The Director
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Trigger finger in the loop
Bump stocks, forced reset triggers, and some more thoughts on automatic rifles. << Automatic fail TBC >> Hello. I was planning to do a more science-fiction themed post this week but realised that I have a bit more to say… Continue reading
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How to spot a suicide bomber
Analysing Jack Reacher’s list of indicators. << Code Bleak TBC >> Hello there and Happy Thursday. I’ve made the mistake of starting Reacher Season 4 on Amazon. I know, I know. I have only myself to blame at this stage.… Continue reading
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Code Bleak
A Grey’s Anatomy realism report << Inter-military camaraderie TBC >> Hello there. I was asked by a reader to do a realism report, a.k.a. a snide and pedantic review of Grey’s Anatomy. Specifically, there’s a double episode (episodes 16 and… Continue reading
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Holiday hiatus
Hi there. I’m leaving you without a post this week because I’m on holiday with the family. In the meantime, I’ll just leave you with this video which was sent to me a few days ago, and which encapsulates some… Continue reading
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The purpose of the exercise is…
Unwrapping loose military terminology in everyday life. << Ballistics: movie myths versus reality Holiday hiatus >> Hi there. This week I’m going to dwell on a rather pedantic point which nonetheless is important because of what it says about our… Continue reading
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Ballistics: movie myths versus reality
A new Realism Report on real vs. movie ballistics. << False economy: Part 2 TBC >> Hello and Happy Thursday all. This week I’ve been busy collating my ballistics articles into a single Realism Report. I’ll share the introduction to… Continue reading
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False economy: Part 1
Some harsh realities about doing war on the cheap. << The truth about tricked-out weapons False economy: Part 2 >> Hi there. I hope you’re all enjoying the summer. For my US-based readers, I hope you had a wonderful 250th… Continue reading
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Modern myths about asymmetric war
Unravelling the hype and misconceptions about modern military technology and tactics. << The irreversible officer The truth about tricked-out weapons >> Hi there. The US-Iran deal-or-no-deal intrigue goes on. There are many aspects of this I could write about, but,… Continue reading
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The irreversible officer
Why the military commissioned profession is like no other. << Don’t call me “sir,” I work for a living Modern myths about asymmetric war >> Hello and Happy Thursday. This week I’m going to attempt to answer a question posed… Continue reading
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Don’t call me “sir,” I work for a living
Military world-building for creators. Part 1a: The rank structures << The Truth About Explosive Ordnance Disposal The irreversible officer >> Hi there. This week I’m going to delve into a topic which might be old hat to many of you,… Continue reading
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The Truth About Explosive Ordnance Disposal
All you need to know about EOD on one page. << Our battles have plans, sir? Don’t call me “sir,” I work for a living >> Explosive Ordnance Disposal, or EOD, is a specialised military (and sometimes civilian) capability which… Continue reading
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Our battles have plans, sir?
The movie myth of complex planning << Too big to not fail The truth about Explosive Ordnance Disposal >> I recently re-watched Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy because it landed on Netflix and it had been a few years since I’d… Continue reading
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Too big to not fail
The paradox of ammunition stockpile management << The Dublin Gunpowder Explosion Our battles have plans, sir? >> Hello there. This week I want to talk about the logistics of ammunition. Exciting stuff, I know! But please bear with me, because… Continue reading
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The Dublin Gunpowder Explosion
The first destruction of Woodquay << Confessions of a WAG Too big to not fail >> Hi there. I hope you enjoyed last week’s guest post from my other and better half: Confessions of a [military] WAG. Aside from being… Continue reading
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Tanks for the memories
The tough task of recognising Armoured Fighting Vehicles << The path of the righteous soldier Confessions of a WAG >> Hello and Happy Thursday. Two weeks ago I wrote about the complexity of main battle tanks (and why James Bond’s… Continue reading
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The path of the righteous soldier
Religion and the military << How to drive a tank Tanks for the memories >> Hi there. If you’ve been paying any attention to the news this week, you can’t have missed the tragic spectacle of US Secretary of Defense… Continue reading
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How to drive a tank
And other nuances of armoured fighting vehicles which Hollywood gets wrong << All the tech, still losing The path of the righteous soldier >> Hi there. I was re-watching GoldenEye on DVD recently. For once, I was well-behaved and didn’t… Continue reading
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All the tech, still losing
A [short] review of 3 Body Problem and its relevance to today’s conflict. << Thunderstruck How to drive a tank >> Hi there and Happy Thursday. This week’s post is going to be short and disjointed because I spent most… Continue reading
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Thunderstruck
Why America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is actually a realistic military reality TV show. << Mass Destruction or Distraction? All the tech, still losing >> I’ve been writing the last few weeks about the War in Iran / Third Gulf… Continue reading
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Mass Destruction or Distraction?
