Category Archives: Technology

Technology

WW1 Vehicle I-D: U.S. Mark-8, last of the Liberty tanks

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Apparently the Mark VIII (aka Mark 8) was a joint effort by the United States and United Kingdom.  It was referred to as the Liberty or The International, and was intended to fight in World War One (The Great War), but production delays prevented that.

U.S. Army Ordinance Department.

Images are dated February 1919.  Notice the access door has a large porthole type window.

USA Ordinance Department.

There is also a large porthole window on the back of the castle tower (turret).

USA Ordinance photo, February 1919.

U.S. Mark VIIIs were assembled in factories in Connecticut (Locomobile Company of America), Ohio (Parish and Bingham Company) and Illinois (Rock Island Arsenal).  They were also built in the U.K., by the North British Locomotive Company, William Beardmore and Company, and Metropolitan.

USA Ordinance Department photo.

These photos are dated 1918, and show the first Locomobile built Mark-8 undergoing testing (like mowing down trees).

USA Ordinance Department photo.

USA Ordinance Department photo by N. Nazarnick.

This photo was taken towards the end of 1918, it is marked as being received by the USA Ordinance Department on 24JAN1919, a water crossing test just outside Bridgeport, Connecticut.

USA Ordinance Department photo by N. Nazarnick.

Locomobile Mark-8 completing a successful hill climb.  The open hatches reveal the location of the driver.

USA Ordinance Department photo by N. Nazarnick.

10MAY2021:

REBUILDING LIBERTY

Technology

WW1 Vehicle I-D: Rebuilding Liberty

Image

U.S. Army photo by Staci-Jill Burnley, 10MAY2021.

On 10MAY2021, a Liberty Mark VIII (8) tank returned to its birthplace; Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois: “Rock Island Arsenal was designated to produce one hundred of these tanks in January of 1919 at a cost of $35-thousand each. The first tank was completed on January 5, 1920 and the 100th was completed on June 5, 1920.”-Patrick Allie, Rock Island Arsenal Museum

USA photo by Staci-Jill Burnley, 10MAY2021.

The Mark-8 tanks were retired in 1932.  In 1940, 90 were shipped to Canada. Reportedly there are only three Mark-8 tanks still around; one in United Kingdom and two in the United States.

USA photo by Staci-Jill Burnley, 10MAY2021.

USA photo by Staci-Jill Burnley, 10MAY2021.

USA photo by Staci-Jill Burnley, 10MAY2021.

This Mark-8 came from the Armor and Cavalry collection at Fort Benning, Georgia.  It will be restored and then displayed at the Rock Island Arsenal.

USA photo by Debralee Best.

An old photo of the Mark 8 on outdoor museum ‘gate guard’ duty.

Liberty Mark 8 when it was brand new, USA photo.

This photo is dated October 1921.  The information that came with it states the Mark-8 (no mention of ‘Liberty’, probably because previous U.S. tanks were also called Liberty, as well as U.K. tanks which were sent to the U.S. to sell Liberty Bonds) weighs 35 short-tons (U.S./Canadian ton), required a crew of 12 to operate, had four machine guns and two cannons, and even had a wireless communication system.  Mark-8 tanks were built at several locations, such as factories in Ohio and Connecticut.

  HOW TO MOVE YOUR 1:1 SCALE WHIRLWIND FLAKPANZER, IN CANADA!

Technology

Drone Wars: QF-100 Super Sabre

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U.S. Air Force photo.

First flight of the YQF-100D over Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB), Florida, was in January 1981.  In 1983, just over two hundred F-100 D & F model Super Sabers were pulled from the ‘boneyard’ at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, and converted to QF-100 target drones.  The target drones were meant to last about ten missions before being destroyed.  Missiles fired at the QF-100s were programed to barely miss the Super Sabers, allowing reuse of the drones.

U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Edward Boyce.

A QF-100 and its mobile control van, Tyndall AFB, William Tell aerial gunnery competition October 1984.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Edward Boyce.

