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A Special Operations Task Group soldier getting out of a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter after landing at Tarin Kowt after a Shura in Sha Wali Kot.
Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) partnered with Australian Special Forces from the Special Operations Task Group conducted a deliberate operation to clear a Taliban insurgent stronghold in the Shah Wali Kot region of northern Kandahar province.
The Shah Wali Kot Offensive comprised synchronised and deliberate clearance operations involving Australian Commandos combined with a number of surgical helicopter-born assaults from Special Air Service (SAS) troops on key targets.
Removing Taliban insurgents from Afghan communities allows the Government of Afghanistan to establish a presence and gain the trust of the community to provide them with necessary infrastructure and security that was not provided by the insurgents.
The Shah Wali Kot Offensive was part of Australia’s contribution to Operation Hamkari, the Coalition operation to extend the Government of Afghanistan’s influence into Kandahar City.
Estonian Defence Force Soldiers from Estpla-26 during a patrol in Mali in support of the French-led Operation Barkhane – November 2018
Photo: Estonian Defence Force
LCPL C Perana calls out fire instructions during the live fire attack on Exercise Alam Halfa, Waiouru
Exercise Alam Halfa - May 2014
With all guns blazing the New Zealand Army has embarked on one of its biggest exercises of the year at Waiouru Military Camp.
Exercise Alam Halfa involves artillery, gunnery and engineers plus combat support units to train jointly with the Royal New Zealand Air Force, to synchronise effort and resources and show agility and adaptability for future combat environments. There are also a small group of US Army and US Marines taking part.
The exercise scenario involves the troops aiming to restore peace between two fictitious nations Bekara and Alpiria, following on from previous exercises such as Southern Katipo in the South Island last year.
As well as training at Waiouru troops are also deployed around the Bay of Plenty and - later on - will deploy to Hawkes Bay where the training scenarios will mean they will be more visible to the general public when they conduct street patrols.
Crown Copyright 2014, NZ Defence Force – Some Rights Reserved.
Israeli Soldiers from the Caracal battalion during a field training exercise 17th December 2011
Photos: Israel Defence Force
Sem me aperceber, uma re-edição em HDR da uma foto que já tinha postado.
La Défense, uma das minhas zonas preferidas de Paris.
Didn't realize I was re-editing an already posted photo. La Défense, one of my favourite Paris's areas.
________________________
La Défense é um bairro nos municípios de Puteaux, Courbevoie e Nanterre, subúrbios de Paris, centro económico, onde se situam as sedes de muitas grandes empresas francesas, centros comerciais etc. Localiza-se no prolongamento do “axe historique” (eixo histórico) que começa no Louvre e prosegue pela avenida de Champs-Élysées, Arco de Triunfo, até à ponte de Neuilly e a Grande Arche.
História
Seu nome vem do monumento La Défense de Paris criado como homenagem aos soldados que defenderam a cidade durante a Guerra franco-prussiana de 1870. Trata-se uma escultura de Louis-Ernest Barrias esculpida em bronze e inaugurada em 1883 sobre o que era a glorieta de Courbevoie e sempre visível sobre Lhe Parvis.
Em setembro de 1958, o Estabelecimento público para o planejamento de La Défense (Établissement public pour l'aménagement de La Défense, EPAD) criado pelo Estado para construir, administrar e animar o distrito. La Défense começa a desenhar-se. Um primeiro Plano de Ordenação é aprovado pelo Estado em 1964. Constroem-se os primeiros imóveis (Esso, a Torre Nobel). O Centro das Novas Indústrias e Tecnologias (CNIT) desenhado pelos arquitetos: Robert Camelot, Jean de Mailly e Bernard Zehrfuss, previsto em 1956, dantes do EPAD, inaugura-se em 1958 pelo General Charles De Gaulle por motivo da exposição Lhes Floralies. As torres que obedecem a este primeiro plano, chamadas de primeira geração, são todas de uma morfologia idêntica: uma base de 42 x 24 metros, limitadas a uma altura de 100 metros e de uma superfície de 30 000 m². Em 1966, a Torre Nobel (do arquiteto Jean de Mailly) é a primeira em levantar-se na La Défense.
No início dos anos 1970, para responder a uma considerável demanda, surgem as torres de segunda geração. O plano de 1964 modifica-se para aumentar a superfície dos imóveis. Os perímetros de 100 000 m² fazem seu aparecimento em edifícios como a Torre Fiat (hoje Areva), de 184 m de altura e 44 andares. A partir de 1973, a crise econômica diminui fortemente o desenvolvimento deste distrito: durante 4 anos não se vendeu nem um m² de escritórios.
Desde princípios dos anos 1980, para implementar a construção de La Défense, constroem-se torres de terceira geração, seguindo um modelo mais econômico: menos largas e menos altas (como as torres Pascal, Voltaire e todo o Bairro Michelet). Em 1981, cria-se o maior shopping de Europa (da época): Lhes Quatre Temps (100 000 m²). Em 1982, o EPAD, sob o impulso do Presidente François Mitterrand, lança o concurso Tête Défense que conduzirá à construção do Grande Arche. Durante este mesmo período, constroem-se hotelé, se remodela o CNIT (1989) e prolonga-se a linha 1 do metro parisiense, inaugurada o 1 de abril de 1992, e acerca mais este distrito a Paris. Em 1993, La Défense conhece sua segunda crise. Teria que esperar até 1997 para que surja uma recuparação espectacular. Hoje, A Défense é o maior distrito de negócios de Europa.
in wikipedia
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon addressing an audience at the announcement of a £3.5 billion contract for Scout SV vehicles in September 2014.
More than 1,300 jobs across the UK were secured thanks to a £3.5 billion Ministry of Defence contract to deliver 589 new armoured fighting vehicles that will be the “eyes and ears” of the British Army on the battlefields of the future. Scout Specialist Vehicles (Scout SV), designed by General Dynamics UK based in Oakdale, South Wales, will give the Army enhanced intelligence, surveillance, protection, target acquisition and reconnaissance capabilities and a highly effective 40mm cannon. The Army’s first fully digitised armoured fighting vehicles, Scout SV will be effective in even the most difficult terrains around the world.
