Revealing Google Earth Sat Pics of Red Chinese Naval Bases

JEFFHEAD.COM ^ | June 22, 2006 | Jeff Head

[Antoninus]

Cool. I tried to do exactly this with the Beta version several months ago with no luck.

[Jeff Head]

None, at least from a practical standpoint. Once they finish a carrier, they will be a long time training.

Until they are more proficient and have more, it will be a training and a propoganda/intimidation tool. Nothing more.

Of course...outside of the US, UK and France...and now a little with Russia, no other country in the WESTPAC has any modern experience with carriers either.

The Indians have quite a bit of experience in the Indian Ocean.

[Antoninus]

Looked at Guam last night, saw or new attacks subs stationed there. Looked at Diego Garcia, saw our B52s lined up on the tarmac. Same in San Diego, etc.

How old are these photos, anyway? Real time?

[Jeff Head]

You bet...that's why I said that they are good for fixed locations. Much of the data is less than two years old now...and those dry docks, shipyards, storage and maintenance facilities have not moved.

[Jeff Head]

Nope...usually two years. Some more, some less. But for fixed installations, the data is good in most cases.

[snowrip]

Google's attempt to equalize the playing field for the world, a'la Clinton selling our nuclear secrets to China. Let's give medium to high-res satellite images to any government with an internet connection!

ANY information about US forces/bases/etc that is obtained by the enemy, can be used to harm the American military. Google's Earth site should be shut down.

[Jeff Head]

...at the least, IMHO, US base sites should be blurred out.

Or maybe, work with Google Earth (fat chance) and feed deliberate mis-information about our bases.

[Lazamataz]

You bet...that's why I said that they are good for fixed locations. Much of the data is less than two years old now...and those dry docks, shipyards, storage and maintenance facilities have not moved.

If the Chinese ale smalt, they wirr have buirded the farcirities out of Electirr Sets.

[discostu]

Google is just compiling data readily available from other sources into a nice GUI, this stuff is out there for anybody to find already.

[Skooz]

Well, I wish they would take another picture of my house.

The one they have is from 2002 and I have done a lot of work on it since then.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Not exactly. I can stand in Norfolk VA harbor in my two-bit open boat and get GPS locations more accurate.

What you should have noticed is that there were SO FEW ships present.

What matters is real-time intelligence: if the Chinese ships (on average were 90% in port up until a week ago), but now are 90% at sea, THEN the implication is frightening, particularly if they spent the prior two months loading ammo and missiles.

If a dock that sat empty for 7 years is one constantly mooring two or 4 ships now, then you can begin drawing conclusions about re-deploying assets to an area where they might attack.

[Caesar Soze]

The genie's already out of the bottle. How are you going to blur out images of our vital bases ... that potential enemies saw and saved in their files years ago?

[TalonDJ]

Sure Jeff, but anyone with a GPS receiver a calculator, a good map and a known point of reference can target a GPS bomb any place they want to. The hard part is making an accurate GPS bomb (not that it is all that hard).

[Snardius]

Well, I wish they would take another picture of my house.

Don't worry, the tax assessor will be along to take an updated picture real soon...

[Wolfstar]

IMHO, the department of defense should require goolge earth to blur out pictures of our vital bases post haste.

NASA has similar downloadable satellite image software. It's called World Wind. This is a link to the World Wind website.

I plan to download it this weekend and, if I like it, will probably delete Google Earth.

[TheBattman]

If such images are available to the public, imagine what our military has....

But one thing about your concern... Keep in mind that the Google Earth photos are not "live" or "streaming". Those pictures are likely months or even years old.

Yes, the specific location of said facilities can be found, but equipment, ships, missiles, etc. can be moved.

[Jeff Head]

Thanks...I will look at that software as well myself. Sounds pretty powerful.

[Jeff Head]

Yes, the specific location of said facilities can be found, but equipment, ships, missiles, etc. can be moved.

That's my point. Such software and pictures are not useful for targeting moving targets...but for analysis and intel, and for targeting fixed facilities, they are useful.

Makes it easy for somone in a country like Iran to develop targetig info for those fixed installations without ever leaving their Mullah's side.

[Wolfstar]

Thanks...I will look at that software as well myself. Sounds pretty powerful.

You're welcome and yes, it sure does sound powerful.

[Jeff Head]

Well...for the fixed facilities on a base...like the exact location of dry docks, loading facilities, storage tanks, etc...a potential belligerent can develop targeting data from his very office in the middle of Tehran.

Even with GPS unit and a calculator and map, you will not get the type of exact location on a base because you may not be able to see the specific facility, let alone gain close enough access to it to develop such detailed coordinates.