Tag Archives: usn

The new U.S. Electric Warrior, from the British Empire, with love!

“Samuel, notify your men; the British are coming.”-General Oliver Prescott, 19APR1775

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Vaughn Weber, 17AUG2022.

Here’s another Yankee taxpayer feather in the cap of the British Empire’s (Commonwealth of Nations) military industrial complex; the new EC-37B has arrived!

USAF photo by Airman First Class Vaughn Weber, 17AUG2022.

Sometime in August 2022 (not sure because the date of the U.S. Air Force [USAF] video says the 3rd, but the photos are dated the 17th), a naked (not yet painted) EC-37B Cross Deck-Compass Call landed at Davis Monthan Air Force Base(AFB), in Arizona.

USAF video by Airman First Class Vaughn Weber:

The EC-37B Cross Deck-Compass Call electronic warfare aircraft is replacing the retiring EC-130H Compass Call.  The EC-37B is made by the notorious United Kingdom based BAE Systems.

An EC-130H Compass Call’s retirement flight, 31AUG2021. USAF photo by Senior Airman Alex Miller.

The old, yet reliable, EC-130H is a military plane from the start, yet the new EC-37B is not; it is based on the Gulfstream G550 business jet. The U.S. Congress has already paid for at least four EC-37Bs, and has left the door open for additional purchases through 2025!  Snake-oil salesmen claim the EC-37B is more survivable than a C-130H (what ever-dude, I used to Crew Chief C-130Hs, and rode on many C-130Es and Hs in my life, I know it is one the toughest aircraft in USAF inventory)!

USAF photo by Airman First Class Vaughn Weber, 17AUG2022.

Gulfstream is a U.S. company, but according to the USAF the EC-37B electronic warfare version is built by United Kingdom’s BAE.

Businesswire September 2022: BAE Systems makes milestone delivery for inaugural EC-37B Compass Call

(In the late 1990s, under the Bill Clinton regime, MES began taking over U.S. defense contractors.  In 1999, MES and BAe merged to create BAE Systems, apparently to stop a U.S. defense contractor from taking over MES.  In 2001, the same year the False Flag War on Terror began, BAE Systems aggressively invaded the U.S. defense industry, taking over many U.S. companies, including cyber security companies.)

The military version of the G550 platform has already been in use by the United States; the U.S. Navy has been using different versions of the C-37A/NC-37B, at a cost to Yankee taxpayers of $64-million for each plane! At least four aircraft in use, one C-37A since 2002, three C-37Bs since 2005, and one NC-37B since 2018.  The USAF also uses the C-37A/B, spending as much as $55-million per aircraft (apparently they got a better deal)!

The Commonwealth of Nation’s Australia and Singapore already operate similar electronic warfare versions of the G550.

The Balfour Declaration of 1926 created a new form of the British Empire called The Commonwealth of Nations.  Members are not truly independent, they are autonomous and supposedly ‘voluntary members’, yet they are required to maintain “allegiance to the Crown”.

In 1949, it was declared that the King/Queen of England is now the official boss of The Commonwealth.

And don’t think it isn’t expanding: “The Commonwealth’s roots go back to the British Empire. But today any country can join the modern Commonwealth. The last country to join the Commonwealth was Rwanda in 2009.”

Commonwealth of Nations covert invasion of United States, August 2022: IDAHO INVADED BY APACHES FROM BRITISH EMPIRE’S (Commonwealth of Nations) SINGAPORE?

March 2022:  U.S. ARMY GETS NEW RED COAT VERSION OF THE BRADLEY

February 2022: U.S. DOLLARS CONTROLLED BY THE RED COATS?

September 2021:  BIDEN IS A BRITISH EMPIRE RED COAT? NEW ALLIANCE FOR FUTURE WAR WITH CHINA!

March 2021: BAE’s M109A7, DON’T CALL IT A PALADIN!

December 2020: RC-135V/W, YANKEE PATRIOT & RED COAT LOYALIST

2018: M777 artillery, more proof the Yankees are the Tools of the Red Coats!

