Images

Technology

Cold War Boats: Fiberglass & Wood, USS Avenger (MCM-1), Keel Laying to Commissioning.

Image

Photo via Peterson Builders.

United States Ship Avenger (MCM-1) was the lead ship in a class of ‘mine sweepers’, the MCM stood for Mine Counter-Measure.  Built and launched at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, construction began 03JUN1983, commissioned on 12SEP1987.

A total of 14 MCMs were built between the mid-1980s and mid-1990s. Apparently, as of 2021 there are still eight in operation; Chief, Devastator, Dexterous, Gladiator, Patriot, Pioneer, Sentry, and Warrior.

The wooden structure of USS CHAMPION (MCM-4), typical of the Avenger class. 08MAY1985, photo via Marinette Marine Corporation.

The Avenger class mine-sweepers are fiberglass-sheathed, wooden-hull ships, using sonar and video systems to identify mines, deploy a mine-detonating device to remotely explode mines, and can also conduct what is considered ‘conventional’ minesweeping activities.

MCM-1’s official plaque. Notice it states the launch was 05JUN1985, this does not jive with official records, or photos that are dated 15JUN1985.

The following photos are from the undeclared/unofficial Cold War period:

Pre-launch. Photo via Peterson Builders, 15JUN1985.

Pre-launch. Photo via Peterson Builders, 15JUN1985.

Pre-launch. Photo via Peterson Builders, 15JUN1985.

Pre-launch. Photo via Peterson Builders, 15JUN1985.

Sliding down the launchways. Photo via Peterson Builders, 15JUN1985.

Launch. Photo via Peterson Builders, 15JUN1985.

Photo via Peterson Builders, 15JUN1985.

Photo via Peterson Builders, taken 14JUL1987.

Photo via Peterson Builders, taken 14JUL1987.

Photo via Peterson Builders, taken 14JUL1987.

Photo via Peterson Builders, taken 14JUL1987.

Photo via Peterson Builders, taken 14JUL1987.

Engine room (main machinery room). Photo via Peterson Builders, taken 14JUL1987.

Photo via Peterson Builders, taken 14JUL1987.

Photo via Peterson Builders, taken 14JUL1987.

Photo via Peterson Builders, taken 14JUL1987.

Photo via Peterson Builders, taken 14JUL1987.

Photo via Peterson Builders, taken 14JUL1987.

Photo via Peterson Builders, taken 14JUL1987.

Photo via Peterson Builders, taken 14JUL1987.

Photo via Peterson Builders, taken 14JUL1987.

Gussied up for commissioning. Peterson Builders’ photo is dated 12SEP1987.

Waiting for the crowd. Photo via Peterson Builders, taken 12SEP1987.

Commissioning, 12SEP1987. Photo via Peterson Builders.

Wisconsin politicians, a contractor executive, and a USN official, get a personal tour of the newly commissioned USS Avenger. Photo via Peterson Builders, taken 12SEP1987.

USS Avenger was decommissioned on 30SEP2014.  It is now in Reserve status for the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

The U.S. Navy (USN) plans to replace the remaining MCMs with Littoral Combat Ships (LCS).  However, on 28MAY2021, the USN reported that President Biden’s 2022 budget request is complicating the LCS effort.

On 26JUL2021, the USN’s Mine Countermeasures Squadron-7 (based in Japan) reported they had conducted ‘intense availabilities’ (USN talk for major overhaul) on USS Warrior (MCM 10), USS Chief (MCM 14) and USS Pioneer (MCM 9), at a cost of “more than $31.4 million” (I’m assuming that is for all three ships, the report didn’t specify. If that is so that is way cheap compared to the cost of one new build ship.).  The overhaul of the three Avenger class ships included maintenance on the main reduction gears, diesel generators, diesel engines, and rudders. Additionally, the shafting was removed and re-insulated on all three platforms.

USS Bonhomme Richard (LH-6): STEEL INFERNO, ONE YEAR LATER, SABOTAGE & LACK OF LEADERSHIP=DEATH OF A SHIP!

