And then there is the Russian way ...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/crre8g5e45jo
Nasty if they fall on you!
Showing posts with label Russia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Russia. Show all posts
Wednesday, 12 November 2025
Friday, 3 October 2025
War through the Eyes of Children: Last Witnesses (by Svetlana Alexievich
This is a haunting book. One hundred and two post war interviews with survivors who had lived through WWII and the German invasion of Russia in WW2. They remembered events through the eyes of a child their experiences, so personal and centred on their mothers and fathers, mama and papa (see below, no to be rushed, the audible experience created greater immersion for me - I found it hard):
A book I think both West and Eastern leaders and politicians should be made to read.
A book I think both West and Eastern leaders and politicians should be made to read.
Monday, 30 June 2025
Stalingrad, a Novel by Vasily Grossman
A great Oxfam charity shop find, Vasily Grossman's Stalingrad (the author of "Life and Fate" which was also set in and around the Stalingrad era, particularly the massive Soviet Counterattack outside teh city and heroic characters within the city). It was an instant "no brainer" purchase for me (see below, this one will be read the old fashion way with a cup of coffee to hand):
Summertime reading 2025 sorted!
Summertime reading 2025 sorted!
Sunday, 16 March 2025
Chessboards that are of a Global Nature: The Important Place of Ukraine has as a Playing Piece
I was fascinated to hear repeated from several sources a comment from a presidential advisor called Zbigniew Brzezinski. He reported to the US President Jimmy Carter in teh 1980's, and stated the importance of Ukraine to Russia. Simply put without Ukraine, Russia cannot call itself an empire, with it, then it can. Ukraine has (or at least had) 40 million people, while Russia 140 million, but Russia desperately wants to claim these 40 million as its own, as well as the strategic importance of the land and sea access (see below, perhaps Brzezinski can shed more light on how Russia and America "really see the rest of the world"):
I will have to read "The Grand Chessboard" the old fashioned way with the Mark One eyeball!
Footnote: The date of paperback publication I am reading was back in 1997, last century. I feel old saying that!
Tuesday, 3 December 2024
Audible Book: Nuclear War A Scenario
Well the title grabs your attention for sure. The theme tune of "Protect and Survive" rings in my ears but this is an American slant, so the melting milk bottles of Sheffield are not mentioned (see Threads, "THE" Nuclear War film). Nevertheless the scientific effects of nuclear hydrogen (H) bombs are chillingly accurate, well researched and repeats successfully what others have already stated, nuclear war is an Armageddon that you don't want to experience (see below, the mushroom cloud cover will sell the book for sure):
Despite the warnings from history we never seem to earn and we are only happy when we are playing with fire. Annie Jacobsen then spins a scenario to draw the reader into a plausible sequence of events, albeit "unlikely" whereby a nuclear armed minor state (spoiler alert - North Korea) launches an attack on the United States of America .. twice, an ICBM and a submarine launched one. The response (because there may well be a third) is to obliterate North Korea, but because of technology defects on the Russia monitoring satellites they believe (falsely?) that this is an attack on Mother Russia and immediately fall into the "dead-man's hand" counter-strike mentality because they cannot talk to the US President (because he is "unavailable"). The Kremlin-Washington hotline goes very cold. What China would do in response to it meanwhile soaking up radioactivity by the mega-Currie is not deliberated, or India or Pakistan. The decapitation effect of not getting the President of the United States out of Washington in time is though. This is a curious thought experiment of things not going to plan.
Despite the warnings from history we never seem to earn and we are only happy when we are playing with fire. Annie Jacobsen then spins a scenario to draw the reader into a plausible sequence of events, albeit "unlikely" whereby a nuclear armed minor state (spoiler alert - North Korea) launches an attack on the United States of America .. twice, an ICBM and a submarine launched one. The response (because there may well be a third) is to obliterate North Korea, but because of technology defects on the Russia monitoring satellites they believe (falsely?) that this is an attack on Mother Russia and immediately fall into the "dead-man's hand" counter-strike mentality because they cannot talk to the US President (because he is "unavailable"). The Kremlin-Washington hotline goes very cold. What China would do in response to it meanwhile soaking up radioactivity by the mega-Currie is not deliberated, or India or Pakistan. The decapitation effect of not getting the President of the United States out of Washington in time is though. This is a curious thought experiment of things not going to plan.
I have friends who are sceptical as to the plausibility of the scenario, stating that sixties-to-nineties technologies have been modernised (despite what detractors say of all things Russian) and the kind of mistakes Annie says could happen just don't add up. I do hope so. There is much that does not add up in the real world, but that is my worry. I read it (or rather listened to it) and had that morbid fascination of 'good when finished'. It did feel that Dr Strangelove had undergone a year 2000+ makeover, but highlighted that command elements of the Superpowers are (or could be) stuck in the 1970s.
