Category Archives: Technology

Idaho, Technology, U.S.

New Cold War: Idaho’s 124th preps for Air Strikes! Or, Labor Shortages can give you a case of the Blue Bombs!

Video

“With the multi-capable Airmen concept, we are able to teach others how to do our job. Instead of sending eight ammo troops and eight weapon troops, we are able to send four of each and share the workload.”-Master Sergeant Michael Cabell, 124th Maintenance Squadron

Inert Blue Bombs prepped for Idaho A-10C’s combat turns. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Mercedee Wilds, 02FEB2022.

‘Combat Turns’ means aircraft returning from a bombing mission get quickly refueled and rearmed, and turn right back around and take off for another air strike.  But this year’s combat turns are a little different, they are using what the U.S. Air Force is now calling Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concepts, which is an Orwellian way of saying ‘get used to doing more with less equipment’, especially people (which is not a good thing if the higher-ups are expecting a new World War).

GFU-7 Dragon 30mm ammunition loader. Idaho National Guard photo by Ryan White, 03FEB2022.

Loading the GAU-8 Avenger. Idaho National Guard photo by Ryan White, 03FEB2022.

Idaho National Guard photo by Ryan White, 03FEB2022.

Idaho National Guard photo by Ryan White, 03FEB2022.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Mercedee Wilds, 05FEB2022.

02-05FEB2022, on Gowen Field (South side of Boise Airport), Idaho, the Idaho Air National Guard’s 124th Fighter Wing-190th Fighter Squadron practiced Combat Turns with their A-10C Thunderbolt-2s (unofficial nickname is Warthog).

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Mercedee Wilds, 05FEB2022.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Mercedee Wilds, 05FEB2022.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Mercedee Wilds, 05FEB2022.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Mercedee Wilds, 05FEB2022.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Mercedee Wilds, 05FEB2022.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Mercedee Wilds, 05FEB2022.

While one A-10 gets airborne another gets loaded on fuel and fuses. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Mercedee Wilds, 05FEB2022.

Video of ‘heritage’ 8N A-10C Combat Turns ops by Senior Master Sergeant Joshua Allmaras:

Senior Master Sergeant Joshua Allmaras brings you more Combat Turns:

Vehicle I-D: IDAHO’S HERITAGE A-10C ‘8N’

Battle ‘Damage’: TURKEY DEPLOYMENT REVEALS IDAHO A-10S ARE A BUNCH OF DIRTY PIGS!

Biden’s War 2022: JANUARY ARMY/AIR FORCE DEPLOYMENTS

New Cold War: RUSSIAN SU-30SM NOW PATROLLING THE SKY OVER BELARUS, WARGAMES ON THE GROUND UNDERWAY

International, Technology

New Cold War: Russian Su-30SM now patrolling the sky over Belarus, wargames on the ground underway

Video

On 07FEB2022, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that its Sukhoi 30SMs are now patrolling the sky over Belarus.

Russian Defense Ministry video released on 07FEB2022:

The Su-30SM ‘Irkutsk’ is a two seat multi-role combat aircraft that can trace its lineage back to the older single seat Su-27.

On 02FEB2022, it was reported that the ground force wargames in Belarus had begun:

New Cold War:

Su-35S of the Eastern Military District were deployed to Belarus, 26JAN2022. Photo via Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

RUSSIAN ground & air units DEPLOY TO BELARUS, PREPS FOR 2022 INVASION BY NATO! (including Su-35S)

 RUSSIAN OPS IN TAJIKISTAN, 2021 VIDEO-FEST. (including Su-25)

 

Technology

Cold War Vehicle I-D: Short lived Chenowth F-A-V, U.S. Army vs U.S. Navy

Image

U.S. Navy SeAL Team 5’s Scorpion Fast Attack Vehicle (FAV, now called Desert Patrol Vehicle or DPV), Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California, January 1993. USN photo by Photographer’s Mate Second Class Mike Poche.

USN SeAL Team 5’s three seat Scorpion Fast Attack Vehicle (FAV), Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California, January 1993. USN photo by Photographer’s Mate Second Class Mike Poche.

The Marine Corps Combat Development Command checked out the Chenowth Scorpion FAV in February 1992, on Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. USMC photo by Lance Corporal S.D. Dommer.

Photo by Charles Mussi, October 1991.

Scorpion FAV with ASP 30mm chain gun, October 1991. Photo by Charles Mussi.

