HG S2 (Intel Bot)

China’s People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command on Monday began large-scale joint military drills around Taiwan, code-named “Justice Mission 2025,” involving ground, naval, air, and rocket forces, according to China’s state media. According to a report from Xinhua News Agency, the drills started on Dec. 29 and are being conducted in the Taiwan Strait as […]View the full article

China’s People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force uses mobile intercontinental ballistic missile launchers disguised as civilian cranes produced by Zoomlion, according to images and descriptions circulated this week. The disclosure centers on mobile launch platforms for China’s Dongfeng series ballistic missiles that are concealed to resemble commercial crane vehicles. The approach is intended to mask the […]View the full article

The Russian Defense Ministry on Sunday published footage claiming a successful drone strike on a Ukrainian An-26 transport aircraft parked at an airfield in Mykolaiv, far from the active front line. According to the released video, the aircraft was hit directly on the apron at an airfield approximately 80 kilometers from the line of contact. […]View the full article

The United Kingdom and Germany have signed a £52 million ($70 million) contract to jointly procure a new mobile artillery system capable of firing while on the move, the two governments confirmed this week. Under the agreement, the UK will receive one Early Capability Demonstrator (ECD) of the RCH 155 artillery system, while Germany will […]View the full article

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow would support China in defending what he described as its state unity and territorial integrity if the situation in the Taiwan Strait were to escalate, according to an interview published by TASS. “Proceeding from the fact that the Taiwan issue is an internal matter of the People’s Republic […]View the full article

Türkiye has completed a flight test that demonstrated autonomous formation flying by two unmanned combat aircraft, according to information released by Baykar. During the test, the third prototype of the Bayraktar KIZILELMA, designated PT3, and the fifth prototype, PT5, took off consecutively and conducted a coordinated flight using intelligent swarm autonomy algorithms developed by Baykar […]View the full article

A Chinese naval amphibious ship group has carried out multi-subject, combat-oriented training in offshore waters, testing integrated air defense, electronic warfare, and amphibious assault operations, according to a report published by the PLA Daily. The report said multiple vessels, including the Type 075 Hubei ship, formed a task group and sailed to a designated sea […]View the full article

An official Chinese military media outlet has released footage showing a YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile being launched from a Type 055 large destroyer of the People’s Liberation Army Navy, marking the first time a live firing of the missile from a warship has been shown publicly. The video was released Sunday by China Military Bugle, […]View the full article

The Israel Defense Forces have begun inducting a new self-propelled howitzer, the SIGMA 155 “Roem,” according to IsraelDefense magazine. The Roem, developed and manufactured by Elbit Systems, is intended to gradually replace the U.S.-made M-109 “Doher” howitzers that have served the IDF for decades. Israeli officials describe the transition not only as a platform replacement, […]View the full article

Finnish company Summa Defence Plc has launched production of Zeus FPV drones in several configurations, with the systems primarily supplied to Ukraine’s defense forces, according to reporting by Defense Express. The Finnish defense group Summa Defence Plc said in a press release dated December 23 that it delivered the first batch of Zeus FPV drones […]View the full article

Several Tomahawk cruise missiles failed to reach their intended targets during a recent American strike on Islamic State positions in Nigeria, according to reporting by Militarnyi. At least three missiles reportedly fell short, with local residents discovering debris and unexploded warheads the morning after the attack. Photos of the missile remnants were published by conflict […]View the full article

On December 19, 2025, Japanese Defense Ministry Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yohei Wakabayashi visited the Ship Equipment Research Institute of the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency to inspect testing and evaluation facilities, including a large-scale water tank and a flow noise simulator. According to a statement released by Japan’s Ministry of Defense, Wakabayashi toured multiple experimental facilities […]View the full article

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on December 26 that equipment positioned in Belarus near the Ukrainian border is helping Russian forces guide Shahed-type drones toward targets in Ukraine’s western regions. According to Zelenskyy, this equipment enables Russian drone operators to bypass Ukraine’s interception lines and direct attacks deeper into western areas of the country, including […]View the full article

