Around The ‘Net
Those who think that Matthew wasn’t as bad as forecast should tell that to the relatives and friends of the over 800 people who died in Haiti, or the people in the Bahamas who lost their houses from the full force of Category 4 winds. There are over a million people without power in Florida, and the 4-foot+ surge isn’t make life easier. Matthew is going to take years to recover from and the name will be retired.
They gave the Nobel Peace Prize to Colombia’s Juan Manuel Santos but did not include Farc leader Rodrigo Londono. That’s a bit weird – the FARC voted for peace, but Colombian voters rejected it.
Norwegians laugh at new fence on Russian border. The government is putting up a a large metal fence at a border crossing between Norway and Russia in the middle of nowhere.
Apparently people are entering Norway from Russia at this point on bicycles. If they walk across the border they will be deported, but the law makes no provision for riding a bike across. They have officially entered the realm of Monty Python. The whole bicycle thing has the feel of something created at a pub just before closing. Don’t laugh too loud until you read about the US ‘wet foot-dry foot’ policy on Cubans.
UK Government bars foreign academics from advising on Brexit, for a given definition of ‘foreign’. Apparently there are reports that the UK government is reaching out to the governments of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand at the same time it is telling professors at the London School of Economics who are not UK citizens that they can’t work on the Brexit issues. The exclusion may violate British law.
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From reading the BBC stories on this, it turns out it’s the Russians who prohibit crossing the border on foot, the Norwegians prohibit crossing the border on motor vehicles unless all passengers in the motor vehicle have proper visas. So thus bicycles. LOL.
It’s the strict constructionists and literalists that create these problems …. hurmpf
The strict constructionists and literalists of *two different nations*, no less! As an expert in Russia, I’m sure you know how the Russian bureaucracy works, it makes Monty Python’s Ministry of Silly Walks look sane. The Norwegians would have no problem with refugees crossing the border on foot, it’s the Russians who stop the refugees if they try to cross the border from Russia to Norway on foot. The Norwegians, on the other hand, do have a check point that turns away people in motor vehicles if they cannot provide proper documents, and turns away for-hire vehicles if the passengers lack proper documents, but don’t do the same for bicycles because bicyclists are not required by Norwegian law to carry proper documents.
So you have the Ministry of Silly Walks skit combined with the Spanish Inquisition skit and you get the situation at the Norway-Russia border. If it wasn’t so serious it’d be funny.
Imagine the UN Security Council made up of Samuel Beckett, Arthur Adamov, Eugène Ionesco, Jean Genet, Tom Stoppard, Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Fernando Arrabal, Edward Albee, Boris Vian, and Jean Tardieu, with Mel Brooks as the Secretary General.
If Cubans make it to land in the US, they are granted asylum. If they are picked up in the water they are shipped back. If a boat lands at a beach ICE is watching you have to jump off the front, if you jump of the side and are arrested in the water, you are sent back.
There is a severe lack of logic and common sense in legislatures compounded by bureaucracies that don’t really care.
Seems everyone wants to be a member of the comedy club!
The Nobel Peace Prize has been a complete farce for decades. It has no baring on reality whatsoever.
In another laugh, some prominent Republicans including Mike Pence, Condoleezza Rice, John Kasich, Carly Fiorina, Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell, Jason Chaffetz, John McCain, Mitt Romney and many others have strongly rebuked him and/or withdrawn support.
John McCain said in a tweet that if Trump is not replaced as the republican candidate, they will not be voting for him. Then in a follow up tweet, he said: “There are no excuses for Donald Trump’s offensive behavior. Cindy & I will not vote for him.
As I said yesterday, there are no excuses for Donald Trump’s offensive and demeaning comments in the just released video; no woman should ever be victimized by this kind of inappropriate behavior. He alone bears the burden of his conduct and alone should suffer the consequences.
I have wanted to support the candidate our party nominated. He was not my choice, but as a past nominee, I thought it was important I respect the fact that Donald Trump won a majority of the delegates by the rules our party set. I thought I owed his supporters that deference.
But Donald Trump’s behavior this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy. Cindy, with her strong background in human rights and respect for women fully agrees with me on this.
Cindy and I will not vote for Donald Trump. I have never voted for a Democratic presidential candidate and we will not vote for Hillary Clinton. We will write in the name of some good conservative Republican who is qualified to be President.”
Ron Howard: “Trumps says “Anyone who knows me knows these words don’t reflect who I am,” Sorry but i know people who do know him -it is exactly who he is.”
Cher: “Is Beyond Scumbag Carny Barker ‼️”You can do anything to
Women when you’re famous” “I Grabbed her By The🐈” JESUS‼️WE R HUMAN BEINGS‼️”
Arnold Schwarzenegger: “For the first time since I became a citizen in 1983, I will not vote for the Republican candidate for President.
Like many American’s, I’ve been conflicted by this election – I still haven’t made up my mind exactly how I will vote next month. I have been a proud Republican since I moved America in 1968 and I heard Nixon’s words about getting the Government off our backs, free trade, and defending our liberty with a strong military. That day I joined the party of Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan.
But as proud as I am to label myself a Republican, there is one label I hold above all else – American. So I want to take a moment today to remind my fellow Republicans that it is not only acceptable to choose your country over your party – it is your duty.”
Jeb Bush: “As the grandfather of two precious girls, I find that no apology can excuse away Donald Trump’s reprehensible comments degrading women.”
And a while lot more. After the video, another 42 prominent Republican politicians have dis-endorsed Trump, bringing the total to 150 since July.
