The Bilge Pumps

So this week is Episode 44... Where Jamie, our Antipodean Compatriot has found an article he really wanted to discuss... proposing a New Washington Naval Treaty... whilst Alex & Drach also wanted to discuss the Type 83 that has appeared in the Defence Command Paper (Links to All are Below). At which point we remembered that we are the hosts and whilst we had wanted a guest this week, we could talk about it all with or without one. So that's what we did. This is the Bilgepumps crew ruminating over modern international relations, China, the United States, whether British Governments will ever fund defence in peace time consistently and many, many other topics as well.

#Bilgepumps is still a newish series and new avenue, which may no longer boast the new car smell, in fact decidedly more of pineapple/irn bru smell with a hint of mint cake and the faintest whiff of fried chicken. But we're getting the impression it's liked, so we’d very much like any comments, topic suggestions or ideas for artwork to be tweeted to us, the #Bilgepump crew (with #Bilgepumps), at Alex (@AC_NavalHistory), Drach (@Drachinifel), and Jamie (@Armouredcarrier). Or you can comment on our Youtube channels (listed down below).

So how to do Episode 43? What should we talk about on day when we are thinking back to being at least 40 episodes past our original target - so now we get a guest, Paul Woodadge of WW2TV and we discuss the burning issue that is at the heart of our podcast. Bilgepumps is about using history to consider current events, what happens if the History which is remembered, is not the real History - but a mythology formed by popular accounts and personal perspectives. Something which is especially relevant in the Historical themed drama era, when programs or movies might make use of real people from history to populate their storylines, the words they speak and perhaps even their actions are the products of creative licence.

#Bilgepumps is still a newish series and new avenue, which may no longer boast the new car smell, in fact decidedly more of pineapple/irn bru smell with a hint of mint cake and the faintest whiff of fried chicken. But we're getting the impression it's liked, so we’d very much like any comments, topic suggestions or ideas for artwork to be tweeted to us, the #Bilgepump crew (with #Bilgepumps), at Alex (@AC_NavalHistory), Drach (@Drachinifel), and Jamie (@Armouredcarrier). Or you can comment on our Youtube channels (listed down below).

So this week is Episode 42... where Bilgepumps Answers everything... well everything Integrated review wise and considering the contants of the Command Paper it seems we got a lot more right than wrong... But still, we probably did not manage to avoide controversy, although even we didn't see the Type 83 coming.

#Bilgepumps is still a newish series and new avenue, which may no longer boast the new car smell, in fact decidedly more of pineapple/irn bru smell with a hint of mint cake and the faintest whiff of fried chicken. But we're getting the impression it's liked, so we’d very much like any comments, topic suggestions or ideas for artwork to be tweeted to us, the #Bilgepump crew (with #Bilgepumps), at Alex (@AC_NavalHistory), Drach (@Drachinifel), and Jamie (@Armouredcarrier). Or you can comment on our Youtube channels (listed down below).

It's Episode 41, and we are not talking about VLS... which is strange, but that's because we have something far more interesting to talk about... It's one of the listner proposals, it is Dr Scott Able to talk to us about the history of one of most contested spaces on earth. The Singapore Straits and the South China Sea.

#Bilgepumps is still a newish series and new avenue, which may no longer boast the new car smell, in fact decidedly more of pineapple/irn bru smell with a hint of mint cake and the faintest whiff of fried chicken – but we're getting the impression it's liked, so we’d very much like any comments, topic suggestions or ideas for artwork to be tweeted to us, the #Bilgepump crew (with #Bilgepumps), at Alex (@AC_NavalHistory), Drach (@Drachinifel), and Jamie (@Armouredcarrier). Or you can comment on our Youtube channels (listed down below).

It's Episode 40, not that far from the big Five-Two, so what topic should we do? This time the regular crew are by David Larter (@DavidLarter of Defence News) to discuss the US Navy and the impact seemingly short term decisions can have... on current presence missions as well as future command.

#Bilgepumps is still a newish series and new avenue, which may no longer boast the new car smell, in fact decidedly more of pineapple/irn bru smell with a hint of mint cake and the faintest whiff of fried chicken – but we're getting the impression it's liked, so we’d very much like any comments, topic suggestions or ideas for artwork to be tweeted to us, the #Bilgepump crew (with #Bilgepumps), at Alex (@AC_NavalHistory), Drach (@Drachinifel), and Jamie (@Armouredcarrier). Or you can comment on our Youtube channels (listed down below).

As by now listeners will know, in the Long War discussion of Episode 36... the Bilgepumps chatted for a small amount of time, as the Bilgepumps crew is want to do, about applying the age of sail rating system to modern ships... someone, Alex, may have mentioned that the Daring class are 4th rate under those terms and that the USN is rapidly getting rid of it's only 1st rates... Drach may hav pointed out that the Sejong the Greats are 1st rates... Jamie may have questioned the rational for certain ships...

Anyway, this made several people rather angry, furthermore it may have led to a number of contacts where we were firmly told we were wrong as " doesn't buy anything but first rate ships for their navy" and that we should drop it...

So we did, right into the suggestion box for the headline topic episode 37... well this garnered even more reaction, both positive and negative, so we decided we needed to write a paper - which we will do, but first we should get other peoples opinions... Which we thought we'd record whilst doing, so that the listeners could follow us on our journey of developing a modern, practical, rating system for warships in the 21st century... so without much further ado, this our first discussion, where the guests were Cdr Steve George (RN Engineering Extraordinaire Retired: current volunteer guide a Yeovilton naval aviation museum, ask for him, he is the best) & Sal Mercogliano (History Prof Campbell University, Adjunct USMMA, Maritime Historian, Faculty Athletic Rep, Merchant Mariner, Captain-Northwest Harnett VFD; @mercoglianos)... so we hope you enjoy!

