In Other Nautical News

The historic World War II submarine USS Silversides has safely made her way under to a shipyard in Wisconsin for overhaul and preservation work.

Fox 11 News: WWII submarine USS Silversides reaches Sturgeon Bay shipyard for repairs

 USS Silverside's home is a fine museum in Muskegon, Michigan, and its always a delight to visit the well-preserved historic submarine.

The $3.5 million dollar project should keep her preserved and ready for visitors to learn of her and her crew's gallant service, and that of all US submariners in the Second World War for many years to come.

The Gales Of November, Remembered

Today is the 50th Anniversary of the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Immortalized in a ballad by Gordon Lightfoot, the legend of the wreck lives on.

On November 10, 1975, the 725-foot-long Great Lakes freighter, the biggest freighter on the lakes when she was built in 1958, suddenly sank in a storm in Lake Superior, taking all 29 crew members with her.

The ship rests on the lake bottom 530 feet down from the surface, with the bow section upright and the stern upside down.

The Arthur M. Andersen, the ship that was last to see and communicate with the Fitzgerald, is now in long-term layup in Toledo, Ohio, and may be retired from service soon, ending a long career and an operating connection to that fateful day 50 years ago.

A documentary showing the Edmund Fitzgerald in its condition as of the last expedition in 1994 gives a lot of interesting footage of the wreck:

 

There may never be another expedition to the wreck, as it is considered a grave and requires a permit to be visited.  That permit is not being issued by the Canadian government since the 1990s expedition. The presence of at least one visible body of a crew member found during the 94 expedition is one of the factors for the denial of permits for the wreck. 

The deep and cold fresh waters of Lake Superior preserves the wreck, and as the song says, Superior does not give up her dead, even 50 years after the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

So You're Saying There's A Chance To Save These Artifacts?

Canada issued the Hi-Power Pistol manufactured in Canada by Inglis in World War 2. 

They then soldiered on for years as the armed forces service pistol. 

These were finally replaced by the Sig P320 series as the C22 in 2024 after many years of service.

TWZ.com:  Canadian Military’s WWII-Era Browning Hi-Power Pistols Are Finally Being Replaced

The 11,000 service pistols were then all going to be destroyed in line with Trudeau and the Liberal's anti-gun agenda.

But, they thankfully by a strange turn of events were not.

Instead, they were sent to Ukraine.

The Ottawa Citizen: Canadian military Second World War pistols slated for destruction will instead be sent to Ukraine

So there's now a chance these historic firearms can be imported as surplus, or indeed could be swapped with the Ukrainians for Glocks or what not, and imported to the USA from Ukraine and saved from destruction.

Anybody know a surplus importer than can make this happen? 

Happy Enola Gay Pride Day!

On August 6, 1945, with the surprise carried to its target by the B-29 Enola Gay, the United States did the biggest gender reveal in history:

It had a Little Boy.

 

At 8:15 am, the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, with an equivalent of 15 kilotons of TNT, making The Land Of The Rising Sun become The Land Of The Rising Suns.

The bombing killed approximately 70,000 military personnel and civilians in the city.

Still, Japan did not surrender even after being introduced to the nuclear age the hard way.

It would take a second atomic bombing on August 9 to finally get Japan to surrender and bring World War 2 to an end. 

History of The M16A2

Widener's has a nice article up on the history and development of the M-16A2 rifle.

Widener's:  Colt M16A2: Battle Rifle Evolution

A neat look at the choices that went into the many mods of its predecessor to make it the replacement, including the  more precise sights and the three-round burst controversy.

I remember at Camp Perry using the A2 for a SAFS match, and having to dry click the trigger twice before loading a round to get a good trigger pull for the single round at a time series, as the other two trigger pulls in the series were less than great, especially when you really wanted to have a chance at hitting the X-ring.

It's a nice and informative article that gives some nice in-depth history on the evolution of the M-16 family.  

Interestingly enough, they used a vintage camera of a similar age, the Nikon F-3, to do the photos for the article. 

Nicely done. 

The Highest-Scoring Ace of The Jet Age Has Gone West

Israeli Air Force Brigadier General (ret) Giora Epstein died this weekend at the age of 87.

General Epstein is the highest scoring ace of the jet age (so far), with 17 kills. The victories occurred in the Six Day War, the War of Attrition and the Yom Kippur War.

Four of those kills occurred during a single sortie during the Yom Kippur War when he was alone in a fight against 20 Egyptian aircraft - only breaking off the battle when he was low on fuel.

