Tag Archives: nato

Vehicle I-D: Cold War Zombie tank T-55, they’re everywhere!

I calls it a zombie tank because it’s six decades old and refuses to die.

People’s Republic of China, 2021:

CHINA’S TYPE 59D, UPDATED COLD WAR T-54/55, TO LIVE-ON AS A ROBOT TANK?

CHINA STILL USES THE NATO GUNNED TYPE 88 WARSAW PACT BASED T-54/55 TANK

Lost your hull?  No problem, mount your turret on a truck trailer:

Syria 2012 to present:

Date and location unknown, possibly inside Syria, a T-55 somehow ended up on its turret!

Government T-55s.

Insurgent T-55.

With a mine-roller.

Iraq 2020: They still like those Chinese Type 69s. See more in Iraqi Armor after the Invasion.

Romanian T-55s taking part in NATOs Saber Guardian, June 2019:

U.S. Navy photo by Lieutenant Alex Cornell du Houx, 13JUN2019.

Video August 2018, Afghan government T-55 Boom Stick in action in Sangin District, while U.S. Marines watch:

Kurdish Peshmerga T-55, Iraq, May 2016: 

U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Sergio Rangel, 29MAY2016.

Click here to watch extremist insurgents execute captured Syrian soldier with a T-55 tank!

Romanian T-55s, April 2016:

African Union T-55AMV, 2015:

African Union female T-55 crew:

Bamyan, Afghanistan, 2012:

An old T-54.

See more in Steel Skeletons of Soviet Afghanistan.

Daymirdad, Afghanistan, 2011: 

T-55, U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Sean Casey, 09JAN2011.

Iraq 2010:  U.S. BRINGS DEAD IRAQI T-55 BACK TO LIFE!

Iraqi T-54/55 ARV, Salman Pak, November 2008:

U.S. Army photo by Specialist Chase Kincaid, 15NOV2008. 

U.S. Army photo by Specialist Chase Kincaid, 15NOV2008.

T-55 Salman Pak, Iraq, November 2008:

U.S. Army photo by Specialist Chase Kincaid, 15NOV2008.

Al Ja’ara village, Iraq, January 2008:

U.S. Defense Department photo, 14JAN2008.

Iraq 2003:

Chinese Type 69 (‘upgraded’ T-55). USN/USMC photo.

See more in Iraq 2003 Battle Damage.

Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, 2002:

Ventilator on turret top and small hole for bow machine gun on front slope indicates this was a T-54. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate First Class Arlo K. Abrahamson, 29MAY2002.

Cambodia: 

Iraqi Chinese made T-55 assaults Iranian infantry line during Iran-Iraq War:

Vietnam, T-54:

Supposedly upgraded Nicaraguan T-55:

Bosnia & Herzegovina 1996-98:

Croat (HVO) T-55 crew fires-off their 12.7mm gun, on the Barbara Range in Glamoc, Bosnia and Herzegovina. U.S. Department of Defense photo by Staff Sergeant Kim Price, October 1998.

A U.S. Army First Lieutenant tries to keep flames from spreading. This Serbian T-55 was deliberately blown-up with C-4 plastic explosive by the U.S. Army, on Camp Dobol, Bosnia-Herzegovina. U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Angel Clemons, 15MAR1997.

T-55 ‘upgraded’ with vulcanized rubber armor, Broko area of Bosnia-Herzegovina. U.S. Department of Defense photo by Staff Sergeant Jon E. Long, January 1996.

Iraq 1991:

What’s left of an Iraqi Type 69, a Chinese ‘upgrade’ of the T-55. U.S. Department of Defense photo by Staff Sergeant Robert Reeve, March 1991.

Smoldering Iraqi T-55 on the border with Kuwait. U.S. Army photo by Specialist Joel Torres, 28FEB1991.

CzechoSlovakia 1989:

Just a few years before the end of the unofficial Cold War, Czechoslovakia upgraded their T-55s with ‘Western-NATO’ targeting systems.

