I have for a long time tried to champion - in my own modest way - the issue of procuring the appropriate vehicles for the British Army. The 'cheap and cheerful' approach, born of the mythical idea that Britain is 'at peace', just doesn't wash in my opinion.

The Janes's Defence News and the MoD News web sites have announced the purchase of yet another vehicle  for the Army to test out. But far from being some new and cutting edge vehicular technology that some boffin has thought up, the MoD is looking at what amounts to a bit of a 'second hand' donkey that they probably found in the back of Autotrader!

If you haven't already heard of the General Dynamic's Piranha, then the fact is that this vehicle has been knocking around for some time and has been used by such nations as the United States and Canada in Iraq and Afghanistan.

So, it's 'combat proven' you say?

Er, well, it's been in combat. But the fact is that this vehicle has been pilloried quite harshly by American military pundits and even by the soldiers who have used it in action.

A quick Google for 'LAV III' (the US nomenclature for their version of the Piranha) will soon result in a series of links highlighting this vehicles deficiencies and vulnerabilities - so one has to ask, does the MoD ever think of using Google?

I won't rant on, as I think my distain and disgust are evident, but instead I will point you to the excellent 'Defence of the Realm' blog, which sums the Piranha up very, very expertly: 'The Generals get their toys' 

I woke up this morning to glorious sunshine! A sign that spring/summer has finally reached Northern England.

This is great news, as it means that I can look forward to some lovely airsoft days, but also I can kick-start my Milgeek day's out - which have been in hibernation over the winter period. 

There are loads of things to do in my region of the country, air shows, outdoor museums, re-enactments and historical parks and buildings to visit. In particular, our very own Scarborough Castle is hosting a fantastic schedule of historical re-enactiments and historical fairs over the summer season, and I will be recording most them I hope.

Scarborough Castle events include: (For information about the castle - click here)

'Medieval Siege' - Sat 26 & Sun 27 Jul
'King Henry's Joust' - Sat 2 & Sun 3 Aug
'The Power of the Normans' - Sat 23 - Mon 25 Aug

The catchy titled 'wheresoft.co.uk' is a new site which hosts a useful Google Map of the airsoft venues in the UK. Always handy as airsofters like the occasional change of scene. Click on the image to go to the Wheresoft.co.uk map...

Thanks to my favourite daily Blog digest - Boing Boing - for this glorious find. Here's a nice little piece on the 'recreational' military activities of the Afghan Army...

Thank again to Boing Boing (who's post resides here) and to Wired's Defence News where the article originally appeared as 'Getting High Before a Firefight? Bad Idea, Dude' - I recommend reading it. 

I am annoyed with myself that I missed this brilliant idea until now - but am posting it up as many groups of lads, like my friends and I, have a regular 'curry night'...So this is a great way to turn a social event you do anyway into a fundraiser (no matter how small the donation)!

As the site says (link below) - although the main aim was to co-ordinate curry lunches with today's Lord Mayor's lunch, time isn't the main thing, so if you are having a curry meal with friends over the next couple of weeks, please consider having a 'whip round'!

I am off out for a curry with friends next Tuesday, and I will be passing round the hat after we've had a few beers!

> The World's Biggest Curry Lunch Website