Russia appears to be moving closer to deploying its nuclear-capable Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile system, also known as RS-26, on the territory of Belarus. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this week that, “The relocation of the Oreshnik system to the territory of Belarus is nearing completion. We understand where it will be deployed.” Zelenskyy […]View the full article

Russian President Vladimir Putin convened a government meeting to review the core parameters of Russia’s next state armaments program for 2027–2036, alongside a parallel program for the development of the defense-industrial complex. The meeting follows earlier sessions held on June 11 and 12, 2025, focused on shaping long-term military procurement and industrial priorities. Opening the […]View the full article

China’s Ministry of National Defense said Chinese and Emirati air forces have completed the “Falcon Shield-2025” joint air exercise in the United Arab Emirates, marking the first time the People’s Liberation Army Air Force deployed several frontline aircraft types to the Gulf state for combined training. According to a briefing held on December 25, Senior […]View the full article

China has carried out a flight of a third prototype of its heavy next-generation fighter-bomber known as the J-36, signaling steady progress in a program of future Chinese combat jets. Photos showing the aircraft in flight alongside a J-10C fighter were published on December 25. The images depict an airframe that differs in visible details […]View the full article

Russia’s state aircraft manufacturer has delivered the final batch of Su-35 fighter jets to the country’s air force for 2025, according to official disclosures, closing out another year of tactical aviation deliveries as the war in Ukraine continues. According to the United Aircraft Corporation, the company transferred the final batch of Su-35 fighters to the […]View the full article

