Images

Vehicle I-D: C2 MEXAS Armor (I mean, Armour?) Afghanistan

Image March 25, 2021 Hutchins AAron

The C2 reportedly combines a C1 (Leopard 1A3) hull with Leopard 1A5 turret, then up-armouring with German designed Modular Expandable Armor System (MEXAS, by IBD Deisenroth Engineering, which was taken over by Rheinmetall in 2019. IBD Deisenroth ceased MEXAS production in 2006 in favor of AMAP.).

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Lance Wade.

This is a Leo C2 sans MEXAS during a wargame called Maple Guardian, on the U.S. Army’s Fort Irwin in California, January 2010.

Apparently some C2s operate without the MEXAS, and some C1s operate with MEXAS, to confuse things more the C1 and C2 Leopards look almost identical with or without the MEXAS.

Canadian Forces photo by Corporal Simon Duchesne.

25OCT2007, Zharey, Afghanistan.

Canadian Forces photo by Master Corporal Kevin Paul.

28JUN2007, Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ma’Sum Ghar (MSG), Afghanistan. C2 MEXAS is equipped with heat shield blankets, in an attempt to keep the crew compartments cooler.

Canadian Forces photo by Lieutenant Commander Kent Penney.

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Craig Fiander.

C2 (Leopard Mark 1 C2) MEXAS crossing a stream somewhere in Afghanistan, during the 2nd Operation Athena (2005-2011), 09JUN2007.

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Craig Fiander.

C2 pile-on, Panjwayi District, Afghanistan, 09JUN2007.

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Dennis Power.

28DEC2006, mine plow C2 MEXAS patrolling the areas of Panjwai, Pashmul, and Zhari during Operation BAAZ TSUKA.

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Dennis Power.

Patrolling the areas of Panjwai, Pashmul, and Zhari during Operation BAAZ TSUKA, 28DEC2006.

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Dennis Power.

Canadian Forces photo by Captain Edward Stewart.

Leopard C2 ‘blade tank’, FOB MSG in Afghanistan, 17DEC2006.

Canada Forces photo by Master Corporal Yves Gemus.

A pride of Canadian Leopard C2 tanks on FOB MSG near the town of Bazaar-e-Panjwayi, Afghanistan, 10DEC2006.

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Roxanne Clowe.

C2 MEXAS, Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan, 06NOV2006.

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Lou Penny.

German built, Canadian modified, Leopard C2 MEXAS tank from Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians), Afghanistan, 24OCT2006.

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Lou Penny.

U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sergeant Mitch Gettle.

Canadian C2 MEXAS being loaded onto a U.S. Air Force C-17 on Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan, for deployment to Afghanistan, 07OCT2006.

Canadian Forces photo by Corporal David Cribb.

The beginning of the end for the Leo Mark-1 C2 MEXAS as ‘loaned’ German 2A6 Leos, newly modified to Canada’s ‘M’ standard, began arriving in 2008. Canadian Forces were in the middle of their 2nd Operation Athena deployment (2005-2011) to Afghanistan. It should be noted that the ‘loaned’ German 2A6s were ‘at no cost’, and were eventually returned to Germany with their M upgrades (some reports say Canada kept the German 2A6Ms and returned to Germany 2A6s purchased second-hand from Netherlands).

After only a couple of years of operations in Afghanistan, the C2 was deemed to be not only inadequate in dealing with the type of low-intensity ambush style of warfare, but also hot/dry climates. In 2007, Canadian Forces decided to replace their C2 MEXAS with Leopard 2A4 and 2A6 modified to M standards (‘M’ primarily for ‘mine resistant’, but many other modifications were made, Canadian Army does not use the CAN designation as seen on model kits or non-Canadian sources of information, it’s simply 2A4M or 2A6M).

Canadian Forces photo by Corporal James Nightingale.

Leo 2A6M, Zharey District, Afghanistan, November 2008. The SAAB designed camo netting is primarily a thermal blanket, and the Leo 2A6M has air conditioning (not initially, but reports say that finally air conditioners were installed).

Canada also purchased second hand Leo 2A4s and 2A6s from Netherlands and Switzerland, to be modified to M standards or converted to recovery vehicles.

Vehicle I-D: IRAQI GREYHOUND السلوقي العراقي

Vehicle I-D: SHIELD OF THE UAE درع الامارات العربية المتحدة

M777: PROOF THE UNITED STATES IS THE TOOL OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE! (It’s also used by Canada)

Technology

Vehicle I-D: Iraqi Greyhound السلوقي العراقي

Image March 18, 2021 Hutchins AAron

Photo by Captain Bill Hinman.