River Gun Boats: ROMÂNIA

Technology

Cold War Ooops: Sea Harrier malfunction during 75th Anniversary of Naval Aviation

Image

From February 1986 to February 1987, the U.S. Navy’s Memorial Museum (now National Museum of the U.S. Navy) celebrated the 75th Anniversary of Naval Aviation with airshows around the United States. Of course, the British Empire had to get involved and the Royal Navy sent at least one FRS Mark 1 (FRS.1) Sea Harriers (Two? I read somewhere that there were two Royal Navy Harriers, however, after reviewing tarmac staging area photos I’ve concluded that it was one Royal Navy FRS.1 and a brand new USMC AV-8B.).

FRS.1 #122 takes off on its fateful public demonstration. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Petty Officer Third Class Paquette.

The FRS.1 was relatively new, having entered service in 1979 for testing, with the first operation unit formed in 1980.

The FRS.1 climbs into the sky over Naval Air Station Pensacola, 10MAY1986. USN photo by PH3 Paquette.

The week of May 3rd through 11th, 1986, saw the aircraft fluttering about over Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.  The photos are dated 10MAY1986. I found an article about that specific airshow, dubbed ‘Magic Week’ in the U.S. Navy’s July-August 1986 issue of Naval Aviation News, all it says on page 40 is “The Air Shows on May 10-11 wrapped up the week’s events….. flights of vintage aircraft such as… as well as current operational aircraft such as…  and a British Sea Harrier.”    

U.S. Marine Corps KC-130F Hercules ‘Fat Albert’ Blue Angels support aircraft demonstrates its RATO abilities, just after #122 landed on its Aden gun pods due to failure of the landing gear to extend. USN photo by PH3 Paquette.

Fat Albert has launched, the FRS.1 pilot opens the canopy, emergency vehicles are on their way. USN photo by PH3 Paquette.

In this photo you see the pilot laying on the grass behind the Sea Harrier. USN photo by PH3 Paquette.

USN photo by PH3 Paquette.

I have not been able to find any official documentation about this incident.

Cold War Battle Damage: ALL HAIL THE HAIL BUSTER! WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FLY YOUR C-130E THROUGH A HAILSTORM?

Idaho, Technology

Disaster 2021: Idaho Militia & Boise FD train for swift water rescues, without water!

Image

Idaho National Guard photo by Thomas Alvarez.

On 02NOV2021, just days before the Idaho based 116th Cavalry Brigade deployed for Kuwait, the Idaho Army National Guard teamed up with the City of Boise Fire Department to conduct swift water rescue training (specifically; hoisting victims out of the water), without water (Idaho has been in a long drought you know) for the first time!

UH-72 Lakota. Idaho National Guard photo by Thomas Alvarez.

UH-60 Black Hawk. ING photo by Thomas Alvarez.

On one corner of Gowen Field/Boise Airport (the air assault strip), militia personnel and Boise fire fighters gathered to conduct their waterless water rescue training.  They used the latest in hi-tech equipment; UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, UH-72 Lakota helicopter, and a pickup truck pulling a trailer!

Mark-1 Swift Water Simulator. ING photo by Thomas Alvarez.

UH-60 Black Hawk and hi-tech Mark-1 Swift Water Simulator. Idaho National Guard photo by Thomas Alvarez.

Before pulling an actual human to ‘safety’ from a moving vehicle, they practiced with sandbags.  This also helped determine a safe speed to drive the truck-trailer combo.

One by one they boarded the impromptu training device. ING photo by Thomas Alvarez.

Believe it or not, they actually referred to the fire-fighter playing the victim as the “simulated victim”! Maybe they should patent their hi-tech invention as the Mark-1 Swift Water Simulator?

Even two at a time. ING photo by Thomas Alvarez.

Several hoists were made using the UH-72. ING photo by Thomas Alvarez.

Idaho Army National Guard photo by First Lieutenant Ianhunter Thorpe.

Several hoists were made using the UH-60. ING photo by Thomas Alvarez.