CzechoSlovak T-54, date and photographer unknown.

Egypt 1985:

Notice the ‘Western’ style square search light. U.S. Department of Defense photo by Captain Mark Beberwyck, August 1985.

U.S.A. 1987:

Captured T-54/55, Foreign Materiel Intelligence Group Training Detachment, Fort Irwin, California. U.S. Army photo by Donna Fulghum, 10MAR1987.

Peru 1983:

Factory fresh/parade ready T-54 (indicated by the bow machine gun hole in the front slope), 1983(?).

U.S.A. 1984:

Photo taken by ‘yours truly’, while on a California Army National Guard drill weekend on Fort Irwin, National Training Center, California.  You can see the hole in the front slope of the hull for the bow machine gun, which is typical of the T-54.  Early T-54s also had a ventilator on the turret top.

T-54 (it has a ventilator on top of the turret) captured by Israel then turned over to the United States, notice the U.S. military antenna mast mounted on top of the turret. Photo dated November 1984.

Israel 1974:

Photo dated May 1974, location unknown, however it appears to be captured T-55s put to use by the Israeli Defense Forces.

Being cannibalized for parts.

Egypt 1974:

Egyptian T-55 destroyed by Israel, 1974. Notice somebody marked the penetration hole in the turret.

Iraq, November 1963:

Iraqi T-54 during coup led by pro-Egyptian (Nasserists) against the Ba’ath Party, November 1963.

Germany 1961:

U.S. Embassy photo. The then brand new T-54/55 is deployed in response to the U.S. deploying its then brand new M48A1, which were deployed in response to older T-34-85s being deployed in what became the Berlin Crisis which led to the creation of the Berlin Wall.

See (photos & film), and read, more in BERLIN KRISE, ‘GAME OF CHICKEN’ M48A1 VS. T-54/55!

This is a terrible Cold War era U.S. Army vehicle I-D image of a T-54.

Soviet Union:

Cold War film, late 1950s or early 1960s, Soviet T-55s getting decontaminated in NBC (Nuclear Biological Chemical) exercise:

A variety of variants:

So many model kits, so little time!

 

T-55 data @ ArmyRecognition.com

VEHICLE I-D: IRAN BUILDS ITS OWN MRAP

IRAN BUILDS ITS OWN ‘JEEP’

HOW TO BUILD A 1/1 SCALE TIGER-1 TANK

Vehicle I-D: MiG-31 space bound dogfighter?

“In accordance with the combat training plan, the crews of MiG-31BM high-altitude fighters of the Pacific Fleet’s naval aviation based in Kamchatka held a training exercise to intercept a simulated intruder of Russia’s airspace in the stratosphere. For the first time ever, new upgraded MiG-31BM high-altitude interceptor-fighters took part in a dogfight at their service ceiling. The fighters flew at a speed of 2,500 km/h and an altitude of more than 20 km.”-Russian Pacific Fleet Naval Air Force, 19AUG2019

Worn looking MiG-31.

The simulated intruder was another MiG-31BM.  The exercise involved scrambling a MiG-31BM to intercept, without using ground based radar to locate the intruder.  It was meant to test the electronic upgrades completed in February 2019.  The MiG-31BMs supposedly made six flights into the stratosphere during the mock dogfights.

Back in January 2018, the Russian Aerospace Force aviation center, in Nizhny Novgorod, made a similar high altitude dogfight claim.

In May 2019, it was announced the MiG-31K could launch hypersonic missiles, known as Kinzhal.  It’s claimed the Kinzhal (dagger) can hit speeds up to Mach 10, with a range of more than 2000km (1242.7 miles).

SOVIET GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR ‘BAT’ TO BE RESURRECTED FROM THE DEAD!

VEHICLE I-D: FURY VS MIG

New Jersey National Guard saving pets in Qatar!

