Just a Thought
Jo/Ho are always talking about how they only want to tax the rich. If that is the case, why the elevated concern about. $600.00 transactions?
Carry on, nothing to see here.
FFG 62 is Coming
The U.S. Navy’s future Constellation-class frigates will differ from the Italian design from which they are derived. A core feature of this acquisition program, originally known as FFG(X), was the selection of a ship based on an existing, in-production warship in order to help keep costs and risks of delays low. It is now known that the Constellations will be longer and wider and displace hundreds of tons more than their “parent” design, among other changes in the hull form, superstructure, and internal configuration.
The Italian subvariant of the Fregata Europea Multi-Missione (FREMM), or European Multi-Mission Frigate. FREMM began as a Franco-Italian program that produced a different subvariant for each country. Additional examples are now in service with the Egyptian and Moroccan navies. The US Navy selected the FREMM-derived design, which will be built by Wisconsin-based Marinette Marine, a wholly-owned Fincantieri subsidiary in the United States.
Painting: George Washington rallies the troops at Princeton
Historical Interlude
During the French siege of Acre, in 1799, the French were hamstrung by woeful logistics, especially in regards to artillery ammunition. Napoleon, knowing the nature of his men, offered cash rewards to men who dug up enemy artillery shot that had been fired at them.
Granted, this only really worked with the British ammunition, fired from three ships of the line out in the Mediterranean off the coast of the ancient city. (Ottoman cannon were of such varying calibers that their rounds were only very rarely reusable. Not to mention Ottoman casting processes and efficiency were well below that of the French or the British.)
However, as the siege dragged on, the French soldiers, eager to earn at least a promissory note from General Headquarters guaranteeing them a future payout, decided that the English weren’t shooting at them nearly often enough for their capital ventures.
The French began digging false works and trench lines closer to the ocean shore. The British, thinking a new series of works was being erected, happily obliged the eager French by blasting away at these works with great fury and thunderous barrages.
The works, built in soft sand, were easily repaired, and the enemy shot, the solid shot that is, were fairly easy and quick to dig up, wash off, and reuse.
Napoleon himself couldn’t help but chuckle at the enterprising nature of his men. Even the British had a good laugh, afterward, when the story was revealed to them once the siege had been concluded.
Memes
The Whale Shark
He doesn’t know or care what sort of day you’re having.
Xiden as whale shark? Xiden doesn’t care about your day, either, and they both seem to aimlessly meander around followed by a swarm of scavengers.
There are definitely a lot of remoras swimming around the White House, but Biden? More of a mola-mola – sunfish that can’t do much but float with the current. Small brain, alive, allegedly, but unable to form much of a thought.
Cannon balls – I remember reading of another battle, somewhat closer than that, where they tried to discourage soldiers from trying to stop balls that were still moving. Too many broken limbs from the still energetic projectiles.
Yes, there are a lot of historical accounts of cannonballs being returned. And yes, they have a great deal of inertia.
I would not want to be on the side that felt it necessary to scrounge spent ammo to return fire…but that’s just me.
It was a thing in the Revolutionary Army during sieges. We didn’t have the depth of supplies the British had, and since we were using basically British cannon against the British, well, there you go. I think the payment for rounds went from actual cash (not really a great thing, as it was Venezuelan currency at the time) to food and booze.
Another cannon ball story, from the Modoc War, Second Battle of the Stronghold.
” During the fighting at the Stronghold, April 15–17, US casualties included one officer and six enlisted men killed, and thirteen enlisted men wounded. Modoc casualties were two boys, reported to have been killed when they tried to open a cannonball and it exploded.” Obviously the boys had never seen a cannon ball before, and wondered what it was.
I went to high school in Tulelake and have walked the Stronghold battle ground.
The Connies look promising.
I just wish they were getting a 3″ SuperRapid instead of the 57mm.
-Kle.
I’m not a big fan of the 57mm rifle for naval applications. 90mm (3″) is about as small as I’d want to go for an open ocean craft. I know that the 57mm rifles are fast and within their range profile, are effective, but I don’t like the idea of an enemy getting that close.
The Italian 76mm does everything the 57mm does, but better, farther, as fast and overall better.
Of course, would have been lovely to see a 5″ system, but 76mm is as small as I’d go.
Probably using the 57mm because they can take them off the LCS foulups.
They are taking the guns off the frigate?
No. There has been a debate for some time over ways to up-gun the frigates.
Good canon story, smart soldiers.