With everyone all excited about the pics of the People’s Republic of China’s new auxiliary cruiser, I figured that it was time for a return to a classic two-part FbF series on the war performance of auxiliary cruisers. I’ll cover the latest news on the topic early next week. So, for regulars it would be worth another read, but for the thousands of new followers who were not with us when we ran this last three years ago…ENJOY (and ponder where the modern need for these “something beats nothing” warships fit today). You go to war with what you have or what you can quickly patch together, the end result of the decision of others who will not have to fight, not have to command, not have to die. There is no time to what-if. There is no time to complain. There is only time to get underway. Duty. Mission. Training. If confronted by the enemy, Fegen told his officers when he came aboard, “I shall take you in as close as I possibly can.” You have what you have, but it is what you do with it that matters. War is not fair. Your enemy will not wait for you to be ready. Time arrives when it want to. November 1940. America is over a year from joining the war. The Blitz is in its 2nd month. Liverpool has been bombed over 200 times already. German U-Boats rule the North Atlantic. In Halifax, a convoy forms. 37 freighters heading to Britain across a hostile sea. They get one escort. One. A converted merchant ship armed with a few late-19th Century manually aimed 6" guns that could fire - with a well trained crew - about 8-rounds per minute with a range of 14,600 yards. She was the HMS JERVIS BAY, and she had a mission. In November 1940 the Jervis Bay was the sole escort for Convoy HX84 of thirty-seven freighters moving from Halifax to Britain An extended quote from the HMS JERVIS BAY website, The position of the convoy was known to the Germans. In his book, Kapitän Theodore Krancke certainly makes no secret of expecting to find convoy HX84. ("That was the convoy all right"). As the Jervis Bay repeatedly signalled the challenge "A", the signals officer of the Scheer was commanded to attempt a bluff. " ... 'She'll give her recognition signal in a moment,' said Krancke. 'Whatever it turns out to be repeat it at once as though we were calling her.' Krancke was anxious to leave the enemy in doubt as to his real identity for as long as possible in order to get close up to the convoy before opening fire. At the moment the distance between the Scheer and the British auxiliary cruiser was still about fifteen miles. That is 30,000 yards. Who was Krancke? The Skipper of the pocket battleship ADMIRAL SCHEER. SHEER was armed with 11" guns with a range of 39,000 yards and a secondary armament of 5.9" guns with a range of 25,000 yards. The Skipper of the HMS JERVIS BAY, Captain Edward Fegen, VC SGM, Royal Navy, knew this. The auxiliary cruiser's 'A' was now followed by 'M' - 'A' - 'G' in quick succession. The Signals Officer of the Scheer immediately had the 'M.A.G' signal repeated, but the bluff failed. The Captain of the British auxiliary cruiser was not deceived. In any case, he probably knew quite definitely that no friendly warship could possibly be in that quarter, and now sheafs of red rockets began to hiss up from his decks - clearly the pre-arranged signal for the convoy to scatter. At the same time the auxiliary cruiser and most of the other ships in the convoy began to lay down a smoke screen. The distance between the two ships was considerably less now and when it was about ten miles the Scheer, which up to then had been racing straight towards the convoy, turned to port to bring her broadside to bear. The guns were trained on their targets now - the big guns had been ordered to concentrate on the British auxiliary cruiser while the medium artillery was to take a tanker not far away from her as its target. The British auxiliary cruiser, which was ahead of the second line of the convoy, had stopped signalling, and by this time the ships were close enough for the British Captain to have realised what he was faced with, for the outlines of the Scheer were now clearly visible against the evening sky and he could plainly see the guns of her triple turrets trained on him. As unlikely as it might seem, he had encountered a German pocket battleship in mid-Atlantic. Let's pick up Chuck Lyons story over at WarfareHistoryNetwork; Made aware of the Rangtiki’s sighting, at about 4:45 Captain Fegen sounded action stations and began accelerating his ship out of her convoy position and toward the Admiral Scheer. Fegen immediately began firing his 6-inch guns even though he was well out of range of the Scheer. He also ordered smoke canisters deployed to hide the convoy, which made a quick turn away from the German ship and scattered. At a distance of about 10 miles, Captain Krancke swung the Scheer to port, bringing both his triple turrets to bear on the convoy and Jervis Bay. He began firing at the oncoming armed merchantman, the second salvo splashing 50 yards off Jervis Bay’s bow with 150-foot spouts of sea water, soaking the Bay’s forward gun crews. Sam Patience, a quartermaster aboard Jervis Bay, heard what he later described as a “thunk” and turned to see a member of his gun crew slump to the deck, his head severed from his body. Admiral Scheer’s third salvo hit Jervis Bay’s bridge, knocking out her rangefinder, wireless, and fire-control equipment. Several officers and crewmen were killed by the blast, and Captain Fegen’s left arm was mangled. As Scheer continued to fire, Jervis Bay was hit repeatedly on her superstructure, and her hull was holed in several places. The port bulkhead of the radio shack was gone and a radio operator and two coders were dead. The remaining radioman climbed to the remnants of the bridge where he saw Captain Fegen“clutching his arm, blood spilling off his sleeve.” Fires burned uncontrolled. Wanting to neutralize the escort ship so he was free to attack the convoy, Scheer’s commander continued to train his big guns on Jervis Bay. Darkness was falling, and he knew he needed to sink Jervis Bay quickly so that he would have time to attack the convoy. Each salvo from the Scheer launched two and a half tons of ordnance at the stricken ship. The forward port side of Jervis caught the brunt of the fire and became a mass of twisted girders, bent and jagged plate, dead and wounded sailors, and flames. A shell somehow loosed Jervis’s anchor, and another knocked the white ensign of the Royal Navy off the top of the main mast. Midshipman Ronald Butler later recalled helping an unnamed seaman climb the mast to nail up a replacement ensign. Jervis Bay continued steaming at Admiral Scheer and firing her guns until her steering gear was knocked out. The petty officer manning the wheel called into the voice tube that the ship’s steering gear was out of action and heard the captain’s pained voice come back ordering him to “man the aft steering position.” With his ship aflame and sinking, Captain Fegen continued to maintain the unequal fight and stayed in command despite his shattered arm, consciously buying time for the ships of the convoy to escape. Up to now, Captain Fegen had stayed on the collapsing bridge, which was under continuous hits from Admiral Scheer’s big guns. Shortly after giving the order to man the aft gear, however, he struggled down the starboard side of the bridge and, aided by a signalman, headed aft, stopping to encourage a gunner along the way and ordering more smoke deployed. After a blast destroyed the after-control compartment just as he arrived there, the captain headed forward again, with “blood running over the four gold stripes on his sleeve,” Midshipman Butler later said. Captain Fegen never made it. His body and the body of the signalman who was helping him were later seen on the deck. “[Jervis Bay] did not have a chance, and we all knew it,” said Captain Sven Olander, commander of the Swedish freighter Stureholm, one of the convoy ships. “But she rode like a hero and stayed to the last.” Meanwhile, exploding cordite bags on Jervis Bay’s poop deck had convinced Captain Krancke that the smaller ship was still firing despite the severe damage she had suffered. He didn’t dare concentrate on the convoy until the threat posed by Jervis Bay was eliminated. Any damage to his ship from a lucky hit could seriously affect her ability to escape any hunt for her launched by the Royal Navy. Krancke continued focusing his big guns on Jervis Bay, but turned some of his smaller ones against ships in the convoy that were still within his range. After an hour of the unrelenting German fire and with Captain Fegen dead, Lt. Cmdr. George Roe, now in command, ordered the remaining crew of Jervis Bay to abandon ship. All of Jervis Bay’s life boats had been destroyed but rafts, some of which were damaged, and the ship’s 18-foot “jolly boat” had survived the bombardment and were launched. Most of Jervis Bay’s men simply jumped into the icy, sub-Arctic sea, some making it to the rafts and jolly boat. Others made do with what they could find floating in the water. Shortly after the order was given to abandon ship, Jervis Bay went down. The white ensign Midshipman Butler had helped raise was the last thing to settle beneath the Atlantic waves. Of the 254 crewmembers of JERVIS BAY, only 68 survived the battle. The Skipper of JERVIS BAY, 49-yr old Captain Edward Fegen, was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross as a result of this action. "for valour in challenging hopeless odds and giving his life to save the many ships it was his duty to protect. On the 5th of November, 1940, in heavy seas, Captain Fegen, in His Majesty's Armed Merchant Cruiser Jervis Bay, was escorting thirty-eight Merchantmen. Sighting a powerful German warship he at once drew clear of the Convoy, made straight for the Enemy, and brought his ship between the Raider and her prey, so that they might scatter and escape. Crippled, in flames, unable to reply, for nearly an hour the Jervis Bay held the German's fire. So she went down: but of the Merchantmen all but four or five were saved." The Battle of Convoy HX-84 was far from over even after the loss of JERVIS BAY. For that, you'll have to wait for next Friday's FbF. First posted 09NOV2018. Leave a comment Share This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. View the full article