He was one of the world's great warriors and jet pilots. 

The Jerusalem Post:  Giora Epstein, IAF's top ace and most decorated pilot, passes away at 87

May his memory be a blessing, and an inspiration to airmen.

Ouch. Time Flies.

Yes, time flies.  As do airplanes.

 

Gladiator II - Just Why?

To say Gladiator 2 was a sequel no one asked for is an understatement.

The first Gladiator was fun, had some respect for historical accuracy, and was a pretty accurate reenactment of the Rome tactics and gladiatorial games of Marcus Aurelius' time.

 Gladiator 2, not so much.

To say it had so many blatant historical inaccuracies it would hurt a classicist's soul is accurate. Verily, it did.

Horrendously bad, it was. 

It begins with a Roman fleet attacking Numidia under the Emperors Caracalla and Geta sometime between 209 and 211 AD. The leader of Numidia at the time is named Jugurtha.

The problem is the Roman Republic's War with Jugurtha took place in 118 BC, prior to the Roman Empire, and Numidia had been under Roman domian and control since then.

This does let them get some DEI credit for the film though portraying Jugurtha as Black, rather than North African Berber so there's that. 

And no, the Roman generals at the time of Geta and Caracalla were not known to run ahead of their formation fighting enemies one-on-one.  Not how it worked.

It gets progressively, and dare I say diversely, worse from there.

Denzel Washington plays Macrinus, as the master of gladiators. He does a fine job chewing the scenery and basically portraying himself out of Training Day. He's an enjoyable actor, but it kills the history of the period all the more, but again awesome diversity DEI credit.

The real Macrinus was the commander of the Preaetorian Guard  and as far as is known was not involved in the death of Geta, but was involved in killing Caracalla and becoming Emperor for a short period before being killed himself.

Oh, and Macrinus, while from North Africa, wasn't Black, but again DEI cred.

Geta and Caracalla are portrayed as effeminate half-wit twin poofs.  Again for DEI credit I suppose, when the historical record is rather different. 

Also, they weren't twins with Caracalla being 11 months older. They were both active on military campaigns and Caracalla was held to be quite the military strategist and campaigner. They did hate each other though and far more than is portrayed in the movie.

Caracalla also never had a pet monkey.  Lawdog is likely happy to know that.

Gladiator 2 even literally jumped the shark by having sharks in the Colosseum during the nautical battle scene.

While Rome did stage a Naumachia in the Colosseum at least once, the Romans did not capture sharks and have them swimming around the Colosseum during such battles.

Hilariously and painfully the naval battle itself was announced as a remake of the Battle of Salamis and described as a battle between the "Trojans and the Persians".

The Battle of Salamis was between the Greeks and the Persian  - in 480 BC. The Trojan war was much, much earlier, in the 12th or 13th century BC between the Greeks and the Trojans.  

The movie then continues with more and more historical inaccuracies.

There's even people sipping coffee and reading newspapers during the movie. 

Coffee didn't come to Rome as a beverage before the 17th century AD,  and newspapers weren't invented until the 1400s AD - over a thousand years after the events in the film.

I mean you can take license with historical events, but asking the audience to disbelieve a thousand years worth of an anachronism is asking for a bit much. 

In short, if you haven't seen Gladiator 2 yet,  I recommend you disbelieve it ever existed.  Instead you can have a much better and more enjoyable use of your movie-watching time by watching Gladiator again.

A Neat Hanukkah Discovery

The Times of Israel: ‘Miracle’ hoard of Hasmonean coins discovered during Hanukkah in Jordan Valley dig

 The Hasmoneans were the descendants of the Maccabees, so finding a hoard of coins belonging to Alexander Jannaeus during Hanukkah is rather cool, and timely.

These coins, made of bronze,  are known as prutahs or lepta (plural: leptons).

 For my Christian readers, these prutahs of Jannaeus are agreed upon by scholars to be the coins referred to as the "Widow's Mite" in the Christian bible  (Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4).  These coins are rather inexpensive at $35-$75 or so, and are a nice addition to any coin collection or just to have as a very neat historic item with significance for both Jews and Christians.

Amherstburg Naval Yard

When I was in Amherstburg last weekend, I decided to check out the historic site of the Navy Yard.

Used by the British in the War of 1812, the area saw heavy use ending in the Battle of Lake Erie - that the US navy won.

And of course there are Cannons

And Carronades, guns that while being shorter and shorter-ranged than cannons, packed a heavier wallop at close range:

 

There's also the flags of Ontario, the United Kingdom, Canada, The United States, and France on display:

Ok, just kidding about the white flag on the right being the French flag, mostly.

