Good Friday Morning March 12 .
I hope that you all have a great weekend.
Regards,
Skip.
Today in Naval History
March 12
1864—During the Civil War, Union screw gunboat Aroostook captures the schooner Marion near Velasco, Texas and the screw steamer Massachusetts captures the sloop Persis in Wassaw Sound, GA.
1904—The Marine detachment from USS Cincinnati (C 7) provides protection and assistance during the evacuation of Americans from Chemuplo (Inchon) and Seoul, Korea, when they are endangered by the Russo-Japanese War.
1942—President Franklin D. Roosevelt designates Adm. Ernest J. King to serve as the Chief of Naval Operations, as well as the Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet (he was appointed on Dec. 30, 1941).
1943—USS Champlin (DD 601) sinks German submarine U-130, which had previously sunk 25 Allied vessels, including three US Navy ships during Operation Torch.
1956—The first missile firing aircraft squadron, Attack Squadron 83, is deployed overseas aboard USS Intrepid (CVA 11).
Thanks to CHINFO
Executive Summary:
• CNO Adm. Mike Gilday and Mrs. Linda Gilday released a video celebrating Women's History Month.
• National and trade press outlets reported on the response from senior military leaders to a Fox News anchor's derogatory remarks about women in the military.
• Seapower Magazine reported on the use of Project Overmatch to maintain dominance.
Today in History March12
1496 | The Jews are expelled from Syria. | ||
1507 | Cesare Borgia dies while fighting alongside his brother, the king of Navarre, in Spain. | ||
1609 | The Bermuda Islands become an English colony. | ||
1664 | New Jersey becomes a British colony. | ||
1789 | The United States Post Office is established. | ||
1809 | Great Britain signs a treaty with Persia forcing the French out of the country. | ||
1863 | President Jefferson Davis delivers his State of the Confederacy address. | ||
1879 | The British Zulu War begins. | ||
1884 | Mississippi establishes the first U.S. state college for women. | ||
1894 | Coca-Cola is sold in bottles for the first time. | ||
1903 | The Czar of Russia issues a decree providing for nominal freedom of religion throughout the land. | ||
1909 | British Parliament increases naval appropriations for Great Britain. | ||
1911 | Dr. Fletcher of the Rockefeller Institute discovers the cause of infantile paralysis. | ||
1912 | Juliet Low founds the Girl Scouts in Savannah, Georgia. | ||
1917 | Russian troops mutiny as the "February Revolution" begins. | ||
1930 | Gandhi begins his march to the sea to symbolizes his defiance of British rule in India. | ||
1933 | President Paul von Hindenburg drops the flag of the German Republic and orders that the swastika and empire banner be flown side by side. | ||
1933 | President Roosevelt makes the first of his Sunday evening fireside chats. | ||
1938 | German troops enter Austria without firing a shot, forming the anschluss (union) of Austria and Germany. | ||
1939 | Pius XII is elected the new pope in Rome. | ||
1944 | Great Britain bars all travel to neutral Ireland, which is suspected of collaborating with Nazi Germany. | ||
1945 | Diarist Anne Frank dies in a German concentration camp. | ||
1959 | The U.S. House of Representatives joins the Senate in approving the statehood of Hawaii. | ||
1984 | Lebanese President Gemayel opens the second meeting in five years calling for the end to nine-years of war. | ||
1985 | The United States and the Soviet Union begin arms control talks in Geneva. | ||
1994 | The Church of England ordains women priests. | ||
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Thanks to NHHC. Click on the Battle of the Sundra Strait below to learn more
U.S., Australian, Indonesian Sailors Commemorate WWII Battle of Sunda Strait
To commemorate the 77th anniversary of the Battle of Sunda Strait, Sailors from mine countermeasures ship USS Chief attended a wreath laying ceremony aboard Indonesian navy ship Kri Usman Harun, March 1. The ceremony honored the crews who lost their lives on USS Houston and HMAS Perth during the World War II battle. "It is important to remember the sacrifice of the Sailors that have gone before us to pay tribute to shipmates who have made the ultimate commitment while personifying the essence of duty," said Lt. Cmdr. Fred Crayton, commanding officer of Chief. "It is events like the commemoration of the Battle of Sunda Strait that captures the fighting spirit and significance of Sailors who chose obligation over existence. These were heroes that embodied honor, courage, and commitment and who should always be remembered." To learn more, read the article. Also read H-Gram 003: The Valor of the Asiatic Fleet, Lest We Forget at NHHC's website, and Lost but not forgotten: Ocean relics of WWII battle that discusses efforts to preserve the wrecks.
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Thanks to Dr. Rich
March 10-11 in aviation history are speed days.
