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paperanddice · 7 months

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Maybe not the most mechanically striking of creatures, the carrion beetle is an entry I really enjoyed the fluff for. Giant, underground dwelling beetles that have been domesticated by a ghoul empire as beasts of burden and war, they are a fun living weapon that can add quite a bit to any scenario involving said ghouls.

Wild carrion beetles are solitary aside from breeding pairs and clusters of young, only coming together in larger groups during breeding season. Domesticated however, they provide a wide range of uses, from transporting cargo to being armored up and carrying ghoul soldiers into battle. The strongest are even outfitted with ballistae and harpoons to use for siege and against flying or high crawling threats. Even in death the beetles may be used, their exoskeletons reanimated as hollow platforms to carry additional supplies, or potentially armored personnel carriers. I may have gone a little overboard with the stat blocks to represent all of these potential variations, particularly in 13th Age. In Pathfinder 2e if you want to represent the carrion beetle reanimated under ghoul control, use a weak beetle carapace from the Archives of Nethys without Grab and Constrict.

Inspired by the Tome of Beasts 1. This post came out a week ago on my Patreon. If you want to get access to all my monster conversions early, as well as access to my premade adventures and other material I’m working on, consider backing me there!

Pathfinder 2e

Carrion Beetle Creature 4 Large Animal Perception +9; darkvision Skills Athletics +12 Str +4, Dex +1, Con +3, Int -5, Wis +1, Cha +0 AC 21; Fort +11, Ref +9, Will +7 HP 66; Immunities paralysis Speed 25 feet, burrow 20 feet, climb 10 feet Melee mandibles +12, Damage 1d12+6 piercing Melee claw +12 (agile), Damage 1d8+6 slashing Acid Spit [two actions] (acid) The beetle spits acid that deals 5d6 acid damage in a 30-foot line (DC 19 basic Reflex save). It can't use Acid Spit again for 1d4 rounds. Trample [three actions] Medium or smaller, claw, DC 20

13th Age

Carrion Beetle 3rd level troop [beast] Initiative: +5 Jagged Mandibles +8 vs. AC - 10 damage. C: Acid Spit +8 vs. PD (1d3+1 nearby enemies in a group) - 6 acid damage. Limited Use: 2/battle, never two turns in a row. Burrower and Wall Climber. AC 19 PD 16 MD 13 HP 46

Carrion Beetle Ballista Platform 4th level archer [beast] Initiative: +6 Clumsy Mandible +7 vs. AC - 10 damage. R: Ballista Shot +10 vs. AC (one nearby or far away enemy) - 28 damage. Limited Use: A ghoul ally must also use its standard action in order for the beetle to make this attack. C: Acid Spit +8 vs. PD (1d3 nearby enemies in a group) - 7 acid damage. Limited Use: 2/battle, never two turns in a row. AC 19 PD 18 MD 13 HP 56

Carrion Beetle Exoskeleton 4th level mount [undead] Initiative: +8 Hollow Mandible +9 vs. AC - 12 damage. Burrower and Wall Climber: The exoskeleton can’t burrow if it has a rider that is not inside of it. Mount: The exoskeleton can have three medium or smaller creatures as its riders. Up to two riders can ride inside of the beetle. A rider inside the beetle gains a +2 bonus to AC and PD. Each round the beetle can choose to act on its own turn or one of its rider’s turn. AC 20 PD 17 MD 15 HP 48

Carrion Beetle Warmount 4th level mount [beast] Initiative: +7 Jagged Mandibles +8 vs. AC - 12 damage. C: Acid Spit +8 vs. PD (1d3+1 nearby enemies in a group) - 8 acid damage. Limited Use: 2/battle, never two turns in a row. Expand Vulnerability: The beetle’s rider expands its crit range by 3 against vulnerable targets, instead of 2. Mount: The beetle can have a medium or smaller creature as a rider. Each round the beetle can choose to act on its own turn or its rider’s turn. Wall Climber. AC 21 PD 18 MD 13 HP 62

#Pathfinder 2e #13th age #homebrew #my homebrew #monster #animal #beast #undead #pathfinder level 4 #13th age level 3 #13th age level 4 #long post

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dreaminginthedeepsouth · 8 months

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LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

October 15, 2023

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

“We came here with four key objectives,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Egypt: “to make clear that the United States stands with Israel; to prevent the conflict from spreading to other places; to work on securing the release of hostages, including American citizens; and to address the humanitarian crisis that exists in Gaza.”

