Vietnam Defence Forum

[Viet]

View attachment 335525

"Accidental" attack by 4 US aircraft (2 F-16s and 2 A-10s) on Syrian army positions that ended up killing at least 62 Syrian soldiers and wounding a 100 more.

Curiously enough, the Syrian army positions that were attacked had been occupied by the Syrian Army for quite some time which makes the explanation of an accident hard to believe. USA said that was trying to help the Syrian army, but it would be the first time that it tries to do so; it had also not operated in that area at all and it did not inform the Russians either.

Also curiously enough, in what seems to be a coordinated attack with ISIS, as soon as the air strikes stopped, ISIS launched an offensive on those positions.

The Russian spokesperson Maria Sakharova said: "We had come to the terrible conclusion that the United States supports ISIS". Well, many people already knew that for quite some time, nothing new there except that this is an official government statement.

Funny that this is the country that always seems to be talking about and denouncing "human rights" abuses or breaches of international law. Of course that standard does not apply to USA, only to its opponents. Many of the jihadis receiving financial and military support by USA and its allies somehow seem to be considered "moderates", they probably behead in a more gentle way I guess.

It can't be an accident. The US military has learned since Vietnam war. Before the bombers are dispatched, there is a chain of events

- US spy satellites have detected the target and observe it continuesly.

- Awac aircraft have drew up a safe flying route for the bombers, avoiding enemy SAM sites. Fighter jets stand by in case of spotting of enemy aircraft.

- US special forces on the ground such as Navy Seals have identified the target visually and mark it by laser beam.

- Barack Obama as Commander in Chief approves the bombing.

 

[Carlosa]

It can't be an accident. The US military has learned since Vietnam war. Before the bombers are dispatched, there is a chain of events

- US spy satellites have detected the target and observe it continuesly.

- Awac aircraft have drew up a safe flying route for the bombers, avoiding enemy SAM sites. Fighter jets stand by in case of spotting of enemy aircraft.

- US special forces on the ground such as Navy Seals have identified the target visually and mark it by laser beam.

- Barack Obama as Commander in Chief approves the bombing.

And many more things. Of course was not an accident. Its really bad. This is what Russia gets for trying to cooperate with USA to have a cease fire. Can't make a deal with the party that created the whole mess in the first place.

 

[Viet]

And many more things. Of course was not an accident. Its really bad. This is what Russia gets for trying to cooperate with USA to have a cease fire. Can't make a deal with the party that created the whole mess in the first place.

I am not sure if the US government supports the IS terrorists as Russia claims it, but I won't wonder if she does. Politics is a dirty business. The US (and the Chinese) once supported the Red Khmer government that massacred nearly its entire population, just to weaken Vietnam. The IS terrorists wreck havoc on Syria. but since these terrorists also weaken Syrian government, which is Russia ally, well, it can be seen as a welcome action by the US.

 

[Carlosa]

I am not sure if the US government supports the IS terrorists as Russia claims it, but I won't wonder if she does. Politics is a dirty business. The US (and the Chinese) once supported the Red Khmer government that massacred nearly its entire population, just to weaken Vietnam. The IS terrorists wreck havoc on Syria. but since these terrorists also weaken Syrian government, which is Russia ally, well, it can be seen as a welcome action by the US.

Since the Soviet war in Afghanistan, the Americans are addicted to using islamic radicals as proxies; in the Syrian case, they are been used as a tool for regime change.They try to hide it, but is not difficult to see it.

In Iraq, when the Iranians started to have a lot of influence on their fellow Shia Iraqi government and it seem like they were starting to take over Iraq, then all of a sudden, many jihadis got freed from the US prisons in Iraq and soon after ISIS was born. Interesting coincidence. US allies Saudi Arabia and Qatar give massive financial assistance as well as military supplies to ISIS, Nusra and company. Turkey too. Who can believe that they are doing all that without the approval of USA.

Same story in Libya and the same results, one country after another destroyed by direct or covert regime change.

So much for preaching human rights.

 

[Viet]

a total of 13 light houses are built in Spratlys

 

[TenLua]

Well, they MIGHT serve as submersible tourism platforms, and that is still a huge risk.

No way we use those for the military.

Not as is. They have a submersible platform. Weaponize it.

I'd like to see what it can do with government funding.

 

[Viet]

T54 tanks in exercise. I believe we can keep them for another 50 years

 

[hoangsa74]

As for your repeated rants of Chinese invasion of Spratlys, if they could they would have done it long ago. Without your call.