The above photo was reportedly taken in April 2005, at a former Iraqi Republican Guard base called Taji.

U.S. Army photo by Private First Class Lyndsey Prax.

However, in 2008 personnel with the Combat Repair Team, Bravo Company, 225th Brigade Support Battalion, claimed they ‘found’ the old M8 Greyhound armored car in the Camp Taji ‘boneyard’.

USA photo by Private First Class Lyndsey Prax.

There were reports that ‘higher-ups’ of the 225th Brigade Support Battalion were trying to find a way to justify bringing the old World War Two survivor back to Schofield Barracks, in Hawaii. There were even local newspaper articles about it.

USA photo by Private First Class Lyndsey Prax.

So far, I have found nothing indicating that the Iraqi M8 ever got to Hawaii. I’ve read an armor registry forum which stated there was an M8 on display in Hawaii, but nobody has posted any photos of it. Schofield Barracks has the Tropic Lighting Museum, but among all the photos of the museum displays there is no M8.

I have found a website called Paratrooper Research Team, which has photos, via Christopher Carney, of a black painted M8 Greyhound on Camp Taji, and going by the dented stowage rack in between the front and rear fenders, I think its the same M8 in the above photos.

USA photo by Pierre-Etienne Courtejoie.

There were so many M8 Greyhounds produced that you can find many working examples taking part in World War Two reenactments.

USA photo by Pascal Demeuldre.

This M8 was taking part in the 2014 reenactment of the Battle of the Bulge, in Belgium.

In the 1980s, Brazil built a new version of the M8, called the EE-9 Cascavel, and yes Iraq bought it.

This is an Iraqi EE-9 Cascavel, destroyed during the 1991 Operation Desert Storm.

The above photo purports to show 35 operational Iraqi EE-9s, as of 2008.

Vehicle I-D:

IRAQI HUEY

IRAQI ARMOR, AFTER THE INVASION

My grandfather, O.G. Hutchins, on his newly arrived USMC Sherman, sometime before shipping out against the Japanese.

M4 SHERMAN

U.S.

Another B-1B ‘Bone’ sent to the BoneYard! Is the end near?

Image March 17, 2021 Hutchins AAron

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Quentin Marx, 16FEB2021.

The military calls it ‘divestiture’, when they retire a major piece of military equipment. Under the National Defense Authorization Act, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) is required to divest 17 B-1B Lancers (aka Bones) in order to justify buying the new B-21 Raider (a new version of the B-2).

USAF photo by Airman Jonah Fronk, 17FEB2021.

On 17FEB2021, the first of several Ellisworth Air Force Base (AFB) 28th Bomb Wing ‘Bones’ was sent off on its last flight to the ‘BoneYard’ at Davis-Monthan AFB, in Arizona.

USAF photo by Airman Jonah Fronk, 16FEB2021.

On 16FEB2021, maintainers with 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron conducted final inspections and adjustments to #85-066.

USAF photo by Airman Jonah Fronk, 16FEB2021.

USAF photo, 17FEB2021.

#85-066 upon arrival at Davis-Monthan AFB, 17FEB2021.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Austin McIntosh.

The above is B-1B #85-081, photographed on 12MAR2021, also on its way to the BoneYard.

Divestiture:

LAST FLIGHT, AND SALVATION, OF 1503

HOW TO MUMMIFY YOUR KC-10, OR, LAST FLIGHT OF 86-0036

NO MORE OPEN SKIES?

LAST RIDE FOR 1ST, 2ND & 4TH TANK

Idaho, U.S.

Biden’s Borderland: X-ings surge by 28%, would be higher if not for Trump’s Wall!

Image March 13, 2021 Hutchins AAron

Welcome to borderland hell under the new U.S. President, incomplete list of links to news/government agency reports as of 12 March 2021:

Canada says it will not open border with U.S. until pandemic cases go down!

CNN admits some illegals will get pandemic panic-attack taxpayer funding!

Residents of Kentucky and Tennessee arrested for smuggling humans!

ARIZONA: Republicans approve of in-state tuition for illegals?

Archaeological artifacts smuggled into the U.S. by illegals, finally returned to Mexico by ICE.

CALIFORNIA: Yet another sex-criminal, who is also an illegal, arrested by El Centro Sector Border Patrol.

More than $1-million worth of meth captured at Otay Mesa border crossing!

Estimated two and a half million illegals in The Golden State have more political power than citizens!

Illegals in Fresno face pandemic panic-attack evictions

Bay Area NASA buildings to be used as camps for illegals?

Two Los Angeles residents accused of operating a fraudulent college admissions scheme targeting illegals.

