December 1944. The Nazis were on the advance, punching through Allied lines in what was to become the Battle of the Bulge (16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945). The Germans' initial attack included 200,000 men, 340 tanks and 280 other tracked vehicles. Between 67,200 and 125,000 of their men were killed, missing or wounded. … [Read more...]
No One Messes With America’s M1 Abrams Super Tank
The M1 Abrams main battle tank has been the mainstay of the U.S. Army’s armor branch for more than thirty years. Heavily armored, powered by a gas turbine engine and equipped with a powerful 120-millimeter gun, the M1 has proven an adaptable tank capable of fighting from the rolling hills of southern Germany to the deserts … [Read more...]
USAF – Inexpensive, Capable, Ground Attack Aircraft?
May 6, 2017: The U.S. Air Force, faced with tight budgets and overwhelming evidence that smart bombs and UAVs get the job done more effectively and cheaper than manned aircraft are looking at obtaining new version of Vietnam War era ground attack aircraft like the OV-10 and the A-1 Skyraider (nicknamed "Spad", after a … [Read more...]
Naval Air: Medium vs. Large Carriers
Although the U.S. Navy carrier fleet has shrunk to ten CVN type 100,000 ton carriers, this is being made up somewhat by the construction of ten 41,000 ton LHD/LHA helicopter carriers that are capable of carrying up to twenty F-35B vertical take-off fighters. The design of these mini-carriers began with the eight Wasp class … [Read more...]
The Next Generation F-15 Is Packed With Missiles
A proposed upgrade for the F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter now has a slick promotional video to show it off. The so-called Advanced Eagle, or F-15 2040C, would team up with fighters like the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to take on numerically superior fleets of enemy aircraft. The U.S. Air Force has … [Read more...]
Japan Commissions Largest Warship Since World War II – 20,000 Tons
JS Izumo (DDH-183) As John McClane once said "Welcome to the Party Pal!" Very important that Japan leaves it’s reluctance to project military power behind. And the Japanese are unhappy and very aware of the recent lack of support from the Obama Administration, and it's appeasement of Chinese interests. All the while … [Read more...]