High Speed Trains. Part-Two.

The Future for Every Nation?

It would seem to be the most popular idea today that every nation should have their own version of the well known and established high speed trains, but is this really possible? 

Larger countries have the space and the need for this type of travel, because their remain many people with a fear of flying that demand ground speed and comforts.

But some countries do not have the ability or the present need for such systems and perhaps never will have either? The Channel Tunnel between Great Britain has demanded that the European network be extended into HS2, thus connection Scotland and Wales with European cities. Similar projects have worked for Denmark and Sweden, but at this time both Turkey and Ireland, Iceland and Finland are exempt from being connected.

Many nations have done their own things and are perhaps behind in speed, rather than length of track age and perhaps see no need for anything further at the moment. 

Freight perhaps will benefit from high speed, over the vast inland areas of Africa, Asia, Australia and the American continents, but they will not be replacing cargo shipping.

Swedish Navy.

Stealth.

Sweden has a long history for its navy from the Vikings to Empire and then decline. Today it boast the most powerful navy in the Baltic sea, apart from the Russian Federation.

Recently the amazing stealth ship design got itself into hot water with Russia after identifying Russian submarines operating in its inshore coastal waters, but in reflection of the sonar data this has turned out to be two World-War-II (1939-45) subs.

The Swedish navy has had a history with the Soviet Union and the Warsaw pact, trying to avoid detection in patrolling the Baltic's and they have been successful up to now in protecting their interests.

Sweden has a long history of quality development in military hardware, such as the Bofors 40mm gun, the Saab Draken, Viggen fighter jets, Volvo trucks, Surface to air hand-held missile launchers and it range of Stealth shipping from fast Patrol boats to frigates.

Self-Propelled Guns. Part-Two.

Anti-Aircraft.

With the advent of the missile one would think that the days of anti-aircraft guns have come to an end, but you would be wrong. Every day and night our 24/7 media portrays militants around the world converting Toyota 4X4's for this purpose along with various types of trucks.

Guns from heavy machines U.S. and Russian 12.7, 14.5mm to small cannons of Swiss Oerlikon 20, former Soviet 23mm are used in general clashes. meanwhile bigger cannons are recovered from defunct military vehicles such as in the 30mm calibre.

Despite this many countries still have mobile anti-aircraft guns such as the Russian/Chinese built ZSU-23 quad 4X23mm and various takes on the 30mm rotary cannon and most successful Swedish Bofors 40mm.

All these weapon systems now make helicopters venerable to ground fire more than aircraft, unless they are coming into land or taking off.