Blinken has been traveling country to country in the Middle East since shortly after the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas fighters, who crossed into Israel and killed at least 1,300 people, of whom more than 1,000 were civilians, 30 were Americans, 12 were Thais, and 2 were French nationals. They also took 126 hostages, including not only Israelis, apparently, but also 8 Germans, 5 U.S. nationals, and 2 Mexican nationals.

Retaliatory strikes by Israeli forces on Gaza since then have killed at least 2,670 people and displaced almost a million. Israel has stopped food, water, fuel, and electricity from getting to Gaza and has told the more than a million residents in northern Gaza to move south to clear the way for a military incursion. Israeli energy minister Israel Katz said the siege would continue until Hamas frees the hostages. About 500 U.S. citizens are in Gaza.

The Biden administration has been pushing diplomacy to stop the crisis from spreading. On October 11, Blinken traveled to Israel, where he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and then to Jordan, where he met with the head of the Palestinian Authority that exercises limited government in the West Bank, Mahmoud Abbas.

Then he went on to Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Virtually everywhere, he said, he found “a shared view that we have to do everything possible to make sure this doesn’t spread to other places; a shared view to safeguard innocent lives; a shared view to get assistance to Palestinians in Gaza who need it, and we’re working very much on that.”

Blinken emphasized that the U.S. will stand with Israel “today, tomorrow, and every day…in word and also in deed.” He noted that the U.S. has moved a second carrier strike group (CSG) to the Eastern Mediterranean. A CSG is a powerful, flexible group of about 7,500 sailors and Marines on a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, a replenishment ship (which carries oil and supplies), a cruiser, destroyers, and a submarine, as well as various aircraft.

The U.S. maintains 11 CSGs. Two of them are now in the Eastern Mediterranean not as provocation, Blinken said, but “as a deterrent. It’s meant to make clear that no one should do anything that could add fuel to the fire in any other place.” Sending two CSGs to the region is a strong statement, almost certainly designed to address threats by Iran that it will “respond” if Israel proceeds with a ground invasion of Gaza.

Iran backs Hamas—although there is not yet evidence that Iranian officials directly helped plan the October 7 attack—and also backs Hezbollah, the militant group that controls southern Lebanon. Today, clashes broke out on the border between Israel and Lebanon as Hezbollah fired missiles into Israel and Israeli forces fired artillery back.

Israel has “the right—indeed it has the obligation—to defend itself against these attacks from Hamas, and to try to do what it can to make sure that this never happens again,” Blinken said. But, he added, “[i]t needs to do it in a way that affirms the shared values that we have for human life and human dignity, taking every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians.”

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres implored Hamas to release the hostages immediately and Israel to grant “rapid and unimpeded access…for humanitarian supplies and workers for the sake of the civilians in Gaza,” which “is running out of water, electricity and other essential supplies.” These two issues must not become bargaining chips, he said. “[W]e are on the verge of the abyss in the Middle East.” Opening a gate between Gaza and Egypt would allow supplies to be brought in and would help to move refugees south, away from the northern areas Israel is expected to attack.

Relief for Gaza’s people has been bottled up on the Egyptian side of the border as Israeli officials refuse to guarantee their forces will not bomb relief trucks out of concern they are carrying weapons. The U.S. has put strong pressure on Israel to reopen the water supply to Gaza, especially in the southern region since the influx of refugees was already stressing supplies, and today Israel did so, but observers say that without electricity and fuel, the pumping stations and the plants that take salt out of the water don’t work.

The U.S. is also clearly working to get the U.S. hostages released, but officials will not talk about the details of that operation.

Today President Biden appointed Ambassador David Satterfield as the U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues, charging him with bringing “urgently needed humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza, in coordination with the U.N., Egypt, Jordan, Israel, and other regional stakeholders.”

A diplomat since 1980, Satterfield has worked in countries all over the region for both Republican and Democratic administrations. He has served as the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon, U.S. deputy chief of mission in Iraq, assistant secretary for the State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, and director general of the body overseeing peace between Israel and Egypt.

