Podcasts about manned

The US Air Force is at a turning point in 21st century warfare and in danger of whistling past the graveyard if they fail to take notice and action on the emerging Revolutions in Military Affairs (RMA). The era of manned combat aircraft is coming to a close. The era of manned bombers with gravity bombs is over. The era of fixed site nuclear missiles is in great peril. The era of hyper-velocity missiles whether high parabola of IRBM/ICBM or Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS) glide vehicles. If the pilot mafia doesn't do something about what is coming, the result will be cataclysmic. The Pentagon will not do the right thing, regretfully. References: A Concise History of the U.S. Air Force Jeffrey J. Smith Tomorrow's Air Force: Tracing the Past, Shaping the Future Seth J. Frantzman Drone Wars: Pioneers, Killing Machines, Artificial Intelligence, and the Battle for the Future Paul Scharre Army of None: Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War David Hambling Swarm Troopers: How Small Drones Will Conquer the World Garrett Graff Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government's Secret Plan to Save Itself--While the Rest of Us Die Paul Ozorak Underground Structures of the Cold War: The World Below Daniel Ellsberg The Doomsday Machine: Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner Nassim Taleb Incerto: Fooled by Randomness, The Black Swan, The Bed of Procrustes, Antifragile, Skin in the Game Mark Gunzinger & Bryan Clark Winning the Salvo Competition: Rebalancing America's Air and Missile Defense Christian Brose The Kill Chain: Defending America in the Future of High-Tech Warfare Email at cgpodcast@pm.me

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Robert Dougherty is joined by business development director for Boeing Attack Helicopter Programs, Terry "TJ" Jamison, as they discuss the changing strategy of attack helicopters in modern warfare and the development of "launched effects". Jamison, a 30-year veteran of the US Army, has previously commanded an air cavalry squadron in Iraq and a combat aviation brigade in Afghanistan. The former Apache attack helicopter pilot retired from US military service as a colonel with more than 5,000 flight hours in helicopters, such as the AH-64D Apache Longbow and CH-47 Chinook. The pair discuss a range of topics, including: The evolving impact of "launched effects" and the uncrewed options for attack helicopters, such as the AH-64E Apache. The changes that the United States military is making to its own attack helicopter strategy, role and capabilities. Modern helicopter warfare examples seen in the Ukraine–Russia conflict and the implications being discussed in the public regarding attack helicopters. Manned and unmanned teaming technology being developed to empower aerial platforms, such as the AH-64E Apache and MQ-28A Ghost Bat. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

Private Space Enterprise, Artemis Debate, and the Human Body in Space. Bob Zimmerman (Behind the Black) reviews the private space sector, highlighting VAST, which is developing the small manned demo space station Haven One using its own investment capital, unlike other NASA-funded consortiums. VAST's larger planned station, Haven 2, is designed to rotate, creating artificial gravity. This capability is crucial for mitigating the damage extended weightlessness causes the human body, such as cardiovascular weakening, bone density loss, and vision problems (the eye flattens). Zimmerman notes the ongoing debate over NASA's Artemis program, where former administrators clash over SpaceX's ability to build the lunar lander on time, often driven by lobbying interests. He also reports that China recently set a new national record for successful launches in a single year (67 completed). 1954

Private Space Enterprise, Artemis Debate, and the Human Body in Space. Bob Zimmerman (Behind the Black) reviews the private space sector, highlighting VAST, which is developing the small manned demo space station Haven One using its own investment capital, unlike other NASA-funded consortiums. VAST's larger planned station, Haven 2, is designed to rotate, creating artificial gravity. This capability is crucial for mitigating the damage extended weightlessness causes the human body, such as cardiovascular weakening, bone density loss, and vision problems (the eye flattens). Zimmerman notes the ongoing debate over NASA's Artemis program, where former administrators clash over SpaceX's ability to build the lunar lander on time, often driven by lobbying interests. He also reports that China recently set a new national record for successful launches in a single year (67 completed). 1940

Space Updates: NASA Administrator, Reusable Rockets, and Satellite Cell Service GUEST NAME: Bob Zimmerman Bob Zimmerman discusses the potential renomination of billionaire Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator, noting Isaacman's previous private manned space missions. He highlights Stoke Space raising nearly $1 billion to develop its fully reusable Nova rocket, potentially cheaper than SpaceX's offerings. AST SpaceMobile signed Verizon (adding to AT&T) to use its "Bluebirds" satellites for direct cell phone service, eliminating dead spots. SpaceX recently flew a Falcon booster for its 29th flight. Congressional cuts zeroed out 15 potential space missions

Space Updates: NASA Administrator, Reusable Rockets, and Satellite Cell Service GUEST NAME: Bob Zimmerman Bob Zimmerman discusses the potential renomination of billionaire Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator, noting Isaacman's previous private manned space missions. He highlights Stoke Space raising nearly $1 billion to develop its fully reusable Nova rocket, potentially cheaper than SpaceX's offerings. AST SpaceMobile signed Verizon (adding to AT&T) to use its "Bluebirds" satellites for direct cell phone service, eliminating dead spots. SpaceX recently flew a Falcon booster for its 29th flight. Congressional cuts zeroed out 15 potential space missions

A meeting with a captain from across the river provides Rogers with more than just political support. He learns of a secret path to the Upper Quarter, and a truth that changes everything: The Deputy Guildmaster, Alard, is alive, crippled, and being held hostage by Guildmaster Polo.Some secrets are worth dying for. Some are worth killing for.---Intimidated that you're dozens of episodes behind and afraid to start listening? Don't be. Here's a handy Listener's Guide that let's you know spots where you can start listening further in the story.---Interested in the development of the complex story and want to know how writer Jake Kerr puts it together every week? Want an ad-free experience? Subscribe to his Patreon. Love world building? Want ongoing updates? Free members get ongoing story updates with interesting reference material about the guild hierarchy, geography, and history. Free Patreon members also receive copies of the first Thieves Guild ebook. The next book will be released in 2025 and Patreon members will also receive that book (and all subsequent books!) for free, too. Want to go directly to get your free books? Click here.---If you would like to view a map of Ness, you can find it here.----Grab some Thieves Guild merch!https://store.podcastalchemy.studio---Check out all of our drama podcasts!Artifacts of the ArcaneA historical urban fantasy set at the beginning of World War Two. The world has abandoned magic, but magic hasn't abandoned the world.https://podcastalchemy.studio/arcaneThursdayA cyberpunk VR thriller.No one can be trusted when nothing is real.https://podcastalchemy.studio/thursday----Find out more about writer Jake Kerr: https://www.jakekerr.comFollow Jake on Bluesky @jakekerr.com

Book Title: Genesis: The Story of Apollo 8, the First Manned Flight to Another World Author: Bob Zimmerman Segment 6: Trans-Lunar Journey: Primitive Tech and a Shrinking Earth Apollo 8 launched on December 21, 1968, the first day of its six-day window. After testing systems in Earth orbit, Capcom Mike Collins gave the "go" for Trans Lunar Injection (TLI), firing the upper stage engines to propel them towards the moon. The spacecraft's computer systems were primitive, inferior even to a Casio digital watch calculator; ground control dictated long strings of numbers for manual entry. As they left Earth, Jim Lovell described the view as "like being in a tunnel," with Earth shrinking rapidly from 25,000 miles per hour. Crucially, the SPS engine, essential for lunar orbit and return, had no redundancy, making its firing behind the moon a tense moment of Loss of Signal (LOS) for Earth-bound observers. 1851

