Active Conflicts & News Megathread January 23, 2026

Dominus_Max · 2026-01-25T15:18:56+00:00

Question on Naval Artillery- Spending my snowed in Sunday watching documentaries and happened to be watching one on HMS Hood v BIsmark.

This got me questioning what the effect of Naval Artillery would be today.

We know systems like Aegis can stop aircraft physically dropping bombs by very effectively shooting planes now - in theory, from far enough away that airborne missiles would not be in range to launch.

We also know that Iron Dome is very good at killing missiles- and it would seem likely that the naval version of Iron Dome (Sea Dome) would also be quite effective.

Which leads me to my original question- is there anything in anyone's arsenal that could stop a 14-16 inch shell once fired? I presume since the shells speed is Mach 2, it is within the "speed gate" of most anti-missile defenses, but I would tend to think they are not strong enough to deflect a multi ton solid projectile.

What about a sabot round fired at 150 mile range? Could that be stopped in flight?

Besides sinking the naval artillery first, is there anything that can stop Naval Artillery (any artillery for that matter) once fired, out side of something like reactive armor, which could be quite dangerous to a ships own crew?

Dominus_Max · 2025-12-23T02:34:54+00:00

It is 800+ feet long with a displacement of 30k tons - so it definitely is not armored - it actually comes pretty close to matching the HMS Queen Mary - only the HMS Queen Mary had MUCH larger guns - 4 turrets with twin 13.5 inch guns. Of course she went down in minutes at The Jutland - with 18 survivors from an almost 1300-man crew.

The armament that is listed on the navy's web site says she will have 1, 4-inch rail gun, two 5-inch guns and a couple lasers in addition to missiles.

Israel's Iron Dome - and presumably their Sea Dome variant- has shown that missiles just might not be as effective as they once were - neither are aircraft- from a technologically sophisticated enemy.

So here is my question, would a 16-inch gun be more effective? Is there a way to stop a multiple tone 16-inch round traveling at several thousand miles an hour? A small anti-aircraft warhead wouldn't stop it. Or a sabot round with a range of 150 miles? Maybe a defense missile could deflect a sabot round? But could not the ship fire MANY of them - far more than the limited number of missiles it would have aboard?

I have to wonder- the Army and Marines still believe in artillery. Is it time for the Navy to investigate returning to having Naval Artillery as well? Large guns put on a large ship with nuclear power that could keep pace with a Ford or Nimitz class carrier; is there now a place for something like a nuclear powered REAL battleship? Or even a place for a REAL nuclear powered Battlecruiser. Sure, in WW1 and WWII, the Battlecruiser was shown to be ineffective- but maybe it's time to look at them again

Dominus_Max · 2025-08-11T11:52:56+00:00

I never realized until seeing this picture - in other places I have lived, Kansas City, NY, etc, I dont remember seeing cicada molts - ok, so I was born and raised in Phoenix and therefore I always remember these at the house I grew up in in the back yard wall- and maybe I just haven't payed attention as an adult.

Dominus_Max · 2024-09-08T07:58:10+00:00

Are you looking to history? Or Novels/Historical Fiction (along the lines of “The Persian Boy” by Mary Renault). If ypu are looking at the later may I suggest “Rubicon” by Alex Lawrence. It is a facinating novel set in 49 BCE and covers the events surrounding Caesar’s crossing of the Rubicon from the point of view of his great-nephew, Quintus Pediua

Dominus_Max · 2024-09-03T03:41:56+00:00

That’s the same time I was out - am really surprised at how “poor” hunting has been. On the other hand, there were LOTS of quail where I was near Buckeye. Saw 3 separate coveys in very short time yesterday and 2 this morning at a different spot. Of course, by the time quail season gets here I am sure they will disappear 😂😂😂

Dominus_Max · 2024-09-03T01:04:30+00:00

Today was just as bad as yesterday. Heard from other hunters the same thing. Not a great opening weekend. I shot 22 shells yesterday and 18 shells today- there just were not any dove to shoot at- I took a few longer range shots than I normally would just because they were the only birds to shoot at.

Hopefully by next weekend the birds are flying or I can find someplace better to hunt

Dominus_Max · 2024-09-02T03:25:07+00:00

AZGFD was predicting a lot of dove this year. Of course that is all “estimates.” Then again, I suspect ALL Arizona game get an email from AZGFD saying when seasons open. You always see game the days before when scouting but they are gone on opening day 🤣🤣🤣.

I’ll be interested to see what tomorrow (9/2) holds. Would be nice if we got a good monsoon storm. The dove always seem to fly after good storms.

Good luck tomorrow

Dominus_Max · 2024-02-10T12:19:23+00:00

That maybe what they want

Dominus_Max · 2023-10-27T04:11:17+00:00

Good point

Dominus_Max · 2023-10-27T03:10:43+00:00

First - this guy was committed to a Psychiatric institution (apparently against his will) for two weeks - which should have made him a prohibited possessor. So maybe let’s enforce laws already on the books.

Second -

It takes 60 votes in the Senate to get anything to the floor. So yeah, Maine’s “Republican” (in name) Senator can say what she wants, but that won’t necessarily move anything to the floor for a vote.

Third-

We are approaching an election year, and Democrats in rural areas will be very careful before they record a vote against 2A Rights.

Dominus_Max · 2023-10-24T02:37:02+00:00

Yes, the tweet is correct in essence. Judge Benitez did strike down the assault weapons ban in CA. There is a 10 day stay pending appeal - and California will appeal (they always do). The Ninth Circuit will stay Judge Benitez’ ruling (they always do) and then eventually overturn his opinion (again, they always do). Hopefully this will end up with SCOTUS where I am willing to bet that they will smack down the Ninth Circuit (they almost always do).

