Saudi Arabia's gulf allies follow suit in cutting diplomatic ties with Iran over execution row, tensions soar




Things getting more and more serious over there. Adding to the current sh*tstorm of course...

That's is good news indeed ,but what we really don't need is Gulf war 3.0

Must be Chechens or Dagestanis.



A lot of anti-russian volunteers in Ukraine since the civil war began. A lot of Muslim Tatar, Dagestani and Chechen volunteers from Russia itself grabbing the chance to fight the Russian and their Eastern Ukrainian allies.

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Jan 7 2016, 08:16 AM

Ukraine allows anyone willing to fight the Russians to join its government-supported paramilitary units. There are mostly Eastern Europeans itching to pay back at Russia plus a few western volunteers. Not Regular Army units though, that one still needs to be Ukrainian to join. Nowadays there quiet down already for now, but still nobody signed any peace treaty or anything, so fighting can practically ignite anywhere at any time.

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Jan 7 2016, 03:00 PM

US-made cluster bombs found after recent Saudi coalition air strike



Big brother US don't wanna talk about Saudi 'war crimes violations' here?

In light of North Korea's alleged H-bomb test, South Korea seek strategic weapons


A South Korean soldier watches a news telecast on North Korea's alleged hydrogen bomb test

South Korea is in talks with the United States to deploy US strategic assets on the Korean peninsula, a South Korean military official said on Thursday, a day after North Korea said it successfully tested a hydrogen nuclear device.

The United States and weapons experts voiced doubts the device was as advanced as North Korea claimed, but calls mounted for more sanctions against the isolated state for its rogue nuclear program.

The underground explosion angered China, which was not given prior notice although it is North Korea's main ally, pointing to a strain in ties between the neighbours. The test also alarmed Japan and the White House said Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed with US President Barack Obama in a telephone call that a firm global response was needed. Obama also spoke to President Park Geun-hye of South Korea to discuss options.

A South Korean military official told Reuters the two countries had discussed the deployment of US strategic assets on the divided Korean peninsula, but declined to give further details. After North Korea last tested a nuclear device, in 2013, Washington sent a pair of nuclear-capable B-2 stealth bombers on a sortie over South Korea in a show of force.

The US Army used to deploy nuclear-capable MGM-52 Lance Tactical Ballistic missiles in South Korea, but they were withdrawn in 1991.

SOS

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Jan 8 2016, 09:39 AM

Buried firearms and ammunition found in Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu



Security forces found a number of firearms and ammunition buried in the former settlements in Tanduo village near here, yesterday. Weapons and ammunition were found in a package with a rusty condition believed to be hidden by the terrorists during the incursion in the village in February 2013.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Abd Rashid Harun, said the discovery found two rifles, five pistols, more than 100 assorted bullets and also a pair of handcuffs. He said the items were found at 1pm by a team from the PDRM General Operations Force (GOF) conducted a follow-up inspection following information from the public.

"All firearms and ammunition are no longer useable due to the effects of corrosion, we believe they have been buried for more than two years.

The security forces will carry out efforts to detect the possibility of firearms hidden and buried in Kampung Tanduo and Felda Sahabat, Lahad Datu. He said he also urged those with information on terrorist activities to report to the authorities in order to enable the security forces to investigate.

"Although Ops Daulat have passed two years ago, we still pay attention to the public about any information submitted in connection to the intrusion and terrorist activities in Kampung Tanduo.

"Thanks to the information from the public, we can detect hidden weapons in the village Tanduo on Monday. Following the discovery, we will look elsewhere for possible hidden weapons ".

Sos

US Hellfire missile goes missing, winds up in Cuba



In a bizarre series of events, a US Hellfire missile has turned up in Cuba after going missing in a fiasco that has left American officials worried the technology may be shared with China, Russia or North Korea, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Though the missile was not carrying a warhead, the alarming diversion while it was in transit from Europe has spurred US investigators to probe whether its arrival on the communist island was the result of criminal activity or merely a series of mistakes, according to the newspaper.

And despite a historic thaw in ties with Cuba over the past year, Washington has been unsuccessful in its push to get the missile back, the WSJ said, citing unnamed sources.

It reported that American officials were not concerned that Cuba would take apart the Hellfire -- an air-to-ground missile often carried by helicopters -- but were worried that Havana would share the technology with US rivals China and Russia, as well as North Korea.

Sos

China officially commissions second 10,000 ton Coast Guard patrol vessel

Awesome gif of a tank firing a tube-launched ATGM

HE is different from HEAT. HE is solid-packed while HEAT is hollow charge. You can get away with a conventional-looking shell with HE load, but I think HEAT need to have specialized shape, especially the probe.


HEAT rounds on left and HE round at right

Also, I am also coming into the belief that the shot is from an X-rod, a rocket-assisted guided tank shell. If you google "x-rod fired from tank" most of the images will be the same as the one I have posted.

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Jan 9 2016, 11:39 PM

Bizarrely, this looks like an anti-tank gun shell designed to be fired from a rifled gun (note no stabilizing fins). If this shell is indeed a HEAT round then it will be a poor one indeed. For full effect of HEAT penetration to take place, the round can't be used with a rifled gun. The spinning movement of the shell rifling will deform the plasma jet created when the warhead detonates and the plasma cannot concentrate its jet stream to punch into armor effectively . That's why you always see HEAT rounds with stabilizing fins, so they don't need the spinning movement of the rifling to generate accuracy.


