Tag Archives: bmp

Technology

Soviet era Armor used by NATO: Bulgaria, plus the Bulgarian BMP-23

Video

Michigan Army National Guard photo by Specialist Alan Prince, 18JUN2019.

Self propelled artillery 2S1 Karamfil (Russian name Gvozdika, Гвоздика, carnation) Novo Selo Training Area, June 2019.

U.S. Army photo by Captain Erica Mitchell.

The 2S1 has a 122mm howitzer.  It is based on a stretched MTLB hull.

Bulgar music video of 2S1s doing their thing, 12JUL2017:

USA photo by Specialist Samantha Hall.

Column of BTR-60PBs on the Novo Selo Training Area, 13JUN2019. Notice that the exhaust system on the Bulgarian BTR-60s is different from the original BTR-60 design.

USA photo by Specialist Samantha Hall.

Rear view of two BTR-60PBs (Brone-TransporteR, Броне-TранспортеP, Armored Transporter) on Novo Selo Training Area, 12JUN2019.

USA photo by Captain Erica Mitchell.

BTR-60PB, Novo Selo Training Area, 11JUN2019.

USA photo by Sergeant Ashley Gillons, 11JUN2019.

BTR-60 tags along with a Bradley.

Michigan Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Robert Douglas, 10JUN2019.

2K12 Kub (NATO reporting name SA-6 Gainful) Bulgarian National Air Defense Training Center,  June 2019.

Ohio Army National Guard photo by Captain AAron Smith, 12JUN2019.

The 2K12 missiles are facing over the rear of the hull, June 2019.

Michigan Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Robert Douglas, 13JUN2019.

2K12 launching a medium range radar guided anti-aircraft missile.

U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Thomas Mort, 12JUN2019.

Video by Laurens Vermeire, 2K12 live fire, 18JUL2017:

NATO video, 2K12 live fire, 18JUL2017:

Ohio Army National Guard photo by Captain AAron Smith, 12JUN2019.

Ohio National Guard Sergeant First Class, of the 174th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, walks past a 9K33 (NATO reporting name SA-8 Gecko), June 2019.

USA photo by Staff Sergeant Brandon Ames.

MTLB during NATO Saber Guardian/Strike Back, 05JUN2019.

USA photo by Staff Sergeant Brandon Ames.

USA photo by Sergeant Ashley Gillons.

USA photo by Sergeant Ashley Gillons.

Notice the use of rubber mats to protect the asphalt road.

USA photo by Sergeant Ashley Gillons.

U.S. Marine Corps video by Corporal Kelly L. Street, MTLB mortar carriers (incorrectly identified by the USMC as BMP-23!), 13JUL2016:

USMC photo by Corporal Kelly L. Street.

Launching a round from a MTLB mortar carrier, 13JUL2016.

USA photo by Specialist Jacqueline Dowland.

Bulgar MTLBu leads a MTLB, 25JUN2015.

USA photo by Staff Sergeant Matthew Keeler, 25APR2018.

Bulgar infantry dismount their BMP-1, Anevo Training Area, 25APR 2018.

USA photo by Staff Sergeant Matthew Keeler, 25APR2018.

“Mount up!”

USA photo by Specialist Thomas Scaggs.

BMP-1 (Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty, Боевая Машина Пехоты, Combat Vehicle Infantry) during combined arms live fire exercise titled Peace Sentinel near the village of Koren, 19JUL2017.

USMC photo by Corporal Justin T. Updegraff.

Bulgar BMP-1s play follow the leader to a USMC M1A1, 28OCT2015.

USA photo by Sergeant Paul Sale, 25OCT2012.

Bulgar BMP-1s ‘invade’ Hohenfels, Germany, 25OCT2012.

Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Megan Zander, 02FEB2020.

Bulgarian 2S1 based BMP-23, Hohenfels, Germany, February 2020.

Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Gregory Stevens, 02FEB2020.

USA photo by Specialist Julian Padua, 02FEB2020.

South Dakota National Guard photo by Sergeant Fiona Berndt, January 2020.

Bulgar designed and built BMP-23s ‘invade’ Hohenfels, Germany, 25JAN2020.

USA photo by Staff Sergeant True Thao, July 2019.

