This day in history 162 years ago Green Mountain Boys held back the Confederate high water mark at Gettysburg repulsing Pickett's Charge. What started out as 12,500 Confederates would be destroyed by Vermonter's, at the end of the charge 1,123 confederates were killed 4,019 wounded 3,750 captured.

“Glory to God! Glory to God! See the Vermonters go at it!” The 2nd Vermont Brigade, in helping to defeat Pickett’s Charge, performs one of the most complex and heroic efforts on a battlefield filled with courageous actions. These Vermonters were 9 month men meaning they signed up for only 9 months of duty. Posted in support roles until this fateful day at Gettysburg, they have seen no combat, and their enlistment is up in just a couple of weeks. Posted directly in front of Pickett’s Division (due west of their position on Cemetery Ridge), once they get close enough, the Vermonters poured in volley after volley, until, to their surprise, the Virginians move north by the flank. This is part of the Confederate plan, to concentrate forces near the Copse of Trees. The Vermonters do not know this, believing they have defeated the Confederate foe. The Confederate move north has cleared the Vermont front the flank of Pickett’s Division is now exposed. The Vermonters take a bold action they move out, perpendicular to Cemetery Ridge, to assault Pickett’s men on their flank. “Change front forward, by first Company! Forward! Half wheel, March!” The Vermonters execute this complex parade ground maneuver flawlessly. Now perpendicular to Cemetery Ridge, a blue wall reaching far out from the main Federal line, and at “half pistol range” of the densely packed Confederates, the Vermonters pour in volley after volley into the exposed and mostly unprotected flank of Pickett’s Division every shot seeming to deal death and destruction. The slaughter is tremendous. At one point Colonel Randall, Commander of the 13th Vermont, screams over the din of combat for the Confederates to just drop their arms and lie down. A Vermont Private: “Sir, you are treating them better than us!” Randall: “Their work is done but our isn’t!” As the attack culminates, Col Randall, unable to shout “cease fire!” loud enough, actually steps in front of his own men, to get them to stop firing. The Confederate Forces sent to protect Pickett’s flank, Alabamians and Floridians, have stepped off too late, out of sight in a low spot in the terrain. Approaching Cemetery Ridge south of their position, the Vermonters about face, move south and perform the same flank attack on these hapless soldiers, to devastating effect. These 9 month men, days from the end of their enlistment, in their first battle, have performed actions the envy of any seasoned Regiment. They do great damage to Pickett’s Charge, taking many prisoners, but have suffered greatly in the endeavor. “Glory to God! Glory to God! See the Vermonters go at it!” General Abner Doubleday on witnessing the Vermonters that day at Gettysburg. Painting by Michael J. Middleton
"Men of Vermont: The troops from your state have done nobly and well on the battlefields of this war. The praises of the old Vermont brigade are on every lip. We expect you to sustain the honor of your state. Today will decide whether Jefferson Davis or Abraham Lincoln rules this country. Your Colonel is about to lead you into battle where you will have hard fighting and much will be expected of you.”
- General Doubleday

Developing situation in Coeur D'Alene Idaho wildfire intentionally set and unknown shooter ambushing firefighters and law enforcement. At least 4 firefighters shot

https://twitter.com/alertpage/status/1939451083631313252

Warning disturbing audio clip from Broadcastify 4x firefighters shot at Couer D'Alene

I normally don't share Lord bebo content, but he posted something that I do like to talk about which is trains and my God. It's been quite a long time since we've seen an actual Russian armor train running around Ukraine, let alone near the front lines. The Russian armored train is back and it is operational in the Pokrovsk Sector to ensure Russian Military Freight gets delivered as close as possible to the Front. Without precise geolocation throwing a dart at the wall its likely near Kurakhove which is a single track track line to Donetsk unlike the line to Ocheretyne which is double track. Zaamurets died 1931
Zaamurets reborn 2025

Likely Cause Identified in "Ships on Fire" Reports in Gulf of Oman/Strait of Hormuz.

Date/Time: June 17, 2025, approximately 2114 UTC
Location: ~22 NM east of Khor Fakkan Incident Type: Likely head-to-port-side collision between two large tankers

FRONT EAGLE was transiting on a steady southwesterly course, maintaining a relatively constant heading and speed consistent with normal navigation. ADALYNN was on an east by northeast course, intersecting FRONT EAGLE’s path from the latter’s port side, consistent with a classic crossing situation.

Based on AIS vectors as posted by @Osinttechnical ADALYNN appears to have crossed directly into the projected path of FRONT EAGLE, resulting in a high probability collision at or near ADALYNN’s port midships section.