Meltdown 2016! Bring popcorn. LOL
First he issues a non-apology, the caveat ‘if anyone was offended’ – he advocates felony sexual assault and wonders if people were offended?! If ‘the people’ weren’t offended it wouldn’t be part of the Penal Law of the State of New York. Then he hauls out all of the Bill Clinton baggage from the last century. Does he know that Hillary is the candidate, not Bill?
Trump had to know that this stuff was out there. With his marital history why would he bring it up? Doesn’t he understand that Hillary’s campaign has done its research and was going to run with stuff? If the RNC has dropped its ‘get out the vote’ support for Trump, Trump has nothing of his own.
This is beyond anything I could have imagined. It makes everyone else’s elections seem reasonable and somewhat dull.
I bet the RNC is regretting their restrictive rules now! LOL Only way to stop the train wreck is if Trump dies or quits! And he isn’t going to quit. 😀
He’s still in with a chance though. Most of his followers agree with him all the way! Even the women! And that is insane! But then, nobody sane has ever accused them of being smarter than a chicken. And as Americans have proven time and again… All they really care about is a show with a lot of shock, sex & drama (reality TV is the most popular viewing in the USA). Most of them don’t even know what a President does anyway (just a lot of Photo op’s apparently, like their fave TV stars), and couldn’t care less. *shrug*
Personally, I love it! Payback HUGE for the GOP! Especially given the majority of them are misogynistic amoral a’holes! 😆 Drumpf is truly the face (and voice) of the GOP! 😀
I also still wonder if he is working with Clinton. It would make sense.
Well, Trump pulled out all that Bill Clinton baggage at the Town Hall “debate” this evening. He was quite convincing. After he went into detail about how predatory Bill Clinton’s sexual behavior has been in the past, I will never vote for Bill Clinton again.
What?
So, the only people who weren’t grossed out by what Drumpf did were the same people who have been with since the start – the reality tv crowd.
Meanwhile, the Shrubbery and JEB’s cousin Billy is suspended and probably fired from the best gig at NBC – the Today Show. The show is targeted toward women and has an off-camera staff that is heavily weighted with women, so the NBC execs figured that having the misogynist who costarred with Drumpf on the staff of the show would give lawyers representing women in sexual harassment suits a ‘yuuuuuuuuuuuuge’ club to beat up NBC management, and the viewers who recognized him would change the channel.
Apparently, Putin wants Drumpf to win.
Fears of a second cold war between Russia and the USA
Oh, and this:
Teen Beauty Queens Say Trump Walked In On Them Changing
“Don’t worry, ladies, I’ve seen it all before.”
Yes. I am certain he has.
So… What’s new? *shrug*
That dressing room bit was illegal, and not something you can negate with a clause in a contract, even one signed by parents, and should have been prosecuted, but no one would complain. Pageant people are all insane and should be packed in cotton and sent to Kansas where they won’t hurt themselves or others.
Putin is doing his best to make people believe that there is another Cold War. He is following the lead of North Korea, demanding respect while he puts the finishing touches on his ‘cult of personality’. Dictators prefer to deal with other dictators.
I agree. 🙂
This is interesting. it seems Florida has the majority of early vote mail ballots returned. I also read on Twitter that Florida has over 500,000 new Democrat registrations vs. 60,000 Republican this year. 🙂
2016 November General Election Early Voting
And… This:
GOP Mailer: We’ll Tell Your Neighbors If You Vote Democratic
🙄 😕
The entire election is going to be a farce! Because it seems that no matter who wins, there will be court cases to answer. Or maybe not. It seems the “Law” in the USA is now merely a quaint notion and optional.
Oh… And the USA just bombed Yemen. And nobody outside of Yemen apparently gives a damn! Apart from Russia that is.
What else… Oh yeah! So, it seems the CIA was preparing a covert cyber op against Russia. So Joe Biden told Chuck Todd on Meet the Press about it. He was asked if the American public would know that a message had been sent (to Russia), Biden replied “Hope not!” :\ Are these people not told what “covert” means??! *SIGH*
Trump is apparently now accusing Hillary of being on drugs during the 2nd debate! LOL Pot, meet kettle! Mr sniffleoffulous has spoken! Then again, a coke/crack head like him would probably know. 😉
In more interesting news, the first Zumwalt Destroyer finally launched. 🙂 It’s claimed the cost will be over $4.5 billion for each destroyer. But that’s because the approximately $10 billion in R&D costs was originally supposed to be spread over a fleet of 34 ships. Congress cut that number a few times to the final fleet of 3. Which does make them both rare and expensive! 🙂 And that is apparently how you save money… or not. Oh! The Captain’s name is James Kirk! LOL
Navy’s new destroyer rides like ‘a really souped-up’ SUV
Hmmm. OK.
I’ll leave you with a comment via Twitter/blog:
“That is the third disastrous element of the horrible entity known as Donald Trump… he has the emotional and mental maturity of a five year old.
It’s bad enough about his lecherous past (present?) and his stupefying ignorance about the issues, but it’s also true he does not have the temperament.
When you conclude that gaseous witch Hillary Clinton has a better temperament than your candidate, it’s time to hope for The Sweet Meteor Of Death (as some have termed it) to relieve us of this nightmare.”
A lot of the absentee ballots are prepared down in Miami and the demented and dead don’t tend to waste a lot of time – they vote for whoever paid the pols who captured nursing home and cemetery block the most money. The real voting frauds in the US are involved with absentee ballots.