Japan’s Ministry of Defense said it has reviewed the latest progress and budget planning for its next-generation fighter aircraft program, as Tokyo continues close coordination with the United Kingdom and Italy on what is now known as the Global Combat Air Programme. According to a statement released on December 26, Japan’s Vice Minister of Defense […]View the full article

The U.S. Army said one of its forward-deployed artillery units in South Korea has carried out the first live-fire exercise of the modernized M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket System on the Korean Peninsula, a move aimed at strengthening deterrence against North Korea. According to the U.S. Army, Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 38th Field Artillery Regiment, assigned […]View the full article

Japan’s Ministry of Defense said it has imposed a 2.5-month suspension on Kawasaki Heavy Industries after confirming long-term misconduct in inspections of diesel generators used on submarines. According to a statement released on December 26, the Ministry of Defense of Japan will bar Kawasaki Heavy Industries from designated government contracts from December 26 through March […]View the full article

Japan’s cabinet has approved a record-high defense budget for the next fiscal year, underscoring Tokyo’s push to expand military capabilities amid rising tensions with China and sharp criticism from Beijing over Japan’s space and missile programs. The draft defense budget, approved Friday, exceeds ¥9 trillion ($58 billion), an increase of 9.4% from the current fiscal […]View the full article

Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it has formally protested South Korea’s military training near the disputed Takeshima islets, following reports that South Korean forces conducted exercises in the area earlier this week. According to a statement released on December 24, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan responded to reports that the South Korean […]View the full article

The UK Ministry of Defence has confirmed that manufacturing of the Challenger 3 main battle tank will not begin on a fixed timetable and will proceed only after performance trials are successfully completed, according to recent parliamentary disclosures. UK Defence Journal has reported that, in written answers to Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, defence minister Luke […]View the full article