Deep dive on single theme
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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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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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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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Stand still so I can shoot you
Why it’s hard to destroy airborne drones << But WHY did you do it? Three locks for the price of one >> Hi there. This week I’m talking about a topic which has been trending in Ireland over the past… 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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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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Silicon psychopaths
AI and the military << Don’t eat the grenade Holy Grail or Poisoned Chalice? >> Hi there. This week I want to talk about the war elephant in the room: artificial intelligence. I’ve been reading, using, and thinking about AI… 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
![Nuclear War: A[n Alarmist] Scenario](https://militaryrealism.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/mushroom_cloud001.webp)
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Fashion victims
How military dog tags became a style accessory. << You spin me right round baby… Nuclear War: A[n Alarmist] Scenario >> Hi there. This week I’m taking / giving you a break from the ballistics series. As a reminder, so… Continue reading
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You spin me right round baby…
The science of external ballistics. << Barrel envy Fashion victims >> Hello again. Continuing the ballistics trend, this week I’m talking about external ballistics. So far, we’ve covered wound ballistics, intermediate ballistics (with a deep dive on silencers), and internal… Continue reading
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Barrel envy
Gun design principles and internal ballistics. << The underwater nuclear family You spin me right round baby… >> Hi there and Happy Thursday. This week I’m picking up the ballistics thread again. We covered wound ballistics and intermediate ballistics a… 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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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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Send in the troops (Part 2)
How effective are military forces in tackling civil unrest? << Knock knock: Freedom delivery Woke warriors: Sustainability and the military >> Hello again. This week I’m jumping back a fortnight to go a little deeper on our discussion about using… 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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Bullets flying backwards
The strange world of intermediate ballistics. << Jelly vs. lead Silencers: not very silent >> How time has flown. I started Military Realism a year ago this week with an article marking the 80th anniversary of Operation Overlord (a.k.a. “D-Day.”). I… 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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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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My culture is not your fitness regime
Deconstructing the idea of the “boot camp” << Easter greetings and a bit about me Indiscriminate killers? >> This week I’d like to talk about boot camps. You’re probably aware of boot camps as a foundational part of military life,… Continue reading
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What do you do in the army?
How a peacetime army spends its time 🎧 Available in audio << Custard bombs Reacher’s last chance (Part 1) >> Hello again. This week I’ve decided to tackle one of those questions I spent my fifteen years of service trying… 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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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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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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Hurry up and wait
How the military organisation “flaps” to get things done. << Science Fiction Weapons: Lightsabers Chemical Weapons: Fact Vs. Fiction>> Welcome back to all my regular readers, and a fresh welcome if you’re new to the blog. This week we’re going to… Continue reading
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Science fiction weapons: Lasers (Part 2)
The military implications. << Science fiction weapons: Lasers (Part 1) Book list: What’s life in the military actually like? >> Hello again everyone. I hope you’re eager for more science fiction. We’re still talking about lasers, but building on last week’s technical… Continue reading
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Science fiction weapons: Lasers (Part 1)
All you never needed to know about lasers. << Mil-itary precision Science fiction weapons: Lasers (Part 2) >> Happy Thursday everyone. This week, by popular request, I’m going to start looking at weapons in science fiction. Even though science fiction is… Continue reading
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Mil-itary precision
Where are the gunners? “Artillery is the God of war” —Joseph Stalin << The Hurt Locker (Addendum) Science Fiction Weapons: Lasers>> Happy Thursday everyone. This week I’m picking up another loose end from my Firearm Fail: Pistols series (Part 1, Part… Continue reading
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Exploding cars (Part 2)
Target behaviour. << Exploding cars (Part 1) EOD critiques: The Hurt Locker >> This week is the promised follow-up to last week’s discussion on exploding cars in film and TV, and how screenwriters don’t really understand how terrorists and criminals go… Continue reading
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Exploding cars (Part 1)
Perpetrator behaviour. << Film fashion faux pas Exploding cars (Part 2)>> Let me be very clear: I am not going to tell you how to blow up a car. So if that’s what you were looking for, please look elsewhere. Unfortunately… Continue reading
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Film fashion faux pas
The importance of the beret in the military. << Firearm fails: Pushing the envelope of pistol performance (Part 3) Exploding cars (Part 1) >> This week I wanted to take a break from the frivolous stuff I normally write about,… Continue reading
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Firearm fails: Pushing the envelope of pistol performance (Part 3)
The talented amateurs take on the hardened professionals… and win. << More bang, less light: Explosions in film and TV (Part 3) Film fashion faux pas >> This week I’m going to be writing a “bonus” follow up to my two-part… Continue reading
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More bang, less light: Explosions in film and TV (Part 3)
Muzzle flash: look where I am! << More bang, less light: Explosions in film and TV (Part 2) Firearm fails: Pushing the envelope of pistol performance (Part 3) >> Welcome back to my blog, whether you’re a new or returning reader.… Continue reading
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More bang, less light: Explosions in film and TV (Part 2)
What it takes to actually outrun an explosion. << More bang, less light: Explosions in film and TV (Part 1) More bang, less light: Explosions in film and TV (Part 3)>> Hello again! In our last post we looked at how Hollywood… Continue reading
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More bang, less light: Explosions in film and TV (Part 1)
The difference between “Real” and “Hollywood” explosions. << Will the real Jack Reacher please stand up? More bang, less light: Explosions in film and TV (Part 2) >> This week I’m keen to share my thoughts on Hollywood’s idea of… Continue reading
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Firearm fails: Pushing the envelope of pistol performance (Part 2)
The limitations of biology and physics. << Firearm fails: Pushing the envelope of pistol performance (Part 1: Historical and tactical confusion.) Will the real Jack Reacher please stand up? >> As promised, this week is a follow-up to last week’s… Continue reading
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Firearm fails: Pushing the envelope of pistol performance (Part 1)
Historical and tactical confusion. << Just stepping out to the Andromeda Galaxy for a coffee Firearm fails: Pushing the envelope of pistol performance (Part 2: The limitations of biology and physics.) >> Handguns get the worst firearm treatment This is the… Continue reading
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“Over and out”, over and over again
What Hollywood gets wrong about military radio communications. 🎧 Available in audio << Lessons in artillery abuse Just stepping out to the Andromeda Galaxy for a coffee >> This week, I want to alert you to an alarming fact, of which you… Continue reading