-------------------------------------------------------
© Crown Copyright 2014
Photographer: Andrew Linnett
Image 45158055.jpg from www.defenceimages.mod.uk
Use of this image is subject to the terms and conditions of the MoD News Licence at www.defenceimagery.mod.uk/fotoweb/20121001_Crown_copyrigh...
For latest news visit www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence
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Sorry I have not been on for a while, had major computer problems recently which ended in a new motherboard and complete reinstall.
Anyway this is a shot taken some months ago reprocessed using new Camera RAW 7.1. I am impressed so far......
Physical
Physical self defense is the use of physical force to counter an immediate threat of violence. Such force can be either armed or unarmed. In either case, the chances of success depend on a large number of parameters, related to the severity of the threat on one hand, but also on the mental and physical preparedness of the defender.
[edit]Unarmed
Many styles of martial arts are practiced for self-defense or include self-defense techniques. Some styles train primarily for self-defense, while other martial/Combat sports can be effectively applied for self-defense.[citation needed] To provide more practical self-defense, many modern day martial arts schools now use a combination of martial arts styles and techniques, and will often customize self-defense training to suit the participants' lifestyles, occupations, age groups and gender, and physical and mental capabilities.
[edit]Armed
Further information: Non-lethal weapon and knife fight
In some countries, it is legal to use or carry weapons (for example knives, firearms or batons) for purposes of self-defense. In other countries, this may be illegal or may require a license, or some items may be legal to carry without a license, while others, most commonly firearms, are not. Limitations on the use of weapons for personal defense are a source of controversy in some countries, pitting self-defense rights against efforts to combat violent crime via restricting access to common weapons.[citation needed]
Everyday objects, such as baseball bats or aerosol spray cans, can also be used as improvised weapons for self-defense, but are not likely to be as effective as purpose built weapons. Some non-lethal weapons as the Kubotan have also been built to resemble everyday objects, such as keychains.[3]
Pepper spray and personal stun guns are non-lethal self defense alternatives, which are legal in some countries. Pepper sprays can have a range between 5–20 feet, and act by delivering a spray or foam containing highly irritating chemicals. Handheld stun guns operate by delivering an incapacitating electric shock, and must actually come in contact with the assailant to be effective, with the exception of tasers which use gas-propelled barbs connected to the taser by conductive wire to deliver the shock.
[edit]Other forms
[edit]De-escalation
Verbal Self Defense aka 'Verbal Judo'[4] is defined as using one's words to prevent, de-escalate, or end an attempted assault.[5] It is a way of using words as weapons. This kind of 'conflict management' is the use of voice, tone, and body language to calm a potentially violent situation before violence actually ensues. This often involves techniques such as taking a time-out, and deflecting the conversation to individuals in the group who are less passionately involved.
Author Katy Mattingly defines verbal self-defense as simply saying no to someone or repeatedly refusing a request or telling someone who has violated a boundary what you want, or it could entail a more complicated scenario in which you are called on to refuse to engage verbally with someone manipulative, to set limits, and end the conversation.[5]
Suzette Haden Elgin the author of The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense states that verbal self-defense defends against the eight most common types of verbal violence, and redirects and defuses potential verbal confrontations.[6]
[edit]Avoidance
Being aware of and avoiding potentially dangerous situations is an emphasis of self defense. Attackers are typically larger, stronger, and are often armed or have an accomplice. These factors make fighting to defeat the attacker unlikely to succeed. In order to attack, an aggressor must have three elements in place: desire, distance, and decision. If any one of these elements can be removed, an attack can be avoided without resorting to physical self defense.[7] When avoidance is impossible, one often has a better chance at fighting to escape, such methods maybe referred to as 'break away' techniques.[8]
[edit]Personal alarms
Personal alarms are a way to practice passive self defense. A personal alarm is a small, hand-held device that emits strong, loud, high pitched sounds to deter attackers because the noise will draw the attention of passersby. Child alarms often function as locators or device alarms such as triggering an alert when a swimming pool is in use to help prevent dangerous situations in addition to being a deterrent against would-be aggressors.[9][unreliable source?]
[edit]Self-defense education
Self-defense techniques and recommended behavior under the threat of violence is systematically taught in self-defense classes. Commercial self-defense education is part of the martial arts industry in the wider sense, and many martial arts instructors also give self-defense classes. While all martial arts training can be argued to have some self-defense applications, self-defense courses are marketed explicitly as being oriented towards effectiveness and optimized towards situations as they occur in the real world. It should not be presumed however that sport based systems are inadequate, as the training methods employed regularly produce well conditioned fighters experienced in full contact fighting. There are a large number of systems taught commercially, many tailored to the needs of specific target audiences (e.g. defense against attempted rape for women). Notable systems taught commercially include:
civilian versions modern military combatives, such as kapap Krav Maga and Systema
self-defense oriented forms of jujitsu, such as Bartitsu, Goshin Jujitsu, Ketsugo jujutsu, Kodokan Goshin Jutsu, Yawara-Jitsu, etc.
rape prevention, including Rape Aggression Defense System (RAD),[10] AWARE,[11] etc.
Reality-Based Self-Defense (RBSD)[12]
Sport based systems, such as Muay Thai, Boxing, Judo, BJJ, and Wrestling.
[edit]Legal aspects
Main article: Rights of self-defense
Further information: Justifiable homicide, Self-defense (United States), Self-defence in English law, Self-defence (Australia), and Self-defense (Sweden)
The most crucial difference between self-defense training for civilian application in a society under rule of law to military combatives is the necessity to consider the extent of force permitted in a given situation under the self-defense laws of the applicable jurisdiction.