A Military Realism Report on WMDs << Killer robots and asymmetric war Thunderstruck >> Hi there. This week I’m serving up some re-heated content which you may have seen before. Apologies, but I’m travelling a bit this week and know… Continue reading
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Killer robots and asymmetric war
Some more thoughts on the war in the Persian Gulf 🎧 Audio narration available for subscribers. Sign up below to access. << Three lessons from the Third Gulf War Mass Destruction or Distraction?>> Hello. I’m afraid this week’s post is… Continue reading
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Three lessons from the Third Gulf War
What the US-Israel-Iran war has taught us… so far. 🎧 Audio narration available for subscribers. Sign up below to access. << Understanding EOD attire Killer robots and asymmetric war>> Hi there. As I promised last week, today’s post includes some… Continue reading
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Understanding EOD attire
What it’s really like to wear the famous bomb suit. 🎧 Audio narration available for subscribers. Sign up below to access. << EU and what army? Three lessons from the Third Gulf War >> Hello and happy Thursday. I hope… Continue reading
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EU and what army?
Why the EU doesn’t have its own military force… for now. 🎧 Audio narration available for subscribers. Sign up below to access. << How Guns Work Understanding EOD attire >> Hi there. This week I want to talk about EU… Continue reading
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How Guns Work
Introducing my Military Realism Reports << What if we used every single nuclear weapon? EU and what army? >> Hi there folks. This week I’ve been working on something different. Instead of my usual 2-3k word article, I’ve been putting… Continue reading
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What if we used every single nuclear weapon?
The end of New START and what the world’s nuclear arsenal could do. 🎧 Audio narration available for subscribers. Sign up below to access. << High altitude, high supply How Guns Work >> Hello there. Last week saw the expiry… Continue reading
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High altitude, high supply
A review of The Fort Bragg Cartel 🎧 Audio narration available for subscribers. Sign up below to access. << Hard routine and camo cream What if every nuclear weapon was used? >> Hello there. This week I’m reviewing a fascinating… Continue reading
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Hard routine and camo cream
The importance of not being seen. 🎧 Audio narration available for subscribers. Sign up below to access. << Neutrality is not a shield High altitude, high supply >> Hello and Happy Thursday. This week I’d like to talk about the… Continue reading
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Neutrality is not a shield
Tackling another assumption of (Irish) neutrality. 🎧 Audio narration available for subscribers. Sign up below to access. << Nukes into ploughshares Hard routine and camo cream >> Hello again. This week I’d like to look at Irish neutrality again. I’m… Continue reading
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Nukes into ploughshares
When peaceful nuclear explosions were almost a thing. 🎧 Audio narration available for subscribers. Sign up below to access. << How the sausage is made Neutrality is not a shield >> Hello again folks. This week I want to talk… Continue reading
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How the sausage is made
Military world building: how special operations happen. << New Year’s Resolutions Nukes into ploughshares >> Unless you’ve spent the last week under a rock you’ll have seen that the US Delta Force captured Venezuela’s dictator/president Nicolás Maduro on the morning… Continue reading
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New Year’s Resolutions
For Hollywood action heroes and filmmakers (and bloggers). << Explosive selection boxes How the sausage is made >> Hello there and a Happy New Year to all my readers. I hope you’ve had (or are still having) a wonderful Christmas/Holiday… Continue reading
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Explosive selection boxes
Some Christmas trivia << Three locks for the price of one New Year’s Resolutions >> Nollaig Shona and Merry Christmas wherever you are reading this. I’m taking a break for the next two weeks to spend time relaxing with family… Continue reading
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Three locks for the price of one
Explaining Ireland’s “triple lock” on defence << Stand still so I can shoot you Explosive selection boxes >> Hi there. I hope you’re all gearing up for the Christmas/Holidays and taking some well-earned time off with loved ones. If you’re… Continue reading
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But WHY did you do it?