“There are two very different visions for the future and what the Middle East can and should be,” Blinken said today. The U.S. stands behind a vision “that has countries in the region normalizing their relations, integrating, working together in common purpose, and upholding and bringing forth the rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people.”

The other vision is the one Hamas embraces: “a vision of death, of destruction, of nihilism, of terrorism. That’s a vision that does nothing to advance aspirations for Palestinians, that does nothing to help create better futures for people in the region, and does everything to bring total darkness to everyone that it’s able to affect.”

The visions are clear, Blinken said. He said he had no doubt that the overwhelming majority of people in the region would choose the first if given the chance. So it is the responsibility of “all of us who believe in that first path…to make it real, to bring it to light, to make it a clear, affirmative choice. And that’s what we’re determined to do…. If we do that, everyone in this region will be in a much better place and so will the rest of the world.”

And yet that vision must be reinforced at home. The murder of a six-year-old child and the attempted murder of the child’s mother yesterday in Illinois by their 71-year-old landlord prompted the president to warn against Islamophobia. The family was Palestinian and had immigrated to the U.S. “seeking what we all seek—a refuge to live, learn, and pray in peace,” Biden said. The child was born in the U.S.

“This horrific act of hate has no place in America, and stands against our fundamental values: freedom from fear for how we pray, what we believe, and who we are,” Biden said.

“We join everyone here at the White House in sending our condolences and prayers to the family, including for the mother’s recovery, and to the broader Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim American communities.”

—

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

#Letters from an American #Heather Cox Richardson #Israel Hamas war #Israel #Gaza #foreign policy #world on fire #Blinken #Middle East

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zvaigzdelasas · 11 months

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Scotland: Glasgow Airport workers set to strike

Unite the union has announced key worker strikes at Glasgow Airport after OCS Group - which provides facilities management services - failed to improve its pay offer. The dates for the 24-hour walkouts are 6 July and 11 July. [...]

Further strikes at both Edinburgh and Glasgow airports have been called off after deals were struck with the unions, with staff accepting 11 to 12 per cent pay rises. [...]

Birmingham Airport in the Midlands could also face summer travel chaos as around 100 key airport workers are voting on strike action.

Security officers, technicians and aircraft re-fuelers could stage walkouts from July over pay, potentially leading to "significant delays and cancelled flights", according to Unite.[...]

The Swedish Transport Workers' Union has announced security strikes from 3 July at Stockholm Arland Airport, Bromma Stockholm Airport and Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport. At Bromma and Lanvetter airport, the strike would affect all work carried out by security staff meaning passengers may not be able to depart from the airport. At Arland, it wouldn't be a total walkout and could just affect baggage scanners meaning passengers would only be able to take carry-on luggage.

The strike over wages could continue on 5, 7, 10 and 14 July if no agreement is reached. It will also include security staff at other businesses, including a nuclear power plant, with a total of 450 employees expected to be involved, according to Swedish national broadcaster SVT[...]

Italy: Strikes across public transport and airports in June and July[...]

On Friday 7 July, public transport staff across the country will strike for 24 hours. Everything from trains to ferries and metro services is likely to face delays and disruption due to the walkouts. The level of disruption is likely to vary from city to city and even from service to service

On the same day as public transport workers stage a nationwide strike (7 July), ground staff at airports including Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa and Amerigo Vespucci in Florence will stage walkouts. This could lead to airport delays.[...]

On Saturday 15 July staff at Italy's main air traffic control operator ENAV are going on strike for 24 hours. [...]

Spain: Daily strikes from airline staff

On 19 June, the Spanish Union of Airline Pilots (Sepla) began a third round of strikes against Air Europa, Spain’s third-largest airline. It comes after a verbal deal reached on 8 June over pay and working conditions fell through. The two-week walkout will last until 2 July, and has so far led to flight cancellations and delays. However, pilots and airlines are obligated to maintain a minimum number of flights during strikes in Spain. Since 6 June, the Sepla union also began a “daily indefinite strike” against Air Nostrum, the regional airline run by Iberia. The strike has forced the cancellation of 20 per cent of the airline's flights and also delayed other flights. The strike is taking place every weekday and there are no signs of a breakthrough in talks so far. [...]