Links:
The more I look the more I wonder how thin is the knife edge we walk?
Nuclear Close Calls:
Wednesday, 28 December 2022
Interesting Posts from The History of Wargaming Website
No commentary required, just read them for yourself (see below, recent postings from John Curry):
- http://wargamingco.blogspot.
com/2022/09/wargaming- tactical-actions-in-ukraine. html - http://wargamingco.blogspot.
com/2022/11/my-wargame-says- ukraine-is-going-to-win.html - http://wargamingco.blogspot.
com/2022/12/wargames-are- better-predictive-tools.html
Very thought provoking!
Monday, 7 February 2022
Purchase Number 3: Book - Battlegroup! (Jim Storr)
Battlegroup! The Lessons of the Unfought Battles of the Cold War by Jim Storr.
This book seems to have created a little bit of a stir in the wargaming community associated with myself. Lots of people have went out and bought a copy and even read it cover-to-cover. I have gotten through the introduction (see below, a classic Cold War that never went Hot [thank god], but what could we have learned from it - as in the planning for it):
Of interest his background research seems to be built around extensive (over 200 games over a couple of decades playing with his brother) play-testing of a set of modern wargames - using in fact the WRG Moderns rules (1:1 scale). This is a ruleset that I have seen, looked through (WWII and Modern version) but as of yet not played in anger at the table top. Watch this space I am hoping that will change soon!
Sunday, 29 December 2019
Putin's Late Xmas Toy: Hypersonic Missile
Travelling at twenty times the speed of sound:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-50927648
Sleep well!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-50927648
Sleep well!
Thursday, 26 December 2019
Saturday, 31 August 2019
More Russian Strategic Interest in the High North
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
A floating (hence mobile) nuclear reactor .. whatever next?
A floating (hence mobile) nuclear reactor .. whatever next?
Monday, 12 August 2019
Things going bump in Russian ... BBC News
Monday, 13 May 2019
54mm Russian Fun: Airfix Ivan
Well I have done 20mm (1/72 - 1/76), 1/200, 10mm, 15mm (1/100), 28mm so why not 54mm (1/32)? Some time ago I rescued this favourite childhood pose from my youngest sons toy collection and used it as a painting exercise - inspired from other bloggers (an Australian Dave comes to mind). I was quite pleased with the results. A Vallejo base-coat, brown wash and reapplication of the base plus a couple of highlights. The model is big enough for the sculpting to do the talking (see below, running across the Streets of Stalingrad perhaps):
A close-up look (see below, basic Russian Green helmet, English Uniform base with a Khaki highlight, Black Boots with a ting grey highlight and a little bit of extra time on the face (see below, a stern expression of determination methinks across his brow, it is a long road to Berlin):
Perhaps he could be of use in Tim Gow's 54mm games .. trouble is I don't think he has many friends left in good shape from the Toy Box!
A close-up look (see below, basic Russian Green helmet, English Uniform base with a Khaki highlight, Black Boots with a ting grey highlight and a little bit of extra time on the face (see below, a stern expression of determination methinks across his brow, it is a long road to Berlin):
Perhaps he could be of use in Tim Gow's 54mm games .. trouble is I don't think he has many friends left in good shape from the Toy Box!
Saturday, 8 December 2018
Note to Self: Good Wargaming Blog Site "Phil B Ancients" - although it is a lot more than Ancients
https://philbancients.blogspot.com/
Especially like his Eastern Front Spearhead "Operational" Epic Game (or mini campaign in a day)
Especially like his Eastern Front Spearhead "Operational" Epic Game (or mini campaign in a day)
Tuesday, 23 January 2018
New Russian Threat?
Better get my moderns down from the loft (see BBC News link below):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42770208
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42770208
Saturday, 6 January 2018
Russo Japanese Naval War Rules: White Bear, Red Sun by David Manly (Part 1) Set-Up and Contact
Does this sound familiar?
I have a collection of 1/3000 RJW naval models that have been lurking in my loft (strangely all painted, which is the unusual bit), dormant since last century (or so it seems to me). They certainly took part in my "Attack on Port Arthur" and "Tsushima" wargames I staged pre-2000 [last century] at the Exiles Wargames Club (in London) but .. confession .. I cannot remember using them since.
