Wargame Articles

Google Earth, Wargaming Possiblities and Modern Warfare

In the last 18 months, Google Earth (earth.google.com) has revolutionized military intelligence, but the military doesn't like to admit it. It puts relatively recent satellite information at the disposal of anyone who is interested, including the military and those they are fighting.

The troops are complaining why they cannot have the same facility for their use as the intelligence services have had this access for years.

On Jan 19th, 2007 British troops found Google Earth pictures of one of their bases in Southern Iraq in a terrorist hide out. Governments can request that Google obscure sensitive areas, but governments are reluctant to hand over a list stating where they do not want to be seen (think about it).

Some of my favourites are:

An American air base in Afghanistan Longitude: 34°56'50", 69°15'34"

North Korean air base; 39.905 125.49

Russian subs in Petropavlovsk naval base; 52 55' N 158 29' 25" E

Adjusting the tilt gives a better view.

When I have time, I intend to start finding historical battlefields. Military history books will be including references how to find the battlefields from space.