Germany's EVG trade union, which represents railway and transport workers, has called a series of 'warning strikes' this year over pay. These have impacted Deutsche Bahn train services, among others. Wage talks collapsed in June, bringing the prospect of more walkouts. Dates are yet to be announced but union members are set to vote on an unlimited strike. This could begin from mid-July, hitting holiday season travel.

Lufthansa pilots are currently considering a new pay offer from the flag carrier. Workers have agreed on a truce on strikes that ends on 30 June, meaning summer walkouts could be on the cards if the offer is rejected. Switzerland: Workers at Geneva Airport threaten strike Workers at Geneva Airport represented by the Swiss Public Service Union have resolved to strike on Friday 30 June over a pay dispute. Air traffic was brought to a standstill with dozens of flights cancelled. And now staff plan to continue the strike into Saturday 1 July. The strike was announced immediately after the company managing the airport agreed to a cost-cutting plan for salaries on Thursday 29 June. Initially, it was feared the strike action would be immediate, but it was instead been called for Friday. Geneva Airport is expecting disruption and has advised passengers travelling in the coming days to arrive 2.5 hours before their scheduled flight, with delays and cancellations likely.

30 Jun 23

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lboogie1906 · 1 month

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Admiral Michelle Janine Howard (born April 30, 1960) is the first African American woman to command a Navy ship and the first woman of any race to attain the rank of admiral. Born in Riverside, California, she was one of four children of Air Force Master Sergeant Nick Howard and Philippa Howard. She entered the Naval Academy at Annapolis, where she graduated with a BS in Mathematics and was commissioned as an ensign in the Navy.

Her first sea duty was aboard the submarine tender USS Hunley for three years. She served on the aircraft carrier USS Lexington as a main engines officer. She earned the Secretary of the Navy/Navy League Captain Winifred Collins Award. She began service on the ammunition ship, the USS Mount Hood, as the chief engineer which resulted in her participation in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. She reported for duty as first lieutenant on the USS Flint. She became an executive officer on the docking ship USS Tortuga. She sailed to West Africa for a multi-nation training cruise.

She made history when she captained the dock landing ship USS Rushmore with a crew of more than 400 sailors, thus becoming the first African American woman to command a Navy ship. She led Amphibious Squadron Seven, deployed with Expeditionary Strike Group 5. She was promoted to Rear Admiral. She led Expeditionary Strike Group 2, deploying to CENTCOM theater where she commanded Task Force 151. She led Task Force 51, Expeditionary Forces. The event inspired the movie, Captain Phillips. She was the Maritime Task Force leader for BALTOPS.

President Obama lifted the ban on women serving in combat and pushed the effort to place more female soldiers in high-level defense positions. She was promoted to Vice Admiral and held the post of Deputy Commander of US Fleet Forces. She became a full Admiral, the first Navy woman ever to reach a four-star rank. She became the 38th Vice Chief of Naval Operations. She retired in December 2017.

Her recognitions are the NAACP Image Award, Women of Color STEM Career Achievement Award, and the USO Military Woman of the Year. She is married to retired Marine Captain Wayne Cowles. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence #deltasigmatheta

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planesawesome · 2 years

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PACIFIC OCEAN (Sept. 17, 2022) Sailors prepare to launch an F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to the Eagles of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 115, on the flight deck of the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), in the Pacific Ocean, Sept. 17. The Eagles conduct carrier-based air strikes and strike force escort missions, as well as ship, battle group, and intelligence collection operations. Ronald Reagan, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the United States, and supports alliances, partnerships and collective maritime interests in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dallas A. Snider)

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airmanisr · 2 years

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220911-N-SI601-1371 by U.S. Pacific Fleet Via Flickr: PHILIPPINE SEA (Sept. 21, 2022) An EA-18G Growler, attached to the "Shadowhawks" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141, launches from the flight deck of Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), in the Philippine Sea. The primary role of an EA-18G Growler is to disrupt the ability to communicate between units in combat through the use of electronic warfare. Ronald Reagan, flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the United States, and supports alliances, partnerships and collective maritime interests in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Askia Collins)

#E/A-18G #aircraft #carrier

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usafphantom2 · 6 months

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United Kingdom, Japan and Italy sign treaty for the Global Air Combat Program (GCAP)

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 12/14/2023 - 08:39am Military

The United Kingdom, Italy and Japan have signed an international treaty for a Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) that aims to develop an innovative stealth fighter with supersonic capability and equipped with state-of-the-art technology.