USN SeAL team parade their Scorpion FAVs through San Diego, California, 18MAY1991 (after Desert Storm). USN photo by Journalist Petty Officer First Class Joe Gawlowicz.

In May 1987, my father William Hutchins (a GS12 Contract Monitor on Edwards Air Force Base) became one of several people responsible for maintaining several of the original two seat Chenowth FAVs.

Sometime in the early 1990s, Edwards AFB, California.

In the early 1990s, my dad actually let me, and on another occasion my brother (Ernst F. Hutchins) and one of my brother’s friends, take an FAV for a joy ride.  I thought it was like any other Volkswagen powered dune buggy, I never liked those air cooled boxer motors.

Sometimes Ernie was the passenger…

My dad’s photos of my brother’s test drive make it look like he was enjoying it.

…sometimes the driver.

Ernie would go on to become an Officer in the U.S. Navy, his last duty assignment at CentCom HQ in Florida, before early retirement.

My father ended up retiring early (too early for him, anyway) from USAF Civil Service, in the mid-1990s.

The U.S. Air Force intent was to use the former U.S. Army FAVs in the development of its Mobile Targeting Systems (like the LANTIRN program that helped kill the N/AW-10), as moving ground targets.

U.S. Army ‘s 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry, 9th Infantry Division (Light) FAV during exercise Team Spirit, in Korea, March 1986. U.S. Army photo by Al Chang.

TOW missile armed FAV, exercise Team Spirit, March 1986. USA photo by Staff Sergeant Arnold W. Kalmanson.

TOW missile armed FAV, exercise Team Spirit, March 1986. USA photo by Staff Sergeant Arnold W. Kalmanson.

TOW missile armed FAV, exercise Team Spirit, March 1986. USA photo by Staff Sergeant Arnold W. Kalmanson.

Over-watching the Han River crossing operation, March 1986. USA photo by Al Chang.

Photo by Sergeant Jimmie T. Dugans Junior, March 1986.

FAV armed with Mark 19 40mm grenade launcher. USA photo by Staff Sergeant Arnold W. Kalmanson, March 1986.

FAV with a 30mm chain gun (bolt is electrically operated by a chain drive system). Photo dated October 1984.

FAV with a 30mm chain gun (bolt is electrically operated by a chain drive system). Photo dated October 1984.

FAV prototype being tested on Fort Lewis, Washington, September 1982. USA photo by Master Sergeant Gene D. Tackett.

Chenowth FAV prototype being tested on Fort Lewis, Washington, September 1982. USA photo by Master Sergeant Gene D. Tackett.

Chenowth FAV prototype with M60D and Mk19, Fort Lewis, Washington. Conflicting dates on the photo, some prints say September 1982 while others say October 1983. USA photo by Master Sergeant Gene D. Tackett.

FAV with M2 and M60D, Fort Lewis, Washington, September 1982. USA photo by Second Lieutenant Alan Knox.

WW2 Vehicle I-D: RARE KAMIKAZE TYPE 4 FOUND ON USMC BASE IN CALIFORNIA!

Cold War (and beyond) Vehicle I-D: SUOMALAISET SISU XA-203, XA-180M, 90M CROTALE & 6×6

Technology

WW2 Vehicle I-D: Rare Kamikaze Type 4 found on USMC base in California!

Image

In June 2020, it was revealed that among the many armored vehicles stashed on the Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow (one of the many duty assignments of my hardcore Marine Grandfather), California, was a very rare Japanese Type 4 Ka-Tsus amphibious tank.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Robert Jackson, 10JUN2020.

Apparently only 49 were made before he end of World War Two, and this is supposedly the only one left alive.

USMC photo by Robert Jackson, 10JUN2020.

It was based on the Type 95 hull, and was originally intended to carry personnel and supplies from ship to shore and back again.  However, somebody decided to also use them in suicide attacks on U.S. ships, but testing in 1944 showed they were much to slow and noisy for such a sneaky job.

The Japanese AmTrack could carry 13mm machine guns, and during the Kamikaze testing was able to carry and launch two torpedoes (after setting sail from its submarine transport).

The USMC originally had the Ka-Tsu on display on Camp Pendleton, also in California.

The U.S. Marines found the Ka Tsu after the massive July 1945 attacks on Kure Harbor, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.

