Land Rover Defender, Returns. Part-One,

The Land Rover 110 Defender.

It was sad to hear that the British were dropping their most sucessful product, but some wise spark is now determined to continue the production of this range of 4x4 vehicles? 

Land Rovers do rule the world in the sense that they can be found in nearly every country and noe on this world, from the Series 1 to the many and various adaptions of the standard 90/110.

Between 1970 and 1990 the series did suffer some serious competition from Mercedes-Benz, but it was able to ovecome those unproductive years. Military and police sales have kept it very popular, with many options for Command, Riot-Control and Light-Armoured Cars.

The Landies are good at hauling and pulling and both in civil and military roles can tow boats to surface to air missile systems, radars and even at one time the Bloodhound Mark-II Surface to Surface missile. The ability to tow artillery and other radio-communications. The supply of spare parts and the size of enthusiates clubs, collecters is extensive world-wide.

Originaly desinged for the British SAS, the vehicle is easy to modify and adapt and in the civil role are already covered is up for a large variety of uses.

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.

Fire Engines. Part-Two.

Tenders and Engines today.

Our world today is very advanced since the days of 1900. The fire services have developed to many other areas than just dealing with fire. Chemical, biological and Nuclear units now exist, along with specialist cutting equipment used in accidents and similar crash incidents.

The fire service has not to just deal with the cat up the tree, but also work on water, deal with aviation fuel, foam spray and underground concealment. ''Fire man Sam', will even fly into douse the flames of the forest fire with water and chemicals. Have to be the nurse and Doctor in some situations and also be on hand in riot situations too and this is world wide.

Specialist tenders such as the Panther have been built for London's Heathrow airport. Basically they have a wide roles of use all in one vehicle and similar units operate in other countries.

Armoured Reconnaisance Vehicles.

'ARV's.

Most modern versions of this vehicle are now tracked and carry a crew of three. The ARV can be described as a sort of in between, a heavy armoured car and a light tank.

Many nations use either armoured cars with 76-90mm guns or a light tank with guns up to 105mm, but the ARV has many more options available to it. Such as Surface to air missile systems, anti-tank guided weapons and a wide range of guns. The vehicles are also tracked meaning that they can operate cross country and are not limited to ground type.

Armoured Cars.

When is a car armoured?

There has always been the concept of an armoured chariot or device to move ones troops in relative safety near to the enemy. With the introduction of the petrol engine, the car or automobile was born. Having such a vehicle to patrol, the car was made heavy by the introduction of armoured plating. Thus the early form of the Armoured car.

Today we have a host of vehicles which have been specifically designed for the military, para-military police, anti-terrorist operations and riot control. Each has a differing measure of hull plating, while armament varies from smoke dispensers to light machine guns up to heavy weapons and rocket launchers of various types.

Some vehicles have become known as the ARV (Armoured reconnaissance vehicle), these have serious fire power 76, 87 or 90mm guns, some such as the Brazilian Engesa EE-9 Cascavel. They also may be armed with SAM (Surface to air missile) systems.

Blimps and Airships.

Blimps and Airships.

Will the days of the airships such as the British R101 and the German Zeppelins return again? 

Airships are still used today, predominantly by the U.S. navy, but other civilian craft are used for advertising. 

It is still probable, despite being slow that they could be used commercially for long distance travel. But I suppose they probably would be easy to attack with portable surface to air-missiles. What a view they could provide for the paying public, as well as being covered with solar panels?