World-building for creators Part 2: Behaviour << Hitting a bullet with a bullet Stand still so I can shoot you >> Hi there. I’m continuing my series on military world building which I started a few weeks ago. Today I’d… Continue reading
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Hitting a bullet with a bullet
How missile defence shields work (or don’t). << Review: House of Nitroglycerine TBC >> Hello again. I really had intended to move on from my A House of Dynamite obsession this week (honestly!), but I kept coming back to one… Continue reading
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Review: House of Nitroglycerine
Part 2: Realism is suspended for semi-legitimate dramatic effect. << Review: A House of Dynamite But WHY did you do it? >> Hello again. This is Part 2 of my review of Netflix’s A House of Dynamite (HoD) which I… Continue reading
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Review: A House of Dynamite
Part 1: Kathryn Bigelow’s latest film promises fission but ends with a fizzle. << Double nuclear trouble Review: House of Nitroglycerine >> Hi there. This week, as a natural follow-on to last week’s discussion on nuclear-powered cruise missiles, I want… Continue reading
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Double nuclear trouble
The threat posed by nuclear-powered nuclear-armed missiles << Setting the scene Review: A House of Dynamite>> Hi there. I’m interrupting normal service (we were talking about military world-building, and will get back to it) to report on the latest developments… Continue reading
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Holy Grail or Poisoned Chalice?
AI and content creation << Silicon psychopaths Setting the scene >> Hello again. As promised last week, this week I’m going to focus on the impact of generative AI in “content creation.” This loose definition will allow me to talk… Continue reading
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Don’t eat the grenade
How hand-thrown fragmentation weapons work (or don’t) << Explosive porcupines Silicon psychopaths>> Hello again folks. This week I’m going to talk about hand grenades. I was prompted by watching the movie Sinners, which (although excellent) features one instance of the… Continue reading
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Explosive porcupines: Why strapping explosives to tanks makes them safer
Tanks, Explosive Reactive Armour and Defensive Aid Suites << The end of the line Don’t eat the grenade >> Update: If you’re new here, you might also be interested in learning how vehicle armour works (terminal ballistics) or busting the… Continue reading
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The end of the line
The science of terminal ballistics << Ireland and the Defence Industrial Complex Explosive porcupines >> Today is the last instalment in my periodic series on ballistics. We’ve ran out of road on this story, and reached our terminus: terminal ballistics,… Continue reading
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Ireland and the Defence Industrial Complex
Can Ireland participate in defence tech and innovation while “staying neutral”? 🎧 Audio narration available for subscribers. Sign up below to access. << Nuclear War: A[n Alarmist] Scenario The end of the line >> Hi there. This week I’m writing… Continue reading
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Nuclear War: A[n Alarmist] Scenario
A review of Annie Jacobsen’s terrifying book about nuclear war << Fashion victims Ireland and the Defence Industrial Complex >> Hi there. This week I’m reviewing Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen. Written in 2024, this title does exactly… Continue reading
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The underwater nuclear family
What, exactly, is a “nuclear” submarine? << Bouncing blades Barrel envy >> Hello all. I was working on an article all about internal ballistics this week, but got sidetracked by President Trump’s recent announcement about positioning “Nuclear Submarines” in the… Continue reading
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Unreal Tournament’s Ripper and its improbably bouncing blades
Video game weapon critique #2124 << Neutrality and Ireland (Part 2) The underwater nuclear family >> Hello again. I recently watched the Unreal Tournament: Xan episode of Secret Level. If you’ve taken note of my obsession with the video game,… Continue reading
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Neutrality and Ireland (Part 2)
The case against Irish military non-alignment. << Neutrality and Ireland (Part 1) Bouncing blades >> Welcome back. Last week we looked at the case in favour of Irish military non-alignment, or “neutrality,” in the common tongue. We used the Second… Continue reading
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Neutrality and Ireland (Part 1)
The case in favour of Irish non-alignment. << Splash damage in video games Neutrality and Ireland (Part 2) >> Hello again everyone. As I mentioned last week, I’m away on holidays right now. I’m away from my laptop and driving… Continue reading
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Splash damage in video games
Why D&D is more realistic than Call of Duty. << Woke warriors: Sustainability and the military Ireland and Neutrality (Part 1) >> Today I’m going to talk about splash damage in video games. If you enjoyed my article on hitscan… Continue reading
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Woke warriors: Sustainability and the military
Can military operations be sustainable? Should they be? << Send in the troops (Part 2) Splash damage in video games >> Today I want to look at sustainability in the military context. I’m talking about “sustainability” in its everyday meaning… Continue reading
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The science behind the Massive Ordnance Penetrator
A quick guide to bunker-busting bombs. << Send in the troops (Part 1) Send in the troops (Part 2) >> Hello again. This week I rejigged my editorial calendar a bit in order to write about the “bunker busting” bombs… Continue reading
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Send in the troops (Part 1)