U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Guido Locati.

A QF-100 over Tyndall AFB.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Lou Hernandez.

Are these enough QF-100s for you?

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Lou Hernandez.

Damage to the wing-tip of one QF-100.   No information about how it happened.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Lou Hernandez.

The damaged QF-100 gets a place next to the William Tell ’86 scoreboard.

USAF photo Staff Sergeant Dave McLeod.

The ‘pilot’ of the QF-100 sits behind a computer desk, with its own joystick.  Supposedly the control van’s telemetry system allowed the QF-100 to be controlled from the ground within a 15 miles radius.

USAF photo by Master Sergeant Bill Thompson.

In January 1988, testing was done on the QF-100 Gulf Drone Control Upgrade System during the Combat Archer wargame over Tyndall AFB.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Charles Taylor.

QF-100s at the October 1988 William Tell aerial gunnery competition, Tyndall AFB.  Notice the painted canopies and the red stars on the fuselages.

USAF photo by Master Sergeant Boyd Belcher.

The four 20mm gun ports are covered over.

USAF photo by Master Sergeant Boyd Belcher.

Inside the Mobile Control System van for the QF-100s during William Tell ’88.

USAF photo Staff Sergeant Russ Pollanen.

More QF-100s await destruction over Tyndall AFB. The QF-100 program officially ended in 1998.  Some QF-100s escaped destruction and became museum pieces.  Accurate data about F-100s are hard to find, even museum researchers admit they come across conflicting data concerning the specific Super Sabre they are trying to document for their respective museums.

2019: F-100 SUPER SABER GATE GUARDS

Kit Bashing: 1:72 F-100 SUPER SABER KIT KLASH, OR MORE REASONS WHY YOU CAN’T TRUST SCALE DRAWINGS

Drone Wars: QF-16 

USAF ADMITS IT MUST MAKE ITS OWN DRONE PARTS!

Technology

Cold War Helicopters: Sikorsky Dragonfly

Video

U.S. Navy photo.

In researching this helicopter on the inter-web I discovered many sites give conflicting information as to when this helicopter first flew, some say 1943, another says 1946, the Sikorsky S-51 Archives gives no dates.  This U.S. Navy photo is dated 05DEC1945, Sikorsky S-51 lands on the deck of United States Ship (USS) Princeton.

Sikorsky Aviation Corporation’s S-51 was developed from the S-48.   The U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) called it R-5, later becoming the H-5/SH-5 by the new U.S. Air Force (USAF).  U.S. Navy(USN)/Marine Corps(USMC)/Coast Guard(USCG) called it HO3S.  The British called their versions WS-51 (silly-vilian) and Dragonfly HR (Royal Navy)/HC (Royal Air Force).

Photo via James Andrews.

U.S. Marine Corps HMX-1 was established in December 1947, on Quantico in Virginia, to help test and evaluate the HO3S-1.

Silent USMC film of HO3S med-evac (medical evacuation) operation during Korean conflict, 27MAY1951:

Silent USA (U.S. Army) film, during naval wargames General Dwight D.  Eisenhower meets Admiral Robert B. Carney and Vice Admiral Matthias B. Gardner, on heavy cruiser USS Des Moines (CA-134) and aircraft carrier USS Roosevelt (CVB-42/CVA-42/CV-42) via an HO3S, 16-17OCT1951.  Notice staff cars parked on deck of CA-134:

Silent USA film, by Rex Peterson, of H-5 delivering USA and USN officers to first peace talks during Korean conflict (referred to as ‘police action’ by United Nations), 27NOV1951, Panmunjom:

U.S. Air Force photo.

Date and location (assumed to be Korea) not given, USAF maintainers work on the rotor-hub of the H-5G.

USAF photo.

Somewhere in Korea, USAF H-5G undergoing what could be called phased maintenance.

USAF photo.

USAF photo.