The chinese already called the shots in 1956. 1959. 1974. 1988. The only delusional ones who still believe the chinese won't call another shot in scs due to viet's military "prowess" are the like of you. The chinese are not interested in the status quo that's why they keep invading the scs one time after another. I can tell u that even if vietnam had 10 aegis destroyers, vietnam still wouldn't be able to defeat an air and naval assault from the chinese in the spartly. Maybe if your indian friend bring their entire airforce n navy to the scs to fight for vietnam then Vietnam might have a chance. The equipment of the viet military is just for domestic propaganda consumption only buddy, just to make viet people feel better than the phillipnes or laos. Outside of vietnam, not a single soul believes viet military can defeat china in the next coming spartly war.

 

[Viet]

beautiful


T55 tank with 100mm main gun

ASU-85 tank with 85mm main gun

 

[hoangsa74]

Since the Soviet war in Afghanistan, the Americans are addicted to using islamic radicals as proxies; in the Syrian case, they are been used as a tool for regime change.They try to hide it, but is not difficult to see it.

In Iraq, when the Iranians started to have a lot of influence on their fellow Shia Iraqi government and it seem like they were starting to take over Iraq, then all of a sudden, many jihadis got freed from the US prisons in Iraq and soon after ISIS was born. Interesting coincidence. US allies Saudi Arabia and Qatar give massive financial assistance as well as military supplies to ISIS, Nusra and company. Turkey too. Who can believe that they are doing all that without the approval of USA.

Same story in Libya and the same results, one country after another destroyed by direct or covert regime change.

So much for preaching human rights.

It's always your tactic to hide in the viet thread to troll other countries

 

[Silent Knight]

Not as is. They have a submersible platform. Weaponize it.

I'd like to see what it can do with government funding.

I can assure you that the MoD has performed tests on that platform.

It's impractical to serve as a mini submarine. The best it can do is to become a suicide vessel, but that only possible if you can:
- Remotely control it.
- Make it less noisy.
- Make it actually submerge for a long duration.

I am not sure if the US government supports the IS terrorists as Russia claims it

Well well, the TOW-2 and modern weapons don't come from the sky. Or is it?

The US has actively dropped weapon supplies to IS-held territory, along with those "moderate" head-chopping rebels. Those airstrikes they keep bragging about? A year of doing so and IS kept growing, while the Russian only needed a month or so to drive IS back to the border with Turkey.

 

[Carlosa]

It's always your tactic to hide in the viet thread to troll other countries

Well, well, the overseas vietnamese boy that often brings up his life in USA to mock vietnamese people and uses USA as a model for human rights, etc now can't handle a doses of reality.

And........ aren't you the one that is always trolling India in this thread?

The US has actively dropped weapon supplies to IS-held territory, along with those "moderate" head-chopping rebels. Those airstrikes they keep bragging about? A year of doing so and IS kept growing, while the Russian only needed a month or so to drive IS back to the border with Turkey.

Oh, don't you know that those parachuted weapon drops to ISIS happened by "accident", like the shifting winds, navigation errors, etc.

And of course US pilots had never noticed those long convoys of ISIS oil tankers taking oil to Turkey everyday. Funny that Russia happened to notice right away and promptly destroyed them.

 

[Carlosa]

Unsung keepers of Vietnam’s sovereignty light at East Vietnam Sea

TUOI TRE NEWS

UPDATED : 09/17/2016 15:02 GMT + 7

There is a team of maintenance workers who live away from family and civilization for months on end to keep watch over the country’s lighthouses and sovereignty on the East Vietnam Sea.

Every few months, Vietnam’s Hai Dang 05 supply ship sails off, carrying manpower and food to resupply the country’s nine lighthouses on Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago in the East Vietnam Sea.

The scheduled trip has been delayed for some weeks as of mid-September, after two consecutive storms Dianmu and Rai hit Vietnam in August and earlier this month.

“It is very common for us to reschedule supply trips due to fierce storms or strong winds at sea,” Hai Dang 05 Captain Tran Van Nha said.

“There were even times when we had to abort mission due to bad weather despite having arrived at our destination.”

Unsung heroes

Bui Van Niem, 53, is among the first generation of maintenance workers to keep watch over Vietnam’s lighthouses at the East Vietnam Sea since 1996.

The seasoned man has guarded six out of nine lighthouses on different islands of Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago, but concerns for the well-being of fellow colleagues still aches his heart each time Niem’s trip is postponed.

According to Nguyen Duc Huy, Deputy Director of East Vietnam Sea and Islands Maritime Safety Company, which is in charge of operating Hai Dang 05, living conditions for maintenance workers on the lighthouses were extremely unfavorable during the first years.

