Bill Sale Vessel: Fill & Download for Free

In 1974 Christmas Eve, I was arrested for the murder of my best friend.Here's the story.,Bill [Rest In Peace] and I got off work early. Both our wives worked so he and I decided to take my parents sport fishing/dive boat out for a battery charging run into the vast Pacific Ocean.December 24th 1974 approximately 1:30pm we begin our trip from Huntington Beach to Long Beach CA. As we drove up Pacific Coast Highway [PCH] we made a game out of it. The first person who spots a drinkin establishment i.e. a bar, tavern, club … etc doesn't have to pay for his next drink.It didn't matter what side of the highway the joint was on we'd sprint across six lanes [three in one direction and three in the opposite] lanes of traffic to have a double shot of 101 proof Wild Turkey. No sippin time allowed today its throw’em back boys, time’s a wastin. Hit it!Only by the grace of our loving God did two pretty drunken dummies manage to reach Long Beach.We stopped at a store and picked up a quart of Whiskey. The clerk almost declined the sale but we begged its Christmas, he caved in.We reached the boat, she's tied up in a private slip so we quietly climbed on board. As we uncovered the rear deck and bridge we opened the sides allowing better vision.Finally were ready to go out. The weather for SoCal was clear skies, wind out of the west 1 to 3 mph, water temp a cold 49s° F the air temp was a cool 57°F. Out we go to play for about an hour. Little did I know one of us would see the Harbor Masters Office for the last time.It's an hour later, time to return to the slip [parking area].On the way in Bill was drinking a beer on the upper sport deck. He thru the can overboard, right in front of the Hatbor Masters Office. 3I yelled at him do not do it again.The next sound I hear is a big SPLASH! I turn only to see bubbles and foam. I looked for Bill only to find his wallet and shoes on the deck.I Quickly grabbed4t? a life preserver and threw it to where he entered the water then return to the helm.I can see Bill's head surfacing with his arms on the life preserver, then his head slips underwater.Throttling both engines to full speed I kept Bill on my Portside and circle him once. His head is still below the water.My circle completed I pulled back the engine throttles, lined Bill directly astern and shift the transmissions into reverse rammingù the engines to full keeping Bill in view.Once I'm within a safe yet close enough distance from Bill I shifted the transmissions into neutral and pulled back the engine power to idle.Without a split second of hesitation, fully clothed, steel toed boots and all I dove head first into the bay and swam to my pal.When I reached Bill his head was back and underwater. His arms were across the life preserver lightly grasping it. In my teens I was a Lifeguard on the beaches of CA. I never thought I'd ever be in a life or death situation like this on Christmas Eve.Bill is a big guy, 6ft 2in 250lbs of the bestest friend anyone could ask for.I put him in the classic rescue swimming position, his head resting on my shoulder held out of the water by my elbow as I swam him to the boat.In my haste I forgot to put a ladder over the side. Bill's fully clothed less his boots, he’s very heavy.When I reached the boat realizing my ladder error I swam Bill aft to the swim step.A swim step is a thick Teak lattice wood work about 4 ft wide giving divers/swimmers water access.Thinking I'll get him out of the water I can't, our dingy [a small boat used to travel back and forth from the boat to the beach when your boats moored in deep water] is resting on the step there’s no room.My only option was to lock Bill's head between my arms while my fingers grasped the swim step.I cleared his mouth and throat before starting Artificial Resecitation. That's forcing air into his lungs and yelling for HELP between breaths.It was daylight when this started iit's now dark. The air temp during the day was a brisk 57°F, the ocean temp was 49°F.My strength is fading fast, Bill's not responding, I'm considering letting go of the boat so he and I will slip away into the ink dark water.Be it Gods will I find the strength to continue my efforts with a renewed vigor.Looking down the channel I see flashing blue lights, its harbor police and rescue head towards us.The floodlights are so bright compared to the darkness I've been in are blinding me.Lifeguards are frantically jumping into the water pushing and shoving me trying to free my cramped fingers I'd locked into the swim step.They have Bill, I see him being hauled into one of the boats and off to the Harbor Masters dock.I'm ordered to get back on board my boat and bring her directly to the Harbor Masters dock.Struggling to pull myself up onto my boat I manage to get her to the dock and tie off by myself.I rush down the dock to where their working on Bill desperately trying to get closer.I'm whisked inside and wrapped in