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Summary of Military history WikiProject open tasks watch · edit · full list News and announcements The June newsletter is now available. Editors are advised that Featured Articles promoted before 2016 are in need of review, if you had an article promoted to Featured status on or before 2016 please check and update your article before they are listed at FAR/C. Current discussions No major discussions are open at the moment Featured article candidates Tetricus I • Battle of Plum Point Bend • Jozo Tomasevich • Genghis Khan • Bradley Winslow Featured article review Byzantine Empire • Battle of Red Cliffs • Edward I of England • Northrop YF-23 Featured picture candidates Thorsten Nordenfelt A-Class review Henry Biard • Battle of Saipan • Fort Corcoran • Sihanouk Trail • Battle of La Haye-du-Puits • Battle of Tinian • Henry Macandrew • Boot Monument • HMS Sardonyx (1919) • CSS General Earl Van Dorn • Miyoshi Nagayoshi • Ernest J. King Peer reviews Muckrach Castle • Regency of Algiers • Wolfgang Larrazábal • Benjamin Jackson (sailor) Good article nominees Nazran uprising • Abu'l-Fath Khan Javanshir • Ava–Hanthawaddy War (1401–1403) • Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma • Khalji Revolution • 1864 Washington Arsenal explosion • Antoine Hamilton • George II of Greece • Roswell incident • Podgorica Assembly • Maximiliano Hernández Martínez • Mohammad Shah Qajar • Battle of Meligalas • Gubir shootdown • Chestertown Armory • Mariano R. Vázquez • Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk • Gotha WD.7 • Cultybraggan Camp • Constantine II (emperor) • First Hunnic War • HMS Menace (1915) • Japanese destroyer Natsuzuki • CSS General Polk • Battle of Lewisburg • Bill Crawford-Compton • HMS Glenmore (1796) • Sentient (intelligence analysis system) • Tim Hughes (soldier) • John S. McCain Sr. • HMS Trent (1796) • Eleanor of Castile • Battle of Durazzo (1376) • Charles Upham Good article reassessments Galatian War • Franklin's lost expedition • Justinian I • Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division • Civil War token Articles that need... work on referencing and citation (147,570) • only work on referencing and citation (43,149) • work on coverage and accuracy (122,711) • only work on coverage and accuracy (19,683) • work on structure (31,793) • only work on structure (357) • work on grammar (8,169) • only work on grammar (45) • work on supporting materials (32,774) • only work on supporting materials (1,336) • assessment (995) • assessment as lists (119) • project tags fixed (5) • assessment checklists added (0) • assessment checklists completed (5) • task forces added (283) • attention to task force coverage (657)

Korean War

You are invited to join the discussion at Talk:Korean War#Reversion of Reversion. RightCowLeftCoast (talk) 00:37, 6 April 2013 (UTC)Template:Z48

Unfortunately, I have become engaged with what I currently view as a well meaning disruptive editor. I initially reverted a bold addition of content based on WP:BRD & WP:UNDUE, which was reverted. I started a discussion, and overtime a consensus (2 v 1) was to remove an image, which was done, and reverted again. At this point I have suggested a compromise. Additional editors are requested so that a more clear consensus can be formed, and this issue be resolved without devolving.--RightCowLeftCoast (talk) 00:33, 12 April 2013 (UTC)

A-class reviews in need of attention

Hi folks, if anybody has a little time on their hands to contribute a review at WP:MHACR, it would be greatly appreciated. The following:

• Wikipedia:WikiProject Military history/Assessment/Hungarian occupation of Yugoslav territories (needs one more positive review) (this should be good to go once the latest comments are addressed)
• Wikipedia:WikiProject Military history/Assessment/USS Kearsarge (BB-5) (has received only one review, with no declaration of support)
• Wikipedia:WikiProject Military history/Assessment/D-Day naval deceptions (need one more positive review)
• Wikipedia:WikiProject Military history/Assessment/James Moore (Continental Army officer) (has received almost no comments whatsoever)
• Wikipedia:WikiProject Military history/Assessment/Niels Bohr (has one support; needs two more)
• Wikipedia:WikiProject Military history/Assessment/Henry I of England (has a few comments but no declarations of support)
• Wikipedia:WikiProject Military history/Assessment/Operation Winter '94 (has received no attention at all)

have been open for three weeks or longer and have not received sufficient reviews for promotion. Any help would be appreciated—even just reading through it and asking any questions that pop into your mind is helpful. Thanks, HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 16:46, 6 April 2013 (UTC)

Kudos to Hawkeye, Rupert, and AnotherClown for their efforts. Any more help would be gratefully accepted. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 00:23, 7 April 2013 (UTC)

If anybody has some time to provide a third review at Wikipedia:WikiProject Military history/Assessment/James Moore (Continental Army officer), we'll have the ripest reviews out of the way which will allow us to focus on those needing more attention. Thanks, HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 23:41, 9 April 2013 (UTC)

Crew cut

It's surprisingly hard to find an image. I want one for List of hairstyles.