Intervals between resupply shipments lasted up to three months, and any delay would mean hunger for workers on the lighthouses, Huy said.

However, conditions have been greatly improved over the past ten years, with more frequent shipments and available satellite television and communication network.

Speaking over the phone, Vu Si Luu, the 52-year-old chief of Tien Nu lighthouse, said life on the lighthouse is much better now that his team is able to keep in touch with their family and friends since the introduction of communication networks.

In 2011, the company’s first defense flotilla was founded to guarantee safety of transportation for supply shipments to the lighthouses.

“We see ourselves as soldiers who work and fight to protect every inch of our country’s soil and waters,” Bui Van Niem said sternly.

Captain Tran Van Nga said his ship has been threatened by Chinese vessels multiple times while transporting humans and goods to the lighthouses, with the most drastic one occurring last November.

Nga said it was 9:00 am when the Hai Dang 05 was intervened by a cargo ship and two Chinese Coast Guard vessels while it was heading to Song Tu Tay island, part of Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago.

After following closely the Vietnamese ship for a while, the Chinese Coast Guard vessels gave way to a naval ship number 995, which took over the pursuit until 12:00 pm the same day.

“We all remained calmed the whole time, and I was in charge of directing the ship’s maneuver to avoid colliding [with the Chinese ships],” sailor Hoang Tho Toan said.

Despite all the dangers and hardship, Vietnam’s light of justice and sovereignty still shines brightly at the East Vietnam Sea for more than 20 years, thanks largely to the workers’ unwavering spirit and solidarity.

Vu Si Luu said the thought of sailors on distant ships feeling less lonely and closer to home upon the sight of his lighthouse’ beam made him fall in love with the job more and more each day.

Meanwhile, chief of An Bang lighthouse Doan Van Tan took pride in taking a part in the protection of his country’s sovereignty, the pride that has kept him motivated all along.

“We are greatly humbled and honored to be the keepers of pearl-like eyes that guide the way for ships in Vietnamese waters,” Niem said.

The lighthouse on Truong Sa Lon island in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Vietnam currently has a total of 13 lighthouses in the East Vietnam Sea, nine of which are built on different islands in Truong Sa archipelago while the remaining four are located in the DK1 area.

The first lighthouse in Vietnam’s Truong Sa was built on Song Tu Tay island in 1993, followed by lighthouses Da Lat and Da Tay in 1994, An Bang in 1995, Tien Nu in 2000, Truong Sa Lon in 2010, Son Ca in 2011, Sinh Ton in 2012, and Nam Yet in 2013.

Four lighthouses in the DK1 area are Phuc Tan, Que Duong, Huyen Tran, and Ba Ke.

 

[Viet]

Well well, the TOW-2 and modern weapons don't come from the sky. Or is it?

The US has actively dropped weapon supplies to IS-held territory, along with those "moderate" head-chopping rebels. Those airstrikes they keep bragging about? A year of doing so and IS kept growing, while the Russian only needed a month or so to drive IS back to the border with Turkey.

Well, is Uncle Sam not a modern charity man that gives gifts to poor children?

The Americans have interest in Syria because the country hosts Tartus as the sole Russia naval base outside the former Soviet Union. The other semi permanent one is Camranh bay. Destroying the naval base means weakening Russia military power. besides it benefits the turkey. Why Turkey? Because it is the only Muslim country in the world that has a respected conventional army. The other is nuclear armed Pakistan. The rest, from poor Indonesia to rich Saudi Arabia is negligible. Look, how the Arab armies performed against Israel. Terrible is an understatement.

 

[Carlosa]

Well, is Uncle Sam not a modern charity man that gives gifts to poor children?

The Americans have interest in Syria because the country hosts Tartus as the sole Russia naval base outside the former Soviet Union. The other semi permanent one is Camranh bay. Destroying the naval base means weakening Russia military power. besides it benefits the turkey. Why Turkey? Because it is the only Muslim country in the world that has a respected conventional army. The other is nuclear armed Pakistan. The rest, from poor Indonesia to rich Saudi Arabia is negligible. Look, how the Arab armies performed against Israel. Terrible is an understatement.

That's only an small part of the reason. The main reason why US targeted and started the process of regime change in Syria is because Assad rejected allowing a gas pipeline from Qatar to Europe to go through Syrian territory, which by the way, Assad did that in order to protects the Russian gas / oil exports to Europe which are vital to the Russian economy. The Qatar pipeline would allowed Europe to not depend on Russian oil and gas and that's a very important American strategic interest. Right after that, USA put Syria in its crosshairs and the CIA started to create and finance an opposition in Syria, color revolution style. The rest is history.