The self-defense laws of modern legislation build on the Roman Law principle of dominium where any attack on the members of the family or the property it owned was a personal attack on the pater familias.[13] In Leviathan (1651), Hobbes argues that although some may be stronger or more intelligent than others in their natural state, none are so strong as to be beyond a fear of violent death, which justifies self-defense as the highest necessity. In his 1918 speech Politik als Beruf (Politics as a Vocation), Max Weber defined a state as an authority having the monopoly of the legitimate means of organised violence within defined territorial boundaries. Modern libertarianism characterizes the majority of laws as intrusive to personal autonomy and, in particular, argues that the right of self-defense from coercion (including violence) is a fundamental human right. In this context, note that Article 12 Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
Combined with the principle of the state's monopoly of violence, this means that those authorized by the state to defend the law (in practice, the police) are charged with the use of necessary force to protect such rights. The right to self-defense is limited to situations where the immediate threat of violence cannot be prevented by those authorized to do so (in practice, because no police force is present at the moment of the threat). The right to self-defense granted by law to the private citizen is strictly limited. Use of force that goes beyond what is necessary to dispel the immediate threat of violence is known as excessive self-defense (also self-defense with excessive force, excessive self-defense). The civil law systems have a theory of "abuse of right" to explain denial of justification in such cases. Thus, in English law, the general common law principle is stated in Beckford v R (1988) 1 AC 130:
"A defendant is entitled to use reasonable force to protect himself, others for whom he is responsible and his property. It must be reasonable."
Similar clauses are found in the legislation throughout the western world. They derive historically from article 6 of the French Penal Code of 1791, which ruled that "manslaughter is legitimate if it is indispensably dictated by the present necessity of legitimate defense of oneself or others".[14] The modern French penal code further specifies that excessive self-defense is punishable due to "disproportion between the means of defense used and the gravity of the attack" defended against.[15]
The evaluation of whether use of force was excessive in a given case can be a difficult task. The British Law Commission Report on Partial Defences to Murder (2004) Part 4 (pp78/86) recommends a redefinition of provocation to cover situations where a person acts lethally out of fear. This reflects the present view of psychiatrists that most people act in violent situations with a combination of fear and anger in their minds, and to separate these two types of affect is not legally constructive. In practice, self-defense laws still do make this distinction. German criminal law (§ 33) distinguishes "asthenic affect" (fear) from "sthenic affect" (anger). Excessive self-defense out of asthenic affect is not punishable. Outside of the western world, justifiable self-defense tends to be interpreted more loosely, including the right to defend against any criminal act, without limitations to reasonable or proportionate use of force based on the magnitude of the crime. Instead, it may simply be the minimum amount of force required to stop the criminal, which may lethal even for relatively small crimes. Thus, the Intermediate People's Court of Foshan, People's Republic of China in a 2009 case ruled as justifiable self-defense the killing of a robber who was trying to escape, because "the robbery was still in progress" at this time.
Estonian Defence Force Soldiers live fire training while serving with BKN09 in Mali
Photos: srs Valner Väino
@kaitsevagi.edf
Israeli soldiers of the Golani brigade take part in an exercise near the border with Syria on May 6, 2013 at the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. Syria has accused Israel of launching a series of airstrikes on targets near the Lebanon/Syria border, including an arms shipment and the Jamraya research centre, that was thought to produce chemical weapons.
Members of the Irish Defence Force’s 95th Cadet Class completed their Military Operations in Urban Terrain Training in Fort Davis, Cork.
This demanding exercise marks an important milestone in Cadet Training, as we move towards Christmas, the New Year, and their completion of training. November 2019
Included in the 95th Cadet Class are members of the Armed Forces of Malta
Photo: Óglaigh na hÉireann / Irish Defence Forces
08-D-49925 MH 229 Ireland Civil Defence Ford Transit Mini Bus World Rescue Change Fire Service College 2014
Students on the Standard NCO Course on exercise in Fort Davis County Cork
Students from the 3rd All Arms Standard NCO course conducting a FIBUA (Fighting in Built up Areas) exercise in Fort Davis, April 2013. During the exercise the students were tested using an Engineer Assault Bridge to gain entry and a Artillery 105mm Gun to break strong points. There are thirty nine students on the course representing the Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, Engineer, Ordnance, CIS and Air Corp.
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the third full week of July, 2016.
Adjacent to The People's Park, a large compound is the site of continuing work along this section of the river. Some of the works are nearing completion.
Work here along the riverbank, between Glenwood and The Maltings, involves stabilisation measures (digging out a channel, and dropping in large boulders) intended to reinforce this newly constructed/shaped length of bank.
Access is quite restricted here, and involves shipping material in/out via the entrance further upriver, adjacent to The Slang.
A temporary soil shelf has been laid along this wall-side, to allow better access for vehicles moving materials in and out.
Estonian Soldiers during their final mission readiness exercise in the vicinity of ̃ before deploying to Iraq as part of ESTGUARD-4, which is part of the NATO Iraq Mission.
Photos: Estonian Defence Force
Students on the Standard NCO Course on exercise in Fort Davis County Cork
Students from the 3rd All Arms Standard NCO course conducting a FIBUA (Fighting in Built up Areas) exercise in Fort Davis, April 2013. During the exercise the students were tested using an Engineer Assault Bridge to gain entry and a Artillery 105mm Gun to break strong points. There are thirty nine students on the course representing the Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, Engineer, Ordnance, CIS and Air Corp.
ⓒRebecca Bugge, All Rights Reserved
Do not use without permission.
The northern tower on the Notre Dame cathedral in Rouen (in French known as Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen). This is actually the oldest part of the now standing facade, work begun on it 1145 on orders from archbishop Hugues of Amiens (Hugues d'Amiens). In the beginning the tower was probably freestanding and used as defence. The cathedral was bombed twice during the second world war, in 1944, by the allies and the tower was badly damaged.
Plumer planned to capture Gheluvelt Plateau in four steps, with an interval of six days between each to allow time to bring forward artillery and supplies, a faster tempo of operations than that envisaged by Gough in the planning before 31 July.[Each step was to have even more limited geographical objectives, with infantry units attacking on narrower fronts in greater depth. The previous practice of attacking the first objective with two battalions and the following objectives with a battalion each, was reversed in view of the greater density of German defensive positions the further the attack penetrated. Double the medium and heavy artillery was available than that used on 31 July. The method would ensure that more infantry was on tactically advantageous ground, having had time to consolidate and regain contact with their artillery, before they received German counter-attacks. The British began a desultory bombardment on 31 August and also sought to neutralize the German batteries with gas in the days before the attack, including gas attacks on the three evenings before the assault. Aircraft were to be used for systematic air observation of German troop movements to and on the battlefield, to avoid the failures of previous battles where too few aircraft had been burdened with too many duties in bad weather.
Like the attack of 31 July, nine British divisions from four corps were to participate on a front of approximately 10,000 yards. In late August destructive fire by the heaviest artillery began on German strongpoints and counter-battery began early in September, although hampered by poor visibility.
