Russia's Arctic Militarization (merged)

[Kirkhill]

Greymatters - since the advent of the long range bomber our principal role has been that of a buffer and a killing ground.  Look at where the Pinetree line was located.

Harley - all they have to do is build a 25,000 tonne boat that will bust through 10 feet of multiyear ice and maintain a convoy speed of 25 knots.

I do think that one of the jobs of the AOPVs could be as tenders for maintaining an underwater network of sensors and weapons, both fixed and mobile, as well as remotely operated and semi-autonomous (subject to "weapons free" protocols).

 

[Ex-Dragoon]

Can you imagine our ice breakers with deck guns and torpedoe tubes? It might just come to that.Ubique

I would think there still would be too much residual noise for torpedoes to be effective in Arctic waters. Even so you are probably still not going to see a CCG icebreaker armed, unless their mandate changes drastically.

 

[Greymatters]

Greymatters - since the advent of the long range bomber our principal role has been that of a buffer and a killing ground.   Look at where the Pinetree line was located.

You're singing to the choir - but its not an opinion that a lot of people like to hear....

 

[geo]

With the Russian stock market going down the tubes & chances are the Russian economy will follow, methinks Mr Putin & sidekick are looking at some patriotic turn of events to distract their constituents.

 

[Edward Campbell]

With the Russian stock market going down the tubes & chances are the Russian economy will follow, methinks Mr Putin & sidekick are looking at some patriotic turn of events to distract their constituents.

Agreed, and see my comments, here. The Russians should have enough cash (from selling oil to Europe) to recapitalize their banks and provide enough liquidity to allow honest business to weather this crisis, but ... It's Putin and his thugs, after all, anything can happen.

 

[gun runner]

Well if this recent activity in Georgia is an indicator of how well Russia listens to the international community, then our case for the arctic that belongs to us will be a fart in the wind to them. They will do their best to strongarm that property from us in spite of what our friends and neighbours think. Ubique

 

[Jarnhamar]

Hmmm... we're more like a buffer zone sometimes...

Or, if the Liberals win....butterfly zones...

 

[gun runner]

God... I hope they don't win.Ubique

 

[TacticalW]

Or, if the Liberals win....butterfly zones...

Dear god no...

 

[daftandbarmy]

God... I hope they don't win.Ubique

What? You wouldn't want to see 'Senator' Dallaire take over as Defence Minister? Geez....

 

[TCBF]

- Forget about sinking tax dollars in Canadian ships for the arctic.  Any will be too little too late.  What we need to develop are more bases on the islands.  You can't sink an island.  Surv bases along the NW Passage and some sort of un-manned sub-surface monitoring north of Ellesmere Island.  Phase III would be a fire-and-forget shore launched under-ice torpedo.

 

[Kirkhill]

Cormorants with ice drills?

 

[TCBF]

Cormorants with ice drills?

- You're onto something there..

... Get over the sub, drill though the ice, then pump in that really neat stuff that raises the freezing point of salt water.  Presto - instant ice-cube around the intruder.

8)

 

[daftandbarmy]

I say we just train our Polar Bears to attack nuclear subs. It looks like some have already passed this PO check:

http://www.strategypage.com/military_photos/bears_sub1.aspx

 

[RangerRay]

Well, Dion says we shouldn't even try...

<a href="http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/election-2008/story.html?id=810348">Link</a>

Mr. Dion said protecting Arctic sovereignty is vital, but he said Liberals see no point in picking a military fight with other countries staking a claim in the north.

"We cannot win against the Americans, we cannot win against the Russians and . . . we are too civilized to shoot the Danes," he said during a campaign stopover in Alexandria east of Ottawa. The Tories responded saying the Liberals have thrown in the towel on defending the Arctic.

 

[Snakedoc]

I say we just train our Polar Bears to attack nuclear subs. It looks like some have already passed this PO check:

http://www.strategypage.com/military_photos/bears_sub1.aspx

Wow those pictures are hilarious haha.  Good for Stephen Harper making a campaign stop in the north yesterday.  None of the other leaders have given as much focus to the arctic as he has...let alone gone up there to reinforce its importance to Canada.

 

[Greymatters]

Well, Dion says we shouldn't even try... 

Exactly what we need in a future PM - pessimism and a defeatist attitude...  :

 

[Kat Stevens]

Watching this guy spin in circles chasing his tail is amusing...for a while.  Later though, you start to feel sorry for the poor neurotic critter fella.

 

[gun runner]

Any effort we attempt in the arctic will have to be a really good one right from the get-go.  No pussy footing around! Build a military/Coast guard facility, and staff it with the kind of professionals that we are known to be and put the pressure back on the @ssholes that think they can waltz in here and take what isn't theirs to take. Strong and free! not any more... Strong yes, free no!! Ubique

 

[daftandbarmy]

Or.... we base out of Edmonton - or someplace like that - and swamp the north with more cost effective sensors to augment/ support the Rangers, and have an efficent QRF that can go anywhere, anytime, fast.

Gee, you could even reinstitiute the Airborne Regiment (sharp intake of breath) and prove that you can deliver a war capable battle group to any spot in the north within a few hours/days.