Book Title: Genesis: The Story of Apollo 8, the First Manned Flight to Another World Author: Bob Zimmerman Segment 8: Perilous Return: Navigation Glitch, Double Skip, and Ocean Landing Following the Christmas broadcast, the critical Trans Earth Injection (TEI) burn occurred behind the moon, relying solely on the SPS engine for their return. Jim Lovell famously announced, "I want to report that there is a Santa Claus," confirming the successful burn. However, Lovell later accidentally "cleared the gimbal," resetting the navigation. He expertly used a sextant and stars like Rigel and Sirius to reorient the craft, showcasing the astronauts' remarkable ability to correct errors. The return also involved a risky "double skip trajectory" re-entry into Earth's atmosphere at 25,000 mph, a maneuver only successfully performed twice before. They landed within three miles of recovery ships, though the capsule was top-heavy and flipped upside down upon splashdown. The mission was a testament to the risks taken, with NASA having been chastened by the Apollo 1 fire that killed Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee in 1967, and the Soviets by Vladimir Komarov's death on Soyuz 1.  DECEMBER 19688

Book Title: Genesis: The Story of Apollo 8, the First Manned Flight to Another World Author: Bob Zimmerman Segment 7: Christmas Eve in Lunar Orbit: Earthrise and a Genesis Reading On Christmas Eve, Apollo 8 entered lunar orbit, firing its SPS engine behind the moon with no communication. The crew initially found the moon's surface disappointing, describing it as "a skull" or a "sandbox." However, they captured the iconic "Earthrise" photograph; Frank Borman took a black and white image, while Bill Anders took the famous color one after scrambling for film. During a historic Christmas Eve telecast—the first from lunar orbit, broadcast in black and white—the astronauts, after much deliberation, read the first twelve verses of Genesis from the Old Testament, aiming to share a message of goodwill to the world.

  Book Title: Genesis: The Story of Apollo 8, the First Manned Flight to Another World Author: Bob Zimmerman Segment 5: The Mighty Saturn V: A Tested Giant for Lunar Travel The Saturn V rocket, designed by Wernher von Braun, was crucial for Apollo 8. Despite having only two prior test flights—one successful, one with engine problems and "pogo" vibrations—NASA decided to use it for the manned lunar mission. Von Braun's team at Huntsville meticulously fixed the issues, ensuring confidence in its reliability. The launch of Saturn V was surprisingly smooth for the astronauts, contrasting with the rougher Titan rocket used on Gemini 7. Its immense power meant that once in Earth orbit, the energy needed to reach the moon or even other planets was considered minimal. 1966 APOLLO 1

Genesis: The Story of Apollo 8, the First Manned Flight to Another World Author: Bob Zimmerman Segment 4: NASA's Daring Gamble: Responding to Soviet Failures NASA's decision to send Apollo 8 on a circumlunar mission was a bold, aggressive move spurred by the Soviet Zondprogram. While the lunar module was behind schedule, George Low, manager of the Apollo program, proposed sending Apollo 8 to the moon after observing Soviet progress and knowing a simple Earth orbit repetition was a waste. The Soviets experienced failures with Zond 4 (self-destructed), Zond 5 (ballistic re-entry), and Zond 6 (lost atmosphere), which canceled their manned lunar mission. Low and Sam Phillips made the decision, informing a furious but ultimately supportive James Webb, NASA's head. This "gamble" was driven by the desire to prove American capabilities in the space race. 1957 SPUTNIK

Genesis: The Story of Apollo 8, the First Manned Flight to Another World Author: Bob Zimmerman Segment 3: The Unsung Heroes: Wives' Sacrifices Under Public Scrutiny The wives of the Apollo 8 crew—Susan Borman, Marilyn Lovell, and Valerie Anders—were central to the mission's story, facing intense media attention akin to being "under siege" in their "NASA village." Despite the financial strains of middle-class incomes and Valerie Anders raising five children under eight, all three women gave their husbands permission to go. Susan Borman, though supportive, was convinced Frank Borman would die in lunar orbit, needing reassurance from Chris Kraft that the mission had "a 50/50 chance" of success. 1870

Genesis: The Story of Apollo 8, the First Manned Flight to Another World Author: Bob Zimmerman Segment 2: The Elite Crew of Apollo 8: Dedication, Exploration, and Speed Frank Borman, an "old-fashioned American," was known for his honesty, deep sense of duty, and commitment to America. A West Point graduate and aeronautical instructor, he led the Apollo 1 investigation, ensuring meticulous preparation for Apollo 8. Jim Lovell, a "space cadet" and naval test pilot, desired space exploration, famously later commanding Apollo 13. His first mission with Borman, Gemini 7, proved humans could live in space for two weeks. William Anders, a rookie and military jet pilot, was driven by a love for speed and holds the human speed record from the Apollo 8 return. All three were relentlessly committed military veterans. 1929 MILANO

Genesis: The Story of Apollo 8, the First Manned Flight to Another World Author: Bob Zimmerman Segment 1: Setting the Stage: The Cold War and the Genesis of Apollo 8 In late 1968, Apollo 8 was poised for a mission amidst the global Cold War, a period where both sides held apocalyptic views of each other. President Kennedy had tasked Vice President Lyndon Johnson with the goal of reaching the moon, driving NASA's efforts. This race against Roscosmos, the Soviet program, was a battle of ideologies. The mission's crew, Frank Borman, William Anders, and Jim Lovell, were introduced as men with military backgrounds, ready to embark on what both sides believed was a critical moment for a circumlunar mission or moon landing. 1868 Jules Verne. "Aound the Moon."

Preview: Moon: Colleague Rand Simberg comments that China will likely win the contest to a manned lunar landing. More later. 1941