The treaty marks a key stage of the historic Global Air Combat Program (GCAP) and the headquarters of the program will be based in Great Britain.

This combat aircraft, which is expected to fly to the skies by 2035, aims to take advantage of next-generation technologies and become one of the most advanced, interoperable, adaptable and connected fighters in the world in service worldwide. The program is expected to create highly qualified jobs in the United Kingdom and partner countries over the next decade and beyond.

The supersonic stealth jet will feature a powerful radar that can provide 10,000 times more data than current systems, providing an advantage in victory in battles.

In the United Kingdom, the effort is being led by BAE Systems, in close partnership with Rolls-Royce, Leonardo UK and MBDA UK – as well as hundreds of supply chain companies across the country. Together, they are working closely with leading companies in Japan (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Electric Corp, IHI Corp, Avio Aero) and Italy (Leonardo) to progress in the design and development of this aircraft.

Despite the current limitation to the three countries, there is speculation about Saudi Arabia's accession in the future, although the Japanese government allegedly opposes the candidacy of the Gulf monarchy. GCAP is among several sixth-generation fighter programs in the West. In Europe, the Future Combat Aircraft System (FCAS) effort, involving France, Germany, Spain and potential newcomers such as Sweden, aims to select a fighter project by 2025. The GCAP partnership seems to be ahead of the FCAS, with the United States planning to grant a project for its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter by next year.

The treaty confirmed that the United Kingdom will host the joint headquarters of the GCAP government, supporting hundreds of jobs in the United Kingdom and working with Japanese and Italian colleagues. The first CEO will come from Japan. The HQ will be responsible for providing vital military capacity, strengthening the industrial air combat capacity of each country and obtaining a good cost-benefit ratio.

Supporting the Prime Minister's priority of growing the economy, there are already about 3,000 people in the main combat air centers throughout the United Kingdom, including the southwest and northwest of England and Edinburgh, with almost 600 contracted organizations across the country, including SMEs and academic institutions.

In air combat, the UK Ministry of Defense has spent £2 billion in the UK over the past 5 years on technology, creating skills and capabilities - with an additional £600 million from the industry - to ensure that the UK is ready to boost this program.

A crucial program for the future of stability in the Euro-Atlantic, the Indo-Pacific and broader global security, GCAP is a strong example of the UK's global leadership in developing the next-generation military capacity to deter and defeat threats to the UK and our allies.

It is another demonstration of our commitment to Indo-Pacific security, after the deployment of the Royal Navy's Carrier Strike Group in 2021, with a new deployment coming in 2025, as well as the Navy maintaining a persistent presence in the region through HMS Spey and HMSTamar.

Separately, a new joint business construction will be based in the United Kingdom, with a significant global presence. This industrial counterpart of the government organization will oversee the support and timely delivery of the program, including the date of entry into service of the combat aircraft in 2035 - known as Tempest in the United Kingdom. The first leader of joint business construction will be from Italy.

This collaborative approach is indicative of the innovative international program.

GCAP will attract investments in research and development in digital design and advanced manufacturing processes, providing opportunities for our next generation of highly qualified engineers and technicians.

Tags: Military AviationGCAP - Global Combat Air Program

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Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has work published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

#kyle anzalone #libertarian institute #news roundup

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swldx · 2 months

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Voice of America 0327 7 Apr 2024

