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JW Collins

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Everything posted by JW Collins

  1. I rather wish the requirement for a utility version of the LHX hadn't been dropped. A variant of that would have been perfect for all the roles these are being used for. Would have kept the RAH-66 alive too.
  2. Is the 140mm gun the French are testing a descendant of the late Cold War era NATO 140mm gun program? It would be interesting to compare the size of the ammunition for the current 120mm, 130mm, and 140mm guns. Whatever happened to the idea of using rocket assisted KE projectiles? The US Army went through at least three such programs with nothing to show.
  3. I don't disagree that Iraq 2 was a waste of lives and money but even if the entire US Army was roaming Afghanistan for a few years what prevents the Taliban and friends from just waiting it out in Pakistan until we leave? What would make the new Afghan government in this scenario any less corrupt or incompetent?
  4. Some variants had two rearward facing MG151/20s for self defense. I read that provisions were made to fit two forward firing MG151/20s under the nose but I don't know if that configuration saw any use.
  5. I think the Soviet Navy had two woefully outdated WWI era battleships which they used during the war. One of them, Marat, was sent to the harbor bottom by Stukas but the Soviets were able to salvage some of the guns from it. German aircraft also sunk two ancient pre-Dreadnoughts that belonged to Greece but I don't know if those were even in fighting condition when they were attacked. I could be wrong but I think one of Japanese Kongo class was sunk by carrier based aircraft.
  6. At the height of the Cold War the Canadians weren't willing to pay the price tag to buy and operate the F-15. I very much doubt they'd be willing to pay for the F-15EX today. Even crazier is the idea they could afford to operate the larger and heavier MiG-31, which would have to be "westernized" to NATO standards. Do the Russians even build any new ones or just upgrade the old? The F-35 isn't an ideal interceptor but neither was the F/A-18. The Eurocanards are an option but is the insult to Trump really worth losing out on industry partnership with the United States? As much as Canadian aviation lovers mourn the loss of the CF-105 Arrow the idea of bringing that 60 year old design back from the dead is a non-starter for a long list of reasons. If the condition of USN and USMC classic F/A-18s is anything to go by they won't last long enough for Tempest to become a reality, if it does. Even the ex-RAAF ones they bought are said to have a lot of wear and tear.
  7. I doubt that could have been forseen back in 1945 when they renamed a new one for the deceased FDR.
  8. Considering how much JAGM has been downscaled in terms of capabilities a Brimstone 3 buy would probably make more sense.
  9. Federal agents have been overzealous on occasion and when they used excessive force on protesters who were genuinely peaceful they should be disciplined. Yet when there are actual anarchists, communists, and other bottom-feeders of society destroying property and injuring people there is going to be conflict and confrontation that there wouldn't be if these protests were actually "mostly peaceful" as the media is so fond of saying. Trump has failed miserably at accomplishing the stated goals of his Presidency. Yet that doesn't excuse how the media has slandered and demonized ICE, DHS, and any other federal government agency they deem of being too cooperative with the President. It is sickening. As for that dumbass mayor who got tear gassed this whole shitshow has been allowed to happen under his watch so he can go choke on another canister of the stuff for all I care.
  10. Is the French 140mm a further development of the work done on a common NATO 140mm caliber done back in the late '80s and early '90s?
  11. That AIM-9X is said to have gone "dumb" right after leaving the rail so it was probably a mechanical or electronic failure versus some ancient Soviet flares fooling it.
  12. The USN specifically chose the 57mm over improved versions of the 76mm despite that caliber having been used previously on several classes like the OHPs. How could they not have noticed all of these supposed problems before then?
  13. I may be overestimating the utility of the naval gun but against small craft in littoral waters it seems like they would be more useful than otherwise. I know there are many roles planned for these frigates but wasn't one of them doing the same missions LCS was supposed to be capable of? I'd be surprised if the 57mm had more deck penetration than the Italian 76mm but I suppose that space below deck might used for something else in FFG(X).
  14. I rather like the FREMM design but I feel like the USN is missing a good opportunity to put a 5" (127mm) up front and then the 57mm above the hanger. Some of the Italian ones have such a layout although they use the OTO-Melara 76mm instead of the Bofors 57mm. Considering all of the focus the threat of small boats gets these days a 5" is going to be a lot more useful than a few .50 caliber MGs added as an afterthought.
  15. Is there some desire to make a squad or fireteam automatic rifle version of the M4A1? Maybe similar to the Colt Automatic Rifle derived from the M16?
  16. Didn't the Canadians also look into a sort of JagdChallenger in the closing years of the Cold War? It would certainly have allowed for an excellent degree of frontal armor protection.
  17. The people who've been in charge of the USN naming scheme for everything the last two decades or more need to be flogged. Right after they get done with the guys in charge of surface combatant and aircraft procurement.
  18. This is an outsiders perspective but I personally think the latest (final?) versions of the G36 or the the new improved HK233 would be sufficient for Germany's needs. Yet I think the G36's reputation is too far tarnished in the German press to see continued use, even in improved form. Which is one of the reasons for the "new design" HK433. I think that H&K should modify the hideous stock of the HK433, what are they thinking?
  19. USN lost out on a great opportunity when the 8" Mark 71 was cancelled.
  20. Yes Stuart, for sure. CFE numbers before 1999. and after 1999. do not exist, why would they have existed at all, must have been Serbs spoiling NATO's great success in engaging ground targets. Oh wait... USAF official account dismisses NATO numbers (plus admits second damage F-117 and 5 damaged A-10s, which NATO account does not). And then you say your arguments are not the same BS as Roman's? Don't know what this particular source about a damaged F-117 says but the claim that this damaged aircraft (if even damaged) never flown again has been proven false. Every surviving F-117 was photographed in service at some point between 1999 and the types retirement in 2008.
  21. I think some of that "lack of aggressiveness" thinking by German veterans stems from the US Army's huge superiority in the area of field artillery. In many situations it was better to send hundreds of shells rather than risking the lives of many more men in an early assault. I imagine the Wehrmacht would have made more generous use if artillery too if they had the resources at their disposal. Not to use the Threadjacker 3000 here but what could the US Army have done to get more volunteers and higher quality canidates for the regular infantry?
  22. In practical terms I doubt there would be any notable statistical difference in the performance of the latest generation of 5.56mm carbines including this one.
  23. The M8 AGS seemed to work and was ready for production back in 1993 or so. Congress and the Army seem more at fault here than the contractors.
  24. Maybe the Marines could keep some armor if they weren't busy buying 8x optics and suppressors for everyone hoping they can turn the average rifleman or truck driver into a sniper. Maybe not but these priorities seem very misplaced to me. Light infantry aren't going to deter China or Russia.
  25. The B-24 had its qualities including a larger typical payload than the B-17 but most didn't consider it as robust. I wonder how much of that was due to the unique Davis wing design.
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