warm blankets by someone, I know not who!I'm so cold but I can't shiver, that's a sign of extreme hypothermia. I'm so confused now nothing makes sense.More warm blankets are wrapped around me as I inquire about Bill.I'm told he's in good hands. I discount this due to the lack of response from him during our time in the water. I prayed he's still alive.I have no idea what time it is or how long I've been sitting in the office. I can feel my toes and feet but my fingers hurt from cramping. I begin to shiver.There's no medical aide given to me other than the warm blankets and a person sitting with his arms around me holding the blankets.Long Beach police has arrived, I feel the mass of blankets being lifted off of me.Whoever is sitting with me protested their removal, however I hear the cops say he's coming with us to the hospital. I'm stood up and escorted out to a patrol car.Still soaking wet and cold I'm highly confused but I ask what’s happening. There's no reply, I'm put in the backseat of a cruiser.The officer driving says were following the ambulance to Saint Mary's hospital. I get a resurgence of hope Bill's alive until I see the ambulance roll past us slowly, no flashing lights or siren.I know this isn't good. My thoughts are confirmed when we start down PCH, still no emergency lights, I begin to sob as I'm shivering uncontrollably.We abruptly pull over, the right rear door is opened, I'm told to get out.I can hardly control my legs I'm so cold. The cops don't care they bend me over the trunk and frisk me, then stand me up.While one cop reads me my rights the other handcuffs my arms behind my back. I’ve just been arrested for Premeditated Murder.I'm put back into the cruiser when one cop asks me if I'm cold.I sputter out a mournful yes. he looks at his partner who gets out and rolls the rear windows down. The cruiser turns around I'm head downtown for booking.We reach the jail, I'm taken inside. Unbeknownst to me my family has been notified.Bill died, his BAC was .42 mine .40.He had a gash on his right thigh, I surmise from the props. Someone said I hit him with the boat and he bleed out. NO!NO! I protested! Had I hit him the twin screws would've make shark food out of him.Until the Coroner finishes the autopsy is when we'll know. I'm told this is why I’m being held.The jailer wants my wedding band, no I say. He insists and I yell NO.I hear a comforting voice I reconized calling my name. Looking up I see my Dad standing behind the bars holding dry clothes urging me to cooperate.More officers begin to circle me. I take my SKK [Shaolin Kenpo Karate] stance and tell my Dad, “You need to leave, it's about to get very very ugly”. The officers are getting dangerously close.A sargent sees this and speaks up telling his men to “Stand down, leave the poor guy alone. Put him in a individual cell”.The DA says the Murder 1 will not stick, no one saw me operate the vessel all charges were dropped.Bill's Dad is an eye for an Eye kinda guy who’s seeking revenge. He offers Bill's brother in law who accepts the “hit” on my head.The menacing phone calls start from his brother- In- law who happens to be a 1% er in a notoriously violent MC club. I'm packin' heat everywhere we go.My parents are trippin'. They fear for our lives therefore you need to hide. We slept at a different place every night. Not to return home unless we have an [armed] escort.Since then every Christmas Eve when the phone rings my blood pressure soars, I stayed drunk.I’m out my family is elated to see me. I’m also glad they are here and so is my 7 month pregnant wife! Were headed home.Today the nasty 1%er brother in law issue is finished. I won't tell ya how or why but another club liked what I did for them, enough said.I couldn’t attend Bill's funeral for fear of reprisal. I still suffer from PTSD and night terrors, and continue to grieve.Epilogue;Sorry to you all for leaving ya hanging wondering about the autopsy, my case disposition…Since we used the boat for sport fishing and dive trips for hire a licensed captain shall pilot the vessel. With my previous time at sea I qualified to take the Coast Guard captains exam, I was awarded my captain credentials.Due to Bill's death I had to file documents that initiated a USCG inquiry.I've listed some of the finding and rulings below;I seriously violated many of the conditions I swore to up hold, i.e…Operating the vessel under the influence of alcohol and or drugs, under his own admission.A death of a passenger due to #1 above.Allowing a passenger to board intoxicated on board his vessel.Leaving the engines running unattended.USCG Action; Revocation of Mr Stolz's captains license. Never shall it be returned or reinstated.The Autopsy findings;After reading the ME [medical examiners] Autopsy report it is the opinion of this court Mr Conners [Bill] entered the ocean on his own free will, theirs was no foul play noted.Furthermore Mr. Conners died from his headfirst dive into the 