BMP-23, live-fire exercise during Platinum Lion at Novo Selo Training Area, 17JUL2019.  In the above photo try to locate the World War Two era T-34 based SU-85/SU-100, being used as a gunnery range target.

USA photo by Staff Sergeant True Thao, July 2019.

USA photo by Staff Sergeant True Thao.

It is armed with a 23-mm gun, 9K111 Fagot (Фагот, bassoon) anti-tank guided missile launchers (NATO reporting name AT-4 Spigot), and 9K32 Strela-2 shoulder launched anti-aircraft missiles (NATO reporting name SA-7 Grail).

USA photo by Sergeant First Class Osvaldo Sanchez.

Bulgarian BMP-23s, October 2009.  The BMP-23 is not based on the BMP-1 or BMP-2, but on the 2S1 hull.

Video of BMP-23s during a public demonstration of force, 08OCT2009:

 

Soviet era Armor used by NATO:   BULGARIAN T-72

Soviet era Armor used by NATO:

POLAND

Emerald Flag: RUSSIA INVADES FLORIDA?

Vehicle I-D:

ARMURĂ ROMÂNIA

Soviet era Tanks used by NATO:

SLOVENIAN M84

Technology

Vehicle I-D: Even more Ukrainian Tanks Украинская танки українські танки

Video

Wisconsin Army National Guard photo by Specialist Jared Saathoff, 13NOV2019.

T-64BV, November 2019.

Wisconsin Army National Guard photo by Specialist Jared Saathoff, 13NOV2019.

BMP-1, November 2019.

USA photo by Private First Class Zachery Perkins, 13SEP2017.

BTR-80 and BMP-2, September 2017.

U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Kyle Larsen, 26SEP2019.

BTR-4E tags along with U.S. HMMWV, September 2019.

California Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Eddie Siguenza, 20SEP2019.

BTR-80.

Tennessee Army National Guard photo by Sergeant First Class Walter E. van Ochten, 29JUL2015.

Rear end of a BTR-80, July 2015.

Tennessee Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Timothy Massey, 28NOV2018.

Rear view of BTR-70, November 2018.

U.S. Army photo by Christoph Koppers, 08JUN2018.

T-84 at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, June 2018.

USA photo by Markus Rauchenberger, 06JUN2018.

T-84, Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, June 2018.

 

New York Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Alexander Rector, 14FEB2018.

Ukrainian Army T-64B tank fires a round during a training exercise at the Yavoriv Combat Training Center, February 2018.

Music video, New York Army National Guard trains on Ukrainian T-64B, February 2018:

New York Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Alexander Rector, 14FEB2018.

Canadian Forces photo, 16JUN2017.

BTR-80, June 2017.

U.S. Army video report, June 2017, about how Ukraine is being brought over to The Dark Side, I mean being trained up to NATO standards:

USA photo by Specialist Javon Spence, 12MAY2017.

T-64BV, Grafenwoehr, Germany, May 2017.

Video by Matthew Oldham, T-64BV live-fire, Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, May 2017:

Oklahoma Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Anthony Jones, 17FEB2017.

Installing the 30mm barrel of the BMP-2, February 2017.

USA photo by Captain Scott Kuhn, 23JUN2016.

BMP-2, June 2016.

USA photo by Staff Sergeant Adriana M. Diaz-Brown, 01APR2016.

Air droppable and amphibious BMD (Boyevaya Mashina Desanta), April 2016.

Canadian Forces photo, 05NOV2015.

BTR-80, November 2015.

 

Vehicle I-D:   Ukraine’s BTR-4E

Vehicle I-D: Ukraine’s BTR-3DA

Vehicle I-D, 2020:   UKRAINIAN ARMOR

International, Technology

Vehicle I-D: Armură România

Video

Former Soviet Bloc member Romania became a member of NATO in 2004.

One of the first operations as a member of NATO was to deploy troops to Iraq in 2007.  Video of Romanian TAB-B33 Zimbru (Romanian built BTR-80) heading out for patrol in Iraq, April 2007:

U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Brendan Stephens, 15OCT2008.

