US BOMBERS ARE BACK (B-52s arrive in Britain!)

Sky News ^ | 3/3/03

[areafiftyone]

American B-52 bombers have begun arriving in Britain, as Iraq claims six civilians were killed and 15 others injured in the latest round of US and British air raids inside the no-fly zone.

The last time the bombers were stationed on British soil was for the attacks on Yugoslavia four years ago.

Once again the long-range B-52s are based at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.

The first of the huge jets landed just before noon on Monday. About an hour earlier, what appeared to be a U-2 spy plane had taken off. Two transporters aircraft are also at the base.

British military sources say a large group of US warplanes is due in Britain this week, including 14 B-52s.

Peace campaigners witnessed the arrival of the bombers. One commented: "It gives you a feeling like a stone in your throat and an even bigger stone in your heart. This may as well be American soil here."

In the no-fly zones in Iraq, British and American pilots have been launching new raids on Iraqi defences.

Iraq claims that six civilians died and 15 were injured in one of the raids on the city of Basra located in the southern no-fly zone.

Senior Pentagon officials say the strikes have been on ground-to-ground missile systems and multiple launch rockets, which could be used against coalition troops invading Iraq.

But Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon insisted to the Commons that the RAF's planes were acting "entirely in self-defence" within international law.

US and British warplanes have patrolled the northern and southern zones since the end of the 1991 Gulf War. They were set up to protect Kurds and Shia Muslims from persecution.

Officially, the pilots' missions are defensive, attacking surface-to-air missile sites and aircraft in response to Iraqi hostilities.

Experts say an increase in the raids last year heralded America's determination to blitz Saddam's air defences in preparation for war.

Ministry of Defence and US Central Command officials insisted that the additional raids were in response to increased Iraqi aggression against their aircraft.

But analysts pointed to an apparent intention to destroy Iraq's air defences piece by piece, including anything which could be used against an invasion force.

[Mr. Silverback]

Peace campaigners witnessed the arrival of the bombers. One commented: "It gives you a feeling like a stone in your throat and an even bigger stone in your heart. This may as well be American soil here."

You think it scares you, imagine how Saddam's and the other members of his toturocracy feel!

[Mr. Silverback]

Thanks for your service.

[Mr. Silverback]

Thanks so much for your service, guys, and for your hubby’s, RooRooBird. This flypast is for you!

[archy]

The Constitution," is still seaworthy.

Is ammo for the ship's cannon still being manufactured? The Constitution could be sent to find and destroy the 3 missing Alquaida ships.

The Constitution carries a gun complement of thirty-two 24-pounder Long Guns, twenty 32-pounder Carronades, and a pair of 24-pounder Bow Chasers, 52 guns in all. A 24-pounder works out to about 146mm, so it's probable that the projectiles for the former Soviet 152mm howitzer [rifled] could be used in the smoothbore naval guns; the 32 pounder would do nicely firing grapeshot [¾-inch or 1-inch ball bearings should do nicely!] and were said to be able to pierce 5 inches of fir planking and 4 of oak, at 300 yards range. The half-inch plating of a recent shipping vessel should be a reasonable target for such loads, therefore. And propellant can be provided from bags of the *Navy Cool* black powder prop charges used for the 16-inch guns of the Iowa class battleships. The current powder is moderated with a graphite coating and so is a bit less powerful than that of the 18th Century, but it's a fair tradeoff, as the graphite coating reduces the powder's tendency to draw moisture from the air.

You know any good timing chantys for reloading drills? I've got to admit that's one from a bit before my time, though at least one former Iowa gunner's mate was fond of such things. He was one of the 47 who died in the 1989 explosion in Iowa's Turret Two.

-archy-/-

[rundy]

I understand that every B-52 is older than the oldest of the pilots who fly them.

WHAT A TESTIMONY TO AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY.

And soon Sadman Insane will have a first hand view of their effectiveness.

[pfflier]

,which I'm sure was a consultation with his engineer and crew

You don't know $h!t about buffs if you think they have an "engineer".

[RobbyS]

The things one learns! Wasn't it American skill with the long guns that gave the American frigates so much success against the British? You wouldn't know, would you, how long the ship could stay on post? I assume that fewer crewmen would be required to man her, so her provisions would last longer.

[RobbyS]

I am more interested in the ordenance they carry. That seems to have been upgrated since 1991.

[rundy]

For all to enjoy:

http://www.af.mil/news/factsheets/B_52_Stratofortress.html

http://www.stratofortress.org

http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/b52-strat/flash.html

http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/bomber/b-52.htm

http://www.csd.uwo.ca/~pettypi/elevon/baugher_us/b052i.html

http://www.af.mil/photos/bombers_b52.shtml

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/gulf/weapons/b52.html

Hope that is enough.

We all want Peace, not War.
But FREEDOM AND LIBERTY trump all.
If it takes WAR, so be it!

[Mr. Silverback]

Denmark's in the coalition.

[tet68]

Peace campaigners witnessed the arrival of the bombers. One commented: "It gives you a feeling like a stone in your throat and an even bigger stone in your heart. This may as well be American soil here."

Get a load of These,pal, B-52s are American Stones!
We got your nads hanging.

[tet68]

Wrong!

[archy]

Wasn't it American skill with the long guns that gave the American frigates so much success against the british.

Certainly a factor, and one that came as a nasty surprise from a nation thought to be somewhat of an upstart as a sea power.

You wouldn't know, would you, how long the ship could stay on post.

Not precisely, though I know where at least some relevant data that might allow some close guesses to be made can be found: USS Constitution Ship's Logs #1 through #40: Number One [from National Archives]

Ain't it amazing what can be found online...?

-archy-/-

[archy]

Bombing Iraq with B-52's will motivate and unite all the radicals throughout the Arab world...

Neca eos omnes. Allah suos agnoscet.

-archy-/-

[CCWoody]

(the wings are so long they even flap sometimes--LOL!) ~ RooRoobird14

As an engineer, I can assure you that you should be thankful for this. The alternative is to simply have the brittle things snap off.

Woody.

[Robert_Paulson2]

yup... maybe.

The bear is being warned I suspect.

[Robert_Paulson2]

I foresee the possibilty of that with RUSSIA FRANCE AND GERMANY before year's end...

They don't have any navy... but there is a land bridge between all of them and the fertile crescent... the only means of halting them? MASSIVE airpower.

communists won't surrender without a fight. I suspect this IS that fight... Sadaam is the flashpoint.. but RUSSIAN communism, is the fuel.

[Robert_Paulson2]

I foresee the possibilty of that with RUSSIA FRANCE AND GERMANY before year's end...

They don't have any navy... but there is a land bridge between all of them and the fertile crescent... the only means of halting them? MASSIVE airpower.

communists won't surrender without a fight. I suspect this IS that fight... Sadaam is the flashpoint.. but RUSSIAN communism, is the fuel.

[Momaw Nadon]

Attack on Iraq Betting Pool

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

You need to take a course in Con law.