In 1948 – NACA test pilot Herbert Henry Hoover becomes the first civilian to fly faster than the speed of sound, reaching 703 mph (Mach 1.065) aboard the No. 2 Bell XS-1.
In 1956 – The British-built Fairey Delta 2 research aircraft flown by Lt Cdr Peter Twiss sets a new world airspeed record of 1,132 mph, becoming the first plane to exceed 1,000 mph in level flight. The new mark bests the previous record by 300 mph, set a year earlier by a North American F-100 Super Sabre.
In 1957 – The prototype Boeing 707 jet lands after a press demonstration flight from Seattle, Washington to Baltimore, Maryland during which it covers 2,350 miles in a record time of 3 hours 48 minutes, an average speed of 618 mph.
And this notable sunset:
In 1960 – The last flight by a United States Air Force-operated North American B-25 Mitchell takes place, when TB-25 J-25-NC, 44-30854, the last Mitchell in the U. S. Air Force inventory, lands at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, for preservation.
Thanks to Doctor Rich
Yeager won't be happy w. this announcement (below) … or did he change his name …
Actually, I believe a North American test pilot, broke the sound barrier before Yeager … twice I think, before they forbid him to retract his gear during flights until Yeager flew the X-1 … sonic booms heard clearly at Happy Bottom before Yeager made the attempt ...
http://www.456fis.org/GEORGE_WELCH_SOUND_BARRIER.htm
Rich
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Thanks to Ed……I wonder if there are many like this man still out there in the Military or politics or industry
You need to read this one. Especially the laws of the seven Rs
RIP Allen McDonald
Why execs who don't listen to their engineers, or who override their recommendations, do so at their own peril...
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Thanks to Mugs
What have we come to??
From a USAF friend. I no longer recognize our world.
Mugs
WHAT NEXT ?
Military heroes did not get ribbons for serving in many of the most fierce battles of WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, but are receiving them for " protecting the Capital" for 20 days.
We have wounded Warriors with double arm and leg amputations without recognition / ribbons.
Not one National Guard member has been fired upon, in " defense of Joe Biden" yet they are receiving military ribbons for their moderate 20 day "deployment".
Next the Secretary of Defense will be awarding military ribbons for nicely shaped haircuts, sharp pant creases, having a shiny belt buckle, tight sleeping bunks, and certainly basic bras that fit properly.
This is the DNC " woke" culture on display, giving every kid who joins a sport or activity a most valuable player award.
Such actions diminish the intent of hero recognition.
Perhaps, we all should get a hero medals after suffering through hours and hours of stressful news coverage!
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Thanks to Brett
Geopolitical Futures:
Keeping the future in focus
https://geopoliticalfutures.com
Daily Memo: A Good Man Is Hard to Find
March 11, 2021
By George Friedman
Thoughts in and around geopolitics.
Last week, I wrote about the disagreement over which course the United States should take in the fight against the coronavirus. I concluded by saying that both Dr. Anthony Fauci and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott were good men. There was intense criticism and praise of the piece. Most interesting was the rejection, divided about equally, of my assertion that both of them were good. (I use the term "good men" rather than people not because I exclude women from goodness but because I find the term "good men" to be more evocative and poetic.)
This led me to think about an important subject, one that has nothing to do with the pandemic but rather what it means to be a good man. This is a critical question for the United States, which is built on friendship, on the bonds that hold our communities together. When the massive ice storm hit Texas, it was neither Washington nor Austin, the capital of Texas, that provided what little relief was possible. It was friends and neighbors who did what they could to ameliorate the suffering. This is how the founders intended the country to be, how Texas was intended to be and, I suspect, how most states were intended to be.
The country has diverse opinions on many things. This was also intended by the founders. But it raises a question: If friendship is a foundation of the country, and communities are frequently divided on issues, what is the relationship between friendship and deeply held differences of opinion? It is therefore an important question to consider whether it is possible to totally disagree with Fauci and Abbott and still see them as good men. In times like these, opinions are not just divided; those who disagree are demonized by their opponents. We regard those we oppose in the government as being corrupt in their views. That allows them to skirt the idea that those we disagree with may be friends and not monsters. Intentionally dishonest ideas preclude regarding them as good. This is of course true on a national and international level, and sometimes leads to civil war.
But that is not the key problem. The key problem is that the idea of a good man is blurred to such a degree that it has lost its weight. The discussion of the loss of civility has been beaten to death. There is no solution because there isn't a great definition of goodness in people that would allow disagreement and admiration to cohabitate. This allows me to address the question of what is a good man.
The question of the good man is ancient, with thoughts on this to be found among Greeks, Hebrews, Indians and Chinese. There is no significant consideration of being human that does not set a standard for good men, and therefore does not seek to define the good. But my search is simpler. It begins there, but I am looking for the goodness that elicits friendship and the other virtues that constitute goodness.
