Historically, "cruising speed" for warships (other than nuclear powered) is the neighborhood of 2/3-34 of maximum/flank speed. For example, the Iowas had a max speed of about 33 knots and a typical cruising speed of about 25. Once you start getting close to the maximum output of your power plant, fuel efficiency, and thus range, goes to H E double L. So a 20-knot cruise speed suggests a max speed somewhere in the high 20s.

By Mike Erickson (Mike_Erickson) on Tuesday, December 30, 2025 - 08:01 pm: Edit

>> simply nothing currently available that stores power on the scale that of what a grid uses over even a few hours, much less overnight

Sure there is. Barrels of crude/gasoline/diesel/kerosine, big piles of coal, and big tanks full of natural gas.

Quite a bit of energy is stored in the various chemical bonds of these substances. They are all relatively lightweight and can be safely handled and effectively used (with appropriate precautions) at average room and outdoor temperatures.

Nature already figured out long ago how to store large amounts of energy very efficiently.

--Mike

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Wednesday, December 31, 2025 - 01:03 pm: Edit

It turns out that there is another state of the united states in a worse energy position than California.

Oregon has not had an operating refinery since 1995.

90% of all oil or gas passes through one single pipeline from refineries in Washington state.

The other 10% is barged, shippped by truck, and at a guess, possibly shipped by rail tanker car, though I have not confirmed that last part.

In short, Oregon imports 100% of its energy needs.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Wednesday, December 31, 2025 - 05:10 pm: Edit

Crude oil news, a trade publication posted back in September:

Quote:” California's largest inland oil pipeline is losing $2 million per month and could shut down by early 2026. The San Pablo Bay Pipeline carries crude oil from Kern County to Northern California refineries — and without it, the state loses its last major link to domestic oil production. This crisis threatens gas prices in California, Arizona, and Nevada — and even puts military fuel supplies at risk.”

As of today, neither the governor or other California politicians have found a solution.

By Robert Russell Lender (Rusman) on Wednesday, December 31, 2025 - 06:12 pm: Edit

As if they're interested in a solution...

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Wednesday, December 31, 2025 - 08:53 pm: Edit

This seems to have veered rather pointedly away from Real-World Military at this point.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Wednesday, December 31, 2025 - 11:21 pm: Edit

“- and even puts military supplies at risk.”

What part of this sentence fragment makes you think it is not related to real world military?

By Jean Sexton Beddow (Jsexton) on Wednesday, December 31, 2025 - 11:47 pm: Edit

Y'all behave.

Don't make me use the Griswold cast-iron frying pan to knock you into the past. And I promise you, you will think the past I knock you into IS the Booth!

Jean
WebMom

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Friday, January 02, 2026 - 09:33 am: Edit

Pres. Trump posted the following six hours ago, in reaction to the current protests underway in Iran:

"If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protestors, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J.TRUMP"

It is possible that we may have a war on the horizon (since air strikes alone would be difficult to construe as a viable means to "come to their rescue").

By MarkSHoyle (Bolo) on Friday, January 02, 2026 - 01:20 pm: Edit

Rescue could mean a lot of things....

Destroying Aircraft, Naval equipment etc.
to limit what could be done if (god forbid) troops were required to be landed....

Bombing Iranian troops outside of Iran etc

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Friday, January 02, 2026 - 11:03 pm: Edit

The pressure point is said to be the money the mullahs give the generals and terrorists. Figure on attacking the Iranian income stream.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Saturday, January 03, 2026 - 06:03 am: Edit

Venezuela

It has been confimed President Maduro and his wife are now held by the US - and have been flown out.

Some reports say it was a 'negiotated exit for Maduro' - others a stragiht foward capture missin.

Probable Air Strikes accompanied the mission (or might have been cruise missiles - or both) - as various explosisions have accured.

Venezualan Armed forces have been deployed to protect key locations - but it's unknown if they are pro Maduro or not.

European Diplomatic Reponse is 'mixed' - Russian response not surpringly is 'Anti US'.

Haven't been able to see if China has spoken about it - Indian media quoted it as an Attack though.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Saturday, January 03, 2026 - 08:32 am: Edit

Air strikes in Caracas Venezuela. US troops captured President Maduro and his wife. They will be prosecuted in New York for drug and weapons charges. Details are confusing and contradictory, talking heads are guessing what units were used.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Saturday, January 03, 2026 - 08:44 am: Edit

Apparently Trump plans to install the elected president Mercado (not sure of spelling) who won 80% of the votes in the last election but was blocked from power by Maduro.

