Oh, those whacky Cossacks and their military aspirations

[Neil]

The real solution is to build two entirely new dreadnoughts.

[CountDeMoney]

The real solution is to build two entirely new dreadnoughts.

I could get with that, but with the state of project management in the defense industry the way it is, it'd still be cheaper to bring out the battlewagons than starting from scratch.

[Neil]

The real solution is to build two entirely new dreadnoughts.

I could get with that, but with the state of project management in the defense industry the way it is, it'd still be cheaper to bring out the battlewagons than starting from scratch.

Of course, but why cut corners?

It would stimulate the economy.

[derspiess]

Cool.  I used to sink the hell out of Kirovs on Red Storm Rising (C64)

[The Minsky Moment]

Russia plans reactivation of two Kirov-class cruisers

The Russian Federation Navy (RFN) is to reactivate two laid-up Kirov-class (Project 1144) battle cruisers, according to statements attributed by Russian media to the country's deputy defence minister.

Colonel General Vladimir Popovkin reportedly said that the Ministry of Defence has decided to renovate and modernise its heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser (tiazhyeliy atomniy raketniy kreiser/TARK) units Admiral Lazarev (ex- Frunze ) and Admiral Nakhimov (ex- Kalinin ).

The 24,300-ton ships were commissioned into the Soviet Navy in 1984 and 1988, the second and third vessels in a class that eventually numbered four. Col Gen Popovkin made no mention of the lead ship, Admiral Ushakov (ex- Kirov ), which entered service in 1980 and was decommissioned in 2004, appearing to confirm earlier reports that it is to be scrapped.

The RFN currently has one ship of the class in service, Pyotr Velikiy (ex- Yuri Andropov , ex- Kuibishev ), which was launched in St Petersburg in 1989 and commissioned in 1998.

I suggest we recommission the Iowa and Wisconsin in response.

That's not fighting fair.

I say we give the Bear a fighting chance.  Refloat the Exxon Valdez, stick on some 70s vintage radar and weapons system, and a miniaturized RBMK reactor.

[Habsburg]

Holland America Lines response:

http://nieuwamsterdam.hollandamerica.com/

Launch the new Nieuw Amsterdam!  !!

[Valdemar]

I suggest we recommission the Iowa and Wisconsin in response.

This is probably less about measuring up to the US and more about being able to bully various ex-Soviet republics and Europeans with coastlines.

They didn't bully us back then, why would they be able to do so now? 

Not to mention, getting close to a shore means no need for a navy to hit them :p It can then be done by land forces

V

[Monoriu]

Are they going to send the ships against Somali pirates?

[grumbler]

Holland America Lines response:

http://nieuwamsterdam.hollandamerica.com/

Launch the new Nieuw Amsterdam!  !!

There is no form of ugliness quite so striking as that of a cruise ship's ugliness, is there?

[DGuller]

We've got the New Jersey sitting right in Camden; all they'd really need to do is unweld the gun ports.

I guess it's the only person or thing in Camden not adequately armed.

[DontSayBanana]

I guess it's the only person or thing in Camden not adequately armed.

Whenever I'm on the bus to or from Philadelphia, we have to go briefly through Camden- once you cross the line from Gloucester City into Camden, it looks like the whole city was shelled by the New Jersey.

[Martinus]

I think it's funny that NATO does not have a contingency plan in case of a Russia's attack. 

[Ed Anger]

I think it's funny that NATO does not have a contingency plan in case of a Russia's attack. 

More big fun:

The POMCUS pre-positioned divisional equipment sets that the US kept in Germany are almost empty.

[The Minsky Moment]

I think it's funny that NATO does not have a contingency plan in case of a Russia's attack. 

Nonsense of course it does.

[Ed Anger]

I think it's funny that NATO does not have a contingency plan in case of a Russia's attack. 

Nonsense of course it does.

Which is to sell Poland out.