2017: U.S. ARMY COMMANDED BY RED COATS?

USS Bonhomme Richard LHD-6: Into the Steel Inferno!

This is just a fraction of the intense photos and videos captured by U.S. Navy personnel, 12-17 July 2020.

INFERNO

U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer Second Class Austin Haist, 12JUL2020.

On the morning of 12JUL2020, and after two years of extensive retrofitting, USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) became a steel inferno while moored pier side at Naval Base San Diego, California.

Into the steel inferno. USN photo by Petty Officer Third Class Jason Waite, 14JUL2020.

Video by Petty Officer Third Class Christina Ross, 1st day of fire.  At the end of the video, night time, it’s clear that flames are leaping from inside the island superstructure:

USN photo by Lieutenant John J. Mike, 12JUL2020.

RESPONSE

USN photo by Petty Officer First Class Jason Kofonow, 12JUL2020.

USN photo by Petty Officer First Class Jason Kofonow, 12JUL2020.

USN photo by Petty Officer Second Class Nall Morgan, 13JUL2020.

Video via Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, 2nd day of fire:

USN photo by Petty Officer Second Class Nall Morgan, 13JUL2020.

AIR TANKS & MASKS, etc

USN photo by Petty Officer First Class Julio Rivera, 16JUL2020.

USN photo by Petty Officer Second Class Natalie Byers, 15JUL2020.

USN photo by Petty Officer Second Class Natalie Byers, 15JUL2020.

Barrels of firefighting foam. USN photo by Petty Officer Second Class Austin Haist, 12JUL2020.

USN photo by Petty Officer Second Class Jessica Paulauskas, 14JUL2020.

BOATS & HELICOPTERS

USN photo by Petty Officer First Class Jason Kofonow, 13JUL2020.

Video from day 2, boats and helicopters focus on the superstructure:

USN photo by Petty Officer Second Class Austin Haist, 12JUL2020.

In this photo, notice that the forward mast is still standing.

Video, 3rd day, fire and smoke are no longer visible on the outside, but the external damage is obvious:

On 14JUL2020, with the fire(s) contained the boats, and MH-60S Knighthawk helicopters, continued applying water to cool down the exterior of the amphibious assault ship.

USN photo by Petty Officer First Class Patrick W. Menah Junior, 13JUL2020.

In these photos you can see the forward mast has collapsed.

USN photo by Petty Officer Third Class Mar’Queon A. D. Tramble, 13JUL2020.

USN photo by Petty Officer First Class Benjamin K. Kittleson, 14JUL2020.

For more helicopter action: KNIGHTHAWKS FIGHT TO SAVE LHD 6!

EXHAUSTION

On 16JUL2020, the fires were considered extinguished.  The U.S. Navy press release was careful to state “all known fires.”

USN photo by Seaman Lily Gebauer, 15JUL2020.

USN photo by Petty Officer First Class Jason Kofonow, 14JUL2020.

USN photo by Petty Officer Third Class Christina Ross, 14JUL2020.

USN photo by Petty Officer Third Class Hector Carrera, 14JUL2020.

USN photo by Seaman Apprentice Jeffrey Yale, 16JUL2020.

BATTLE DAMAGE

On 16JUL2020, a U.S. Navy press release stated “We did not know the origin of the fire. We do not know the extent of the damage. It is too early to make any predictions or promises of what the future of the ship will be.”

Burned-out hanger bay. USN photo by Petty Officer First Class Jason Kofonow, 14JUL2020.

Yes, metal can burn. USN photo by Petty Officer First Class Jason Kofonow, 27JUL2020.

USN photo by Petty Officer Third Class Brandie Nuzzi, 16JUL202.

Listing due to all the water pumped in.

USN photo by Petty Officer Second Class Natalie Byers, 15JUL2020.

The ship’s motto would become ‘famous last words’.

Vehicle I-D: USS America LHA-6, do they make a model kit of it?

USS America LHA-6 began sea trials in 2014.  LHA-6 is the lead ship of the new America class assault ships, replacing the older Tarawa class.  Do not confuse USS America LHA-6 with the scuttled aircraft carrier USS America CV-66.