In 2008, Romanian troops operated U.S. made armored HMMWV (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle), as well as their BTR-80s (aka TAB-B33 Zimbru [Aurochs, or wild cattle]) while patrolling outside the city of Nasariyah, Iraq.

Camp Dracula, Dhi Qar, Iraq, 01DEC2008. USA photo by Specialist Donte Baltimore.

Since July 2006, Romanian troops have also been working alongside U.S. troops in Afghanistan.  U.S. Army video from 16OCT2010, showing Romanians training for deployment to Afghanistan:

U.S. Army (USA) video report from 2009, revealing that the U.S. Army has expanded into Romania:

The UROVESA VAMTac (Vehículo de Alta Movilidad Táctico) looks like a U.S. HMMWV, but it is actually made in NATO-Spain.

Tennessee Army National Guard learns to shoot the Cold War era Soviet 12.7mm heavy machine gun on the Babadag Training Area, Romania, 13AUG2009. Photo by Sergeant Marla Keown.

Live prep & fire video, by Sergeant Ellis McDaniels, TR-85M1 Bizonul (The Bison) invade Grafenwoehr, Germany, June 2014:

TR-85M1 blasting away on Grafenwoehr, Germany, 13JUN2014. USA photo by Captain Sandra Stover.

Romanian Armed Forces video of tank live-fire, from point of view of the top of the turret: https://fb.watch/3b_7nPPEy8/

Romanian MLI-84M on Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, 27JUN2014. USA photo by Gertrud Zach.

A modified BMP, the Romanian MLI-84M Jder (Marten), in Germany, 2014.

In 2015, the U.S. issued MRAPs to Romanian troops operating in Kandahar, Afghanistan. USA photo, 02MAR2015.

 In 2015 Romania expanded its NATO role by deploying additional troops to Afghanistan.  Romanian troops operate U.S. made Oshkosh M-ATV MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected).

Photo by Sergeant William Tanner, 18APR2015.

TR-85, Smardan Training Area, Romania, April 2015.

Video, PMA T-55 bridge layer in action, 2015:

Romanian Armed Forces video of bridge tank operation: https://fb.watch/3bZYmB3S-C/

USA photo by Sergeant William Tanner, 18APR2015.

MLI-84Ms drive around a German made Gepard (Cheetah) anti-aircraft tank, April 2015.

USA photo by Sergeant William Tanner, 18APR2015.

TABC-79/ABC-79M on Smardan Training Area, Romania. USA photo by Sergeant William Tanner, 18APR2015.

Once called the TABC-79, the Scout/Recon vehicles are now called ABC-79M.

DMT-85M1. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Melanye Martinez, 07DEC2015.

A DMT-85M1 engineer vehicle, based on the TR-85M1, December 2015.

(Click/tap here to see my alma matter Idaho/Montana/Oregon National Guard’s M1A2 SEP live fire in Romania, from 2016)

T-55. USMC photo by Sergeant Kirstin Spanu, 28SEP2016.

From September 2016, a T-55AM (aka TR-77-580).

USA photo by Sergeant Timothy Villareal, 15JUL2017.

Romanian BMP ambulance conversion, July 2017.

Video by Staff Sergeant Michael Zahnow, how to cross a Romanian river (the Danube):

 

TAB-71/BTR-60. USA photo by Specialist Emily Houdershieldt, 19JUL2017.

BTR-60 (TAB-71) just outside Ramnicu Valcea, July 2017.

Video, BTR-70 (aka TAB-77) from 2017 maneuvers:

Video, by Specialist Jacob Banuelos, TR-85 live fire, Smardan Training Area in December 2017:

 

USA photo by Sergeant Jeremiah Woods, 30MAY2019.

TAB-77 (BTR-70), May 2019.

USA photo by Staff Sergeant True Thao, 20JUN2019.

Piranha-3 crosses the Danube river during Saber Guardian 2019.

Video, by Specialist Drake Chandler, of NATO Saber Guardian 2019 wargames, Romanian Swiss made Piranha cross a pontoon bridge:

Saber Guardian 2019 music video, by Michigan National Guard Specialist Brian Pearson and Romanian Captain Mariana Dinu:

More live fire video, Saber Guardian 2019, TR-85 and T-55 (TR-77-580):

Photo by Sergeant H. Marcus McGill. Piranha joins a U.S. convoy to the Black Sea for Exercise Rapid Falcon, 19NOV2020.