Generals in Venezuela ARE the local drug cartel and have billions in foreign bank accounts.

Various reports mentioned US Army Rangers and SEALS but these seem to be guesses.

Some Democrats are protesting that this is an illegal war without justification. Apparently, Democrat leaders were NOT briefed ahead of times due to concerns about leaks endangering US troops.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Saturday, January 03, 2026 - 08:45 am: Edit

Trump will brief the press at 11 eastern time.

By Jason E. Schaff (Jschaff297061) on Saturday, January 03, 2026 - 08:50 am: Edit

8:10 EST report by the WSJ cites unnamed pentagon officials as saying that the capture was carried out by Delta Force and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (aka, "Night Stalkers").

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Saturday, January 03, 2026 - 11:02 am: Edit

On the upside: Maduro is/was a monster and it is good that he's in custody.

On the "meh" side: Venezuela's vice-president is still there, and Maduro's inner circle appears to have survived unscathed, so it is unclear what if anything will change.

On the downside: we have a Constitutionally-mandated process on the use of our military, and said process was ignored (indeed, to the degree that the president mocked anyone expressing concerns over it), which is a suboptimal state of affairs.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Saturday, January 03, 2026 - 11:12 am: Edit

Eight million Venezuelans left that country during Maduro’s regime. Many of those want to go home once the economy stabilizes.

The US has previously said that the current vice president of Venezuela isn’t legitimate.

Apparently some US troops were wounded during the raid. Details to follow.

Russia condemns the US. The UK says it wasn’t involved and hopes international law is respected.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Saturday, January 03, 2026 - 11:33 am: Edit

Trump knew he could not tell the Dems without them telling Maduro, so he came up with the legal theory that this was a forced extradition not a strictly military operation and he did not need to tell Congress in advance. Lots of presidents including Obama did things like this and bigger than this without telling congress in advance. It is legally permitted for presidents to do small military things and tell Congress later, so Trump has all the legal precedent he needs. You can argue that previous presidents should not have done those similar things but the precedent is about as solid as such things get.

You cannot be a little bit pregnant but you can be a little bit at war.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Saturday, January 03, 2026 - 11:40 am: Edit

Apparently the vice president of Venezuela, Ms Delcy Rodriguez, is hiding in Moscow and has long been universally regarded as a Russian agent. She has demanded that the US prove Maduro is alive.

By Mike Erickson (Mike_Erickson) on Saturday, January 03, 2026 - 11:41 am: Edit

Reminds me somewhat of Noriega getting snatched out of Panama way back when.

--Mike

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Saturday, January 03, 2026 - 11:47 am: Edit

The US strikes knocked out the Caracas power grid and communications network. The strikes also destroyed the HQ of Venezuelan military intelligence.

The strikes and raids did not involve any US deaths or the loss of any vehicles or equipment.

Trump says the US will run Venezuela until a proper government is installed. Trump says the US won’t allow someone who isn’t legitimate to take power. Trump says US oil companies will take over the Venezuelan oil industry since most of it is US property stolen by Maduro.

The US is prepared to send major forces into the country if that is needed.

By A David Merritt (Adm) on Saturday, January 03, 2026 - 12:00 pm: Edit

---

Quote:

Lots of presidents including Obama did things like this and bigger than this without telling congress in advance. It is legally permitted for presidents to do small military things and tell Congress later, so Trump has all the legal precedent he needs.

---

By A David Merritt (Adm) on Saturday, January 03, 2026 - 12:03 pm: Edit

---

Quote:

Reminds me somewhat of Noriega getting snatched out of Panama way back when.

--Mike

---

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Saturday, January 03, 2026 - 12:23 pm: Edit

How far back can nations go?

"Trump says US oil companies will take over the Venezuelan oil industry since most of it is US property stolen by Maduro."

But, I think it is fair to say, allowing US companies to profit from this is probably NOT within Internaional Law? ACTUALLY IT ABSOLUTELY IS.—SVC

I do find it 'interesting' (not sure if thay is the right word...) - but is seems Trump thinks there is no legal 'Government' - the Opposition which won 80% of the votes last year and was not allowed to take Office, is not considered the appropriate transitional or permanent Government??

Opposition are still claiming it was a Negiotated Exit also....