Elastic defence had been rejected by the Fourth Army Chief of Staff, Major-General von Lossberg, who believed that a tactical withdrawal by trench garrisons would disoganise the counter-attacking reserves, leading to the loss of the sector concerned and danger to flanking units. Lossberg ordered the front line of sentry groups (Postengraben) to be held rigidly; British attacks would exhaust themselves and then be repulsed by local German reserves or Eingreif divisions if needed. Lossberg also judged that there was little prospect of British attacks being delayed by their need to move artillery forward and build supply routes. The British had a huge mass of artillery and the infrastructure necessary to supply it with ammunition, much of it built opposite Flandern I in the period between the attack at Messines and 31 July.
Lossberg's methods had succeeded on the front of XIX Corps in 31 July and against II Corps on the Gheluvelt Plateau on 31 July and during August, although the counter-attacks had been stopped in their turn by British artillery fire, when they reached areas where observation and communications between British infantry and artillery had been restored.[18] Ludendorff later wrote that losses in the August battles had been unexpectedly high.[32] The pause in British operations in early September helped to mislead the Germans. General von Kuhl (Chief of Staff, Army Group Crown Prince Rupprecht) doubted that the offensive had ended but by 13 September had changed his mind. Despite Kuhl urging caution, two divisions, thirteen heavy batteries and twelve field batteries of artillery, three fighter squadrons and four other air force units were transferred from the German Fourth Army.[33] In the area about to be attacked, the Fourth Army had six ground-holding divisions backed by three Eingref divisions and 750 guns.
Second Army
The 19th Division in IX Corps covered the southern defensive flank of the attack front against the German 9th Reserve and 207th divisions, on a 1,600 yards (1,500 m) front from the Comines canal to Groenenburg Farm on the west slope of the Bassevillebeek valley. The six attacking battalions of the 58th Brigade on the right and the 57th Brigade on the left and their supporting battalions had a difficult approach. The 58th brigade battalions had to make their way through the obstructions of Opaque Wood and Imperfect Copse and then at midnight it began to rain until 5:00 a.m.. Zero hour was decided according to the weather and the time of 5:40 a.m. was passed forward at 1:45 a.m. so all ranks had to lie quiet in the rain for more than three hours. Around dawn a heavy mist formed and at 5:40 a.m. the barrage began. On the right the short advance to the first objective (red line) was met with opposition from dug-outs south-west of Hessian Wood, Jarrocks Farm, Pioneer House and a small wood nearby. Heavy machine-gun fire was also encountered from Hollebeke Château and the railway embankment. The right battalion reached the objective on time but the two to the left had many casualties and lost touch with their flanking units and the barrage, until the pause on the red line (first objective) allowed them to reorganise, mop-up and regain touch with units which had lost direction. The third battalion on the left was still held up by Hessian Wood so a defensive flank was formed facing north.[35]
The 57th Brigade advanced to the red line with slight opposition on the right while the two battalions on the left had to cross an extremely boggy area which slowed them and stopped them from keeping up with the barrage. The delay resulted in them being caught by machine-gun fire from dug-outs near Top House while bunched up because of the heavy going. The red line (second objective) which here was little different to the first objective (green line) was reached and two platoons from each attacking company moved up ready to advance to the blue line (second objective) which began at 6:24 a.m. The second and final lines (red and blue) were contiguous on the right from Hessian Wood but the Germans defending the wood were still fighting when the advance was due to resume. Two companies of the right hand battalion had advanced after suffering many losses and then a platoon went to assist the centre battalion. A number of dug-outs were cleared 50 prisoners taken which enabled the centre battalion to get into the north end of the wood and gain touch with the left-hand battalion in the south-western corner. On the front of the 57th Brigade opposition at Wood Farm and Belgian Wood was overrun by a bayonet charge and the blue line (third objective) reached on time. During this advance machine-gun sections and a battalion liaison detachment of the 39th Division pushed forward to North Farm, which was captured with four machine-guns and 29 prisoners. At 8:10 a.m. the protective barrage lifted 200 yards (180 m) and patrols were sent forward to establish outposts and to clear the area of remaining German troops; Moat Farm and Funny Farm being mopped-up. Consolidation was begun despite machine-gun fre from Hollebeke Château, the green line (first objective) was dug-in and posts forward to the blue line (final objective) defended in depth by posts. A German counter-attack was attempted at 7:30 a.m. and "annihilated" by small-arms and artillery fire.[36]
In X Corps to the north the 39th Division on the right prolonged the southern defensive flank, from Groenenburg Farm northwards down the slope to the Bassevillebeek. The division suffered badly from German fire as it advanced 800 yards (730 m) to its objective, from hidden dug-outs in the area further north, which had already stopped the 41st Division. When the division reached its objective it swung back its left flank to link with the right hand brigade of 41st Division.[37] The main attack was made by X Corps and 1st Anzac Corps on a 4,000 yards (3,700 m) front on the Gheluvelt plateau. Steady pressure by the 47th Division had advanced the British front line near Inverness Copse a considerable distance, during the pause in large operations in early September, which made better jumping-off positions for the attack by I Anzac Corps.[21] The four divisions advanced behind a creeping barrage of unprecedented weight. The increased amount of artillery allowed the heavy guns to place two belts of fire beyond the two from the field artillery; a machine-gun barrage in the middle made five belts of fire, each 200 yards (180 m) deep in front of the infantry.[38] The creeping barrage started quickly, lifting 50 yards (46 m) every two minutes and this allowed the British infantry to surprise the German outpost garrisons while the Germans were still in their shelters, by looming out of the mist; after four lifts, the barrage slowed to 100 yards (91 m) every six minutes. Most German troops encountered were so stunned by the bombardment that they were incapable of resistance and surrendered immediately, despite few of the concrete pill-boxes and Mebu shelters being destroyed by the British artillery. In the few areas where the German defenders were capable of resisting, they inflicted heavy losses but were quickly outflanked in the mist. The new system of local reserves allowed the British to maintain momentum despite local checks.[39]
The 41st Division had to advance across the Bassevillebeek valley against the right of the German 9th Division and the left of the Bavarian Ersatz Division to capture Tower Hamlets spur. The advance was hampered by overnight rain, which affected the valley more than the plateau to the north. Fire from camouflaged German machine-gun nests in the valley caused confusion and delay in the British infantry and the barrage was lost. The Bassevillebeek stream in the valley was eventually crossed, with the 122nd Brigade struggling forward and the 124th brigade held up near the British front line, by numerous machine-guns in the Quadrilateral, fortifications in three ruined cottages inside a digging 400 by 100 yards (370 m × 91 m) at the south end of the spur. The Quadrilateral commanded the western approach to the spur and the rise north to the pill-boxes at Tower Hamlets. The left hand brigade of the division reached the third objective and threw back its right flank to the brigade on the right, which had advanced just beyond the second objective and then joined the left flank of 39th Division. Despite the failure to capture Tower Hamlets and parts of the two leading battalions of 124th brigade running away before being rallied, two dead and three wounded battalion commanders, the division defeated all German counter-attacks during the day.[40]
The 23rd Division was held up for a short time by a German strong point in Dumbarton Wood, which had been missed by the barrage and caused many casualties. Despite the delay and the difficulty of navigating through clouds of dust and smoke, caused by the barrage and the marshy ground north of Dumbarton Lake, the first objective was reached a few minutes after the barrage and consolidated along the source of the Bassevillebeek. 69th Brigade on the left managed to get through Inverness Copse but German troops emerged from cover and fired on the troops behind, as they moved up to attack the second objective, causing severe losses before they were killed or captured. The troops who had been severely reduced in numbers, following on through the copse, were still able to capture a line of German fortifications along Menin Road, north of the hamlet of Kantinje Cabaret. Of four tanks attached for the attack along Menin Road, one bogged early and the infantry advance was too swift for the other three tanks to keep up. One tank was knocked out on the road and the other two carried ammunition and equipment to the troops at the final objective.