There's some nice monuments to the Battle of Lake Erie even if it looks like the gun carriage has gone missing, hopefully temporarily.

 and its a nice walk along the shoreline with Michigan across the water.

They did a very nice job with a series of connecting parks along the shoreline, and have nicely preserved quite a bit of history and it's well worth visiting, being such a short hop from the Detroit area.

London Trip 17: You Can Do Numerous Successful Commercial Transactions With No Recognition

But, you get caught shipping lousy quality copper, and your name endures forever:

Yes, that's the tablet that has the complaint about Ea Nasir - right there in clay and cuneiform, inscribed in 1750 BC.  Ea Nasir was a merchant that helped put the mess in Mesopotamia.

Located in the British Museum in Room G56, display case 24, if you're looking to go see it in person.

London Trip 12 - HMS Belfast

After thoroughly enjoying our time at Churchill's War Room, we started walking towards another Imperial War Museum - HMS Belfast.

There Mr. B and I met up with Lagniappe's Keeper and toured the ship.

HMS Belfast is a Town-class light cruiser, that fought in World War 2 and the Korean War.

We boarded and passed by the ship's bell:

HMS Belfast's main firepower comes from twelve six-inch guns arrayed in four triple turrets with a range of 14 miles.

It's rather cramped inside those turrets.

 

The six-inch guns have an interesting ammunition hoisting mechanism below decks in the Shell Rooms that got ammunition to the guns quickly:

HMS Belfast fired over 4,000 shells in support of the D-Day invasion on Gold Beach and as the troops pushed inland.

 The ship also mounts 12 4-inch guns, 40 mm antiaircraft guns and pom-pom guns as well as torpedoes.

There's everything on board a crew might need at sea.

From a heavily-stocked machine shop:

Galleys for food preparation and a bakery:

 

Damage Control Lockers

 

Sick Bay:

 

and more.  The engine room is rather impressive to visit and the ship is a fitting monument to the fighting British sailors of World War 2.

Moored alongside Belfast was a visitor to the United Kingdom, the Indian frigate INS Tabar, a Talwar-class frigate. 

 Built in Russia, she's now shown her mettle.

Yes those are two drone kill patches on the missile launcher, and a ship kill patch below the RBU-8000 rocket launcher.  INS Tabar shot down two Iranian-made Houthi-piloted Shahed drones. 

Jai Hind.

Inspired by the presence of the INS Tabar, the three of us headed off to have Indian food for dinner. 

It was quite delightful and flavorful.

We then walked across Tower Bridge and went on our way.

 

It had been a very interesting and informative day with many sights seen and over 22,000 steps taken.

London Trip 11 - Churchill's War Room

We arrived and got in line for tickets to the Churchill War Room Tour.

We waited in line for tickets beside a couple very friendly Aussies who were visiting London, and we had a very nice chat to pass the time before we got in. 

The War Room is a bunker complex located beneath the Treasury building in Westminster. The complex became operational a week before Britain declared war on Germany and remained open and active until the end of the Second World War. The complex has been preserved to look as it did during the war years.

Inside, you can see where Churchill and the Cabinet conducted the war.

The complex is tight to maneuver in and full of offices and areas for running the war.

Security in the complex was rather tight:

The threat of bombardment was a real concern as the bunker complex was not quite as bomb-proof as they would have liked.

Some notices are rather polite:

The bunker complex is quite interesitng with lots of recorded recollections written up rfom people who worked in the bunker posted for people to read and learn about the experience.  It's very much walking through a place where history was made and a war won due to the decisions made in these rooms.

The bunker also had a very informative poster, and very knowledgeable and helpful docent who explained the secret and secure encrypted communication line that had been setup between Churchill and FDR - the SIGSALLY.:

=

A very cool bit of cryptography history and technology right there.

In addition to the bunkers setup as they were in Churchill's time, there's a museum dedicated to the man.

The museum has a display oif the many hats  Churchill wore: 

There's also Churchill's sidearm from when he served on the Western Front in World War 1 when commanding the Royal Fusilliers:

Yes, it is a Colt 1911.

The Nazis used a famous photo of Churchill in their propaganda against him:

It likely didn't , work nor change anyone's mind.  Indeed international and national socialists both are always quick to accuse their opponents of what they themselves are doing.

The museum recounts Churchill's life and career in politics and the military, complete with his foibles and mistakes and all. It gives an excellent picture of the man and his incredible work ethic, life and legacy.