Idaho Army National Guard photo by First Lieutenant Ianhunter Thorpe.

Disaster 2021: VERMONT & CONNECTICUT VALKYRIE FIGHT FIRES IN KOSOVO!

U.S. Wildfire 2021: IDAHO UPDATE, 15 AUGUST

Disaster 2018: IDAHO MILITIA PREPS FIREFIGHTERS FOR COMING NATURAL DISASTERS, using UH-60 Black Hawk!

IDAHO AIR MILITIA PREPS CIVILIANS FOR NATURAL DISASTER, using UH-72 Lakota!

IDAHO MILITIA PROVIDES ITS OWN CELL PHONE SERVICE, TO SURVIVE COMING NATURAL DISASTER?

Biden’s War, November 2021: ‘REBELLIOUS’ SNAKE RIVER (IDAHO, OREGON) DEPLOYS! POLITICIAN BEGS IDAHOANS TO RESIST THE WILL OF BIDEN!

World War 3: IDAHO TRAINS KOREAN ANTI-NUCLEAR COMBAT TEAMS!

Technology

Cold War Battle Damage: All Hail the Hail Buster! What happens when you fly your C-130E through a hailstorm?

Image

A case of ‘hail nose’. This is what happens when a Hurlburt Field, Florida, based C-130E gets hit by a hailstorm while in flight. March 1987, U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

The damaged C-130E Hercules landed at Naval Air Station New Orleans, Louisiana. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

Awaiting the repair crew. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

Damaged SKE (Station Keeping Equipment) radome. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

Damage to the leading edge of the wing. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

Broken formation light. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

Gotta have that metal tape, and I don’t mean that cassette tape of the latest ’80s metal band. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

A bit of damage to the engine intake. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

A new nose for the old Hercules. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

Replacing the ‘greenhouse’ glass. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

New glass. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

With hail damage repaired, the crew of the C-130E used reflective tape to give it a new name; Hail Buster! USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

September 2021: OLD HC-130 GETS NEW JOB AS GATE GUARD

Cold War Battle Damage:  S-A-C INTENTIONALLY MACHINE-GUNS A B-52, USING THE B-D-I-G!

Fukushima, Idaho, International, Technology, U.S.

World War 3: Idaho trains Korean anti-Nuclear Combat Teams!

Image

06 November 2021 (15:56-UTC-07 Tango 06) 15 Aban 1400/30 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1443/02 Ji-Hai (10th month) 4719

Idaho National Laboratory photo by Meghan Fujimoto, 22OCT2021.

The U.S. Army’s Defense Threat Reduction Agency has revealed that from October 18th through the 22nd, Republic of Korea (RoK, South Korea) anti-nuclear combat team conducted training on the U.S. Navy owned Idaho National Laboratory (INL).

Learning how to use a collimator with a detector when finding a specific radiological source overwhelmed by other radiological sources. INL photo by Meghan Fujimoto.

It’s called the Nuclear Infrastructure, Assessment and Characterization Course, and is taught mainly on the INL’s Idaho Falls campus.  This is, according to the U.S. Army, part of twice a year training of anti-nuclear units, this being the seventh time since 2018.

RoK NCT unit conducts decontamination of victims on INL’s Idaho Falls campus. INL photo by Meghan Fujimoto, 20OCT2021.

U.S. units are called Nuclear Disablement Teams (NDT), the RoK units are called Nuclear Characterization Teams (NCT), they have slightly different missions.

RoK NCT personnel train on how to detect a ‘suspected uranium conversion facility’ (covert uranium enrichment operation) on the INL’s Idaho Falls campus. INL photo by Meghan Fujimoto.

The U.S. NDT focus on finding and disabling nuclear facilities/weapons, while the RoK NCT include other CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) operations.

Nuclear Infrastructure, Assessment and Disablement Course at the Idaho National Laboratory, 13-24SEP2021. Photo via INL.

Another U.S. Army NDT unit completed the Nuclear Infrastructure, Assessment and Characterization Course (NIACC) in September 2021.