Given the mass and inertia of large tankers, evasive maneuvers in the final moments would have been limited, particularly if conducted at standard transit speeds.

The fire image timestamped at 2119 UTC (five minutes after estimated collision time) supports the hypothesis of immediate structural or systems damage, most likely aboard ADALYNN which would have sustained the bulk of the damages. FIRMS thermal at 2140 UTC further validates likely ongoing combustion, likely associated with residual fuel, engine room, or cargo related ignition. Video time lapse of the two ships.

https://x.com/mercoglianos/status/1934811914246181260?t=uPfRIjDq24ky3WJCH0vKvQ&s=19

This is the first time Ukraine targeted a Russian military freight train carrying equipment. This one strike took out 13 tanks and 100 vehicles. It is beautiful.

This single strike took out the equipment for 1 Tank Company and 3 Motor Rifle Battalions.

Tally of lost Russian assets from attacks on Russian Military Fuel And freight trains

13x Tanks
100x Vehicles
1,430,000~ Gallons of fuel. The attack likely on the Donetsk-Tokmak Line likely west of Volnovakha we will have to wait and see whatever footage gets released.

Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has initiated what they are calling Operation Pavutyna

Goal of this operation: Degrading Russia’s long-range strike capabilities.

Olenya and Belaya airfields specifically targeted with swarms of FPV drones remotely launched from vehicles positioned near the airfields. These mobile platforms were reportedly parked within proximity of the targets, enabling direct line-of-sight control for precise navigation and terminal attack.

Early claims to have damaged or destroyed over 40 aircraft, including Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 bombers, as well as at least one A-50

That's over a billion dollars worth of military hardware.

So far the videos show at least
3x TU-95 and 1x AN-12 ablaze. Third Airbase at Ryazan now under attack from same fov drone swarm.

https://x.com/Osinttechnical/status/1929138667156553831?t=6owWV6KAr_wNNvQ1m9J9zQ&s=19

Today's book recommendation
Solly Zuckerman's autobiography From Apes to Warlords where he talked about his service in WW2 as the Scientific Director of the British Bombing Survey Unit (BBSU) the creator of the Transportation Plan and doing Battle Damage Assessment of Allied bombing of Pantelleria 🇮🇹 during Operation Corkscrew.

Zuckerman's Transportation Plan had a simple objective cripple the German military's mobility by targeting critical components of the railway infrastructure.

The Transportation Plan was part of the shaping operations for D-Day which concentrated allied bombings of rail lines, marshalling yards, and locomotive repair facilities. The rationale was that by destroying these key elements, the German forces would be forced to rely more heavily on road transport, which was less efficient and more vulnerable to Allied attacks. This strategy was informed by his observations in Italy, where targeting rail infrastructure had significantly disrupted enemy logistics. The transportation plan was enacted and as France was liberated along with Belgium treasure troves of German documents were captured describing the following with German logistics as a result of allied bombings during the transportation plan there was a overall 50% reduction in all rail traffic in the beginning of June 1944 increasing to 75% by July 30th 1944. In Northern France, rail traffic had decreased by 85% during the month of July.

To effectively disrupt the enemy’s movements, paralyze the railway system, the most economical means of transportation for any modern army. In particular, targeting locomotive hangars and repair shops to deprive the entire rail network which will force an enemy to use the road system. This results in a decisive waste of time equipment and fuel, along with exposing itself to air attacks

Overnight the vessel passenger vessel conscience was attacked by 2x OWA-UAV's 14 Nautical miles Northeast of Malta as part of a Freedom Flotilla to deliver supplies to Gaza from Tunisia. No injuries among passengers or crew. Fires were extinguished after 4 hours. Many online have been quick to blame this attack on Israel.

Israel does not possess any OWA-UAV's capable of reaching the ship from Israel.
Israel also does not have any UAVs capable of aerial refueling.
Israel also does not have any uavs capable of acting as a mothership to launch other drones.

With Israel physically lacking the capability to lob a drone 2000 km away. It is unlikely this drone attack was carried out by Israel.

The entities that could have conducted the attack are in Libya.
Libya does have OWA-UAV's and strike drones capable of carrying small bombs or rockets around 10kg warheads easily capable of reaching the vessel.

This time 113 years ago Titanic has struck the iceberg and initial damage assessment concluded mail hold and forward compartments are found flooding rapidly. In the mailroom, clerks are trying to save letters and parcels. 6 of the watertight compartments compromised the ship was designed to survive no more than 4 being compromised.