We have a lot of military absentees and send them out early, so we get them back early. The military puts a lot of effort into helping the troops vote.
As for ‘covert’, when has the CIA started keeping secrets? The real reason that conspiracy theories are all bullshit is that they rely of the government keeping secrets, and that has never been proven to occur.
Yemeni rebels attacked a US Navy vessel, so the Navy sent them some Tomahawk cruise missiles to take out all of the command and control radar systems.
One of the Navy’s new littoral combat ships, the USS Montgomery , had a ‘fender bender’ with a tug while being towed out of Mayport, Florida and sprung a leak. Those vessels don’t seem to be destined to ever become ‘literal combat ships’. So far all they have destroyed is budgets. The Zumwalt destroyers follow the pattern of only having a handful of obscenely expensive vessels that are expected to multiple tasks. With the name ‘James Kirk’ he’s lucky people stopped laughing long enough to sign his orders.
LOL @ Covert! I understand that! I’ve had experience with the CIA’s idea of ‘covert’! And the Government leaks like a hole in a dam! But this was a bit blatant, and if the mission was in fact ‘covert’ status, then Biden is at least guilty of an act of treason (not to mention stupidity).
It’s even worse for the Zumwalt DDG-1000. Congress cut the budget again, so the Navy was forced to cut the cost of the third ship. They decided to replace the expensive yet lightweight, very strong, stealthy composite superstructure, with a steel one. So their goes it’s stealth (the primary strength of this ship), plus the several electronically steerable radar panels will have to be mounted outside the superstructure (rather than protected inside, though will also have to be protected at least from the weather), and the 1-way transparent section of the composite shell will have to be replaced with glass or some polycarbonate. Also, the weight will increase as the original spec for the superstructure was to be able to withstand penetration by a hyper-velocity AMR round or a medium sized shell or missile. For a steel shell, it would have to be at least 40-60mm thick RHA. Though the large radar panels would be easy targets. The extra weight will also cut down on performance.
It’s a really stupid idea! The first two will have an RCS akin to a fishing boat, the third will look something like an Arleigh-Burke DDG-51. The plan apparently is to fill the gap by building more of the obsolete Arleigh-Burke DDG-51’s! A stupid & “penny wise and pound foolish” idea at best! One of the great featured of the Zumwalt was it’s inherent design flexibility to be relatively easily upgraded. It also has a much smaller crew who will not be cramped as they are on the current DDG-51 within a small space.
It’s also curious (not) that the guns on the Zumwalt have been given a new name and new terminology. They are essentially the defunct XM2001 Crusader gun system the Rumsfeld cancelled in 2002 even though it had exceeded all trial expectations and performance criteria. Via a loophole, the development was moved from the Army to Navy. So the Army is stuck with the aging Paladin’s with no future upgrade path. One of the main differences (and really surprising) is that the Crusader had an assisted shell range of up to 500 km, while the Navy variant has an assisted range of only around 110. Given that the big Zumwalt has a hell of a lot more capacity that the Crusader SPH had, and also given that a 500km range would be very useful for a ship suposedly designed with land-attack capabilities, I’m confused. The original Crusader cannon also proved a 6 round time-on-target capability @ 400 km. With the two guns on the Zumwalt, this could easily have been a 12 round ToT, which would have decimated even the toughest bunker, or most military compounds in a single volley. The original Crusader gun could also fire 12 rounds per minute (field tested & exceeded the 10 RPM requirement.)
There is talk of adding an electromagnetic rail gun in the future because the Rolls Royce generators can produce around 78 MW of power. But a lot of that is used for the high-energy radar (which include “over the horizon” capability – necessary for the Tomahawk and the original 400-500 km range of the guns. And no small thanks to Australia BTW) and the computer & control systems. Though the generators were designed to be upgraded in future as well.
One thing not generally mentioned much is that the Zumwalt also has a large flight deck (about twice the size of the DDG-51). This was so that it could accommodate large cargo choppers to replenish the missile and gun systems, as well as other supplies. She is designed to operate as an effective self-contained small battle group (of 3-6 ships) and to operate anywhere in the World without need for a lot of auxiliary support, or even satellites. Also, 3 ships systems were designed to be linked to work as a single large ship (effectively) and could provided a ToT salvo from 6 guns, and also coordinated launch of Missiles, and also for defense. For the record, almost all of the roughly 35% cost increase was due to greed and bullsh*t (like the part where the factored in the total R&D costs from scratch of the gun system which actually only required relatively minor design modifications to the work done – and paid for – by the Army and GD Land Systems). I am sure this is why they have gone to great lengths to distance themselves from the XM297E2 gun used by the Crusader.
Corruption is the only winner in this debacle. It will always amaze me how the stupid citizens of the USA allow the criminals running the Country to demonstrably weaken it’s defense while stealing them blind! And now. Australia is no better. The sooner I am out of this FUBAR country, the happier I’ll be! In less than five years this Government has been able to turn a surplus into a $Trillion+ debt!! Given our population is less than 10% of the USA, that is truly insane! And morons still elected them, but are about to suffer the consequences! Good.
Another thing, the Zumwalt was also designed to be effective escorts for the US Carrier groups without need for the aging CG Cruisers, Destroyers and Frigates. Especially as the Ticonderoga CG & DDG-51’s are due for expensive refit’s! 3 Zumwalt’s could easily have replaced a half dozen ships that are far more expensive to operate and need a significantly larger crew compliment. The savings from that alone would have more than paid for several Zumwalt’s in a year! But, it would have meant reducing the Navy personnel numbers significantly, and probably closing some unnecessary Naval bases. And no Politicians want’s that! At least, not in their home State!