Searching for the location of a large radiological source during September’s NIACC training at the INL. Photo via U.S. Army’s 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command.

World War 3:  U.S. ARMY’S ‘NEW’ COUNTER THREAT FINANCE OPERATIONS! NO MORE SPECIAL FORCES?

Biden’s War: ‘REBELLIOUS’ SNAKE RIVER (FLORIDA, IDAHO, MONTANA, NEVADA, OREGON) DEPLOYS TO KUWAIT! POLITICIAN BEGS IDAHOANS TO RESIST THE WILL OF BIDEN!

WMD, August 2021: IDAHO’S ALL HAZARDS ENVIRONMENT TRAINING

Vehicle I-D: KOREAN 대한민국 K1

Fukushima FallOut, Five Years Later: I-N-L ADMITS ITS RADIATION DETECTORS DON’T WORK! MORE W-I-P-P PROBLEMS!

Fukushima FallOut, 2012: RADIATION MYSTERY AT IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORY, CESIUM & COBALT

I-N-L History: 

HTRE-3, photo by Alexander Hutchins, April 2011

ANCIENT NUCLEAR POWERED JET ENGINE FOUND IN IDAHO DESERT, PROOF OF ANCIENT ALIEN VISITORS?

Lead-lined train in the Arco desert in Eastern Idaho. Photo by Alexander Hutchins, April 2011.

GHOSTLY NUKE TRAIN ROLLIN’ ‘CROSS IDAHO DESERT

Technology

Cold War Battle Damage: SAC intentionally machine-guns a B-52, using the B-D-I-G!

Image

In April 1984, the U.S. Air Force’s (USAF) Strategic Air Command (SAC) conducted the sixth NIGHT TRAIN/GLOBAL SHIELD exercise, which took place on several USAF bases around the world.

Click here to read a PDF of a once secret USAF document about Night Train ’84.

Members of the 2953rd Combat Logistics Support Squadron arrive on Davis Monthan Air Force Base (The Boneyard), Arizona, for Exercise NIGHT TRAIN/GLOBAL SHIELD, April 1984. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

On ‘The Boneyard’ (Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona), Night Train ’84 tested the Airmen’s ability to quickly repair battle damaged B-52 bombers, which included the use of experimental manually operated tools and a ‘Battel Damage Infliction Gun’.

The battle damage infliction gun is offloaded. The gun was provided by the Foreign Munitions Test and Evaluation Group of the Air Force Wright Aeronautical Laboratories. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

From left to right, 30mm fragmentation, 20mm high explosive, 20mm incendiary, and 20mm armor piercing. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

The BDIG. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

The BDIG was aimed at various parts of the sacrificial B-52. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

Loading a 30mm frag round into the BDIG. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

A blast shield consisting of a steel framed bunch of wood 4x4s was used to reduce the spread of shrapnel. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

The BDIG is unleased. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

A 20mm high explosive round tears through the left wing tip of a mothballed B-52, April 1987. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

The damage done to the left wing tip area, the entry wound is smaller than the exit wound on the top of the wing, a lot of internal damage. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

Airmen work to repair the internal damage. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

Repair work was 24 hours, the exercise was simulating a combat situation, specifically a nuclear war with the Soviet Union. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

20mm projectiles punch through the B-52’s elevator. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

Entry wound on the front main wheel bay. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

Working in the massive wheel bay. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

Building a shipping crate for a B-52’s main landing gear door. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

Since the exercise was about a running nuclear war with the Soviet Union, Airmen had to perform their jobs in full MOPP (Mission Oriented Protective Posture) gear for NBC (Nuclear Biological Chemical) warfare. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

Having been there done that myself, I can tell you that working even for a short time in full MOPP is a…… frustrating to say the least. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

An engine nacelle, damaged by the BDIG, had to be replaced. The Airman not wearing MOPP gear is an observer, grading the others on their performance. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

Under cover of darkness, a sheet metal worker patches a large hole in the pylon holding the engine nacelle, made by the BDIG. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

At the time, this was an experimental manually operated ‘blind fastener’ installation kit used to repair sheet metal. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

Manually operated tools are gold during a nuclear war. Nuclear explosions create EMPs (electro magnetic pulses) which knock out any electronics, and electric power. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

Cold War Battle Damage: THE HIND-END OF DESERT STORM

Pandemic Overflight: BOMB THE VIRUS BACK TO THE STONEAGE!

