Good Thursday Morning March 18 .
I hope that your week has been going well
Regards,
Skip.
Today in Naval History
March 18
1901
During the Philippine Insurrection, USS Vicksburg (Gunboat #11), commanded by Cmdr. E.B. Barry, begins supporting the U.S. Armys operations under Brig. Gen. Frederick Funston around Kasiguran Bay and Palanan Bay, Luzon, Philippines.
1945
Four destroyers, USS Menges (DE 320), USS Mosely (DE 321), USS Pride (DE 323) and USS Lowe (DE 325), sink the German submarine U 866 south of Nova Scotia.
1945
Planes from Task Force 58 attack airfields on southern Kyushu and shipping lanes, including a Japanese convoy escorted by Coast Defense Vessel No. 29 and submarine chaser Ch 58.
1974
As a part of the cease fire between Egypt and Israel after the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Task Force 56 is sent to sweep mines from the northern part of the Suez Canal as part of Operation Nimble Star.
1989
USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) is commissioned at Portland, Maine. Named for the naval World War II Battle of the Philippine Sea, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser.
1991
The first ship supporting Operation Desert Shield/Storm, combat store ship USS Sylvania (AFS 2), returns back to Norfolk, Va. While supporting Desert Shield/Storm, Sylvania delivered 19,000+ pallets of cargo (equaling 20,500 tons of supplies), answered 30,000+ requisitions, and delivered spare parts and food sustaining 35,000+ sailors aboard 150 ships.
2006
While conducting maritime security operations as part of Combined Task Force 150 in the Indian Ocean, USS Cape St. George (CG 71) and USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) return fire on a group of pirates, killing one and wounding five. The incident occurs about 25 nautical miles off the central eastern coast of Somalia in international waters.
Thanks to CHINFO
Executive Summary:
• National and trade press continue to cover Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken's trip to the Indo-Pacific.
• National press reported on sanctions levied by the Biden administration on Chinese officials ahead of first face-to-face meeting with Beijing.
• Trade press reported on a study that showed lawmakers nominate a disproportionately high number of white students to service academies.
This day in World History
March 18
0037 The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius' will and proclaims Caligula emperor.
1692 William Penn is deprived of his governing powers.
1863 Confederate women riot in Salisbury, N.C. to protest the lack of flour and salt in the South.
1865 The Congress of the Confederate States of America adjourns for the last time.
1874 Hawaii signs a treaty giving exclusive trading rights with the islands to the United States.
1881 Barnum and Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth opens in Madison Square Gardens.
1911 Theodore Roosevelt opens the Roosevelt Dam in Phoenix, Ariz., the largest dam in the United States to date.
1913 Greek King George I is killed by an assassin. Constantine I is to succeed.
1916 On the Eastern Front, the Russians counter the Verdun assault with an attack at Lake Naroch. The Russians lose 100,000 men and the Germans lose 20,000.
1917 The Germans sink the U.S. ships, City of Memphis, Vigilante and the Illinois, without any type of warning.
1922 Mahatma Gandhi is sentenced to six years in prison for civil disobedience in India.
1939 Georgia finally ratifies the Bill of Rights, 150 years after the birth of the federal government. Connecticut and Massachusetts, the only other states to hold out, also ratify the Bill of Rights in this year.
1942 The third military draft begins in the United States.
1943 American forces take Gafsa in Tunisia.
1943 Adolf Hitler calls off the offensive in the Caucasus.
1944 The Russians reach the Romanian border.
1950 Nationalist troops land on the mainland of China and capture Communist-held Sungmen.
1953 The Braves baseball team announces that they are moving from Boston to Milwaukee.
1965 Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov becomes the first man to spacewalk when he exits his Voskhod 2 space capsule while in orbit around the Earth.
1969 President Richard M. Nixon authorizes Operation Menue, the 'secret' bombing of Cambodia.
1970 The U.S. Postal Service is paralyzed by the first postal strike.
1971 U.S. helicopters airlift 1,000 South Vietnamese soldiers out of Laos.
1975 South Vietnam abandons most of the Central Highlands to North Vietnamese forces.
1977 Congo President Marien Ngouabi is killed by a suicide commando.
1981 The United States discloses biological weapons tests in Texas in 1966.
1986 Buckingham Palace announces the engagement of Prince Andrew to Sarah Ferguson.
1937
Natural gas explosion kills nearly 300 at Texas school
Nearly 300 students in Texas are killed by an explosion of natural gas at their school on this day in 1937.
The Consolidated School of New London, Texas, sat in the middle of a large oil and natural gas field. The area was dominated by 10,000 oil derricks, 11 of which stood right on school grounds. The school was newly built in the 1930s for close to $1 million and, from its inception, bought natural gas from Union Gas to supply its energy needs. The school's natural gas bill averaged about $300 a month. Eventually, officials at Consolidated School were persuaded to save money by tapping into the wet-gas lines operated by Parade Oil Company that ran near the school. Wet gas is a type of waste gas that is less stable and has more impurities than typical natural gas. At the time, it was not completely uncommon for consumers living near oil fields to use this gas.