49°F ocean resulting in a heartattack.RE; Being hit by the vessel. Mr. Conners had a severe eleven [11inch] laceration on the upper right thigh as a result of being cut by the starboard prop. We strongly feel he was not hit by the vessel!Mr. Stolz admitted to leaving the engines running unattended as he drove in attempting the rescue.Mr. Stolz admitted he left the transmissions in neutral.Our findings show during the time of the accident the tide was Ebbing therefore it is noted the ocean water passing by the props [caused “Free Wheeling", rotation of the Starboard prop while in neutral] inadvertinly struck Mr. Conners right upper thigh, as his body swung underneath the vessel. Mr Stolz was attempting to establish a way to get Mr. Conners and himself back on board due to his he haste he neglected to put the swim ladder over the side.Regarding my murder charge. I believe I previously mentioned all charges were dropped. This pissed his Dad off ordering the “hit".Conclusions;All though Mr. Stolz was severely intoxicated he acted honorably.Even though Mr Stolz was unsuccessful he should be reconized for his life saving attempt, no further charges shall be persued.A non criminal Wrongful Death law suit was filed for one million dollars. [1,000,000.00] our insurance lawyers took and botched the case.My parents went to college and remained good friends with a very prestigious criminal Lawyer located in Beverly Hills. I'll call him Charlie.Charlie settled out of court for an amount I am not allowed to divulge.“This is my true story, I can prove it. You might think its BUNK but I'm stickin' to it".Enough Said! Danke.I bid you Peace! Rest In Peace My Brother Bill, Auf Wiedersehen!

A 9,200 ton Type 45 ‘Daring’ class air defence destroyer.It’s very good. The main problem facing the RN is numbers not quality.Type 45 ‘Daring’ class air defence destroyers are large, relatively new and extremely capable. The PAAMS air defence system with its Sea Viper (Aster 15 and 30) missiles and SAMPSON radar is a world beater - they are getting a power generation upgrade right now and will probably get a mid-life update to enable an anti-ballistic missile capability using a new version of the Aster 30 missile. There are a few areas where these ships could be improved, not least by giving them some strike length Type 41 VLS tubes alongside the current Sylver 50 VLS used for Sea Viper - for anti-ship and land attack cruise missiles - and a 127mm gun.The Dragonfire directed energy (laser) weapon system under development for the Royal Navy. It’s designed to protect ships from anti-ship missiles.Type 23 ‘Duke’ class ASW frigates are older but have been constantly updated. A midlife update in the early 2000s has been followed-up by a recent LIFEX - life extension programme - with new air defence missile systems, improved open-architecture combat management and fire control systems, new ARTISAN 3D radars, helicopters and variable depth towed array sonars, in addition to new diesel generators and significant structural work to strengthen their hulls. The Type 26 ‘Town-class’ ASW frigates under construction are larger and even more capable.A 5,100 ton Type 23 ‘Duke’ class ASW frigate (after LIFEX).The escorts carry the excellent Merlin and Wildcat helicopters (Merlin for ASW and Wildcat for surface attack). Wildcat is brand new (replacing the older Lynx, from which it is derived) and is getting new Sea Venom and Martlet antiship missiles and Merlin has recently completed a major upgrade to its ASW system and is being integrated with the CROWSNEST airborne early warning radar system.The Merlin HM2 helicopter with CROWSNEST radar system on its first flight last year.The Royal Navy has traditionally pioneered propulsion technologies, steam turbines in the early 20th century, Walther closed cycle engines in the 1950s, and nuclear reactors and gas turbines in the ‘60s and ‘70s. The Type 23, 26 and Type 45 escorts and the Queen Elizabeth carriers all have innovative and advanced combinations of diesel-electric and gas turbine power generation.The Type 45 introduced an advanced low-thermal signature and fuel efficient intercooled gas turbine to provide power to its combined diesel and gas all-electric powerplant, however the intercooler developed by General Electric did not function as well as expected in hot climates, and this has required an upgrade to the diesel power systems (three diesel generators instead of two). The carriers and Type 26 designs have reverted to a simpler but more powerful gas turbine and the Type 31e will use an all diesel arrangement.Current RN power generation research is focussed on adapting flywheel energy conservation technologies developed for Formula One racing to help meet the power-surge requirements of directed energy weapon systems.The Type 45 Destroyer uses an integrated electric propulsion (IEP) system. Two innovative intercooled Rolls Royce/Northrop Grumman WR-21 gas turbines and