Did you know that Churchill was a pilot?  He learned to fly in 1913:

Did you know that Churchill was awarded honorary American Citizenship?

Now you do.  Back when Civus Americanus Sum had some weight behind it.

You definitely get a very good sense of Churchill the man, his legacy, and his massive impact on history. 

The museum is a very well done and is worthy of  a visit when you are in London.

The Day The Land Of The Rising Sun

Became The Land of The Rising Suns.

Today is variously known as:

"Don't Start a War if You Can't Take A Joke Day!"

"Do Not Touch The Boats Day!"

"Now Look What You Made Me Do Day!"

"Happy Enola Gay Pride Day!".

It was 79 years ago today that the Enola Gay did the best and biggest gender reveal ever when it showed Japan and the world that America had a Little Boy.

1984 In 2024

 

It's interesting to watch the Media rewrite history in real-time to support their latest candidate for president. One problem in doing so with recent history is that people still remember the facts and often the old reporting that was rewritten still can be retrieved thanks to the Internet.

In an attempt to support their Party and refurbish appointed candidate Kamala Harris's image, elements in the media are literally rewriting their prior reports on her history.

 

Axios, for example, is now denying she was ever appointed as border czar in 2021, a job she didn't just fail at completely (visiting the border all of once and doing absolutely nothing) but failed so badly her appointment must now be rewritten from history. 

Axios, after previously reporting at the time she that was appointed "Border Czar" now comes out and states she was never appointed as border czar, it didn't happen, and they were "incorrect" in their past reporting: 

 

Eric Bolling: What Do You Mean 'Border Czar?': Axios Hit With Community Note After Contradicting Own Reporting on Kamala Harris

 

Many other Media talking heads are repeating the same revision to history, contradicting and denying what they themselves reported but a couple years ago.

GovTrack, also doing its part for Kamala, has now erased its prior record that showed her as having the most liberal voting record in the Senate in 2019. This removal just occurred in the last two weeks. 

 

It will be interesting to see what else gets rewritten or "re-explained" by the media to try and erase the problematic parts of her record as she moves on to be the Democrat's selected candidate.

"History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right.". ― George Orwell, 1984.

The Longest Day - 80 Years Later

80 years ago today, the greatest amphibious operation the world has ever seen headed for the shores of occupied France.

Thanks to the courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle of the airmen, sailors and soldiers from the United States, Britain, Canada, Poland and other allied nations, the Nazis stranglehold on continental Europe was broken.  Much more hard fighting would be needed to bring the war to an end, but the beginning of the end took place on June 6, 1944.

Blackbeards Recap 7 - Pre-Airport Perambulations

Everyone needed to be off the boat by 9am, so we had a coffee and a continental breakfast, said our goodbyes. Some people headed right to the airport or their hotels if they were staying for another day, and the rest of us hung around the pool area at the dock waiitng for our scheduled shuttles to the airport.

Since we had plenty of time, I suggested we walk over and visit a fort that was nearby. So Gio, Jay, Morgan and I walked about 15 minutes along the shore to Ft. Montagu.

Ft. Montagu has an interesting history.  The oldest extant fort in the Bahamas, it was built starting in June 1741 and completed in July 1742 by the British.

The Americans then captured the Fort, along with the Bahamas governor, in 1776.  The British then retook it. The Spanish then captured it in 1782, and then the  British retook it once again, and in British hands it remained.

Several cannons remain at the fort, on their swiveling gun carriages.

The fort has a lovely and commanding view of the Harbor entrance;

It's a very nice, if rather small fort, and worth the small admission fee to get in and wander around.

Then, being thirsty on the way back in the heat, we stopped at a stand for some very fresh coconut water.

That was as fresh as you can get, and it was indeed very refreshing.

We then got back to the harbor area and waited for our shuttles to the airport.

Back From The Desert

Now, I've been through the desert, the Mojave Desert to be precise, but I did not have a Horse With No Name.

Instead, I spent a week with Murphy's Law out at, and in, his mines, along with his dogs.

Looking up and out of the shaft of the Columbia Mine

In short, the land he owns is beautiful, hot, harsh, and rugged.  It's also out in the middle of nowhere, to give a good basic description as to its location.

Can't beat the view

Chock full of mining history, it was quite a place to visit.

It was a good place to shift gears and reset a bit.

Lots to report on and it was a fantastic trip. But I need to first put out some fires at work, and do some serious laundry to wash away the desert dirt that got absolutely everywhere.