At 3:05 p.m. on March 18, a Thursday afternoon, the 694 students and 40 teachers in attendance at the Consolidated School were looking forward to the final bell, which was to ring in 10 minutes. Instead, a huge and powerful explosion, which literally blew the roof off of the building, leveled the school. The blast was felt by people 40 miles away and killed most victims instantly. People rushed to the scene to pull out survivors; hundreds of injured students were hauled from the rubble. Miraculously, some students walked away unharmed; 10 of these were found under a large bookcase that shielded them from the falling building. First-aid stations were established in the nearby towns of Tyler, Overton, Kilgore and Henderson to tend to the wounded. Reportedly, a blackboard at the destroyed school was found that read, Oil and natural gas are East Texas' greatest natural gifts. Without them, this school would not be here and none of us would be learning our lessons.
The exact cause of the spark that ignited the gas was never found, although it is now known that the gas could have been ignited by static electricity. As a result of this incident, wet gas was required to be burned at the site rather than piped away
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Thanks to Dutch …An interesting bit of history
thanks to ted -
The Breastplate of St. Patrick 2021
The Deer's Song or the Breastplate of St. Patrick is a battle cry. It stands the ground claimed by the Apostle's Creed. Every line boldly resounds with the Gospel. The prayer is rooted in mission. Its words resound with the sense that God Himself has called us forward and sent us with sacred purpose. We do not go alone into the world, but in Christ, following Him, supported by Him, filled with Him. The prayer helps us step forward with courage because not even death can stop the Lord.
All that can be seen in the visible world is a faint echo of those greater glories eye cannot see, and that unseen glory is not indifferent to the plight of creation. The Incarnation of the Word has unleashed powers beyond the control of the world of men, and in the face of evil, noble humanity is given unvanquished hope by Christ's passion and death. No conjured force or malevolent spirit can stand before this dawning radiance of the Trinity and this prayer unveils the new rising of this fresh brightness even in our own day.
The Breastplate begins with a call to rise up, to stand and to bind. This pledge of allegiance rallies courage in the face of death. Such prayer does not back down in fear or anxiety. It is not bogged down with vitriol or finger pointing. Because of Christ's faithfulness to all of humanity, the prayer reminds us that we must not allow anything or anyone to distract or discourage us from going to where He leads - for He is with us to the end.
This is a prayer of pilgrimage, of journey, of the setting of one's chin, of not looking back, of mission from God. One girds, one clads, one arrays oneself with strength and power for the fight. God Himself has given us the power of the Holy Spirit. A spirit of fortitude springs in the heart from Him who conquered death. Through Him who created heaven and earth, all the wonders of creation rise to the defense of those who stand with God.
This prayer is also a prayer of humility and solidarity. Solidarity with God and with creation. All manner of creatures are referred to and their multiplicity opens to a contemplation of humanity's image and likeness to God. We are meant for union with Him not despite the world or by surmounting it - but in it. All that is good, holy and true about the world has a place in the human heart and in our relationship with God. As we are faithful to the mission that God gives us, all of His wonderful works are sanctified and caught up in His saving action that He accomplished through us.
It is said that St. Patrick offered this prayer with his brethren as they walked into an ambush. Ambush should never take the believer by surprise. Traps, plotting, snares are always set against the love of God. The Word of the Father makes all things new and this newness constantly upends the old ways. Those who are set in their ways will always attempt to prevent this new beginning.
False religion always limits the freedom and dignity of the heart. It even results to manipulation, intimidation and the conjuring of malevolent forces. Such a culture of slavery and oppression unravels social fabric until all that is wholesome and true is lost. Christianity stands by the love of God and this love has never peacefully co-existed with such deceit and evil.
St. Patrick's preaching dispelled these structures of death because it appealed to the truth about God and holy humanity. As the Irish began to renounce paganism and believe the Gospel, those who relied on the old fashionable myths for their place and power schemed how to protect themselves. Social standing, privilege, wealth, cultural influence were all at stake. Those who used these things for their own benefit became convinced that the holy truth of God's love had to be suppressed at any cost. Such hatred of the Word of the Father hatched the plot against St. Patrick.
His enemies were prepared to kill him and his comrades. St. Patrick's response was to continue his mission undeterred and the Lorica or Breastplate was born in this holy determination. He taught this prayer to those who assisted him in the ministry. As they prayed together, their would be assailants could not see them - an unseen glory cloaked them from the plots of men. Indeed, all that the powerful and cunning saw was a few deer walking across a meadow. They were confounded. The prayer became known as the Deer's Song.
If true, the story is not surprising. There are many accounts of missionaries being delivered in miraculous ways. Those who cling to the status quo and fear losing their power will always attempt to stand in the way of Christ. But a new power that evil cannot overcome is unleashed - the same Power that holds together Creation is poured out for the salvation of those who will cry out to Christ.
