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These small, risky, and ineffective raids (in the large scheme of things) have huge a psychological impact on the winners and losers if they are publicized. Th

These small, risky, and ineffective raids (in the large scheme of things) have huge a psychological impact on the winners and losers if they are publicized. The Doolittle Raid (https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/world-war-ii/1942/halsey-doolittle-raid.html https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-...) was one such raid. The U.S. played it to the hilt. Japan couldn't ignore it or cover it up because it took place right over Tokyo. The Belgorod Raid (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/1/russia-alleges-ukrainian-helicopters-struck-belgorod-fuel-depot https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/1/russia-alleges-ukrai...) was a huge PR victory for Ukraine, showing its helicopters are capable of striking behind enemy lines. I'm not sure ordinary Russians were as awed, or even if they were made aware of what happened.

twic 5y ago
Operation Black Buck is also probably an example of this - Vulcan bombers flying a sixth of the way around the Earth, using a pyramid of tankers for refuelling, dropping some bombs ineffectively on an Argentinian-held airport, then flying back: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Black_Buck https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Black_Buck
- sofixa 5y ago
  The UK were so lucky with the Falklands war.. had the Argentines waited a year 3/4 of the UK military hardware used to retake the islands ( aircraft carriers, bombers, etc.) would have been decommissioned due cost cutting measures.
  - the_af 5y ago
    Realistically, it was impossible for us (Argentines) to hold by military force to the islands. I'm sure all sort of things could have gone worse for the UK, but we were a military insignificant[0] country (ruled by an incompetent dictatorship) against a military power allied to the US. [0] no disrespect meant to our soldiers, who did what they could in a senseless war.
    - dddddaviddddd 5y ago
      And the US was willing to get quite involved if necessary, e.g. to 'lend' a helicopter carrier to the UK, https://news.usni.org/2012/06/27/reagan-readied-us-warship-82-falklands-war-0 https://news.usni.org/2012/06/27/reagan-readied-us-warship-8...
      - anikan_vader 5y ago
        Not sure why this comment is being downvoted, given that its claims are well-documented. The UN Security Council had already demanded the immediate withdrawal of Argentine forces from the Falklands, essentially green-lighting the UK to respond to the invasion with military force. Argentina refused US peace overtures, and the US subsequently announced its support for the UK. Here is the relevant text from Wikipedia regarding American carriers (which were capable of operating Sea Harriers) [1]: >> President Ronald Reagan approved the Royal Navy's request to borrow a Sea Harrier-capable Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship (the US Navy had earmarked USS Guam (LPH-9) for this[184]) if the British lost an aircraft carrier. The United States Navy developed a plan to help the British man the ship with American military contractors, likely retired sailors with knowledge of the ship's systems. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falklands_War#United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falklands_War#United_States
  - 1123581321 5y ago
    We can’t know, but I suspect Galtieri (Argentine president, some responsibility for death squads) would have lost power had he waited. Malvinas were useful to him as a diversionary external crisis given all the problems at home and international pressure creating opportunity for his opposition or successor(s).
    - jacquesm 5y ago
      Sounds familiar.
golergka 5y ago
If you wanted to use example from the current war, then sinking of Moskva would suit much better. It's literally a flagship of a fleet, with casualties probably up to 400, named after the country's capital, that had cost more than a couple of billion dollars over lifetime, sinked with a drone and a couple of missiles.
- rdevsrex 5y ago
  Never a good idea to name a ship after your capital or your country. I believe that’s why the battle ship the Bismarck, was named that.
  - mormegil 5y ago
    Not sure about the Bismarck, but the Panzerschiff Deutschland was renamed Lützow because of the risk that "Deutschland" could be sunk. See e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_cruiser_Deutschland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_cruiser_Deutschland
  - mongol 5y ago
    Not a warship but MS Estonia is a tragic example.
konart 5y ago
> I'm not sure ordinary Russians were as awed, or even if they were made aware of what happened My brother in law lives 1,5km from the place that was hit. He was not impressed. And yes - ordinary russians are aware of this, mostly causing questions about a) if it was Ukraine or staged b) where the hell was AA.
- skrebbel 5y ago
  Alcoholics Anonymous?
  - goodcanadian 5y ago
    Anti-Aircraft defenses.
    - skrebbel 5y ago
      Thanks
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]