#Bilgepumps is still a newish series and new avenue, which may no longer boast the new car smell, in fact decidedly more of pineapple/irn bru smell with a hint of mint cake and the faintest whiff of fried chicken – but we're getting the impression it's liked, so we’d very much like any comments, topic suggestions or ideas for artwork to be tweeted to us, the #Bilgepump crew (with #Bilgepumps), at Alex (@AC_NavalHistory), Drach (@Drachinifel), and Jamie (@Armouredcarrier). Or you can comment on our Youtube channels (listed down below).

By Alex Clarke

Hello everyone! This is the first of our users' submissions to air. Originally due to the number of people involved, it was thought to be one of the hardest episodes to organize, but it came together remarkably quickly. For that we have to thank the three members of the Section 22 research team who joined us:

Trent Telenko (@trenttelenko), Craig Bellamy, and Peter Dunn (@Ozatwar) of Australia at War. 

They were fantastic guests and we hope you love this bumper-length and bumper content episode as much as we did.

#Bilgepumps is still a newish series and new avenue, which may no longer boast the new car smell, in fact decidedly more of pineapple/irn bru smell with a hint of mint cake and the faintest whiff of fried chicken. But we're getting the impression it's liked, so we’d very much like any comments, topic suggestions or ideas for artwork to be tweeted to us, the #Bilgepump crew (with #Bilgepumps), at Alex (@AC_NavalHistory), Drach (@Drachinifel), and Jamie (@Armouredcarrier). Or you can comment on our Youtube channels (listed down below).

Trent Telenko of @trenttelenko on twitter

Craig Bellamy

Peter Dunn of Australia @ War website / @Ozatwar on twitter

They were fantastic guests and we hope you love this bumper length & bumper content episode as much as we did...

#Bilgepumps is still a newish series and new avenue, which may no longer boast the new car smell, in fact decidedly more of pineapple/irn bru smell with a hint of mint cake and the faintest whiff of fried chicken – but we're getting the impression it's liked, so we’d very much like any comments, topic suggestions or ideas for artwork to be tweeted to us, the #Bilgepump crew (with #Bilgepumps), at Alex (@AC_NavalHistory), Drach (@Drachinifel), and Jamie (@Armouredcarrier). Or you can comment on our Youtube channels (listed down below).

So last week, in the Long War discussion of Episode 36, we chatted for a small amount of time, as the Bilge Pumps crew is want to do, about applying the age of sail rating system to modern ships. Someone may have mentioned that the Daring-class are fourth rate under those terms and that the U.S. Navy is rapidly getting rid of its only first rates. Drach may have pointed out that the Sejong the Greats are first rates, and Jamie may have questioned the rationale for certain ships...

Anyway, this seems to have made several people rather angry, and furthermore, it may have led to a number of contacts where we were firmly told we were wrong as " doesn't buy anything but first rate ships for their navy" and that we should drop it. So we did, right into the suggestion box for the headline topic of this week. Enjoy! And seriously, for people who claimed to be "regular listeners to our otherwise brilliant show," it's as if they didn't know us at all!

#Bilgepumps is still a newish series and new avenue, which may no longer boast the new car smell, in fact decidedly more of pineapple/irn bru smell with a hint of mint cake and the faintest whiff of fried chicken. But we're getting the impression it's liked, so we’d very much like any comments, topic suggestions or ideas for artwork to be tweeted to us, the #Bilgepump crew (with #Bilgepumps), at Alex (@AC_NavalHistory), Drach (@Drachinifel), and Jamie (@Armouredcarrier). Or you can comment on our Youtube channels (listed down below).

After Episode 35, we decided to go full Long War and it has brought out the vocabulary in all of us...plus Valentines tips!

#Bilgepumps is still a newish series and new avenue, which may no longer boast the new car smell, in fact decidedly more of pineapple/irn bru smell with a hint of mint cake and the faintest whiff of fried chicken – but we're getting the impression it's liked, so we’d very much like any comments, topic suggestions or ideas for artwork to be tweeted to us, the #Bilgepump crew (with #Bilgepumps), at Alex (@AC_NavalHistory), Drach (@Drachinifel), and Jamie (@Armouredcarrier). Or you can comment on our Youtube channels (listed down below).

Dear all, for this Bilge Pumps we once more must apologize in advance for the amount of, this time, British in this podcast. We are on the topic of the Long War and of a couple of Alex and Drach's particular passion topics, for example command culture and why it needs to be carefully managed both from a moral and an operational perspective. We also discuss the range of the Carrier Air Group and why a lot of the complaints currently being leveled at aircraft carriers are more a factor of that than the aircraft carrier itself as a concept.

#Bilgepumps is still a newish series and new avenue, which may no longer boast the new car smell, in fact decidedly more of pineapple/irn bru smell with a hint of mint cake and the faintest whiff of fried chicken. But we're getting the impression it's liked, so we’d very much like any comments, topic suggestions or ideas for artwork to be tweeted to us, the #Bilgepump crew (with #Bilgepumps), at Alex (@AC_NavalHistory), Drach (@Drachinifel), and Jamie (@Armouredcarrier). Or you can comment on our Youtube channels (listed down below).