Vortex2 wrote: ↑07 Mar 2022, 22:45
>>. but what condition is the strategic nuclear force? Both technically and personnel?
Soviet hardware is generally robust.
They use large strategic warheads because they have poor missile accuracy.
Even if only a handful of missiles detonate somewher/anywhere then we have a problem.
Nobody in their right mind wants those questions answered......
But unfortunately a day will come when the conditions are right for a madman in some country, any country, to press the button....
Hopefully it's not this time with Putin, but who knows if he feels backed into a corner....
I just hope that I'm dead and buried when it happens.
But happen it most certainly will.
Price of Nickel is up 70% in one day. Other metals and metals also up sharply. We are seeing major contraction in manufacturing and food production globally in the coming months.
Agree, stock up on hand tools and batteries as well as the obvious food and fuel.
I regularly observe the price and availability of bulk packs of Duracell industrial D cells, not usually with the intention of buying any but because the price is part of my "doom index"
Remember the shelf life when stocking up on batteries.
Energizer ultimate lithium cells expire 20 years from production, or often 19 years from purchase.
Premium alkaline cells about 10 years from production.
Cheap alkaline cells about 5 years from purchase.
Air alkaline a few years only.
I sent some supplies to Ukraine, via a local group.
9 volt batteries, expired a few weeks ago but should be fine for near term use rather than storage.
6 volt lantern batteries, also just expired.
two electric exploders hand crank type. Several km of wire to suit.
6 packs white latex paint. LATEX paint was particularly requested.
Assorted overalls and workwear.
New mens underwear, reserve stock of mine that shrank in storage.
5 volt 0.09 amp torch bulbs, that rating particularly requested.
"Installers and owners of emergency diesels must assume that they will have to run for a week or more"
PS_RalphW wrote: ↑08 Mar 2022, 06:34
Price of Nickel is up 70% in one day. Other metals and metals also up sharply. We are seeing major contraction in manufacturing and food production globally in the coming months.
adam2 wrote: ↑08 Mar 2022, 08:08
I sent some supplies to Ukraine, via a local group.
9 volt batteries, expired a few weeks ago but should be fine for near term use rather than storage.
6 volt lantern batteries, also just expired.
two electric exploders hand crank type. Several km of wire to suit.
6 packs white latex paint. LATEX paint was particularly requested.
Assorted overalls and workwear.
New mens underwear, reserve stock of mine that shrank in storage.
5 volt 0.09 amp torch bulbs, that rating particularly requested.
That's great Adam. Going to google if there any any local groups here. Sending cash eases my conscience, but sending practical stuff, makes a big difference.
clv101 wrote: ↑07 Mar 2022, 21:56
As the days tick by, the Russia military machine is looking more and more pathetic. Their military prowess seems to have been a con, they simply aren't a first rate military. Nothing they seem to have attempted so far has come across as well executed, competent, efficient or effective... maybe I'm just a victim of western propaganda but they REALLY shouldn't be losing fast jets, helicopters and heavy armour and hundreds of casualties on a daily basis two weeks in, and still not got close the Ukrainian government.
This is simply the end of Russia being (pretending?) a military superpower. All they have are nukes and subs... but what condition is the strategic nuclear force? Both technically and personnel?
This site gives numbers of Russian losses, https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/34 ... rsons.html
10,000 personel , 296 tanks , 945 armoured vehicles and so on. While most military tend not to take figures on face value and downplay anything up to 50% to allow for over claiming by anti tank gunners , pilots and so on there does seem to be a pretty high attrition of the Russian forces. 296 tanks is more than the UK have in total . It also depends on what is meant by losses and that has been a source of arguments for historians for years. A tank can be put out of action for a day or so until repaired but could be counted as knocked out by the opposing side. To me it does pose the question that if these loses are anywhere near accurate just how long can the Russians maintain their offensive?
Lurkalot2 wrote: ↑08 Mar 2022, 09:22
To me it does pose the question that if these loses are anywhere near accurate just how long can the Russians maintain their offensive?
Impossible question to answer, but it raises another one: if these losses are anywhere near accurate then how long can the Russians maintain support for the war, both inside the armed forces and outside? That is a lot of bereaved families and friends, for a cause not many believe in.
"We fail to mandate economic sanity because our brains are addled by....compassion." (Garrett Hardin)
Why do you think Russia is cracking down on all talk of the war in their own country? They know their losses (even if not close these numbers - I never believe estimates of enemy casualties) would be unsustainable if there families or the public knew the truth.
A broken down tank is a total loss if it gets left on the battlefield by the losing side.
Idiot Trump coming up with entirely unhelpful suggestions and doing a 90 degree U turn on his previous stance.
Thank God Trump wasn't in power when this all kicked off. If he had been the US would have stood back and said "Have all you want!" They would have intended to go as far as they could in those circumstances and might not have stopped at Berlin. Although in light of the state of their troops they might not have been in a fit state to take on the Baltic nations let alone the Poles. How anyone can believe in Trump is a mystery to me; the bloke is stupid as well as being a psychopath. Putin seems to be reasonably intelligent on top of his psychopathy.
And the Russians have been destroying there own secure communications system by blowing up 3G towers in Ukraine. And it seems their encryption isn't that secure anyway! They've also lost a second general in a week.
Stumuz2 wrote: ↑08 Mar 2022, 08:25
That's great Adam. Going to google if there any any local groups here. Sending cash eases my conscience, but sending practical stuff, makes a big difference.
Think everything in N Wales goes to a central collection centre in Wrexham.....
Heard from a friend that they've got enough clothes/toys - would prefer medicines, medical equipment and/or money
Also, now we're post-Brexit, everything has to be checked, which is taking a lot of time...
Before, they would have been able to just bung it all in a van and set off....
NB - not making an arsey point, just a comment on the practicalities...
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine started, a growing number of companies have stopped operating in Russia. Yet most of the corporate world remains silent. As we believe that the fastest way to end the war is to stop trading with Russia, divest Russian assets and refuse to finance Putin’s regime, The Good Lobby and Progressive Shopper have established the Ukraine Corporate Index.
This Index regularly tracks corporations’ stance vis-à-vis Russia in the aftermath of its invasion of Ukraine. It intends to inform investors, customers, and citizens about whether and how their companies and brands are positioning themselves in the ongoing conflict. Its aim is to lead these stakeholders to re-assess their investment and shopping decisions by praising responsible corporations while shaming irresponsible ones.
Here's a pretty horrendous indictment of the US far right, including parts of the Trumpist Republican Party. If Trump get back in there could be a complete reversal of US policy over Ukraine. Hopefully all will be resolved before the next US Presidential election.
The British government has said it will phase out Russian oil imports by the end of the year.
USA is banning Russian oil imports (I assume immediately). Not sure how much they import when they pretend they are oil independent (they are not) and they have major oil exporters Canada and Mexico on their borders.
Shell has been shamed into ending Russian oil purchases.
The CIA estimates Russian deaths at 2000 - 4000 which is a more reasonable number.