Listen to the full review. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Day 1,245.Today, we hear the mood from Kremlin insiders following a series of high profile purges by Putin, discuss a new drone factory showcased in Russian propaganda, and consider drama in the Ukrainian parliament which risks impacting the international perception of the government. Plus, we hear the latest on the mood in the British House of Commons.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Memphis Barker (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @memphisbarker on X.With thanks to our guests Iain Duncan Smith MP (@MPIainDS on X) and Jeff Hartman of Ukrainian Action (@UkrAaction on X).Content Referenced:Learn more about Ukrainian Action:https://www.ukrainianaction.com/ Russian elite living in fear as Putin purges take bloody toll (Memphis Barker in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/07/22/oligarchs-living-in-fear-as-putin-purges-take-bloody-toll/ Ukrainian drone secrets ‘stolen by snooping Europeans' (Memphis Barker in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/07/11/ukrainian-drone-secrets-stolen-by-snooping-europeans/ The tortured Ukrainian veteran turning shrapnel into a war museum (Memphis Barker in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/07/13/tortured-ukrainian-veteran-shrapnel-war-museum/ Inside Russia's suicide drone factories manned by teenagers (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/07/20/russia-suicide-drone-factories-manned-by-teenagers/'An extraordinary responsibility' — Ukraine's new ground forces commander outlines key priorities (Kyiv Independent):https://kyivindependent.com/new-ground-forces-commander-sets-priorities-troop-generation-training-and-unity/?mc_cid=51597b54d0&mc_eid=08d0680a95 Russia's struggle to modernize its military industry (Chatham House):https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/07/russias-struggle-modernize-its-military-industry Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment is America's most lethal and versatile projection of combat power. When our Special Operations Forces require precision insertion, extraction and fire support, the pilots of the 160th deliver. Born from the need to develop an aviation regiment capable of anything, anywhere, anytime, the 160th SOAR is the only Special Operations Unit to have been deployed continuously since inception.To discuss the critical role of the 160th SOAR, their command team of COL Steve Smith and CW5 Pete Sullivan invited Fran Racioppi for a ride on an MH-47 Chinook and demonstration of the AH-64 Little Birds in action. From the tail ramp, we discussed the mission of the 160th, their interoperability supporting Green Berets, Navy SEALs and Army Rangers; and the various aircraft in their arsenal. We also explored the recruiting, assessment and selection process for pilots, crew and maintainers; the culture of an organization that has a no fail mission; and how technology is changing aviation as they prepare to combat both near peer adversaries and terrorist organizations. Watch, listen or read our conversation from the workhorse heavy lift aircraft responsible for the delivery of personnel and equipment in the harshest environments. Highlights0:00 Introduction3:20 Mission of 160th SOAR4:23 Creating the 160th SOAR6:42 Interoperability of the 160th9:55 Assessment & Selection Process19:50 Support from Non-SOF21:50 Importance of Cross-training26:00 Preparing for the Next fight29:30 The role on unmanned aircraft31:18 Defining a “Nightstalker”34:38 Why join Army Aviation?39:35 Night Stalkers Don't QuitQuotes“Our mission is to provide precision rotary wing support and ISR support to our SOF operators.”“A plan is only something to deviate from.” “The backbone of any great organization and what makes DoD so successful is our non-rated crew members, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted team.”“Your importance has nothing to do with your proximity to the target.” “The standard is a standard. Regardless of what your job is, if you can't meet the standard, you won't be employed in the Regiment.”“You can't do precision if you do anything else.” “We can't always look at one adversary because something else might happen that we have to react to fairly quickly.”“If we can increase our range, survivability, and lethality, we have a major advantage for any adversary.”“Manned and unmanned teaming is the future.”“Don't let a speedbump become a roadblock.”“Not everything is going to go right the first time, but you can't make the same mistake three times and expect to be successful.”“Our people are critical problem solvers.”“I've had the highest of highs and lowest of lows in the regiment, but because of the people I'm around, they've made it the best of the situation that it could be.”The Jedburgh Podcast is brought to you by University of Health & Performance, providing our Veterans world class education and training as fitness and nutrition entrepreneurs. Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are an official program of The Green Beret Foundation.

This episode examines the advantages of using underwater habitats for simulating space missions, particularly for long-duration stays on the Moon and Mars. While acknowledging the limitations of previous facilities like land-based analogs and training pools, the text emphasizes how next-generation underwater habitats, with modular designs and advanced technology, can overcome these shortcomings. It highlights the similarities between extreme space and underwater environments, such as the impression of reduced gravity, psychological stressors, and technical/logistical demands. Finally, the paper presents the Calamar Park concept for a European Underwater Research Station as a promising solution that addresses the new requirements for space travel simulations, emphasizing its potential for international collaboration and interdisciplinary use.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468896725000205?dgcid=author#UnderwaterHabitats #SpaceMissionSimulation #LunarMissions #MarsMissions #AnalogEnvironments #NextGenHabitats #ModularDesign #SpaceTravel #PsychologicalStressors #CalamarPark #UnderwaterResearch #EuropeanSpaceResearch #InternationalCollaboration #InterdisciplinaryResearch #ExtremeEnvironments

"Preview: Colleague Bob Zimmerman reports on the PRC launch of a three-sat constellation to lunar space -- following the careful PRC plan to manned moon landing by 2030. More 1953

SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 43The Astronomy, Space and Science News PodcastExploring Venusian Volcanoes, the End of the Gaia Mission, and SpaceX's Historic Polar Orbit LaunchIn this episode of SpaceTime, we delve into the geological mysteries of Venus, where new research suggests that convection in its crust may explain the planet's numerous volcanoes. Unlike Earth, which supports life, Venus is a harsh environment with extreme temperatures and a crushing atmosphere. We discuss how this convection could indicate a more active geological landscape than previously understood, shedding light on the planet's evolution.The Conclusion of the Gaia MissionNext, we mark the end of an era as the European Space Agency officially powers down the Gaia spacecraft. After over a decade of groundbreaking work mapping the Milky Way, Gaia has provided invaluable data that has transformed our understanding of the galaxy. We highlight the mission's key achievements and the lasting legacy of its extensive data archive that will continue to inform astronomical research for years to come.SpaceX's Manned Polar Orbit MissionAdditionally, we celebrate SpaceX's successful launch of its first manned mission to orbit above the Earth's poles. This historic flight, which included a variety of scientific experiments, showcases the capabilities of modern space travel and the potential for future polar exploration. We detail the mission's objectives, the crew's experiences, and the significance of this achievement in the context of human spaceflight.00:00 Space Time Series 28 Episode 43 for broadcast on 9 April 202500:49 New study on volcanic activity on Venus06:30 Implications of convection in Venus's crust12:15 The end of the Gaia mission and its contributions18:00 Highlights of Gaia's discoveries and data legacy22:45 SpaceX's first manned polar orbit mission27:00 Summary of recent space exploration milestones30:15 Science report: Antibiotic use in livestock and environmental impactswww.spacetimewithstuartgary.comwww.bitesz.com

Trump to Unveil Reciprocal Tariffs Wednesday; SpaceX Launches First-ever Manned Polar Orbit Mission | NTD Good Morning

SummarySal and Mark delve into the current state of the U.S. Navy, discussing the size and capabilities of the fleet, the challenges of operating as a two-ocean Navy, and the potential for utilizing alternative naval assets such as offshore supply vessels. They explore the ongoing debate between manned and unmanned aircraft. Discussed some of the lessons on how to turn around a military quickly using the transition from the 1970s malaise, to the Reagan Era victory in the Cold War. The discussion also touches on military leadership, morale, and the strategic importance of aircraft carriers in contemporary military operations.Show Links"Crash Fleet: An Emergency Shipbuilding Program”, by Lieutenant Commander Brian Adornato, USNR.German army struggles to get Gen Z recruits ‘ready for war', by Laura Pitel.TakeawaysThe U.S. Navy's fleet size is often overestimated.The Navy operates as a two-ocean force, complicating logistics.Alternative naval assets could enhance defense capabilities.The future of naval warfare will involve a mix of manned and unmanned systems.Aircraft carriers remain a cornerstone of naval power.Chapters00:00: Introduction and Overview of the Fleet Discussion01:28: Analyzing the Current Size of the Navy05:40: Challenges of a Two-Ocean Navy07:48: Exploring Alternative Naval Platforms11:58: Possible Role of Offshore Supply Vessels14:47: Historical Context and Lessons Learned18:20: Rethinking Naval Strategy and Resources21:22: Utilizing Reserve Forces Effectively25:02: Future of Aircraft Carriers and Naval Aviation29:59: The Future of Manned vs. Unmanned Aircraft34:38: Military Resource Allocation and Strategy39:35: Generational Perspectives on Military Service in the post Vietnam recovery44:39: Leadership and Military Morale