The 1st Australian Division on the right of I Anzac Corps, advanced on a 1,000 yards front north of the Menin Road, with its right aimed at Fitzclarence Farm against part of the Bavarian Ersatz Division and most of the 121st Division. The Australians passed through Glencorse Wood, which had changed hands twice in August, quickly suppressing German resistance. The Germans at Fitzclarence Farm were kept under cover by rifle grenade fire, while other groups got behind and rushed the garrison, taking 41 prisoners. Infiltration was also used against German machine-gunners in concrete shelters in the sunken road in the north of the wood, who had caused many casualties. Close reserves worked behind the shelters and fought their way in and killed or captured the garrison. Nonne Bosschen was crossed by moving along the edges of shell craters, the second objective along the west edge of Polygon Wood being reached on time at 7:45 a.m. The Wilhelm (third) Line pill-boxes and Mebu shelters[Note 3] were captured quickly, while the German defenders were dazed by the bombardment and unable to resist.[43] Few accounts survive from the Bavarian Ersatz Division companies holding the ground either side of the Menin road, as they were quickly overwhelmed by the 23rd and 1st Australian divisions. Machine-gun fire was heard from the Albrecht (second) Line at 8:30 a.m. but by 9:00 a.m. the British were well on the way to the Wilhelm (third) Line.[44]
The 2nd Australian Division attacked with two brigades, one either side of the Westhoek – Zonnebeke road, against the German 121st Division, down the Hanebeek valley to the near bank. The German outpost garrisons were surprised and overrun. On the far side of the stream the advance overwhelmed the Germans who mostly surrendered en masse. Visibility began to improve to 200–300 yards (180–270 m) and on breasting the rise, machine-guns in Albert and Iron Cross redoubts in the Wilhelm (third) Line on Anzac House spur, the next rise to the east, were blinded by smoke grenades and the garrisons ran off. Further to the left, Anzac House, an important German artillery observation post overlooking the Steenbeek valley to the north, was captured as the garrison tried to engage the Australians by moving their machine-guns outside. As the divisions on the Gheluvelt plateau reached their second objective at 7:45 a.m. a breeze blew away the mist and revealed the magnitude of their achievement. The British had carried the defences which had held them up through August and had gained observation all the way to Broodseinde.[45]
No German counter-attacks were mounted in the two hours that the British spent consolidating the second objective, as the creeping barrage stood for fourteen minutes in front of the second objective, then advanced 2,000 yards (1,800 m) before returning to the new British front line and then advancing again to lead the British troops to the third objective. German counter-attacks were stopped before they reached the new British outposts. The German artillery only managed to fire a disjointed and sparse barrage, which did little to obstruct the troops ready to advance to the third objective as they moved up but snipers and long-range machine-gun fire began to harass the troops consolidating the second objective. Local operations were mounted to stop sniping, using the methods that had been so successful earlier in the morning, leading to Black Watch Corner at the south-west of Polygon Wood and Garter Point east of Anzac House and other strong-points being captured.[46]
At 9:53 a.m. the barrage resumed its forward movement towards the third objective, another 300–400 yards (270–370 m) away. The 23rd Division had to fight forward through pill-boxes hidden in ruined cottages along the Menin Road, concrete shelters in Veldhoek and a hedgerow in front of it, before the German garrisons retreated. The left brigade was held up by a dozen pill-boxes in the Wilhelm (third) Line until noon, which caused the division many losses but the ground at the final objective proved to be dry enough for the troops to dig in.[47] The two Australian divisions reached the third objective in half an hour, finding the Germans in those strongpoints not subdued during the halt on the second objective as stunned as those met earlier in the day. Strafing by eight German aircraft, (one of which was shot down by ground fire) and some shelling by German artillery caused minor losses as the Australian divisions consolidated captured trenches and shell holes in their new front line.[47]
Fifth Army[edit source | editbeta]
Frezenberg Ridge, September–October 1917.