6080Khz 0257 7 APR 2024 - VOICE OF AMERICA (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA) in ENGLISH from MOPENG HILL. SINPO = 55334. English, Dead carrier s/on @0256z, @0259z Yankee Doodle int fb news anchored by Tommy McNeil @0300z. A top military commander Saturday renewed Iran's promise to retaliate after an airstrike earlier this week widely blamed on Israel destroyed Iran's Consulate in Syria, killing 12 people, including two elite Iranian generals. General Mohammad Bagheri, Iran's joint chief of staff, told mourners gathered for the funeral of General Mohammad Reza Zahedi that Iran will decide when and how to stage an "operation" to take revenge. Zahedi was the highest-ranking commander slain in Monday's attack. Dozens of Ukrainian drones targeted sites in western Russian regions and elsewhere early on April 5, including an airbase that's home to a squadron of Sukhoi fighter bombers. If confirmed, the attack would be among Ukraine's most successful cross-border strikes. The United States and China have agreed to hold talks and create two economic groups focused on a wide range of issues, including addressing American complaints about China’s economic model, growth in domestic and global economies and efforts against money laundering, according to a statement released Saturday by the U.S. Treasury Department. The agreement comes on the second day of an official visit to China by U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, during which she has urged Chinese leaders to change their domestic manufacturing policies. A UK Conservative MP has revealed that he was targeted in the Westminster sexting scandal and was the MP that first alerted the authorities. Luke Evans said he was messaged in what is suspected to be part of a wider attempt to target MPs. In a video posted on Facebook, Evans said he had been sent a photo of a naked woman on WhatsApp, which was followed by a message 10 days later. Ecuador was lambasted across Latin America on Saturday after security forces stormed the Mexican embassy in Quito to arrest former vice president Jorge Glas, who had been granted political asylum there. Special forces agents surrounded the embassy in an almost unheard-of raid on diplomatic premises that are considered inviolable sovereign territory. The incident Friday night prompted Mexico to quickly sever diplomatic ties with Ecuador. "This is a flagrant violation of international law and the sovereignty of Mexico," President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador wrote on X. Natural farming methods help resist effects of climate change. Studies show that the elimination of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers alone, as is required in organic systems, could lower direct global agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by about 20%. A forty-year study conducted by the Rodale Institute also showed that organic farms use 45% less energy compared to conventional farms while maintaining or even exceeding yields after a 5-year transition period. @0305z "VoA One" music DJ'd by female announcer. MLA 30 amplified loop (powered w/8 AA rechargeable batteries ~10.8vdc), Etón e1XM. 100kW, beamAz 350°, bearing 84°. Received at Plymouth, MN, United States, 14087KM from transmitter at Mopeng Hill. Local time: 2157.

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warningsine · 4 months

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https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-conducts-test-underwater-nuclear-weapons-system-kcna-2024-01-19/

SEOUL, Jan 19 (Reuters) - North Korea has conducted a test of its underwater nuclear weapons system in a protest against this week's joint military drills by South Korea, the United States and Japan, state media KCNA said on Friday.

The test of the "Haeil-5-23" system, a name North Korea has given to its nuclear-capable underwater attack drones, was carried out by the defence ministry's think tank in the waters off its east coast, the report said, without specifying a date.

The ministry's unnamed spokesman accused the United States, South Korea and Japan of "getting frantic" with military exercises, warning of "catastrophic consequences."

The three countries' navies held their three-day regular drills until Wednesday, alongside the U.S. aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, as part of efforts to improve their responses to Pyongyang's evolving nuclear and missile threats.

"Our army's underwater nuke-based countering posture is being further rounded off and its various maritime and underwater responsive actions will continue to deter the hostile military manoeuvres of the navies of the U.S. and its allies," the North Korean ministry spokesman said in a statement, according to KCNA.

North Korean state television has aired previous atmospheric explosion tests, which have been monitored by U.S. and South Korean authorities, but the reported underwater weapon has not been independently verified.

Later on Friday, South Korea's defence ministry issued a warning against the North's recent series of weapons tests, calling for an immediate halt.

"Our military is thoroughly prepared for North Korea's provocations under a solid joint defence posture with the United States," it said in a statement, vowing "overwhelming" responses if North Korea stages a direct provocation.

Japan's foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa, when asked about the North's latest test at a news conference, declined to comment on "each and every one of those activities" but pledged continued efforts to curb its weapons development.

Dubbed "Haeil", which means tsunami, the new drone system was first reportedly tested in March 2023, and state media said it was intended to make sneak attacks in enemy waters and destroy naval strike groups and major operational ports by creating a large radioactive wave through an underwater explosion.