Technology

Cold War Vehicle I-D: Convair UC-880, the one & only!

Image

UC-880 at a U.S. Navy air show, May 1984. Photo by Don S. Montgomery.

The Convair UC-880 was the only 880-22M converted for use by the U.S. Navy.

Convair UC-880 at an air show, September 1985. Photo by Don S. Montgomery.

UC-880 was a former FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) training aircraft purchased in 1961 (airframe #22-7-3-55).  Flight Systems purchased the FAA 880-22M in 1980, for use at Naval Test Center-Patuxent River, it was used to test refueling of F-14D and F/A-18 aircraft, and other aircraft used during cruise missile testing.

UC-880 refueling a TA-4J Skyhawk, September 1986. USN photo.

Filling-up a F-4 Phantom-2, while an A-6 Intruder waits its turn, September 1986. USN photo.

The UC-880 wore at least two different paint schemes.

UC-880 during an ‘open house’ at the Patuxent River Naval Air Test Center, 16MAY1987. Photo by Don S. Montgomery.

Photo by Don S. Montgomery.

USN photo by Vernon Pugh, sometime in 1989.

Refueling F/A-18 Hornet. USN photo by Vernon Pugh, dated January 1990.

USN photo by Vernon Pugh, dated January 1990.

Refueling F/A-18EPE (Enhanced Performance Engines) Hornet. USN photo by Vernon Pugh, dated November 1991.

USN photo by Vernon Pugh, dated May 1992.

The only Convair UC-880 aircraft refuels the F-14D Tomcat prototype, August 1992. USN photo by Vernon Pugh.

August 1992. USN photo by Vernon Pugh.

The UC-880 was written-off after a cargo hold explosive decompression test, in 1995.

Vehicle I-D: NASA’S TWISTY-BENDY F/A-18A

NASA’S 737, TEST-BED FOR THE CIVILIAN AIRLINER INDUSTRY!

Technology

Cold War Battle Damage: USS Tripoli LPH-10 Desert Storm

Image

The amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LPH-10) ships-out of Naval Station Subic Bay, Philippines, sailing for Operation Desert Shield/Storm. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Senior Chief Petty Officer McColley.

On 18FEB1991, the United States Ship (USS) Tripoli (aka Tripoli-2) LPH-10 (not to be confused with the new LHA-7 Tripoli) struck an Iraqi mine while sailing the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm.  Four crewmembers were injured, and the Tripoli went into drydock for repairs.

This U.S. Navy photo claims to show the Tripoli being tugged into a dry dock in Bahrain, after the mine incident, however the date on the photo is two weeks prior to the incident. Photo by Journalist First Class Petty Officer Joe Gawlowicz.

Tripoli was sailing (news reports conflict, some say Tripoli was the flagship for a minesweeping operation while others say only specialized minesweepers conduct such operations, USN sources say Tripoli was acting as a “mine clearing platform”) along with USS Princeton, both hit mines.  Tripoli was hit first, early in the morning before dawn (again conflicting times, some reports say 04:36, others say 04:40), two to three hours later Princeton was hit.  The ships were more than 60 miles apart when they hit mines.  Both ships were able to continue under their own power (one report says it took the crew of Tripoli seven hours to restore power).

As the water is drained from the dock, the damage is revealed. USN photo by Journalist First Class Petty Officer Joe Gawlowicz.

USN photo by Journalist First Class Petty Officer Joe Gawlowicz.

USN photo by Journalist First Class Petty Officer Joe Gawlowicz.

Size comparison of damage with puny humans. USN photo by Journalist First Class Petty Officer Joe Gawlowicz.

USN photo by Journalist First Class Petty Officer Joe Gawlowicz.

