Tag Archives: m1a2

International

Forever Wars: Kuwait gets new Special-K M1A2 Abrams!

Video

When did Kuwait first start using the M1A2? Way back in August 1994, it was reported that Kuwait got the first of 2-hundred-18 M1A2 Abrams battle tanks.  Back then it was reported that they cost $5-million each, and the deal was done through the U.S. taxpayer subsidized Foreign Military Sales program.

Remember, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency’s own website states that Foreign Military Sales are “…funded by country national funds or U.S. Government funds.” 

In December 2016, Kuwait wanted additional M1A2s to cannibalize (officially called ‘recapitalization’) for parts for their aging M1A2 fleet.  The order also included new 120mm main guns, new M2HB .50 caliber (12mm NATO) machine guns, M240 7.62mm NATO machine guns, and new turbine engines.

Then one year later, it was revealed that on top of the taxpayer subsidized Foreign Military Sale of additional M1A2s, Kuwait was about to get a special K version of the M1A2! The new M1A2K was supposed to be ready by 2019-20, but then some False Flag operation called The Pandemic happened.

Kuwaiti M1A2s. Task Force Spartan photo by Master Sergeant Matthew Keeler, 23FEB2023.

In July 2021, it was revealed that Kuwait finally began receiving its new M1A2K Abrams.

Task Force Spartan photo by Master Sergeant Matthew Keeler, 23FEB2023.

Externally, the M1A2K looks like the M1A2SEP with remote controlled Tank Commander’s (TC) weapon system, and an external cooling and auxiliary electrical power generator mounted in the bustle rack on the back of the turret.

Kuwaiti Land Forces photo, July 2021.

One promotional photo shows an M1A2K with an additional .50 cal machine gun mounted on the main-gun-mantlet, ‘Israeli’ style, as well as a possible .50 cal mounted on the gun-ring of the Loader’s hatch.

Kuwaiti Land Forces photo, July 2021.

‘In the field’ photos of the M1A2K shows the standard M240 machine gun at the Loader’s station, no .50 cal mounted on the main-gun-mantlet but there is a machine gun mount present.  Perhaps the only visual identifier is the .50 cal machine gun mount on the main-gun-mantlet?

Video (by Claudia LaMantia) of brand new M1A2K Abrams offloaded upon the Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait, 03MAR2023:

Forever Wars: IDAHO ARMOR ROLLS OVER KUWAIT!

Mother of all Money Pits: BIDEN SPENDS BILLIONS ON KUWAIT! TO KEEP CHINA OUT, OR TO COVER-UP ECONOMIC COLLAPSE?

Desert Storm: KUWAITI القوات الجوية الكويتية A-4KU SKYHAWK

Idaho, International

Forever Wars: Idaho Armor rolls over Kuwait!

Video

03 June 2023 (21:47-UTC-07 Tango 06) 13 Khordad 1402/14 Dhu l-Qa’da 1444/16 Wu-Wu 4721/03 Июнь 2023 года

Camp Buehring, Kuwait, photo by Specialist Rhema Eggleston, 15MAY2023.

The 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team (aka Snake River Brigade, one of my military alma maters) is Idaho’s largest Army National Guard unit. The brigade is located in more than 20 Idaho communities as well as units in Montana, Nevada and Oregon.  The 2-116th Cavalry Regiment is headquartered in Caldwell with units in Emmett and Nampa, but is currently deployed to Kuwait as the 2-116 Combined Arms Battalion (2-116 CAB).

Camp Buehring, Kuwait, photo by Specialist Rhema Eggleston, 15MAY2023.

Photo by Staff Sergeant Latasha Price, 18MAY2023.

Photo by Specialist LaTasha Ross, 18MAY2023.

Video by Claudia LaMantia, M1A2 Abrams live fire on Udairi Range, Kuwait, 19MAY2023:

M1135 CBRN Stryker, Camp Buehring, Kuwait. Photo by Specialist Rhema Eggleston, 15MAY2023.

M12A1 Heavy Decontamination Apparatus. Photo by Specialist LaTasha Ross, 18MAY2023.

2-116th CAB M1A2 on Camp Buehring, Kuwait, 20FEB2023. Task Force Spartan photo by Specialist David Campos-Contreras.