Over thirty years ago, my spiritual director gave me a small part of this prayer. Since then, the Lorica is a frequent part of my daily prayer. In a special way, I ask you to pray this Deer's Song in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Ireland, England and France - all places that were part of St. Patrick's pilgrimage of faith -- for their safety and protection during these days of great trial.The Gospel offers the truth about humanity and our place before God. This truth is the only firm ground that can bear the weight of human existence, and when men and women are able to rise up and stand together, a beautiful and great civilization can be built - a civilization of love and culture of life.
Now, I stand clad for battle in
That Mighty Power
of the Name of the Trinity:
Believing in the Three-ness,
Holding fast the One-ness
Creator of Heaven and Earth.
This day I array myself with
The power of Christ's Birth and Baptism;
The power of his Crucifixion and Burial;
The power of His Resurrection and Ascension;
The Power of His coming to Judge on judgment day.
I go forth today
By virtue of the Seraphim's devotion,
By angels' obedience,
By resurrection's hope unto reward,
By Patriarchs' prayers
By Prophets' word of power,
By Apostles' preaching
By Confessors' faith,
By Holy Virgins' purity,
By righteous men's deeds.
I gird myself this day
With heaven's might,
With sun's light,
With moon's shine,
With fire's glow,
With lightning flash,
With wind swift,
With sea deep,
With earth firm,
With rock hard.
Today, I rise up with
God's Power guiding me,
God's Might upholding me,
God's Wisdom teaching me,
God's Eye watching over me,
God's Ear hearing me,
God's Word giving me speech,
God's Hand guiding me,
God's Way stretching before me,
God's Shield sheltering me,
God's terrible Army protecting me,
Against demon's snares
Against vicious seductions
Against nature's lusts
Against everyone who meditates injury to me,
Whether far or near,
Whether few or many.
I invoke all these powers, now
Against every hostile merciless force
Which may assail my body and my soul,
Against the false seer's enchantments,
Against paganism's dark laws,
Against heresy's false standards,
Against idolatry's deceits,
Against spells of witches, and smiths, and druids,
Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.
Christ, protect me now
Against every poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against death-wound,
That I may receive abundant reward.
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ within me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ at my right,
Christ at my left,
Christ keeping the defense,
Christ setting the course,
Christ giving the orders,
Christ in every heart that thinks of me,
Christ in every mouth that speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Today I bind unto myself Mighty Power,
The Name of the Trinity:
Believing in the Threeness,
Holding fast the Oneness
Of the Creator of all the heavens and the earth.
Dominus est salus, Domini est salus, Christi est salus;
Salus tua, Domine, sit semper nobiscum.
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Thanks to Dutch and the Bear
The Taiwan Crisis of 1958...and 2021?
Dutch... Good timing for the release of this history lesson for public information. As the cheese in the Taiwan Straits tightens, the lessons from the 1958 crisis and combat provide a useful guide to where we may be headed in the immediate future. This is an especially interesting read for those who were nuclear weapon delivery pilots as nuggets in squadrons on carriers in 1958. We were ready to go with MK-7s and MK-28s... Sadly, there was more bang for the buck in a carrier air group then than there is in a carrier air wing in 2021... Bear
https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/dc.html?doc=20515413-doc-10-taiwan-1958
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ROLLING THUNDER thanks to the Bear
LOOKING BACK 55 YEARS to the Vietnam Air War—18 March 1966 From the archives of http://www.rollingthunderremembered.com
"The Dove on LBJs Shoulder"
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 18
1945 – About 1300 American bombers, with some 700 escorting fighters, drop 3000 tons of bombs on Berlin, despite heavy anti-aircraft defenses, including numerous jet fighters. The US fleet loses 25 bombers and 5 fighters.
1945 – Forces of US 3rd Army capture Bingen and Bad Kreuznach as the advance to the southwest continues. To the south, the progress of US 7th Army is beginning to accelerate, with most of its forward units having now crossed the German border.
1945 – There are American landings on Panay by 14,000 men of US 40th Infantry Division (General Brush) in the area near Iloilo. There is little initial opposition from the Japanese garrison.
1945 – US Task Force 58 (Admiral Mitscher) conducts air raids on airfields on Kyushu. There are Japanese Kamikaze attacks by about 10 planes which hit Intrepid, Yorktown and Enterprise but fail to disable any of the aircraft carriers. Admiral Spruance, command the US 5th Fleet, is present for the operations.