Aristotle identified four virtues: courage, prudence, justice and wisdom. These are in ascending order of profundity, with courage available to all and wisdom to the few. None of us have a full measure of any of these, but the good man has some of each and deeply respects those virtues he does not himself possess. He is a good man through the vicarious appreciation of what he is not.
We think of courage as the willingness to risk oneself, and think of it as the virtue of a soldier. It is certainly that, but I see courage as residing in the willingness to say what you believe to be true even at the risk of being held in contempt or ostracized from the community. Men want to be liked, and they dislike being alone. Courage is the will and strength to stand alone, outside the community that humans, by nature social animals, hunger for.
Prudence is the ability to consider the consequences of courage not only to oneself but to the community. It is one thing to be willing to stand apart, and another thing to stand apart regardless of the harm you do. There are things that you may believe to be genuinely true but are not worth telling because the cost to you or to the community vastly outweighs the cost of not telling the truth. Being willing to stand alone has value not in standing alone but in the willingness to do so. Prudence is the wisdom of understanding the consequences and weighing them well.
Justice is not just a political virtue. Justice rests in the ability to understand why others think differently than you, and to respect their thoughts even if you disagree. For Aristotle, justice is recognizing your obligations to your community and to your neighbor. It is the outcome of prudence, for those unable to be just will likely be treated unjustly. He may have the courage to endure injustice but not the prudence to select which battles are worth fighting, which are worth winning and, most important, which are worth losing. A courageous man will stand alone, a prudent man will temper his courage, and a just man will recognize that he cannot exist alone – and that the fate of his city or nation takes precedence because life is impossible without them. A courageous man without prudence or justice harms himself and his nation. Being right is not the only measure of proper action.
The fourth virtue is wisdom, which is the virtue that allows you a sense of proportion and demands proportionate speech and behavior from you. Wisdom is the highest virtue because it brings order out of courage, prudence and justice. The excessive love of justice can shatter the community since people who must live together must be aware that men disagree, and that while there is a point where disagreement becomes conflict, that point should always be the last possible resort. Out of courage and justice, even tempered by prudence, men will justify actions that are most unwise.
Again, no one has a full measure of all these virtues, but all cities and nations possess a mixture of men that possess them. Too frequently, wisdom is shouted down in favor of the more attractive virtues of courage and justice, with prudence overwhelmed. The most important thing that wisdom teaches is to presume men are good. Most men think they are good even when they are not. The act of doing harm is not the same as not being good. None of us know the outcome of our ideas, even if we think we do. There are some men who are in fact evil and prefer it.
The Texas ice storm was a long way from Aristotle, but most Texans knew what goodness was. Some didn't, and some were evil. That is the human condition. But when we regard a man as evil and corrupt because he disagrees with us, then we set the stage for war. And it should also be remembered that regardless of courage, wars can be lost, and the desire for conflict over matters imprudent and unjust can damage the nation deeply. And it can damage you deeply, as you develop the belief that your ideas are indisputably true. That turns you into something monstrous, a man who does not know he is merely a man and not God.
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ROLLING THUNDER thanks to the Bear
Friday, 12 March 2021... Bear🇺🇸⚓️🤩
LOOKING BACK 55-YEARS to the Vietnam Air War—12 March 1966...
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com...
"A Commitment to a Cause: Remember Rolling Thunder"
http://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/rolling-thunder-12-march-2016/
Vietnam Air Losses
Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady's work at: https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.
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This Day in U S Military History…March 12
1824 – Marines of the Boston Barracks quelled a Massachusetts State Prison riot. Inmates rioted and holed up in the mess hall with a guard as hostage, Marines from the Boston barracks came to help. Major RD Wainwright led 30 Marines into the mess hall to confront 283 armed and determined prisoners. Wainwright ordered his men to cock and level their muskets. "You must leave this hall," he told the inmates. "I give you three minutes to decide. If at the end of that time a man remains, he will be shot dead. I speak no more." In two and a half minutes, "the hall was cleared as if by magic."