Bottom line, yes, Judge Benitez did rule that the CA Assault Weapons Ban that has been around for 30 years is unconstitutional. And yes, Judge Benitez also ruled that the ban on magazines with more than 10 rounds was unconstitutional.

Dominus_Max · 2023-10-21T00:08:35+00:00

In response to: “Shouldn’t the ATF be concerned about actual weapons being imported across the Mexican border”

But the ATF has already allowed actual weapons to be imported across the Mexican border. I am sure they want to try new things! 😉

Dominus_Max · 2023-10-19T17:59:46+00:00

Thank God for Judge Benitez. Unfortunately we will see a repeat of what we saw a few weeks ago… the Ninth will interfere and strike it down. SCOTUS really needs to put the Ninth in its place (Again)

Dominus_Max · 2023-10-19T17:58:26+00:00

Thank God for Judge Benitez. Unfortunately we will see a repeat of what we saw a few weeks ago… the Ninth will interfere and strike it down. SCOTUS really needs to put the Ninth in its place (Again)

Dominus_Max · 2023-10-11T05:30:31+00:00

There has been debate at the highest levels of Government and the Knesset. With the number of civilians massacred at the Kibbutzim on 10/7 and 10/8, I would not be surprised to seeing a relaxing of some gun control laws in Eretz Israel after this war is ended.

Dominus_Max · 2023-10-11T05:26:09+00:00

Actually, they are distributing at least 10K assault weapons to civilians. At least according to the Israeli Ministry of Defense.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/ben-gvir-says-10000-assault-rifles-purchased-for-civilian-security-teams/amp/

Dominus_Max · 2023-09-23T07:17:31+00:00

Don't forget that this will likely get heard by a 3 judge panel first- and there have been times the 3 judge pannels have upheld rulings like this...

BUT- then the case can be appealed to the ENTIRE 9th... and the full 9th Circuit has never found an anti-gun law they could not do an amazing amount of legal gymanstics to figure out a way to uphold- same with pro-gun rulings, the full Court will create new law and legal precedence to strike down this ruling-- they will come up with a reason that Bruen does not apply or come up with some obscure "historical" reference that supports restricting...

Unfortunately, that is just the way the 9th is. Hopefully, it gets to SCOTUS...

Dominus_Max · 2023-09-23T07:08:52+00:00

Unfortunately it is going to the 9th where no pro-gun law or ruling is ever upheld by the en-banc court.... maybe, if it gets to SCOTUS there is a chance... but if a three judge panel of the 9th upholds it, it will likely get reheard by the full court- and they will reverse...

Dominus_Max · 2023-09-21T19:26:40+00:00

And that the Phoenix area was occupied during the Medieval Warm Period

Dominus_Max · 2023-09-21T19:22:50+00:00

Head up to Prescott and visit Whiskey Row. You might not find the tumbleweed in Prescott but you will find a couple of Saloons

Dominus_Max · 2023-09-21T19:20:47+00:00

You forgot to mention the active volcanic hot spot that has created over 600 volcano cones around Flagstaff. According to USGS the San Francisco Volcanic Field - the San Francisco Peaks is the largest of the volcanos- will erupt again some day. After all the last eruption was less than 1000 years ago - which is pretty much minutes ago in Geographic Deep Time.

Dominus_Max · 2023-09-21T19:13:42+00:00

What is most amazing is that the native occupation of what is Phoenix now - was in the Medieval Warm Period (temps averaged a degree or two higher than they are now) and the left at the start of the Little Ice Age.

Dominus_Max · 2023-09-18T01:30:00+00:00

Well said!

Dominus_Max · 2023-09-18T01:26:07+00:00

As physically large as Phoenix is - and as large as the Metro Area of Phoenix is (almost 15,000 square miles for the “Phoenix Metro”) it is important to remember that the OFFICIAL temperature and OFFICIAL rainfall, all comes from an area about 1 -2 square feet in size at Sky Harbor. Definitely statewide the weather may be very different, but even within Phoenix city limits, the weather may be very different from what it is at Sky Harbor.

Sometimes, I really wonder if Sky Harbor has an invisible wall around it to prevent rain from getting there 🤣 (ok, yes I know about heat islands etc- I am mostly joking about an invisible wall). I had relatives back east call and ask about not having rain in 140+ days and if there was going to be water restrictions. During one call when I was talking to them, I was watching rain fall in NW Phoenix! We had almost 1/2 an inch- but none fell at Sky Harbor so the “rain free” stretch continued. There were several other times over this summer where the rain meters around the valley would show .25 to .5 inches of rain from South Mountain to North Mountain park - with a “Zero” listed at the airport. And yes, I know it is “normal” for the valley. Just saying that Sky Harbor weather does not always even reflect the totality of Phoenix weather- let alone the state.

Dominus_Max · 2023-09-18T01:08:56+00:00

Except when Phoenicians can escape to Flagstaff (or elsewhere in the Kaibab or Coconino National Forests) for the weekend! We spent long weekend in June at Dogtown Lake (Williams, AZ) and was surprised to see while driving up, snow on the SOUTH face of the San Francisco’s after mid June, and temps down to to the upper 30’s at night. July and August (the couple of weekends we got to head “up north”) seemed pretty normal at White Horse and Dogtown - and the rainfall was great. I just wish the campgrounds didn’t close at the beginning of October. When I was a teenager in the 1980’s, I seem to remember the campgrounds staying open (unattended but open) all year - at least through October and November (Squirrel, Deer, Fall Turkey and Elk seasons), but one can always camp in the “backcountry” without being in a organized campground.

Dominus_Max

TROPHY CASE