Nothing here or here. Can someone please help?

Anna Frodesiak (talk) 17:39, 6 April 2013 (UTC)

Is File:Gaines 1921 naval academy.jpg or File:Trauma_nurse_--_1960s.jpg any good? How about File:Marines_do_pushups.jpg or File:Combat_knife_attached_to_gun.jpg? Alansplodge (talk) 23:06, 8 April 2013 (UTC)

I like this one (shown) because it will crop well, and it's modern. Is it officially a crew cut? Anna Frodesiak (talk) 23:49, 8 April 2013 (UTC)

• Close enough anyway. The high and tight seem to be a type of a crew cut or a close cousin, btw. -Fnlayson (talk) 00:04, 9 April 2013 (UTC)

Sounds good. I've added a cropped version to List of hairstyles. Many thanks, Anna Frodesiak (talk) 13:49, 9 April 2013 (UTC)

 Done

French intelligence agency blackmailing an Fr-Wiki admin to delete an article on a military communications facility

Details are at Wikipedia:Village pump (miscellaneous)#Foundation statement regarding the situation in France. This is obviously highly relevant for members of this project. I've seen a few examples of what appear to be military personnel removing information sourced to publicly-available documents (including published books and websites) from articles on the grounds of 'operational security', but this awful behaviour by the French government goes well beyond this. Nick-D (talk) 23:50, 6 April 2013 (UTC)

I've also been posting the most relevant links on the Signpost's Twitter feed, if that's easier to read for you all. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 23:59, 6 April 2013 (UTC)

BTW, the article in question has now been translated into English at Pierre-sur-Haute military radio station, as well as a heap of other languages. Nick-D (talk) 12:06, 9 April 2013 (UTC)

I've also created Joint Direction of Infrastructure Networks and Information Systems. Buckshot06 (talk) 10:14, 11 April 2013 (UTC)

Nice one guys. Do these guys even know how WP works? It would be funny if the poor old admin in France hadn't been shafted by the spooks. I can feel a revision of that old "Heaven and Hell" chestnut, including "Hell is where the intelligence is provided by the French"... Peacemaker67 (send... over) 12:16, 11 April 2013 (UTC)

Twenty seven interwikis as of right now, can the French intelligence agency spell "Streisand Effect"? Roger (Dodger67) (talk) 12:50, 11 April 2013 (UTC)

I'd agree with some of the French reporting that assumes the actual content of the article was not that greatly interesting to the French government. This was a probe to gauge reaction and understand possible outcomes. W. B. Wilson (talk) 05:39, 12 April 2013 (UTC)

I believe via a combined effort of Wikimedia Switzerland and Wikimedia Belgium, an envelope-stuffing effort is now taking place to post copies of the original French TV documentary to every world intelligence service, with translation offered if required. Buckshot06 (talk) 00:01, 1 April 2013 (UTC)

Hmm, that may be a good way to garner the attention of multiple government authorities. I hope those sending the information don't assume that their efforts will be appreciated by the recipients -- spooks tend to be a very closed club and don't like the public getting involved. W. B. Wilson (talk) 18:58, 12 April 2013 (UTC)

Er, please compare my timestamp to the others in this thread. Buckshot06 (talk) 03:22, 13 April 2013 (UTC)

Sorry Buckshot06, I'm too much an old grump to recognize an April Fool's gambit -- you got me. Honestly, what you described sounds like something some who lack much real-world experience might try. W. B. Wilson (talk) 07:46, 13 April 2013 (UTC)

"Twenty seven interwikis as of right now" You've heard there's talk France may block access? Which makes me think, "Babelfish"... Or another online translator. TREKphiler ^{any time you're ready, Uhura} 07:56, 12 April 2013 (UTC)

The really interesting thing is that the French government isn't backing down. When this was first reported I assumed that it was a relatively junior agent grossly exceeding his or her authority, yet the French government is doubling down on it. The stupid thing is that the few countries with the capacity to attack France would have probably known all about this facility decades ago; it's not easy to hide nuclear weapons communication facilities and (AFAIK) the US and UK don't bother trying. Nick-D (talk) 08:52, 12 April 2013 (UTC)

Yeah, without knowing what their objectives are it is hard to tell what the endgame is. It may be what you assumed, but now the authorities don't want to publicly admit they made a mistake; it may also be a way of generally cranking up pressure on French participants in Wikimedia for purposes unknown. Frankly, my impression is the English-language Wikipedia is a common target for propaganda of every stripe and some of those introducing it are probably working for governments of any of a number of countries. And while France is doing this now to the French Wikipedia, I would be completely unsurprised to see other Western countries trying similar things under the auspices of the Official Secrets Act or recourse to national security requirements, etc. W. B. Wilson (talk) 18:58, 12 April 2013 (UTC)