1864 – One of the biggest military fiascos of the war begins as a combined Union force of infantry and riverboats begins moving up the Red River in Louisiana. The month-long campaign was poorly managed and achieved none of the objectives set forth by Union commanders. The campaign had several strategic goals. The Union hoped to capture everything along the Red River in Louisiana and continue into Texas. President Lincoln hoped to send a symbolic warning to France, which had set up a puppet government in Mexico and seemed to have designs on territorial expansion. Finally, the expedition could also capture cotton-producing regions, a product in short supply in the North. The plan called for Admiral David Dixon Porter to take a flotilla of 20 gunboats up the Red River while General Nathaniel Banks led 27,000 men along the western shore of the river. Porter's squadron entered the river on March 12. Two days later, Fort Derussy fell to the Yankees and the ships moved upriver and captured Alexandria. So far, the expedition was going well, but Banks was moving too slowly. He arrived two weeks after Porter took Alexandria, and he continued to plod towards Shreveport. Banks traveled nearly 20 miles from the Red River, too far for the gunboats to offer any protection. On April 8, Banks' command was attacked and routed by General Richard Taylor, son of former president Zachary Taylor. They fought again the next day, but this time the Yankees held off the Rebel pursuit. The intimidated Banks elected to retreat back down the river before reaching Shreveport. Porter's ships followed, but the Red River was unusually low and the ships were stuck above some rapids near Alexandria. It appeared that the ships would have to be destroyed to keep them from falling into Confederate hands, but Lt. Colonel Joseph Bailey of Wisconsin, an engineer with a logging background, supervised several thousand soldiers in constructing a series of wing dams that raised the water level enough for the ships to pass. The expedition was deemed a failure–it drew Union strength away from other parts of the South and the group never reached Texas.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
12 March
WAINWRIGHT, JONATHAN M.
Rank and organization: General, Commanding U.S. Army Forces in the Philippines. Place and date: Philippine Islands, 12 March to 7 May 1942. Entered service at: Skaneateles, N.Y. Birth: Walla Walla, Wash. G.O. No.: 80, 19 September 1945. Citation: Distinguished himself by intrepid and determined leadership against greatly superior enemy forces. At the repeated risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in his position, he frequented the firing line of his troops where his presence provided the example and incentive that helped make the gallant efforts of these men possible. The final stand on beleaguered Corregidor, for which he was in an important measure personally responsible, commanded the admiration of the Nation's allies. It reflected the high morale of American arms in the face of overwhelming odds. His courage and resolution were a vitally needed inspiration to the then sorely pressed freedom-loving peoples of the world.
*WOMACK, BRYANT E.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Medical Company, 14th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Sokso-ri, Korea, 12 March 1952. Entered service at: Mill Springs, N.C. Birth: Mill Springs, N.C. G.O. No.: 5, 12 January 1953. Citation: Pfc. Womack distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. Pfc. Womack was the only medical aid man attached to a night combat patrol when sudden contact with a numerically superior enemy produced numerous casualties. Pfc. Womack went immediately to their aid, although this necessitated exposing himself to a devastating hail of enemy fire, during which he was seriously wounded. Refusing medical aid for himself, he continued moving among his comrades to administer aid. While he was aiding 1 man, he was again struck by enemy mortar fire, this time suffering the loss of his right arm. Although he knew the consequences should immediate aid not be administered, he still refused aid and insisted that all efforts be made for the benefit of others that were wounded. Although unable to perform the task himself, he remained on the scene and directed others in first aid techniques. The last man to withdraw, he walked until he collapsed from loss of blood, and died a few minutes later while being carried by his comrades. The extraordinary heroism, outstanding courage, and unswerving devotion to his duties displayed by Pfc. Womack reflect the utmost distinction upon himself and uphold the esteemed traditions of the U.S. Army.
*KAROPCZYC, STEPHEN EDWARD
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company A, 2d Battalion, 35th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Place and date: Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam, 12 March 1967. Entered service at: Bethpage, N.Y. Born: 5 March 1944, New York, N.Y. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. While leading the 3d Platoon, Company A, on a flanking maneuver against a superior enemy force, 1st Lt. Karopczyc observed that his lead element was engaged with a small enemy unit along his route. Aware of the importance of quickly pushing through to the main enemy force in order to provide relief for a hard-pressed friendly platoon, he dashed through the intense enemy fire into the open and hurled colored smoke grenades to designate the foe for attack by helicopter gunships. He moved among his men to embolden their advance, and he guided their attack by marking enemy locations with bursts of fire from his own weapon. His forceful leadership quickened the advance, forced the enemy to retreat, and allowed his unit to close with the main hostile force. Continuing the deployment of his platoon, he constantly exposed himself as he ran from man to man to give encouragement and to direct their efforts. A shot from an enemy sniper struck him above the heart but he refused aid for this serious injury, plugging the bleeding wound with his finger until it could be properly dressed. As the enemy strength mounted, he ordered his men to organize a defensive position in and around some abandoned bunkers where he conducted a defense against the increasingly strong enemy attacks. After several hours, a North Vietnamese soldier hurled a hand grenade to within a few feet of 1st Lt. Karopczyc and 2 other wounded men. Although his position protected him, he leaped up to cover the deadly grenade with a steel helmet. It exploded to drive fragments into 1st Lt. Karopczyc's legs, but his action prevented further injury to the 2 wounded men. Severely weakened by his multiple wounds, he continued to direct the actions of his men until he succumbed 2 hours later. 1st Lt. Karopczyc's heroic leadership, unyielding perseverance, and selfless devotion to his men were directly responsible for the successful and spirited action of his platoon throughout the battle and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.
