NS Military Realism Consultancy Thread Mk X Purps Safe Space

[Husseinarti]

Blitzkrieg is a made up term that the Germans never used.

Its a buzzword used by post-WW2 Wheraboos to try to make the term "Combined Arms" sound cool because :German:

When, by 1944, the Americans were doing Combined Arms better than whatever Rommel to Guderian could have dreamed of.

Made up term =/= a term with no meaning. Generally speaking it could be seen as a rapid overrunning of places of strategic importance.

No.

You're still wrong. gg no re

Bewegungskrieg is a better term and is the basis for the development of German combined arms warfare, which utilized developing tactics regarding tank and mobile infantry formations. It was adopted to the concept of Bewegungskrieg as it shaped the idea of Kesselschlacht, or cauldron battle, also known encircle and destroy.

Blitzkrieg appeared in some German manuals in the 1930s and was rarely, if ever used by military officals and only took off because of Western journalism during the war.

The word is relative to fast moving warfare. It was used to mean a fast war in general, both economically and militarily, opposing Ermattungskrieg, or a war of exhaustion. This was to relate to how the rapid and all consuming war would keep the economy growing.

The rapid evolution of the German economy from shit Depression era to booming war economy is more or less thanks to Fascism's fetish with private industry. This artificial boom was on the verge of collasping in 1939, when Hitler committed to the war when really allot of his planning and construction was to be done in the mid 1940s.

[Allanea]

I have written a new informative.

[Dragomerian Islands]

I am in a RP conflict with another nation. We both are powerful nations with MT weapons and technology. How viable would it be to be to use ASAT missiles to take out an enemy's communication network as a part of the first attack against the enemy nation? What would be involved to do this effectively?

[Spirit of Hope]

I am in a RP conflict with another nation. We both are powerful nations with MT weapons and technology. How viable would it be to be to use ASAT missiles to take out an enemy's communication network as a part of the first attack against the enemy nation? What would be involved to do this effectively?

Attacking enemy satellites with ASAT wapons is a good idea. There are a number of existing ASAT weapons, some aircraft mounted, others mounted on land or warships. The actual engagment is pretty strait forward, satelittes have fixed orbits. Wait until the orbit puts the satellite withing reach of an ASAT platform, or manuver an ASAT platform to where the orbit will pass. Then launch the missile. They almost certinly will know there satellites are under attack, and by whom as soon as you do this though.

[Allanea]

Is it really possible to rapidly take out all of a country's satellites? I'm given to understand that a country like the US can have a three-digit amount of satellites, and pro ably agreements with foreign countries' commercial satellites to let them be usedi n an emergency.

[Imperializt Russia]

Knocking out a plurality of satellites will probably cause a lot of disruption. I assume in the case of communications satellites, it will bottleneck information transfer?

[Krasny-Volny]

That was one reason, but there's an overwhelming lack of things to do for conscripts in Europe, even between Russia and the west.
Presumably the only reason Russia won't eliminate conscription entirely (at least not yet) is because it allows them a large pool of trained reserves that can be called up later.

Other countries, like Britain, have had to resort to radically shaking up how the military is structured and what is expected of reserve formations to maintain high numbers of reserves in an all-volunteer force.

But the problem with an all-volunteer reserve force is that it cannot always be lived up to its expectations. The Dutch Armed Forces have a reserve wing (NATRES) which currently consists of 4000 men. The government wants to step this up to 40,000 men (for security reasons) since 2013 but there is no increase in volunteers. People simply don't want to spend their free weekends in the Armed Forces.

It's a big pro being of having a conscription, even if its just 8-9 months. You create a pool of trained people who know what to do, so that in case that SHTF you have a pool of people who know what to do.

I wonder if the solution to this would be start a foreign legion, like the French. Or at least start accepting foreign volunteers. If the Dutch would grant citizenship (along with all the EU benefits it entails) to anybody who does six years in the armed forces I think that would clear up their manpower issue nicely.