An Idaho Army National Guard 2-116 CAB M1A2 Abrams battle tank gets loaded onto a USAF C-17 Globemaster-3 (from Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina), on Ali Al Salem air base, Kuwait, 20MAY2023. USAF video by Senior Airman Jacob Cabanero:

Idaho’s 2-116 CAB relieved their sibling unit, Bravo Company of the the 3-116 Cavalry, towards the end of 2022 (which had deployed at the end of 2021).  While the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team is based in Idaho, the 3rd Battalion of the 116th CBCT is located in Oregon.

A 3-116th Cav M1A2 is loaded onto a C-17 cargo plane. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sergeant Matthew Plew, 22AUG2022.

B-Co/3-116th officially ended their deployment on 05MAR2023, with a demobilization ceremony in Hermiston, Oregon.

Forever Wars: ARIZONA, IDAHO & MASSACHUSETTS TAKE ON THE ‘DRAGON’ IN KUWAIT!

2022: IDAHO, MONTANA, OREGON STUCK IN A DEPLOYMENT LOOP!

2021: OREGON DEPLOYED TO POLAND!

OREGON DEPLOYS MILITIA INTO “SIT-COM”!

2019: OREGON, WASHINGTON, IDAHO AND MONTANA ARMY MILITIAS PREP TO DEPLOY

Vehicle I-D: M93 FOX NBCRSV (CBRN), COLD WAR & BEYOND

Idaho, Technology, U.S.

Idaho now premiere site for War-Fighter training! National Guard the new Quick Reaction Force!

Video

August 2022:

More than 600 National Guard personnel deploy, again, from Idaho!

In 2022, National Guard combat units from California, Idaho, Iowa, North Carolina, Texas, Utah and Washington, assaulted the Orchard Combat Training Area (OCTC) in Southwestern Idaho.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 26AUG2022.

Between July and August 2022, the Arizona Army National Guard and the Republic of Singapore Air Force joined forces to shoot-up the OCTC with their AH-64 Apaches.

In July 2022, Oregon Army National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment conducted light machine gun training on the OCTC. Video by Major W. Chris Clyne (you’ll notice a paddle being held up that reads OTA, the OTCT used to be known as the OTA [Orchard Training Area] about 15 to 20 years ago):

Idaho Army National Guard promotional video about multi-state war game Western Strike 2022:

TACTICAL TOILETS, June 2022:

CALIFORNIA, IOWA, NORTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, UTAH, WASHINGTON INVADE REBEL IDAHO!?

In this Utah Army National Guard video explainer, from 16JUN2022, it is revealed that National Guard combat units are now the new Quick Reaction Force (QRF) for the U.S. Army, required to deploy within 90 days of activation:

In May 2022, Idaho’s 116th Brigade Engineer Battalion trained for demolition and explosive breaching, Idaho Air National Guard video by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur:

Idaho Army National Guard photo by Thomas Alvarez, 19MAY2022.

Also in May 2022, the Idaho 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team’s Cavalry Scouts took part in the usual annual training (what we old timers used to call Summer Camp).  The unit later deployed to The Middle East in support of Operation Spartan Shield.

Idaho Army National Guard photo by Thomas Alvarez, 11MAY2022.

Idaho Army National Guard photo by Thomas Alvarez, 11MAY2022.

Idaho deploys, again, June 2022: IDAHO, MONTANA, OREGON STUCK IN A DEPLOYMENT LOOP!

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 21APR2022.

In April 2022, U.S. Marines JTAC (Joint Terminal Attack Controller) invaded Orchard Combat Training Center (OCTC). It was part of wargame Garnet Rattler, and the OCTC was described as being a premier training site, along with Idaho’s aerial gunnery range called Saylor Creek.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 28APR2022.

Idaho Army National Guard photo by Thomas Alvarez, 30MAR2022.

Towards the end of March 2022, Idaho Army National Guard 2-116th Combined Arms Battalion’s Bravo Company conducted live fire with their M1A2 Abrams, Golf Company (attached) provided the meals.  The 2-116th Combined Arms Battalion was preparing for deployment to The Middle East.

Idaho Army National Guard photo by Thomas Alvarez, 29MAR2022.

USA photo by Captain Kyle Abraham, 17MAR2022.

Also in March, the U.S. Army’s 1-229 Attack Battalion, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade (aka Tigersharks) sent their AH-64 Apache gunships (based on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington) to shoot-up Orchard Combat Training Center.