The British Fifth Army attacked on the left of the Second Army, V Corps on the right to capture the Wilhelm (third) Line, XVIII Corps in the centre, to finish the capture of the line from Schuler Farm to Langemarck and then advance 500–800 yards (460–730 m) east towards Poelcappelle; XIV Corps formed the northern flank with 20th Division. V Corps had more field guns than the I Anzac Corps to the right and fewer heavy guns so only three barrage belts were possible. A creeping barrage by 18-pdr field guns was to move at the same speed as that of the Second Army. 18-pdr and 4.5-inch howitzer fire were to comb the area in front of the creeping barrage, from 100–400 yards (91–370 m) deep and a neutralizing barrage by 6-inch howitzers and 60-pdr guns was to sweep ground 450–1,200 yards (410–1,100 m) in front of the creeping barrage. Artillery not needed for counter-battery fire was to put standing barrages on the most dangerous German positions, like Hills 37 and 40 and the German assembly areas in the dips behind Zonnebeke and Gravenstafel.[48]
9th and 55th Divisions of V Corps were to attack on fronts of 1,800 yards (1,600 m) over ground held by the right of the German 121st Division and the 2nd Guards Reserve Division, which had also changed hands twice in August. The large numbers of strong-points, pill-boxes and fortified farms east of the Hanebeek and Steenbeek streams were mostly intact, despite numerous attempts to smash them with artillery fire. The artillery brought to the Ypres salient in September went to the Second Army so the Fifth Army adopted a new infantry formation, where moppers-up were reorganised into small groups of up to half a platoon, moving with the leading assault waves to capture specific strong-points and then garrison them. XVIII Corps adopted the same practice, which became standard in the Fifth Army soon after the battle.[49]
The 9th Division was confronted by the morass of the Hanebeek valley, where the stream had been choked by frequent bombardment and turned into a swamp and water-filled shell-holes. Both brigades sent two battalions forward to the first objective and leap-frogged two more through them to take the final objective. Hanebeek Wood on the right was barraged with smoke and high-explosive shell rather than shrapnel, except for a lane along which a company was able to move behind the wood. When the artillery fire moved beyond the wood it was rushed from both directions and captured with fifty prisoners and four machine-guns. The South African Brigade on the left did the same thing at Borry Farm. In the mist the strong points were easily overrun except for four pill-boxes around Potsdam House, which were eventually attacked on three sides and captured, after inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers. Delays caused by machine-gun nests dug in along the Ypres–Roulers railway did not stop the division reaching the first objective as the barrage began to creep forward again at 7:08 a.m.[50] At 7:08 a.m. when the 9th Division began the advance to the final objective, the right hand brigade found only minor opposition. The South African Brigade on the left was badly hit by German machine-gun fire from Hill 37, as delays to the 55th Division meant that it was well short of the hill. The South Africans managed to capture Bremen Redoubt and Waterend House in the Zonnebeek valley and extend a defensive flank back to the first objective.[51]
To the north of 9th Division the 55th Division began the day understrength, after the losses of 31 July. Replacements had arrived slowly and 1,000 soldiers were left out of the battle having arrived too late to be trained for the attack. German artillery and machine-gun fire from Reserve Regiment 91 of the 2nd Guards Reserve Division hit the infantry with intense fire as the attack began. The mist worked to the Germans' advantage in this part of the front, because the depleted British units missed several German strong points and dug-outs, from which the Germans were able to stop the British support waves from moving up. The advanced troops realising this either halted or turned back and lost the barrage. The difficulties of the division were made worse at 7:08 a.m. when the scheduled advance to the final objective coincided with the dispersal of the mist. Reserves were pushed forward around 10:00 a.m. from 166th Brigade, which allowed the 165th and 164th Brigades to take the first objective around Gallipoli Farm and the Schuler Galleries in front of Schuler Farm by mid-day. Fighting at Hill 35 continued and the Germans regained Hill 37 with a counter-attack. Machine-guns were placed in the Schuler Galleries and nine were dug in near Keir Farm, which were able to stop German counter-attacks from making any more progress. In the afternoon the rest of the reserve brigade was able to capture Hills 35 and 37, which dominated the Zonnebeke spur. The right of the division established touch with the 9th Division but the centre and left of 55th Division were 500 yards (460 m) short of the final objective.[52]
XVIII Corps was to advance onto the Gravenstafel and Poelcappelle spurs, held by the German 36th Division since 8 September. The divisions had to assemble east of the Steenbeek between St Julien and Langemarck in low ground which was still muddy and full of flooded shell-holes despite the better weather. The 58th Division objective was 1,000 yards (910 m) ahead, among German strong points on the west end of Gravenstafel spur. As a frontal attack here had failed, the division feinted with its right brigade, while the left brigade made the real attack from the flank. The feint captured Winnipeg cross-roads, as the main attack by three battalions one behind the other, captured Vancouver Farm, Keerselaere and Hubner Farm. The next two battalions passed through and turned right half way up the spur, to reach Wurst Farm on a tactically vital part of the spur at the same time as the barrage. Nearly 300 prisoners and fifty machine-guns were taken and outposts were established to the left overlooking the Stroombeek valley. The division ascribed the success to the excellence of their training, an excellent creeping barrage and smoke shell, which had thickened the mist and blinded the German defenders and that gas shell barrages on the German reinforcement routes had depressed German morale.[53]
51st Division further north, had the same task on Poelcappelle spur. The division advanced with one brigade on a 1,400 yards (1,300 m) front. The Germans in the Wilhelm (third) Line were ready for them and fought until they were almost annihilated in new machine-gun nests that they had dug in front of their front line, which had avoided the worst of the artillery bombardment. The division was able to reach the final objective in sight of Poelcappelle village. By these advances XVIII Corps got observation of Poelcappelle and up the Lekkerboterbeek and Lauterbeek valleys, the capture of which allowed British artillery to move forward of the Steenbeek.[54]
20th Division on the right of XIV Corps, had to form the northern defensive flank of the offensive, on a front of 1,400 yards (1,300 m) from Poelcappelle spur to the Ypres – Staden railway. Two brigades attacked with two battalions each. The German Wilhelm (third) Line, here known as Eagle trench, was held as determinedly as that part in the 51st Division sector ("Pheasant trench") despite a bombardment from Livens Projectors (which fell behind the German trench and illuminated the British infantry as they advanced). By the end of the day the division was still short of the first objective, except on the left next to the railway.[55]
