SEAL Subs

A few years ago I was in San Diego and had a chance encounter with a SEAL mini-sub driver and was impressed with everything about him.  So when this article came along, I was reminded of that encounter and the amazing capabilities of our elite SEALs. The article describes a new Shallow Water Combat Submersible (SWCS) that […]

Memorial Day 2020

Memorial Day is an opportunity to remember our fallen military heroes who died in active service.  This year, I’m thinking about Chief Petty Officer Nicolas Checque who died leading a SEAL Team 6 operation in eastern Afghanistan to free an American hostage from the Taliban on December 8, 2012.  His bravery in that operation earned […]

Anti-Drone Laser Deploys

The Navy’s first anti-drone laser has been deployed on the guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105).  It uses dazzler technology to overwhelm the drone’s sensors.  It’s similar to blinding the human eye with a very bright light.  Its official name is ODIN (Optical Dazzling Interdictor, Navy).  To learn more about this new capability, please read […]

Shooting Down Drones

Drones are an increasing threat to naval vessels.  Iran has already used them against our ships, but drone technology is spreading to multiple adversaries.  To counter this threat, Northrup Grumman is developing an airburst munition.  The target distance is determined by a laser, the munition is fired and it explodes like a shotgun blast once […]

Pieper Twins Reunited

The Pieper twins were both serving as radiomen aboard Landing Ship Tank (LST) 523 when they were killed after their ship struck a German mine just two weeks after D-Day.  One brother was immediately recovered and buried at the American military cemetery in Normandy.  The other brother remained unidentified until the curiosity of a high […]

USS Harry S. Truman — Early Retirement on Hold

Some of my readers may remember that I spent a little time aboard the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) back in 2009 as part of the Navy’s Leaders to Sea program.  That experience has caused me to watch the Truman as she served her country over the years.  So, it’s no surprise that I […]

Orca — Extra Large Unmanned Subs from Boeing

The Navy recently ordered five Extra Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (XLUUVs) from Boeing.  They’ll handle jobs that don’t require submariners on board such as laying mines in dangerous waters.  They’ll act as a force multiplier by freeing up manned subs for real attack missions.  In the future, these subs may even carry out armed missions.  […]

Hitting a Bullet with a Bullet

A US warship has shot down a ballistic missile in space as part of the latest test of the military’s advanced interceptor technology (click here for more)….

Never Too Old to Serve

Like daughter, like dad.  27-year-old Ensign Laura Krause inspired her father to join the Naval Reserves.  They’ve always been close.  They used to enjoy hanging out together watching their favorite sports.  They climbed Mount Kilimanjaro together.  And, it seems, he’s been thinking about following his daughter into the Navy since she joined up in 2015. […]

The Navy Goes to Houston

It seems like we’ve had more than our fair share of hurricanes this year.  Harvey, Irma and Maria and the Atlantic hurricane season isn’t over until the end of November!  Since my home and business are in Houston, Harvey was a first-hand experience.  It came ashore as a category-4 hurricane with winds of over 130 […]