Damn! I forgot (I’m on new med’s, Lyrica, that are messing with my head a lot. Doc say’s that should decrease within a couple weeks, been a week so far. Still, not having pain from nerves damaged from my accident of ’08 is almost worth it. And I can stop the useless Oxycodone the previous moronic Doc’s proscribed that were barely effective!) You’d think a Doc would know the difference between tissue/muscle pain and nerve pain! Apparently they are loath to proscribe it here due to the many possible side-effects. unlike in the USA I am told where it’s often mis-proscribed and side-effects be damned!
The composite armor used on the Zumwalt superstructure was developed for the Crusader as was the electronically steerable radar array (though a smaller version) also. It was one reason it had a relatively high speed & low RCS for a large combat vehicle. 🙂
You don’t have to tell me the military industrial complex has screwed up military weaponry. The fighter pilots in the Air Force had to bite the bullet and delay retiring the A-1o Warthogs, because nothing else in the inventory will provide the same level of accurate close air support for ground troops. The silly F-35 will be too high and too fast to do the job, even with a cannon pod.
They keep coming up with expensive weapons systems to fight battles that aren’t going to happen. They take so long to bring them out that Congress can figure out that they can’t do the job or there is no job for them to do.
I still don’t get the point of having Australia’s new submarines built by a manufacturer in another country. Yes, they might be more expensive, but you will get some of that back in taxes on the people and companies building them. Build them overseas and 100% of the money is transferred overseas. Am I missing something?
Because, as I’ve said before, our current government is run by greedy self-interested assholes with the business acumen of Trump (and I mean that seriously! Read Turnbull’s business record! You’d think you were reading Trumps!). Turdbull has a $4M penthouse suite in NYC a short trip from Murdoch’s. So, what does anyone expect??! People are, mostly, morons and easily deluded fools.
Speaking of Murdoch, now that Ailes is gone from Fox (kinda), I see Ailes is now advising Trump about the debates! LOL Makes sense I guess… they have SO much in common! Except, as far as I know, Trump wasn’t an old Nixon operative. *shrug*
Back to the Zumwalt: A lot of the expense figures being tossed around (as I suggested above) are fabricated garbage! Take the operating cost vs the DDG-51.
Acording to this report: “Reserve Forces Policy Board, Final Report to the Secretary of Defense, Subject: Eliminating Major Gaps in DoD Data on the Fully-Burdened and Life-Cycle Cost of Military Personnel: Cost Elements Should be Mandated by Policy, (RFPB Report FY13-02) dated January 7, 2013.”
In the report Mr. Ben Freeman states:
And that’s just the crew!!
Also, the original proposal called the classification of the Zumwalt a CLG (Guided Missile Light Cruiser) which makes more sense. Anyway, there is a whole lot more, but WTF. *shrug*
Seems Samsung like playing with fire!
Samsung products causing ‘havoc’: Choice
So… Not just phones then! Hmmm. I have a Samsung refrigerator… Should I be afraid?!
😉
Why Drumpf could win:
MotherJones
I hope you all remember how to goosestep. 😉
*sigh* I forgot (again). The new sub’s are being made in France actually. DCNS is building the 4,700-tonne Shortfin Barracudas for a projected (ie. it will increase) cost of AU$39 billion. Where we are going to get the money to pay for them is anyone’s guess since we are about to become bankrupt.
And this should tell anyone all they need to know about what a great businessman our PM is (NOT)!
Turnbull government called on to explain where Australia’s offshore gas wealth is going
That an easy question! Into the pockets of Turdbull & his crooked mates! DUH!
Regarding the Zumwalt’s crewing, a Navy friend of mine says that the proposed crew for the Zumwalt is never going to suffice to keep the vessel properly maintained. The deal is that in salt air, *everything* corrodes. Literally everything. The composite skin won’t corrode, I suppose, but everything else does. So literally everybody on a Navy vessel who isn’t currently tasked with something more important is tasked with oiling, painting, greasing, disassembly and cleaning and reassembly of electrical and electronic assemblies, or otherwise dealing with the constant corrosion of salt air.
Regarding the DDG-51’s, they still have capabilities that no other navy’s destroyers have. They’re basically the F-16 of the sea — they’re not sexy, they do nothing extraordinarily well, but they’re cost-effective and do an adequate job of any task that the Navy will ever ask of them against any enemy we’re likely to encounter over the next three decades. The Arleigh Burke was commissioned in 1988, meaning that if she has a typical 35 year lifespan for a Navy hull, she’s coming up for retirement in 2023. That said, the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) was in service for 50 years. If a hull is maintained well and its warfighting and motive gear regularly updated, it can go for a long, long time. And some of the upgrades for the Arleigh Burke class give them some of the advantages of the Zumwalt class, such as reduced crew sizes to both reduce crowding and extend unprovisioned cruise time.
Also, they’re destroyers. The Zumwalt is really a guided missile cruiser. I have no idea why they’re calling the Zumwalt a destroyer, it’s bigger than the Ticonderoga-class cruisers, indeed it’s pretty much the same size as the Baltimore-class heavy cruisers from WW2, which nobody denied were cruisers. I guess the notion was that they were going to replace the cheap Arleigh Burkes with expensive Zumwalts but couldn’t do that if the Zumwalts were classed as cruisers…
Regarding the Little Crappy Ships, they can be sunk by tugboats, yet cost as much as an Arleigh Burke. Makes no sense. No sense at all…
Pentagon acquisition is like our healthcare system – we spend twice as much as everyone else to achieve the same goal. When we enhance the capabilities no one really bothers to research whether the enhancements will ever be useful in battle.