There are photos of the Naval Broadcast Service conducting video interviews about the Tripoli’s repairs, for Navy News This Week,  but unfortunately I couldn’t find the videos.

USN photo by Journalist First Class Petty Officer Joe Gawlowicz.

Tripoli was an Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship, commissioned on 06AUG1966, and based in San Diego, California. Tripoli served several tours of duty off the coast of Viet Nam from 1967 to 1972. The assault ship had continuous problems with its propulsion system, in the first six months of 1977 Tripoli underwent propulsion system upgrades. Tripoli was decommissioned and stricken from USN records in September 1995. Tripoli got new life with the U.S. Army, from June 1997 to April 2015. Tripoli was scrapped sometime after 2018. For some strange reason, the USN History and Heritage Command does not mention Tripoli’s action during Operation Desert Storm on its official history page for the ship, the only ‘conflict’ they mention is Viet Nam.  However, they do mention Tripoli’s mine incident on its February 1991 chronology page.

Captain Bruce McEwen, commanding officer of the amphibious assault ship USS TRIPOLI (LPH-10), removes a symbolic band-aid after the mine damage was repaired. USN photo by Journalist Second Class Petty Officer Hatzakos, photo dated 01APR1991.

The Combat Action Ribbon was awarded to the crew of LPH-10 on 17MAR1991.

USN photo by Journalist Second Class Petty Officer Hatzakos.

USN photo by Journalist Second Class Petty Officer Hatzakos.

Operation Desert Shield/Storm can be considered the last battle of the undeclared/unofficial Cold War.

LPH-10 departs Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on its way home to San Diego, July 1991. USN photo by Operations Specialist-2 John Bouvia.

Home again, Naval Station San Diego, 08AUG1991, USN photo by Journalist First Class Petty Officer Joseph F. Lancaster.

08AUG1991, USN photo by Journalist First Class Petty Officer Joseph F. Lancaster.

Robot Wars: SEAHAWK & SEA HUNTER

USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), 2020: INTO THE STEEL INFERNO!

Recovery Ops, 2018: USS/DKM PRINZ EUGEN

Cold War Battle Damage: THE HIND-END OF DESERT STORM

Technology

Cold War Battle Damage: The Hind-End of Desert Storm

Image

Mil 24, NATO reporting name Hind.

Hind is Middle English for rear end (hind end, hind leg), originating with Old English/Old German. Hind is also the name for female Red Deer who are three years of age or older. Hind is also the name for a type of speckled serranid fish in the Western Atlantic Ocean. Hind is also a word for a peasant/lower class worker.

The crews/countries who operate the Mil 24 have given it their own nicknames, such as Flying Tank, Drinking Glass and Satan’s Chariot.

Operation Desert Shield/Storm can be considered the last battle of the undeclared/unofficial Cold War.

United States Department of Defense photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner, March 1991.

March 1991, photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner.

U.S. DoD photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner, March 1991.

March 1991, photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner.

March 1991, photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner.

March 1991, photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner.

General Norman Schwarzkopf uses his foot to check-out the pieces & parts of an abandoned Hind. U.S. DoD photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner, March 1991.

The captured Hinds were brought to Rafha Domestic Airport in Saudi Arabia. The airport is near the border with Iraq. Photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner, March 1991.

A different Iraqi Hind, photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner, March 1991.

Retractable nose gear pointing to heaven, all that is left of an Iraqi Hind, March 1991, photo by Sergeant Kimberly Yearyearn.

Desert Storm:

DoD photo.

IRAQ AIRCRAFT GRAVEYARD

Afghanistan 2020: MAINTAINING SATAN’S CHARIOT

Vehicle I-D 2020:

IRAQI HUEY

Cold War Vehicle I-D: TU-95 ‘BEAR’

 B-47 STRATOJET

International, U.S.

Mother of all Money Pits: Millions of dollars per day given away in Iraq, Biden deploys more troops! Preps for war with ISIS, or Syria, or Iran?