This podcast contains explicit language and adult themes that may not be suitable for all listeners. In this episode of Here Comes The Guillotine The Mailbag, award winning Scottish comedians Frankie Boyle, Susie McCabe and Christopher Macarthur-Boyd answer your emails...If you have a dilemma, issue or problem you need solved, email hctg@global.comHere Comes The Guillotine Live!Get your tickets now...https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/here-comes-the-guillotine-tickets/artist/5498424

*** Apologies for delay in linking podcast, was on travel.*** The US Air Force is at a turning point in 21st century warfare and in danger of whistling past the graveyard if they fail to take notice and action on the emerging Revolutions in Military Affairs (RMA). The era of manned combat aircraft is coming to a close. The era of manned bombers with gravity bombs is over. The era of fixed site nuclear missiles is in great peril. The era of hyper-velocity missiles whether high parabola of IRBM/ICBM or Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS) glide vehicles. If the pilot mafia doesn't do something about what is coming, the result will be cataclysmic. The Pentagon will not to the right thing, regretfully. References: A Concise History of the U.S. Air Force Jeffrey J. Smith Tomorrow's Air Force: Tracing the Past, Shaping the Future David Hambling Swarm Troopers: How Small Drones Will Conquer the World Garrett Graff Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government's Secret Plan to Save Itself--While the Rest of Us Die Paul Ozorak Underground Structures of the Cold War: The World Below Daniel Ellsberg The Doomsday Machine: Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner Nassim Taleb Incerto: Fooled by Randomness, The Black Swan, The Bed of Procrustes, Antifragile, Skin in the Game Mark Gunzinger & Bryan Clark Winning the Salvo Competition: Rebalancing America's Air and Missile Defense Christian Brose The Kill Chain: Defending America in the Future of High-Tech Warfare My Substack Email at cgpodcast@pm.me

 PREVIEW - SPACEX Colleague Bob Zimmerman imagines what the manned space program would be like if SpaceX and Musk had not risked the fourth launch of the Falcon 1 booster nearly two decades ago. More details later. 1958

Eric Chewning and Thomas Moore of HII join the show to discuss America's military shipbuilding challenges, and their potential solutions. ▪️ Times      •      01:32 Introduction     •      01:55 Origins      •     07:08 An eroded defense industrial base      •      10:20 Shipbuilding in 2025       •      17:11 Deindustrialization       •      21:46 Learning curves     •      27:00 Contract economics      •      32:26 Japan and South Korea       •      37:39 Thinking about the whole problem        •      39:03 Manned and unmanned        •      42:25 Force protection      •      45:06 Soft kills and hard kills Follow along on Instagram or YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast Find a transcript of today's episode on our School of War Substack

PREVIEW: NASA: Colleague Bob Zimmerman of BehindtheBlack.com recommends the new NASA Administrator, Jared Isaacman, direct NASA's strength to supporting commercial space in Earth Orbit and not devote time and money to a manned return to the moon. More tonight.

“When Are They Going To Clean These Debris” “Google Has A Wild Theory About Quantum Computing” “Reversing The Roles On Our Intelligence Agencies" “Are They Drones Or Manned Aircraft”

Deborah Flora fills in for Dan on Thursday, commenting on John Kirby's weak (and late) explanation on potential drones or unidentified manned aircraft flying off of the Atlantic coast and overhead in New Jersey.John Fabbricatore offers his expertise as an ICE agent on the upcoming planned deportations of criminal illegal aliens by incoming border czar Tom Homan and the Trump administration.

The FULL Bob Rose Show for Friday 12-13-24 examining the hollow explanations from military officials about drones sighted over NJ, NY and other states. Disbelieving GOP and Dem legislators are demanding accountability. In depth on the biggest stories, plus the morning's breaking news on the Bob Rose Show