More Romanian Armed Forces videos: www.facebook.com/Romanian.Armed.Forces/videos

Soviet era tanks in use by NATO:  POLAND

NATO: MiG-21 

World War Three, 2016: SNAKE RIVER Militia M1A2 SEP, LIVE FIRE ROMANIA!

MONTANA Militia ENJOYS BEING THE ‘BAD GUY’ IN ROMANIA!

International, Technology

Vehicle I-D: Armura Moldovan, in a Cold War created country that could go Hot any second!

Video

Moldova is not a member of NATO, but has joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council making it an official NATO ‘partner’.  NATO ‘partner’ countries are located all across the Earth, not just in the North Atlantic (the original justification for the creation of NATO was to form a joint defense system for countries in the North Atlantic).

Photo via Moldovan Ministry of Defense.

BTRs during wargames, December 2020.  The flag on the first vehicle is the national flag, the flag on the second vehicle is the flag of the Ministry of Defense.

Official Moldovan Ministry of Defense video showing training with BTRs, towed D-20 artillery, various types of MTLBs, culminating in live fire, December 2020:

Photo via Moldovan Ministry of Defense.

Engineer vehicle based on T-72 hull, November 2020.

Photo via Moldovan Ministry of Defense.

Video of engineer vehicles in action, November 2020:

Photo via Moldovan Ministry of Defense.

BMP artillery radar vehicle followed by 2S9s and BMD-1s, November 2020.

Photo via Moldovan Ministry of Defense.

Photo via Moldovan Ministry of Defense.

An Antonov-2 flies over MTLBs, October 2020.

Photo via Moldovan Ministry of Defense.

T-72 engineer vehicle, July 2020.

Video of vehicle review, and some live fire, July 2020.  Sadly, that’s about it for the Moldovan National Army.  At the end of the video the Minister of Defense, Alexandru Pinzari, admits they are working with “obsolete” equipment:

North Carolina Army National Guard photo by Sergeant First Class Robert Jordan, 12SEP2019.

Loading anti-tank missile (9M113 Konkurs, NATO codename AT-5 Spandrel) onto a BRDM-2-Anti-Tank armored car, Bulboaca Training Area, September 2019.

North Carolina Army National Guard photo by Sergeant First Class Robert Jordan, 12SEP2019.

Moldova used to be a part of Romania, called Bessarabia.  Under Soviet rule Bessarabia became the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic.  With the collapse of the Soviet Union, Moldova declared independence in August 1991.

North Carolina Army National Guard photo by Sergeant First Class Robert Jordan, 14SEP2016.

BMD based 2S9 Nona self propelled airborne artillery gun, Bulboaca Training Area, September 2016.

Since 1996, the North Carolina Army National Guard has been training with the Moldovan army, through the U.S. Department of Defense’s National Guard State Partnership Program.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Ryan Young, 12DEC2014.

BRDM-2 over-watch as U.S. Marine launches a Javelin anti-tank missile in Balti, December 2014.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Ryan Young, 12DEC2014.

An old BTR gets taken out by a Javelin.

Video, BTR dies:

Video explainer report, USMC anti-armor training in Moldova, 2014:

Video of various anti-tank weapons being used, December 2014:

From what I’ve researched, Moldova has between zero and possibly a whopping three Main Battle Tanks (MBT), all T-64BV.

Photo by Neil Brennan.

The reason for little or no MBTs in Moldova is apparently because of a cease fire agreement between Moldova and a former territory called Transnistria (Transnistria actually declared independence one year before greater Moldova, yet the ‘NATO’ world refuses to recognize it because it is one of the last few Soviet Republics that still believes the Soviet Union is alive and well).  The Sweden based OSCE has been overseeing arms control agreements including the destruction of heavy military vehicles like MBTs.  Moldova has complied, but not Transnistria (meaning tiny Transnistria has more armored vehicles than much larger Moldova).

The majority of Moldova’s existing armor are Soviet era armored cars of various types, then tracked utility vehicles like MTLB, and tracked self propelled artillery guns/rocket launchers.