19 August 2019 (05:28 UTC-07 Tango 06) 28 Mordad 1398/17 Dhu l-Hijja 1440/19 Ren-Shen 4717

A struggling pet shelter in Doha, Qatar, has only three full-time staff members and more than 130 dogs and cats!  It’s looks more like a farm.

Staff Sergeant Lia Carter, New Jersey National Guard.

“We started out just wanting to find the animals in Doha, Qatar’s capital, and see what was going on with rescues.”-Staff Sergeant Lia Cater, New Jersey National Guard, who helps rescue strays in her hometown of Queens, New York

“We took 100 pounds of dog food and 50 pounds of cat food. The shelter’s staff was overwhelmed to see us. They had never had such a large group come out all at once and volunteer.”-Staff Sergeant Lia Cater, New Jersey National Guard, who helps rescue strays in her hometown of Queens, New York

“They primarily need people to come out and walk dogs, help the dogs exercise, and give the animals some personal attention.”-Staff Sergeant Lia Cater, New Jersey National Guard, who helps rescue strays in her hometown of Queens, New York

“This program gives something for everyone to look forward to. It is also good for relations between the U.S. and Qatar.”-Sergeant Jimmy Simmeron, New Jersey National Guard

“We are going to have to stop being the policemen of the world.”-Donald Trump, August 2015 interview with Hugh Hewitt

OPERATION APPALACHIAN CARE; PROOF OBAMACARE FAILED, AND OBAMA KNEW IT DID!

GREAT RENEGER: GUARD DEPLOYMENTS SO COMMON EVEN BEERS ARE NAMED AFTER THEM

1939 v 2019; Germany invades Poland again, this time with the help of NATO!

In September 1939, Germany invaded Poland on the pretext that Polish terrorists were attaching German radio stations (which is now considered a False Flag attack).  It actuality was vengeance for having German territory stolen by the French and British empires, after World War One, to create what is now known as Poland.

The same thing happened after World War Two, and hundreds of thousands of Germans were disappeared by the Soviets and British empire as even more German territory was taken to create today’s boundaries for Poland!

(A generation gap exists between Germans expelled from Eastern Europe after World War II and their grandchildren, The monument was erected by members of Poland’s ethnic German minority, which was suppressed under four decades of Polish communism, Revenge on Ethnic Germans: Czech Town Divided, For the first time, a central memorial and monument for the Germans expelled from Hungary were inaugurated in Budaörs, The 1,000s of Germans massacred after WWII, also during the war the Soviet Union rounded up hundreds of thousands of ethnic Germans, and what happened to the thousands of German civilians expelled from Iran by the British and Soviet invaders?)

Marder 1A3/5. U.S. Army photo Sergeant First Class Class Michael O’Brien, 01JUN2019.

Leopard 2A5. USA photo Sergeant First Class Class Michael O’Brien, 01JUN2019.

From June thru July 2019, Germany invaded and occupied Poland, this time as part of a larger NATO operation called Noble Jump 2019.  The German led NATO ‘spearhead battalion’ also consisted of units from Netherlands (just troops as the Dutch got rid of their main battle tanks in 2011) and Norway.

Swedish made Norwegian CV90. Norwegian Army photo by Kommandersersjant Florian Fergen, 04JUN2019.

Norwegian Army photo by Kommandersersjant Florian Fergen, 04JUN2019.

Even women took part in the invasion (oh my!).

NATO video explaining the German led invasion:

“Noble Jump is a defensive exercise. It will prove our very high readiness ground troops are ready and rapidly deployable, wherever and whenever needed. Readiness and mobility are key to NATO’s deterrence posture.”-U.S. Admiral James Foggo, Allied Joint Force Command Naples/NATO Response Force 2019

German Fox (Fuchs). Norwegian Army photo by Kommandersersjant Florian Fergen, 08JUN2019.

On 13JUL2019, the invasion culminated in an epic tank battle involving armor from the United States, Germany and Poland.  However, in the video it seems they were all on the same side and you can’t tell who they’re fighting.  I don’t know who won.