However I found out that I am not alone in this RJW interest. My friend Renko found (or rather rediscovered) he had some some too. He found his in "his loft", naturally while looking for something completely different, however he also pulled out a stored memory from his vast data bank about David Manley's White Bear, Red Sun RJW Campaign and Pre-Dreadnought Rules. He then discovered they are still available through the Wargames Vault On-Line Store (see below):
Link: http://www.wargamevault.com/product/223354/White-Bear-Red-Sun
Being a clever man he purchased them and being 'ultra cool' when he was part of the next "gathering of friends" (ostensibly we were there to be talking about WWII 28mm Germans and Soviets in Stalingrad) lo and behold there appeared 1/3000 RJW "naval toys" (see below):
I found myself in command of a Japanese First Battle Squadron as Admiral Togo himself aboard the IJNS Mikasa (see my portion of the fleet above). Cutting to the end (game report to follow), the game was so good and I enjoyed the rules so much I immediately went and downloaded a set for myself (taking advantage of a cheap 50% sales price) and also took the liberty of getting a copy of David Manley's Spanish American War Campaign Set (for a future "small" 2018 naval project).
I have a collection of 1/3000 RJW naval models that have been lurking in my loft (strangely all painted, which is the unusual bit), dormant since last century (or so it seems to me). They certainly took part in my "Attack on Port Arthur" and "Tsushima" wargames I staged pre-2000 [last century] at the Exiles Wargames Club (in London) but .. confession .. I cannot remember using them since.
However I found out that I am not alone in this RJW interest. My friend Renko found (or rather rediscovered) he had some some too. He found his in "his loft", naturally while looking for something completely different, however he also pulled out a stored memory from his vast data bank about David Manley's White Bear, Red Sun RJW Campaign and Pre-Dreadnought Rules. He then discovered they are still available through the Wargames Vault On-Line Store (see below):
Link: http://www.wargamevault.com/product/223354/White-Bear-Red-Sun
Being a clever man he purchased them and being 'ultra cool' when he was part of the next "gathering of friends" (ostensibly we were there to be talking about WWII 28mm Germans and Soviets in Stalingrad) lo and behold there appeared 1/3000 RJW "naval toys" (see below):
I found myself in command of a Japanese First Battle Squadron as Admiral Togo himself aboard the IJNS Mikasa (see my portion of the fleet above). Cutting to the end (game report to follow), the game was so good and I enjoyed the rules so much I immediately went and downloaded a set for myself (taking advantage of a cheap 50% sales price) and also took the liberty of getting a copy of David Manley's Spanish American War Campaign Set (for a future "small" 2018 naval project).
Friday, 22 December 2017
Note to self: Now there is an Interesting Modern Asymmetrical Wargaming Scenario if ever there was one
Russia a 'risk' to undersea cables, defence chief warns
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42362500
Update: Follow on in the BBC News 03/01/18, Russian "deep sea snipping capability":
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42543712
The historic US Sub-Spy action [New York Times]:
http://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/08/us/a-tale-of-daring-american-submarine-espionage.html
Note: Also see Blind Man's Bluff
Interesting Naval Site:
https://www.naval-technology.com
Wednesday, 4 January 2017
An evocative little title for a book .. "War with Russia" (2017)
Certainly an evocative title which I read over the Xmas break. Written by a recent (now retired) high ranking UK NATO general to boot. 'Chops off at the knees' all those civil servants and politicians who for decades have crucified (or have stood by and simply watched as) the armed forces were "bugetised" (no such word) and then "castrated-by-accountants" (as painful as it sounds). So true operational capability shrinks leaving only a paper shadow of what was supposed to be still there. An aircraft carrier without planes? Really, surely fiction? Oh bugger! No more Nimrods? That leaves a whole somewhere! Half working tanks lacking spares? Phantom reservists on an Order of Battle still doing their days jobs out of theatre? It certainly is a page turner, jumps around a bit .. no spoilers, worth a read and pass on to a friend with a look of horror (see below the cover, the nuclear missile is more scary than the tank IMHO):
In summary: "War with Russia (2017)" I realy hope not as I don't think [spoiler alert] there is any hope of a "Boy's Own" ending in real life ... I think it what really would pan out is far more dire consequences, aka .. possibly no more "First World" and a nuclear winter (a more radical form of climate change nobody would be in a position to try and deny).
PS: It should all kick off in May apparently in the Crimea! Here's hoping not :(
In summary: "War with Russia (2017)" I realy hope not as I don't think [spoiler alert] there is any hope of a "Boy's Own" ending in real life ... I think it what really would pan out is far more dire consequences, aka .. possibly no more "First World" and a nuclear winter (a more radical form of climate change nobody would be in a position to try and deny).
PS: It should all kick off in May apparently in the Crimea! Here's hoping not :(
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