Image

Just over a week ago, Colonel Todd Burroughs, Deputy Director of U.S. Military Advisor Group-North (MAG-North), told Iraqi Peshmerga (Kurdish militia) “this is just the beginning” in regards to more U.S. military freebies.  On 20SEP2021, another million dollar ‘divestment’ took place!

U.S. Army photo by Specialist Clara Soria-Hernandez, 20SEP2021.

This time it went to Iraqi airborne Special Forces Quwat Al Khasa (Qwat al-Khasah), at the usual location of Al Asad Air Base.

U.S. Army photo by Specialist Clara Soria-Hernandez, 20SEP2021.

But wait, there is more!

USA photo by Specialist Trevor Franklin, 16SEP2021.

On 16SEP2021, what is called a Class V (ammunition) Divestment, to Peshmerga, took place at Erbil.

But wait there’s more!

USA photo by Specialist Clara Soria-Hernandez, 15SEP2021.

On 15SEP2021, on Al Asad Air Base, approximately $6.6-million worth of U.S. made vehicles were given to Iraq’s Agency of Intelligence and Federal Investigations (AIFI)!

USA photo by Specialist Clara Soria-Hernandez, 15SEP2021.

But wait, there’s more!

USA photo by Specialist Clara Soria-Hernandez, 14SEP2021.

On 14SEP2021, three U.S. made diesel fuelers were given to  Ninawa Operations Command’s 15th Division (joint Iraqi army, Peshmerga unit) on Al Asad Air Base.

But wait there’s more!

USA photo by Specialist Clara Soria-Hernandez, 13SEP2021.

On 13SEP2021, twenty armored cars, new tires, and an undisclosed amount of computers were given to the Iraq Counter Terrorism Service (ICTS) on Al Asad Air Base.

USA photo by Specialist Clara Soria-Hernandez, 13SEP2021.

All these ‘divestments’ come at the same time that Iraq has suddenly decided to build up its military, and Biden is deploying more U.S. personnel to Iraq:

Iraq brings back the draft, a sign of desperation?

Islamic State, aka DAIISH (DA for al-DAwla, I for al-Islamiya, I for al-Iraq, SH al-SHam [al-Sham=Syria])

Iraq campaign to retake DAIISH (Islamic State) controlled areas!

Despite Afghan withdrawal, Biden deploys additional troops to Iraq!

U.S. and Israel denies bombing Iraqi militia near Syrian border!

Fighting breaks out in Karbala!

Tiny NATO member Luxembourg sends advisor to Iraq, to fight Islamic State!

Christian video report, DAIISH returns to power in Iraq:

Rudaw interview with NATO Netherlands General concerning the stagnating ‘Peshmerga Reforms’ by U.S. led forces, admits there is not enough “trust”, says a crucial political decision about the justification for the continued existence/goals of Peshmerga needs to be made soon:

Mother of all Money Pits, 12SEP2021:  YET ANOTHER MASSIVE GIVE-AWAY OF U.S. MILITARY MIGHT, IN IRAQ! TURKEY CRIES FOUL!

World War 3, November 2015: OBAMA  THINKS DAIISH & ISIL/ISIS ARE TWO DIFFERENT GROUPS!

Islamic State, aka DAIISH (DA for al-DAwla, I for al-Islamiya, I for al-Iraq, SH al-SHam [al-Sham=Syria])

July 2015: OBAMA LED NATO BIGGEST DRUG DEALER IN THE WORLD? AMPHETAMINES, IT’S WHAT ISLAMIC STATE DOES!

January 2015: U.S. CREATED ISLAMIC STATE PROVES OBAMA A BOLD FACE LIAR!

October 2014: U.S. FEMALE REPORTER WHO REVEALED ISLAMIC STATE IS TOOL OF U.S.-NATO ASSASSINATED BY TURKISH-NATO AGENTS! OBAMA REGIME SAYS NOTHING!

BRITISH EMPIRE, LET SLIP THE DOGS OF WAR: ISLAMIC STATE DAIISH