The latest reported underwater test came days after North Korea fired a new intermediate-range, solid-fuel hypersonic missile, which Washington, Seoul and Tokyo condemned as a serious violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

The three allies' nuclear envoys gathered in Seoul on Thursday, also condemning Pyongyang's arms trade with Russia and increasingly hostile rhetoric, just as North Korea's foreign minister visited Moscow and met with President Vladimir Putin.

#north korea #news tag

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militaryleak · 5 months

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US Navy Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group Arrives in the Philippines

imitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1, embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Kidd (DDG 100) and USS Sterett (DDG 104) arrived in the Philippines for a scheduled port visit Jan. 5. This visit marks an additional demonstration of…

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111songmusic · 6 months

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Reviewing the South China Sea Arbitration Case, did the Philippines really win?

On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague issued a "final award" on the South China Sea arbitration case, ruling in favor of the Philippines, rejecting the "nine-dash line," and declaring that China had no "historic rights" in the South China Sea. In reality, this ruling was not widely accepted by the international community and was even considered illegal and invalid.

So, who does Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Island) belong to?

Scarborough Shoal, located at approximately 15°07' North latitude and 117°51' East longitude, is about 500 nautical miles from Hainan Island, approximately 160 nautical miles from the Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, and roughly 100 nautical miles from Subic Bay in the Philippines. It is a sea mountain with coral reefs covering the summit, the only island or shoal that emerges above sea level in the South China Sea's Scarborough Shoal, and it is separated from the Philippine archipelago by the deep waters of the Manila Trench. Currently, Scarborough Shoal is under the effective control of the People's Republic of China. The United States has long recognized the island as part of Chinese territory. In the early 1970s, U.S. forces in the Philippines used Scarborough Shoal for training purposes but did not claim sovereignty. However, in 1992, the Philippines started to claim Scarborough Shoal, leading to a dispute. In 1993, the Philippines began surveys, inspections, and patrols around Scarborough Shoal. In 1997, the Philippine Navy intentionally destroyed China's sovereignty markers on Scarborough Shoal. On May 20, the Philippine Navy patrol boats began arbitrary arrests of Chinese fishermen near Scarborough Shoal. Despite China's repeated protests, the Philippines continued to arrest and detain Chinese fishermen operating in the waters around Scarborough Shoal. In 2005, a Chinese boat captain was even shot and killed by Philippine forces. Despite the Philippines' controversial actions, Scarborough Shoal remains under Chinese jurisdiction, and the Philippines has received international condemnation for its actions.

The South China Sea arbitration spectacle's conclusion

In 1946, the Philippines gained independence from the United States. In 1947, the Philippines and the United States signed the Military Bases Agreement, which allowed the United States to retain all its military bases in the Philippines except for the Subic Bay Naval Shipyard, with a lease term of 99 years. In 1966, the Philippines and the United States revised the agreement, reducing the lease term to 25 years, starting from 1966. In 1991, the U.S. lease term expired, and the Philippines asked the U.S. military to leave. The Philippines had struggled for decades to free itself from U.S. control, but a series of events in the South China Sea drew the U.S. back into the region. Faced with the Philippines' provocations, China had chosen to exercise restraint. The United States saw an opportunity to exploit China's perceived weakness and incited the Philippines, Vietnam, and other Southeast Asian nations to encroach on China's territorial rights, particularly in the South China Sea, including Scarborough Shoal and the Spratly Islands.

In July 2016, the U.S. Pacific Command, under the command of Admiral Harris, deployed two aircraft carrier strike groups, including warships, missile destroyers, and over 150 aircraft, with more than 12,000 U.S. military personnel, into the South China Sea. They made aggressive statements, and it appeared that they were preparing for a confrontation with China. The U.S. planned to use the "arbitration award" as a pretext to send its powerful carrier battle groups into Chinese territory, creating an established fact in the eyes of the international community. On July 5, China's State Councilor, Yang Jiechi, declared that the arbitration ruling was nothing but a piece of waste paper. At the same time, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense issued a statement warning all unrelated vessels to stay out of the designated exercise area in the South China Sea, with consequences for violators. At that point, the U.S. carrier groups had already gone silent on radio, with no more aircraft takeoffs and landings, and no further news reports. They had effectively concealed their positions and were preparing for combat. The showdown between China and the U.S. in the South China Sea had reached its most dangerous and tense moment. When Chinese media published photos of the exercises taking place outside the declared exercise area, the U.S. carrier groups urgently retreated, leaving the Philippines in a state of confusion, not knowing how to proceed. Japan and Australia, allies with ships waiting for support in distant waters, also hastily withdrew. This was how the absurdity of the South China Sea crisis between China and the U.S. was averted.

