Bernie Condon posted a photo:

Carmakers aim to expand into UK defence sector, exploiting spending boom by Nato countries

Jaguar Land Rover and General Motors are considering an expansion into UK defence via a £900m military contract, as carmakers seek to exploit a spending boom by Nato countries racing to rearm.

The manufacturers are among a group of automotive firms vying to make thousands of 4x4s for the armed forces to replace an ageing fleet of Land Rovers that have been out of production since 2016.

Outcry follows release of previously secret documents naming Port Kembla as preferred east coast Aukus base

• As Aukus spending and delays blow out, will Australia’s nuclear submarines ever materialise?

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A labour union has expressed alarm about newly released documents that reveal Port Kembla to be a preferred Australian base for nuclear-powered submarines, saying it would “place a massive target on our backs”.

The South Coast Labour Council has warned federal and state politicians of “political fallout” should they proceed with “surrendering Port Kembla to Trump’s Navy” as an Aukus base.

FBI director reportedly took a snorkel excursion at site containing remains of more than 1,000 navy sailors and marines

The FBI director, Kash Patel, is facing new scrutiny following reports that he participated in a snorkeling excursion around the USS Arizona during a trip to Hawaii last summer.

The outing was first reported this week by the Associated Press, which obtained government emails describing the excursion as a “VIP snorkel” around the USS Arizona – the site that holds the remains of more than 1,000 US navy sailors and marines who died at Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Member of King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery received medical treatment but died at scene after sustaining serious injuries

A service person has died after falling from their horse after a display at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, police said.

The soldier, part of the King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, fell at about 7pm on Friday after exiting the arena.

chris murkin posted a photo:

RAF Hawker Hurricane Mk-1 R4118 G-HUPW UP-W 605 Squadron
The only Hurricane from the Battle of Britain still airborne today, Mk1 R4118 is widely regarded as the most historic British aircraft to survive in flying condition from the Second World War.
During the Battle of Britain, it flew 49 sorties from Croydon and shot down five enemy aircraft
Photo taken at Duxford 9th May 2026 Flying Day Show (VE Day)
HAA_1025

Bernie Condon posted a photo:

The Mary Rose is a remarkable remnant of maritime history. One of England’s largest Tudor Era vessels, the four-masted carrack sailed with a crew of around 450 sailors during the 16th century French and Italian Wars armed with anywhere between 78 and 91 guns. Those weren’t the only tools at the Mary Rose’s disposal. Thanks to primary sources and an extensive analysis following its recovery in 1982, the ship included some truly gnarly handheld weapons.

Some of the most intense—and mysterious—of these were giant incendiary darts. However, there is very little historical information tied to them. Although reminiscent of flaming arrows, these much larger variants were simply far too large to be launched from bows. Historians aren’t even sure exactly how they were wielded or crafted, so medieval weapons specialist and replica crafter Tod Todeschini decided to investigate for himself. The result is a two-part video series that documents his research into the fire darts, as well as the construction of his very own set.

Based on the remnants of the three surviving original examples, Todeschini’s weapon combines an incendiary mixture wrapped in flammable cloth that is then encased in pitch. Wooden fuses inserted into the casing provide a delayed ignition, allowing the wielder enough time to aim and launch the wooden spear at their enemy.

But how were they used in combat? While there is no definitive answer, Todeschini’s experiments alongside Mary Rose Museum research director Alex Hildred led to some likely possibilities. He quickly realized that his initial instinct to hurl it one-handed like an oversized dart was basically impossible—and incredibly dangerous. Once the javelin was lit, you want to be as far away from the melting pitch and flames as possible. Knowing this, he then learned that he could effectively launch the weapon by gripping it near the shaft’s middle while using his other hand to support the end. Subsequent throws easily carried the flaming spear upwards of 60 feet away. That may not be very far compared to a bow-and-arrow’s distance, but it’s more than enough for someone standing in a crow’s nest aboard the Mary Rose to reach an enemy ship that has drawn up to the vessel during close combat.

It’s also plausible that sailors fired their darts from specialized cannons. A standard amount of gunpowder would destroy the supersized arrow before it hit its target, but a soft charge producing less force is a feasible alternative. Todeschini also tested this version by launching a scale model of the dart from a tube using compressed gas.

From there, it was time to see what kind of destruction these weapons rained on unfortunate sailors’ heads. In short, you would not want to encounter one of these things. Aside from virtually inextinguishable flames fueled by molten pitch, the payloads likely included toxic ingredients like camphor and arsenic. The ensuing clouds of smoke would not only blind anyone nearby, but choke them, too. To illustrate their efficacy, Todeschini demonstrated what happens when one of the darts lands in an enclosed environment like those below deck on a ship. After firing one into a shipping container, it only took a matter of seconds before the entire area was enveloped in noxious fumes.

While the weapons weren’t useful in every situation, it’s easy to see how a few well aimed launches could turn the tide during naval combat. That said, they weren’t a guarantee for success—the Mary Rose ultimately sank during battle in 1545, after all.

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