Tag Archives: war

Vehicle I-D: F-8 DFBW, or another reason why today’s techie generation owes the military industrial complex!

Anybody who thinks digital is a technology that only recently emerged needs to take a trip in the Way-back Machine.

10JAN1973

Between 1972 and 1985 a modified F-8C Crusader proved the concept of digital fly-by-wire technology, now taken for granted on today’s military and commercial aircraft.

The ‘Apollo’ computer system was jammed into every available space on the fighter aircraft, including it’s gun bays.  The testing took place at the NASA Flight Research Center, Edwards, California, (now the Dryden Flight Research Center) and Langley Research Center.

Phase-1 pilot’s control box originally was used on the Apollo Moon mission’s Lunar Modules.  Phase-2 used three IBM AP-101 computers for the flight control system.

NASA video of intentionally induced oscillations upon landing:

211 DFBW flights were made.

Build one yourself:

Apparently they have DFBW conversion kits in 1:144 and 1:48, as well.

HISTORY OF MILITARY COMPUTERS SINCE WW2, BIRTH OF THE INTERNET!

VEHICLE I-D: MIG-31 SPACE BOUND DOGFIGHTER?

 ‘NEW’ F-16 VISTA

 QF-16 DRONE

Vehicle I-D: C-47 Dakota/Skytrain, Douglas Commercial-3, R4D Goonies!

Entex got it right when their model box stated it was “The plane that changed the world.”  It’s my top pick for Zombie Plane, after seven decades it just won’t die, still flying today in both private and commercial use, and apparently some countries are still using it for military purposes.  It even commands the respect of wartime enemies, who adopted it for their own use.

Production began in 1936 and from then until now the C-47/DC-3/R4D has been used by at least 82 countries.

Fort Benning, Georgia, 16AUG2019:

Berlin Airlift 70th Anniversary, Clay Kaserne, Germany, 09-11JUN2019:

Videos:

May 2019, DC (Douglas Commercial)-3 over Catalina Island, California: 

“That’s all brother!”, Air Mobility Command Museum on Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, May 2019:

April , 2019 video report, history of 3rd Combat Cargo Squadron which flew the China-Burma-India Theater during WW2:

“That’s all brother!”, Sumpter Smith ANGB Alabama, April 2019:

November 2018, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida:

May 2016, AC-47 Spooky over New Mexico:

February 1964, M2-F1 lifting body tracking behind a Goonie, Edwards AFB, California: 

August 1963, NASA R4D-5/C-47H:

1956, NACA R4D, High-Speed Flight Station, Edwards AFB, California:

German Dakotas, 1957 to 1976:

Iran Air ‘DC-3s’ were actually C-47s with passenger interiors: 

Iranian CH-47 gives an Iranian C-47 a lift: 

Weirdos:

Video report,  North Dakota Air National Guard’s first disaster relief mission (Operation Haylift), during the winter of 1949:

Video report; C-47 Operation Market Garden:

Jungle Skippers’ “Cleo C”, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas:

Flak damage to a Jungle Skippers C-47, Corregidor Island, Philippines, World War Two (1943?):

2018 video explainer of the inception of the 349th Troop Carrier Group in 1943:

HARVEY: C-A-F DELIVERS AID WITH WORLD WAR 2 AIRCRAFT (Unfortunately this restored C-47 crashed and burned not even a year after taking part in Hurricane Harvey relief ops)

Popular Mechanics explains “Why the DC-3 Is Such a Badass Plane”

To make an Iran Air ‘DC-3’ use the C-47 fuselage with the DC-3 interior. Iranian airliners were converted C-47s and retained the cargo doors.

Believe it or not, ESCI and Italeri kits are not the same.

The Italeri kit is larger and its fuselage has an oval or egg shape to the cross section. The ESCI kit looks like a down-scaled version of the 1:48 Monogram kit, with recessed panel lines instead of raised surface details. The now out of production ESCI kit is the better kit.

Incomplete model kit supply list:

Decals;  facebook.com/pointerdog7/

Draw Decals

Kitsworld Decals

Hungarian Aero Decal 

JoyDecals

MicroScale Decals

Iliad Design

Xtradecal

VEHICLE I-D: ZOMBIE TANK T-55, THEY’RE EVERYWHERE!

VEHICLE I-D: NORMANDY PAINTED C-130 HERCULES

D-DAY F-15E STRIKE EAGLE

VEHICLE I-D: M4 SHERMAN (including my grandfather’s Sherman)

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

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: Russia’s ‘new’ T-72B3, “Hello, anybody in there?”

Russia’s T-72B3 has been around for a while, but this new version is missing something; the crew!

According to TASS, tank maker Uralvagonzavod has been busy building hundreds of robot tanks based on the T-72B3.  Some robot tanks will carry traditional boom-sticks, while others will be armed IFVs.

No further details reported.

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!

 

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!