Thomas Andrews one of Titanic's designers confirms to Captain Smith that Titanic can stay afloat no more than 1.5-2 hours. Transmissions of a doomed ship

CQD DE MGY
CQD DE MGY
CQD DE MGY
CQD DE MGY
CQD DE MGY
CQD DE MGY
Position 41.44 N 50.24 W

So let's do a quick rundown of Patriots

A Patriot Battery is composed of

6-8x Launchers
1x Radar Set
1x Engagement Control Station
1x Electric Power Plant
1x Antenna Mast Group

Each launcher carries up to 4 PAC-2 missiles or 16 PAC-3 missiles

4-6x Batteries makes a Patriot Battalion

24-48x Launchers
4x Radar Set
4x Engagement Control Station
4x Electric Power Plant
4x Antenna Mast Group

Israel still has an additional 7x Patriot Batteries in storage

42-56x Launchers
7x Radar Set
7x Engagement Control Station
7x Electric Power Plant
7x Antenna Mast Group

This isn't including the 2 THAAD Batteries nor the 17 batteries of phase 3 Hawk that are in storage nor the 2 Batteries of Arrow nor the 2 Batteries of David Sling not the Air Defense from US Destroyer Squadron in the Eastern Mediterranean nor the Destroyer Squadron in the Red Sea nor the existing US Air defense network across CENTCOM. The 7 Patriot batteries that Israel has in storage can very quickly be put back into action. They were only decommissioned last summer from active service.

The 17 Hawk Batteries would likely need a lot of work since they have been in storage for almost 2 decades though we don't know how much continual maintenance Israel has done with these over the years.

Reports that the United States have being handed control of Bagram Air Base by the Taliban and C-17's have begun landing at the base along with a large amounts of equipment movement near and on the base are unsubstantiated.

Sentinel 2 imagery of the base from March 31st and April 5th 2025 shows no aircraft present and no signs of equipment movement. At Kabul on the same dates no changes in equipment and no C-17's

https://x.com/Schizointel/status/1909472827540922507?t=ZV_HZSkiIyAp_LTr9VE55g&s=19

In 24 hours Ukraine has lost almost half of Kursk and have very likely have withdrawn West of the Psel River and South of the Loknya River and seeking to maintain the Russian built defenses West and South of Sudzha to defend the R-200 Road to allow for withdrawal from Kursk and counter attack at Kurilovka to retake the high ground from the North Koreans along with counter attacking the Russians at Basivka, Noven'ke, and Zhuravka in Sumy Oblast. Ukrainian forces are likely withdrawing from Kursk to Sumy Oblast under Russian and North Korean counterattacks aimed at disrupting their retreat. A controlled withdrawal with strong rear-guard actions will allow Ukraine to withdraw to existing defenses and stabilize the front. Failure to secure withdrawal corridors will very likely result in encirclement and collapse. Maintaining layered defenses, delaying actions, and executing contingency plans prevents Russian forces from seizing the operational initiative.

Most Likely Course of Action (MLCOA)

Ukrainian forces conduct a controlled, phased withdrawal while maintaining defensive cohesion. Rear-guard elements execute delaying actions, slowing Russian advances and enabling an organized retreat to pre-designated defensive positions.
Russian forces engage retreating Ukrainian units but fail to achieve a breakthrough, preventing an operational collapse. Ukrainian forces establish new defensive positions in Sumy Oblast, stabilizing the front and limiting further Russian penetration.

Most Dangerous Course of Action (MDCOA)

Russian forces exploit gaps in Ukrainian defenses, executing a high-tempo assault that overwhelms rear-guard elements. Ukrainian units become disorganized under pressure, leading to a loss of command and control. Russian forces rapidly advance, cutting off key withdrawal routes and isolating Ukrainian units.
Ukrainian defenses within Sumy Oblast collapse, leading to an unstructured retreat or encirclement, placing the city of Sumy at risk of capture.

Key factors in Ukraine maintaining a secure phased withdrawal.

1. Ukrainian forces must maintain control over layered defensive positions along withdrawal routes to prevent Russian envelopment.

2. Rear-guard elements must conduct delaying operations to slow Russian advances and allow for an organized retreat.

3. Continuous monitoring of Russian movements is necessary to detect and counter potential envelopment maneuvers.

4. In the case of a Russian breakthrough Ukrainian forces must execute pre-planned fallback strategies to secondary defensive lines to prevent further collapse.

5. Maintaining discipline in withdrawal operations and prioritizing defensive depth, Ukrainian forces can minimize losses and prevent Russian forces from dictating the operational tempo from Kursk into Sumy Oblast.