www.pbnfamily.com

NASA: Manned Risks. Bob Zimmerman BehindtheBlack.com 1962 Roscosmos

Last time we spoke about Fall of Peleliu. As American forces pressed down the Ormoc Valley, General Kataoka launched a counterattack with limited success, and Colonel Hettinger's 128th Regiment clashed at Breakneck Ridge but couldn't capture Corkscrew Ridge. Meanwhile, Japanese troops fortified defenses, resulting in intense fighting along Kilay and Shoestring Ridges. By November 23, the Americans had solidified their positions around Limon, disrupting Japanese supply lines and forcing a shift in enemy tactics. Simultaneously, Colonel Nakagawa's last forces on Peleliu fought desperately. As American flamethrowers targeted enemy caves, Nakagawa, with only a few soldiers remaining, chose an honorable death, marking the brutal end of the battle. American forces eventually secured Peleliu after extensive losses. Hidden Japanese troops would later survive in caves until 1947, finally surrendering. Lastly China's Operation Ichi-Go saw brutal losses as Japanese forces captured Guilin and Liuzhou, killing civilians and decimating Chinese forces.  This episode is Operation Capital Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945.  By the end of November, General Gill's 32nd Division had successfully secured the Limon area and was prepared to advance south toward Ormoc. However, they first needed to clear enemy forces from Kilay Ridge. At the same time, General Arnold's 7th Division had strengthened its position on Shoestring Ridge and was preparing to attack the rear of General Yamagata's 26th Division, which was moving east to participate in an offensive against the Burauen airstrips. In the north, Colonel Clifford's 1st Battalion had been under heavy pressure in recent days. With the arrival of the 2nd Battalion, 184th Regiment, however, he was now ready to go on the offensive. On December 1, following intense preparations, the Americans launched an attack on the Japanese-held knolls at the southeastern end of the ridge. They captured the first knoll easily but were halted by intense fire on the second. The next day, Colonel Hettinger's 2nd Battalion continued the assault, this time overcoming all resistance and securing Kilay Ridge for the Americans. Clifford's relieved battalion had suffered 26 killed, 2 missing, and 101 wounded, yet estimated Japanese casualties at 900. Meanwhile, by November 30, General Cunningham's 112th Cavalry Regiment had advanced to a ridge roughly 2,500 yards east of Highway 2 and about 5,000 yards southeast of Limon. Here, they encountered a heavily fortified enemy force that held its ground. Unable to dislodge them, Cunningham sent Troop A northwest on December 2 to connect with the 126th Regiment at the Leyte River. Meeting no resistance, the 1st Squadron also began moving northwest, while Cunningham's 2nd Squadron continued its attempts to take the Japanese-held ridge without success. Facing south, Arnold planned to advance northward with two regiments side-by-side, but his offensive would be postponed until the 17th Regiment arrived on December 3. The next day, patrols were sent forward in preparation for a full assault, reaching as far north as Balogo. Meanwhile, the Japanese were finalizing their own Burauen offensive, codenamed Operation Wa, set to launch on December 5. However, the plan was already faltering: by the end of November, the 16th Division was reduced to only 2,000 men, and the 26th Division was still moving slowly to its assembly point. In response, the recently arrived 3rd Battalion of the 77th Regiment, brought to Ipil by landing barges, was promptly sent to support Yamagata. The 68th Brigade, expected to arrive shortly, was to secure the Albuera sector, blocking any enemy advance toward Ormoc. Additionally, General Tominaga planned to airdrop two regiments from the 2nd Raiding Brigade onto the Burauen airstrips to coordinate with the ground attack. Meanwhile, the Imahori Detachment, pushed out of Daro in late November, remained on standby for action in the Ormoc sector as it retreated toward Dolores. At sea, Admiral Okawachi had deployed the seventh convoy of Operation TA, organized into three echelons to transport supplies and equipment. The first group, consisting of three submarines and one subchaser, departed Manila on November 28 and reached Ipil two days later, successfully unloading cargo but losing one submarine grounded at Masbate. The second group of two submarines left Manila on November 30, unloading at Palompon the next day, although both were later destroyed in a nighttime destroyer sweep. On December 1, a third group of three transports, T-9, T-140 and T-159 and two destroyers,  Take and Kuwa, under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Yamashita Masamichi, departed Manila, reaching Ormoc the next day, where they were attacked by a separate destroyer division during the night. The convoy, under Lieutenant-Commander Yamashita Masamichi, was docked at Ormoc City when it was engaged at 00:09 on December 3 by three ships of Destroyer Division 120 under the command of Commander John C. Zahm. The American destroyers attacked the transports as they were unloading but came under heavy attack from Yokosuka P1Y "Frances" bombers, shore batteries, submarines that were known to be in the harbor, and the Japanese destroyers. As a result, Kuwa was sunk and Commander Yamashita was killed. Take also attacked Cooper with torpedoes and escaped, though with some damage. Cooper finally sank at about 00:15 with the loss of 191 lives (168 sailors were rescued from the water on December 4 by Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boats). At 00:33, the two surviving US destroyers were then ordered to leave the bay, and the victorious Japanese successfully resupplied Ormoc Bay once more. This phase of the Battle of Ormoc Bay has gone down in history as the only naval engagement during the war in which the enemy brought to bear every type of weapon: naval gunnery, naval torpedoes, air attack, submarine attack, shore gunnery, and mines. Meanwhile, as the Battle of Leyte continued, Generals MacArthur and Krueger were preparing the crucial invasion of Luzon. On October 3, the Joint Chiefs of Staff approved MacArthur's Operation Musketeer III over a possible invasion of Formosa, which would have required moving along extended and vulnerable supply lines. However, naval commanders feared an Allied convoy navigating the narrow waters of the central Visayas would be vulnerable to heavy air attacks from numerous nearby enemy airfields. This concern prompted the Americans to plan a preliminary operation, codenamed Love. One option involved securing positions in Aparri to provide fighter cover for supply ships, which could then take a safer route around northern Luzon through open seas. MacArthur, however, favored capturing Mindoro to establish airfields that would protect naval convoys en route to Luzon. Although enemy air attacks posed a risk during the initial invasion and resupply of forces on Mindoro, the establishment of these airfields would give the Allies a shorter, safer route to Lingayen Gulf with improved air protection and reduced exposure to the unpredictable typhoon season compared to the northern Luzon route. The Mindoro operation was scheduled for December 5, followed by a large-scale invasion of Luzon with landings at Lingayen Gulf on December 20, anticipating that the airfields on Mindoro would be operational by then. For Operation Love III, Krueger organized the Western Visayan Task Force, which included the 19th Regiment and the 503rd Parachute Regiment, under the command of Brigadier-General William Dunckel. The initial plan involved a combined airborne and amphibious landing on December 5 to secure the San Jose area near the southwest coast, facilitating the immediate use of its airstrips to support the Luzon operations and counter the numerous enemy airfields on the peninsula. However, delays in the development of airfields on Leyte and the ongoing need for air support for Leyte ground forces led to significant changes in the original Mindoro plan. Consequently, the airborne phase was canceled, and arrangements were made for the parachute regiment to be transported by sea. Ultimately, the prolonged development of airfields on Leyte, resulting in insufficient air support, combined with the urgent need to rehabilitate essential naval units, led to a ten-day postponement of the Mindoro operation to December 15. This delay impacted the Leyte campaign significantly, allowing the released shipping to be utilized for an amphibious assault on Ormoc. As a result, on November 23, General Bruce's 77th Division landed on Leyte in the rear areas of the 24th Corps and was readied for this new assault. Krueger decided to deploy this division for a major push to expedite the conclusion of the Leyte campaign. However, we must now shift our focus from the Philippines to recent developments in New Britain. Following the initial landings at Jacquinot Bay, the 6th Brigade was fully assembled at Cutarp by December 16. Their mission was to halt the Japanese forces from moving westward from Wide Bay and to conduct patrols toward Milim. At the same time, the 13th Brigade was tasked with safeguarding Jacquinot Bay against potential enemy advances from the north or south. To the north, the 36th Battalion was positioned at Cape Hoskins, with two of its companies deployed to Bialla Plantation by December 6 to patrol towards the Balima River and counter any Japanese offensives from Ea Ea. Under this increasing pressure, the enemy was compelled to retreat, leaving the Ea Ea-Ulamona region clear. Due to this unexpected withdrawal and the challenges of beaching barges at Bialla, General Ramsay decided to permit the 36th Battalion to advance toward Ea Ea. After leaving a small detachment at Cape Hoskins, the Australians landed unopposed at Ea Ea on January 13, while a New Guinea company similarly landed on Lolobau Island. To the south, half of the 14th/32nd Battalion successfully landed at Sumpun on December 28, moving closer to the Japanese buildup at the northern end of Henry Reid Bay. By January 7, the rest of the battalion had gathered at Sumpun, and by the end of January, they conducted an amphibious operation to set up a new base at Milim. At the same time, the 6th Brigade also started moving into the Kiep-Milim area, completing this transition by February 11. However, we will now shift our focus away from New Britain and turn our attention to Burma to discuss the continuation of Operation