USAF photo.

USAF photo.

USAF photo.

In this photo you can better see the wooden blades of the tail-rotor.

USAF photo.

Aerial photo of USN HO3S on Korean farm field.

USAF photo.

USAF photo.

USAF H-5 with wounded person litter.

USAF photo.

You can see the air cooled rotary engine.

USAF photo.

USAF photo.

Litter/stretcher used on H-5.

USAF photo.

First Lieutenant caught laying down on the job!

Silent USN film dated 30JUN1953, by last name Benton, showing Royal Navy Dragonfly HR onboard USS Antietam (CV/CVA/CVS-36):

Silent USN film dated 09JAN1954 (the film slates are dated 09JAN1954 [1-9-54], but news media articles date the event as 10JAN1954), by last names Peterson and Happius (interesting, on one of the slates with Peterson’s name it appears somebody ‘flips the bird’ at the camera), HO3S shuttling officials from Nationalist China (Republic of China/Taiwan) onboard USS Wasp (LHD-1) for some sort of official visit (it included Chiang Kai-Shek who came onboard on a different type of helicopter, but I edited to focus on the HO3S):

 

Vehicle I-D: Lockheed-Martin-Sikorsky’s new HH-60W

East Idaho wildfires 2012:  SIKORSKY & USMC IN TOWN

SIKORSKY SKYCRANE LEAVES POCATELLO AIRPORT FOR COX’S WELL FIRE

Technology

Vehicle I-D: Intoxicated Jolly Green the Second

Video

Lockheed-Martin-Sikorsky photo.

The U.S. Air Force’s (USAF) HH-60W is based on the U.S. Army’s UH-60M BlackHawk.  In 2014, the USAF ordered ten HH-60Ws.  Since then a total of 113 HH-60Ws are now on order.

U.S. Air Force photo by Samuel King Junior.

On 06NOV2019, two of the three new Pave Hawks arrived on Duke Field (Eglin AFB) in Florida.  They are super-upgraded HH-60Ws.  However, their upgrades weren’t complete and the crew had to fly the ‘copters from the Sikorsky Developmental Flight Center via VFR (Visual Flight Rules, by sight and the seat of their pants only).

USAF photo by Samuel King Junior.

In December 2019, the HH-60W got isolated, not because of the emerging ‘China virus’ but for tests in the anechoic (echo-free) chamber.  At this point the new HH-60W Pave Hawk was referred to as the ‘Whiskey’.

USAF photo by Samuel King Junior.

The Whiskey spent seven weeks in the anechoic chamber, as part of the Joint Preflight Integration of Munitions and Electronic Systems testing by 413th Flight Test Squadron.  The anti-echo chamber is used to check internal reflections of electromagnetic waves, as well as insulate from exterior sources of electromagnetic noise.

USAF photo by Samuel King Junior.

Sometime between December 2019 and April 2020, the Whiskey got a new name; Jolly Green the Second (Jolly Green II), in honor of two previous Green Giants, the HH-3 and HH-53.  Here’s a dramatic music video about the legacy of the Jolly Green:

USAF photo by Samuel King Junior.

In April 2020, Jolly Green the Second got sent to the McKinley Climatic Lab, where extreme weather like hurricanes, heat waves and ice storms were set loose on the new pararescue helicopter.

USAF photo by Samuel King Junior.

“The most significant improvement is our ability to integrate with new aircraft that exist in the Air Force and the joint inventory. Some of the new systems will allow us to get real-time data information dumps from those aircraft, find the survivor at a faster pace, it gives us a more-survivable platform to be able to prosecute the mission and stay safe while we’re doing it.”-Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Geoffroy, 41st Rescue Squadron

USAF photo by Samuel King Junior.

In May 2020, the testing crew didn’t let the pandemic panic attack stop them, and conducted flights alongside a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache as part of testing for critical search and rescue operations in a combat environment.

Lockheed-Martin-Sikorsky photo.