I spent a significant amount of time down in San Diego pulling cards out of PCs and cleaning contacts. There is no guarantee with a residential steel door installed on a structure within 1000 feet of a body of water. Between barnacles and rust, most people down here spend more time on hull maintenance that actually using their boats.
The thing about all of this stealth that has a huge price tag is that we have been fighting with people who use their eyes and ears to detect threats, not radar.
C-130s were built in Newt Gingrich’s district, so for years the Air Force bought C-130s they didn’t need to get things they did need through Congress. The whole system is broken and no one wants to consider fixing it.
Well, at least the C-130 is actually useful, unlike the Little Crappy Ships. If you want actual waste, look at the C-27J Spartan. They were literally flown off the end of the assembly line to the boneyard at at Davis-Monthan. Because they were being built in Ohio, an important swing state, and nobody wanted to possibly lose votes by cancelling it.
The Zunwalts were originally classed as Cruisers (as I said above) but politicians have their own ideas devoid of any nod to reality, or common sense. They were intended to replace the Ticonderogas, but some Admirals went apeshit, so they called them Light Cruisers and tried to fit them between the CG-47 & the DDG-51. That was torpedoed and they were then supposed to replace the DDG-51, until it was pointed out that they were way over classed to be a Destroyer! So, they were forced to removed some of the systems and/or reduced the capabilities of others (such as the original dual-band steerable radar arrays to single band). They were also originally meant to have two deck mounted missile launchers for high/low medium range air defense and anti-torpedo/submarine. The two gun systems were heavily modded to reduce their effectiveness. Of course, all these changes increased the cost! You can’t just remove or change stuff! Almost everything has to be redesigned. The reason the costs blew out were entirely the moronic politicians fault, and the Admiralty who new that there would have to be a reduction in their ranks, and of course other senior officers and all other ranks below. And admin & civi staff also of course. So, the USA get’s screwed again. *shrug* What’s new?
Oh, yeah… The Zumwalt was designed to have a service life of a minimum of 35 years. It was also designed to be relatively low maintenance. The data I saw showed they would require a lot less (ongoing & dry dock) maintenance than a DDG-51. Again reducing costs.
They were also cheaper in terms of required logistical support such as fuel & other consumables, rations, water (it was going to have it’s own desal. plant. With over 70 MW, a lot of things were possible! One of the reasons it had such power capability). It required far less ship-to-ship resupply (hence the large flight deck). Reducing the amount of fuel & water required, made it lighter and therefore faster (and cheaper). It’s original top speed was in well in excess of 40 knots. Now they say “in excess of 30”.
In fact, the only reason the Zumwalt is seeing the light of day now, is that for the past few years Russia has been spending a fortune refitting the Kirov Battle Cruisers. I don’t know what poor sucker will get the 3rd Zumwalt, but good luck to them! They’ll need it. Assuming the 1st passes all it’s trials, of course. *shrug*
I heard some chatter last year that the Russians were also working on re-enabling the MKRC Legenda Sat’s (which are still in orbit and supposedly functional, they were disabled to conserve their lifespan. The EOL of the Nuclear powered US-A (RORSAT) is a problem as they were designed to work with the Legenda’s (and they have been a continuing source of trouble. The nuclear cores were ejected (some unsuccessfully) and will rain radioactive debris down as they decay). Anyway, if the Legenda’s can be made operational, it makes sense as they are tied to the Kirov’s P-700 Granit missiles & would make targeting simpler. But who knows. *shrug*
I would be more worried about the Kirovs if what counts as “a fortune” in rubles wasn’t less than the price of a deck gun for a Zumwalt. We’re still talking about obsolete Soviet-era gear with minor updates. Obsolete Soviet-era gear that can’t operate beyond Russian fighter cover from the mainland, because a U.S. carrier group’s airgroup would sink it long before it got near the carrier group otherwise.
As for the Zumwalt, I’m sure it’s a fine ship. Or was, before it got neutered into fake-destroyer rather than heavy cruiser. It’s also a ship for dealing with threats that the United States doesn’t face and won’t face for decades, if ever.
The Zumwalt was a good ship. Now, who knows. We may find out soon enough. 🙂
As for Russia… Again, Who knows. *shrug* Things change there almost weekly, not much different from the USA actually. 😉 😀 I do know Putin is selling everything he can & Russia itself isn’t seeing much, if any, of it.
The plan (as currently known) for the Kirov-class Nuclear Battlecruisers are:
The ‘Pyotr Veliky’ (ex Yuri Andropov) has had her refit and is in active service.