Moldovan news pic of a supposed T-54? (note the spokes on the road wheels) that had been hidden by a family in a disputed district.

At the beginning of 2017, a news report said that a family had been hiding a T-54(?) tank on their property in the divided district of Anenii Noi.  It was confiscated.

August 2018: Moldovan, N.C. troops train at Fort Bliss

Vehicle I-D: SUOMALAISET (Finnish) LEOPARDIT JA SISU PASI JA CV9030 JA MTLB JA 2S1 JA BMP-2 JA AMOS

International, Technology

Vehicle I-D: Suomalaiset Leopardit ja Sisu Pasi ja CV9030 ja MTLB ja 2S1 ja BMP-2 ja AMoS

Video

Despite Finland being an officially ‘non-aligned’ country, it still allows, and even takes part in, NATO wargames on its soil (which borders Russia).

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.

U.S. Marines and U.K. Royal Marines watch a demonstration of the Leopard bridgelayer, 07MAY2019. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Scott Jenkins.

Finnish German-made Leopard 2L bridge laying tank, demonstrating for U.S. Marines, and U.K. Royal Marines, during NATO’s Exercise Arrow in May 2019.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Scott Jenkins, 07MAY2019.

It is a German Leopard 2 chassis with a Finnish designed bridge system. Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo.

USMC LAVs try out the Finnish bridge. USMC photo by Lance Corporal Scott Jenkins, 07MAY2019.

BMP-2MD on the Pojankangas Training Area near Kankaanpaa, Finland, 15MAY2019. U.S. Army photo by Sergeant LaShic Patterson.

Soviet era BMP-2, modernized to BMP-2MD.  NATO’s Arrow 19.

BMP-2MD on the Pojankangas Training Area near Kankaanpaa, Finland, 15MAY2019. USA photo by Sergeant LaShic Patterson.

BMP-2MD on the Pojankangas Training Area near Kankaanpaa, Finland, 15MAY2019. USA photo by Sergeant LaShic Patterson.

USA photo by Sergeant LaShic Patterson, 17MAY2019.

Supposedly neutral Finland also takes part in NATO wargames in other countries.

Älvdalen training grounds, Sweden, 27OCT2018. Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo by Sergeant Alec Orko.

Washing a Sisu/Patria (Sisu was a Cold War era name for the company now called Patria) Pasi XA-203 prior to the short road-march to neighboring Norway for NATO’s Trident Juncture, October 2018.

Washing off the Sweden, before heading to Norway. Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo by Sergeant Alec Orko, 27OCT2018.

Video, painting your Patria Pasi for Winter ops, 2018:

Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo by Ville Multanen, 29OCT2018.

Going skiing.  A Patria Pasi during NATO’s Trident Juncture, October 2018.

Finnish MTLBs during Arrow 18, in Pohjankangas Training Area, Finland, 18MAY2018. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sergeant Averi Coppa.

Soviet era MTLBs during Arrow 18, May 2018.

CV90-30FIN

Video of Swedish made CV9030 FIN, during NATO’s Saber Strike 2017 in Estonia:

USA photo by Specialist Elliott Banks, 06MAY2017.

Leopard 2A4, NATO’s Arrow 17 wargames, May 2017.

Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo.

Soviet era 2S1 self propelled artillery gun, the Finns call it the 122 PSH 74.  They are former East German 2S1s, purchased in 1992 and 1994.

U.S. Army photo by Specialist Elliott Banks, 05MAY2017.

122 PSH 74 (2S1), NATO’s Arrow 17 wargames, May 2017.

Slow-mo video, German-made Leopard 2A4s, one with Israeli made mine-plow, Niinisalo Training Area in 2016:

Photo by Sergeant Tatum Vayavananda, 11JUN2015.

Sisu Pasi, carrying British troops, ‘invades’ Sweden during NATO’s BALTOPS during Summer 2015.

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Armando A. Schwier-Morales, 08JUN2015.

Twin barreled 120mm gunned AMoS (Advanced Mortar System) ‘invades’ Latvia during NATO’s Saber Strike during Summer 2015.

Ukraine Crisis: February 2014 (NATO backed coup) to present.

