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Everything posted by Mandy Lifeboats
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Star Trek: Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations
Mandy Lifeboats replied to Lichfield Dean's topic in Off Topic
The obsidian order notes your support -
At the same time that the ancient Egyptians were building the pyramids they had archaeologists looking for more ancient buildings.
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Russia and its “Special Operation” in Ukraine
Mandy Lifeboats replied to maqroll's topic in Off Topic
The fog of war makes it difficult to be sure about anything, But I have found an instance with a named individual and very specific details. https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/01/24/7438688/ -
Russia and its “Special Operation” in Ukraine
Mandy Lifeboats replied to maqroll's topic in Off Topic
"Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream?" -
Russia and its “Special Operation” in Ukraine
Mandy Lifeboats replied to maqroll's topic in Off Topic
I partially agree. But we are a tiny country with 2 aircraft carriers, stealth fighters, 4 nuclear armed submarines and military bases in the northern hemisphere, southern hemisphere and on the equator. Our navy needs improvement but at the moment it's more than capable of defending the UK in our geographic location, with the allies we have and the limited ability of our enemies to reach our shorelines. Do we need carriers to defend the UK mainland? No. Would any of our enemies get a significant military force within 100 miles of us? No. -
Russia and its “Special Operation” in Ukraine
Mandy Lifeboats replied to maqroll's topic in Off Topic
There will be no conscription. Russia's military model is based upon a moderate sized army, large reserve forces and then conscription. Its been shown to be ineffective. America's military model is based upon a massive army, large reserve and no conscription. Its been shown to be effective in warfare but ineffective in long term occupation. UK's military model is based upon a tiny army, small reserve and no conscription. Its been shown to be effective in warfare because we've fought weak opponents, had the US with us and have the luxury of living on an island that is surrounded by well armed allies. Nothing has changed with Russia's present hostile stance. The UK is incredibly well defended. But if the US pulled out of NATO the onus would be on all European countries to up their game and spend on their military. We (the UK) are in a very different position to Poland, Germany, Romania, Latvia, Estonia etc. Our castle has a great moat and is patrolled by a disproportionately powerful navy. They don't even have a moat. The present talk of conscription is a political tool to justify increased defence spending. Increased defence spending in the UK is a political tool to compel some of our European NATO colleagues to do the same. Increased spending in European NATO is a deterent to Russia and a political tool to hopefully ensure the USA remains in NATO. Worry about conscription when France falls. Until then - enjoy the security of our castle, surrounded by allies and massive moat that is protected by the most powerful military alliance in history. -
Russia and its “Special Operation” in Ukraine
Mandy Lifeboats replied to maqroll's topic in Off Topic
Russia has produced a list of the 65 Ukrainian POW allegedly killed in the plane crash. But with typical Russian incompetence it includes 18 POW who had already been exchanged. -
Russia and its “Special Operation” in Ukraine
Mandy Lifeboats replied to maqroll's topic in Off Topic
You need some context to understand this. Now is the time of year when government departments agree their funding for the next tax year. The military/MOD is outlining what would happen if there was a major conflict. They could conscript the general public OR they could expand. The British Army is presently around 75,000 strong and we spend 2% of GDP. The aim is to increase spending to 3% and increase the size of our forces. That will PREVENT conscription in the future and is therefore more palatable to the general public. We can't just blame the Tories on this one. Labour decided that we needed 2 aircraft carriers. Some would say that decision was more about protecting jobs in the ship building industry than our defense requirements. -
Russia and its “Special Operation” in Ukraine
Mandy Lifeboats replied to maqroll's topic in Off Topic
In other news...... Air defences are being set up around St Petersburg. I wonder where these came from? It's a big country to defend with finite air defences. Putin recently passed a law that cancels any land purchases or land treaties made between Russia and "unfriendly" countries. This means Russia now considers Alaska to be part of Russia. There was a very humerous press briefing at the Whitehouse. Fast forward to 2.10 in the briefing. -
