Mar
24
    
Posted (Marianne) in on March-24-2008 | 173 views

The world wars are one of the reasons why fighter planes and war planes were built and here’s a list of undefeated fighter aircrafts of all time.

 

10. Fokker D. VII Biplane – Best German aircraft of the First World War.

9. Mitsubishi Zero – Japan’s long-range fighter. Became the cornerstone of Japan’s “kamikaze” squadrons.

8. Messerschmitt Bf109 – The German-made aircraft that became the Royal Air Force’s dreadful foe during the Second World War.

7. Supermarine Spitfire – Best known for its iconic status as the plane that won the Second World War and in the Battle of Britain.

6. North American P-51D Mustang – Entered the World War scene later but American pilots registered more kills than they did with any other aircraft in the Second World War.

5. North American F-86 Sabre – Though production began after the Second World War, it was just in time for the Korean War.

4. Mikoyan MiG-21 – The MiG-21 is the definitive symbol of Communism and the Cold War.

3. Boeing F-18 Hornet – Variants of the popular all-purpose jets have been patronized by the US Navy and the US Marine Corps since the early 80s and saw action in the First Gulf War and in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

2. Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber – The technology has been used for high-value target missions during the recent Middle Eastern wars.

1. UCAV – The soon to be used military aircraft by the US forces.



 
Mar
17
    
Posted (Jules) in on March-17-2008 | 184 views

hmas-sydney-pic.jpg

The wreckage of HMAS Sydney that sank with all 645 men aboard in a fierce World War II battle was discovered 66 years after it sank on November 19, 1941, after a grueling battle with the German vessel DKM Kormoran in the worst naval disaster  in Australia’s history. 

All 645 sailors aboard the Sydney were lost and its final resting place remained elusive until sonar technology advanced enough to scour waters more than 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) deep.  The Kormoran also sank but 317 of its member crew survived and rowed lifeboats to the Australian coast, being held prisoners. 

Australians were long been unconvinced that the Sydney could have been lost to the German auxiliary cruiser and for years, various theories have emerged such as a Japanese submarine was the real culprit why the Sydney sank or that the Kormoran’s crew machine-gunned Australian survivors. 

In a news conference, Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, Vice Admiral Russ Shalders with PrimeMinister Kevin Rudd stated: 

“For 66 years, this nation has wondered where the
Sydney was and what occurred to her.  We’ve uncovered the first part of that mystery…the next part of the mystery, of course is what happened.” 

Request to find the Sydney had raved intensity in recent years as siblings and widows of crew members have pleaded for answers before they die.  The search began two weeks ago and is headed by U.S. shipwreck hunter David Mearns. 

Headlines have speculated the Sydney approached the German raider, which had been disguised as a Dutch merchant ship before the battle, thinking it had surrendered and that the Kormoran then opened fire with the first devastating salvo of the battle.  The German survivors denied this, saying they dropped their disguise and hoisted the German ensign before firing on the Sydney. 

Many opposed the accounts given by the German survivors of the battle, which are the only witnesses.  The Sydney’s radio remained silent throughout the brief and ferocious battle.  Australian newspapers have published accusations the German crew massacred
Sydney survivors with machine-gun fire.  The Germans who survived steadfastly denied such accusations, which were never supported by evidence.  The Germans said they were in life rafts when they last saw the blazing Sydney proceeded with difficulty over the horizon toward Perth, lighting the night sky as it burned from bow to stern. 

There’s another popular theory that the Sydney was sunk by a Japanese submarine a month before Japan officially entered the war by attacking the US Navy at
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.  Though, there was no evidence found to support this claim. 

In 1999, a parliamentary inquiry stated the Korean’s underwater torpedo tubes have been decisive in the Australians’ catastrophic loss and there were sonar images of the
Sydney wreck which supports the theory.


 
Mar
17
    
Posted (admin) in on March-17-2008 | 188 views

A school located in Sumberejo village, in Situbondo Regency of East Java, Indonesia received a face-lift from US and Indonesian Sailors and Marines.

The six-day Tactical Engineering Exercise (ENGEX) with the Indonesian Armed Forces began on March 11. It involved US Sailors and Marines from Combat Logistics Battalion 31 (CLB 31) attached to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) and Sailors from the USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49).

The school was given a new roof, window frame upgrades, door frames and doors, and a fresh coat of paint. About $15,000 was spent on the project.

“We are really impressed with how well the operation is already going,” said US Marine 2nd Lt. Brian D. Woodall, the Engineering Platoon Commander for CLB 31. “Working together and observing their work techniques is very beneficial. I think we are showing both sides it is possible for us to work together if there is ever a problem or crisis in this region. We hope this launches a long lasting partnership between the two militaries.”

Indonesian Marine Sergeant Edi Kurniawan from the 1st Zeni Marine Battalion and a site planner and architect doesn’t disagree. “Everyone was looking forward to working with the American people, because the opinion is that the US has the best trained forces. I think this project will show we can work together very well.”