*STOUT, MITCHELL W.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Battery C, 1st Battalion, 44th Artillery. Place and date: Khe Gio Bridge, Republic of Vietnam, 12 March 1970. Entered service at: Raleigh, N.C. Born: 24 February 1950, Knoxville, Tenn. Citation: Sgt. Stout distinguished himself during an attack by a North Vietnamese Army Sapper company on his unit's firing position at Khe Gio Bridge. Sgt. Stout was in a bunker with members of a searchlight crew when the position came under heavy enemy mortar fire and ground attack. When the intensity of the mortar attack subsided, an enemy grenade was thrown into the bunker. Displaying great courage, Sgt. Stout ran to the grenade, picked it up, and started out of the bunker. As he reached the door, the grenade exploded. By holding the grenade close to his body and shielding its blast, he protected his fellow soldiers in the bunker from further injury or death. Sgt. Stout's conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action, at the cost of his own life, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit and the U.S. Army.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for March 12, 2021 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
12 March
1908: Lt Thomas E. Selfridge's Red Wing, the first Aerial Experiment Association airplane, made its first flight at Lake Keuka, Hammondsport, N. Y., with Frederick W. "Casey" Baldwin at the controls. (24)
1915: 1Lt Byron Q. Jones, Cpls Carl T. Hale, and Robert H. Houser flew a Burgess-Renault (Signal Corps No. 28) to a three-man duration record of 7 hours 5 minutes. (5)
1917: An Army and Navy board submitted the first interservice agreement on aircraft operations and the development of aeronautic resources to Service Secretaries. This document stressed joint development and operation, but recognized a general division of aeronautic functions along traditional service lines. (5)
1949: Capt Roy Showalter flew a 7 BG B-36 to a long-distance record by flying 9,600 miles in 43 hours 37 minutes without refueling. The flight began and ended at Fort Worth. (1)
1956: FIRST CENTURY SERIES AIRCRAFT IN EUROPE. The first F-100Cs landed at Bitburg AB, Germany, on their way to Sidi Slimane, Morocco, for duty with the 45th Fighter Day Squadron. That arrival made the F-100C the first Century series aircraft to arrive in the European theater, at least publicly. Earlier in May 1955, six RF-100As secretly arrived at Bitburg, with assignment to the Rhine-Main based 7407th Support Squadron as Detachment #1, to fly reconnaissance missions over Eastern Bloc countries under Project Slick Chick. (4) (http://www.cottonpickers.org/recce_pukes.htm) Attack Squadron 83, with F7U-3M Cutlass aircraft and Sparrow I missiles, deployed for the Mediterranean from Norfolk in the first overseas employment of a Navy jet fighter squadron armed with air-to-air missiles. (24)
1965: Four USN enlisted men ended a 30-day rotating-room test that studied the effect of spinning on spacecraft occupants. (5) The last test Atlas D launched from Vandenberg. (6)
1970: Vice President Spiro T. Agnew gave Harmon International Trophies to Maj Jerauld R. Gentry, an AFFTC pilot, and to Col Frank Borman, James A. Lovell, Jr., and Lt Col William A. Anders, the Apollo VIII crewmen. (3)
1980: AROUND-THE-WORLD FLIGHT/MACKAY TROPHY. Through 14 March, two 410 BMW B-52Hs from K. I. Sawyer AFB, Mich., flew nonstop, 19,353 nautical miles around the world in 42 hours 30 minutes, averaging 488 MPH. Majors William H. Thurston and John M. Durham commanded the flight from Offutt AFB, across Canada, the North Atlantic, Europe, the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean, the Strait of Malacca, the South China Sea, and back to Offutt. They earned the trophy for the flight. (1)
1998: Operation HOMECOMING's Silver Anniversary. A C-141 from the 445 AW (AFRC) at Wright-Patterson AFB landed at Randolph AFB with more than 50 former US prisoners of war. On 12 February 1973, the same C-141 (tail number 66-0177) airlifted Americans from Gia Lam Airport, Hanoi, North Vietnam on the first Operation HOMECOMING mission to repatriate American servicemen from Southeast Asia. The Starlifter took the men to Randolph AFB for the 25th annual "Freedom Flyers" reunion and the operation's silver anniversary. (22)
1998: NASA's B-52 dropped the X-38 atmospheric test vehicle from 23,000 feet on its first test. The vehicle deployed its parafoil parachute and glided to a landing on the Precision Impact Range Area at Edwards. The X-38, designed as a lifting body resembling the X-24A, was planned as an emergency crew return "lifeboat" for the International Space Station. (3)
2001: The AFFTC completed the Developmental Test & Evaluation (DT&E) of the F-16 Block 40T6 Avionics Upgrade program with 139 flight test missions and 220-plus flying hours. (3)
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World News for 12 March thanks to Military Periscope