U.S. Army Photo by Captain Kyle Abraham, 17MAR2022.

February 2022:

IDAHO’S GOWEN FIELD UNDER GAS ATTACK!

OCTC-MATES:

IDAHO SHOWS YOU HOW TO ENGINE SWAP A 1:1 SCALE M113

Idaho Artillery 2021: GETS ‘SMART’ ARTILLERY ROUNDS, REVEALS “UPCOMING MOBILIZATIONS”

OCTC 2021: IDAHO HOME TO FIRST EVER NATIONAL GUARD D-A-G-I-R!

OCTC 2019:

M1A2-V2-SEP ABRAMS IDAHO LIVE FIRE

April 2018: Idaho Air & Army National Guards once again recognized as ‘Top Guns’

June 2017: “NEAR PEER THREATS”, CODE FOR RUSSIA & CHINA AND THE COMING 3RD WORLD WAR? “We’re going to continue to ask the……..Army National Guard to continue to make those sacrifices…..”-General Robert B. Abrams

Technology

Vehicle I-D: U.S. Army gets new versions of Abrams and Bradley

Video

The U.S. Army’s 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, based on Fort Stewart, Georgia, is playing with new M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams and new M2A4 Bradley Fighting Vehicles.

U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Trenton Lowery, 01FEB2022.

On 01FEB2022, the ‘Hound Battalion’ of the ‘Spartan Brigade’ got new upgraded M2A4s.

USA photo by Sergeant Trenton Lowery, 01FEB2022.

U.S. Army video interview, 01FEB2022, Lieutenant Colonel Mario Iglesias explains what is new about the new M2A4 Bradley:

It should be noted that profits made from the sale of Bradleys goes to the British empire, as the Bradley, once made by a U.S. company, is now made by United Kingdom’s BAE Systems.  BAE began to aggressively take over U.S. defense companies in 2001, the same year that the undeclared War on Terror began.

USA photo by Sergeant Trenton Lowery, 11MAR2022.

Then on 11MAR2022, the Hound Battalion got new upgraded M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams battle tanks.

USA photo by Sergeant Trenton Lowery, 11MAR2022.

The Spartan Brigade has been chosen to become the most modernized U.S. Army combat unit, by 2023.

This is a ‘dramatic’ U.S. Army 1st Cavalry Division video, from July 2020, explaining the new M1A2 SEPv3:

M1 Abrams are currently made at the Lima Army Tank Plant, currently under contract with U.S. based General Dynamics Land Systems.

In January 2022, the AUKUS member Australia revealed plans to upgrade their M1A2 Abrams tanks to SEPv3 condition.

On 17FEB2022, the U.S. Department of State’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency published an update of plans to allow NATO Poland to buy 250 M1A2 SEPv3.

Fiscal Year 2015 PDF explainer of M1A2 System Enhancement Program (SEP) Version 3 (v3).

Vehicle I-D: U.S. M109A7 PALADIN, ANOTHER ‘TOOL’ OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE!

Proof the U.S. is the ‘tool’ of the British Empire: BAE M777 Artillery

BIDEN IS A BRITISH EMPIRE RED COAT? NEW A-U-K-U-S (Australia United Kingdom United States) ALLIANCE FOR FUTURE WAR WITH CHINA!

World War 3, False Flag: CHINA WARNS UKRAINE CRISIS IS A DIVERSION, TRUE GOAL OF AUKUS IS WAR WITH CHINA!

Vehicle I-D:  M1A2-V2-SEP ABRAMS IDAHO LIVE FIRE, FEBRUARY 2019

In 2021, U.S. Army anti-aircraft units in Germany were the first to be upgraded with the new Stryker Mobile Short Range Air Defense (M-ShoRAD) system.

Idaho, Technology

Idaho A-10C warthogs wallowing in the California dirt, June 2019

Video

Idaho Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Mason Cutrer, 13JUN2019.

Idaho’s Air and Army National Guard, as well as a unit from Oregon’s Army National Guard, took part in U.S. Army NTC wargames from the end of May to the middle of June, 2019.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Mercedee Wilds, 11JUN2019.

The U.S. Army’s OpFor (Opposition Force) used UH-72 Lakotas against National Guard ground troops.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Joshua C. Allmaras, 11JUN2019.