Vehicle I-D: GEORGIAN T-72 & BMP

HOW TO BUILD A 1:1 SCALE U.S. ARMY ‘FAKE NEWS’ BMP-2

IDAHO’S 1:1 SCALE FAKE NEWS RUSSIAN RADAR TANK

Soviet era tanks in use by NATO: POLAND

Soviet era tanks in use by NATO: BULGARIAN T-72

Soviet era tanks in use by NATO: SLOVENIAN M84

Vehicle I-D: UKRAINIAN ARMOR

Technology

Soviet era Armor used by NATO: Poland

Video

U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Lauren Harrah, 19JUL2016.

Polish modified ZSU-23-4, known as ZSU-23-4MP Biała, July 2016.

Very quick video of Polish ZSU-23-4MP, a mine throwing TRI-Kroton (aka Opal, modified MTLB) and some 2S1 SP guns, in Romania for NATO wargames in 2017:

USA photo by Sergeant Justin Geiger, 18JUN2017.

Cold War era Warsaw Pact Czechoslovak designed/built 152mm Samohybná Kanónová Húfnica vzor 77 (ShKH vz. 77, or self-propelled cannon howitzer model 77), June 2017.  It’s also known as DANA (Dělo Automobilní Nabíjené Automaticky, or gun vehicle loaded automatically).

Video, 2S1 Gvodzika Self Propelled artillery guns, March 2017:

Polish designed MTLB engineer vehicle known as Opal or TRI, June 2017.

Quick video of TRI:

A PT-91(improved T-72) based WZT-3M recovery vehicle on public display in 2016 (note the Christian priest wearing the tanker helmet).

WZT-3M, June 2017.

Video of WZT-3M towing BMP-1, followed by BMP-1s, June 2017:

BMP-1 (known as BWP-1 in Poland), June 2016, NATO Exercise Anakonda.

Video from 2014, BMP-1 used to defend beach against wargame invasion:

Video, Poland BMP-1s invade Romania for NATO’s Noble Jump 2017:

The PT-91 is Poland’s version of a modernized T-72, this pic was taken in June 2018 during NATO’s Puma 2 Exercise-Saber Strike.

Here’s some PT-91 videos from 2017:

Video from 2016, 2K12 Kub (NATO code-name SA-6 Gainful) SAM launching, the 2K12 Kub is mounted on a highly modified MTLB chassis:

Video from 2014, S125 Neva SAM (Surface to Air Missile) mounted on T-55 chassis, with launch at the end of the video:

Soviet era Tanks used by NATO: BULGARIAN T-72

Vehicle I-D: UKRAINIAN ARMOR

Technology

Vehicle I-D: Iraqi Armor, after the invasion

Video

On 13JUN2019, the Iraqi army unveiled a new tank; the al-Kafeel-1.  Note that it uses an M2 .50 caliber machine gun in a remote controlled mount.  Russian news sources say the tank is based on Iraq’s experience fighting Islamic extremists, and Iraq’s use of the M1A1M.   It is strange that most ‘western’ news sources didn’t report about the Iraqi developed tank until more than a year after its unveiling.  Speculative reports say it was developed with help from China.

Inside of BTR-80.  9th Iraqi Army Division Warrant Officer explains to U.S. troops how it works.
U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Mary S. Katzenberger, 27SEP2010.

 

Ukrainian made BTR-94, 2018.

Ukrainian made BTR-94 blocks 14th of July bridge in Baghdad, 15AUG2004. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Jacob N. Bailey.

Ukrainian made BTR-4, reports say Iraq was not happy with the BTR-4, claiming they were not ‘new builds’ and had corroded bodies (Ukrainian investigation links the defective BTR-4s to the now infamous corruption scandal plaguing the Office of the U.S. President).

BTR-4 variants, the BSEM-4K ambulance and BTR-4 armored personnel carriers with 30mm gun turrets.

‎U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Kalie Jones Frantz, 06FEB2016.

A mystery modified M113 seen at Camp Taji, February 2016.  It’s not a ACV or YPR765.  A homegrown modification?

U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Kalie Jones Frantz, 06FEB2016.

U.S. Army photo by Specialist William Lockwood, 11FEB2016.

Camp Taji, February 2016.

