9 July 1962. At Johnston Atoll, a scrap of coral in a remote part of the Pacific, a Thor IRBM stands on the pad as launch preparations are carried out. Loaded with test equipment, its prime payload is a W-49/Mk-4 RV payload. The target, however, is not to be found on a map or chart….
If the economy doesn’t pick up after our efforts this weekend in support of the new home (almost finished) then nothing will move it off T.D.C. … 😕
Those of us who have spent any amount of time at sea recognize the syndrome – after the first week or two, when the initial rush of getting underway and operating at sea begins to wear off, the routine settles in and pretty soon, one day (or night) melts into the next and the only…
Today Steve Ambrose joins the project with the battle of the Eastern Solomons. Â A former S-3 NFO, Steve has a wonderful blog that runs the gamut from hand-crafted wooden canoes to an on-line novel about life at sea (‘On The Line‘). Coral Sea was the scene of the first carrier vs carrier battle where…
Assassin’s mace (English adaptation of the Chinese phrase ‘shashou jiang’) — one periodically hears of the term used, usually in combination with advocacy for avoiding the same through transformational (forces)(TTP)(platforms)(weapons)(networks) – pick any, none, or all. Most recently, the ASBM the Chinese are purported to be developing has served as the poster child for Assassin’s…
Today’s post examines the first major response at sea, to the invasion by Allied forces on Guadalcanal a couple of days earlier. Our guest author for this article is CDR Bill Bullard, USN. CDR Bullard has just completed his CO tour as the 70th Commanding Officer of Old Ironsides, where Age of Sail…
This week we get down to brass tacks – the kickoff of what would become the Solomons Campaign. UltimaRatioRegis once again provides this week’s post with the opening stages of the invasion and occupation of Guadalcanal, on this, the 67th anniversary of this signatory battle. And while we’re about remembering, if you haven’t signed the…
It began with a letter, you know – the old fashioned kind, paper and pen, that opened with “You don’t know me but we have a mutual friend…” when we were outbound from our one and only port visit (Singapore) on our 1980 deployment (CVW-7/CVN-69). From there it grew – a whirlwind relationship with precious…
Almost a year-and one-half later from the start of his last deployment, guest correspondent, frequent commentator, and fellow naval aviation historian AT1 Charles Berlemann is at it again. This time though in a new squadron, embarked on a different ship and in a different AOR – the Pacific. Given the same issues as last time…
enâ‹…terâ‹…prise [en-ter-prahyz] –noun A project undertaken or to be undertaken, esp. one that is important or difficult or that requires boldness or energy: To keep the peace is a difficult enterprise; Participation or engagement in such projects: Our country was formed by the enterprise of resolute men and women. Boldness or readiness in undertaking; adventurous…