Brazilian Air Force TACP (Tactical Air Control Party) allied themselves with the Idaho Air Guard TACPs.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Joshua C. Allmaras, 11JUN2019.

Brazilian A-29 Super Tucanos took part in the invasion of California, as well.

Video (by Master Sergeant Joshua Allmaras), TACP calls in A-10 airstrikes, unfortunately you don’t see the A-10s, just their bombs impacting on the ground (also video of M1A2 and M2 live fire):

Idaho Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Mason Cutrer, 05JUN2019.

A-10C Thunderbolt-2 assigned to the 190th Fighter Squadron, Idaho Air National Guard, lands on the NTC desert.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Joshua C. Allmaras, 11JUN2019.

Video (by Private First Class Bailey Breving), dirt field landing and take-off:

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Joshua C. Allmaras, 11JUN2019.

Not only did Idaho’s A-10s take part in wargames in California, but at the same time took part in Green Flag West at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada!

January 2019: A-10C SNOWBLIND WALKAROUND IN IDAHO!

Vehicle I-D, 2016: A-29B SUPER TUCANO, GREEN FLAG EAST

U.S.

Stop your bitchin’: Idaho women take the reins of Armored Cavalry warfare!

Image

“After seeing the Abrams tank, I didn’t feel like I had another option…”-Second Lieutenant Brooke Berard

“When we get together and put rounds down range, and begin to maneuver as an element, there’s nothing more exhilarating…”-Second Lieutenant Lauren Bolt

The 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team has another first to report;  the first time female armor officers qualified in the M1A2 Abrams main battle tank in Idaho Army National Guard’s history.

It happened in February 2019.  Second Lieutenant Brooke Berard, Second Lieutenant Lauren Bolt , are now platoon leaders with Bravo Company, located in Nampa, Idaho.  Since December 2015 the door was opened to female personnel to serve in combat positions.

Idaho Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Mason Cutrer.

Night fire of 116th’s M1A2 SEP at Orchard Training Area (aka Orchard Combat Training Center), 14FEB2019.

STOP YOUR BITCHIN’: WOMAN NOW COMMANDS OREGON’S SKY, SAYS WAR-FIGHTING RAMPING-UP!

STOP YOUR BITCHIN’: IDAHO WOMAN COMMANDS 1ST FEMALE COMBAT TEAM!

U.S.

Illinois, Kansas & Mississippi Militias 2017 Memorial weekend fun in the sun NTC style!

Video

Mississippi’s 1st Battalion, 155th Infantry Regiment M2A3/M3A3 Bradleys lined up for fuel 22 MAY 2017, National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California.

The Mississippi National Guard  155th Armored Brigade Combat Team began their 2017 NTC rotation, with help from Illinois and Kansas National Guard (as well as thousands of Regular Army & Air Force personnel), just in time for the Memorial weekend:

Militiamen of Kansas National Guard ground-guide an M60 AVLB (Armored Vehicle Launching Bridge) at NTC, 25 MAY 2017.

Kansas National Guard 137th Infantry Regiment at NTC:

Stop your bitchin’! These Illinois Militia-women gate guards, spotted at NTC, will shoot your sorry ass if you try and cross them!

Mississippi 184th Sustainment Command at NTC:

Private First Class Chadd R. Boland, Illinois Militia, takes part in simulated protester training at NTC, 25 MAY 2017.

Mississippi 367th Maintenance Company at NTC:

Electronic warfare, Mississippi 150th Engineer Battalion at NTC:

Iowa National Guard just finished a three week ‘rotation’ at NTC.

VEHICLE ID: NTC M113 DISGUISED AS BMP

Video: 116TH SNAKE RIVER’S 2015 NTC ROTATION (The last time the 116th went to NTC was in 1998, with yours truly.)

Don’t forget Trump also deployed Mississippi Militia for NATO police ops in Kosovo:  MISSISSIPPI MILITIA DEPLOYS

STOP YOUR BITCHIN’: 1ST MIXED MALE-FEMALE U.S. ARMY INFANTRY UNIT COMPLETES TRAINING!

STOP YOUR BITCHIN’!: USAF INTRODUCES YOU TO THEIR FEMALE SNIPER!

International

U.S. armor shoots up border near Russia! Personnel wounded by gas attack?

