Category Archives: Technology
For some reason not yet known, I am not able to add more content to Blind Bat News.
Car crushing tracked vehiculars!
The pland-emic didn’t stop the U.S. Marine Corps from conducting ‘Gator Week’ on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 06APR2023. The event included crushing cars with an AAV7A1 (Amphibious Assault Vehicles-7A1).
U.S. Army M1A2 SEP wows the crowd on the Bemowo Piskie Training Area, in Poland.
Polish Leopard 2A5(?) and United Kingdom Challenger-2 battle-tanks do damage to puny little European cars, on Grafenwöhr Training Area, Germany. I edited together videos via Kevin S. Abel and Daniela Vestal (recorded between 04-06JUN2018):
Swedish Stridsvagn (Strv) 122 Leopard crushing cars during Strong Europe Tank Challenge-2018.
Austrian and German Leopard battle-tanks smash PT Cruiser, and more! I edited from videos (recorded from 05-07JUN2018) via Emily Houdershieldt & Markus Rauchenberger:
They created a pile of crushed European cars.
United States M1A2 Abrams crushing cars on Grafenwöhr Training Area, 06JUN2018. Video via Kevin S. Able:
Here is some more car crushing courtesy the M1A2 Abrams, video via Emily Houdershieldt:
Austrian Leopard 2A4(?) and German Leo 2A6(?) attempt to smash puny VW cars on Grafenwöhr Training Area, MAY 2017.
I edited this from videos via the U.S. 7th Army Training Command:
HERCULES stands for Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lifting Extraction System, only ‘A2’ version is called HERCULES.
U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) video of their M88A2 crushing a car on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 24APR2014:
Check out more tank videos on my ‘Forever Wars’ Playlist on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkZrLGwZbnj93-HZy9E6tQvyrXyMi_-x7
BBN Vehicle I-D: M88A2 HERCULES (another tool of the British empire?)
NORINCO’s drone carrying VT4A1 Battle Tank
Is the combat proven A-10C being replaced by a crop-duster on steroids?
The use of crop-duster aircraft as combat aircraft is nothing new, and it seems the United States is simply following a global trend, because the agricultural aircraft are relatively cheap and easy to maintain.
U.S. Air Force (USAF) Special Operations Command (SOC) loves its latest crop-duster, the OA-1K, which is actually based on the Air Tractor (based in Olney, Texas) crop-duster and fire-fighting aircraft. The USAF boasts that its new Skyraider-2 is “cost effective”. Air Tractor calls their combat crop-duster the AT-802U Sky Warden (the AT-802 first flew in 1990).
In January 2025, the finalized version of the crop-duster on steroids arrived on Hurlburt Field, Florida. In February, USAF-SOC christened the OA-1K the “Skyraider-2”.
On 03APR2025, the USAF-SOC officially accepted its first OA-1K during a ceremony on Hurlburt Field: “Skyraider-2 represents not just a new platform, but a modular solution to our national security needs. It will redefine how we approach joint campaigning, crisis response and the evolving landscape of modern warfare.”-Lieutenant General Michael Conley, SOC commander.
I edited this together from two USAF promotional videos:
The Skyraider-2 is already being offered for sale to Central American and Caribbean countries. On 27AUG2024, the OA-1K was flown to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, being presented during the Industry Day/Air Chiefs conference for the air forces of those countries.
Actually, most A-10C units are turning in their Thunderbolt-2s for the F-35 Lightning-2. The OA-1K Skyraider-2 is specifically a ‘special operations’ aircraft, the crew are known as Air Commandos.
This is the AT-802U trainer version.
Training on the OA-1K will officially take place on Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, in Oklahoma. Interestingly, the training version has been arriving on Will Rogers Air National Guard Base since July 2024, months before the official acceptance of the OA-1K.
The A-10C:
Vehicle I-D: M88A2 HERCULES (another tool of the British empire?)
Development of the M88A2 was started in 1991, after it was realized the A1 version could not tow the M1 Abrams by itself; it required two M88A1s to tow the 70-ton battle-tank. The first M88A2 went into service in July 1997. Only the A2 is called the HERCULES, which stands for Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lifting Extraction System.
U.S. Marine Corps HERCULES near Al-Karmah, Iraq.
