If Russia acts like that, they’re gonna receive a whole lot of flak… Their stated mission is to strike IS and (I presume) well known AQ-affiliated groups. If they stick to that, it’s tough to twist around as those are universally despised even in the “developed world” as you so eloquently put it. And believe me, Russia is definitely not interested in things that can easily be twisted around right now, they’re almost down there with IS and AQ already in terms of popularity. 😀

Russia’s primary mission is to let the Syrian military have a protective cover from outside intervention so that they can take on the terrorists without worrying about external aggression.
ISIS and other groups are the main fighting force and hence they are the primary targets for Russia. The so-called moderate rebels are too few and by freeing up SAA a bit, they will take care of these western funded fighters. No need for Russian direct strike.

Now, my comment that so many of you seem to misinterpret was about the fact that the minute Russia moved in, they allegedly found and struck the utterly chivalric “moderate rebels” that apparently have eluded everyone else for so long. I just found that rather curious.

Thats what spin doctors are for.

Question, if the Russians prove to misbehave themselves, how hard is it to hand a couple of artillery pieces over to the opposition with just about enough ammunition to keep the airfield near Latakia permanently holed ?

Not only could you mess it up for the Russians, but it would also be cheap 😉

It is exactly for this very specific reason/mischief that could be played by some fellas that Russia started their campaign with nearby areas of Latakia. And we head the news earlier regarding some rockets being fired towards Russian base. So make no doubt, Russia will be clearing the nearby areas of Latakia as first priority and advance further or simultaneously.

Russian reflex , hiting the wrong targets !

time to deliver somes nice manpads to the rebels

As per reports there are only 5 or so US trained so-called moderate rebels left to fight, rest have already joined the fighting group.

It would need some US manpower to support these 5 or so guys with respect to logistics if more than a half a dozen manpads are delivered. Better thing would be to give Russian forces their location so that those places can be avoided. 😀

what kind if a weapon is that ??!!

If you meant the small dust clouds that arise in the video, I feel its not the result of any direct impact like we see with guns. The small dust arising could be mistaken for attack choppers using their cannons or tiny cluster bombs. But its none of it from what I understand. Instead what we see in that video is the result of some plain dumb editing before promo release by the Russian MoD. They must learn something on promo from their American counterparts.

These videos are taken by UAV or UAVs with two or three different camera. The smaller dust bursts we see is due to the camera not positioned to the target area and offset from it. These dust bursts could actually be the debris falling off as a result of that large twin simultaneous explosion. If you watch the video, you will see a part of an expanding large dust cloud arising from the bottom of those smaller dust clouds. You can compare it with the visuals from the camera which captured the twin strike in that same clip.

Biggest looser of increased Russian military presence/action in Syria is not US or Europe, but Israel who wanted Syria as a country (and hence its military) to collapse. They have been supporting the terrorists by firing upon Syrian military which could be to help the terrorists infiltrate the Syrian territory, just like Pakistani forces who fire upon Indian posts to help its supported terrorists infiltrate Indian side of Kashmir.

Israeli official: Syria is dying, the funeral will be declared in due time
By REUTERS 06/30/2015

Assad, he will be remembered in history textbooks as the leader who lost Syria, Amos Gilad, Ya’alon’s strategic adviser says at intelligence conference.

Last year Assad was winning. If you recall, Homs was recaptured last year. Rebels captured Idlib this year so Russia has to intervene.

Let me correct it for you.

Last year Assad was winning. If you recall, Homs was recaptured last year. US (& NATO) starts its so-called campaign against ISIS. ISIL & other terrorists groups grow in strength. Rebels captured Idlib this year so Russia has to intervene.

Think you’ll find that is a max speed turn Jang but it is a good illustration of what happens when one has a broad sail area in a strong beam wind!.

That pic was solely meant to ‘drive home’ the point about “Clearly mad putting all that superstructure sail-area that high up in the design….any serious wind over the beam will make that an entertaining hull to crew!”…. I couldn’t find any better pic of T45 that highlighted this design aspect of the mast w.r.t to the hull and bridge so well.

The contrast between the ‘Bonkers’ destroyer and the Kirov is actually quite well marked out in the photo you’ve selected there. Look at the bridge height in relation to the top of mast. Its a LOT higher up with the pagoda than it is even with the hefty installation on Kirov. Also look at the winded area of the top ‘pyramid’ compared to the equivalent area on the T45. In both cases you’ll see that the ‘fantasy fleet’ Russian design is much higher and wider than the comparable designs.

Few things to consider here –
This is a much bigger ship in size and tonnage than the T45.
The whole structure would be lighter than what people might be thinking looking at its size.
Due to the inward canted hull which starts so low from almost the waterline, there is sort of an optical illusion that people fail to overcome and see the entire structure as something popping out of the main deck. T45 hull have no such illusion. If you really want to consider the mast height, consider it from the top of the main bridge and you might probably understand that it is probably of the same height as we see on Pr.1144 and even in comparable ratio or maybe even of same height as that of the T45.

You can do a simple ratio of keel to bridge height and from bridge to mast height, it wont be much different. Btw, don’t forget that this is a larger ship than T45 in both size and tonnage.

Its to be hoped so and more….T45’s max. beam is 21m and its a much smaller ship than this!.

Dont worry, it is and the beam is much more than 20m, the spec mentioned in that brochure is 100% wrong if the model displayed is to be considered. Don’t be surprised if the max beam is 28 meters like that of pr.1144.

Pr.23560E beam comparison. See the inward canted hull.

Pr.1144 (28,000 full load)
Length: 252 m
Beam: 28.5 m
Draft: 9.1 m

Pr.1155.1
Length : 163 m
Beam: 19.3 m
Draught: 6.2 m

Pr.1164 11,200-12,500 tons full load
Length: 186.4 m
Beam: 20.8 m
Draught: 8.4 m

http://lenta.ru/news/2015/07/07/mistrali/

Looks like France will be paying the entire 1.2 billion Euro sum for the Mistrals. Time to take that money and not look back 🙂 .

Just 1.2billion euros after wasting so much precious years and funds? Nonsense. Russia should not settle for anything less than 3billion for breach of contract.