Isn’t it ironic that a country punished for trying to regain and hold onto stolen territory is now helping U.S. led NATO to occupy those same territories?

HI-TECH FAIL: GERMANY STILL TRAINS UP OLD-SKOOL CAVALRY!

GERMANY FINALLY ADOPTS THE MINIGUN!

Vehicle I-D: New airborne BMD-2M

“The KBP [Instrument Design Bureau] is upgrading BMD-2 combat vehicles. During their overhaul, they are being equipped with the Bereg combat module unofficially dubbed ‘mini-Berezhok.’….  …The module features a gunner’s sight combined with a stabilized field of view, an automatic target tracker and two stabilizer computers.”-unnamed source to TASS

The BMD-2M module features a one-seat turret, removing the commander’s seat and sight.  The fire control system is standardized with the similar systems of the Bakhcha and Berezhok combat modules.

The upgrades are part of a wider airborne vehicle modernization program announced in December 2018.

RUSSIA POUNDS U.S. BACKED INSURGENTS IN SYRIA!

“NEAR PEER THREATS”, CODE FOR RUSSIA & CHINA AND THE COMING 3RD WORLD WAR?

RUSSIAN ANDROID TEACHES SELF TO SHOOT GUNS!

ICE PLANET HOTH INVADES RUSSIA WITH GIANT ATVS?

U.S. ARMOR SHOOTS UP BORDER NEAR RUSSIA! PERSONNEL WOUNDED BY GAS ATTACK?

ICONIC RUSSIAN ARMOR MAKER NOW BANKRUPT?

VEHICLE I-D: VIDEO OF NEW RUSSIAN T14 ARMATA PANZER, T15 ICV AND T16 RECOVERY VEHICLE! DETAILED LOOK AT T-72/T-90 FACTORY PRODUCING T-14!

Soviet Great Patriotic War ‘Bat’ to be resurrected from the dead!

“For the first time in the world, a Tu-2 bomber will be reconstructed to its operational condition on the premises of the Novosibirsk State Technical University. The reconstruction work will be carried out by Aviarestavratsiya. This work will take three years.”-Science and Higher Education Ministry

The Tupolev 2 bomber of World War Two fame is being brought back to life in Russia.

A Tupolev TU 2 WWII Soviet front line bomber (NATO reporting name Bat) on static display at Monino Museum, Russia. TASS photo by Marina Lystseva.

According to TASS, the resurrection was supposed to start on 21AUG2019.  The specific plane to be restored to flying condition had a long history, first flying with the Soviet forces during World War Two, then flying with Chinese forces until the 1980s(!), and then ending up in the United States in the hands of the War Eagles Air Museum in New Mexico (read a description of the plane and how the Chinese used it, here).

War Eagles Air Museum, before restoration. Photo via David and Paula Barnett.

War Eagles Air Museum, after restoration.

The U.S. museum restored the Tu-2 to the point it could be used as a static display.  In 2019, the Russia based Aviarestavratsiya (air restoration)/Winged Victory Memorial supposedly acquired the plane and will bring it back to Russia: “This is not a plane that was shot down or was broken. We have not yet studied its series numbers and have not yet tracked its exact history. The plane will be studied and analyzed in detail. Each element will be reconstructed or restored.”-Boris Osyatinsky, Aviarestavratsiya/Winged Victory Memorial

However, as of 2022 the War Eagles Air Museum in New Mexico still lists the Bat as part of their displays.

By the way, China still has several Tu-2 bombers on display:

Photo via Military Museum of the Chinese People’s Revolution.

Photo via Military Museum of the Chinese People’s Revolution.

For kit builders there are several brands to choose from:

The ‘Bat’ served with many countries in many wars.

The old East German VEB-Plastikart (now known as adp Master Modelle) kit.