twic 5y ago

Operation Black Buck is also probably an example of this - Vulcan bombers flying a sixth of the way around the Earth, using a pyramid of tankers for refuelling, dropping some bombs ineffectively on an Argentinian-held airport, then flying back: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Black_Buck https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Black_Buck

sofixa 5y ago
The UK were so lucky with the Falklands war.. had the Argentines waited a year 3/4 of the UK military hardware used to retake the islands ( aircraft carriers, bombers, etc.) would have been decommissioned due cost cutting measures.
- the_af 5y ago
  Realistically, it was impossible for us (Argentines) to hold by military force to the islands. I'm sure all sort of things could have gone worse for the UK, but we were a military insignificant[0] country (ruled by an incompetent dictatorship) against a military power allied to the US. [0] no disrespect meant to our soldiers, who did what they could in a senseless war.
  - dddddaviddddd 5y ago
    And the US was willing to get quite involved if necessary, e.g. to 'lend' a helicopter carrier to the UK, https://news.usni.org/2012/06/27/reagan-readied-us-warship-82-falklands-war-0 https://news.usni.org/2012/06/27/reagan-readied-us-warship-8...
    - anikan_vader 5y ago
      Not sure why this comment is being downvoted, given that its claims are well-documented. The UN Security Council had already demanded the immediate withdrawal of Argentine forces from the Falklands, essentially green-lighting the UK to respond to the invasion with military force. Argentina refused US peace overtures, and the US subsequently announced its support for the UK. Here is the relevant text from Wikipedia regarding American carriers (which were capable of operating Sea Harriers) [1]: >> President Ronald Reagan approved the Royal Navy's request to borrow a Sea Harrier-capable Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship (the US Navy had earmarked USS Guam (LPH-9) for this[184]) if the British lost an aircraft carrier. The United States Navy developed a plan to help the British man the ship with American military contractors, likely retired sailors with knowledge of the ship's systems. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falklands_War#United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falklands_War#United_States
- 1123581321 5y ago
  We can’t know, but I suspect Galtieri (Argentine president, some responsibility for death squads) would have lost power had he waited. Malvinas were useful to him as a diversionary external crisis given all the problems at home and international pressure creating opportunity for his opposition or successor(s).
  - jacquesm 5y ago
    Sounds familiar.

golergka 5y ago

If you wanted to use example from the current war, then sinking of Moskva would suit much better. It's literally a flagship of a fleet, with casualties probably up to 400, named after the country's capital, that had cost more than a couple of billion dollars over lifetime, sinked with a drone and a couple of missiles.

rdevsrex 5y ago
Never a good idea to name a ship after your capital or your country. I believe that’s why the battle ship the Bismarck, was named that.
- mormegil 5y ago
  Not sure about the Bismarck, but the Panzerschiff Deutschland was renamed Lützow because of the risk that "Deutschland" could be sunk. See e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_cruiser_Deutschland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_cruiser_Deutschland
- mongol 5y ago
  Not a warship but MS Estonia is a tragic example.

konart 5y ago

> I'm not sure ordinary Russians were as awed, or even if they were made aware of what happened My brother in law lives 1,5km from the place that was hit. He was not impressed. And yes - ordinary russians are aware of this, mostly causing questions about a) if it was Ukraine or staged b) where the hell was AA.

skrebbel 5y ago
Alcoholics Anonymous?
- goodcanadian 5y ago
  Anti-Aircraft defenses.
  - skrebbel 5y ago
    Thanks
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]