two Wartsila 2MW diesel generators provide electrical power for both the main engines and the ships systems. Problems with the WR-21’s intercooler has meant that these ships are now getting an additional diesel generator to increase available power. Type 26 frigates and Queen Elizabeth class carriers use the more conventionally designed but much more powerful Rolls Royce MT-30 gas turbines alongside diesel gensets.The RN’s submarines are all nuclear powered and best in class, and new SSNs and SSBNs are building. The SSBNs carry the latest Trident D4 ICBMs while the SSNs carry Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles as well as Spearfish high-speed homing torpedoes and can carry sub-launched Harpoon anti-ship missiles. In particular the RN’s submarine and towed array sonar systems are very advanced, and the subs themselves very quiet.A 17,000 ton Vanguard class SSBN - each carries 16 Trident D4 ICBMs and torpedoes. Four new 18,000 ton Dreadnought class SSBNs are building, each carrying 12 Trident D5s with the ability to launch land attack cruise missiles too.The Mine Counter Measures ships are older but also advanced GRP (glass fibre) vessels, and have been regularly updated with the latest mine countermeasures technologies and combat management systems, recently received new diesel powerplants, radars and gun systems and are integrating a new Anglo-French developed offboard unmanned mine sweeping and hunting system (ARCIMS).ARCIMS the Royal Navy’s new unmanned mine countermeasures system. The USVs can be launched from a variety of ships.The amphibious fleet was also renewed in the early 2000s with new large Landing Platform Docks (LPDs) and Landing Ship Docks (LSD) and is very up to date. It was recently announced that this capability will be expanded by the acquisition of two Littoral Strike Ships designed to support raiding forces. The RN has also recently completed a programme to upgrade its Merlin combat transport helicopter variants and the Amy’s current WH-64D Apache attack helicopters, and on-order AH-64Es, are all designed with folding rotor blades for ship-borne operations.Two Littoral Strike Ships are being designed to support Royal Marines and Special Forces raiding operations. Converted from commercial hulls, they will operate helicopters, unmanned systems and assault craft and provide mobile basing and command facilities for special operations. They are likely to be forward based in the Gulf, Indian Ocean and Mediterranean.The aircraft carriers are very large (66,000 tons), brand new cutting edge ships with the latest carrier capable aircraft (F-35Bs), although they need more of them. The carriers have some novel features such as a fully automated weapons handling system that can deliver the right weapons to the aircraft hanger from the magazine autonomously. They also have two islands, allowing the ship to be commanded from the forward island - which has good visibility forward - and direct aircraft operations from the rear island - which has panoramic views over the flight deck. Each island also serves as a funnel for one of the ship’s two MT30 gas turbines, which help drive the integrated electric power system along with diesel generators located below the hangar deck. Separate islands also keep the ship’s two air search and tracking radars apart and provide redundancy for command and control in the event of battle damage.HMS Queen Elizabeth conducting trials with her F-35B Lightning stealth jets. The F-35s are operated jointly by the RAF and Fleet Air Arm and can carry Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missiles as well a a range of air to surface weapons in an internal weapons bay.The UK is the only Tier 1 partner on the F-35 programme and Rolls Royce developed the lift-fan for the VSTOL variant. Around 15% of every F-35A and F-35C is manufactured in the UK, and 20% of the F-35B. Although the UK is committed to purchasing 138 F-35s only 42 have been ordered so far and its unclear how many will be available for carrier operations.One area where the RN lags behind is unmanned systems. There has been a lot of R&D projects for air, surface and subsurface systems, but few have entered service yet. The RN has a Fleet Air Arm squadron testing unmanned air systems which it intends to deploy eventually on escorts and aircraft carriers, and has used the Australian/US SeaScan system in the gulf on Frigates. A new ‘NavyX’ project has recently been funded to redress this imbalance.Babcock’s 5,500 ton ‘Arrowhead’ frigate, a Danish design selected for the new Type 31e general purpose frigate contract awarded this year. These ships are designed for low-end or asymmetric combat such as counter-terrorism and counter-piracy missions. Apart from a Wildcat helicopter and some SSMs, their armament is primarily defensive and the sensor suite limited to self-protection, although they can be upgraded to anti-submarine and air defence platforms with Type 