Russia and its “Special Operation” in Ukraine
Mandy Lifeboats replied to maqroll's topic in Off Topic
Another Russia plane down. Russia claims it contained Ukrainian prisoners of war. Ukraine claims it contained Russian soldiers and supplies. -
Russia and its “Special Operation” in Ukraine
Mandy Lifeboats replied to maqroll's topic in Off Topic
The mysterious fires continue. This one was probably caused by not keeping fireworks in an old biscuit tin. -
Russia and its “Special Operation” in Ukraine
Mandy Lifeboats replied to maqroll's topic in Off Topic
Regarding my post above. If you don't know the full story >> This is a massive warehouse that was raided by Russian Police and Army. Many of the poorly paid migrant workers were taken away to serve in Ukraine. Then the factory developed a wiring fault and burnt to the ground. Oooops. -
Russia and its “Special Operation” in Ukraine
Mandy Lifeboats replied to maqroll's topic in Off Topic
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/russia-ap-associated-press-b2478172.html -
The Brummy Button Salesman at Waterloo. This is someone who is well documented in history but I think is still unidentified. During the heat of the battle Wellington spotted a crucial problem in his formation. He turned to his last remaining messenger who immediately took a bullet. Wellington spotted a civilian on a horse nearby. He called him over. The man presented Wellington with a business card. He was a button salesman from a Birmingham firm. Wellington asked him to take a message for him. The man took the message, delivered it and was never seen again.
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Liz Truss. A British Member of Parliament She stabbed the serving Prime Minister in the back before seizing power. The Queen died in very mysterious circumstances shortly after meeting her. She then crashed the economy, stated that she would not resign and then resigned. Today, still wanted by the Police, she survives as a soldier of fortune in the Los Angeles underground.
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Russia and its “Special Operation” in Ukraine
Mandy Lifeboats replied to maqroll's topic in Off Topic
Err.......not quite sure what to say....... https://www.motor1.com/news/702066/amber-russian-electric-vehicle-prototype/ -
Russia and its “Special Operation” in Ukraine
Mandy Lifeboats replied to maqroll's topic in Off Topic
I'd say its more embarrassing. Being shot down by your enemy is war. Being shot down by your friend is an administrative error. -
Russia and its “Special Operation” in Ukraine
Mandy Lifeboats replied to maqroll's topic in Off Topic
There are lots of seemingly reliable Russia sources saying the Russia shot down at least one of the planes @LondonLax mentions above. One Russia blogger claims that someone has already been shot for their mistake. -
Russia and its “Special Operation” in Ukraine
Mandy Lifeboats replied to maqroll's topic in Off Topic
1. If true, the destruction of 2 support aircraft is massive. Russia can't get air supremacy against a country with no real airforce. Nor can they defend their fleet against a country with no real navy. 2. Ukraine's electronic warfare is improving. Rumours suggest that Finland and Sweden have played a big part in this development. (Saab and Nokia). https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_Surveillanc https://www.nokia.com/networks/industries/defense/ -
Russia and its “Special Operation” in Ukraine
Mandy Lifeboats replied to maqroll's topic in Off Topic
Russian Tank Reserves Everything below is obviously guesswork. But I have taken these figures from various credible sources which seem to be producing similar figures. Tank reserve = 8000 Estimated number actually salvagable = 3300 Real reserve available = 3300 New tanks built = 500 The number of tanks destroyed/captured is at least 2616 Estimated Tanks lost = 3000 Russia is maintaining its number of tanks at the moment so they must have replaced the 3,000 loses. 500 were newly built 2500 came from the 3300 reserve. That makes the remaining reserve around 800 from a starting figure of 8000. This is why Russia is being very cautious. It simply cannot sustain the loss of 1500 tanks a year. -
Russia and its “Special Operation” in Ukraine
Mandy Lifeboats replied to maqroll's topic in Off Topic
Ah.......we he have a misunderstanding. Russia had a large amount of tanks and armoured vehicles in storage. That reserve has fallen by 90% as they have replaced vehicles that were in service. That's very different to only have 10% of its tanks left. A lot of that reserve are immobile and being used as pillboxes or are without their main gun and are being used as mobile machine gun platforms. Much of the reserve stock have been cannibalised for spares. India still hasn't received tanks it returned for servicing before the war began.