So update on the Murder of Vermont Border Patrol Agent David Maland

VT Digger has been doing a great job on reporting

Suspects in Vermont were connected with a cult called the Zizians a radical offshoot of the Rationalist movement and is described as a murder gang

Youngblut, and Bauckholt had been under surveillance since Jan. 14, when an employee of a hotel in Lyndonville, Vermont, reported seeing the pair dressed in black tactical clothing and protective equipment, according to the affidavit. The employee also told officials that they observed Youngblut carrying a holstered firearm. Vermont State Police and Department of Homeland Security investigators approached Youngblut and Bauckholt that day, according to the affidavit, but the pair “declined to have an extended conversation.” Youngblut and Bauckholt allegedly told investigators they were “in the vicinity to look at purchasing property,” and checked out of the hotel that afternoon.

Multiple Border Patrol agents in three vehicles pulled over Teresa Youngblut and, Felix Bauckholt, for an immigration inspection around 3 p.m. on Jan. 20, according to an FBI affidavit. During the traffic stop, Youngblut drew and fired a handgun toward at least one agent without warning, Bauckholt also attempted to draw a firearm, according to the affidavit, and at least one Border Patrol agent fired at the pair with his 9mm service weapon. 

FBI agents who searched the car found a ballistic helmet, night-vision goggles, 48 rounds of ammunition, used shooting range targets, and a dozen electronic devices, according to the affidavit. Authorities also found cell phones wrapped in aluminum foil at the scene.

A third associate Maximilian Snyder who has filed marriage paperwork with Teresa Youngblut was arrested in California for Jan. 17 2025 stabbing death of Curtis Lind in Vallejo California.

Snyder, Youngblut, Bauckholt are also suspects in a double homicide in Pennsylvania.

Curtis Lind the man murdered by Synder had in 2022 been severely injured in the violent dispute with tenants who where part of this cult group and a search of the property turned up used surgical equipment, more than a dozen laptops, and expensive electronics stashed inside the cargo trucks where the alleged assailants lived, which were registered in Vermont.

Youngblut had a shared leased of a property in Shelburne Vermont and had traveled abroad in 2022, 2023, 2024. The German may have also been involved in a shooting in Vermont

This whole thing is like a crazy schizo story vtdigger.org/2025/01/27/sus…

LAFD Units that have responded to areas IVO Palisades fire

Air Assets
AO1, AO2, H0A, H0C, H0D, H0F, H1, H2, H3, H4, HA1, HA2, HA3, HA4, HA7, HT2, HT3

Arson Investigators
AR1, AR11, AR33, AR34

Command
BC4, BC5, BC9, BC10
BC11, BC17, BC18, BC701
BC705, BC706, BC717, BC721
CM20, CM22, CM40, CM42
CM51, CM52, PI1, SO1, PB1880, PH1

Brush Patrol
BP8, BP19, BP23, BP44,
BP74, BP84, BP99, BP109,
CW3A

Engines
E1, E1B, E3, E3S, E4, E5, E6S, E11, E12, E14, E15, E17, E19, E20, E23, E26, E27, E29, E33, E34, E35, E37, E38, E39, E41, E41C, E43, E43C, E48, E49, E58, E59, E61, E62, E63, E64, E66, E67, E68, E69, E70, E71, E73, E75, E82, E82C,E85, E88, E90, E93, E94, E95
E98, E105, E109, E201, E205, E209, E221, E226, E227, E229, E235, E237
E260, E261, E263, E269, E278
E287, E290, E292, E295, E8136
E8137, E8138, E8139, E8140

Rescue Ambulance
AP43, EM5, EM9, EM17, EM18
RA19, RA23, RA27, RA37, RA56, RA58
RA69, RA71, RA92, RA97, RA862, RA867

Trucks
T5, T21, T26, T27, T29, T35, T37
T60, T61, T63, T69, T87, T90
T92, T95

Urban Search & Rescue Units
UR5
UR88

Water Tenders
WT77, WT88

Other units
Dozer 41, Dozer 42, Dozer 45
Emergency Air 1,
Emergency Air 2,
Fast Response 91,
Fast Response 115,
Heavy Equipment 1,
Heavy Rescue 3, Squad 95,
Support Utility 4

Non LAFD Units (
2x Canadair CL-415 Super Scoopers
USFS
2 Air Attack Planes,
1 Lead Plane,
4 LAT’s (large airtankers),
1 Task Force,
4 Type 3 Engines
1 Water Tender. This list does not include all the mutual aid from neighboring fire districts that are covering other stations or mutual aid that may have responded as well

Ukraine has gone on the offensive in Kursk

Ukraine is spearheading 3 different assaults towards
Bolshoe Soldatskoe
Pushkarnoe
Leonidovo

These towns are defended by
Akhmat, 810th, North Koreans, and several storm Z units.