More info: https://alchetron.com/Tupolev-Tu-2

Tupolev TU-2 – Photos & Video

VEHICLE I-D: RF-84F THUNDERFLASH & YRF-84F, AN APPEAL TO MONOGRAM!

Hi-tech fail: Germany still trains up old-skool Cavalry!

It’s pronounced Cav-all-ry, not calvary (calvary is the name of the hill where supposedly somebody named Jesus of Nazareth was executed), and today’s German army still trains up old fashioned horse riders.

Video with soothing music in which male and female German mountain-soldiers (Gebirgsjäger) profess that their blond-haired horses are their comrades:

Video with more upbeat music showing Mountain troops having fun riding their horses (Pferde) through Alpine villages:

HI-TECH FAIL: NATO GERMANY PROVES MULES (Mulis) STILL RULE MOUNTAIN WARFARE

Germany finally adopts the Minigun?

In June 2019, Germany began test-firing its new MG6 minigun from its H145M special forces helicopters.

Bundeswehr video of H145M armed with MG6 minigun, posted in August 2020:

Night-fire of minigun:

 

HI-TECH FAIL: NATO GERMANY PROVES MULES STILL RULE MOUNTAIN WARFARE

VEHICLE I-D: NATO GERMANY SHOWS OFF ARMORED FIGHTING VEHICLES, IST KOOL!

Vehicle I-D: The real Avengers

“I think short-range air defense is coming back really strong. I think it’s going to be one of the biggest factors here in the European region because it’s very mobile.”-Staff Sergeant Joseph White, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery

Video report of anti-aircraft training in Poland, June 2019, C Battery 1st Battalion 174th Air Defense Artillery Regiment:

With the return to ‘Cold War’ mentality (now known as Near Peer Threats), many ‘force-on-force’ weapon systems are making a come-back.  The Avenger ShoRAD (Short Range Air Defense) system fires a short-range Stinger surface-to-air missile that can be mounted on top of a HMMWV (pronounced humvee), or carried and fired by a soldier.

Video of 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Avenger ops in Bulgaria, as part of NATO anti-Russia wargames, June 2019:

HMMWV Avenger off-loads from a Canadian C-17.

HMMWV Avenger in Korea (south), October 2018.

GREAT RENEGER: TEXAS ARMOR DEPLOYS TO POLAND, PROOF WORLD WAR 3 IS NEAR

WORLD WAR 3: I-C-T, USAF version of Army’s TOTAL FORCE WARFARE

D-Day KC-135, ‘Hundred Proof’ & other nose arts

To commemorate the 75th Anniversary of D-Day the U.S. Air Force’s 100th Air Refueling Wing (descendant of 100th Bombardment Group [Heavy]) gave some of their Stratotankers full color markings.

Skipper III in honor of retired Master Sergeant Dewey Christopher, a World War II veteran. U.S. Air Force photo by Karen Abeyasekere, 21JUN2019.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Alexandria Lee, 19JUN2019.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Joseph Barron, 31MAY2019.

Video, 48 hours of refueling hell, including invasion stripes:

They even gave a couple of KC-135s ‘heritage’ WW2 markings. The D on the tail was used by the 100th BG(H). USAF photo by First Lieutenant Nathanael Callon, 26MAY2019.

The EP is the flight symbol of the 351st Bomb Squadron, 100th Bomb Group(H), which dates back to 1942 and the letter A on the tail is the aircraft number. USAF photo by Senior Airman Benjamin Cooper, 09MAY2019.

Video explains the World War Two connection for ‘Black Jack’ and the 100th ARW:

Video interview, ‘Savage’ artist gives one reason why he joined the USAF:

In this video some guy explains why he’s infatuated with the ‘All American Girl’:

B-52H STRATOFORTRESS NOSE ART

IDAHO PRIDE A-10C NOSE ART

NEBRASKA KC-135 TEENAGED NOSE ART

TENNESSEE KC-135 NOSE ART

SNOOPY RC-135S COBRA BALL NOSE ART

C-17 NOSE ART