Silent Hunter UK

There is some modern Russian stuff with longer ranges than the Phoenix.

And Dr. Fox is not happy...

Concur. It's not some graffiti by a drunken youth; this was clearly planned.

While much of the reports about this are probably strategic leaks, it's been observed that the Con-Lib coalition can make cuts that a Labour government would get skewered for. Well, I didn't vote for these people.

Yep, you'll fly over the target before the bomb arrives.

I've heard about this movie - I wrote the first blog item on it a while back. Sigh...

Emphasis on the "generally". The MiG-23 and -25 are as agile as bricks (although very fast), but you've also got the MiG-21; which can out-turn a Phantom II and was capable of getting guns "kills" on F-14s in the Constant Peg programme. Also don't forget the MiG-29 and Su-27 families. Remember also the Soviets had far more aircraft available to them.

Depends on where you're talking about and in what circumstances. Most Soviet fighters/interceptors have short ranges; the best long-range stuff is the Tu-28P and the Su-27. Most common type was the MiG-21 "Fishbed" family, but you wouldn't see that many of them over the sea.

Ares story Seems to have been a navigational error; the pilot would have survived had he not hit a house on landing. Could have been a defection attempt; might not have been.

Apparently, the "Shipwreck" VLS cells are still there... I'm looking forward to this actually getting a new name; I don't like "ex-Varyag". [The title is a pun on "MGM Grand"; a reference to the 'casino' this was apparently being sold to become]

CMPR refers to 'China Military Power Report'. My point exactly...

Look at the file name for that: "2010_CMPR_Final.pdf". Interesting report. Not sure why China's not developing a new medium bomber; you can only do some much with a "Badger" (although the Soviets certainly did a lot).

You mean the DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile? Quite a lot of stuff on that about; it's been irking much of the naval community for the last couple of years.

Still reading The Second World War by Winston Churchill. Onto the fourth volume now, covering January 1942 until September 1943. The key thing I'm getting from this is an appreciation of the sheer level of logistics involved in a total global war and how much seems to have been left to the commanders on the ground. There's also some good bits on Churchill's managerial style (a lot of memos criticising lack of action in his subordinates). I've just finished reading his chapter covering the U-Boat War in 1942, including Scharnhorst and Gneisenau's "Channel Dash", as well as Operation Chariot (the attack on the St. Nazaire dry dock). Hitler never really understood sea power, did he? While it's understandably flawed; it's a key primary source for studying the Second World War.

"Defence Review" is usually a code for "chop the defence budget", is it not? Yep; remember the 1981 review was a reason why Argentina invaded the Falklands. The Coalition is cutting government spending by about 25% all round; only international development and health spending are untouched, but there will be "efficiency savings" there. Understandably, the trade unions are not happy.

The government is doing a Strategic Defence Review (this was planned before the election), due to report in the autumn. A lot of these reports are probably strategic leaks by the three services. However, considering the Coalition's seeming desire to throw everything before the balancing the budget steamroller, I'm not hugely optimistic.

I'd say that sums it up quite well. Sorry Pete. I agree, it was just a rhetorical question whereas I read two separate books and find the same class of ship, one dear to my heart, take it on the chin in each book. It wasn't like neither was escorted, just both sunk for effect. I pulled out my copy of RSR; Saipan is actually sunk in the attack on the first convoy that also sinks Foch and badly damages Nimitz.

I've seen this on TV. This is the one with long telephone conversations on personal matters that I felt a tad uncomfortable listening to, a bigot who got himself administratively discharged and has a time where they have to launch two Hornets to refuel someone who keeps not getting a wire. Pretty interesting, all in all. There's a crossing the line ceremony in there.

Generic or somewhat historical? Either, really.

Bumping this up; I'm looking for something to handle a possible MBX (the other request ultimately resulted in me getting Europa Universalis III. I'm looking for battalion-sized units in a modern setting.

Very interesting posts!

Not finished it yet...

Previously paid for by the Treasury

Part Two

If you mean the Me-109 (I don't recall seeing a 262), it was one of the Spanish examples used in The Battle of Britain.