Firstly there are none available from the US secondly there are none available from international operators. Even if there were they would be either too worn out or in limited numbers for UK operations.

Folks,

Sorry I am replying late to this message above. But don’t the Canadians have a stock of legacy F-18s in storage?

Jack E. Hammond

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Dear Jennings,

Here is a cover from AE May 1974 I think you will find of interest. It shows an Egyptian Mig-21MF shooting down an Israeli AF A-4. Sorry about the low quality of the cover and the writting on it. And btw, I have that Neil Diamond album with the dots and I filled them in. So what if I done something that resulted in a $10,000 dollar album being worth only $5 dollars. Back then I just had to see what picture filling in the dots made. Also I was a little drunk.

Finally, that issue has one of the most detailed article on the development of various versions of the Mig-21 and one of the first detailed articles on the air war in the 1973 Arab-Israeli War. But even though it is almost 4 decades I am not for sure about copy right issues. And as this is a Key Publication forum, it would not be to smart till I do have clarification.

Jack E. Hammond

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cluster isnt used due the harm of blinders to the civilians…

Dear Member,

Certain cluster muntions are permitted. For example those antitank type where an IR or millimeter senor sets off an explosive formed slug. I think that anti-cluster munition treaty only allows ten sub-munitions per bomb. It is a shame though they were outlawed. Spain had developed a 100% safe cluster munition that was rendered safe it if did not explode — before the bomb, etc was dropped or launched a capacitor is charged and it is the power source for the impact fuse. It it does not explode, 45 seconds later the capacitor bleeds out rendering it safe. A lightening strike or someone may recharge the capacitor but I doubt it would happen.

Jack E. Hammond

Note> The Spanish Marines had 81mm anti-armor rounds with these type cluster munitions and wanted to keep them, pointing out they were safe but the Socialists government forced them to be destroyed.

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Folks,

I am glad to see that the major news outlets have at last got that “tank” seen in tens of thousands of news reports listed correctly as a 155mm self propelled howitzer. But none have reported the super long range base-bleed 155mm artillery shells laying around next to it yet. What gets me is that they have all these retired military talking heads and none can give them the correct information.

Jack E. Hammond

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Folks,

I wonder how long it will take before Ghadafi finds out that the rebels have the MISTRAL since France recognized the rebel provisional government? I doubt very much the Libyan AF has the sophisticated IR counter measures to defend themselves against the MISTRAL.

Jack E. Hammond

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Shotguns would be a better alternative to machine guns, as they are very cheap to buy and maintain and most countries, even those with quite strict firearms regulations, will have no issues with them coming into port. Obviously they aren’t as effective as a machine gun, but they are much more feasible to implement. Rifles would be another option, but could encounter more regulatory issues. I doubt even the US would want ships with deck mounted machine guns cruising through places like NYC.

The weapons would be handed over at sea to the coast guards or they would have a lockers with seals — ie one locker for the bolts and the other for the heavy machine guns. They would only be armed in areas where the pirates were known to operate. But more important the UN would have to pass a rules of engagement. Basically if a skiff approaches to one area (so many meters) it is a warning shots. The second line you die. It is a deadline as they say in the American Civil War. But we still have the problem of the merchant ships they have and the crews. Especially that LGN which should have had a naval escort. It is one huge bomb, that al Qaeda would love to take.

Jack E. Hammond

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Once China gets within a million miles of the United States technologically, it’s all over. China’s geostrategic advantages in this enterprise are overwhelming and have been balanced in the past only by their overwhelming technological inferiority. The tipping point is probably right about now. By 2025? Forget about it. You might as well ask the PLAAF/PLANAF to secure air superiority over Florida.

Dear Rii,

Remember the run up to the 1991 War and the 1967 War with Israel, etc. The Arabs have an old saying “To have a sword and to know how to use it are not the same thing.”

Btw, The Chinese lost their first sea battles in the early 1900s (or was it the late 1800s) because while they had warships that were in many ways superior to the Japanese warships, the Chinese had not developed that all important naval culture. That is why even today the Russians can not get that one carrier operating properly and the French can and soon the Brazilians. They have complete access to the all important culture developed over decades to operate a carrier.

My biggest fear is that China will get over confident, get the bad end of the stick in a small scale engagement and out of sense of national dignity, show the world and use cyperspace tactics to shut down the US and some other nations power grid. That would cause a major loss of life. And many would consider it a major act of war.

Jack E. Hammond

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