I noticed Denmark and Bolivia will take foreign volunteers if they're also permanent residents.

Then there's Cyprus and Israel, who will practically take anybody from anywhere based solely on race (you have to be at least part Greek or Jewish to do either).

And of course the French Foreign Legion, who in theory accepts anyone period.

[Dragomerian Islands]

I am in a RP conflict with another nation. We both are powerful nations with MT weapons and technology. How viable would it be to be to use ASAT missiles to take out an enemy's communication network as a part of the first attack against the enemy nation? What would be involved to do this effectively?

Attacking enemy satellites with ASAT wapons is a good idea. There are a number of existing ASAT weapons, some aircraft mounted, others mounted on land or warships. The actual engagment is pretty strait forward, satelittes have fixed orbits. Wait until the orbit puts the satellite withing reach of an ASAT platform, or manuver an ASAT platform to where the orbit will pass. Then launch the missile. They almost certinly will know there satellites are under attack, and by whom as soon as you do this though.

My main concern is the fact that the satellites are travelling extremely fast in orbit.

Knocking out a plurality of satellites will probably cause a lot of disruption. I assume in the case of communications satellites, it will bottleneck information transfer?

If I do this tactic only target the enemy satellites responsible for enemy communication, so that they would not be able to get orders as fast as the modern battlefield would require.

Is it really possible to rapidly take out all of a country's satellites? I'm given to understand that a country like the US can have a three-digit amount of satellites, and pro ably agreements with foreign countries' commercial satellites to let them be usedi n an emergency.

I was more referring to those satellites over the battle area (or within the horizon of said area).

[Gallia-]

Well it includes border police, since border policing is one of the classic gendarmerie tasks. Israeli Border Police for instance. In Russia they're likely referring to interior forces (i.e. troops of the ministry of the interior). In China they mean People's Armed Police which is a general policing unit, search and rescue, border police and military support.

For us it would be like the Home Office having an army of its own. Or if UK Border Force was a military/paramilitary organisation with armed officers, military ranks & training, etc.

you mean your civilization doesnt have a heavily armed Revenue Cutter Service equipped with frigates and LCS?

america's gendarmerie just rides the waves in bright white/orange warships

[Spirit of Hope]

Attacking enemy satellites with ASAT wapons is a good idea. There are a number of existing ASAT weapons, some aircraft mounted, others mounted on land or warships. The actual engagment is pretty strait forward, satelittes have fixed orbits. Wait until the orbit puts the satellite withing reach of an ASAT platform, or manuver an ASAT platform to where the orbit will pass. Then launch the missile. They almost certinly will know there satellites are under attack, and by whom as soon as you do this though.

My main concern is the fact that the satellites are travelling extremely fast in orbit.

Not really something to worry about, existing ASAT weapons are designed with this in mind. Basically you know where the satellite is, how fast, and the direction it is traveling. This lets you know where it will be. Ensure there is an explosive where it will be and the satellite is dead.

If I do this tactic only target the enemy satellites responsible for enemy communication, so that they would not be able to get orders as fast as the modern battlefield would require.

They are still going to be able to comunicat rapidly. Radio exists, cables exist. The only force I could imagine truly lossing the ability to comunicate due to satellite losses is the Navy, and even then that loss would be more strategic, as tactical units would be close enough to comunicate through radio.

I was more referring to those satellites over the battle area (or within the horizon of said area).

Attacking the satellites over the battle area would be harder. It would be harder to get aproproiate forces in place, and those forces could potentially be vulnerable when using ASAT weapons.

Is it really possible to rapidly take out all of a country's satellites? I'm given to understand that a country like the US can have a three-digit amount of satellites, and pro ably agreements with foreign countries' commercial satellites to let them be usedi n an emergency.

All probably wouldn't be possible, the're are a lot and they could potentially use civilian satellites as back up. But all satellites orbit, not all are going to be over a battle feild at the same time. You can hit the network so that it losses the ability to cover the batlefeild periodically.