In August 2020, weapons systems were tested (for some reason no photos of the live-fire testing were released), which include the GAU-2 minigun, the GAU-18 .50 caliber ‘legacy’ machine gun, and the new GAU-21 .50-cal.

USAF photo by Andrea Jenkins.

On 05NOV2020, the first two Jolly Green the Seconds flew to their new home with the 23d Wing and 347th Rescue Group, on Moody Air Force Base (AFB) in Georgia. The HH-60W Jolly Green-2 is replacing the 26 years old HH-60G Pave Hawk.

Video by Senior Airman Taryn Butler, showing exited PJs as the new Jolly Greens arrive on Moody AFB:

Walkaround & flying video by Airman Megan Estrada:

USAF photo by Master Sergeant Tristan McIntire.

First airborne refueling for Jolly Green the Second, 05AUG2020, over Alabama.

USAF photo by Master Sergeant Tristan McIntire.

Notice the .50-cal door gun.

On 17DEC2020, exited PJs with 58th Special Operations Wing turned out to see the arrival of a HH-60W on Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.  Video by Senior Airman Austin J. Prisbrey:

USAF photo by Airman First Class Jasmine M. Barnes.

In February 2021, the HH-60Ws took part in wargame Mosaic Tiger 21-1, on Moody AFB, Georgia.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Jasmine M. Barnes.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Jasmine M. Barnes.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Jasmine M. Barnes.

“There’s expanded space in the back of the cabin … that allows us to bring in more patients and for the pararescuemen to have more area … to use some of the kit they have to more effectively save lives.”-Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Geoffroy, 41st Rescue Squadron

USAF photo by Giancarlo Casem.

Also in February 2021, HH-60Ws flew from Eglin AFB, Florida, to Edwards AFB in California, for more testing.  In April 2021, the USAF announced the HH-60W had completed its developmental testing on Eglin AFB.  In 2022, the Jolly Green II will go to Nellis AFB, Nevada, for yet more testing.

Weapon I-D: THE HAPPY MINIGUNNER

Biden’s War: ALASKA BLACKHAWKS DEPLOY TO MIDDLE EAST! 

Vehicle I-D: UH-60 FOR AFGHANISTAN, KILLED-OFF BY THE MIL 17?

National Guard uses BlackHawk to teach baby dinosaur to fly?

WASH YOUR HAWK!

BLACK HELICOPTERS SWARM SUPER BOWL-54

Technology

Weapon I-D: The Happy MiniGunner

Video

XM196 and M134 (U.S. Army), GAU-2 and GAU-17 (U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy), all General Electric/Dillion Aero/Garwood Industries 7.62mm x 51mm (7.62-NATO, 308 Winchester) miniguns.  Minigun pods M18 for U.S. Army(USA), and SUU-11 for U.S. Air Force(USAF), are essentially the same. 

In 1964, the USAF units in Viet Nam began experimenting with C-47 Dakotas, arming them with machine guns firing out the side of the fuselage.

This was due to successful state-side testing of a C-131 gunship.  Originally, single barreled Browning machine guns were tried but quickly abandoned in favor of the minigun.

Each AC-47D Spooky unit experimented with their own mounting systems for the SUU-11 gun pods, eventually a standardized system combining SUU-11s with MXU-470 ammo-drums was settled on.

A prototype A-37 Dragonfly (YAT-37D) firing its GAU-2 minigun.

A production A-37 Dragonfly.

Silent U.S. Army film by last name Sandri, 17th Air Cav minigun armed OH-6A Cayuse (the OH-58A Kiowa could also be armed with similarly mounted minigun), somewhere in Viet Nam, January 1967.  The side mounted minigun itself could be elevated and slightly traversed by the pilot:

U.S. Air Force photo.

In September 1967, the first AC-130A gunship was sent to Nha Trang Air Base in Viet Nam. Most ‘official’ sources say it had two miniguns, but this photo clearly shows four miniguns, two above the forward wheel-well sponson, and two above the rear mounted 20mm Vulcans.