Russian channels been showing footage of Ukrainian forces using a large number of mine clearers, tanks, armoured vehicles, and report heavily utilising electronic warfare making most drones useless.

Meanwhile Russians are attacking into Sumy on the border where they have been trying for last 2 weeks and in
Kursk near Malaya Loknya

Ran out of room to showcase the rest of the Russian units on the Western Side of Kursk check out @JominiW latest update from December 20th 2024 as a reference!

Based on Russian reports the Ukrainians are having the most successful today so far near
Bolshoe Soldatskoe which is defended by Akhmat

https://x.com/JominiW/status/1870312171642511662?t=hNRsgQr3CjTmgLyQL5CpOw&s=19

The central route China is getting fed up with Russia and wants to cut them out of the picture and take their sphere of influence from Central Asia all part of the European Silk Road project

https://twitter.com/Maks_NAFO_FELLA/status/1872964943722791238

They just had a major conference in Vienna just after Thanksgiving to discuss further enhancements of the One belt, One Road Initiative and the China Europe Railway Express specifically bypassing Russia taking a litany of different routes main route though goes from China through Uzbekistan Turkmenistan and then into Iran and either from there going to Azerbaijan, Turkey and then Bulgaria or going from Iran through part of Syria into Turkey and then Bulgaria. There are other lines as well that go from China through Tajikistan, Afghanistan and then into Iran and from China through Kyrgyzstan into Uzbekistan and then the aforementioned routes to Turkey.

22DEC2024 Updated map of warships operating in Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea.

Few minor notes before we begin.

1. Locations are not precise
2. Might be missing a few ships particularly from Combined Maritime Forces. Feel free to message or comment if anything is missing or needs editing.

Latest updates

USS Gettysburg CG-64 has a friendly fire incident with aircraft from USS Harry S. Truman CVN-75 in the Red Sea on 21DEC2024.

Turkish Navy Somalia Maritime Task Force continues to operate off the coast of Somalia

Iranian "Drone carriers" are all at Bandar Abbas.

Iranian Navy is supposed to have launched the 100th Flotilla to relive the IRIN Dena and Bushehr not positive on composition of the 100th Flotilla ATT.

Pakistan Navy
PNS Azmat,
PNS Rasadgar,
PNS Dasht
are in Bandar Abbas this weekend. Thank you to the following accounts assisting in creating the map
@ianellisjones
@GSSReport
@MT_Anderson
@mercoglianos
@johnkonrad
@mhmiranusa
@UKForcesTracker
@TBrit90
@sentdefender
@mhmiranusa

🚨BREAKING US NAVY FRIENDLY FIRE IN RED SEA

USS Gettysburg (CG-64) shot down an F-18 Hornet from the USS Harry S Truman (CVN-75) over the Red Sea while coalition aircraft were conducting strikes on the Houthis.
Both pilots recovered safely one with minor injuries.

USS Gettysburg (CG-64) is the cruiser escort for USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) part of Carrier Strike Group 8.

Other ships in Carrier Strike Group 8
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75)
USS Gettysburg (CG-64)
USS Stout (DDG-55)
USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109).

https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/1870576182934323203?t=qshfgPQK1uzlfPVVbQjHPw&s=19

Ukraine throws OWA-UAV'S into apartment buildings in Kazan and continues to ignore the trains coming across the BAM and TSR you could have spent those drones destroying a shit ton of rail, infrastructure and military equipment moving towards Kursk

https://twitter.com/Rhaescuporis/status/1870509341381640474

Literally hundreds of traction stations that can stop this train dead in it's tracks and finish with other drones many dozens of bridges as well.

Remember folks 86% of Russian Freight moves along 50% of the rail network that is electrified. In short, no electricity on the electric rail lines. No trains

Since the Israeli Air Force has destroyed the military arsenal of Syria, here's an overview of the new Syrian Army Artillery Pieces.

1. Hell Cannon Howitzers 2. Self Propelled Hell Cannon

A updated helpful guide.

Yars = modified Topol
Rubezh = modified Yars
Oreshnik= modified Rubezh

Oreshnik=Rubezh=Yars=Topol

How to tell what you have.

Do you have a Topol?
If yes does it have MIRV's?
If yes it's a Yars.

If you remove the 3rd stage of the Yars ICBM, it is now Rubezh.

If you modify the MIRV's it is now a Oreshnik.

The Oreshnik/Rubezh it both a ICBM and IRBM. This is like unlocking, a tech tree same base model and just replacing components like it's a Lego set