[Tekeristan]

What about.. You know.. All the debris?

[Imperializt Russia]

That's for the politicians to worry about!

[The Corparation]

What about.. You know.. All the debris?

That's an issue for after the war is over.

[Crookfur]

What about.. You know.. All the debris?

Kessler Kessler KESSLER! SSSSYYYYYNNNDDDRRROOMMMEEEE11!!!!!

Crookfur stock watchers advise against investing in company's with assets in earth orbit and instead suggest investing in anyone with capability in NIRNSATS or high altitude relay aircraft.


God I used to walk so much to orbital armageddon and having a whole fleet of NIRNSAT deployment aircraft available...

[The Kievan People]

I am in a RP conflict with another nation. We both are powerful nations with MT weapons and technology. How viable would it be to be to use ASAT missiles to take out an enemy's communication network as a part of the first attack against the enemy nation? What would be involved to do this effectively?

Communication satellites are in geosynchronous orbit, with a few exceptions. Attacking them is barely worth the effort. It will take days just for the ASAT to reach them, and you'll need it launch it with a full-fledged space booster. There is also a real possibility of the ASAT being intercepted by another ASAT during its assent.

Civilian communication satellites also provide service to military customers IRL. Including foreign military customers. So you don't have much choice but to begin shooting down everything in the sky, which will obviously upset a lot of people. In NS there are probably even more civilian communication satellites.

It is generally easier to use cyber and electronic warfare to disrupt communications. For disrupting communications on a very large scale cyber warfare is by far the best option because it can effect systems which cannot be physically reached, through their network connections.

[Licana]

I am in a RP conflict with another nation. We both are powerful nations with MT weapons and technology. How viable would it be to be to use ASAT missiles to take out an enemy's communication network as a part of the first attack against the enemy nation? What would be involved to do this effectively?

Not viable, unless you want the world to shitstomp you for rendering entire orbitals useless.

What about.. You know.. All the debris?

Kessler Kessler KESSLER! SSSSYYYYYNNNDDDRRROOMMMEEEE11!!!!!

Crookfur stock watchers advise against investing in company's with assets in earth orbit and instead suggest investing in anyone with capability in NIRNSATS or high altitude relay aircraft.


God I used to walk so much to orbital armageddon and having a whole fleet of NIRNSAT deployment aircraft available...

god damn it I never get talk about this ;_;

[Takhshiyt]

So, how do you keep communications for rather shady espionage stuff secure? I can't transport this information by person, as I am in a bit of a time crunch, so it will have to be over electronic communications. How do intelligence forces encrypt their stuff? (Just a simple they can do this or that can suffice).

[Allanea]

What about.. You know.. All the debris?

Quickly, what's more important to you - some space debris or enemy tanks in the national capital and foreigners grabbing your women and setting fire to the livestock?

[The Kievan People]

So, how do you keep communications for rather shady espionage stuff secure? I can't transport this information by person, as I am in a bit of a time crunch, so it will have to be over electronic communications. How do intelligence forces encrypt their stuff? (Just a simple they can do this or that can suffice).

TOR is fine.

[Gallia-]

thank you based us navy

[Schwere Panzer Abteilung 502]

Some of our Russian speakers may find this interesting. It's Stalin admonishing a factory for not making enough Sturmoviks; I'm told it's dated 23 December 1941.

[Imperializt Russia]

I assume the signature simply reads "Stalin"?

If anyone's willing to translate, I'd appreciate it.

[Schwere Panzer Abteilung 502]

Here's the literal translation from Reddit, but I assume someone here can do better:

To Director of factory 18 Shankman, To Director of factory 1 Tretyakov
You have failed our country, our Red Army. You still don't bother to make IL-2. Airplanes IL-2 are needed by our Red Army as air, as bread. Shenkman makes one IL-2 per day, Tretyakov makes one-two MIG-3 per day. This is a mockery of the country, of the Red Army. We need IL-2, MIG-3 if factory 18 thinks it can retort the country making one IL-2 per day it is harshly mistaken and will pay the penalty. Asking you to not make the government loose its patience. Demand that you make more ILs. Warning for the last time.
Stalin.