Silent U.S. Army film by last name Lambert, AH-1G Cobra gets its chin mounted minigun, as well as wing mounted M18 gun pods, loaded for Operation Delaware, Viet Nam, May 1968:

U.S. Army silent film by last name Hansen, 10OCT1968, Air Cushion Vehicle (ACV) minigunner, Mekong delta area of Viet Nam:

Another silent U.S. Army film by last name Hansen, ACV armed with minigun on search & destroy mission.  Most Army operated ACVs did not have miniguns, having a second M2 .50-cal mounted where the minigun is mounted on this ACV (Navy ACVs had a single gun position on the roof, while Army ACVs had two gun positions on the roof):

Photo via Dick Detra.

UH-1C Huey ‘Satisfaction’ (66-15179) stationed on Dau Tieng and LZ Sally, Viet Nam, from April 1967 through June 1968, and armed with dual miniguns.

Bell Helicopter photo.

M134 mounted on Huey.  The gun could be remotely aimed by the pilot/gunner.  When mounted on the opposite side of the helicopter the ammo feed chute was strung over the top of the M134.

General Electric photo.

Huey armed with two door/pintle mounted miniguns.

Bell Helicopter photo.

Royal Australian Air Force 9 Squadron UH-1H Bushranger over Viet Nam.  Notice the M134 is mounted forward of the the rocket launcher.

Photo via Australian War Memorial.

A better view of the Bushranger gunship set-up.

U.S. Marine Corps photo.

In 1969, while waiting for their AH-1J Cobras, the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) got some AH-1Gs.  This one is still waiting for its chin turret guns, but does have the M18 minigun pod.

USAF photo.

In 1969, as a stop-gap while waiting for C-130 Hercules to be converted to the new AC-130A Specter, the USAF converted C-119 Boxcars to AC-119G Shadows and AC-119K Stingers.

USAF photo.

The four miniguns, mounted using the SUU-11/MXU-470 system, were located above and in between the forward and rear 20mm Vulcans.

U.S Army silent film by last name Lambert, AH-1G gets ammo-upload August 1969, Viet Nam.  In contrast to the AH-1G in the film from 1968, this Cobra has the chin mounted 40mm grenade launcher as well as chin mounted minigun, and M18 minigun pods:

U.S. Air Force photo.

Photo dated March 1970, A-1H Skyraider nicknamed Bubbles’n Bust, no location given.  It carries two external fuel tanks and a single SUU-11 minigun pod.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Andy Sarakon.

USAF HC-130P refueling a HH-3 Jolly Green Giant, and a HH-53 Super Jolly Green Giant, over Viet Nam, 16JUN1970.  Both rescue helicopters could carry window and ramp mounted miniguns.

USAF photo.

1970, a South Viet Nam Air Force (VNAF) UH-1D with door mounted minigun.

USAF photo.

Late 1970s, a USAF Opposition Forces minigun armed UH-1N over Hurlburt Field, Florida.

USMC photo by Sergeant Bennett.

USMC GAU-2 minigun (notice the muzzle brakes on the barrels), Camp Pendleton, California, February 1981.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Carl Hawkins.

USAF pilot checks the nose mounted GAU-2 minigun on this A-37 Dragonfly during wargame Team Spirit 1985, in Republic of Korea.  There is a red dust cover over the gun barrel port.

USAF photo by Dennis Carlson.

Kirkland Air Force Base (AFB) in New Mexico, Airman Vanessa Dobos is a happy minigunner, she became the first female minigunner for the USAF, in August 2002.

Canadian Forces photo by Master Corporal Robert Bottril.

Dillon Aero 7.62mm M134 Minigun mounted on a Canadian CH-146 Griffon (modified Bell 412), 13FEB2009, Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Canadian Forces photo by Master Corporal Robert Bottrill.