41 VLS for longer ranged anti-air and anti-submarine missiles, a wide area search radar and towed array sonar.A few years back the RN commissioned Leonardo to build a prototype optionally-manned VSTOL system (the ‘Solo’). Leonardo have further developed the concept as the ‘AWHero’ which is entering production. Although not ordered for the RN yet, the navy has a requirement for a VSTOL UAV of this capability for the Type 26 frigates and carriers. An Anglo-French project is developing an unmanned mine countermeasures system (of which three are entering service - one to protect the nuclear submarine base at Faslane in Scotland, and two for service in the Gulf).The Sea Ceptor air defence missile system is being retrofitted to Type 23 frigates during LIFEX and will be carried by new Type 26 and Type 31e frigates. Derived from the ASRAAM air-to-air missile, it has 40km range and uses a unique soft-launch system which allows it to be quad-packed in a VLS cell - increasing the number of rounds that can be carried and launched simultaneously. MBDA is developing a conventionally launched extended range (50km +) version for the Italian and Spanish navies and this might replace Aster 15 on the Type 45s in the future.The navy has also recently allocated funds to acquire an experimental extra large unmanned underwater vessel (in effect an unmanned submarine) as well as an unmanned anti-submarine warfare training system. Unmanned underwater systems are already in use for the detection and destruction of seamines and hydrographic survey tasks.The BAe/ASI Pacific 950 autonomous RIB. This arrangement can be fitted to the RN’s Pacific 24 RIBs to convert them to unmanned surface vessels to enhance surveillance in littoral environments and provide force protection against asymmetric threats.BAe and ASI defence recently trialled an unmanned surface vessel package that can be retrofitted to the Royal Navy’s Pacific 24 RIBs (most ships carry several of these). This includes the sensors, communications link and autonomous systems to task and drive the RIB and an automated weapons station for a 12.7mm HMG. Such a USV has long endurance and can be coordinated by a helicopter or from a UAS. Potentially a useful surveillance and force protection assets.Eight 8,000 ton Type 26 ‘City’ class ASW frigates are under construction for the Royal Navy by BAe. in Glasgow. These are very advanced fleet escort platforms with a range of high-end offensive weaponry and sensors for surface attack and anti-submarine missions and sophisticated defensive weaponry and electronic countermeasures suites.Another area for improvement is the medium gun system. The RN has persevered with the Mk. 8 114mm (4.5″) automated gun system since the late 1960s, which, although they have been upgraded to Mod 1 standard in recent years, are short on range and rate of fire and lack a precision guided munition when compared to more modern systems.The Mk 8 Mod 1 gun, known as ‘Kryten’ in the RN due to its similarity to the Red Dwarf character. The Mk 8 has served the RN well since its introduction in 1969 but has reached the end of its development pathway. New escorts will get the BAe Mk 45 Mod 4 gun.The new Type 26 frigates will get the US developed BAe. systems Mk. 45 Mod 4 127mm (5″) gun, and its likely these will be retrofitted to Type 45 destroyers in due course. Its unclear what system the Type 31e general purpose frigates will get (there have been images with either the Type 45 or the BAe/Bofors 57mm system fitted to the USN Littoral Combat Ship).Project Mosquito is developing a low-cost autonomous unmanned system to operate with the F-35s and future RAF project Tempest 6th generation aircraft. Its envisaged that these UCAVs will operate from the Royal Navy’s carriers alongside the F-35Bs. They could have kinetic strike, electronic warfare (including cyber attack), surveillance and air defence capabilities.There are more R&D projects underway to develop directed energy (laser) weapons, including the Dragonfire CIWS. The RN will also benefit from the RAF-led Mosquito project for unmanned air systems to operate with the F-35s from the carriers as so called ‘loyal wingmen’. New long-range supersonic (and possibly hypersonic) antiship and cruise missiles are funded or under R&D too.Perseus is MBDA’s concept for a future supersonic cruise/anti-ship missile under joint development by Britain and France. It will be both air and sea launched and replace Tomahawk and Storm Shadow cruise missiles as well as ship and submarine launched anti-ship missiles. A longer ranged stealthy but subsonic cruise missile is also being developed.It was recently announced that the RN will procure an off-the-shelf interim anti-ship missile to replace its ageing Harpoon systems while these more advanced systems are under development: the Kongsberg/Raytheon Naval Strike Missile or Lockheed Martin Long Range Anti Ship Missile are likely candidates, although its