[The Akasha Colony]

So, how do you keep communications for rather shady espionage stuff secure? I can't transport this information by person, as I am in a bit of a time crunch, so it will have to be over electronic communications. How do intelligence forces encrypt their stuff? (Just a simple they can do this or that can suffice).

By lots of potential means. But even commercial-grad off-the-shelf encryption is quite secure. Breaches in these security systems are usually the result of carelessness more so than real exploits in the system itself, so presuming the agents are paying attention, almost any method of encryption will do.

Despite what the press releases and official statements from companies that have been hacked might say, it isn't very often that serious "sophisticated attacks" are used against them. They're usually the result of carelessness, such as an employee bringing an infected flash drive to work, or accidentally clicking on a phishing scam, or visiting a site they're not supposed to, or of someone managing to capture their password. If you're vigilant, these can be avoided. The problem is that maintaining vigilance in a large organization is usually rather difficult, it only takes one breach to make the whole thing fall apart.

[Scandinavian Nations]

By lots of potential means. But even commercial-grad off-the-shelf encryption is quite secure. Breaches in these security systems are usually the result of carelessness more so than real exploits in the system itself...

...They're usually the result of carelessness, such as an employee bringing an infected flash drive to work, or accidentally clicking on a phishing scam, or visiting a site they're not supposed to, or of someone managing to capture their password.

I wouldn't put it quite this way. A more accurate statement would be that the cryptographic algorithms used in commercial data protection are secure.

But everything surrounding the essentially unbreakable cryptographic algorithm of choice, putting it to use, tends to be in a much worse state. The PKI used to deploy web cryptography is not just theoretically insecure, has but long since broken itself due to its poor design. The idea behind PKI was to assign ultimate trust to everyone on the inside, including the right to assign up to the same level of trust to anyone else.

While some attacks rely on carelessness, there's a lot of effective attacks that don't. Take one example: when you connect to your bank, you rely on your insecure DNS to point you to the right IP, then on the bank's supposedly-secure SSL certificate to prove it really is your bank, then on SSL to encrypt the connection.

Going through it step by step, the problem with the first step is, most large banks use dozens of domain names, some completely unrelated, so if your bank has added a new processing domain, how do you know? They don't send out mailers or even maintain a list of legit domains in one central location. Since anyone can register a plausible-sounding domain, and since legit banks use even implausible-sounding ones, no reasonable vigilance will tell you if it's legit or not. If a payment-requesting site points you there, you'll usually take it as legit.

The second step is the SSL certificate. The CA should supposedly verify everyone's identity before issuing them a certificate, which will then verify it to you. But due to root CA issuing intermediate CA-certificates and so on, there's plenty of nickel CA that only verify the payment. So anyone can get a certificate in any bank's name, making PKI SSL even less secure than DNS.

The third step is the crypto itself, and that's effectively unbreakable, but it protects your connection with the attacker just the same as a legit one.There's a similar flaw in code signing and most other signature-based security.
These are exploits, not just mistakes. Such attacks take time and effort to set up, they're not just opportunistic long shots. But it's true that they're not really sophisticated, I've basically described a common one in this short post, it's just elbow grease.

While you can trace most successful attacks to specific missteps, in a lot of cases these were a sure deal and couldn't have been prevented by anything short of every employee having clinical paranoia plus a CS degree.



Anyway, to answer Takhshiyt's question: use a simple 256-bit symmetric key. (Anytime you hear of longer keys, it's asymmetric encryption, insecure due to the PKI's complexity and flaws). The symmetric key is permanent and has to be exchanged securely. Once you do that, it's secure.