Canadian Forces pepper a target-range with their new Dillon Aero 7.62mm M134 Minigun, 13FEB2009, Kandahar, Afghanistan.

USMC photo by Corporal Ryan Rholes.

USMC ‘higher-ups’ check out a USA CH-47 armed with a window mounted M134 minigun, Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, June 2010.

USMC photo by Corporal Ryan Rholes.

USMC photo by Corporal Ryan Rholes.

GAU-17 armed UH-1Y Venom somewhere in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, September 2010.

U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer First Class Dustin Q. Diaz.

Minigun on a patrol boat during the U.S. Navy’s (USN) Riverine Crewman Course on Cape Fear River, North Carolina, September 2013.

New York Army National Guard video, by Sergeant Harley Jelis, minigun used on United Kingdom Royal Navy ship (Royal Fleet Auxiliary Cardigan Bay) somewhere in the Persian Gulf, June 2014:

Video by Lance Corporal Christopher D. Thompson, USMC minigun live-fire training near Yuma, Arizona, 01APR2016:

USMC photo by Lance Corporal Frank Cordoba.

Even robots are happy minigunners, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, June 2016.

USMC photo by Sergeant Royce Dorman.

Future happy minigunners, onboard USS Anchorage during Seattle Seafair, Washington,  August 2017.

Alaska Air National Guard photo by Alejandro Peña.

Alaska Air National Guard HH-60G with GAU-2 minigun, March 2019.

Alaska Air National Guard photo by Alejandro Peña.

Alaska Air National Guard HH-60G Pave Hawk armed with two GAU-2 miniguns, March 2019.

Alaska Air National Guard photo by Alejandro Peña.

Alaska Air National Guard photo by Alejandro Peña.

GAU-2 barrel spin check, March 2019.

Weapon I-D, 2019: GERMANY FINALLY ADOPTS THE MINIGUN!

USMC photo by Corporal Eric Tso.

The MV-22B Osprey uses a remote controlled GAU-17 minigun, protruding from its belly, Oahu, Hawaii, April 2020.

USMC photo by Corporal Matthew Kirk.

The R/C GAU-17 gunner uses a video game controller to aim and fire the weapon.

USMC photo by Corporal Matthew Kirk.

USMC video by Corporal Matthew Kirk, GAU-17 remote operated minigun onboard MV-22B Osprey, April 2020:

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Hayden Legg.

USAF’s new HH-60W Jolly Green Giant-2, which can carry .50-cals or miniguns in its currently vacant pintle mounts, November 2020.

USN photo by Michael Williams.

March 2021, a happy Swedish special forces soldier fires the minigun during USN special ops training on Stennis Space Center, Mississippi.

Heritage Flight’s O-2 Skymaster with rocket pods and SUU-11 gun pods.

Weapon I-D: DOOR GUNNER .50 CAL

Technology

Robot Wars: Beware the Zombie Kiowa!

Video

In the past several years, versions of the OH-58 Kiowa have been retired from U.S. Army (USA) service.

U.S. Navy photo.

The U.S. Navy plans on retiring their aged fleet of TH-57 Sea Rangers (Kiowas and Sea Rangers both based on the Bell 206 JetRanger) next year, but it turns out that since at least 2013 the U.S. Navy (USN) has been using a zombified (robot) version of the Kiowa/Sea Ranger looking Bell 407, called MQ-8C Fire Scout (not to be confused with the MQ-8B, also called Fire Scout).

Northrop-Grumman-Bell photo.

In September 2010, Northrop-Grumman-Bell(Textron) completed the Fire-X electrical systems power-on sequence at the Xworx conversion operations in Fort Worth, Texas.

Northrop-Grumman-Bell photo.

Originally called Fire-X by Northrop-Grumman-Bell, in December 2010 it flew over Yuma Army Proving Grounds (YAPG, sometimes YPG), in Arizona.

Northrop-Grumman-Bell photo.