Video

According to U.S. military sources, four U.S. Army 19-Kilos (M1 Abrams crew-members) from Fort Carson, Colorado, were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning after a “malfunction” of their Panzerkampfwagen.   It happened sometime around the beginning of April 2017, one 19K had to be sent to a hospital in Germany for further treatment.  No details about the malfunction were released.

An M1A2 from Fort Carson, Colorado, pops a canister of purple smoke on a range on Adazi Military Base, Latvia, 09APR2017. The smoke color signifies loss of global positioning systems and loss of radio communication to the other vehicles on the range. U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Shiloh Capers.

NATO member United States deployed an armor unit consisting of M1A2 Abrams to the eastern European country of Latvia, to conduct live fire training on Russia’s border:

 

M1A2 pops a canister of yellow smoke on a range in Adazi Military Base, Latvia, 09APR2017. The smoke color signifies Nuclear, Biological or Chemical conditions, a considerable environmental change in the scenario. USA photo by Sergeant Shiloh Capers.

Canadas new base in Latvia, part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence operations on Camp Adazi, Latvia. Canadian Forces photo by Corporal Colin Thompson, 13MAY2017.

Also, in an instigatory act, NATO member Canada deployed military units (some from Alberta Province) into Latvia’s eastern provinces (districts), which just happen to be populated by ethnic Russians (almost half of which are not considered official citizens of Latvia).

More Canadian Armed Forces members arrive in Latvia, at Riga International Airport, for Operation Reassurance. Canadian Forces photo by Master Corporal True-dee McCarthy, 10JUN2017.

The most recent The Globe & Mail report says the Canucks will be “permanently garrisoned” in eastern Latvia.   According to a CBC report, the Canucks will not only be ‘defending’ eastern Latvia from Russians, but from ‘fake news’ as well! 

It’s all part of NATO’s latest instigation against Russia, called operation Enhanced Forward Presence.  The NATO-Canada units in Latvia are specifically part of Enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup Latvia/Operation Reassurance.

Me riding C-130 on the way back to Idaho from a ‘friendly’ with Canadian armor in Alberta, in 2002.

NATIONAL GUARD RESPONDS TO CHEMICAL ATTACK(?) IN ARIZONA!

VEHICLE ID: U.S. ARMY M1A1 SEPV2 GRAFENWOEHR

IDAHO FEMALE BECOMES 1ST EVER U.S. PANZERFRÄULEIN!

WORLD WAR 3: “THIS IS WHERE ARMOR FIGHTS!” IDAHO NATIONAL GUARD RETURNS TO COLD WAR ERA

Idaho, International

World War Three, 2016: Snake River M1A2 SEP, Live Fire Romania!

Video

08 August 2016 (00:11 UTC-07 Tango 01) 18 Mordad 1395/04 Dhu I-Qa’da 1437/06 Bing-Shen 4714

U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Corey Baltos, 07JUL2016.

My ‘alma matter’ 116th Armored Cav in Cincu, Romania, July 2016.  (SNAKE RIVER IFVS INVADE ROMANIA!)

USA photo by Staff Sergeant Corey Baltos, 28JUL2016.

Idaho Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Kyle J. Warner, 02AUG2016.

During the last days of Saber Guardian 2016, Idaho, Montana & Oregon Army National Guard’s 116th CBCT M1A2 SEP tanks conduct live fire with their 120mm Rheinmetall guns, and there’s some vid of Canadian infantry firing their personnel weapons:

Small UAV (R/C drone) aerial video:

116th Cavalry (pronounced Cav-al-ry, not cal-vary) Brigade Combat Team Colonel Farin Schwartz and Romanian Colonel Julian Daniliuc comment about Saber Guardian:

Oregon Army National Guard photo by Captain John Farmer, 06AUG2016.

Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team (Oregon chapter) shooting up the Romanian Land Forces Combat Training Center.  (OREGON CAPTAIN EXPLAINS WHY IDAHO BASED MILITIA INVADED ROMANIA!)

USAF F-35A “COMBAT READY” IN UTAH

45 YEARS OF C-130 MAFFS OPS

OBAMA DEPLOYS INDIANA BLACKSNAKES A-10s TO SLOVAKIA

C-17 DUMPS HMMWVS ON SOUTH CAROLINA, AWESOME VID!

Snake River 116th’s 2015 NTC rotation on video (including Combined Arms Live Fire)