USA—Austin, Blinken To Visit Japan, S. Korea The Hill | 03/12/2021 U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken are scheduled to make a joint trip to North Asia next week, reports the Hill (Washington, D.C.). On March 13, Austin is slated begin his trip with a visit to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command headquarters in Hawaii, reported Air Force magazine. Austin and Blinken are then set to visit Japan and South Korea from March 15-18. The American officials with meet with their Japanese counterparts in the Security Consultative Committee format. A similar meeting is scheduled in South Korea in what has been called the U.S.-ROK Foreign and Defense Ministerial. Austin is then scheduled to travel to India, to meet with his Indian counterpart and other senior officials to discuss bilateral defense ties and ways to increase cooperation. Blinken, meanwhile, is slated to travel to Anchorage, Alaska, on March 18 with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Yang Jiechi, the director of China's Office of Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, reported the State Dept.
USA—Hyten Sees Issues With Combatant Commanders, Hybrid Warfare Air Force Magazine | 03/12/2021 Air Force Gen. John Hyten, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has warned that the U.S. military is struggling to integrate the responsibilities of its combat commanders (COCOMs) and address the threat of hybrid warfare, reports Air Force magazine. The current system has problems addressing challenges when they fall between the COCOMs, Hyten said on March 10 during an online seminar hosted by the Canadian Conference of Defense Associations. The military is working to resolve these seams through exercises and wargames, individually and with allies. A particular focus is solving these issues in Europe. Problems include Russia, which poses challenges to all of the COCOMs. "You can't look at each COCOM as a unique function that only deals with that territory, because all problems are global," the general said. Hyten also said that the U.S. and its partners need to come to grips with the idea that hybrid warfare is a new strategy that needs to be understood like conventional, nuclear or terrorist strategies in order to develop an effective response. He also emphasized the need to be realistic about the reasons behind the behavior of potential adversaries such as China and Russia.
Belgium—Engine Issue Grounds F-16 Fighters The War Zone | 03/12/2021 The Belgian air force has been forced to ground its fighter fleet after a problem was discovered with their engines, reports the War Zone website. The service grounded its 43 single-seat F-16AM and eight two-seat F-16BM jets on Wednesday, transferring responsibilities for quick-reaction alert duties to the Dutch air force. The engine issue was discovered after one of the F-16s suffered a "nozzle burn through" while taking off from the Florennes Air Base on Feb. 11. The issue involves the disintegration of the engine's exhaust petals due to excessive temperatures The jet safely returned to base and the engine was sent to the Patria Belgium Engine Center for investigation. The probe found that the problem was due to a hinge pin. A significant number of Belgian F-16 engines were found to have the same issue, leading the air force to ground the fleet for inspections and corrective action. Repair time is estimated at about five days, although the contractor has indicated that there is a shortage of needed parts on the market. Other European nations that operate the F-16 have been informed about the issue. The Netherlands has already confirmed that its jets are not affected by the problem. The War Zone noted that Belgium's aging F-16 fleet has seen heavy use in operations in Afghanistan and the Middle East over the last two decades.
Germany—Defense Ministry Doesn't Need To Restart Heavy-Lift Helo Program, Court Rules Defense News | 03/12/2021 Germany's top federal procurement court has ruled that the defense ministry does not have to restart a competition for a new heavy-lift helicopter after it was suddenly canceled last fall, reports Defense News. Lockheed Martin and its Sikorsky subsidiary protested the decision to cancel the program, which was intended to select a replacement for Germany's aging CH-53G helicopters. The March 5 ruling published on Tuesday upheld the cancellation but found that the move was unlawful because the government failed to properly document its argument that the cost of the two offers was unacceptably high. Lockheed offered its CH-53K King Stallion for the program, while Boeing proposed the CH-47F. Lockheed Martin is not expected to appeal the decision, since it hopes to again offer the King Stallion for any follow-on program. Executives have two weeks to decide if they want to appeal to a different court.
