Future!
Britain has now lost its once great empire, but it still has many territories and some have a great strategic value such as the Falklands! Britain still has many interests and NATO commitments?
But now the European Union are set on creating its own armed forces in a united Europe, confirming much speculation over the years!
The EU already operates under the humanitarian flag in the Arabian sea between Yemen and the Horn of Africa protecting shipping from Somali piracy, as well in the Mediterranean in connection with Libyan refugees being smuggled and abandoned at sea!
But a land army is a much different matter, will this see the end of N-Atlantic pact? Relations between Europe and the U.S are now at an all time low and we have to make up our minds who we will be with in the future?
Showing posts with label Union. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Union. Show all posts
Tuesday, 4 December 2018
Tuesday, 6 March 2018
Transport in Africa. Part-Two.
Adaption and Innovation!
We tend to think that the so called third world only gets the hand outs of our advanced world, but this is far from the truth! There are the cases of ex-colonial assistance, but many nations have opted to buy what they want from Japan as in the case of the Toyota pick-up.
It today is the most prevalent vehicle on the planet for its known versatility and operational capability, Land rover and the Mercedes Unimog follow quickly behind. Hino is perhaps one of the most common type of trucks that despite being of the late 60' early 70's era is still viable today as it was them?
Cost determines who has what, but with the possibility of mining and the discovery of fuels the wealth is pouring in to the coffers to be spent on the latest machinery from Volvo and many other expensive manufacturers.
Home grown manufacturing in South-Africa if it continues despite the new political situation will see a tremendous growth in supplying the continent with all types of machinery?
The formation of the African Union (UN) is a driving force behind the need for newer types of existing Atlas military equipment and also the various RSA BAE ground vehicles which not many know about outside!
We tend to think that the so called third world only gets the hand outs of our advanced world, but this is far from the truth! There are the cases of ex-colonial assistance, but many nations have opted to buy what they want from Japan as in the case of the Toyota pick-up.
It today is the most prevalent vehicle on the planet for its known versatility and operational capability, Land rover and the Mercedes Unimog follow quickly behind. Hino is perhaps one of the most common type of trucks that despite being of the late 60' early 70's era is still viable today as it was them?
Cost determines who has what, but with the possibility of mining and the discovery of fuels the wealth is pouring in to the coffers to be spent on the latest machinery from Volvo and many other expensive manufacturers.
Home grown manufacturing in South-Africa if it continues despite the new political situation will see a tremendous growth in supplying the continent with all types of machinery?
The formation of the African Union (UN) is a driving force behind the need for newer types of existing Atlas military equipment and also the various RSA BAE ground vehicles which not many know about outside!
Tuesday, 9 February 2016
Gunboats to Fast Attack. Part-Two.
From the American Civil War 1861-65.
The gunboat in its own right was developed during the American civil war in the deep south, there was a serious need to control the rivers of the region on both the Confederate and Union sides.
Many conventional ships were re-designed as low flats known as Monitors or Iron Clads and these where armoured with up to 7 cannons per vessel.
In fact any boat with any type of gun could be called a 'Gunboat? The United States despite being very successful with seagoing boats in World War-II (1940-45) had to reinvent in reverse during the Vietnam wars 1965-75.
This saw the introduction of a selection of machine guns and small cannons of various calibres, because these where found to be more effective than the standard 40mm cannons used on sea going boats.
The gunboat in its own right was developed during the American civil war in the deep south, there was a serious need to control the rivers of the region on both the Confederate and Union sides.
Many conventional ships were re-designed as low flats known as Monitors or Iron Clads and these where armoured with up to 7 cannons per vessel.
In fact any boat with any type of gun could be called a 'Gunboat? The United States despite being very successful with seagoing boats in World War-II (1940-45) had to reinvent in reverse during the Vietnam wars 1965-75.
This saw the introduction of a selection of machine guns and small cannons of various calibres, because these where found to be more effective than the standard 40mm cannons used on sea going boats.
Tuesday, 24 March 2015
Airbus. Part-One.
From A319 to A380/350.
The story of Airbus is the story about European Union co-operation in building a new family line of commercial aircraft, to compete with the U.S. manufacturer Boeing and this has now been achieved.
The Airbus story began with the A300/310 and from one design all the other aircraft have followed in their varying sizes and options. Initially a civil programme, it has now ventured into military conversions and the design of the A400M, to replace the Lockheed Hercules C-130.
Almost all European partners use one or several of the types that are available with the A320/321 being the most common in medium haul. The A330/340 has seen widespread use world wide and there are many versions available 100-600.
The smaller versions are now being converted to neo, which is that they are driven by bio fuel rather than pure aviation oil. The development of the Super Jumbo A380 has taken the market off the long standing Boeing 747-100/SP-300/400 and 8-market world wide.
The story of Airbus is the story about European Union co-operation in building a new family line of commercial aircraft, to compete with the U.S. manufacturer Boeing and this has now been achieved.
The Airbus story began with the A300/310 and from one design all the other aircraft have followed in their varying sizes and options. Initially a civil programme, it has now ventured into military conversions and the design of the A400M, to replace the Lockheed Hercules C-130.
Almost all European partners use one or several of the types that are available with the A320/321 being the most common in medium haul. The A330/340 has seen widespread use world wide and there are many versions available 100-600.
The smaller versions are now being converted to neo, which is that they are driven by bio fuel rather than pure aviation oil. The development of the Super Jumbo A380 has taken the market off the long standing Boeing 747-100/SP-300/400 and 8-market world wide.
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
Tractors. Part-One.
From farm work to mowing the grass.
The Tractor has made great strides and progress over the lat 120 years, from a farming machine to replace the horse to moving your garden lawn. The first machines were heavy and clumsy, but they were able to draw ploughs and were easier to be put to work than animals.
The tractor came into its fore in the great plains of North-America and the Soviet Russia in the production of cereal crops such as wheat, barley and maize. Later around the 1920's they were reduced in size for general farming duties and as engine technology improved became more versatile and easier to drive.
We associate Massey-Ferguson and Henry Ford with machines in the British isles, while Case, Caterpillar and John Deere with Europe and North-America.
The Tractor has made great strides and progress over the lat 120 years, from a farming machine to replace the horse to moving your garden lawn. The first machines were heavy and clumsy, but they were able to draw ploughs and were easier to be put to work than animals.
The tractor came into its fore in the great plains of North-America and the Soviet Russia in the production of cereal crops such as wheat, barley and maize. Later around the 1920's they were reduced in size for general farming duties and as engine technology improved became more versatile and easier to drive.
We associate Massey-Ferguson and Henry Ford with machines in the British isles, while Case, Caterpillar and John Deere with Europe and North-America.
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