The ‘Admiral Nakhimov’ (Kalinin) is nearing the end of her refit & is scheduled to be returned to active duty 2018. The refit was originally proposed to be completed in 2012, but was halted until a final determination of the final modernization variant. In 2014 the refit was restarted. Known Weapon System changes:
10x 8 3M-54 Klub / P-800 Oniks AShM
16x 8 3K95 “Kinzhal” (SA-N-9) SAM (w/ 128 Missiles)
12x 8 S-400PMU Triumph (S-400 (SA-20)) SAM (w/ 96 Missiles)
44x OSA-MA (SA-N-4 Gecko) Point Defence SAM
2x RBU-1000 (Smerch-3) 305mm ASW Rocket Launchers
2x RBU-12000 (Udav-1) 254mm ASW Rocket Launchers
1x twin AK-130 130mm/L70 Dual Purpose gun
10x 533 mm ASW/ASuW torpedo tubes, Type 53 torpedo or SS-N-15 ASW missile
6x Kashtan (CADS-N-1) Point Defence Gun/Missile System
These changes may also be applied these two ships:
The ‘Admiral Lazarev’ (Frunze) modernization & refit has just begun and is scheduled to be completed in 2020.
The ‘Admiral Ushakov’ (Kirov) is in final planning stages, & the modernization & refit is scheduled to start early 2017 for completion in 2021.
These ships were designed to destroy a carrier or battle group. After that, if they died, they died. 🙂 The old USSR decided that 1 ship for a carrier group was a fair trade. There is also a plan to refit and relaunch the SSV-33 ‘Ural’ C3 Ship if the Legenda Sat’s can’t become operational, or if only a few make it.
As far as weapons/Sensor Suite (most already on the Pyotr Veliky):
Missiles:
20x P-700 Granit (SS-N-19 Shipwreck) AShM w/ either: 750kg HE, FAE, or 500kt Nuclear Warhead
14x SS-N-14 Silex ASW Cruise Missiles
96x S-300PS Favorit (SA-10B Grumble) Surface-to-Air Missiles
OR (Dependant on Ship):
48x S-300PS Favorit (SA-10B Grumble) Surface-to-Air Missiles
AND
46 S-300PMU2 Favorit-M (SA-20B Gargoyle) Long-Range SAM w/ NK Orientir Precision Navigation System
128x 9K95 Tor (SA-N-9 Gauntlet) Point Defense SAM
44x OSA-MA (SA-N-4 Gecko) Point Defense SAM
Guns:
1x twin AK-130 130mm/L70 Dual Purpose Gun
2x AK-100 100mm/L60 Dual Purpose Guns
8x A-213-Vympel-B (AK-630M) 6-barreled Gatling 30 mm/L60 PD guns
OR:
6x CADS-N-1 Kashtan Defence System w/ 2x GSh-30K (AO-18K) 6-barrel 30mm Rotary Cannons + 2x 9M311 Launchers w/ 4 Ready-to-Fire Missiles & 32 in reserve.
Anti-Submarine:
1x 10 RBU-1000 305mm ASW Rocket Launchers
2x 6 RBU-12000 (Udav-1) 254mm ASW Rocket Launchers
10x 533mm ASW/ASuW Torpedo Tubes w/ Type 53 Torpedo and/or RPK-2 Viyuga (SS-N-15) ASW Missile
Aircraft: 3-5 Kamov Ka-27 “Helix” or Ka-25 “Hormone” Helicopters
Sensor, Tracking & Engagement Suite:
Radars:
MR-800 Voskhod (Top Pair) 3D Search Radar (foremast)
MR-710 Fregat (Top Steer) 3D Search Radar (main mast)
30N6E2 (Tomb Stone) Beamforming Anti-Jam Engagement Radar (qty. unknown)
64N6E2 NIIIP Big Bird Radar
2x SA-N-6 Fire Control Radar
8x MR-123-02 Fire Control Radar System (for AK-630M)
2x SA-N-4 (Eye Bowl) Fire Control Radar
2x Palm Front Navigation Radar (foremast)
Sonar:
1x (Horse Jaw) LF Hull Sonar
1x (Horse Tail) VDS (Variable Depth Sonar)
Other:
8x SP-521 Electrical-Optical Air/Surface Tracker (for AK-630M)
Electronic warfare & decoys:
2x PK-2 Decoy dispensers (400 rockets)
I happy that the Russians are spending a lot of money on ‘modernizing’ their old naval vessels, but there is one enemy they don’t have a plan to defeat and that is rust. The Russian navy never worked as hard as the US in scraping and painting, and many of those vessels were sitting in the water, unmanned for years. Russian contractors have picked up a lot of bad habits from their US counterparts, so the quality of work won’t be stellar.
The most probable cause of the loss of the Kursk was an explosion caused by the torpedo fuel. They have a lot of pieces that are well passed their ‘sell by date’, and I definitely wouldn’t want to be a missile launch officer for any Soviet/Russian weapons system. They tend to use very dangerous and unstable fuels.
The Russian military hasn’t been involved in any major action since Afghanistan. There have been Spetsnaz actions but nothing major, and the readiness of the regular military hasn’t been at a decent level for decades.
I see this as a Putin, “I’m tough”, PR move more than anything actually worth spending money on.
Yes, I thought that also. I have a friend still in Canberra, who sent me an email when I queried him about whether he’s seen any non-classified traffic. I received a reply earlier.
It seems they got a copy of a recent purchase order:
“The Russian shipbuilding company JSC PO “Sevmash” based in Severodvinsk has ordered the following equipment for the overhaul of Admiral Nakhimov. We believe the list is probably accurate. It appears they have decided on a low-cost upgrade with a (relatively) fast turnaround. Possibly with a future modernisation upgrade. Based upon other reports, we suspect that only one of the remaining two Battlecruisers will be refit. Probably similarly to the Admiral Nakhimov”.