Ukraine—Soldier Killed Fighting Separatists Near Donetsk Agence France-Presse | 03/12/2021 A Ukrainian soldier has been killed fighting Russian-backed separatists in the eastern Donbas region, reports Agence France-Presse. On Thursday, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said that the soldier was killed by small-arms fire near the village of Starognativka, south of Donetsk. He received emergency medical care after taking fire but succumbed to his wounds, reported Ukrinform. The soldier is the ninth servicemember killed in fighting since mid-February. Kyiv has accused Russia and its proxies in eastern Ukraine of using banned military hardware amid the spike in violence. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called for a meeting with European leaders and raised the possibility of meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine, Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe agreed to a new truce in July 2020 but both sides have regularlay accused the other of cease-fire violations.
Armenia—Military Exercises To Coincide With Drills In Azerbaijan Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | 03/12/2021 Armenia has announced a military exercise next week that will coincide with previously revealed training in rival Azerbaijan, reports Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. On Friday, the defense ministry said that the maneuvers would involve 7,500 troops, 100 armored vehicles, more than 90 anti-aircraft platforms and various aircraft. The drills would coincide with similar training in neighboring Azerbaijan from March 15 to March 18, which was announced on Wednesday. Those exercises would involve up to 10,000 troops, around 100 tanks, up to 200 missile and artillery units, up to 30 aircraft and drones. A Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said that Moscow does not anticipate that the exercises would negatively impact security in the South Caucasus. The two countries fought a brief war over the Nagorno-Karabakh region last year that ended with a Russian-brokered peace agreement that returned control of seven adjacent districts and part of the majority Armenian region to Azerbaijan.
North Korea—Pyongyang Still Short Of Viable Nuclear Strike Capability, Says USFK Chief Stars And Stripes | 03/12/2021 The head of U.S. Forces Korea says that North Korea's display of a submarine-launched ballistic missile in January does not mean it has a viable weapon, reports Stars & Stripes. The SLBM was described by the North Korean regime as "the world's most powerful weapon," noted Bloomberg News. There is a significant gap between showing off the weapon, and having one capable of delivering a nuclear warhead, Gen. Robert Abrams said in written testimony to the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday. Pyongyang has not yet launched an SLBM from a submarine and is not believed to have such a capability, experts said. The new missile may be an intermediate step toward a solid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missile, said Abrams.
South Korea—No New Missile Defense Systems Planned For S. Korea, Says USFK Yonhap | 03/12/2021 U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) says that plans to enhance missile defenses in South Korea do not include the deployment of new systems, reports the Yonhap news agency (Seoul). On Wednesday, USFK commander Gen. Robert Abrams told the U.S. House Armed Services Committee that the command intended to deploy two specific anti-ballistic missile capabilities in South Korea, augmenting the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system already in place. On Friday, a command spokesman clarified that the new capabilities would not include the deployment of additional units or equipment to South Korea. He declined to provide further information, citing operational security concerns. South Korean Defense Ministry officials said that there had been no discussions about the deployment of any new anti-missile systems. Officials in Seoul said the general appeared to be referring to the ongoing development and modernization of existing systems to better respond to North Korean threats. The U.S. has been upgrading its THAAD systems with an advanced radar and to integrate it with Patriot air and missile defense systems, analysts said.
South Korea—Army Eyes More Apache Attack Choppers Defence-Blog | 03/12/2021 The South Korean army wants to buy more attack helicopters to bolster its offensive capabilities in the event of a conflict with the North, reports Defence Blog. The service has decided to acquire an additional 36 AH-64E Apaches to fully replace its aging fleet of AH-1S aircraft, reported Bizhankook.com (South Korea). The latest AH-64E Apache Lot 6 variant is being considered for the requirement. South Korea previously purchased 36 AH-64Es in 2013.
Australia—Pilots Begin 1st Domestic F-35 Conversion Course Australian Dept. Of Defense | 03/12/2021 For the first time, Australian air force fighter pilots are training to fly the F-35 in Australia, reports the Australian Dept. of Defense. On Feb. 2, the first operational conversion course began at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, the department said in a release on March 11. The four pilots started their training in January after completing the introductory fighter course in the Hawk 127 lead-in fighter trainer with No. 76 Squadron. The transition to the F-35A is more difficult because of the lack of a two-seat trainer, requiring the pilot to make their first flight solo, said Wing Cdr. Jordan Sander, the commander of the No. 2 Operation Conversion Unit. Accordingly, initially training takes place on the simulator, enabling pilots to demonstrate that they can safely and effectively complete tasks. In addition, during the conversion phase, the student pilot is accompanied by an instructor in a chase aircraft who can supervise and provide technique and safety feedback as necessary, Sander said. The operational conversion course runs for six months, with the initial class expected to graduate in July.
Burma—KIA Attacks Military Outpost In Hpakant Irrawaddy | 03/12/2021 The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has conducted its first attack on Burmese troops in two months, reports the Irrawaddy (Burma). On Thursday, fighters from KIA Battalion 26 attacked an outpost near the village of Selzin in the Hpakant municipality in Kachin state, according to a KIA spokesman. The fighters withdrew after taking control of the post. Burmese troops launched retaliatory attacks on the KIA battalion headquarters from helicopters. The spokesman said that the attack was not ordered by KIA commanders and may have been an attempt to aid other KIA units in the area amid ongoing operations by the Burmese military. There have been few major clashes between the military and KIA since late 2018, while the sides were negotiating a cease-fire. However, Burmese troops have launched four attacks on KIA battalion headquarters since the Feb. 1 coup, noted the publication. The KIA has refused to recognize the military government and has threatened to resume attacks if security forces continue to use violence against protesters.
Saudi Arabia—Falcon Claws Exercise With U.S. Set For Next Week Al Arabiya | 03/12/2021 Saudi troops are gearing up for joint training with U.S. forces, reports Al Arabiya (Dubai). On Thursday, the Saudi Defense Ministry said that exercise Falcon Claws 3 would be held next week in northwestern Saudi Arabia. The training will strengthen cooperation and facilitate the exchange of ideas and expertise, the ministry said. The drill follows the two-week Falcon Claws 2 exercise, which took place in December.
Israel—Attacks On Iranian Ships Headed To Syria Blamed On Israel Wall Street Journal | 03/12/2021 Israel is suspected of attacks on at least a dozen Iranian vessels bound for Syria, reports the Wall Street Journal. The attacks began in 2019 in the Red Sea and other areas and targeted oil and cargo shipments, including suspected arms deliveries, said U.S. and regional officials. Anti-ship mines and other means have been used in the attacks, which did not sink any of the vessels. At least two ships were forced to return to port. At least three attacks were record in 2019 and six in 2020, according to shipping professionals. Iranian officials have previously accused Israel of targeting some of its ships but until now this had not been confirmed by other sources. Israel has sought to halt the oil trade to Syria because it believes it funds extremists, noted the Times of Israel. The trade also violates U.N. and international sanctions on the two countries. Iranian oil shipments have become a key lifeline for the Syrian regime as it struggles under sanctions and the ongoing conflict there.
Burkina Faso—Local Talks Underway With Some Jihadists Agence France-Presse | 03/12/2021 There have been tentative steps taken in Burkina Faso to negotiate with jihadist groups, reports Agence France-Presse. Sources said that President Roch Marc Christian Kabore has overseen contacts with some groups in northern Burkina Faso despite a campaign pledge last year not to negotiate. The limited contacts have been made with Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), while Islamic State in the Greater Sahara has been excluded, the sources said. A military source said that local talks had occurred in the Djibo region. While the initiative is vague, experts said attacks in the north had largely declined in recent months. Prime Minister Christophe Dabire first raised the possibility of a negotiated settlement in February. L'Evenement (Burkina Faso) reported that 29 jihadist militants were released following negotiations with the government in 2020. Officials have not confirmed the report. At least 2,293 people were killed in northern Burkina Faso in 2020, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project.
Nigeria—30 Students Abducted In Attack In Kaduna State Punch | 03/12/2021 Thirty students have been abducted in the latest school kidnapping in northern Nigeria, reports the Punch (Lagos). Late Thursday, gunmen stormed the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization in Igabi, Kaduna state, the state government said. About 180 students and employees were quickly rescued by soldiers from the army's 1st Division but 30 remain unaccounted for, a state security official said on Friday. The rescued civilians were taken to an army cantonment to ensure their safety, reported the Daily Trust (Abuja). This is the fourth kidnapping attack at a school in northern Nigeria since December, noted NPR News. Unlike previous attacks, this incident involved a secondary school, reported Al Jazeera (Qatar). Other attacks have targeted middle and high schools. Some victims have been quickly released but others remain in captivity. There has been speculation that policies of paying ransoms may be fueling the attacks.
Nigeria—2 Dozen Militants Eliminated In Borno Op Vanguard | 03/12/2021 The Nigerian army says that it has eliminated 25 Boko Haram militants during an operation in the northeastern Borno state, reports the Vanguard (Lagos). On Tuesday, troops with Operation Lafiya Dole and the 402 Special Forces Brigade carried out the raid in the villages of Chikun Gudu and Kerenoa in the Marte local government area. The operation netted a large cache of equipment and weapons, including two .50-caliber Browning machine guns; 20 AK-47 and five FN rifles; two 60-mm mortars; three general-purpose machine guns; three anti-aircraft guns; and two automatic grenade launchers. Two gun trucks and a Hilux were also recovered, an army spokesman said.
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