possible that the latest version of Harpoon might be bought for the Type 23s. SAAB’s RBS-15 and MBDA’s latest Exocet variant are outside choices.All of the RN’s larger warships and many smaller ones are fitted with DS30M automated 30mm gun systems for protection against swarming small boat attacks. A version fitted with the Martlet Lightweight Multirole Missile (which extends the DS30M system’s range out to 6km) was recently tested, and this upgrade is likely to fitted to RN ships in future.All RN ships have been given much improved self-protection systems in recent years. These range from soft-kill electronic countermeasures (jammers), decoys and chaff dispensers to hard kill systems such as the DS30M automated 30mm bushmaster gun system (which is being integrated with Martlet missiles), the Sea Ceptor 40km range point air defence missile, as well as upgraded 20mm Phalanx CIWS for protection against sea-skimiming missiles and 7.62 miniguns for use against small boats. The new type 31 frigates will get BAe Bofors 57mm and 40mm rapid fire guns. Two of the Type 45 Destroyers have sophisticated electronic intelligence gathering systems fitted too.Two of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s Tide-class 37,000 ton replenishment tankers. The RFA has six large tankers in total. 3 new fleet solid support vessels - designed to deliver ammunition and dry stores to warships - are due to be ordered shortly.As far as support ships go, the replenishment tanker fleet is large and up to date and although the fleet solid support ships are older, they are due to be replaced by new ships in the next few years. The survey ships and offshore patrol vessels are modern and up to date and there is a much modernised specialist vessel for helicopter training and casualty clearance (in effect a floating field hospital) and an icebreaker for service in the Antarctic.The Leonardo ‘AWHero’ VSTOL UAS for the Royal Navy. Developed from a RN funded ‘AWSolo’ technology demonstrator, the Hero has flown already and Leonardo are preparing to manufacture the UAS. As well as improving situational awareness, these unmanned systems can also drop sonar buoys and carry torpedoes and lightweight missiles. They can be tasked by their parent ship or from a Wildcat or Merlin helicopter.The RAF is responsible for shore-based maritime aircraft and this capability lapsed after the Nimrod MRA4 maritime patrol aircraft was cancelled during the 2010 strategic defence review - a major miscalculation that was reversed in 2015. The RAF is now receiving Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft from the USA and may get a maritime variant of the Protector unmanned surveillance aircraft in due course.Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters provide a surface attack capability for escorts. Armed with Sea Venom and Martlet missiles they have a sophisticated suite of sensors including a 360 degree radar, electro-optical turret and passive electronic intelligence gathering devices. Their datalink and combat system allows them receive and feed information directly from and to the ships combat management system and control and integrate data gathered by unmanned systems.The Royal Navy operates modified Merlin helicopters in the combat transport and combat rescue role in support of the Royal Marines, and some Wildcats in the RM support role too. RAF Chinook medium lift helicopters (including special forces variants) and Army Apache attack helicopters are also operated from the Navy’s amphibious ships and carriers, and the RAF is set to refresh the Chinook fleet with extended range MH-47G variants that are more suited to carrier operations. All of the Royal Navy, Army and RAF helicopters are about to receive a new generation of high-spec eletro-optical turrets.A maritime patrol version of the Protector UAS (the General Atomics MQ-9B Sea Guardian) has been developed integrating a UK designed radar. The strike version of the Protector is on order for the RAF and it has been speculated that some maritime patrol variants will be ordered in due course to work with the P-8As.Maritime search and rescue was a Royal Navy and RAF responsibility until recently, when it was handed over to HM Coastguard. The Coastguard have refreshed the SAR helicopter fleet, replacing the RAF and RN Sea Kings with new Sikorsky S-92 and Leonardo AW-139 and AW-189 rescue helicopters. The RAF provides C-130s to support long-range SAR and operates a number of AW-139s to provide SAR training for RN and RAF helicopter aircrews, while the Coastguard also operate fixed wing radar and infra-red camera equipped Jetstream 41 and Cessna Caravan II aircraft for coastal surveillance and SAR, and are trialling UK designed UAVs in the SAR role.One of HM Coastguard’s S-92 MR long-range search and rescue helicopters. Coastguard S-92s and AW-139/189 rescue helicopters are deployed around the UK coastline and on the Falkland Islands. RAF Griffin (Bell 