In 2012 the USN decided to buy it, and towards the end of 2013 the $262.3-million robot helicopter first took flight as the MQ-8C Fire Scout.

Northrop-Grumman-Bell photo.

In August 2014, the MQ-8C successfully conducted ‘slope landing’ tests on Point Magu, Naval Base Ventura County, California.

Northrop-Grumman-Bell photo.

USN photo by Petty Officer Third Class Zachary S. Eshleman.

In March 2017, the MQ-8C began testing onboard the USS Montgomery (LCS 8), the first time it was tested on a Littoral Combat Ship:

USN photo by Command Master Chief Jacob A. Shafer.

USN photo by Ensign Jalen Robinson.

In June 2018, the USN conducted final Initial Operational Test and Evaluations (IOTE) of the MQ-8C Fire Scout, a year later it was declared ‘mission ready’.

Silent video by Petty Officer First Class Charles White, final IOTE flight around USS Coronado (LCS 4), 28JUN2018:

The mission of the MQ-8C is basically the same as that of the USA’s manned Kiowas; scouting and target identification, with the additional cargo hauling mission.

USN photo by Ensign Alexandra Green.

12APR2021, MQ-8C leaves the USS Jackson (LCS 6).

USN photo Petty Officer Third Class Casey Trietsch.

16APR2021, the MQ-8C Fire Scout was on display at the UxS IBP 21 robot wargame on Naval Base San Diego, California.

USN photo by Petty Officer Second Class Sara Eshleman.

Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron-3, Naval Base San Diego, get introduced to the MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter, 29APR2021.  Notice this MQ-8C has a different windshield and nose compared to the one seen at UxS IBP 21.

UxS IBP 21 stands for Unmanned Systems (not sure why there is an ‘x’ in the acronym) Integrated Battle Problem 2021.  UxS IBP 21 is the first ‘classified’ USN wargame involving robot vehicles and weapons competing against people operated systems, apparently spurred by doubts coming from the U.S. Congress: “With the recent acquisition failures on the last several ship classes, those of us on this committee are skeptical of the Navy’s ability to shepherd this new technology into employable assets that contribute to the lethality of those forces.”-Representative Elaine Luria of Virginia

IBP 21 took place from April 19th to the 26th.

Final Flight:

OH-58D KIOWA WARRIORS

FINAL FLIGHT OF THE FORT POLK KIOWAS

Robot Wars:

JUNK HEAP THAT FLOATS?

Technology

Robot Wars: Junk Heap that floats?

Video

U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer Second Class Brandon T. Williams-Church, April 2021.

One of the ‘robot’ ships at the U.S. Navy’s UxS IBP 21 looks like something ‘boat people’ from Cuba would make.

USN photo by Petty Officer Second Class Brandon T. Williams-Church.

This floating target is based on the Low-Cost Modular Target (LCMT) system.  The LCMT system was designed to replace all previous different towed target systems.  At UxS IBP 21 all kinds of radar, sat-com, and other electronics were piled onto the LCMT.  The triangular things are radar reflectors designed to mimic a much larger ship.

Perhaps the hi-tech LCMT was the ‘beyond the line of sight’ target sacrificed to a Standard Missile-6 launched by USS John Finn (DDG 113), on 25APR2021: “We are going to do a live-fire offensive exercise. We are going to use the unmanned surface, unmanned air and manned air and surface to provide a targeting solution…. It will be an offensive missile, and we’re going to strike a target well beyond line-of-sight.”-Rear Admiral Jim Aiken, Carrier Strike Group 3

 

UxS IBP 21 stands for Unmanned Systems (not sure why there is an ‘x’ in the acronym) Integrated Battle Problem 2021.  UxS IBP 21 is the first ‘classified’ USN wargame involving robot vehicles and weapons competing against people operated systems, apparently spurred by doubts coming from the U.S. Congress: “With the recent acquisition failures on the last several ship classes, those of us on this committee are skeptical of the Navy’s ability to shepherd this new technology into employable assets that contribute to the lethality of those forces.”-Representative Elaine Luria of Virginia

IBP 21 took place from April 19th to the 26th.