Soldiers as law enforcement, disaster relief, and other miscellaneous tasks. << Silencers: not very silent The science behind the Massive Ordnance Penetrator >> Hello again folks. This week I’ve decided to give you all take a break from my ballistics series… Continue reading
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Silencers: not very silent
The reality of firearm suppressors. 🎧 Audio narration available for subscribers. Sign up below to access. << Bullets flying backwards Send in the troops (Part 1) >> Update: Wow, this article has really blown up. If you’re new here, you… Continue reading
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Jelly vs. lead
The myths and realities of wound ballistics. << The importance of being alive Bullets flying backwards >> Hello again to all my new and regular readers. Last week’s post was called “The importance of being alive,” but the original working… Continue reading
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The importance of being alive
Security as military principle << Film review: Warfare Jelly vs. lead>> Hello again. I hope the weather’s been as nice for you as it has been for me; the only downside being the reduced desire to sit in front of… Continue reading
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Film review: Warfare
Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland bring urban warfare to a cinema near you << Indiscriminate killers? The importance of being alive >> This week I’m reviewing Warfare, the new film from Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland. I was excited to… Continue reading
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Indiscriminate killers?
The reality of cluster munitions << My culture is not your fitness regime Film review: Warfare >> Hello again to all my new and regular readers alike. Cluster munitions have been in the news recently, primarily because of the Russo-Ukrainian War.… Continue reading
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Easter greetings and a bit about me
<< Reacher’s last chance (Part 2) My culture is not your fitness regime >> Hello again and Happy Thursday everyone. I don’t have any fresh content for you this week, I’m sorry to say, but I have a good excuse: I… Continue reading
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Reacher’s last chance (Part 2)
Season 3: Pedantic points and cargo cult screenwriting << Reacher’s last chance (Part 1) Easter greetings and a bit about me >> Hello again and welcome back. I hope you enjoyed last week’s analysis of the absolutely ridiculous fight scene between… Continue reading
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Custard bombs
Dust as an explosive hazard << Magical instant bullets What do you do in the army? >> Hello again to all. This week I was inspired to write about dust explosions after one of you shared a BBC article with… Continue reading
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Magical instant bullets
Unreal Tournament weapons: Part 3 🎧 Audio narration available for subscribers. Sign up below to access. << Flak Cannons and shotguns Custard bombs >> Update: If you want to see more Unreal Tournament articles, check out my pieces on laser… Continue reading
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The Flak Cannon makes no sense, but I love it regardless
Unreal Tournament weapons: Part 2 🎧 Available in audio << Dr. Strangelove and Mutually Assured Destruction Magical instant bullets >> Hello again. This week I’m bringing another instalment in our Unreal Tournament weapon critiques. I’ll turn my beady eyes on… Continue reading
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Dr. Strangelove and Mutually Assured Destruction
A very MAD sort of logic << Military administration Flak Cannons and shotguns >> Hello again. I recently had the pleasure of seeing Steve Coogan in the stage version of Stanley Kubrick’s legendary Dr. Strangelove. Coogan plays the same characters… Continue reading
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Military administration
Napoleon’s first department. << Attention and the military Dr. Strangelove and Mutually Assured Destruction >> Hello again. Last week I mentioned that a military staff headquarters has distinct staff officer “cells” dedicated to different functions such as operations, logistics, signals, etc.… Continue reading
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Attention and the military
The myths and realities of military multitasking. << The military lone wolf in Hollywood storytelling Military administration >> In the last few weeks I’ve gone on a slightly coincidental binge of books and articles about productivity, focus, and deep work.… Continue reading
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The military lone wolf in Hollywood storytelling
And why this person is an (oxy)moron. << TNT vs. dynamite Attention and the military >> Hello again. This week I’m going to go on a bit of a rant about “lone wolf” operators in movies and TV (as well… Continue reading
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TNT vs. dynamite
Two very different (but oft-confused) explosives. << Film review: Civil War The military lone wolf in Hollywood storytelling >> This week I’d like to spend a bit of time talking about two interesting explosives1 which people often think of as… Continue reading
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Film review: Civil War
A very violent road trip. << Weapon critiques: Rocket fails TNT vs. dynamite >> This week I want to review Civil War, Alex Garland’s 2024 film which I only got around to watching a few weeks ago. I held off… Continue reading
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Weapon critiques: Rocket fails
Badly-behaving rockets in film, TV, and video games << Weapon critiques: HEAT doesn’t melt Film Review: Civil War >> Hello again. This week’s post is a bit of a hybrid. I’m picking up a thread I pulled last week when… Continue reading
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Weapon critiques: HEAT doesn’t melt
What Hollywood and the media gets wrong about anti-tank weapons. << EOD Critiques: Don’t cut the red wire! Weapon critiques: Rocket fails>> This week I want to talk about anti-tank ammunition, specifically, what we in the business call “HEAT”, or… Continue reading
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EOD Critiques: Don’t cut the red wire!
