Category Archives: Technology

Idaho, Technology

Vehicle I-D: Idaho gets new UH-60M

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“It’s an exciting and unprecedented opportunity to have access to the newest air frame in the U.S. Army’s fleet. It’s exciting being on the leading and cutting edge of aviation. The M model has really set us up as a state and a National Guard entity to continue to lead the way and be on par with active duty counterparts.” -Lieutenant Colonel Nicole Washington, 1-183rd Assault Helicopter Battalion commander

Brand new UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters line the tarmac on Gowen Field. Idaho National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 13JAN2022.

Idaho Army National Guard’s 1-183rd Assault Helicopter Battalion has completed the transition to the new UH-60M.  As of January 2022, Idaho now has 20 of the newest Black Hawk.

Idaho National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 13JAN2022.

Pilots says the UH-60M is a long distance runner; crews don’t feel as exhausted after an all day mission, compared to the older Black Hawks, because for one thing the UH-60M has less vibration. Improvements include stiffer rotary wings for more lifting power, a new airframe, more powerful engines and advanced digital avionics inside the enlarged ‘glass’ instrument panel, being able to track yourself in relation to enemy/friendly forces, etc.

Idaho National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 13JAN2022.

Idaho’s 1-183rd Assault Helicopter Battalion has already put to use the UH-60M, last year they dumped more than 200-thousand gallons of water on forest fires in the Northern part of The Gem State.

Idaho National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 13JAN2022.

The 1-183rd AHB flew the AH-64A Apache for almost 20 years before transitioning to the AH-64D Longbow model in 2012, and then to the UH-60A/L Black Hawk through 2016-2018.  In 2019 they went through UH-60M training. The unit received its first UH-60M on Gowen Field in June 2020 and flew the remaining 19 airframes back from New Jersey to Boise since then.  On 16JAN2022, the last two of a total of 20 UH-60Ms arrived on Gowen Field.

“Combined with the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team’s modernized armor equipment, the Idaho Army National Guard is one of the most modernized states in the Army National Guard. Modernized equipment enhances our capability to be interoperable with our active duty peers.”-Brigadier General Farin Schwartz, commander of the Idaho Army National Guard

Idaho Army National Guard photo by Private First Class Jessica L. Pauley, 31JUL2016.

The first time the Idaho/Oregon/Montana Army National Guard experienced the UH-60M was while taking part in NATO wargames in Romania, in 2016: BRAND NEW BLACK HAWKS: CANUCKS JOIN SNAKE RIVER MILITIA, AIR ASSAULT MOVE TO CONTACT, ROMANIA!

New Cold War: IDAHO ARMY NATIONAL GUARD MEDEVACS WOUNDED FROM GOWEN FIELD!

Disaster 2021: Idaho Army National Guard UH-60 & UH-72 rescue Boise fire fighters from raging rapids…..truck trailer?

IDAHO BLACK HAWKS HEAD SOUTH, DOWN CENTRAL AMERICA WAY, YOU PAID FOR IT!

Technology

Vehicle I-D: New Cold War-games in Belarus, armor & aircraft

Video

Exercise Union Courage continued on 11FEB2022, with more armor maneuvers and aircraft flights.

How many vehicles can you identify in these videos?

Can you identify the Russian Eastern Military District aircraft in this video?

Vehicle I-D, New Cold War: T-72B3M live fire Crimea!

New Cold War: EXERCISE UNION COURAGE OFFICIALLY BEGINS

International, Technology

New Cold War: Bombers & Fighters in the Sky over Belarus, ‘bombin’ bread for the troops!

Video

On 09FEB2022, TASS reported that Su-35S fighters took part in interceptor training.  Su-25 ground attack aircraft played the role of invaders to be intercepted.

Russian Defense Ministry video, posted 09FEB2022, Eastern Military District S-400 missile system on patrol in the area around Brest, Belarus:

In December 2021, the Belarusian Defense Ministry said that they would continue air policing of the sky over the area of Belarus and Russia, along with Russian aircraft, for 2022.  Both Russian and Belarusian aircraft use the Red Star as their insignia.

On 08FEB2022, a joint Belarusian/Russian air patrol was flown, supposedly for the second time this month.

Russian Defense Ministry video, dated 08FEB2022, showing Tu-22M3 bombers, Su-30SM two seater and Su-35S single seater patrolling the sky over Belarus:

Another video dated 08FEB2022, shows Russian army bakers making bread for the troops now in Belarus:

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

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!

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“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

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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

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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!

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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

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“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