San Diego Sector Border Patrol reports 28% increase in crossings in February, would be much higher if there was no wall!

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer First Class Richard Brahm.

In San Diego, on 10MAR2021, Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf (WMSL-750) offloaded approximately 7-thousand-5-hundred pounds of illegal cocaine and marijuana captured in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, between January and February, representing 10 suspected drug smuggling vessel interdictions.

USCG photo by Petty Officer First Class David Micallef.

About 08MAR2021, Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant intercepted a drug smuggling boat in the Eastern Pacific, capturing 1-thousand-9-hundred pounds of cocaine hidden in the vessel’s fuel tanks.

IDAHO: Report about illegal farm workers and pandemic vaccinations reveals that in The Gem State illegals have to pay for healthcare.

ILLINOIS: $1.5-million worth of illegal vape pens from China, captured!

KENTUCKY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in Louisville captured a total of 518 pounds of illegal drugs (including 229 pounds of prescription medication/chemicals) and 676 counterfeit I-Ds, during the month of February. The narcotics arrived from Mexico, Canada, Netherlands, United Kingdom, China, Hong Kong, and other high-risk countries.

MAINE: Republican senator demands Biden open border with Canada!

MINNESOTA: Illegals complain that they can’t get vaccinated because they have no state issued I-D. In this report notice that the illegal has only Mexican I-D and has been working in Minnesota for the past 18 years for a local public school system, and apparently the public school district knows they have illegals working for them!

MISSOURI:

Customs inspectors report capturing $250-thousand worth of counterfeit products and cash, in just four days at the port of Saint Louis.

NEW YORK: 655 pounds of illegal marijuana captured coming into the U.S. from Canada! Since the pandemic panic-attack border shutdown began last year, more than one thousand six hundred incidents of drug smuggling from Canada have been halted/documented!

PUERTO RICO:

USCG photo.

On 06MAR2021, the U.S. Coast Guard captured 58 illegals on two boats from Dominican Republic, in the Mona Passage between Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

TENNESSEE: A shipment marked “dried loofah” from an African country, was found to actually be agriculturally dangerous Mantodea (mantis) and Torymidae (wasp) insects! The shipment was bound for Oregon: “If this wasp was to go at large in the timber industry in Oregon, that could be dangerous.”-Nancy King, Agriculture Specialist Supervisor

TEXAS: Notice that Texas has the most illegals trying to get into the U.S., that’s because Trump’s Wall does not fully extend through Texas: B ill would continue border wall construction in the state.

Border Patrol reports capturing more than three hundred illegals in one day!

11 illegals captured after fleeing into sand dunes

In one week, 22 illegals, who were also known/wanted for other crimes, were arrested by El Paso Border Patrol.

Local police capture five illegals, after high speed chase by State police resulted in crash of vehicle carrying at least 13 illegals, more illegals on the loose.

CNN videos dozens of illegals trying to cross Rio Grande.

City of Austin joins growing list of cities being used as dumping grounds for illegals!

Why is mass vaccination clinic planned for Border Patrol agents?

Hundreds of children packed into tent for days on end

Gov’na deploys state police and National Guard to the Mexican border!

Border crossings so high that state level Republican and Democrat politicians agree to work together to do something about it!

State level politician admits surge in border crossings will negatively affect pro-DACA (‘Dreamer’) efforts, admits that illegals are being used “as a pawn”!

VIRGINIA: Illegal students now eligible for in-state tuition

Washington DC: U.S. CBP reveals it has been arresting its own employees, promises to be more open about such arrests!

Biden gives illegals from Venezuela ‘protected status’!

Biden officials fall behind in race to add more child cages, oops, I mean ‘shelter space’

A record number of migrant children and teenagers are being held in “crude facilities”

ICE has no clear plan for vaccinating thousands of detained immigrants

ICE arrests and deportations drop 60% after Biden limits immigration enforcement

ICE asks for agency volunteers to assist at the U.S.-Mexico border amid surge of migrant children

U.S.-Canada border tensions could kill the hockey playoffs!

Biden’s Borderland, as of 05MAR2021: RECORDS ABOUT TO BE BROKEN!

Influenza

Vaccine Fail: Nebraska state militia refuse the shot!

Image March 12, 2021 Hutchins AAron

12 March 2021 (00:34-UTC-07 Tango 06) 22 Esfand 1399/28 Rajab 1442/29 Xin-Mao 4719

Nebraska Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Jamie Titus.

Despite being activated to conduct pandemic panic-attack vaccination operations, the majority of Nebraska National Guard personnel are refusing to get the shot themselves!

