Bager1968Dardanelles strait: minimum width of 1.2 kilometers (0.75 mi) wide, averaging 55 meters (180 ft) deep with a maximum depth of 82 meters (300 ft).
Bosphorus strait: minimum width of 700 m (2,297 ft) between Kandilli and Aşiyan; and 750 m (2,461 ft) between Anadoluhisarı and Rumelihisarı. The depth varies from 36 to 124 m (118 to 407 ft) in midstream.
A 1970s frigate with a towed array could find a SSN… or any other sub… in those waters.
Bager1968The USN has a policy of naming Frigates & Destroyers after decorated heroes from the naval forces (Coast Guard, Navy, & Marines).
The stories behind the names of many of the USN’s surface warships is inspiring reading.
Other ships (such as carriers) are less inspiring (presidents, congresscritters, etc).
Bager1968That was a feature of the E-1 Tracer’s radome, and is a feature of E-2C Hawkeye’s radome.
They were designed to produce enough lift so that the radome weight-& lift effects were basically balanced out.
Bager1968Not quite…
There are 3 left…
UK:
Claude Stanley Choules; Born 3 March 1901. Joined the RN in 1916. Last witness to the scuttling of the fleet. Moved to Australia in 1926 and served with Royal Australian Navy in WWII. Lives in Perth, Western Australia.
USA:
Frank Woodruff Buckles; Born 1 February 1901. Last American doughboy. Eligible for burial at Arlington. Joined in 1917. Ambulance driver near Western Front. During World War II he worked as a civilian for an American shipping company in the Philippine Islands, was captured by the Japanese in 1942, and spent the next three years in the Los Baños prison camp. Lives in Charles Town, West Virginia.
Canada:
John Henry Foster Babcock; Born 23 July 1900. Last Canadian veteran. Eligible for state funeral. Enlisted in 1916. Completed training in UK but did not see action due to age. Moved to US in 1924. Lives in Spokane, Washington.
Bager1968Well it might be a write off but it doesn’t look totally destroyed, they should be able to salvage useful avionics and parts from it.
Like about 65% (or more) of the airframe, the vertical stabilizer, the engines, the entire cockpit (less the floor)… in actuality, it looks like it could well be repairable, if the Israelis have a spare wing hanging about.
Bager1968I would question their wisdom if it was an original seat… the newer ones are far safer.
Bager1968the aircraft itself was completely destroyed.
:rolleyes:
Bager1968How about the Tornado ECR?
Operated by Germany and Italy, the ECR is an IDS variant devoted to SEAD missions. It was first delivered on May 21, 1990. The ECR is equipped with an emitter-locator system (ELS) which is designed to locate enemy radar sites and armed with the AGM-88 HARM.
The Luftwaffe’s 35 ECRs were delivered new, while Italy received 16 converted IDSs. German ECRs were equipped with a Honeywell infra-red imaging systems for reconnaissance, however operational experience lead to the removal of this system; It was considered impractical for one aircraft to be tasked with both SEAD and reconnaissance. German ECR Tornado’s participated successfully during Operation Allied Force in former Yugoslavia and launched a total number of 236 AGM-88 HARMs.
Italian ECRs (IT-ECR) differ from the Luftwaffe aircraft in that they were never equipped with a reconnaissance capability and as IDS conversion they are equipped with RB199 Mk.103 engines. Luftwaffe ECRs are equipped with RB199 Mk.105 which have a slightly higher thrust rating. The first IT-ECR was delivered on February 27, 1998, and formally accepted on April 7.
The RAF and RSAF IDS carry ALARM missiles in this role.
Bager1968Did the drakens ever get used for ground attack i’ve often thought of it as just an Air to Air fighter and a damn good one at that. Sweden consistently pull good items out the bag for being a small country.
J35B/D/F were the primary A-A versions for Sweden… the Finnish & Austrian Drakens were of these types… they could carry unguided bombs.
In 1968 the Danish government selected a J35F derivative designated the “J35X”, where “X” naturally stood for “export”, for the Danish Air Force.
The J35X was similar to the J35F, but had greater fuel capacity, structural reinforcement, a new outer wing, and a runway arresting hook. The J35X could carry a maximum external warload of 4,500 kilograms (10,000 pounds). It was fitted with twin Aden cannon.
