Posted on 05/20/2004 12:00:18 AM PDT by SAMWolf
I have some threads coming up on the Naval Battles of the War of 1812. Some great paintings of the ships, too bad there weren't any photos of that period.
Roi-Namur: 3563 dead, 90 prisoners. Kwajalein: 4823 dead, 174 prisoners. Eniwetok: 3400 dead; 66 prisoners.
More journalists should be embedded, specifically all from Aljazeera, Reuters, AP, CNN. Six feet should be adequate.
Regarding the Jihadi warrior code or "bull-shido", notice is taken of the long call into Rush Limbaugh today from the Army (missed his rank) whose platoon put 200 bad guys in Abu Ghraib prison.
He noted they were beseeched an hour by a desperate Iraqi man pleading for them to come to his home, that his daughters had been stabbed and raped. The soldier fearing an ambush put him off but relented after much insistence.
They found three girls aged approximately 6, 10, 13 cut and bleeding and the perp sleeping with knife.
It is this high caliber of human being (spit) who was forced to endure the incomprehensible torture of wearing a Hanes Her Way on his head and being laughed at.
I would have done the full Putin by now, SWAT would own CNN, and sunlight would be pumped down to Ted Kennedy in that Nosenko Suite under Langley.
I did call Maggie at Pete Domenici's office and give her the long version: 1) blow Aljazeera; 2) pull the plug on the 911 commission; 3) stop the prison circus.
Interceptor Launch from Kwajalein Atoll for IFT-3
Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI): The GBI and its associated components provide the “weapon” of the NMD system. Its mission is to strike high-speed ballistic missile warheads in the midcourse or exo-atmospheric phase of their trajectories and destroy them by force of impact. The GBI consists of several components. The missile payload is called the kill vehicle (KV). This component has its own sensors, propulsion, communications, guidance, and computing functions which all work together to complete the intercept. Next, is the booster that will propel the KV toward an approximate intercept location enabling the KV to perform terminal maneuvers and impact the incoming warhead. In addition to the missile payload, there is also ground command and launch equipment that is needed to launch the interceptor. This consists of the hardware and software for interface with the BM/C3 system, human-incontrol interfaces (consoles) and interceptor storage sites (silos), in order to accomplish daily maintenance and readiness functions in addition to providing the launch of the interceptor upon command.
From drone boats mighty oak trees grow (thank an engineer as well as those Marines and NUDT guys).
The Ground Based Interceptor (GBI) is a large, land-based missile. It is designed to engage Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) and defend large areas with only a few launchers. The Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) is the intercept component of the GBI and has its own seeker, propulsion, communications, guidance and computers to support targeting decisions and manoeuvres. GBI is the interceptor element of the US Ground-based Mid-course. A prototype GBI launched from Kwajalein Atoll has successfully intercepted, on a number of occasions, a modified Minuteman ICBM launched more than 7,500km away.
Prototype ground-based X-band radar at Kwajalein Atoll, Pacific Ocean.
Underwater Demolition Training at Eniwetok
July-August 26, 1944
Excerpts from the personal wartime journal of Sergeant Patrick L. Finelli
U.S. Marine Corps
Capt. Sweet volunteered himself, me and another Marine for a special assignment. I was a good swimmer, trained in bomb disposal and demolitions. We were dispatched to Eniwetok where we learned how to use a mask and fins along with Navy OSS personnel. Captain Sweet was relatively old at this time (late 30's), a reserve officer, and I never saw him in the water, so his role is unclear to me. At Eniwetok, we were given physicals, swim tests, cots and tents. Our trainers were introduced as being OSS. I did not know who they were, what they did or where they went when finished. We were in a small group of Marines, Fleet volunteers and Army Engineers.
We were indoctrinated to swim fins (Churchill) and face masks by Navy OSS trainers. We experimented with "Shot-loads" to destroy CB built obstacles. It was very serious, deadly and surprisingly quiet - not much conversation at all. Capt. Sweet never participated, he just observed and took notes. Although it was explained that prior demolition training was preferable, it wasn't essential and could be taught. It would be easier to teach explosives than swimming. A higher priority was placed on swimming ability (i.e. a strong swimmer comfortable in open water). Much time was spent testing for panic levels when stressed and it was surprising to see very good swimmers lose it despite clear visibility in 60 ft straight down when seen through a 5" diameter Sea Dive Mask. The best advice we got was to stay calm, slow everything down, don't get scared. We were taught to swim sidestroke, trudgeon and breast strokes, turning our heads to the side to minimize mask reflections. We used the crawl stroke for emergencies and/or extractions.
The explosives we used were a mix of what happened to be available such as 1 lb. and ½ lb. blocks of TNT, Comp. C-3, 60% dynamite, tetryl and tetrytol. We had 10, 30 & 100 cap blasting machines (called Hell Boxes). We also had Primacord, blasting caps (electric and natural), safety fuse with length formulas and calculations, delayed tetryl caps and percussion caps. We learned how to set charges in checkerboard and center patterns, how to waterproof connections and most importantly, team integrity and paired buddy dependence. We also had some very good classroom instruction in Amphibious Landing Operations; mission and organization of combat demolition units, methods and techniques. All in all, an intensive training program in eliminating man-made and natural underwater obstructions. We are now ready for whatever assignments await us.
What a marvelous addition to my Marine training. All the elements of discipline, brotherhood and preparedness are evident and expected to be employed soon. At the conclusion of training, were broke up and went different ways. Our group was assigned to the Clemson, APD-31, a converted World War I vessel. We did not know our final destination - Peleliu.
I need three volunteers to clear underwater obstacles in the bathtub.
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Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Mk 1V - LVT4
U.S. forces shot up a "wedding party" miles from nowhere way past midnight in the vicinity of the terrorist ratline.
Aljazeera and the New York Times report women, children, minorities and the pooh-er were hurt worst.
Boo hoohoo.
Have 1 color photo of USS Isherwood in her camo off Ie Shima/Okinawa.
A Destroyer website has a copy of it...links appear to stay alive from that site too.
Black,white and light grey.
yet..the blue water reflects up onto the hull..the light grey and black take on the ocean blue.
I guess the varied camo patterns used during the war did different things visually in varied climate conditions.
Anyhoo...A Japanese sub commander trying to chart/identify a U.S. destroyer doing 48 degree rolls in the Aleutians......must have been puking from the movement as much as the crew on the Tin can. LOL!
I believe solid Navy Blue was Measure 21. LEXINGTON (II) was called the "Blue Ghost", so that might your largest ship.
"bull-shido"
LOL! Best description of Islamic "warriors" I've seen.
Like the part about the Marine being "volunteered" for UDT training.
The advantage of being partially colorblind. They all look steel gray to me. :-)
BTTT!!!!!
Don't get me wrong. It wasn't all tropical paradise in the blue suit world. I spent my share of time above the Arctic Circle, in the jungles, and in Texas.
Thanks, GATOR,
I was very hazy about Halsey's chain of command at Leyte Gulf. Looking back at my reading I recollect it as never clear to me that Halsey had such contradictory orders.
Halsey should have notified Kinkaid he was leaving, though.
Evans got the Navy Cross posthumously, it took years before the received the Medal.
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