This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Jan 10 2016, 12:07 AM

Challenger doesn't use finned HEAT rounds like M1 Abrams for armor piercing (which has a smoothbore gun) , it uses HESH (High explosive Squash Head) for general and light armor use. That's why it can be used use rifled gun, the penetration of HESH round isn't effected by the rifling spin.

In fact Challenger 2 only carries 3 types of ammunition: APFSDS (for heavy duty armor -piercing), HESH (for general use and against light armor) and white Phosphorus rounds (for smoke geration and target marking). Because of the rifled barrel, The Challenger APFSDS round is encased in a special sabot that spins with the rifling during firing, but keeps the armor-piercing dart itself from spinning.


Challenger 2 Ammunition load types. APFSDS (front), white Phosphorus (on the left) and HESH (behind). The sticks in the center are propellant charges

Also, rifling actually increases the range of the Challenger, a finned round is more susceptible to deviations from crosswinds. Rifling can allow the Challeneger to engage targets up to 4 miles with the HESH.

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Jan 10 2016, 08:37 AM

Actually those are the impact fuze for the warhead.

Beijing and Seoul sets up hot line to prevent maritime incidents



South Korea and China have agreed to set up a hotline between their coast guards to help them swiftly cope with maritime accidents and prevent illegal fishing, Seoul officials said Thursday.

The agreement was signed between Hong Ik-tae, head of the Korea Coast Guard, and his Chinese counterpart, Meng Hongwei, in Beijing earlier in the day, officials said.

The coast guards of the two nations also agreed to hold an annual meeting to help promote bilateral exchanges and mutual understanding.

In a statement, Hong said the agreement would help the two nations' coast guards "swiftly exchange information to maintain maritime order and cope with accidents at sea."

The hotline began operations soon after the agreement was signed, officials said.

For filthy rich drug cartel, these stuff is small beer. Especially when there are capitalists north of the border keen on selling guns.

-Doublepost

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Jan 11 2016, 07:42 PM

Iran letter addressed to UN openly accuses Saudi Arabia of 'supporting terrorism'



In a letter to the United Nations Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has accused Saudi Arabia of supporting terrorism and dragging the region into crisis.

"Most members of al-Qaeda, the Taliban, Islamic State and Nusra Front are Saudi citizens or have been brainwashed by demagogues wielding oil money," Zarif said in his letter on Saturday.

Zarif’s letter to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon lists a number of "provocations" which he argues “some people” in Saudi Arabia are carrying out to mire the Middle East in crisis.

Iran and Saudi relations deteriorated sharply in recent days after the execution of prominent Shiite cleric and dissident Sheikh Nimr by Riyadh last week.

Saudi Arabia and several Arab countries have since cut diplomatic ties with Iran over the issue.

"They [the Saudis] can continue to support extremist terrorists and promote sectarian hatred, or choose the path of good neighborliness and play a constructive role in regional security." The Iranian foreign minister said in his letter.

Meanwhile, foreign ministers from across the Arab world who met in Cairo condemned "hostile Iranian statements" that were released after Saudi Arabia's execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr on January 2. Following Iran's condemnation of the execution, the Saudi embassy in Tehran was stormed and set alight by demonstrators. A consulate in Iran's Mashhad was also attacked.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir on Sunday accused Iran of destabilizing the region and fanning the flames of religious division.

"These attacks on the embassy are a flagrant breach of international charters," Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told the meeting. "This reflects Iran's behavior in the Arab region and its attempt to stir sectarianism and shake security and stability."

While it is not the first time Iran has accused Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries of supporting terrorism, this is the first time the matter is referenced openly at the UN.

Pakistan to respond to any threat to Saudi Arabia



Any threat to Saudi Arabia's territorial integrity will evoke a strong response from Islamabad, Pakistani army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif said Sunday.

Sharif made the remarks in a statement after Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman met with him in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, adjacent to the capital.

Salman earlier arrived in Islamabad, making him the second top Saudi official to visit Pakistan in a week amid growing tension with Iran over Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr's recent execution. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir visited Pakistan a couple of days ago.

The visits came after Saudi Arabia and several of its allies announced the severing or downgrading of diplomatic relations with Shiite powerhouse Iran. Protesters in Tehran stormed the Saudi embassy and a Saudi consulate elsewhere in the country after Saudi Arabia executed al-Nimr, a prominent Shiite cleric and opposition leader earlier this month.

"The people of Pakistan would always stand with the people of Saudi Arabia," said Sharif in a statement after the meeting. Pakistan has previously agreed to become part of a Saudi-led counter-terrorism alliance. Sharif welcomed the initiative and informed the prince about Pakistan's support for efforts to oppose terrorism and extremism.

Pakistan hold its defense ties with Saudi Arabia in highest esteem, said Sharif, the army chief. He said Pakistan attached great importance to the security of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

More importantly an ally and friendly combatant on the eastern side of Iran. If/when the bullets fly, Iran can potentially be engaged from its eastern and western borders simultaneously.