The Wikimedia Foundation does seem to have alluded to receiving similar requests from other national governments in its recent statements. Some might be legit (there are laws which prevent the publication of various things, including on national security grounds, not to mention material ordered to be suppressed as part of ongoing court cases, and Wikipedia isn't Wikileaks and the WMF has made it clear that it doesn't want to go down that path), but it is something to watch out for. Nick-D (talk) 23:45, 12 April 2013 (UTC)

It is one of the reasons I mostly stay away from articles on modern defense establishments and equipment. I suspect in some cases that defense CI types conduct "sting" operations by offering to provide classified details to authors, gamers, and others of the public interested in modern warfare. Any of Wikipedia's information on modern systems and establishments should be well referenced to open sources -- simply as a common-sense defense measure against security-related accusations. What is less clear are situations in which individual pieces of information in an article may be clearly unclassified but by being presented together in a single article are perceived as sensitive by some government authority. Those situations are hard if not impossible to predict. W. B. Wilson (talk) 07:46, 13 April 2013 (UTC)

Modern tank armour query

Could anybody help with a query about tank armour over at the Science Refdesk please? Alansplodge (talk) 22:54, 8 April 2013 (UTC)

Heer redirect under discussion

Heer has been listed at Redirects for Discussion for a month and a half, with somewhat mixed input. The nomination came following activity by noclador, which was preceded by some brief commentary on this page, now found here. This move discussion is also relevant. A broader input would be most welcome on the nomination page. Thanks, ~ Amory (u • t • c) 17:06, 11 April 2013 (UTC)

Merge articles to Manassas Campaign?

Back in June 2012, a proposal was made to merge the following articles to the Manassas Campaign main article:

• Battle of Fairfax Court House (June 1861)
• Battle of Arlington Mills
• Battle of Vienna, Virginia

since these articles are about minor firefights between a few companies. Nothing was done with this suggestion. Any thoughts on this? Wild Wolf (talk) 21:24, 11 April 2013 (UTC)

Wikipedia:WikiProject Military history/Operation Brothers at War

I've noticed that few ADW articles have been upgraded past B-class recenly. There has also been little activity on the Brothers at War project. Any suggestions on how to increase participation in this project? Wild Wolf (talk) 21:34, 11 April 2013 (UTC)

There isn't any sustained interest in any of the special projects, apart from Majestic Titan. All previous discussions on how to improve interest get nowhere, mainly because the membership of Military History, and WikiProjects in general, is not growing sufficiently to stimulate growth in special areas and divert energy into it. i.e. no one wants to send time to promote special projects because it's generally a wasted effort that can be better spent elsewhere. That appears to be the general opinion and despite a number of discussions on the 3 failing special projects, I've yet to see anyone introduce anything which has bolstered interest. Personally, I think the idea of "special projects" is somewhat pretentious as they each define a narrow scope within a greater topic, which only attracts editors who wish to specialise in that area. It has left other areas of this WikiProject wanting and unsupported. But given that all the task forces are pretty much defunc. too, the only conclusion you can really draw on most Wiki editors is: "each to his own". No matter how much you promote a topic, most people are only going to focus on what is interesting and important to them. That's not just Wiki, that's life. Ma®©usBritish^{chat} 22:26, 11 April 2013 (UTC)

So would merging BaW project back into the ACW taskforce be a good idea? Wild Wolf (talk) 14:19, 15 April 2013 (UTC)

Not really.. BaW articles are just a cut of selected ACW articles to be improved before the 150th anniversary, which fall between 2011 and 2015.. whereas the ACW taskforce covers the ACW entire with no priority articles. Given that the BaW articles are not being improved to GA/A/FA as targeted, the best thing would just be to leave it as an open archive for anyone who does wish to tackle those articles, albeit later than planned. As it stands, you appear to be the main editor of ACW articles who also bothers to communicate with MilHist. Not to say there aren't other dedicated ACW editors, they just don't mingle with this project's members for whatever reason.. so having or not having BaW or ACW TF makes no difference, it's still a one-man-band issue from where we stand. Disappointing really, given the U.S. population of ~330 million that we should only get 1 dedicated American editor for it's most important self-contained war. I've been speaking to an American friend of mine recently, a North Carolina lad who is currently in college, and from what I gather this semester's history class barely scraped the surface of the ACW, and his "Professor" virtually threw the syllabus out the window and skipped through the entire subject with a few trivial facts that hardly give the topic the respect it deserves. Shook my head in total disgust, and I'm a Brit... Ma®©usBritish^{chat} 14:44, 15 April 2013 (UTC)

