Underground

Just as we expected, B-2 Spirits have entered the air campaign against Iran last night. Flying global airpower missions from their home base in Whiteman, Missouri, America’s stealth bombers arrived over Iranian airspace in the early morning hours and targeted Iran’s missile caves. These facilities are built deep under mountains and are primarily used for storage, but some of them actually have the ability to launch ballistic missiles through fissures in their ceilings.

Yesterday, I wrote on X what was to come for the B-2 and the air war, stating:

B-2s will likely show up tonight, making direct attacks on key targets in a way no other platform can. Yes this could include MOPs, but also lots of JDAMs against less fortified targets. They can achieve massive effects in a single sortie. One B-2 can carry 80 500lb JDAMs. Entire airfield’s infrastructure gone on a single pass. They would not be employed until the night and they now have the benefit of highly degraded air defenses and disrupted command and control. This is when the air campaign will change.

There were some indications that B-2 movements were underway, including tanker sorties from the Azores that didn’t have a visible ‘customer.’

Prioritizing missile cave complexes as a target for America’s ‘silver bullet’ stealth bomber force is an obvious decision. As we have stated for years, destroying these complexes is challenging. They are made up of different chambers that can be sealed off from one another. So very complex weaponeering and a large quantity of specialized munitions would be needed to even attempt destroying them completely.

Iran military shows footage giving tour of underground ‘missile city’

On the other hand, these facilities have a massive vulnerability. You don’t need to destroy them to put the missiles and launchers stored inside totally out of action. You just need to seal them off and keep them sealed off during a conflict. This can be done by striking near the entrances to the fortified caverns. By keeping an eye on these openings using remote sensing after initial strikes, deciding if and when further strikes are needed can be done with high confidence, as efforts to open the entrances back up can be seen and responded to.

So, just by bottling these facilities up, you make the arsenals held within them useless. In addition, some of the entrances have rock formations that climb more gradually above them, meaning penetrators can actually burrow to a depth where the tunnels themselves exist, not just entrance areas. Striking here makes reopening the caverns even more challenging.

There is one complicating factor when trying to put these facilities out of action — some of them have apertures in their ceilings that allows ballistic missiles to be launched without them leaving the facility. Some even have automated rapid-loading systems to fire the missiles off quickly. This means that missiles can still be fired from them even if the entrances are temporarily sealed. The good news is that the overhead doors that protect the launch bays can be penetrated, and the bays themselves destroyed. This would specifically be a good job for the B-2.

By going after these cave complexes, scores of launchers and missiles can be taken off the table. That means fewer missiles to hunt for in the open, which is a very challenging and resource-consuming kind of interdiction mission, to say the least. As such, these installations would be among the highest priority of targets, along with Iranian command and control capabilities. There is currently a race on when it comes to the supply of missiles and counter-missile capabilities. As we have discussed at length, interceptor stocks are not in a good place. For every missile kept out of the fight, that is one (or more) less interceptors that does not need to be expended.

The B-2 has unique conventional weapons capabilities that have become famous. A single Spirit can carry 80 500-pound JDAMs that can all fly miles from their launch point and hit individual targets with exacting precision. A single pass from one B-2 over an airfield can destroy all of the base’s non-hardened infrastructure, for instance. But it’s the B-2’s bunker-busting capabilities that get the most attention.

The Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOP) used to attack Fordow in June are the ultimate non-nuclear bunker buster. But these 30,000-pound weapons are very few in number, and only two can be carried by each B-2. Because of the compartmentalized nature of some of the missile caves, just how effective they would be at destroying the complexes is questionable. If intelligence existed that would allow for perfect weapons placement, it’s possible they would have been used.

More likely, the B-2s would have used more common bunker busters for this kind of mission. These include 2,000-pound-class BLU-109-warhead equipped GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM). The BLU-109-equipped JDAMs are common across American combat aircraft, but the B-2 can carry 16 of them, not a couple like a fighter would, on a typical mission. The B-2’s arsenal may also now include new GBU-72 5,000-pound-class bunker busters, a bomb developed to bridge some of the gap between the BLU-109 and the MOP. A mix of these weapons can be carried in order to tailor the damage to different areas of a missile cave complex.

The smaller weapons would likely have been capable of collapsing runner entrances and destroying the missile launch apertures at the limited number of sites equipped with them.

Then there is another question some are bound to ask, why use a B-2? Why not a B-52 or B-1? The answer there is multi-fold, but the biggest driver in this regard is the B-2’s stealth capabilities. The airspace over Iran is not fully secured. There are still threats, some of which are novel to Iran, and others are road mobile and can pop up at any time. Taking every advantage — careful mission planning based on the latest intelligence, electronic warfare, and cyber support, and escorts that can take out counter-air threats in real time — is still a necessity. Also, the B-2 crews train for just this type of mission and likely have familiarity with the target sets in mind. So they will be used for direct bomber attacks for the foreseeable future.