M113 ACAV, U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Kalie Jones Frantz, 07FEB2016.

M113, U.S. Army photo by Sergeant David Strayer, 28APR2011.

M113, Kirkush Military Training Base, April 2011.

Notice the use of wide ‘snow’ tracks. Texas Army National Guard photo by Specialist Maria Mengrone, 12MAY2005.

MTLB, May 2005.

Texas Army National Guard photo by Specialist Maria Mengrone, 06MAY2005.

This one has the standard width tracks. Texas Army National Guard photo by Specialist Maria Mengrone, 06MAY2005.

U.S. Army photo by Specialist Sean Hanson.

March 2007.  This tank is a Chinese Type 69 (Iraqi designation for Chinese Type 69 is T-55B), as denoted by the headlights on both fenders and the camera/laser sighting system on the mantlet.

Texas Army National Guard photo by Specialist Maria Mengrone, 12MAY2005.

May 2005, Type 69/T-55B.

Notice the U.S. antenna. Texas Army National Guard photo by Specialist Maria Mengrone, 12MAY2005.

BMP-1, October 2005:

Rebuilt BMP-1s on Camp Taji, 07OCT2005.

BMP-1, January 2007:

BMP-1, Camp Taji. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Jon Cupp, 17JAN2007.

Video Camp Taji boneyard, T-72 turret lift, 2009:

T-62, March 2010:

T-62s in the ‘Bone Yard’. Tennessee Army National Guard photo by First Lieutenant Desiree Pavlick, 17MAR2010.

Graveyard of T-62 and T-72, October 2005:

Camp Taji ‘boneyard’, 10JUL2005.

T-72, Camp Butler/Butler Gunnery Range, February 2006:

U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Brent Hunt, 16FEB2006.

Low quality video from February 2006, supposedly it was the first time Iraqis were able to fire their T-72s since the U.S. invasion:

T-72, Forward Operating Base Hammer, October 2008:

U.S. Army photo by Private First Class Evan Loyd, 31OCT2008.

U.S. Army photo by Private First Class Evan Loyd, 31OCT2008.

2008 Besmaya Range gunnery video (by U.S. Army Specialist Neil A. Stanfield):

T-72, Besmaya Range Complex, April 2010:

U.S. Army photo by Private First Class Jared Eastman, 14APR2010.

Checking out a ‘newer’ T-72, apparently donated by NATO-Czech Republic, April 2016:

U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Paul Sale, 05APR2016.

Iraqis began training on U.S. M1A1 Abrams in 2008-09:

Besmaya Range Complex, 31MAR2009. U.S. Army photo by Captain Thomas Avilucea.

According to a U.S. Defense Department news release, between August 2010 and the end of 2011, 140 M1A1M Abrams tanks were delivered to Iraq as part of a 2008 military sales agreement.

According to the the U.S. Army, these were the last of the 140 Abrams delivered to Iraq:

U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Edward Daileg, 29AUG2011.

In 2016, BMP-1s were positioned for the Mosul Offensive against so-called Islamic State:

U.S. Army photo, 18OCT2016.

In February 2018, it was revealed that an Iraqi militia unit funded by Iran acquired nine of the M1A1Ms.

Blurry image showing Iranian funded Iraqi militia hauling an M1A1.

In June 2018, Iraq announced it was trading the M1A1M for the Russian T-90S.

The first T-90S and T-90SK were delivered by November 2019.

M109A1, Firebase Saham, December 2018.

U.S. Army photo by Captain Jason Welch, 03DEC2018.

For some strange reason the official U.S. Army information that accompanied the pic states this is a “M109 Paladin”, but it is clearly not an M109A6 Paladin (which is a radical upgrade of the M109 series), it is a M109A1.

In 2008, U.S. Army officials decided to allow Iraq to refurbish several M109A1s abandoned in the ‘boneyard’ of Camp Taji: “Last fall, our brigade commander was given guidance by the 9th IA commander to pull out of the Taji boneyard roughly a battalion’s worth of M109A1 howitzers.”-Major Matthew DeLoia, Military Transition Team-Pennsylvania National Guard’s 109th Field Artillery Regiment, July 2009

VEHICLE I-D: UKRAINIAN ARMOR

VEHICLE I-D: GEORGIAN T-72 & BMP

Technology

Vehicle I-D: Ukrainian Armor

Video

Tennessee Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Timothy Massey, 05APR2019.

