In the aftermath of Operation Corporate there was an urgent need to upgrade the capability of the Type 42 Destroyer. The RN was aware of the class’ deficiencies prior to the Falklands, but the war bared them for all to see. 🧵
A file at the National Archives reveals it had been intended to enhance the Type 42 as far back as 1977 when the first of class became operational. GWS 31 & Sea Dart Mk 2 with associated combined surveillance and target indication radar (Type 1030) was part of the plan.

By the early 1970’s work was underway on the Invincible class for the RN. Three ships were planned. A plan to build a fourth is contained in documents at The National Archives. It wasn’t to be for the RN though. It was for Iran.🧵 Mohammed Reza Pahlavi was The Shah of Iran from 1941-1979. By 1977 Iran is claimed had the fifth largest military in the world. Iran had bought F-4’s, F-14’s, C-130’s & P-3’s from the US.

At Stonehaven an off duty member of Train Crew, having just been involved in the crash, walked over a mile to the nearest Signal Box to raise the alarm. The Driver was killed instantly. When the train breaks down I’m the on site Engineer. I’ll use my technical knowledge & experience to fix things. If I can’t I will call the actual engineering people for advice on how to get moving again. If not I will have to arrange for an ‘assisting train’ to rescue us.

A lot of nonsense talked on here about Train Drivers. They just push buttons, they don’t steer, only go in straight lines, a monkey could pull a lever. They’re overpaid and lazy. Robbing from pensioners. 🧵on a little of what the job actually involves. When you get on my train I am responsible for your safety. When your kids are old enough you can drop them at the station and let them go out by themselves somewhere, I am responsible for their safety.

SEAD🧵time again. Going to look at F4G Wild Weasels in Gulf War 1. A lot to cover so going to it break into 2 or 3 threads. Saddam Hussein’s forces invaded Kuwait in August 1990. Iraq had a modern Integrated Air Defence System (IADS), which had been assembled by Ericsson. It was based on a French design called KARI (Iraq backwards in French).

🧵following the release of the UK Ministry of Defence Service Enquiry into the loss of F35B Lightning ZM152 from HMS Queen Elizabeth during the Carrier Strike Group 2021 deployment. Focus for 🧵is on workforce issues, principally insufficient personnel leading to fatigue. The UK F35 workforce was insufficiently resourced from inception. This has led to an inability to generate the required Operational Capability. This is not just about Pilots, it’s the entire workforce.

Been meaning to research this for a while. So a 🧵on how Bulk Carriers are operated in their market place. It might provide some clarity as to how shipments of grain end up at a given destination. There are several parties to the Bulk Carrier trade. These are:
The ships operator
The ship & its Master
Cargo seller (shipper)
Cargo buyer (receiver/consigned)
Charterer
Insurer
Agent

🧵of my initial thoughts on Russia abandoning Snake Island.
Firstly it is a much needed and significant morale boosting victory for Ukraine. Russia put significant resources into the Battle for Snake Island, and lost. Russia tried to make Snake Island and air defence and command and control platform following the sinking of the Moskva. But it’s an island, not a ship, and islands can’t move and that made it vulnerable.

How are all the air assets we are tasked and coordinated? How does everyone know where to be an when? A 🧵on how NATO tasks air assets. NATO has two Combined Air Operations Centre’s (CAOC’s) in Europe. One is in Uedem in Germany and the other in Terrejon in Spain.