22FEB2020, Laem Chabang Port, Thailand, Cobra Gold 2020.

USS America is the current home of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Video, fast roping on USS America, 18FEB2020:

Countermeasure Washdown System

Time lapse video of USS America ops, Philippine Sea, 10FEB2020:

Video,  birds-eye view of USS America, April 2016:

Time lapse silent video of launching:

Aircraft seen operating from USS America:

More info on USS America: Underway on USS America

Orange Hobby makes a 1:700 scale resin USS America LHA-6, U.S. suggested retail price $95.

VEHICLE I-D: USN’S NEW ROBOT GUN BOAT, OR CUSV

CVN-71

Vehicle I-D: CVN-71, are there model kits of this?

Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt arrives in Guam, 07FEB202.

  CVN-71 on its way to Guam, 25JAN2020.

Leaving San Diego, 17JAN2020.

Scrubbing the deck in 2013.

Leaving Newport News Shipyard in 2013, after four years of overhaul.

The following pics are of CVN-71 at the end of a 39 month fuel complex overhaul, May 2011: 

2009, when CVN-71 began its overhaul.

U.S. TAXPAYERS SEND AUSSIE PRIME MINISTER A MODEL BOAT!

VEHICLE ID: ARMORED DRUG SMUGGLING BOATS

ITALERI 1:720 DEUTSCHLAND, LUTZOW, SCHEER & GRAF SPEE

1:600 MOSKVA: AURORA VS AIRFIX

1/600 USS IOWA CLASS KITS: AURORA, MONOGRAM, OTAKI, REVELL. AN APPEAL TO AIRFIX!

Weapon I-D: MARK 82

Vehicle I-D: Cold War and beyond, C-2A to C-2A(R) Greyhound, now ‘On Final’! Can you get a kit of it?

Nice, Italy, 1970. Photo via U.S. Navy’s VR-24.

The Grumman C-2A Greyhound has been around for a long time, joining the U.S. Navy in 1966 (production started in 1965).

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, October 1990. USN photo by Don S. Montgomery.

Somewhere over the Pacific Ocean, February 2005. USN photo by Photographer’s Mate Justin Blake.

It was developed from the E-2 Hawkeye early warning aircraft, and eventually replaced the older C-1 Trader.

C-1A Trader, Naval Air Station Norfolk, Virginia, August 1983. USN photo by Journalist Senior Chief Petty Officer Kirby Harrison.

C-2 Greyhound somewhere over the Indian Ocean, Summer of 1980. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate First Class David Maclean.

Somewhere over the Mediterranean Sea, Summer 1988. USN photo by Commander Leenhouts.

C-2A over Naval Air Station Norfolk, September 1989. USN photo by Photographer’s Mate Third Class Stephen L. Batiz.

Seven little Greyhounds over Naval Base San Diego, California, August 1990. USN photo by Photographer’s Mate Second Class Patrick Muscutt.

News media board a C-2A Greyhound, during Operation Desert Shield, August 1990. USN photo by Journalist Petty Officer Second Class Bartlett.

Hurghada, Egypt, a Greyhound being loaded with supplies for an aircraft carrier in the Red Sea, post Operation Desert Storm. USN photo by Photographer’s Mate Second Class Savage, May/April 1991.

Official USN website history of the C-2A Greyhound: C-2A Greyhound Logistics Aircraft

Operation Enduring Freedom logo painted on the underside of the tail-end of a C-2A. Naval Air Station Norfolk, July 2002. USN photo by Photographer’s Mate First Class Shawn P. Eklund.

Naval Air Station Norfolk, July 2002. USN photo by Photographer’s Mate First Class Shawn P. Eklund.

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Jacqueline Diaz, 18MAR2009.

It has gone through many upgrades, the current Greyhounds are known as C-2A(R) and are identifiable by their NP2000 propellers.

U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. USN photo by Petty Officer Third Class Joshua Nistas, 15JAN2010.