As to why the B-2s flew such a long mission instead of operating from a forward location, the answer there is relatively clear. As we reported last week, the United Kingdom has not allowed the U.S. to launch strikes from its bases against Iran. This includes two locations that are fully equipped to sustain bomber operations and are relevant in proximity to the Iranian mission — RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. While the B-2 community has been training to launch limited operations from other forward locations in recent years, these locales are not equipped to sustain sorties. So, flying from home, at least at this point, was clearly the best option.

We will likely be seeing more of the B-2s in the coming days, especially as the air war moves from targeting immediate threats and focuses on destroying Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and its military industrial complex — especially the parts of it that develop and construct ballistic missiles and other standoff weaponry that threaten Israel and Iran’s neighbors.

UPDATE: 4:47 Eastern –

The U.K. government has more details about the revised level of support it is willing to provide the United States in its campaign directed against Iran. The United Kingdom is now offering the U.S. military use of its bases for strikes targeting Iranian missile sites. You can read more about why this became an issue in our story about the controversy here.

In a video shared on social media Sunday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Our partners in the Gulf have asked us to do more to defend them, and it’s my duty to protect British lives.

“We have British jets in the air as part of coordinated defensive operations which have already successfully intercepted Iranian strikes.

“But the only way to stop the threat is to destroy the missiles at source — in their storage depots or the launchers which used to fire the missiles. The United States has requested permission to use British bases for that specific and limited defensive purpose.

“We have taken the decision to accept this request — to prevent Iran firing missiles across the region, killing innocent civilians, putting British lives at risk and hitting countries that have not been involved.”

Given Starmer’s new stance, it is possible we could see movements of B-2s and other bombers to either or both of the bases at the center of the controversy. As we have already noted, the U.S. has beefed up Diego Garcia with F-16 Fighting Falcons.

However, we don’t know the timeline for Operation Epic Fury. If it only lasts a few days, it is possible that the B-2s and other bombers could continue to fly from bases in the U.S. We just don’t know yet. 

A flight of four B-2 Spirit stealth bombers returning to Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri after bombing Iran had to divert to Dyess Air Force Base in Texas. The aircraft — PETRO41, PETRO42, PETRO43 and PETRO44 — reportedly altered their course due to weather issues at Whiteman.

You can see some of the jets landing in the following video.

The Hoffman Kiln near Settle in the Yorkshire Dales is a moss-covered derelict kiln hidden in woodlands, though the site is currently undergoing development with limited access

For those looking for an extraordinary walking adventure, this trail delivers something truly unique and proves ideal for youngsters who relish uncovering secret treasures along the way.

Nestled within the forests on the outskirts of Settle in Yorkshire lies Hoffman Kiln, an abandoned kiln that once served as an insulated furnace for burning raw materials.

Today, it resembles an subterranean grotto constructed from brickwork and blanketed in moss, lending the location an unsettling verdant atmosphere.

Its past remains somewhat enigmatic to locals, though additional points of interest dot the vicinity, designated as part of the ‘Craven Limeworks trail’.

The kiln formed part of what was previously an industrial complex, where Yorkshire workers toiled in appalling conditions before nature eventually reclaimed the site, leaving it abandoned.

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Historical background

The nineteenth century witnessed the establishment of the railway route connecting Settle to Carlisle, which subsequently generated fresh industrial prospects for the region.

The railway regularly transported coal inbound to process the limestone extracted from the scar, then carried away the completed product.

Enormous quantities of stone were once processed here, yet now it lies concealed. The kiln was previously operated by labourers whose responsibility involved shovelling burnt lime onto wagons positioned mere feet away in the sidings.

Describing the harsh working conditions, Senior Historic Environment Officer Miles Johnson explained: “It’s quite pleasant space to be in now but whilst it was in use it was probably absolutely grim. Lime is really nasty, caustic stuff to work with.

“The lime burners who worked in here had to cover every inch of their body with rags and clothing to try to keep the lime dust out. When lime dust meets moisture or water it reacts and generates a lot of heat.

“So if you’ve got lime dust on your body, and you’re shovelling and starting to sweat, then you’d start to blister and burn quite quickly.”

Exploration today

Proposals to develop the land housing the kiln have been under consideration for some time. Back in 2021, it emerged that Craven District Council’s planning application had received approval, with the site now earmarked for commercial development.

Prior to construction commencing, one visitor wrote on TripAdvisor: “Really loved my visit. I was amazed by how big the site is, considering it isn’t promoted very well. There is lots to explore, and the information boards are very helpful.

“The car park for the site is also quite large, so there is plenty of room. It felt quite exciting to be exploring the vast Hoffmann kiln by torchlight, and I was very pleased to see that it hadn’t been littered or abused.”

Yet more recently, visitors have suggested that the feeling of discovering a secret, unspoilt location has vanished, with construction work now progressing at full pace. A later review states: “These unusual kilns are well worth a visit.