USMC 2020: LAST RIDE FOR 1ST, 2ND & 4TH TANK

International, Technology

New Cold War: Russian ops in Tajikistan, 2021 vid-fest

Video

“This year, we conducted 11 joint exercises through the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.”-Colonel General (U.S. equivalent Lieutenant General) Alexander Lapin, Central Military District, December 2021

In Russia’s Central Military District there were 11 wargames held in 2021.  They spread across Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.  The wargames also included military units from Armenia, Belarus, China, India and Pakistan.

This covers some of what went down in Tajikistan.

Russian Defense Ministry video, January 2021, first Mi-24P & Mi-8MTV5-1 operations of the year:

Russian Defense Ministry video, January 2021, first live-fire gunnery of the year; T-72s (notice the T-72 T-C is wearing a damn Pandemic face mask!) & BTR-82As:

Russian Defense Ministry video, February 2021, live-fire gunnery for mechanized infantry:

Russian Defense Ministry video, March 2021, all those BTRs and T-72s are thirsty:

A full-on wargame was held in Tajikistan, at the end of April 2021, involving more than 3-thousand-5-hundred Russian and Tajik personnel.

Russian Defense Ministry video, April 2021, Sukhoi 25s arrive for the games:

Russian Defense Ministry video, April 2021, BM-21 Grad rocket launchers (the Russian word translates to ‘flamethrower’):

Russian Defense Ministry video, April 2021, load, aim and fire your BM-21:

Mi-8MTV5-1s were busy working training sorties along with Mi-24Ps. Central Military District photo.

Russian Defense Ministry video, April 2021, Mil 24P (NATO reporting name Hind-F):

Russian Defense Ministry video, April 2021, 2S1 (aka M-1974, aka SAU-122):

Russian Defense Ministry video, April 2021, T-72 gunnery, from the point of view of the crew:

Russian Defense Ministry video, April 2021, more T-72 gunnery:

Russian Defense Ministry video, April 2021, 2S3 (aka M-1973, aka SAU-152):

Russian Defense Ministry video, April 2021, BTR-82A:

BTR-82A, in the Khatlon region at the Kharb-Maydon training ground. Central Military District photo.

1-thousand targets were set-up for the August 5-10 wargame in the Khatlon Region, on the Kharb-Maydon training ground.

Anti-tank rocket launchers. The Russian word translates as ‘flamethrower’, this is confusing because in English a flamethrower is a different type of weapon.

The scenario of the August Tajikistan wargame was that the Central Asian country was invaded.  About 2-thousand-5-hundred personnel from Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan took part, with about 5-hundred vehicles.

T-72, Central Military District photo.

In November, Russian troops from the 201st Military Base in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, got to try out their new 5.45mm AK-12 assault rifles during the Cobalt 2021 wargame.  Central Military District video:

New Cold War: Live fire video as RUSSIAN BTR-82A & BMP-3 WARM-UP THEIR GUNS!

Vehicle I-D:

2S3 AKATSIYA (2C3 АКАЦИЯ), COLD WAR TO UKRAINE BORDER CRISIS!

2S1 self propelled artillery gun, FROM COLD WAR TO UKRAINIAN BORDER CRISIS!

Cold War Battle Damage: THE HIND-END OF DESERT STORM

International, Technology

New Cold War: Russian BTR-82A & BMP-3 warm-up their guns!

Video

Central Military District photo.

On 02FEB2022, Colonel-General Alexander Lapin, Commander of Russia’s Central Military District, reported that “Since the beginning of the year, 76 company tactical exercises have been conducted with the part of motorized rifle and tank units, including 11 ostentatious ones, during which the number of practical tasks performed has been increased by 12%, and the number of group tasks has been increased by 24%.” 

On 31JAN2022, Russia’s Southern Military District reported that crews operating BTR-82A and BMP-3 armored vehicles began warming up their guns with live-fire drills.

The vehicles are armed with guns of 100mm, 30mm and 7.62mm calibers.

Southern Military District video, BTR-82A live fire gunnery:

Southern Military District video, BMP-3 live fire gunnery:

Western Military District photo.

On 31JAN2022, a NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) competition began in the Kursk Region, as part of the 2022 Army International Games.

Western Military District photo.

On the same day, in the Nizhny Novgorod Region, the first qualifying stage of the communications competition ended.

Russian Western Military District photo.

On 30JAN2022, Western Military District engineers took part in the 2022 Army International Games, in the Voronezh Region.

BTR-80 undergoes NBC decontamination. Russian Southern Military District photo.

On 28JAN2022, Southern Military District reported that NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) competition had begun, as part of the 2022 Army International Games taking place in the Volgograd Region.