In May 2010, the U.S. Army’s 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment was on the National Training Center (Fort Irwin, California) preparing for deployment to Iraq. Here’s a quick explanation of what the M88A2 can do:
U.S. Marine Corps HERCULES lifts a battle damaged French Mirage 2000D, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
(See more of the Mirage 2000D crash by clicking here.)
From 1961 to 1994 the M88 was built by a company originally called Bowen & McLaughlin. Here is some confusion; Bowen & McLaughlin supposedly started in Phoenix, Arizona, during World War Two. However, by 1950 Bowen & McLaughlin apparently setup shop in York, Pennsylvania, changing their name to Bowen McLaughlin York (BMY). BMY became a division of U.S. based Harsco Corporation, which ‘went public’ in 1956. In 1994, Harsco and FMC (Food Machinery Corporation) joined forces and created United Defense. Harsco still exists today, but changed its name to Enviri Corporation.
U.S. Marine Corps HERCULES pulls the ‘power pack’ (turbine-transmission combo) of an M1 Abrams, on Combat Outpost Shir Gazay, Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
More confusion; from 1994-2005, M88 production was done by United Defense and Anniston Army Depot. In 2005, BAE Systems took-over United Defense. BAE Systems was created in 1999 when the Italian Marconi Electronic Systems merged with the United Kingdom’s British Aerospace. Since 2005 production is officially done by BAE Systems. The estimated cost of each M88A2 HERCULES is a little more than $2-million (as of the year 2000).
U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) video of their M88A2 crushing a car on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 24APR2014:
The ‘A2’ is larger and heavier than the previous versions. A more powerful Diesel piston motor, and efficient transmission, allows the use of only one recovery vehicle to tow the M1 Abrams.
U.S. Army HERCULES about to lift a Cold War era M47 range target on Hohenfels, Germany.
In 2017, the U.S. Army requested that eleven M88A2s be modified with even more powerful power-packs (engine/transmission combo), a hydro-pneumatic suspension and a seventh roadwheel (per side), for a cost of $28-million.
USMC HERCULES lifts a bulldozer onto a trailer, on Twentynine Palms, California.
Vehicle I-D: 
M88A1 ‘mud-bug’
Yankee tools of the British empire: National Guard, older than the United States itself!
A-M-P-V making profits off U.S. taxpayers, for the British Empire!
BAE’s M109A7, DON’T CALL IT A PALADIN!
M777 artillery, more proof the Yankees are the Tools of the Red Coats!
Like Riceburners? Join the U.S. Air Force, see Japan!
To boost lagging recruitment (and apparent lack of desire to deploy to Japan), the U.S. Air Force is promoting its Auto Hobby Shop on Yokota Air Base. It is open seven days per week, with six self-service lift bays, an oil-change pit, and they provide the tools!
U.S. Armed Forces Network video report released 17MAR2025:
Cold War to Near Peer Threats:
Japan’s ‘lowrider’ Type 74, finally retired?
Idaho:
British Austin + Japanese Suzuki = The Duke!?
Idaho’s Bold Tigers invade Japan?
Saving Private Boeing, with a ‘Top Secret’ price tag?
On 21MAR2025, U.S. President Donald John Trump announced the purchase of a top secret fighter jet for the U.S. Air Force (USAF), called the F-47. He also revealed that the cost of the aircraft is ‘top secret’, ostensibly claiming that revealing the cost would also reveal the latest and greatest ‘top secret’ technologies used by the ‘6th Generation’ fighter:
A USAF news release revealed that “Over the past five years, in strong partnership between the Air Force and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, X-planes have been laying the foundation for the F-47.”
The USAF news release also points out that the contract for the F-47 is for only “a small number of test aircraft”, a price for production aircraft is still up-in-the-air.
Education Revolution: Idaho among several states praised by Trump for the Education Revolution!
Chrome in the Dome, 2025!
In 1970 (Cold War), the first in the U.S. fully enclosed colligate sports arena opened; the ASISU (Associated Students of Idaho State University) Minidome.
In 1988 (Cold War), the name was changed to Holt Arena to honor the athletic director who pushed for the creation of the Minidome.
In January 2024 the name was officially changed, again, to ICCU (Idaho Central Credit Union) Dome, due to the arena’s recent refreshment being funded mostly by the financial institution. However, the signage on the arena wasn’t changed until later in the year.