“However, as other reviewers have mentioned, at the moment the area is a building site. There is access to the Hoffman kiln, but you need to cross the building site and walk along beside the railway.”

To find the kiln, you can use the postcode BD24 9NU, where you’ll find it just off the main road between Langcliffe and Stainforth.

THERE’S a small town along the Essex coastline that’s one of the driest places in the country.

Shoeburyness has a lower annual rainfall average than the rest of the UK – not to mention it has two Blue Flag beaches and is just one hour away from London.

Thirteen minutes from Southend-on-Sea is the lesser-known coastal spot of Shoeburyness.

The town is home to around 22,000 people and is one of the driest places in the country.

Its position on the southeast coast means it gets less rainfall than other spots around the UK.

Shoeburyness records an average of between 526.78mm and 527mm of rain per year.

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In comparison, the average annual rainfall for the entire UK is 1,163mm – Shoeburyness receives less than half of that.

So, it’s no wonder that lots of people flock to the town to visit its two Blue Flag beaches; Shoebury Common and Shoebury East Beach.

Shoebury Common is a sand and shingle beach that’s popular with families during the summer.

But it’s not just bucket and spade friendly, or for paddling, though. It’s also a popular place to launch boats and jet-skis, and is good for kitesurfing too.

Up on the promenade are colourful beach huts, as well as Uncle Tom’s Cabin where visitors can grab an ice cream, soft drink or cup of tea.

Shoebury East Beach is further along the coast, and is set to undergo a £600,000 makeover this spring.

The new inclusive playground at Shoebury’s East Beach in Southend will have themed zones inspired by the sea.

There will be a sandpit, climbing areas and a submarine structure in the middle of the playground.

The playground will be open to all age groups and abilities and include wheelchair-accessible swings, roundabouts and sensory features.

The area surrounding East Beach had a new addition last summer with the Beach House Cafe opening next door to the East Beach Cafe and marking the completion of a £2million regeneration project.

One visitor to the Beach House said: “Love it here! Come for brunch every weekend, drive up from London. Lovely beach setting, food is fresh, tasty & lush!”

Last year, The Telegraph also named Shoeburyness as one of the top 20 destinations in Britain for the best secret and remote beaches.

The Telegraph stated: “Just three miles from the mayhem that is Southend in summer, Shoeburyness has two Blue Flag beaches that are far less well known.

“Its East Beach is the nicest and is popular with local paddleboarders and kitesurfers, thanks to its long strand of sand.”

The town was once even accessible on the London Underground – although it was never officially part of the network.

The District line ran seasonal, direct services to Shoeburyness via Southend between 1910 and 1939 – and was known as the ‘Southend Service’.

Those who want to visit Shoeburyness can still do so very easily from London by getting on a direct train from London Fenchurch Street.

The journey takes just one hour and one-way tickets are as little as £11.30.

If you head further into the town of Shoeburyness, you’ll find a Wetherspoon called Parson’s Barn.

There’s also a popular restaurant called The Angel Inn which earned itself a Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award last year.

Here you can dig into sizzling fajitas from £15, burgers, mains like steak with chips and salmon with broccoli and paprika cous cous.

Speaking of which, on Tuesdays, The Angel Inn does Pie and Pint Night where you can get any pie and any drink from its menu from £17.

Shoebury Park is another popular spot, it stretches across 20 acres and is filled with green areas and ponds.

It also has a tennis court, basketball court, cricket pitch, bowling green, BMX trail track, skateboarding facilities, fishing lake, and a children’s playground.

For more on Southend – here’s how the coastal city has become cool with celeb visitors…

Southend-on-Sea has become an unlikely hot spot for some of the UK’s best-known TV personalities.

The Essex town has seen a surge in popularity, thanks to its colourful beach huts, award-winning hotels and stunning coastline.

Dubbed the British Miami by fans because of its long golden beaches, the town often welcomes celebrity visitors.

Fool Me Once actress Michelle Keegan spent her first Mother’s Day as a mum, at the Roslin Beach Hotel on Thorpe Bay.

On Sunday 30 March, Michelle was spotted there with her husband, Mark Wright and their new baby, Palma, as well as other family members including Jess Wright.

They aren’t the only ones; the Roslin Beach Hotel has also opened its doors to Gary Barlow, Tyson Fury, Denise van Outen, and TOWIE stars including Frankie Essex, who have all visited.

It was reported earlier last year that the hotel would undergo a £10million makeover. Currently, the Roslin Beach Hotel has 37 bedrooms, but with the extension, it will have an extra seven rooms.

They also want to add a spa, a new wedding venue, and add outdoor restaurant facilities.

For more on Essex, this is Britain’s smallest town that was named one of the coolest spots in the country with cosy pubs and coastal walks.

And here you can swap the Cotswolds for a less-crowded but equally quaint weekend in Essex’s most perfect market town.