, etc. The Deputy Commander is the 2IC (Or delegated authority, depending on circumstances) whose primary job is the making of policy/directive decisions, the Chief of Staff is in charge of managing everyone in the office (Not all subordinates necessarily, mind, just the headquarters)

Is it a "Big thing"... well, yes insofar as it's a relatively senior position and bodes well for future promotion, but it's not exactly going to shake the world.

On other matters, I pinned Lieutenant Colonel this week.
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The Mess - Military Forum Off Topic Thread!

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