On the 7th-8th of March 2025, Idaho State University (ISU)-College of Technology Automotive Program held its yearly ‘Chrome in the Dome’ car show.
Cold Friday afternoon, waiting for the car show to open, 07MAR2025:
A tale of two Chargers, Dodge that is, 07MAR2025:
Goldilocks said “This rice burner is too long, and this rice burner is too little!”:
2024: Motorcycles at the Chrome in the Dome
I had a challenging time getting into this Challenger, but I still want it (somebody buy it for me, please):
A couple of Hot Rods:
Dr. Pepper & Rutbeer Ford pickups:
Chevy 350 powered 1968 Toyota Land Cruiser:
Hippie-Dippie van and electric King-mobile:
A couple of tri-five princes of Bel-Air:
One hundred and eleven years old 1914 Ford Touring survivor:
1971 AMC Javelin SST (Super Sonic Transport? No, Super Sports Touring):
1950 Plymouth Deluxe:
‘Proud’ Fiero with a fiery V8:
Chevy Super Mod:
Cabin Over Engine:
A super Nova called Mayhem:
Awards were issued, even to the little ones:
The hundred and one years old ‘Depot Hack’ needed some help.
Time to head ’em up and move ’em out, even the little ones:
For more of my Chrome Dome videos check out my ‘Cars Showing Off’ playlist on my YouTube channel (and subscribe!): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkZrLGwZbnj9l1IMiwgu49bsmVG95CIaM
2024: 
Part-5 Chrome in the Dome
No more NATO-România MiG-21 ‘Fishbed/Lancer’!
Romania retired its last active Cold War era Mikoyan & Gurevich (MiG) 21s on 15MAY2023, officially replacing them with new versions of the Cold War era General Dynamics F-16s: “Decommissioning of the MiG-21 LanceR aircraft and the accelerated transition to the operation of the F-16 aircraft of the Romanian Air Force.”–Forțele Aeriene Române
Romanian Ministerul Apararii Nationale retirement video report:
Romanian F-16s; I edited this from a NATO video, non-disclosed location over Europe, released July 2023:
I edited together several NATO ‘walk-around’ videos (mostly silent videos) recorded between 2016 and 2020:
Serbian Armed Forces video from September 2018’s International Air Tactical Exercise Air Solution (involving Ohio National Guard, Romania and Serbia):
For more MiG videos go to my ‘Forever Wars’ playlist on my YouTube variety-show channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkZrLGwZbnj93-HZy9E6tQvyrXyMi_-x7
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, in war-time color!
An early P-40 Warhawk.
AT-6 Texan versus P-40 Warhawk.
A row of early P-40s, no information came with the photo.
Somewhere in China, date not given.
26th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, somewhere in China.
A pilot and his P-40.
Maintaining in Panama.
I got this from a silent color film, recorded sometime in 1942. It shows the nose-names applied to newly arrived P-40E Warhawks (to replace the P-40B/Cs that were destroyed by the Japanese) on Hickam Field, Territory of Hawaii:
Before the Second World War started France had ordered hundreds of Curtiss P-40 fighters, but did not receive them due to being invaded by Germany. After the United States invaded Morocco, U.S. General James Harold ‘Jimmy’ Doolittle presided over the official delivery ceremony of Warhawks to the newly ‘liberated’ French Groupe de Chasse GC II/5 (aka Lafayette Escadrille), on Casablanca-Cazas airfield in Morocco, on the African continent. I edited from a collection of color silent films recorded by B. O’Conner on 09JAN1943 (the date of the official ceremony, in reality the U.S. had already equipped the French unit in November 1942):
Casablanca-Cazas airfield in Morocco, 09JAN1943.
U.S. Army Photo Division personnel incorrectly listed the above photo as being in Algeria (Algiers), it is from the 09JAN1943 ceremony in Morocco.
P-40 Warhawk, Aleutian Islands, 11DEC1943.
The U.S. Army photo-info says this is a ‘E’ version, but the tail looks like the ‘K’ version.
P-40 Warhawk over Mount Vesuvius, supposedly before it erupted on 18MAR1944.
Uncle Sam preps for War:
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk