Defence procurement bungles and wins

[ElwoodBlues1]

If we surrender to Tonga, I’ll be very upset (although the odds the bookies would offer on that result could make it a windfall).

Tonga have been buddying up with China so you would probably be surrendering to Xi and the Missouri would be used to make  LDV's and GWM vehicles, be a lot better build quality than the rubbish they produce now.....

[Lods]

I'm sure Tonga will be a valuable member of the United States of Oceania.....once we convince them.  

[LP]

Tonga have been buddying up with China so you would probably be surrendering to Xi and the Missouri would be used to make  LDV's and GWM vehicles, be a lot better build quality than the rubbish they produce now.....

The public must not confuse the corruption and misdirection of the Tongan Politicians with the attitude of the Tongan public, the gold doesn't flow downhill and like Fijians most Tongan locals don't care for it anyway!

There is a massive hatred in most Pacific Islands for the way the Chinese poorly treat the environment and also show such disrespect for the local cultures.

[Baggers]

The public must not confuse the the corruption and misdirection of the Tongan Politicians with the attitude of the Tongan public, the gold doesn't flow downhill and like Fijians most Tongan locals don't care for it anyway!

There is a massive hatred in most Pacific Islands for the way the Chinese poorly treat the environment and also show such disrespect the local cultures.

Although democracy aint perfect, it beats the cr@p out of what these nations have. I wonder how long Fijian, Tongan, Chinese and Russian bosses would last in a fair, democratic election with other (better?) options to choose from. Hard to see that, in particular, Xi and Vlad, are representative of the populace.

[DJC]

I visited the USS Missouri last year.  Looks like it would be fine for use if required. 

Possibly obsolete in modern warfare, but last saw active duty in Afghanistan and has been around for a long time.

Afghanistan is a bit far from the ocean for any warship Thry ?

“Mighty Mo” was re-commissioned twice over its 50 year career, the last time for the invasion of Iraq.  Its main guns and cruise missiles could strike targets well inside Iraq.

One of Mighty Mo’s achievements was providing the backdrop for Cher’s ‘Turn back time’ music video.  The sight of Cher’s naked, tattooed buttocks straddling one of the 16” guns upset many conservative Americans and excited many teenage boys ?

[DJC]

Fortunately, the USS Missouri was able to dodge and weave around the Taliban’s fleet of cruise and anti-ship missiles.

PS: It was decommissioned before the invasion of Afghanistan. It was involved in the 1st Gulf War. It hasn’t moved under its own power since 1992.

But even in the Gulf War, the ability of the Iraqis to target US ships was pretty much eliminated soon after hostilities began. The USS Missouri would be good to have if we want to declare war on Tonga but it would provoke hilarity rather than shock and awe if it were deployed against a country with a decent military.

My cousin was a petty officer on HMAS Sydney in the Gulf War.  He was on anti-aircraft watch and radar detected 100s of aircraft approaching the allied fleet; the sh1t was about to hit the fan!  Fortunately, the aircraft changed direction and headed for Iran.

[LP]

My cousin was a petty officer on HMAS Sydney in the Gulf War.  He was on anti-aircraft watch and radar detected 100s of aircraft approaching the allied fleet; the sh1t was about to hit the fan!  Fortunately, the aircraft changed direction and headed for Iran.

I know someone in the ADF who is a specialist in foreign policy and political analysis, listening to him talk it's amazing just how big of a part that "not being drawn into a conflict" plays in modern military leadership training. The commanders have to do this is real time.

The public in the meantime are thinking, "Shoot them down, why didn't they shoot them down?"

That example is exactly why a country like Australia needs a serious fleet of Subs.

[Baggers]

My cousin was a petty officer on HMAS Sydney in the Gulf War.  He was on anti-aircraft watch and radar detected 100s of aircraft approaching the allied fleet; the sh1t was about to hit the fan!  Fortunately, the aircraft changed direction and headed for Iran.

What branch was your cousin in?

My grandfather was an engineering officer on the Sydney that was sunk! He drafted off before that tragedy, fortunately, and took up a post on the Australia (I think, might have been Hobart).

[Thryleon]

Afghanistan is a bit far from the ocean for any warship Thry ?

“Mighty Mo” was re-commissioned twice over its 50 year career, the last time for the invasion of Iraq.  Its main guns and cruise missiles could strike targets well inside Iraq.

One of Mighty Mo’s achievements was providing the backdrop for Cher’s ‘Turn back time’ music video.  The sight of Cher’s naked, tattooed buttocks straddling one of the 16” guns upset many conservative Americans and excited many teenage boys ?

Yep I mis-remembered what we told on board and it was the gulf war.  (I swear I heard them say it saw active duty in the 90's and even support in the 2000's somewhere too).

A great accomplishment for a very old war ship irrsepective, and an impressive thing nonetheless.

[DJC]

What branch was your cousin in?

My grandfather was an engineering officer on the Sydney that was sunk! He drafted off before that tragedy, fortunately, and took up a post on the Australia (I think, might have been Hobart).

My uncle served on the Sydney during the Korean War.  One of my earliest memories is the Sydney docking in Melbourne after hostilities ended.  My uncle was a CPO who specialised in aircraft maintenance but was also a master mariner and was the skipper of the Victorian research vessel Delphinus after his navy service. 

His son was also a CPO who served with distinction in the Gulf War.  I’m not sure what branch he was in but he was responsible for anti-aircraft defence.  He was court martialled for refusing to pass two female sailors who were unable to pull back the cocking handle of a .50 cal MG.  Basically, the captain ordered him to pass them and he refused.

My late brother, a Wing Commander in the RAAF, defended him and won the case.  Of course, my cousin’s career was stuffed and he left the navy.  He’s now a dog handler who works across a range of enforcement/corrections roles.