 

Robot Wars: SEAHAWK & SEA HUNTER

Technology

Robot Wars: Seahawk & Sea Hunter

Video

On 20APR2021, a couple of composite trimaran hulled robots sailed around San Diego, California.  One is called Sea Hunter, the other Seahawk.

U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Shannon Renfroe.

This one is called Seahawk.

USN photo by Chief Petty Officer Shannon Renfroe, 21APR2021.

Seahawk.

USN photo by Chief Petty Officer Shannon Renfroe, 21APR2021.

USN video of Seahawk and Sea Hunter, by Petty Officer First Class David Mora, 20APR2021:

USN photo by Petty Officer Second Class Thomas Gooley.

This one is Sea Hunter.  It is already five years old, with more than 30-thousand miles of sailing.

USN photo by Chief Petty Officer Shannon Renfroe.

Sea Hunter is the result of a DARPA Anti-Submarine Warfare challenge.  Anybody old enough to remember when the activities of DARPA were considered nothing more than ‘conspiracy theories’?

USN video by Aaron Lebsack, Sea Hunter’s arrival (by barge) in San Diego, May 2016:

USN video report announcing the DARPA Sea Hunter:

USN photo by Petty Officer Second Class Thomas Gooley.

A closer look at the newer $35.5-million Seahawk, departing Naval Base Point Loma, 20APR2021.  Construction of Seahawk began after a contract was signed at the end of 2017.  Delivery of Seahawk was made just days before the U.S. Navy’s (USN) UxS IBP 21 in San Diego, California.

USN photo by Chief Petty Officer Shannon Renfroe.

Another look at Seahawk during UxS IBP 21.   Seahawk and Sea Hunter are made by a company called Leidos.

UxS IBP 21 stands for Unmanned Systems (not sure why there is an ‘x’ in the acronym) Integrated Battle Problem 2021.  UxS IBP 21 is the first ‘classified’ USN wargame involving robot vehicles and weapons competing against people operated systems, apparently spurred by doubts coming from the U.S. Congress: “With the recent acquisition failures on the last several ship classes, those of us on this committee are skeptical of the Navy’s ability to shepherd this new technology into employable assets that contribute to the lethality of those forces.”-Representative Elaine Luria of Virginia

IBP 21 took place from April 19th to the 26th.

Robot Wars: MANTAS DEVIL RAY

DOG ROBOTS AND BREATHALIZERS CAN TELL IF YOU HAVE CANCER?

DON’T HAVE A HEART ATTACK, BUT SOON ARMY ROBOTS WILL SAVE YOUR ASS!

ROBOTS TO KILL 80-MILLION JOBS!

IDAHO ROBOTS REVEAL FUKUSHIMA RADIATION LEVELS TOO HIGH FOR HUMANS

Technology

Vehicle I-D: Soviet armor of the U.S. Marine Corps

Image

U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer First Class Paul Self.

MTLBs operated by 3rd Amphibious Armored Vehicle Battalion, 1ST Marine Division, acting as opposing forces (OpFor) during wargame Kernel Blitz in June 1997, Camp Pendleton, California.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sergeant Ryan Ward.

USMC photo by Lance Corporal Timothy Reynolds.

USMC photo by Sergeant Ryan Ward.

USMC photo by Lance Corporal Timothy Reynolds.

USMC photo by Sergeant Ryan Ward.

ZSU-23-4 during Kernel Blitz ’97.

USN photo by Petty Officer First Class Paul Self.

BRDM during Kernel Blitz ’97.

USMC photo by Lance Corporal Timothy Reynolds.

T-72 during Kernel Blitz ’97.

Vehicle I-D: MORE U.S. ARMY FAKE-NEWS TANKS, TIGER STRIPES ANYBODY?