So yeah. Mind you, this “low cost” refit is costing billions of rubles! One curious part was the “OK-650B-3” which is a redesigned Nuclear reactor that was originally for the Sierra class 945 Submarine (for 220 million rbl). It has been rumored that the reactors on at least two of the ships were in a bad way.
It also seems they have cut back on the VLS missile systems. the order included:
4 × 8 UKSK VLS cells fitted with P-800 Oniks (SS-N-26) and/or Kalibr missile system (SS-N-27) for 1.2bln rbl. These were originally designed for the Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates being built.
He also noted that the shipyard had taken out two loans worth 16bln rubles each (about US$1 bln).
It seems they have (at least) repainted the Lazarev and she is in dry dock. The estimated cost was over 10 million rbl. Given the original plan was to scrap her (due to serious reactor issues), I wonder if they are going to do the same (replace the reactor as for the Nakhimov) or is it’s just for show? *shrug*
Photo here:
http://i38.servimg.com/u/f38/19/10/25/87/admira12.jpg
And here is a photo of the Nakhimov before the refit (and apparently the Lazarev was worse) LOL
https://i.imgur.com/Wed0qCx.jpg
Hmmm. My friend also noted that the discussion currently is whether focusing attention on the Kirov’s is a sleight-of-hand distraction and that Putin is really putting most of the money on the Project 955 Borei-class Nuclear ballistic Submarine. The third has recently been launched, and the project has already had a funded update (Project 09552 Borei-A) for two more updated Sub’s to be built & launched by 2020; or is he banking on both?
Plus a joint-venture with India for the T-50 PAK FA. Since India is pretty cashed up, it makes sense to share the expense. Plus India (apparently) can solve the problems with the advanced BrahMos missile system. 🙂
I would be very surprised if they could ever get the Kirov err Admiral Ushakov ever functional again. Its aft end got pretty damn well melted to slag when one of its reactors melted down (or came damn close to it, anyhow). The whole ship pretty much glows in the dark, but the aft end especially, they’d need to cut it off and weld a new one on, yeah right, the Russians don’t have anything near that expertise anymore. My understanding is that the aft end of the thing has been open to broad daylight for close to a decade now because they had to cut through all the decks to get sufficient firefighting assets down there to quench the reactor, meaning not only exterior rust, but interior rust and corrosion are going to be a big problem. That ship is scrap, plain and simple — the Russians just don’t have the capability anymore to handle a job that big.
The ‘Pyotr Veliky’ got a modest refit, but is still fitted with its old Soviet-era warfighting gear. The ‘Admiral Nakhimov’ is getting all the latest and greatest warfighting gear, but its recommissioning has been delayed time after time because the Russians keep running out of money and the contractors quit work until they get paid, not to mention the experimental nature of some of the advanced gear being fitted, which is all hand-built one-offs for the most part, and getting that to all work and furthermore work together with the other shipboard systems has been non-trivial. Thus they’ve had to back off on some of the planned upgrades because they simply can’t make it work or can’t afford it.
As for the ‘Admiral Lazarev’, the Russians have said that the next thing they want to do after the Admiral Nakhimov is put into service is to bring the ‘Pyotr Veliky’ back into drydock and upgrade its warfighting gear. Apparently they aren’t as confident as Kryten that its Soviet-era warfighting gear would be effective against current U.S. carrier battle groups. The ‘Admiral Lazarev’ is in Siberia and the notion that there’s work going on to refit it is ludicrous, the only shipyard left in Russia with the capacity to work on nukes is Sevmash on the other side of the world. I just took a satellite tour of the Russian Pacific Fleet facilities in Siberia, they do have a single floating dock there that *might* be able to accept the “Admiral Lazarev” (and I found a ship that could be the “Admiral Lazarev”), but the facilities around it are so sparse and primitive that the notion that significant refitting can be done there doesn’t pass the laugh and giggle test. Their Pacific Fleet facilities appear set up for minor repairs, not major refittings. For that matter, their Pacific Fleet appears to be mostly hulks tied up to docks. I wouldn’t count on any of them to be any more effective than in 1908.
In any event: In a future war, there will be two kinds of ships: Submarines, and targets. Between carrier air groups and attack submarines, it’s unlikely a Kirov class battlecruiser could ever get close enough to a US carrier group to threaten it.
The Norwegians reported that the Russians are moving the heart of their Northern Fleet down to the Med. BBC : Russia’s naval task force: Power play or just theatre?
They certainly would have included escort subs which would open the Russian Arctic Coast to an attack if anyone cared, but it really violates Soviet strategic naval thinking.
Well, if Clinton wins next Month, you can probably bank of a shooting war. Assuming of course Republicans don’t control Congress & the Senate. then of course, nothing much will happen. Might be a good thing. *shrug*
As for the Russian fleet, it’s for show & to annoy the west into doing something foolish. Something the West has proven it needs little incentive to do so. Putin isn’t a complete fool. So, it will be interesting to see what his end-game is. 🙂
I wouldn’t bank on a shooting war. I wouldn’t let any of the loudmouths talking big about revolution guard my back in a fire fight. They might show up for laser tag or paintball games, but they will paint their butts brown and play like a rock if real bullets start flying. Most of those guys would want a Purple Heart for a paper cut.
I wonder if they are moving the Admiral Kuznetsov to work on it at their Black Sea facilities.