Manual neutralisation techniques in Hollywood vs. reality. << Memoirs of a CBRN crusader Weapon critiques: HEAT doesn’t melt >> Hello again, and welcome to another instalment of explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) critiques, this time looking at “manual neutralisation” techniques (MNT),… Continue reading
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Memoirs of a CBRN crusader
A review of “Chemical Warrior: Syria, Salisbury and Saving Lives at War”, by Hamish de Bretton-Gordon. << Christmas greetings EOD Critiques: Don’t cut the red wire! >> Happy New Year readers! Whether you’re new to the blog or a returning… Continue reading
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Christmas greetings
Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to all of you, wherever you are. << Ammunition storage failures Memoirs of a CBRN crusader >> Happy Christmas to all my readers! For your amusement, I’ve attached this truly awful ChatGPT Christmas card. I don’t think… Continue reading
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Ammunition storage failures
Doing things the right way is hard work. << After the war: unexploded ordnance Christmas greetings >> Hello again to all my new and old readers alike. I hope you enjoyed last week’s discussion on WW2 bomb disposal in Germany… Continue reading
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After the war: unexploded ordnance
Why bombs are still around decades after being dropped. << Six months of military pedantry Ammunition storage failures >> Hello again to all my readers. I started writing this week’s post as I flew home, full of glühwein and good… Continue reading
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Six months of military pedantry
A half-year retrospective. << Nuclear Weapons: Fact Vs. Fiction After the war: unexploded ordnance >> Hello to all my readers new and old. It’s December, which of course marks six months of this blog (there’s some sort of midwinter celebration… Continue reading
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Nuclear Weapons: Fact Vs. Fiction
Weapons of mass distraction: Part 4. << Radiological Weapons: Fact Vs. Fiction Six months of military pedantry >> Hello again, and Happy Thanksgiving to all my US readers. Welcome to this fourth and final instalment of my weapons of mass… Continue reading
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Radiological Weapons: Fact Vs. Fiction
Weapons of mass distraction: Part 3. << Biological Weapons: Fact Vs. Fiction Nuclear Weapons: Fact Vs. Fiction >> Happy Thursday everyone, whether you are a regular or a newcomer. We’re onto week three of four of our weapons of mass… Continue reading
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Biological Weapons: Fact Vs. Fiction
Weapons of mass distraction: Part 2. << Chemical Weapons: Fact Vs. Fiction Radiological Weapons: Fact Vs. Fiction>> Hello again to all my subscribers and new followers alike! This week we are going to continue looking at weapons of mass destruction… Continue reading
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Chemical Weapons: Fact Vs. Fiction
Weapons of mass distraction: Part 1 << Hurry up and wait Biological Weapons: Fact Vs. Fiction >> Happy Thursday everyone! If you’re a regular, welcome back, if you’re new to the blog, then you’re very welcome. This week we’re going to… Continue reading
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Science Fiction Weapons: Lightsabers
The limitations of melee weapons. << Book list: What’s life in the military actually like? Hurry up and wait >> Hello again! This week we are returning to the theme of science fiction weapons (check out Part 1 and Part 2,… Continue reading
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Book list: What’s life in the military actually like?
Some essential reading on military experience and culture. << Science fiction weapons: Lasers (Part 2) Science Fiction Weapons: Lightsabers >> This week I’m doing something a little different: rather than expound on some topic which “grinds my gears” because it gets the… Continue reading




















































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