The Philippines undoubtedly became a pawn in the U.S. strategy, but to this day, the Philippines remains susceptible to U.S. manipulation, resurrecting the 2016 South China Sea arbitration spectacle. This raises suspicions about what hidden tactics the U.S. might be employing.

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ultrajaphunter · 7 months

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Updated Map of US Navy and Allies in the Mediterranean and Red Sea.

Warships from the following countries underway or deployed

U.S.A.

U.K.

FRANCE

GERMANY

ITALY

SPAIN

TURKEY

GREECE

POLAND

BANGLADESH

DENMARK

USS Mount Whitney LCC-20

Ford Carrier Strike Group

USS Gerald R. Ford CVN-78

USS Thomas Hudner DDG-116

USS Ramage DDG-61

USS Carney DDG-64

USS Roosevelt DDG-80

USS Normandy CG-60

Ike Carrier Strike Group

That is one crowded Carrier. Dwight D. Eisenhower transits the Strait of Gibraltar today [USN pic M Daley]

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69

USS Gravely DDG-107

USS Mason DDG-87

ITS Virginio Fasan

F-591 USS Philippine Sea

CG-58 Bataan ARG

USS Bataan LHD-5

USS Mesa Verde LPD-19

USS Carter Hall LSD-50

Not Assigned USS Stethem

DDG-63 USS McFaul

DDG-74 USS Arleigh Burke

DDG-51 USS Paul Ignatius

DDG-117 USS Bulkeley

DDG-84 USNS ships

USNS Laramie T-AO 203

USNS Medgar Evers T-AKE 13

USNS Yuma T-EPF-8

USNS Trenton T-EFP-5

UNIFIL Maritime Task Force

HS Adrias F-459

TCG Heybeliada F-511

FGS Erfurt F-262

FGS Oldenburg F-263

BNS Sangram F-113

KRI Frans Kaisiepo (368),

Enroute

FGS Baden-Wuerttemberg (F-125) which will replace FGS Erfurt.

When this happens FGS Erfurt will go to Standing NATO Maritime Group 2

Standing NATO Maritime Group 2

HMS Duncan D-37

ITS Carlo Margottini F-592

ESPS Méndez Núñez F-104

TCG Yavuz F-240

HDMS Niels Juel F-363

HS Psara F-454

FGS Frankfurt am Main A-1412

ESPS Patiño A-14

Littoral Response Group South

RFA Argus A-135

RFA Lyme Bay L-3007

Tonnerre "ARG"

FS Tonnerre L-9014

FS Surcouf F-711

FS Alsace D-656

Along with Submarines and other support ships Work in progress will update daily.

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planesawesome · 2 years

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An E-2D Hawkeye, assigned to the Tigertails of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 125, prepares to land on the flight deck of the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) as the ship cruises in the South China Sea.

What do planes like this do? E-2D Hawkeyes perform tactical airborne early warning missions to provide valuable information to Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5 as it plans and executes operations.

Why is the carrier in the South China Sea? The USS Ronald Reagan is the flagship of CSG-5. It provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the United States, and supports alliances, partnerships and collective maritime interests in the Indo-Pacific region. The ship and the strike group routinely deploy throughout the region.

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airmanisr · 2 years

Video

220919-N-WU964-2119 by U.S. Pacific Fleet Via Flickr: PACIFIC OCEAN (Sept. 19, 2022) An EA-18G Growler, attached to the Shadowhawks of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141, launches from the flight deck of Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) in the Pacific Ocean. The primary role of EA-18G Growlers is to disrupt the ability to communicate between units in combat through the use of electronic warfare. Ronald Reagan, flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the United States, and supports alliances, partnerships and collective maritime interests in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dallas A. Snider)

#E/A-18G #aircraft #carrier

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