The British offensive had captured most of the German outpost zones to a depth of about 1,500 yards (1,400 m). As the ground was captured it was prepared for defence, in anticipation of counter-attacks by the German Eingreif divisions. Captured German machine-gun nests and strong points were garrisoned and wired with German barbed wire found in the area. The final objective became the outpost zone and the second objective the main line of resistance, a chain of irregular posts using shell-holes concealed by folds of the ground and reverse slopes, avoiding trenches which attracted German shell fire. Communication between the infantry and artillery was established with runners, messenger dogs and pigeons. Wireless transmitters and power buzzers were set up at brigade headquarters and artillery observation posts, one for each artillery group. Engineer and pioneer units began to dig in telephone lines, which took until the afternoon of 21 September.[56]
Air operations[edit source | editbeta]
Hannover CL.II
Observing and reporting on German counter-attack movements was made a duty for all aircraft and patrol areas were given to II and V Brigades and the Ninth Wing to patrol. "Hostile Tactical Maps" were issued, showing German assembly points and the likely routes to them and towards the front line. II Brigade covered the Second Army front east to the Roulers–Menin railway. The area was divided into three sectors, each with a counter-attack patrol of two fighters, maintained for eight hours after "zero-hour", flying below 500 feet and using the special maps, to attack any German units they caught on the move and to drive off German low-flying aircraft. On return they were to telephone a report direct to the Second Army Report Centre at Locre, similar arrangements being made for the Fifth Army. Ninth Wing aircraft were to patrol at low altitude east of Zarren–Oostnieukerke–Menin beginning two hours after the start of the attack, to harass German reinforcements. Corps squadrons were to maintain counter-attack patrols on their Corps fronts, calling for immediate artillery fire and warning British infantry by smoke signal. Not all of these measures were possible on the day due to the weather, because it had rained on 19 September and was misty next morning. Air operations commenced as soon as the mist cleared at 8.00 a.m.[23] German aircraft attempting to intervene during the battle suffered from the presence of anti-aircraft guns near the front line, a Lewis gunner of a pioneer battalion in the 19th Division, shooting down a German aircraft in flames at 1:30 p.m.; the feat was repeated next day and several German formations were broken up by ground fire.[57]
German Fourth Army counter-attacks[edit source | editbeta]
Reproduction of captured German trench map, 20 Sept 1917.
During the British infantry advances, German artillery managed a considerable amount of counter-battery fire, particularly from Zillebeke to Vebrandenmolen but this was not enough to stop the British artillery heavily bombarding German reserve battalions of the ground-holding (Stellungsdivisionen) divisions as they made futile attempts to counter-attack between 10:00 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. At 1:48 p.m. the British standing barrage in front of the new line ended. Air reconnaissance from zero hour by a contact aeroplane over each Corps area, to observe the progress of the British infantry and one counter-attack observation machine watching for German counter-attacks, revealed German Eingreif units advancing from Flandern III at Menin, Moorslede and Westroosebeek. During the day 394 wireless messages were received from British observation aircraft, about a third resulting in immediate artillery fire.[58]
After 3.00 p.m. approximately three German infantry battalions were reported north of the Menin Road moving up the Reutelbeek valley towards Polderhoek, a similar force with field artillery was seen moving west towards I Anzac Corps at Polygon Wood and Anzac spur and another was observed, descending from the Poelcappelle spur at Westroosebeek towards positions held by the Fifth Army. These troops were the leading regiments of three Eingreif divisions, 16th Bavarian from Gheluwe, 236th Division from Moorslede and 234th Division from Oostniewkirke. The 16th Bavarian Division counter-attack plan "Get Closer" (Näher heran) had been ordered at 5:15 a.m. By 9:00 a.m. the division advanced towards the area between Polygon Wood and Inverness Copse.[59] British medium and heavy artillery fired on the German units, which were forced to deploy and advance from cover. After considerable delay the survivors reached British machine-gun range as their artillery support overshot the British positions. Visibility was still exceptionally good, with the sun behind the British who were easily able to see all movement in front of them on the Gheluvelt plateau. The German force moving up the Reutelbeek valley into the area of 23rd and 1st Australian divisions was watched by the infantry for an hour, when at 7:02 p.m. a field artillery and machine-gun barrage fell on the Germans for an hour, stopping all movement towards the British positions, "16th Bavarian Division was a high quality formation, but all the skill and dash in the world stood no chance in the face of the torrent of fire the British artillery could bring to bear at the critical points".[60]
A similar barrage for forty minutes in front of 2nd Australian division on a regiment of the 236th Division advancing from Molenaarelsthoek and downhill from Broodseinde, stopped the counter-attack long before it came within range of the Australian infantry. On the southern edge of the plateau, German troops dribbling forward in the 39th Division area managed to reinforce the garrison at Tower Hamlets, then tried twice to advance to the Bassevillebeek and were "smashed" by artillery and machine-gun fire.[61]
In the Fifth Army area, from 800 yards (730 m) south of the Ypres – Roulers railway, north to the Ypres – Staden railway, many Germans were seen moving west down Passchendaele ridge around 5:30 p.m. into the area held by the 55th, 58th and 51st divisions. In the 58th Division area fire was opened on the Germans after half an hour, which forced the Germans to deploy into open order. When the Germans were 150 yards (140 m) from the first British strong point, the British defensive barrage arrived with such force that the German infantry "stampeded". No Germans were seen in the area until night when patrols occupied an outpost. On the 55th Division front "an extraordinarily gallant" German counter-attack by the 459th Reserve Regiment (236th Division) from Gravenstafel, on Hill 37 through Reserve Regiment 91, was stopped by artillery and enfilade fire by machine-guns at Keir Farm and Schuler Galleries.[62] A German attack down Poelcappelle spur at 5:30 p.m. towards the 51st Division had much better artillery support and although stopped in the area of the Lekkerboterbeek by 7:00 p.m., pushed the British left back to Pheasant trench (Wilhelm Line) before the British counter-attacked, pushing the Germans back to the line of the first objective, 600 yards (550 m) short of the final objective. By nightfall the German Eingreif divisions had been defeated.[63][Note 4] The British Official History records that the counter-attack divisions had been held back, waiting for another British advance.[66]
Aftermath[edit source | editbeta]