Capital. As previously noted, by the end of November, General Slim's 14th Army had effectively chased the retreating Japanese troops to the Chindwin River, while General Festing's 36th Division advanced to Pinwe, tightening the noose around General Katamura's 15th Army from the north. To the east, General Li Hong's 38th Division had successfully encircled Bhamo, and General Li Tao's 22nd Division along with Colonel Easterbrooke's 475th Regiment were progressing along the Bhamo-Myitson road. On the Salween front, General Wei's Y-Force captured Longling and Mangshi, the key targets of his offensive. However, amid the intense fighting at Mangshi, the 53rd Army executed a broad flanking maneuver through the mountains towards the Chefang Pass, where General Matsuyama's 56th Division was establishing new positions. Fortunately for Matsuyama, the Yoshida Force, anticipating this movement, launched a successful counterattack south of Kongjiazhai, effectively stalling the enemy advance long enough for the withdrawing Japanese forces to regroup. Meanwhile, Wei had dispatched the 71st Army to advance along the Burma Road and the 6th Army to break through Mengga, launching a rapid assault on the hastily prepared Japanese defenses on November 24. The 2nd Army chose to bypass these defenses, continuing south towards Wanding. Despite fierce resistance from the defenders, the determined Chinese forces made significant progress in the following days, ultimately compelling the outnumbered Japanese to withdraw to Wanding on November 28. In response, General Matsui's 113th Regiment established a delaying position at Zhefang, successfully repelling enemy attacks until December 1, which provided crucial time for the retreating forces to regroup at Wanding. By that time, however, Wei's divisions were significantly weakened, lacking 170,000 men from their required strength due to a lack of replacements. As a result, the Chinese command decided to postpone their offensive for thirty days while they awaited additional supplies and reinforcements, as well as a decisive victory at Bhamo that would enable Wei to connect with General Sultan's forces. Meanwhile, while the 30th Division advanced towards Namhkam, the 38th Division had been persistently assaulting Colonel Hara's garrison in the final two weeks of November.  On 15 November, the 113th Regiment attacked and took the outpost positions south of Bhamo and, although the defenders were successful in twice retaking them, on the 17th the positions were finally relinquished. The enemy force brought increasing pressure on the Bhamo outpost positions on all sides while completing preparations for a general attack on the main core of resistance. In the enemy's preparation for the general attack, concentrations of artillery fire and air bombardment caused severe damage. Planes flying out of Myitkyina, averaged 200 sorties a day between the middle of November and 4 December. Every building in Bhamo was destroyed and all defensive positions were badly damaged. Early in the air bombardment period, fire destroyed most of the rations and food supplies began to run dangerously low. Despite the heavy bombardment, the Garrison continued to fight calmly and effectively. Meanwhile, north of Bhamo, where the Chinese had not moved closer to the city than the containing detachment the 113th had left opposite the Japanese outpost at Subbawng, the 114th was making more progress. That regiment bypassed the Subbawng position on 21 November and moved two miles west along the south bank of the Taping River into Shwekyina. Outflanked, the Japanese quickly abandoned Subbawng and the rest of the 114th came up to mop up the Shwekyina area, freeing advance elements of the 114th to move directly south through the outlying villages on Bhamo. On 28 November the 114th was pressing on the main northern defenses of Bhamo. In this period of 21-28 November the division commander, General Li, did not alter the mission he had given the 113th of entering Bhamo, but by his attention to the 114th he seemed to give tacit recognition to the altered state of affairs. The first Chinese attack on Bhamo itself was given the mission of driving right into the city. Made on the south by the Chinese 113th Regiment, the attack received heavy air support from the 10th Air Force. It succeeded in moving up to the main Japanese defenses in its sector, but no farther. American liaison officers with the 113th reported that the regimental commander was not accepting their advice to coordinate the different elements of the Allied force under his command or supporting him into an artillery-infantry-air team, and that he was halting the several portions of his attack as soon as the Japanese made their presence known. However, the 113th's commander might well have argued that he and his men faced the most formidable Japanese position yet encountered in Burma. Aerial photography, prisoner of war interrogation, and patrolling revealed that the Japanese had been working on Bhamo since the spring of 1944. They had divided the town into three self-contained fortress areas and a headquarters area. Each fortress area was placed on higher ground that commanded good fields of fire. Japanese automatic weapons well emplaced in strong bunkers covered fields of sharpened bamboo stakes which in turn were stiffened with barbed wire. Anti-tank ditches closed the gaps between the lagoons that covered so much of the Japanese front. Within the Japanese positions deep dugouts protected aid stations, headquarters, and communications centers. The hastily improvised defenses of Myitkyina were nothing like this elaborate and scientific fortification. Manned by some 1200 Japanese under Colonel Hara and provisioned to hold out until mid-January 1945, Bhamo was not something to be overrun by infantry assault. Although the Chinese managed to destroy several enemy outposts beyond the fortress town, they were unable to penetrate the formidable defenses established by the fierce Japanese troops. After a significant air and artillery bombardment, the 113th Regiment launched another attack at the beginning of December but once again failed to achieve a breakthrough. In contrast the 114th's aggressive commander had been most successful in the early days of December. With less than half the air support given the 113th and with no help from the 155-mm. howitzers, he had broken into the northern defenses and held his gains. The decision to give the 114th first call on artillery support posed a problem in human relations as well as tactics. This was the first time the 38th Division had ever engaged in the attack of a fortified town. All its experience had been in jungle war. Faced with this new situation, the 113th Regiment's commander seemed to have been at a loss to know what to do. The 114th, on the contrary, had gone ahead with conspicuous success on its own, and now was being asked to attempt close coordination with artillery and air support. Its commander hesitated for a day, then agreed to try an attack along the lines suggested by the Americans. The tactics developed by the 114th Regiment by 9 December took full advantage of the capabilities of air and artillery support. Since the blast of aerial bombardment had stripped the Japanese northern defenses of camouflage and tree cover it was possible for aerial observers to adjust on individual bunkers. So it became practice to attempt the occupation of one small area at a time. First, there would be an artillery preparation. Two 155-mm. howitzers firing from positions at right angles to the direction of attack would attempt to neutralize bunkers in an area roughly 100 by 300 yards. Thanks to the small margin of error in deflection, the Chinese infantry could approach very close to await the lifting of fire. The 105's would lay down smoke and high explosive on the flanks and rear of the selected enemy positions. Aerial observers would adjust the 155's on individual positions. When it was believed that all Japanese positions had been silenced the Chinese infantry would assault across the last thirty-five yards with bayonet and grenade. As casualties increased, Hara's garrison continually weakened under relentless assaults, with the outnumbered soldiers bracing themselves to fight to the last man in defense of Bhamo. Determined to prevent the Bhamo Garrison from meeting the same fate as the Lameng and Tengchong Garrisons, General Honda ordered Colonel Yamazaki Shiro's reinforced 55th Regiment to advance towards Namyu and execute a surprise counterattack to assist Hara's beleaguered troops. Departing from Namhkam on the night of December 5, the Yamazaki Detachment stealthily made their way to Namyu, where the 90th Regiment had recently established its primary position atop Hill 5338. Additionally, General Naka's 18th Division was instructed to support this initiative, with Lieutenant-Colonel Fujimura Yoshiaki's 56th Regiment ordered to move through Tonkwa to join the attack. Due to the enemy's successful Ichi-Go offensive, General Wedemeyer and Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek made the decision to withdraw the elite 22nd and 38th Divisions from Burma. They planned to deploy these divisions to defend Kunming as part of the Alpha Plan. Not even the most optimistic Chinese could for the moment interpret that the Japanese thrust was confined to the American air bases in China, and no one on the Allied side could feel really sure where the 11th Army would halt, though the summer uniforms worn by the Japanese suggested to American observers that the Japanese might be outrunning their supply lines. Theater headquarters thus concluded that Chongqing and Kunming were under direct, immediate threat. In response, having adopted the code name Alpha, Wedemeyer first presented a detailed plan to the Generalissimo on November 21. This plan was divided into several phases. The period to December 31 was set for Phase I of ALPHA, in which the Chinese forces in contact with the Japanese in south and southeast China would try to slow their advance. The Americans would assist in demolitions, help plan prepared positions, and give the maximum of air support. American officers would fill liaison and advisory roles with the Chinese Army down through division level. Other Americans would work closely with the operations, intelligence, and supply officers of higher Chinese headquarters. Plainly, the mission of Phase I was to win time within which to complete a concentration for defense of Kunming. In Phase II, Chinese forces would be placed across the principal avenues of approach to Kunming while a central reserve would be built up around Kunming itself. To guarantee the availability of dependable Chinese troops two divisions of the Chinese Army in India would be flown in from Burma, together with the 53rd Army from the Salween front. About 87500 troops would be brought to the Kunming area from less menaced sectors of China.  