New Cold War 2022: TRIUMPHS NOW IN BELARUS, DEPLOYED ACROSS LENINGRAD & MOSCOW REGIONS (AND I DON’T MEAN BRITISH MOTORCYCLES)!

New Cold War 2021: RUSSIA STOCKS-UP ON VEHICLES FOR NAVAL GROUND FORCES

Vehicle I-D: UKRAINE’s MIL 8MT/MSB-V & BMP-1 & BRDM & BTR-80/3DA

International, Technology

New Cold War: Triumphs now in Belarus, deployed across Leningrad & Moscow Regions (and I don’t mean British motorcycles)!

Video

Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reports that S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft units are now in Belarus, as of 03FEB2022.  They were deployed from Russia’s Eastern Military District on 21JAN2022.

Russian Ministry of Defense video of arrival of some of the S-400 vehicles:

The S-400 Triumph units will be based in the Brest Region of Belarus.

Russian Western Military District photo.

On 02FEB2022, Russia’s Western Military District announced it began wargames using the S-400 systems. The ‘live-fire’ wargame is being held across the Leningrad Region of Russia, and includes other anti-aircraft systems like the S-300 Favorit, Pantsir-S, Tor and Buk-M3.

The S-400 Triumph is an anti-aircraft missile system comprised of many types of vehicles.

Russian Western Military District photo.

On 01FEB2022, Russia’s Western Military District completed an anti-aircraft wargame in the Moscow Region using the Tor system of the Guards Tank Army.  The wargame scenario was that U.S./NATO was trying to bomb an important target in the Moscow Region.

Russian Western Military District photo.

On 31JAN2022, Russia’s Western Military District reported that the Baltic Fleet had completed anti-aircraft training for its Bal system. The Bal system is specifically for defense of coastal areas.

New Cold War:  RUSSIAN T-72B3M LIVE FIRE CRIMEA!

Biden’s War: JANUARY ARMY/AIR FORCE DEPLOYMENTS

Technology

Cold War (and beyond) Vehicle I-D: Suomalaiset Sisu XA-203, XA-180M, 90M Crotale & 6×6

Video

The XA series of armored vehicles first came alive back in 1980, during the unofficial Cold War, when Finland was part of the Soviet ‘Eastern Bloc’.  They were made by a company called Suomen Autoteollisuus, which became Sisu Auto in 1981, which then became Sisu Defense in 1995, which then became Patria in 1997.  Today Finland still uses the XA series of vehicles, and despite Finland being an officially ‘non-aligned’ country, it allows, and even takes part in, NATO wargames on its soil.

The XA numbers change depending on specific versions, and foreign users.

Finnish XA-180 working as part of the IFOR mission in Bosnia & Herzegovina. U.S. Army photo by Private First Class Luis A. Deya, dated March 1996.

A Finnish officer explains the electronics on his XA-180 Command Post to U.S. Army personnel in Lager Aulenbach, Germany. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Jim Varhegyi, 09MAY2000.

The Patria Pasi XA-180M is the latest version of the original Sisu Pasi XA-180 from 1980.  Everything was upgraded, including the armored body.

Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo.

Does the ‘M’ in XA-180M stand for mud? Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo.

Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo.

Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces XA-180M promotional video from 2014, including sliding it on ice, and notice that a motorcycle looking clear shield is used on the TC coupala:

The XA-181 was used to create the 90M (aka ITO90) Crotale anti-aircraft system.

Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo.

Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo.

2014 Puolustusvoimat video explaining Finland’s air defense systems, including the ITO90:

The newer XA-202 and XA-203 were first delivered in 2003. The XA-202 has more interior room than the XA-203, and is used mainly as a command post/communications vehicle.  The Puolustusvoimat says the 202/203 were developed specifically for ‘crisis management operations’.

XA-203 during NATO’s Trident Juncture 2018 in Norway. Finnish Defense Forces photo by Ville Multanen, 30OCT2018.

Finnish XA-203 crews prep their vehicles in Sweden for road-march to next-door Norway. Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo by Sergeant Alec Orko, 27OCT2018.

Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo by Ville Multanen, 26OCT2018.

Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo by Ville Multanen, 26OCT2018.

2018 Puolustusvoimat video showing XA-203 ops in Sweden, and they finally admit they are a NATO ‘partner’:

See more XA-203 Patria Pasi (apparently there is no English equivalent for Pasi) in SUOMALAISET LEOPARDIT JA SISU PASI JA CV9030 JA MTLB JA 2S1 JA BMP-2 JA AMOS.