There at the DLC, fortunately, there’s ample ammo to return fire.
Gives new meaning to “Return fire!”.
A lot of ticked off folks would suggest 30 rounds won’t be enough if things get any tyrannical.
Emerging details behind the pandeminc/lockdown charade is starting to indicate what the rational among us sensed all along; it was fully manufactured by the scumbags running “the show” (and I don’t mean Major League ball). 3 years back a “discussion” on C-Span was held by all the same players spitballing their Blofeld plan on how to generate exactly what has transpired. The not-a-vaccine is part of it.
Evil at its heart, run by none other than Satan’s minion himself, Fauci. Guy should meet God sooner rather than later. That leaves 29 rounds.
*more tyrannical*
3 years back a “discussion” on C-Span was held by all the same players spitballing their Blofeld plan
Proves nothing other than those people are geniuses for having anticipated an act of God.
Learn to accept your place in life and you will be happy. I realize that they are infinitely wiser than I am, and that they will take care of me. After all, if a man owns an ass, why would he abuse that ass? Why would any actual human being do that? Of course he wouldn’t. He’d look after that ass to ensure that the ass will live a long and healthy life. How else could the ass best serve his master? Go meditate on that. As they like to say: “Educate yourself.” I have done so and am now a happy ass. (Not to mention profoundly grateful to have the opportunity to serve actual human beings, which of course is the only reason I was put on this earth.)
Next week we will cover why their lives are infinitely more valuable than yours. And how it would be morally just for you to be snatched off the street to become an organ donor if, say, Dr Fauci needs a transplant and you happen to be a match.
Asses Lives Matter! (LL would agree, I think.)
BUT, I ask, “Is it better to be a gerbil on the wheel or an ass?”
Thinking I’m both, or was. Yet, extending those pithy words by the purveyors of brilliant wisdom, Monty Python: “I fart in their general direction” – apparently means I’m becoming an insurrectionist.
There is a saving grace…a daily blue pill choked down with a glass of Soylent Green. Altho, I’d rather have a Starbucks grande’ decaf soy latte’ with lemongrass extract while wearing skinny jeans and a clip on man-bun…and that ain’t gonna happen.
PaulM, I think of YOUR organs as replacement parts for THEIR Bentleys. And when you’re too old and begin to use too many resources rather than being a useful ass, you can be recycled into Soylent green, or sent to the soap works.
I am clearly needing some time in the re-education camp. They can come and get me, even if they tip off CNN, I’m usually up early so won’t be surprised when they show up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiU1rAkrQBY
The Battle of Bronkhorstspruit was the first major clash of the First Boer War. It was a battle between a British army column and a group of Boers, fought by the Bronkhorstspruit River, a few miles east of the town of Bronkhorstspruit, Transvaal on 20 December 1880.
I wouldn’t want to be on the side wearing red tunics & white helmets with shiny gold badges on them, marching in the open.
Whale shark is definitely too good for Biden.
You all be safe and God bless.
“You don’t need 30 rounds to hunt with”
Obviously said by a non hunter. My Dad was a guide for a few years. Some of his clients needed a platoon sized load out.
My hunting these days is with a Brown Bess flintlock (no sight but a bayonet lug) or a .50 percussion lock (for bad weather) firing a .490 patched round ball. I have Minnies and Maxies which are more accurate and more bullet weight but use the round ball.
One shot
Old school. h/t
Yep on 1 shot , my grandpa taught me to shoot with a single shot marlin bolt action. Got pretty damn good. At about 15 I saved enough for a beautiful Remington Auto loader. Better than 15 rounds of long rifle. 1 slowly lost my edge. I went back to dropping in a single round. Presto.
There is a discipline that accompanies a single-shot rifle (or musket) with a slow reload time.
The Constellation is heavier than the Italian Alpino Class due to its getting 200 + tons of Armor. The ship was redesigned in order to meet USN DD standards of survivability. Which makes me wonder about how tough the standard version is…
There is an unwritten (oft whispered) thought among some in the Navy biz (some navies) that the ship – FFG/DDG – won’t survive the first hit, so why armor up? I found that to be true among the Russian navy. The doctrine (some years ago) was to fire the missiles and flee. They didn’t teach damage control, didn’t have shoring material available, and watertight doors lacked seals (not watertight). The US Navy, for all its faults – and they are legion these days – does stress damage control and ship survivability in combat. It’s a carry-over from World War 2 wherein a lot of US Navy ships survived only because of that obsession.
Comments are closed.