As a result, although Sultan was able to keep the 38th Division and intended to send the 14th Division back to China, General Liao was instructed on December 5 to ready the 22nd Division for airlift to China, with Colonel Easterbrooke's 475th Regiment assigned to relieve them north of Tonkwa. However, before this relief could occur, the Fujimura column attacked Tonkwa on December 8 and effectively pushed back the Chinese garrison. The Japanese continued their assault northward the next morning, but this time, Chinese-American forces were able to stop the enemy's progress. In the following days, Japanese patrols further tested American positions, and sporadic artillery and mortar fire harassed soldiers in their foxholes, but no significant assault took place. While the Chinese withdrew on December 12, American patrols discovered the enemy's apparent assembly areas, leading to artillery fire directed at them. Meanwhile, following a heavy artillery bombardment, the Yamazaki Detachment surprised the 90th Regiment on  December 9th. The battalion received a heavy bombardment followed by a Japanese attack which penetrated its lines and isolated its 1st and 2d Companies. This was bad enough, but worse followed the next morning. Colonel Yamazaki massed three battalions in column to the east of the road, and, attacking on a narrow front, broke clean through by leap-frogging one battalion over another as soon as the attack lost momentum. The third Japanese battalion overran the 2d Artillery Battery, 30th Division, and captured four cannon and 100 animals. The battery commander died at his post.  Despite this setback, the Chinese remained undeterred, exhibiting a fighting spirit that surprised the Japanese. The 88th Regiment swung its forces toward the Japanese penetration, which was on a narrow front, and since the terrain was hilly in the extreme the Japanese could see Chinese reinforcements converging on the battle site. So vigorously did the Chinese counterattack that one lone Chinese soldier fought his way almost into the trench that held Colonel Yamazaki and the 33d Army liaison officer, Colonel Tsuji. Writing in his diary, Tsuji remarked: "This was the first experience in my long military life that a Chinese soldier charged Japanese forces all alone." The Chinese, comprising as they did three regiments of a good division, could not be indefinitely withstood by the four Japanese battalions. Destroying the four pack howitzers they had captured, the Japanese sought only to hold their positions until the Bhamo garrison could escape. Facing intense pressure from a numerically superior enemy, Yamazaki managed to fend off Chinese counterattacks over the subsequent days, striving to create a favorable moment for the Bhamo Garrison to withdraw. By December 14, with the 114th Regiment advancing into central Bhamo, Hara's remaining 900 soldiers destroyed all their artillery and focused their efforts on the southern front. As night fell, they desperately climbed the steep 50-foot banks of the Irrawaddy and charged the Chinese lines at daybreak. Utilizing the cover of early morning fog, Hara's men successfully penetrated the Chinese positions and began their final retreat towards Namhkam. Once the garrison was safe, the Japanese term for "success" was relayed to the waiting Yamazaki Detachment, which subsequently began to disengage, having suffered 150 fatalities and 300 injuries. The Bhamo Garrison, on the other hand, sustained approximately 310 killed and 300 wounded since the onset of the Allied offensive, with about 870 of the original 1,180 men surviving. At this point, only 50 miles remained between Sultan's forces and Y-Force. Meanwhile, the Fujimura column attacked again on December 13. The Japanese activity had apparently been preparation for attack, and on the morning of the 13th men checked their weapons with care and looked to the arranging of their ammunition in convenient spots. The American positions had the advantage of excellent fields of fire across open paddy fields. Looking toward the south and the west, the men of the 475th could see the dark green mass of leaves, trunks, and brush making the jungle that hid the Japanese assembly areas and, farther back, the Japanese gun positions. Following a ten-minute preparation, the Japanese attacked one American flank at 0600 and the other at 0610. The 475th's fire power met the Japanese as soon as they were clearly defined targets, and stopped the attacks within an hour. At one point a Japanese force of about a platoon tried to cover the open space by a concerted rush only to be cut down with thirty or forty casualties. There were no further Japanese attacks that day. The following morning, the 14th, the Japanese repeated their tactics of the 13th, and that effort too was beaten off, at the cost of several men killed. The 475th's entry into combat had the result on the men noted by observers in many previous wars, for they now spent hours digging themselves in more deeply and improving their positions. The 3d Battalion to the north near Mo-hlaing was subject only to artillery fire. That the Japanese at one point were actually within small arms range of the 2d Battalion while apparently not capable of doing more than shelling the 3d with their infantry guns suggested that the 3d might be able to take in reverse the Japanese pocket that pressed on the 2d Battalion. After two days of fierce combat, Easterbrooke's troops ultimately prevailed, launching a robust counteroffensive on December 15 that secured the Tonkwa area. Following these minor operations, both sides experienced a week of skirmishes around the American perimeter defenses until the final Japanese withdrawal, as the Bhamo Garrison had already been liberated. By the end of the battle, the 475th had lost 15 men killed, while an estimated 220 Japanese casualties were inflicted. Following these developments, Honda reorganized his forces, instructing the 56th Division, along with the attached Yamazaki Detachment, to defend the Wanding-Namhkam sector. He also dispatched the Yoshida Force and the 4th Regiment to reserve positions in Hsenwi while retaining the 18th Division at Mongmit. To the west, after the captures of Kalemyo on November 14 and Kalewa on November 28, General Tanaka's 33rd Division was compelled to establish new positions in the Shwegyin-Mutaik sector. In response, Slim directed the 4th Corps to cross the Chindwin River and seize Pinlebu. The 268th Indian Brigade was dispatched across the river at Sittaung, followed by Major-General Thomas “Pete” Rees' 19th Indian Division on December 4. Meanwhile, the 11th East African Division fought fiercely to expand the bridgehead at Kalewa. For the crossing a ‘Chindwin Navy' was formed, with two wooden gunboats mounting a Bofors and two Oerlikon cannons and two pairs of Browning machine-guns. They were built at Kalewa and named Pamela, after Mountbatten's youngest daughter, and Una, after Slim's. Thus Slim became the only general to have designed, built, christened, launched and commissioned ships for the Royal Navy. Their task was to protect the Inland Waterways Transport's lighters, barges and launches, built by Fourteenth Army's Chief Engineer, Brigadier Bill Hasted, who felled forests to create them and for which outboard motors were flown in. The IEME recovered MV Ontario, patched, caulked and repainted her. In due course IWT craft carried some 38000 tons of stores. The task of establishing a firm bridgehead across the Chindwin was accomplished by the East Africans clearing a series of Japanese positions along either side of Myittha river gorge on December 2 after recce by the Sea Reconnaissance Unit (SRU).  As the bridgehead was expanded, bridging equipment for what, at 1154 feet, would be the longest floating bridge in the world was assembled and constructed in sections on the Myittha and floated down to the Chindwin and completed in just 28 working hours between December 7 and 10. Meanwhile Brigadier Mackenzie's 32nd Indian Brigade completed its three-day crossing of the Chindwin at Mawlaik using only two rafts named ‘Horrible Charlie' and ‘Stinking Henry'. Unbeknownst to the British and Indian forces, Katamura had already set his withdrawal to the Irrawaddy River in motion, ordering the beleaguered 15th and 53rd Divisions on December 1 to fall back to Kyauk Myaung and Kyaukse, respectively. On December 4, the 33rd Division began its gradual retreat toward Monywa, leaving the 213th Regiment behind as a rear guard to monitor the enemy in the Shwegyin-Mutaik sector. The 31st Division, now under Lieutenant-General Kawata Tsuchitaro, would cover the retreat from its positions at Kambalu and Shwebo. Consequently, Rees, acting on Slim's orders to take risks for speed, made swift progress through the challenging Zibyu Range, with his advance elements connecting with the 36th Division at Banmauk on December 16. After a lengthy pause regarding the Pinwe situation, Festing's patrols entered the towns of Indaw and Katha without opposition on December 10. From these locations, the 26th and 72nd Indian Brigades were set to move towards Kunchaung, while the 29th Indian Brigade continued its advance along the road to Takaung. Throughout this period, Japanese resistance was significantly less fierce than anticipated. Consequently, just days into the operation, Slim realized that his original strategy to encircle Katamura's 15th Army on the Shwebo Plain in front of the Irrawaddy would be ineffective. If the Japanese were indeed planning to fight from behind the river, the 14th Army would be extended from Tamu and exposed to counterattacks at a critical moment while attempting to cross one of the most daunting river obstacles. A revised strategy was therefore necessary, but Slim had only one card left to play for this situation. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. General MacArthur was now preparing a massive invasion of Luzon. Amidst ongoing air attacks, plans shifted to secure Mindoro for air support. Meanwhile, in Burma, Chinese and Japanese forces clashed over Bhamo, with the Japanese garrison ultimately escaping. It seemed everywhere things were going badly for the Japanese, how much longer would they hold out?