BRDM-2

Tennessee Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Timothy Massey.

T-84 during Independence Day, 24AUG2018.

Video, T-84 platoon Grafenwoehr, Germany, 2018 (no shooting until the end of the video):

Tennessee Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Timothy Massey, 06SEP2018.

T-64BV

U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Kyle Larsen, 26SEP2019.

BTR-4E

USA photo by Sergeant Justin Navin, 25SEP2019.

An old T-72 or T-64?

A T-72 with reactive armor in Starychi, 04NOV2015, Royal Canadian Forces photo.

T-72 

Video, BMP-1s and T-72s:

U.S. Army photo by Private First Class Caleb Minor, 17SEP2019.

BMP-1

U.S. Army photo by Private First Class Caleb Minor, 17SEP2019.

BMP-2

Video, BMP-2:

California Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Amanda H. Johnson, 24SEP2019.

Decontaminating an MTLB-ambulance

Wisconsin Army National Guard photo by Corporal Jared Saathoff, 15NOV2019.

Video, MTLB carrier:

U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Alexander Skripnichuk, 07SEP2015.

KrAZ Cougar 

Video, decon KrAZ Cobra:

 

BAT-2

U.S. Army photo by Private Joanna Gaona Gomez, 18SEP2019.

Video, BAT-2:

Oklahoma Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Eric McDonough, 08JUN2017.

BTR-80

U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Alexander Skripnichuk, 13SEP2015.

BTR-70

BTR-3DA

U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Kyle Larsen, 20SEP2019.

Kozak-2

U.S. Army photo by Private First Class Caleb Minor, 17SEP2019.

 ZSU-23-4

Oklahoma Army National Guard video by First Lieutenant Kayla Christopher, 2S1 Gvozdika live fire near Yavoriv, March 2017:

From 2017: CALIFORNIA CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF FALSE FLAG OPS IN UKRAINE!

SOVIET ERA TANKS NOW IN USE BY NATO: BULGARIAN T-72

2016: Idaho based Snake River militia deploy M1A2 SEP to Ukrainian border!

Kit Bashing, Technology

Vehicle I-D : M113 disguised as BMP-2

Image

Opposing Forces (OpFor) U.S. Army 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment M113s disguised as Soviet/Russian BMPs, Fort Irwin, California, October 2016:

U.S. Army photo, 07OCT2016.

USA photo, 07OCT2016.

USA photo, 07OCT2016.

 

116th Snake River’s 2015 NTC rotation: The last time the 116th went to NTC was in 1998, with yours truly. 

“THIS IS WHERE ARMOR FIGHTS!” IDAHO NATIONAL GUARD RETURNS TO COLD WAR ERA “TOTAL FORCE” WARFARE TRAINING!: Includes a couple of my crappy photos of NTC in 1998. 

 

Business/Economics

Iconic Russian armor maker now bankrupt?

10 February 2016 (00:44 UTC-07 Tango 01) / 21 Bahman 1394/01 Jumada al-Ula 1437/03 Geng Yin 4714

Despite getting a contract to build 2-hundred new BMP-3 vehicles for the Russian army, KurganMashZavod (KMZ) might be involuntarily declared bankrupt in its home oblast of Kurgan.

BMP is an acronym for Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty (literally Infantry Combat Vehicle).

East German BMP-1 (1st generation KMZ infantry fighting vehicle)

It was KMZ, during the time of the Soviet Union, who developed the world’s first fully enclosed infantry carrying tanks, later emulated by U.S.-led NATO countries (who called them Armored Personnel Carriers [APC] or Infantry Fighting Vehicles [IFV]).

Iraqi 2nd generation KMZ designed BMP-2

A Russian machine tool company called MTE Group is demanding the Kurgan court declare KMZ bankrupt because it failed to fully payoff its debts to MTE.  News reports say KMZ is also struggling with wage problems and debts to natural gas supplier Gazprom Mezhregiongaz.

About 30 countries around the world use the KMZ designed BMPs.