LOL No, I certainly wouldn’t either! Especially if my experience in Texas in the 80’s is anything to go by! 😉 😀 But I didn’t mean a civil war (Though, it wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing. Most of those morons would shoot each other). I’m talking about an escalation in the ME around Syria. Putin is certainly pushing the USA & Clinton is the type to do something about it. Honestly, my friends in Canberra are concerned (in fact more concerned if Clinton wins than Drumph. He’d only be a local problem) based on traffic the past year. And they are not easily concerned. *shrug* But i’m pretty much out of it, and don’t really care any more. I’m just passing on what I hear. So, whatever. 🙂
RE: Kuznetsov. That is a distinct possibility.
Though the reports indicate that most of the money is going North to SevMash. But as well as refitting the Kirov’s, they are also building two new Sub classes, the Borey 955/955A NBM Sub w/ the new Bulava SLBM (original plan was to carry 12, but due to significant weight reduction, the Borey was modded to carry 16). 3x 955 launched, 2x 955A funded & in construction, 3x 955A funded to be laid down.
The 885/885M Yasen (Severodvinsk) class Multipurpose Fast Attack Sub (1x 885 launched & in service, 1x 885M launched & starting sea trials, 4x 885M laid down & under construction, 2x 885M ordered to be laid down 2017). The ONI/DIO reports that this is the stealthiest Russian/Chinese sub to date.
Given that the reported cost per 885/885M is about 50bln rubles (US$1.6 bln) & that 6 have apparently been funded, with the last partially funded, Putin is spending some serious money! Curiously, the 955/955A fitted out is half the price @ about 25 bln rubles.
It seems from reports that R. Adm. Dave Johnson (NAVSEA) is very impressed with both, though especially the 885/885M, and has reported to Congress that it will be a very tough opponent.
It does seem that Putin is banking on Sub’s primarily, which makes sense. There was a (suposedly) official report last year from Vladimir Dorofeyev, CEO of Russia’s Malakhit Marine Engineering Design Bureau, who stated: “The work on the fifth generation of submarines is already underway. The project will be implemented after the Yasen nuclear submarine construction project is completed.” This was subsequently confirmed by Admiral Viktor Chirkov who stated “In order to avoid pauses and standstill, we have started design work on developing submarines of the next, i.e. fifth generation.”
Given that most of the West laughed when Russia announced the 885 & 995 projects, I wouldn’t this time. 🙂
Also, there has been traffic that Russia has at least begun work on a new stealth Strategic Bomber (Tupolev PAK-DA), possibly with India (unconfirmed). The only thing my friends know is that Tupolev has received some serious funding recently.
And the Carrier Admiral Kuznetsov has completed the 2nd phase of it’s major refit and was made ready to take a flight of MIG 29KR’s. Though it’s been reported (last year) that they may not have enough Carrier qualified pilot’s for the Mig’s. This is at odds given that the plan for splitting the refit into two phases was to give pilots time to train on the MIG 29’s on the Carrier after phase one was complete:
According to my friends (last year): “The aircraft carrier has now arrived at the 35th shipyard to undergo the second phase of upgrades and the recovery of its technical readiness. Work should be completed before the end of September 2016, after which the ship will be seaworthy. The two-phase approach was devised to allow pilots work out takeoff and landing aboard the MiG-29KR/KUB fighters, designated to become the carrier air wing over the summer.
Key components of the refit supposedly include:
* Replacement of the defective steam turbines and turbo-pressurized boilers. Sources have reported that either gas turbine or nuclear propulsion are being considered. However, he expense, upkeep, and reliability issues that a nuclear refit would at present make it a very high-risk choice. In effect, the decision would turn the Kuznetsov into a technology demonstrator for Russia’s next aircraft carrier class, and raise the odds that the ship would never become a reliable fleet asset.
*Removal of the ship’s 3M45 P-700 Granit external link (SS-N-19 Shipwreck) supersonic, long-range anti-ship cruise-missiles
* Enlargement of the aircraft hangar, and a switch to new aircraft. The Russian Navy’s SU-33s could be replaced by smaller navalized MiG-29Ks. They would still be accompanied by Ka-27 anti-submarine helicopters, and radar-carrying Ka-31 AEW helicopters. The current SU-25 close support fighters have no naval counterpart or exact replacement; at present, their long-term fate remains a question mark.
* Upgraded air defenses. The current 3K95 Kinzhal external link (SA-N-9 Gauntlet) vertically-launched medium-range missiles and Kashtan external link (SA-N-11 Grisom) short range gun/missile systems would be replaced with a modern medium-range system, and a navalized 9M111 Pantsir-S1 external link (SA-22 Greyhound) gun-missile combination for short-range defense.
* New advanced communications and combat systems.”
So… basically, I don’t know what the game plan is for the Kirov’s, anyone who does is keeping it to themselves. 🙂 Though, if they are operational to spec, combined with the 885, 995’s & Kuznetsov, they would make a formidable force.
Russia has also apparently finished design of future Carrier (reportedly 2 are slated to be laid down 2018/19). Some leaked info indicates she will be Nuclear powered and carry at least 80 T-50 (PAK PHA) & Mig 29KR/KUB as well as a compliment of assorted helicopters & drones.
So far, Putin has accomplished (at least) some of the Military plans announced (or leaked).
Casting about there seems to be some question about pilot qualifications on MiG-29K and you don’t want to attempt carrier flight ops on an ice covered deck in the Barents Sea. If they need flight time, they need warm water. OTOH, this could be a shake-down cruise to see what’s broken after the re-fit.
Oil has been in the dumps and warm winters don’t help the sale of natural gas, so I wouldn’t bet on how much actually got done, because it would be limited by what they could afford to pay for.