412) helicopters provide SAR for the RAF base at Akrotiri in Cyprus and RN Merlins provide a combat rescue service for all three services.Working with vessels operated by the Scottish Fishery Protection Service, HM Coastguard and HM Border Force, the Royal Navy’s offshore patrol vessels help protect Britain’s maritime borders and offshore assets as well as conducting counter-narcotics, counter-piracy and counter-terrorism tasks. These new ships can also carry out humanitarian relief and search and rescue missions.A concept for the new fleet solid support ships due to be ordered for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in the the next twelve month. These three ships will provide ammunition and dry stores replenishment at sea for the carrier and littoral strike groups.It was recently announced at DSEI 2019 that the RN is looking to increase the lethality of the five River batch 2 vessels, presumably to allow them to provide more than a policing function, and operate in asymmetric warfare environments such as the Gulf. The likely upgrade would include a 57mm gun, two 30mm guns with Martlet missiles, a retractible hangar for a Wildcat helicopter or UAS, and a better radar and combat management system upgrade - silos for Sea Ceptor missiles, a lightweight towed array sonar or a Phalanx CIWS could also be added. The ships would need to loose their crane and spaces for 20′ containers to accommodate this upgrade.HMS Medway, a River-class Batch 2 Patrol Vessel, delivered to the RN this year. One ship is permanently deployed to the Falkland Islands along with the ice patrol ship HMS Protector and two inshore patrol craft. Offshore and inshore patrol craft are also based in the UK, where they also support the Royal Navy’s officer and university cadet training schemes, and at Gibraltar and Cyprus.While the Royal Navy needs to sustain its technological advantage over potential adversaries, it critically needs more volume, especially submarines, escorts and aircraft (fixed wing, helicopters and UAS). The present government has expressed a desire to increase the size of the surface fleet by 2030, but no details have emerged as yet. Some of this deficit in volume could be made up by using autonomous unmanned systems (which reduce the requirement for more manpower), and ‘NavyX’ initiative, Leonardo AWHero UAV, ARCIMS, “Project Mosquito” and unmanned submarine initiatives could really help bulk out the fleet air arm, mine countermeasures and submarine fleets and add capability to surface ships. Nevertheless the Royal Navy needs more escorts and fast jets, and one can only hope that more Type 26 and/or Type 31e frigates and F-35Bs will be ordered.More F-35s are required to enable the Royal Navy’s carrier strike potential to be realised. F-35s are optimised for fleet air defence, strike and ISTAR missions. They carry ASRAAM and Meteor air-to-air missiles, Paveway IV precision guided bombs and will be integrated with new Spear 3 100km range air to surface and electronic attack missiles and a future cruise and anti-ship missile in due course.If more cash becomes available a nice to have would be an in-flight refuelling capability to extend the range of the F-35s and Merlins and Chinooks deployed on the carriers and littoral strike ships. The MV-22 Osprey fits the bill, and would also provide the Fleet Air Arm with a longer ranged tactical transport capability for carrier on board delivery and to support littoral strike operations. The MV-22 is the only aircraft in service that can carry a complete replacement engine for a F-35 and land on a carrier. What is much more likely is a purchase of 16 extended range Chinooks for carrier on board delivery, and a request was sent to DSCA and Congress to approve that sale in October 2018.“Nice to have but unlikely to get”. MV-22 tilt-rotor tanker-transports would prove useful force-multipliers for the carriers. In addition to the F-35Bs, they could refuel RN Merlins and RAF Chinooks, both of which types are fitted ‘for but not with’ refuelling probes.

Well over 80% of families have access to a car or light truck. Remember, children under the age of 14 cannot drive in most states, so they don’t need cars.From the LA times -253 million cars and trucks on U.S. roads; average age is 11.4 yearsData from department of transportation. Note that some classification of trucks and cars have changed, mostly as the result of the rise of SUVs.Table 1-11: Number of U.S. Aircraft, Vehicles, Vessels, and Other ConveyancesPopulation of the US is about 324 million people -Demography of the United States - Wikipedia61 million children are under 15 years old.That leaves 264 million adults.So that leaves 253 million cars and light trucks for 264 million adults.That is not enough for everyone, but the auto sales usually run over 14 million units per year, so we will eventually get to 1:1.Now you should understand why the US does not spend much on public transit.