In 1973, while the world watched the Apollo missions end, something extraordinary happened in the Amazon jungle. A rocket carried humanity's most advanced spacecraft toward Mars, crewed by familiar names: Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Ilyushin. Project Redsun united Cold War enemies to pursue a singular goal - establishing a human presence on Mars. The mission succeeded, but the crew discovered something that changed everything. Decades later, whistleblowers emerged with photographs, documents, and footage that paint an astonishing picture of space exploration's hidden history.

China has launched its latest manned space mission to the Tiangong Space Station. The Shenzhou-19 spacecraft has docked with the space station combination.

The balloon was secured to the ground to limit its altitude and range, but it successfully lifted de Rozier to a height of approximately 25 ...

MANNED SPACE: Heart weakens. Bob Zimmerman BehindtheBlack.com 1955

Robotic spacecrafts? Manned missions to Mars? Affordable tourist trips to the stars? New life found? What is the likely future of space flight?Host Guru Madhavan pilots a soaring, speculative conversation with:Charles F. Bolden Jr., who in 2009 was appointed NASA Administrator by President Obama, making him only the second astronaut to hold that position.Professor Dava Newman, aerospace engineer, director of the MIT Media Lab, and holder of the Apollo Program Professor of Astronautics chair at MIT.New episodes - conversations about how to rebuild the world better - every other Friday.Find podcast transcripts on our website.Follow @QEPrize on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PREVIEW: ROSKOSMOS 1974: Conversation with colleague Anatoly Zak, RussianSpaceWeb.com, re a secret Soviet space program that deployed and manned several spy stations in Earth orbit. More tonight.1955

China's manned deep-sea submersible has completed its 300th dive since its maiden mission in August 2009.

1. Congressman Indicted on Bribery and Money Laundering Charges (2:48)2. Judge Merchan Holds Trump in Contempt for 10th Gag Order Violation (4:30)3. Boeing Set to Launch First Manned Spacecraft to Space Tonight; Here's What You Need to Know About the Launch, the Road to Get Here, and the Astronauts (8:37)4. Quick Hitters: ABC News' President Steps Down, U.S. Soldier Detained by Russia, Columbia Cancels University-Wide Commencement Ceremony, Hamas Responds to Ceasefire Deal (12:17)Get EXCLUSIVE, unbiased content on Patreon.Watch this episode on YouTube.Follow Jordan on Instagram and TikTok.All sources for this episode can be found here. 

#HOTELMARS: 50 years ago, NASA and Roscosmos worked together to manned orbit.  https://russianspaceweb.com/protected/angara-2024.html 1936

PREVIEW: #LUNAR: Conversation with colleague Bob Zimmerman regarding the NASA timeline for a manned moon mission. With the critical role of Starships in the mission, the proposed 2026 launch date appears increasingly unlikely, raising the question of what steps need to be taken to address this issue. More details to follow tonight 1950

PREVIEW: #TITANIC: Conversation with colleague Charles Pellegrino, author of "Her Name, Titanic," re the Marconi Room on the ship that was manned till the end -- sending out distress signls till the water splashed into the chamber -- and what it looks today on a dive.  More details later. 1912 A Deck on the maiden voyage

#NASA: Three contracts for Manned Lunar Rovers. Bob Zimmerman BehindtheBlack.com https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-picks-three-commercial-companies-to-build-manned-lunar-rovers/ NASA Houston December 1968

#PREVIEW: #NUKES: #UK: Excerpt from a conversation with colleague Gregory Copley re the report in London that the Biden Administration is deploying tactical nuclear weapons -- likey gravity bombs to be droped by manned aircrat such as the F-35 --to the RAF Lakenheath base in Suffolk.  And why?  And to what intention? More tonight. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/plans-progress-to-bring-us-nuclear-weapons-to-uk/ar-BB1hqDrv 1945 Hiroshima burn victims

The dads take on a 12 year old Reddit post about women accidentally emasculating dudes. And sooooo much is revealed in the process. For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon! Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com Follow us on Twitter: @DearOldDads Facebook Page: Dear Old Dads on Facebook

#ISRO: INDIAN STEPS TOWARD MANNED SPACE. BOB ZIMMERMAN BEHINDTHEBLACK.COM https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/isro-successfully-tests-propulsion-system-of-gaganyaans-service-module/ 1888 Jules Verne