20 of these were bought to replace North American F-100D Super Sabres in the ground attack role and lacked radar, though it could carry Sidewinder missiles for self-defense.
Bager1968There is a difference between “technically advanced & capable” and “focused on creating a practical product”.
Simply put, the experimental researchers in both nations were in the leading edge of radar tech, but the political/military leadership had a lack of vision and refused to fund development of those experiments into practical equipment until later than the UK, etc.
Even when the Japanese & German leadership finally decided to get radar going, they took a rather conservative approach that progressed slower than the allies did.
Bager1968More detailed info on the RAAF Super Hornet
http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=740
ST. LOUIS, July 8, 2009 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] today unveiled the first of 24 F/A-18F Block II Super Hornets for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) during a ceremony at Boeing Integrated Defense Systems’ production facilities in St. Louis. The aircraft will be delivered later this month, three months ahead of schedule.
“The Super Hornet is on its way to delivering advanced combat capabilities to the Royal Australian Air Force,” said Bob Gower, Boeing vice president of F/A-18 and EA-18 Programs. “Cooperation and great teamwork on the part of Australia’s Defence Materiel Organisation, the Royal Australian Air Force, the U.S. Navy and the Hornet Industry Team have enabled the first RAAF Super Hornet to be delivered within budget and ahead of schedule.”
The remaining 23 Super Hornets, each equipped with the Raytheon-built APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, will be delivered to the RAAF throughout 2010 and 2011.
“The RAAF Super Hornet will bring a new generation of air power to Australia,” said Group Capt. Steve Roberton, Head Air Combat Transition Office, RAAF. “Its advanced, networked weapons system will deliver enhanced air combat capability across the spectrum of air-to-air, strategic land attack and maritime strike, which is so important for Australia. It is a true multirole aircraft and there’s a lot of excitement on the ground in the Air Combat Group about its arrival.”
The Australian government announced in March 2007 that it would acquire 24 of the F/A-18F multirole fighters, making that country the first international Super Hornet customer.
“The rollout of the first RAAF Block II Super Hornet is an important and exciting milestone for all of the Australian and U.S. team members, who have accomplished a great deal of significant work to make this event possible,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Mark Darrah, F/A-18 and EA-18 program manager, PMA-265. “Our long and successful relationship has been mutually beneficial during the RAAF classic Hornet program, and taking this next logical step with the acquisition of the Super Hornet is a win-win for both nations. The Super Hornet’s inherent tactical capabilities and ability to force multiply speak for themselves.”
The Block II F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a multirole aircraft, able to perform virtually every mission in the tactical spectrum, including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions. Boeing has delivered more than 395 F/A-18E/Fs to the U.S. Navy. Every Super Hornet produced has been delivered on or ahead of schedule.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world’s largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.
Bager1968Two killed in RAF Tornado crash
2 Jul 09
It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the deaths of two RAF aircrew from 43 Squadron, RAF Leuchars, in a Tornado F3 crash today, Thursday 2 July 2009.
The aircraft crashed during a routine training flight at 1145hrs at Glen Kinglas in Argyll, Scotland.
The next of kin have been informed and have requested a period of grace before further details are released.
An MOD spokesman said:
“At the moment our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends and colleagues of the two aircrew who lost their lives today. I would ask that the media respect their privacy at this difficult time.”
Bager1968The F-100 Super Sabre was not as good an aircraft as one might think… it lacked anything past a gun tracking radar (AN/APR-25(v), in the upper lip of the intake), and had significant aerodynamic problems… even the later models.
This site goes over the aircraft model by model, and discusses the problems, as well as its service with foreign air forces.
Bager1968Well… if it wasn’t talked about last week, the ADD-afflicted US media think it was never talked about at all.
Sometimes I think my country is really going down the tubes, and other times I know it already has.
I saw pictures & info about the Horton IX (and its move to the US for evaluation) from a number of books when I was in my mid-teens… 30+ years ago!
Bager1968The USN’s main west coast sub base is in San Diego, CA.
Here is a link to a couple of pics of an SSN entering harbor there, as well as one of a sub passing under the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Ca.
http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08621.htm
pic #s
0862128 (note the sail boats)
0862101
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