1969 – U.S. B-52 bombers are diverted from their targets in South Vietnam to attack suspected communist base camps and supply areas in Cambodia for the first time in the war. President Nixon approved the mission–formally designated Operation Breakfast–at a meeting of the National Security Council on March 15. This mission and subsequent B-52 strikes inside Cambodia became known as the "Menu" bombings. A total of 3,630 flights over Cambodia dropped 110,000 tons of bombs during a 14-month period through April 1970. This bombing of Cambodia and all follow up "Menu" operations were kept secret from the American public and the U.S. Congress because Cambodia was ostensibly neutral. To keep the secret, an intricate reporting system was established at the Pentagon to prevent disclosure of the bombing. Although the New York Times broke the story of the secret bombing campaign in May 1969, there was little adverse public reaction.
1980 – A congressman claims many U.S. combat planes can't fly for lack of spare parts.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
*MATHIS, JACK W. (Air Mission)
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 359th Bomber Squadron, 303d Bomber Group. Place and date: Over Vegesack, Germany, 18 March 1943. Entered service at: San Angelo, Tex. Born: 25 September 1921, San Angelo, Tex. G.O. No.: 38, 12 July 1943. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy over Vegesack, Germany, on 18 March 1943. 1st Lt. Mathis, as leading bombardier of his squadron, flying through intense and accurate antiaircraft fire, was just starting his bomb run, upon which the entire squadron depended for accurate bombing, when he was hit by the enemy antiaircraft fire. His right arm was shattered above the elbow, a large wound was torn in his side and abdomen, and he was knocked from his bomb sight to the rear of the bombardier's compartment. Realizing that the success of the mission depended upon him, 1st Lt. Mathis, by sheer determination and willpower, though mortally wounded, dragged himself back to his sights, released his bombs, then died at his post of duty. As the result of this action the airplanes of his bombardment squadron placed their bombs directly upon the assigned target for a perfect attack against the enemy. 1st Lt. Mathis' undaunted bravery has been a great inspiration to the officers and men of his unit.
*McGEE, WILLIAM D.
Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Medical Detachment, 304th Infantry, 76th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Mulheim, Germany, 18 March 1945. Entered service at: Indianapolis, Ind. Birth: Indianapolis, Ind. G.O. No.: 21, 26 February 1946. Citation: A medical aid man, he made a night crossing of the Moselle River with troops endeavoring to capture the town of Mulheim. The enemy had retreated in the sector where the assault boats landed, but had left the shore heavily strewn with antipersonnel mines. Two men of the first wave attempting to work their way forward detonated mines which wounded them seriously, leaving them bleeding and in great pain beyond the reach of their comrades. Entirely on his own initiative, Pvt. McGee entered the minefield, brought out 1 of the injured to comparative safety, and had returned to rescue the second victim when he stepped on a mine and was severely wounded in the resulting explosion. Although suffering intensely and bleeding profusely, he shouted orders that none of his comrades was to risk his life by entering the death-sown field to render first aid that might have saved his life. In making the supreme sacrifice, Pvt. demonstrated a concern for the well-being of his fellow soldiers that transcended all considerations for his own safety and a gallantry in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.
*MURPHY, FREDERICK C.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Medical Detachment, 259th Infantry, 65th Infantry Division. Place and date: Siegfried Line at Saarlautern, Germany, 18 March 1945. Entered service at: Weymouth, Mass. Birth: Boston, Mass. G.O. No.: 21, 26 February 1946. Citation: An aid man, he was wounded in the right shoulder soon after his comrades had jumped off in a dawn attack 18 March 1945, against the Siegfried Line at Saarlautern, Germany. He refused to withdraw for treatment and continued forward, administering first aid under heavy machinegun, mortar, and artillery fire. When the company ran into a thickly sown antipersonnel minefield and began to suffer more and more casualties, he continued to disregard his own wound and unhesitatingly braved the danger of exploding mines, moving about through heavy fire and helping the injured until he stepped on a mine which severed one of his feet. In spite of his grievous wounds, he struggled on with his work, refusing to be evacuated and crawling from man to man administering to them while in great pain and bleeding profusely. He was killed by the blast of another mine which he had dragged himself across in an effort to reach still another casualty. With indomitable courage, and unquenchable spirit of self-sacrifice and supreme devotion to duty which made it possible for him to continue performing his tasks while barely able to move, Pfc. Murphy saved many of his fellow soldiers at the cost of his own life.
TREADWELL, JACK L.