Category:Military history articles with incomplete B-Class checklists

This category still has over 20,000 articles in it. 198.252.15.202 (talk) 21:51, 11 April 2013 (UTC)

Categories -- for US military groups, discussion

There is a discussion at WP:Categories_for_discussion/Log/2013_April_12#Category:Groups_of_the_United_States regarding the proper naming of a particular category. Interested members are invited to join in. – S. Rich (talk) 14:16, 13 April 2013 (UTC)

Khyber knife

Notice this was called for as an article under open tasks (weaponry). Is it possible this is already addressed by the article Pesh-kabz ? I'm no knife expert, but the article suggests "Khyber Knife" was among the British terms for these weapons. W. B. Wilson (talk) 18:04, 13 April 2013 (UTC)

LGM-118 Peacekeeper

A part in the "Minuteman" section reads "Just as important, the guidance system allowed for the inclusion of eight pre-selected targets. This allowed the force to ride out a first-strike, re-target on the remaining enemy targets, and launch." The wording used here is confusing, and it's not clear which nation's "first strike" is referred to. The term "ride out" suggests the Minuteman/ICBM fleet is enduring a Soviet first strike, but the phrasing "remaining enemy targets" implies some of the Soviet targets have already been destroyed, suggesting the US launched the first strike. The "eight pre-selected targets" feature would be useful in either case, so I can't decide which meaning is correct. Does anyone know enough to fix this? Some guy (talk) 19:19, 13 April 2013 (UTC)

As far as I know there was no U.S. Air Force or DOD doctrine which considered a first strike (though individual thinkers at various times argued for a U.S. first strike); it was all launch-on-warning of a Soviet launch. The first strike referred to in this case is almost certainly a Soviet one. Buckshot06 (talk) 22:45, 13 April 2013 (UTC)

During the cold war or after? I know the missile is now gone but with the end of the cold war the US did adopt a first strike doctrine after the collapse of communism, in case of nukes falling into terrorist hands, see Nuclear Weapons and Cooperative Security in the 21st Century: The New Disorder Quite a good read. Darkness Shines (talk) 23:00, 13 April 2013 (UTC)

During. The text in that article section is referring to around 1962. I added "Soviet" before "first strike" there to clarify based on the preceding text in the section. -Fnlayson (talk) 23:07, 13 April 2013 (UTC)

Incorrect figures in Siege of Paris (1870–71)

The info box contains different figures to what is given in the aftermath section. I would post this on the talk page but it was brought up in 2005 and seems to still be incorrect. Keted6 (talk) 00:39, 14 April 2013 (UTC)

Probably a whole generation of wiki-editors have come and gone since 2005 :) . Best to flag the anomaly on the talk page and let contemporary consensus sort it out. This was a reasonably well documented war and it should be possible to check reliable sources Buistr (talk) 04:22, 14 April 2013 (UTC)

Actually, I gave the wrong article. It's Battle of Sedan (1870). I raised it on the talk page, though I don't hold much hope there. Keted6 (talk) 21:07, 14 April 2013 (UTC)

Bronislaw Urbański

Don't suppose someone could give Bronislaw Urbański a look? User:Youngbruno has put a lot of work into it and on the surface it looks pretty good, but on closer inspection it falls apart rather, for instance most of the references seem quite generic rather than relating specifically to Urbański. I suspect this is a biography of a not-particularly notable family member, but it's way out of my area so could I hand it over to you guys? Le Deluge (talk) 11:28, 14 April 2013 (UTC)

From what I've heard of other Polish personal experiences during the war, his seems above average in terms of adventure. However, I agree that there is little that is truly notable in terms of how that is defined by Wikipedia. W. B. Wilson (talk) 17:26, 14 April 2013 (UTC)

Wiki Loves Monuments 2013 in Australia to focus on war memorials

Planning has begun for an Australian leg of the popular Wiki Loves Monuments competition focused on war memorials. If you're interested in participating, please sign up on Commons here. I'm not sure how WLM works, but given that Australian war memorials are dotted around the globe there may be scope for non-Australian editors to participate in this leg of the competition (for instance, we don't have a genuinely good image of the Australian War Memorial, London). Nick-D (talk) 10:49, 15 April 2013 (UTC)

Its easy how WLM works: Wikipedia gets a huge number of new images with a high quality but without the whole categorization etc. stuff because the Commons-users are doing all that. Otherwise, is there any complete or nearly complete list of Australian war memorials around the globe or in Europe? --Bomzibar (talk) 15:17, 15 April 2013 (UTC)

WP:Featured article candidates/Japanese battleship Fusō/archive1

This could use some attention. Thanks. - Dank (push to talk) 15:43, 15 April 2013 (UTC)