USN video,  Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch Systems (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) testing aboard USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78), 17JAN2020:

Another Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch Systems (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) testing aboard USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) video:

Video, Rawhindes of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40 conduct their first flight operations from aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), April 2019:

Carrier Onboard Delivery, aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) November 2017:

More Rawhides video from February 2017,  operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69):

Video, Horsemen of Detachment IV of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40, takes off and lands on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) October 2016 (warning, includes slow-mo-video, do not adjust your set):

Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, video of Greyhound prepping for trip to USS George Washington (CVN-73), September 2014:

Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, California, 11DEC2013. USN photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Stacy Atkins Ricks.

On Final: The U.S. Navy has tried several times to replace the Greyhound, but potential replacements failed to measure up, or never materialized. In 2015, the USN stated that it intended to replace the Greyhound with the much more expensive, less load carrying ability, tilt-rotary wing CMV-22B Osprey, possibly starting in 2024.

Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, 19MAR2020. USN photo by Steve Wolff/Paul Lagasse.

On 19MAR2020, C-2A Greyhound Bureau Number (not ‘build number’ as many people/authors incorrectly call it) 162142 took its final flight.

Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, 19MAR2020. USN photo by Erik Hildebrandt/Paul Lagasse.

BuNu 162142 had flown with VX-20 for just short of 30 years.

Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, 19MAR2020. USN photo by Erik Hildebrandt/Brittany Dickerson.

BuNu 162142 retired to the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum.

USN photo by Christopher D Nette, 18AUG2020.

On 17AUG2020, the last C-2A(R) to undergo planned maintenance interval three (PMI-3) arrived on Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW), North Island Naval Air Station, California. PMI-3 for the Greyhound costs just under $4-million: “Other C-2s will induct for the much smaller PMI-1 and 2 events and most likely will also have in-service repairs. Field events for PMI-1 and 2 are scheduled out to Fiscal Year 2022.”-Jorge Gutierrez-Lopez, FRCSW Props IPT program scheduler

28NOV2020, somewhere over the Arabian Sea. USN photo by Mass Communication Specialist Third Class Keenan Daniels.

28NOV2020, somewhere over the Arabian Sea. USN photo by Mass Communication Specialist Third Class Keenan Daniels.

In 1:72 scale; I-D Models made a vacform kit in the mid-1970s.  Falcon began issuing a Triple conversion set in the 1990s that included a C-2A fuselage for the Fujimi or Hasegawa E-2 Hawkey.  Resin kit maker RVHP Models currently has an outrageously expensive full-kit (you can buy a couple of the 1:48 Kinetic kits for one RVHP kit).

Trumpeter offers a detailed 1:350 scale kit for your aircraft carrier.

Fox One Design Studio offers 1:144 scale versions.

In 1:48 scale the rare resin Collect Aire kit comes with four blade prop, while Kinetic’s more affordable plastic kits come with either four or eight blade props.

VEHICLE I-D: USN GOSHAWK T-45

Retired USN craftsman recalls days of being paid to build giant model planes!

Visitors to the Hampton Roads Naval Museum might not realize what looks like giant almost six feet long plastic-looking models of an A-6 Intruder and an F-14 Tomcat, are made out of Sugar-Pine wood (with a fiberglass coating), like the old fashioned way model kits used to be made.

This will end up being an A-6 Intruder.

The man who made them, not so way back in 1993, is William Corbell.

This will end up being an F-14 Tomcat.

Corbell was lucky enough to go to work at the the now decommissioned Naval Aviation Depot Norfolk (NADEP), as a wood crafter in 1980.   He was commissioned to build the model A-6 and F-14, but continued helping to repair real aircraft at the same time: “Basically, if it was something that couldn’t be fixed at the squadron; they sent it to us.”

Told you!

When Corbell visited his models in January 2019, he revealed he had placed a time capsule inside the F-14.  It contains a leave request that he hopes someone in the distant future would humorously approve. The models were transferred to different locations before finally finding a home at the Naval Museum in 2008.

The photos come from William Corbell’s collection.

MODEL KIT EC-130J GETS SPECIAL HANDLING BY NATIONAL GUARD!