According to the Nebraska National Guard, only 25% of their militia members have gotten even the first dose of vaccine (Air and Army combined)! It must be made clear that even the U.S. military is not forcing personnel to get the CoViD shot, because it is officially still considered “experimental” by the FDA! (The FDA approved such vaccines under their Emergency Use Authorization [EUA] only.)

Nebraska Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Jamie Titus.

When you separate National Guard data into personnel from Army or Air Force units there is a noticeable difference; Air Force personnel are more apt to go along with what the government wants them do to. 42% of Nebraska’s Air National Guard personnel have been vaccinated.

The U.S. Department of Defense refers to vaccines being accepted by personnel as the ‘take rate’. However, it was also admitted by the federal level National Guard Bureau that there won’t be enough vaccines for all the states’ militia units “until later in April.”

Nebraska National Guard photo by Major Scott Ingalsbe.

North Platte Telegraph: Nebraska Guard assists mass vaccination at Bailey Yard

Military.com: Guard Members Less Likely to Get COVID-19 Vaccination Than Active Troops

Vaccine Fail: CALIFORNIA

Going Viral: INFLUENZA WAITING IN THE WINGS!

U.S.

Biden’s War: Nebraska Military Police deploy to Middle East!

Image March 12, 2021 Hutchins AAron

Nebraska National Guard photo by Captain Travis Kirchner.

On 22FEB2021, a send-off ceremony was held for 45 Military Police personnel of the Nebraska Army National Guard’s 192nd Military Police Detachment.

Nebraska National Guard photo by Captain Travis Kirchner.

They headed to Fort Bliss, Texas, then after that nine months somewhere in The Middle East.

Nebraska National Guard photo by Captain Travis Kirchner.

Now that Joe Biden is President, it’s his war now!

Biden’s War: MINNESOTA DEPLOYS TO KUWAIT!

ALASKA BLACKHAWKS DEPLOY TO MIDDLE EAST! RETURNING GUARDSMEN NOW IN QUARANTINE!

U.S.

Biden’s War: Minnesota deploys to Kuwait!

Image March 12, 2021 Hutchins AAron

Minnesota Army National Guard photo by Anthony Housey.

On 08MAR2021, more than one thousand Minnesota Army National Guard personnel deployed to Kuwait, in support of Operation Spartan Shield.

Minnesota Army National Guard photo by Anthony Housey.

Prior to actual ship-out to Kuwait, the state militia personnel will go through deployment training on Fort Bliss, Texas. Once in Kuwait, they will be there for at least nine months.

Minnesota Army National Guard photo by Anthony Housey.

Now that Joe Biden is President, it’s his war now!

KSTP: Minnesota National Guard report outlines lessons learned during last summer’s riots

Minnesota National Guard collects ‘misdirected’ COVID-19 vaccine doses.

Minnesota lawmakers consider changes in sexual assault cases involving Minnesota National Guard

Minneapolis Star Tribune: Minnesota National Guard ‘ready’ to keep peace for Derek Chauvin trial.

Biden’s War:

Connecticut deploys to Africa!

Tennessee deploys to Middle East!

U.S.

Biden’s War: Alaska Blackhawks deploy to Middle East! Returning Guardsmen now in quarantine!

Image March 11, 2021 Hutchins AAron

Alaska Army National Guard photo by Specialist Grace Nechanicky.

Now that Joe Biden is President, it’s his war now!

Alaska Army National Guard photo by Specialist Grace Nechanicky.

On 07MAR2021, about 60 Alaska Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk operators (Alpha Company, 1-168th General Support Aviation Battalion), along with four UH-60 Blackhawks, deployed for missions in Iraq and Syria (Operation Inherent Resolve).

This deployment comes just three days after about 80 Alaska Army National Guard personnel returned from a deployment to Poland. The returning Guard personnel are now under 14 day pandemic panic-attack quarantine!

Biden’s War: TENNESSEE DEPLOYS TO MIDDLE EAST!

U.S.

Biden’s War: Tennessee deploys to Middle East!

Image March 11, 2021 Hutchins AAron

“We’ve trained under unique circumstances, and many Soldiers assisted with the CoViD-19 task force and other missions this past year.”-Lieutenant Colonel Phillip Hill Juniopr, 1-181st Battalion Commander

Tennessee Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Timothy Cordeiro.

Now that Joe Biden is President, it’s his war now!

Tennessee Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Timothy Cordeiro.

More than 350 personnel from Tennessee National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 181st Field Artillery Regiment, deployed on 07MAR2021, for a 10-month deployment to an undisclosed location in The Middle East.

Biden’s War: CONNECTICUT DEPLOYS TO AFRICA!