Casualties[edit source | editbeta]
British casualties 20–25 September are given by the British Official Historian as 20,255; 3,148 being killed, the 19th Division lost 1,933 casualties.[67] 3,243 prisoners were taken with "very heavy" losses of killed or wounded inflicted on the German defenders.[68][Note 5] The Official Historian's calculations of German losses have been severely criticised ever since.[70]
Subsequent operations[edit source | editbeta]
Minor attacks took place after 20 September as both sides jockeyed for position and reorganised their defences. In the Second Army area on 21 September, a 41st Division brigade attacked towards Bassevillbeek Copse, through extremely boggy ground by short rushes and consolidated posts on the Bassevillebeek. Several German counter-attacks in the afternoon were repulsed and at 7:00 p.m. a much larger German attack was dispersed by artillery and small-arms fire.[71] In the evening a German attack was made on Hill 37 against the 55th Division, taking some ground behind a heavy barrage, until a British counter-attack restored the position by 9:15 p.m. A German raid on posts of the 8th Division (II Corps) next day failed and in the X Corps area the 23rd Division and the 1st Australian Division (I Anzac Corps) re-took the front line. In the XVIII Corps area the 58th Division held Stroppe Farm and in the evening the 51st Division repulsed a big German attack from Poelcappelle with artillery and small-arms fire. The 20th Division repulsed a German attack at 6.30 a.m., then attacked Eagle Trench from both ends and captured it, despite fierce German resistance.[72] Crown Prince Rupprecht wrote in his diary for 23 and 24 September that the Germans could not allow the British to remain in control of the higher ground around Zonnebeke or the Gheluvelt Plateau and that counter-strokes during the next enemy attack must reach their objectives. The Fourth Army lacked reserves and needed time to meet another attack.[73]
A bigger German attack on 25 September, on a 1,800 yards (1,600 m) front, from the Menin Road to Polygon Wood, began as the 23rd Division was being relieved by the 33rd Division. A German bombardment from 20 heavy and 44 field batteries (nearly four times the usual amount for a German division) began at 5:15 a.m., part of which fell short onto the German infantry of two 50th Reserve Division regiments, which fell back until the bombardment began its creep towards the British positions. The German infantry advanced in the morning mist, either side of the Reutelbeek as the artillery boxed the British position opposite, which isolated it from its supports and prevented supplies of ammunition from being brought to the front line.[74] The German attack made little progress on the British right, lost direction in the gloom and veered north, joined with the German battalion there and reached Black Watch Corner, at the south-western extremity of Polygon Wood, which was lost during the Battle of Polygon Wood next day.[75]
Notes
Botswana Defence Force Millitary Hardware on Parade at the 50th Independence Celebration.
All Images courtesy of Botswana Aviation Art
The Sea Defences on the Wirral Peninsular are bounded to the west by the River Dee, forming a boundary with Wales, to the east by the River Mersey, and to the north by the Irish Sea. The earliest evidence of human occupation of Wirral dates from the Mesolithic period, around 7000 BC. Excavations at Greasby have uncovered flint tools, signs of stake holes and a hearth used by a hunter-gatherer community. Around 70 AD, the Romans founded Chester. Evidence of their occupation on Wirral have been found.
Caldy Wirral England.
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Members of the Irish Defence Force serving with the 118th Battalion, serving in the Lebanon with UNIFIL
Photos: Airman Gibney
Israeli soldiers of the Golani brigade take part in an exercise near the border with Syria on May 6, 2013 at the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. Syria has accused Israel of launching a series of airstrikes on targets near the Lebanon/Syria border, including an arms shipment and the Jamraya research centre, that was thought to produce chemical weapons.
Tea break during manoeuvres. The armbands on the left arms are to facilate umpires in identifying the opposing forces.
Focus on the goal, not the cold.
:
The Israel Defence Force Alpinist Unit is an infantry special reserve unit that uses special equipment and transportation, like snowmobiles, to navigate around Mount Hermon, which borders Syria and Lebanon and acts as a strategic asset.
Photos: IDF
Members of the Irish Defence Force’s 95th Cadet Class completed their Military Operations in Urban Terrain Training in Fort Davis, Cork.
This demanding exercise marks an important milestone in Cadet Training, as we move towards Christmas, the New Year, and their completion of training. November 2019
Included in the 95th Cadet Class are members of the Armed Forces of Malta
Photo: Óglaigh na hÉireann / Irish Defence Forces
Members of the Irish Defence Force’s 95th Cadet Class completed their Military Operations in Urban Terrain Training in Fort Davis, Cork.
This demanding exercise marks an important milestone in Cadet Training, as we move towards Christmas, the New Year, and their completion of training. November 2019
Included in the 95th Cadet Class are members of the Armed Forces of Malta
Photo: Óglaigh na hÉireann / Irish Defence Forces
Israeli Mostly Female Combat Unit "karakal" Perform Large Combat Exercise
Soldiers from the Karakal battalion participate in a graduation march near the Israeli-Egyptian border on September 03, 2014 near Azoz, Israel. The mixed-sex Karakal combat battalion was formed in 2004 and is based in the Negev desert on the border with Egypt and Jordan.
(September 2, 2014 - Source: Ilia Yefimovich/Getty Images Europe)
Members of the Irish Defence Force’s 95th Cadet Class completed their Military Operations in Urban Terrain Training in Fort Davis, Cork.
This demanding exercise marks an important milestone in Cadet Training, as we move towards Christmas, the New Year, and their completion of training. November 2019
Included in the 95th Cadet Class are members of the Armed Forces of Malta
Photo: Óglaigh na hÉireann / Irish Defence Forces
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Vickers machine gun training.
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Estonian Defence Force Soldiers live fire training while serving with BKN09 in Mali
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Israeli Army Recruits to the Givati Brigade during a live fire training excerise
Photo: Israel Defence Force
Israeli soldiers of the Golani brigade take part in an exercise near the border with Syria on May 6, 2013 at the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. Syria has accused Israel of launching a series of airstrikes on targets near the Lebanon/Syria border, including an arms shipment and the Jamraya research centre, that was thought to produce chemical weapons.
Students on the Standard NCO Course on exercise in Fort Davis County Cork
Students from the 3rd All Arms Standard NCO course conducting a FIBUA (Fighting in Built up Areas) exercise in Fort Davis, April 2013. During the exercise the students were tested using an Engineer Assault Bridge to gain entry and a Artillery 105mm Gun to break strong points. There are thirty nine students on the course representing the Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, Engineer, Ordnance, CIS and Air Corp.