But the XA-203 is already outdated, and in 2018 Patria introduced a new ‘Pasi’ to replace it.  Currently the prototype is simply called the 6×6.

Patria photo.

In August 2021, Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces agreed to buy ‘pre-series’ 6×6 vehicles, as part of a joint program with Latvia and Estonia.

Patria photo.

Patria promotional video for their new AMV & 6×6 vehicles:

Specifically the 6×6:

120mm Nemo artillery system mounted in a 6×6, fire on the move:

Even robot versions:

Vehicle I-D: FINLAND’S SP GUNS 155 PSH K9 & 122 PSH 74

 

Technology

Vehicle I-D: Finland’s SP guns 155 PsH K9 & 122 PsH 74

Video

In February 2017, Finland agreed to buy 48 used K9 self propelled artillery guns from the Republic of Korea (South Korea).

Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo.

They began arriving in 2017, with the final delivery expected by 2024.

Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo.

The Finns call it the 155 PsH K9, the PsH is for Panssari-Haupitsien (which means Armored Howitzer in English).

Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo.

Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo.

The 155 PsH K9 uses 155mm ammo.

Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo.

Hour long K9 PanssariHaupitsien presentation video that was recorded live in 2019:

Finland also operates the Soviet era 2S1 self propelled artillery gun, the Finns call it the 122 PsH 74.

Finland calls their 2S1s the 122 PsH 74. Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo.

They are former East German 2S1s, purchased in 1992 and 1994, thanks to the unification of West and East Germany, and the end of the unofficial Cold War.

Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo.

The 122 PsH 74 uses 122mm ammo.

Video from 2014, getting a tour, and ride, on a Finnish 122 PsH 74:

2007 video of a ‘cold start’ of a 122 PsH 74, pay attention you might recognize somebody that is also in the 2014 tour/ride video:

Vehicle I-D:

2S1, FROM COLD WAR TO UKRAINIAN BORDER CRISIS!

Vehicle I-D: Suomalaiset Leopardit ja Sisu Pasi ja CV9030 ja MTLB ja 2S1 ja BMP-2 ja AMoS (Finnish Leopard and Sisu Pasi and CV9030 and MTLB and 2S1 and BMP-2 and AMoS)

NATO Vehicle I-D:

T-155 Firtina, Turkish Tempest (modified K9)

Technology

NATO Vehicle I-D: Latviski M109A5Ö (the Ö is for Österreich)

Image

In 2017, the small NATO member Latvia purchase 47 Austrian (Österreichisch) rebuilt M109A5s.  The M109A5s were formerly owned by the United Kingdom’s Royal Army. By October 2018, Austria delivered all 47 rebuilt M109A5s.

Latvians try out their ‘new to them’ M109A5Ö, November 2018. Canadian Forces photo by Aviator Jérôme Lessard.

Since NATO-Canada is the lead NATO element (Enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup Latvia) in Latvia, they have been training Latvian artillery crews how to operate the U.S. designed Cold War era self propelled artillery gun system.

Latvijas Armija (Latvian Army) prep-to-fire a M109A5Ö, 15NOV2018. Canadian Armed Forces photo by Aviator Jérôme Lessard.

Latvijas Armija fire a M109A5Ö, 15NOV2018. Canadian Armed Forces photo by Aviator Jérôme Lessard.

Latvian M109A5Ö. Canadian Armed Forces photo by Aviator Jérôme Lessard, 15NOV2018.

M109A5Ö interior, photo by Wolfgang Cevela.

The Minister of Defense gets taken for a ride. Aizsardzības Ministrija photo by Gatis Dieziņš, 21MAR2019.

Aizsardzības Ministrija photo by Armīns Janiks, 20FEB2020.

March 2021: U.S. taxpayers donate ammo for Latvian M109A5Ö!

May 2021: Latvia decides to buy more M109A5Ös!

On public display, next to a tiny FV107 Scimitar, in the city of Cesis, 21AUG2021. Latvijas Aizsardzības Ministrija (Latvia Ministry of Defense) photo by Gatis Dieziņš.

Latvijas Aizsardzības Ministrija photo by Gatis Dieziņš, 26OCT2021.

Latvia 2017:  U.S. ARMOR SHOOTS UP BORDER NEAR RUSSIA, during NATO’s Operation Reassurance, U.S. tankers sent to hospital! 

Latvia 2016: Florida & Ohio Air National Guard spend U.S. tax dollars rebuilding Latvian schools