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, Company F, 180th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Nieder-Wurzbach, Germany, 18 March 1945. Entered service at: Snyder. Okla. Birth: Ashland, Ala. G.O. No.: 79, 14 September 1945. Citation: Capt. Treadwell (then 1st Lt.), commanding officer of Company F, near Nieder-Wurzbach, Germany, in the Siegfried line, single-handedly captured 6 pillboxes and 18 prisoners. Murderous enemy automatic and rifle fire with intermittent artillery bombardments had pinned down his company for hours at the base of a hill defended by concrete fortifications and interlocking trenches. Eight men sent to attack a single point had all become casualties on the hare slope when Capt. Treadwell, armed with a submachinegun and handgrenades, went forward alone to clear the way for his stalled company. Over the terrain devoid of cover and swept by bullets, he fearlessly advanced, firing at the aperture of the nearest pillbox and, when within range, hurling grenades at it. He reached the pillbox, thrust the muzzle of his gun through the port, and drove 4 Germans out with their hands in the air. A fifth was found dead inside. Waving these prisoners back to the American line, he continued under terrible, concentrated fire to the next pillbox and took it in the same manner. In this fort he captured the commander of the hill defenses, whom he sent to the rear with the other prisoners. Never slackening his attack, he then ran across the crest of the hill to a third pillbox, traversing this distance in full view of hostile machine gunners and snipers. He was again successful in taking the enemy position. The Germans quickly fell prey to his further rushes on 3 more pillboxes in the confusion and havoc caused by his whirlwind assaults and capture of their commander. Inspired by the electrifying performance of their leader, the men of Company F stormed after him and overwhelmed resistance on the entire hill, driving a wedge into the Siegfried line and making it possible for their battalion to take its objective. By his courageous willingness to face nearly impossible odds and by his overwhelming one-man offensive, Capt. Treadwell reduced a heavily fortified, seemingly impregnable enemy sector.
*WILKIN, EDWARD G.
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company C, 157th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division. Place and date: Siegfried Line in Germany, 18 March 1945. Entered service at: Longmeadow, Mass. Birth: Burlington, Vt. G.O. No.: 119, 17 December 1945. Citation: He spearheaded his unit's assault of the Siegfried Line in Germany. Heavy fire from enemy riflemen and camouflaged pillboxes had pinned down his comrades when he moved forward on his own initiative to reconnoiter a route of advance. He cleared the way into an area studded with pillboxes, where he repeatedly stood up and walked into vicious enemy fire, storming 1 fortification after another with automatic rifle fire and grenades, killing enemy troops, taking prisoners as the enemy defense became confused, and encouraging his comrades by his heroic example. When halted by heavy barbed wire entanglements, he secured bangalore torpedoes and blasted a path toward still more pillboxes, all the time braving bursting grenades and mortar shells and direct rifle and automatic-weapons fire. He engaged in fierce fire fights, standing in the open while his adversaries fought from the protection of concrete emplacements, and on 1 occasion pursued enemy soldiers across an open field and through interlocking trenches, disregarding the crossfire from 2 pillboxes until he had penetrated the formidable line 200 yards in advance of any American element. That night, although terribly fatigued, he refused to rest and insisted on distributing rations and supplies to his comrades. Hearing that a nearby company was suffering heavy casualties, he secured permission to guide litter bearers and assist them in evacuating the wounded. All that night he remained in the battle area on his mercy missions, and for the following 2 days he continued to remove casualties, venturing into enemy-held territory, scorning cover and braving devastating mortar and artillery bombardments. In 3 days he neutralized and captured 6 pillboxes single-handedly, killed at least 9 Germans, wounded 13, took 13 prisoners, aided in the capture of 14 others, and saved many American lives by his fearless performance as a litter bearer. Through his superb fighting skill, dauntless courage, and gallant, inspiring actions, Cpl. Wilkin contributed in large measure to his company's success in cracking the Siegfried Line. One month later he was killed in action while fighting deep in Germany.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for March 18, 2021 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE
18 March
1942: The US and Panama signed an agreement for defense sites and air bases in Panama to defend the canal. (24)
1944: Operation STRANGLE. The Mediterranean Allied Air Force initiated a seven-week bombing effort against German supply lines to support an allied offensive in Italy. By 11 May, allied aircraft had completed over 50,000 sorties to drop over 26,000 tons of bombs. (21)
1945: The AD-1 Skyraider first flew. (5) 1,250 bombers with 670 fighter escorts conducted the heaviest daylight attack of the war on Berlin. They dropped 3,000 tons of bombs on the transportation and industrial areas. (4) (24) After Germans shot down Maj Pierce W. McKennon near Berlin, his wingman, Lt George D. Green landed near him, dumped out his dingy and parachute, let McKennon get in, and then sat in the Major's lap to take off. They made it home safely, using the "two-in-one" Mustang trick. (4)
1952: Two F-84 Thunderjets landed in Neubiberg, Germany, after a 2,800-mile flight without refueling. It was believed to be the longest sustained jet fighter flight to date. The planes crossed seven nations, averaged 585 MPH, and were airborne for 4 hours 48 minutes. (5)
1954: First production model of the Boeing B-52A Stratofortress rolled out at Seattle. (8)
1958: The USN fired a Bull Goose, an intercontinental jet-propelled "decoy" missile designed to deceive enemy radar. (5)
1960: First Snark ICBM placed on alert with the 702 SMW at Presque Isle AFB, Maine. (6) (12) The USN launched a Polaris on a 900-mile flight from an underground pit that simulated a ship's motion. (24)
1964: The USAF issued a requirement for the SRAM. (6)
1969: Vandenberg AFB launched three satellites, containing 17 experiments, in the Orbiting Vehicle Program under the direction of Office of Aerospace Research scientists. (16) (26)
1970: Through 30 June, after the fall of Prince Norodom Sihanouk, joint US and South Vietnamese conducted air and ground operations into Cambodia against North Vietnamese troop and supply sanctuaries. This operation intensified on 30 April. (17)
1977: All 10 members in the first group of women undergraduate pilot students completed the Phase II Training program in the T-37 Tweet. They then started Phase III with the T-38 Talon. (16)
1981: The 18 TFW received 80 F-15 Eagles. This delivery completed PACAF's conversion to the new fighter. The 18th then transferred 79 F-4 Phantoms to other commands. (16)
1987: The Navy launched its second Trident II flight test missile from a pad at Cape Canaveral into an impact area in the Eastern Missile Test Range. (5)
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World News for 18 March thanks to Military Periscope
USA—Approaching Afghan Withdrawal Deadline Tough To Meet, Biden Says ABC News | 03/18/2021 President Joe Biden says it will be difficult to meet the May 1 deadline under an agreement negotiated with the Taliban to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, reports ABC News. In an interview that aired on Wednesday, Biden said it would be "tough" to meet the goal negotiated by the Taliban and the Trump administration. The president said that the decision-making process was underway in consultation with allies as well as the Afghan government. The U.S. contingent of around 2,500 troops provides some logistics and other support for allied forces in Afghanistan. The pact with the Taliban calls for nearly all combat troops to withdraw by May, with an exception for a small garrison for counterterrorism missions. The administration is divided over the wisdom of withdrawal. Some argue that the Taliban has failed to live up to its commitment to cut ties with Al-Qaida and that a hasty withdrawal would lead to more violence, reported USA Today. Others say that failing to pull out could provoke a domestic backlash among a public that is ready for the nearly 20-year war to end.
USA—Approaching Afghan Withdrawal Deadline Tough To Meet, Biden Says ABC News | 03/18/2021 President Joe Biden says it will be difficult to meet the May 1 deadline under an agreement negotiated with the Taliban to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, reports ABC News. In an interview that aired on Wednesday, Biden said it would be "tough" to meet the goal negotiated by the Taliban and the Trump administration. The president said that the decision-making process was underway in consultation with allies as well as the Afghan government. The U.S. contingent of around 2,500 troops provides some logistics and other support for allied forces in Afghanistan. The pact with the Taliban calls for nearly all combat troops to withdraw by May, with an exception for a small garrison for counterterrorism missions. The administration is divided over the wisdom of withdrawal. Some argue that the Taliban has failed to live up to its commitment to cut ties with Al-Qaida and that a hasty withdrawal would lead to more violence, reported USA Today. Others say that failing to pull out could provoke a domestic backlash among a public that is ready for the nearly 20-year war to end.
USA—Army Testing Initial Combat Robots Defense News | 03/18/2021 The Army has begun initial trials of prototype uncrewed ground vehicles under its Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) program, reports Defense News. In January 2020, the service awarded contracts to a team of QinetiQ North America and Pratt Miller to build the RCV-Light (RCV-L) and to a Textron and FLIR team to build the RCV-Medium (RCV-M). QinetiQ delivered the first four RCV-Ls, based on its Expeditionary Modular Autonomous Vehicle, in November 2020. Another three were delivered before Christmas, an Army official said on Tuesday at an Association of the U.S. Army virtual symposium. The prototypes were initially sent to the Army Ground Vehicle Systems Center for integration with the Robotic Technology Kernel (RTK) autonomy software developed by the government. In February, the vehicles were sent to Texas A&M University's Rellis campus, where they were paired with a Mission Enabling Technology Demonstrator to start the crewed-uncrewed teaming process. Textron's RCV-M prototypes, based on the Ripsaw M5, are scheduled for delivery at the end of April through May. A partially completed RCV-M was handed over in mid-February for integration with the RTK software. The RCV-L and RCV-M are scheduled to undergo shakedown testing at Camp Grayling, Mich., from April through September, followed by safety testing from November 2021 through May 2022. The prototypes would then be used for a soldier operational experiment from June through August 2022 at Fort Hood, Texas. The event would include soldier training, situational training exercises and live-fire drills. The Army plans to move the RCV-L program into the engineering and manufacturing development phase in the second quarter of fiscal 2023, with the RCV-M program expected to make the same transition in fiscal 2024.
USA—SOUTHCOM Looking To New Intelligence Sources Air Force Magazine | 03/18/2021 U.S. Southern Command is developing new means to collect and sift through intelligence to make up for a shortfall in resources, reports Air Force magazine. In the past year, the command has launched a pair of pilot programs using artificial intelligence and "big data" to evaluate open-source posts on social media and other online sources to collect intelligence, Adm. Craig Faller, the SOUTHCOM chief, said in Senate testimony on Tuesday. SOUTHCOM is looking at new ways to gather intelligence due to shortfalls in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets, including P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and MQ-9 Reaper uncrewed aerial vehicles. In the most recent budget, the command's ISR allocation was cut by 46 percent. The ISR assets are needed to monitor the international drug trade in the region as well as increased Chinese activity, Faller said.
Canada—Senior Female Officer Resigns Over Military's Failure To Address Sexual Misconduct Ottawa Citizen | 03/18/2021 One of Canada's senior female officers has resigned in disgust over the military's failure to handle widespread allegations of sexual misconduct, reports the Ottawa Citizen. Lt. Col. Eleanor Taylor recently sent a letter to her commanding officer asking to be released from service as soon as possible. The move comes amid police investigations into alleged misconduct by top officers. In a letter requesting her separation, she wrote "I am sickened by ongoing investigations of sexual misconduct among our key leaders ... Unfortunately, I am not surprised," adding that she expects additional accusations to surface. Former defense chief Gen. Jon Vance was accused of misconduct by two female subordinates shortly after his retirement in January. He has denied any wrongdoing. Vance's replacement, Adm. Art McDonald, temporarily stepped down on Feb. 24 amid separate allegations of misconduct, reported CBC News. Last week, witnesses told a House of Commons defense committee that the military has a double standard when it comes to investigations into sexual misconduct by senior officers.
Germany—Gambian National Arrested For Alleged War Crimes Deutsche Welle | 03/18/2021 Germany has arrested a Gambian national who allegedly took part in extrajudicial killings and other war crimes in Gambia in the early 2000s, reports Deutsche Welle. On Tuesday, German prosecutors announced that they had arrested the suspect, identified only as Bai L., in Hamburg and searched his home. He was allegedly a member of the Gambian military's "Patrol Team," also known as the "Junglers," which was used by then-President Yahya Jammeh to execute illegal kill orders and other activities to intimidate the population and suppress opposition. Bai L. allegedly served as a driver for the unit between December 2003 and December 2006, during which time he took part in three "liquidation orders," against a journalist, a lawyer and an opponent of Jammeh. Jammeh ruled Gambia for two decades, fleeing the country following his electoral loss in January 2017.
Italy—Navy In Line For New Teseo Mk 2/E Anti-Ship Missiles MBDA Missile Systems | 03/18/2021 The Italian navy will receive the latest variant of the Teseo anti-ship missile, reports MBDA Systems, the manufacturer of the weapon. The Teseo Mk 2/E, the newest member of the Teseo family of missiles, also known as the Otomat, features an integrated mission planning system and a new radio-frequency seeker. It is designed to engage sea and land targets at very long ranges with full mission control throughout flight, said MBDA. Additional features and capabilities can be added in the future, the company said. Italy's new Paolo Thaon di Revel-class offshore patrol ships are already prepared to employ the missile. It may also equip Italy's next-generation destroyer currently under development and could replace Teseo Mk 2/A missiles in service on Carlo Bergamini-class frigates and Andrea Doria-class destroyers.
Turkey—TAI Eyes $100 Million Cost For New Fighter Defense News | 03/18/2021 Top Turkish Aerospace Industries officials say a new fighter jet under development for the Turkish air force will cost about US$100 million each, reports Defense News. Temel Kotil, the head of TAI, made his comments during a Monday interview. He also said that the TF-X fighter was scheduled to make its maiden flight in 2025, with service entry anticipated in 2029. TAI expects to build two of the jets per month, said Kotil.
Indonesia—Navy Receives 1st Domestically Built Sub Naval News | 03/18/2021 The Indonesian navy has taken delivery of its first domestically built submarine, reports Naval News. On Wednesday, the Alugoro was formally handed over to the navy in a ceremony in Surabaya. The Alugoro is the third Nagapasa-class submarine built under a 2011 contract with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) in South Korea. Components of the sub were built in South Korea and assembled at the PT PAL shipyard in Surabaya, according to DSME. Indonesia ordered three more subs in the class in 2019, but little progress has been made since, reported the Yonhap news agency (Seoul).
India—Catapult Self-Propelled Howitzers, Tampella Mortars Retired The Print | 03/18/2021 The Indian army has retired two long-serving artillery systems, reports the Print (New Delhi). On Tuesday, the army decommissioned the final 130-mm M-46 Catapult self-propelled guns and 160-mm Tampella mortars. The customary last firing took place at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges. The Catapult, which consists of an M-46 howitzer mounted on a Vijayanta tank chassis, was in service for almost 40 years, while the Tampella had been in service since the 1960s. The final two medium field regiments equipped with the Catapult are now making the transition to the K9 Vajra self-propelled howitzer.
Afghanistan—9 Troops Die In Helo Crash In Maidan Wardak Province TOLONews | 03/18/2021 Nine Afghan military personnel have been killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan's central Maidan Wardak province, reports Tolo News (Kabul). Early Thursday morning, an army Mi-17 helicopter went down in the Behsud district, said the Afghan Defense Ministry. The helicopter was one of four that was transporting special operations troops, munitions and food to Behsud, said an unnamed source. An Afghan air force source told Reuters that the Mi-17 had been hit by a rocket while taking off. The Afghan government has not confirmed the account. The pilot, three crewmembers and five special operations troops died in the crash. The Behsud district is a known hotbed of militia violence, reported Agence France-Presse.
Afghanistan—U.S. Hits Taliban Fighters In Kandahar Stars And Stripes | 03/18/2021 The U.S. has conducted several airstrikes this week in Afghanistan in support of local troops under attack by Taliban militants, reports the Stars & Stripes. On Wednesday, a U.S. military spokesman said the strikes took place over the previous 48 hours in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province. The strikes targeted Taliban personnel in the Zharay, Spin Boldak and Kandahar districts as they actively attacked or maneuvered on Afghan troops, the spokesman said. The number of airstrikes and casualty estimates were not made public. The spokesman emphasized that the strikes did not violate the U.S. peace agreement with the Taliban, noting that it included a clause that American forces will assist Afghan troops under attack by the Taliban. The Taliban accused the U.S. of violating the accord by attacking members who were not involved in the fighting.
Iran—Report Clears Military In Shootdown Of Ukrainian Passenger Plane New Arab | 03/18/2021 Iran has absolved its armed forces of any responsibility in the January 2020 shootdown of a Ukrainian passenger aircraft near Tehran, reports the New Arab (London). On Wednesday, the government released its final report on the Jan. 8 downing of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 outside of Tehran. The Iranian Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) acknowledged that the Boeing 737-800 was brought down by two surface-to-air missiles fired by Iranian forces. The report absolved troops of culpability due to mitigating factors, including the alertness of the troops on the ground, a misaligned radar at the unit that fired the missiles and a lack of communication, reported Reuters. Iranian investigators said that it did not appear that the aircraft's flight path or the pilot's handling contributed to the incident, reported BBC News. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba dismissed the report, calling it "a cynical attempt to hide the true reasons for the downing of our plane." All 176 people onboard flight PS752 were killed.
Mali—33 Troops Die In Militant Ambush In Gao Anadolu News Agency | 03/18/2021 At least 33 Malian soldiers have been killed in an ambush by militants in Mali's northern Gao region, reports the Anadolu Agency (Ankara). On Monday, more than 100 gunmen on motorcycles and in pickup trucks attacked the patrol near the town of Tassit, the Malian army said. In a release on Tuesday, the Malian army said that 11 soldiers were killed, 11 were missing and 14 were injured, including eight in critical condition, reported Xinhua, China's state news agency. Seven militants were killed in the fighting, reported Reuters. The service revised its figure on Wednesday, saying that 33 troops and 20 militants were killed in the clash. The injured personnel were evacuated by the U.N. Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), while France's Operation Barkhane counterterrorism force deployed two helicopters to support Malian forces searching for the militants.
South Sudan—U.N. Demands Accountability For Local Leaders Fueling Violence Voice Of America News | 03/18/2021 A new report by the U.N. calls for local leaders in South Sudan to be held accountable for their role in last year's deadly community-based violence, reports the Voice of America News. The report, authored by the U.N. Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), was released on Monday. Violence and human-rights violations carried out by militias in the Jonglei state and Pibor Administrative Area from January 2020 to June 2020 was organized and fueled by a variety of actors, including traditional chiefs; spiritual leaders; and military and political elites from both the government and opposition. These leaders inflamed violence by promoting hate speech and financing and providing weapons to militias. More than 700 people were killed, and several hundred women and children kidnapped. Tens of thousands of people were displaced, civilian and humanitarian facilities were looted or destroyed and millions of dollars' worth of cattle stolen. The South Sudanese government has not taken any meaningful action to investigate those responsible for the violence, including those directly responsible and the leaders that fueled it, says the report. The document also called for South Sudan to accelerate the creation of a unified military that could prevent similar outbreaks of violence and prevent the flow of weapons to militias.
Tanzania—President Dies In Suspected Case Of COVID-19 National Public Radio | 03/18/2021 Tanzanian President John Magufuli has died amid speculation he had contracted the novel coronavirus, reports NPR News. Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced Magufuli's death on state television on Wednesday, saying the president succumbed to heart failure. Magufuli, 61, who expressed skepticism about the seriousness of the ongoing pandemic and claimed last year to have eradicated COVID-19 through three days of prayer, disappeared from public view last month, fueling speculation that he had contracted COVID-19. The Daily News (Dar Es Salaam) reported that Magufuli was discharged on March 7 but returned to the hospital a week later due to heart-related symptoms. A doctor in Tanzania told BBC News that there has been an uptick of COVID-19 cases in the last two months. Tanzania stopped counting cases of COVID-19 in May 2020, with 500 confirmed infections and 20 deaths.
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