U.S. Navy & Air Force hit by California quakes!

Military housing personnel making hasty repairs, 07JUL2019.

Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, and Edwards Air Force Base, were also hit by the 6.4 and 7.1 quakes in California, over the July 4th weekend.

Repairing base water lines damaged by the quakes, 06JUL2019.

Air Force Radio report about Edwards Air Force Base,  $1-billion in damages?:

 

Checking the wires over the Huey and Cobra helicopter ‘gate guards’, 07JUL2019.

Some buildings show signs of major cracks, but it looks like the commissary got shaken-up the most.

Vehicle I-D: U.S. military(?) Ferrari and Lamborghini

 

USAF photo by Airman First Class Gage Daniel, 26MAY2018.

MiG-17 races a ‘Navy’ Ferrari at Cannon AFB, May 2018.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Gage Daniel, 27MAY2018.

Racing the USN Ferrari, from the cockpit of the challenging USAF Lamborghini, Cannon AFB, May 2018.

Whiskey Papa races a Ferrari during the 42nd Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force – Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Friendship Day, May, 2018.

For some reason there were a lot of Ferraris at the 42nd Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force – Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Friendship Day.

And they’re off!  2016 Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Friendship Day.

For some reason the USAF is now using Lambos to attract potential recruits during Eglin AFB, Florida, ‘resiliency’ events.

Lamborghini Gallardo speeds along the flight line during the Arctic Thunder Open House at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, July, 2018.

Lamborghini accelerates past a BT-13, June 2018.  “Sunday driver!” yelled the BT-13 pilot.

POKEY AIRPORT, 2012 & 2014: VULTEE BT-13, stripped 

World War 3(?): Soviet MiG 17 vs U.S. Navy Ferrari, only in ‘Amerika’

MiG 17, NATO reporting name Fresco.

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Maxwell Daigle, 17MAY2019.

USAF video, by Staff Sergeant Philip Bryant, MiG-17F attacks Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, 17MAY2019.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Damon Kasberg, 17MAY2019.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Parker J. McCauley, 15JUN2019.

MiG-17F taxis on Whiteman AFB, Missouri, June 2019.

This Soviet made MiG 17 has a U.S. made ejection seat. USAF photo by Senior Airman Lane T. Plummer, 26MAY2018.

MiG-17 at Cannon AFB, New Mexico, May 2018.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Lane T. Plummer, 26MAY2018.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Gage Daniel, 26MAY2018.

MiG-17 races a ‘Navy’ Ferrari at Cannon AFB, May 2018.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Gage Daniel, 27MAY2018.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Vernon R. Walter the Third, 27MAY2018.

(U.S. military[?] Ferraris & Lamborghinis)

Polish MiG 17PF ‘invades’ New York? USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Ryan Campbell, 18JUL2015.

MiG-17PF over Niagara Falls, New York, July 2015.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Ryan Campbell, 18JUL2015.

POKEY AIRPORT 02 AUGUST 2014: MIG-15 UTI & MIG-17

U.S. Navy: Sick Call without going to Sick Call?

14FEB2018 (01:29 UTC-07 Tango 06)  25 Bahman 1396/28 Jumada l-Ula 1439/29 Ren-Yin 4715

“The Navy Care app was so easy to use. It saved me two hours in travel time for a follow-up visit with my doctor at Naval Hospital Jacksonville.”-Lieutenant Kurt Bogart

The U.S. navy is experimenting with a new way to go to Sick Call, without actually going to Sick Call.

It’s a computer application (App) called Navy Care.  It’s claimed to be secure and allows for real time doctor-patient communication.  Currently it’s being tested for follow-up visits, so initial Sick Call visits will still have to be done in person.

Department of Navy personnel can check out the program at https://navy.care.  Also check out www.med.navy.mil/sites/navalhospitaljax.

OPERATION JUPITER: CASH REGISTER RECEIPTS LACED WITH CHEMICAL WEAPON?

OPERATION JUPITER: U.S. NAVY HIT BY H7N9 FLU PANDEMIC!