Videos

Technology

Cold War to Battle for Ukraine: Challenger, a child of Serendipity?

Video

Cold War: Approximately 1947 (due to U.S. President Harry Truman’s Truman Doctrine) to 1991 (Operation Desert Storm, collapse of Soviet Union).

In the early 1970s Imperial Iran placed big orders for two tanks; the British Chieftain Marks 3 & 5, and the U.S. M60A1.  In the mid-1970s Iran decided to buy an upgraded Mark 5 Chieftain, which became known as FV4030/2 Shir (Lion).  By 1978, Iran had almost 1-thousand types of Chieftain tanks, but wanted even more improved versions.

Chobham armored Chieftain prototype, June 1976. U.K. Ministry of Defence-Crown photo.

As luck would have it, the British had been developing a new type of armor in a place called Chobham on Surrey Health, in Surrey, England.  The new armor would be called Chobham.

Chobham armored ‘Chieftain’ prototype, June 1976.

In June 1976, the United Kingdom’s Secretary of Defence ordered the Royal Ordinance Factory (ROF) to upgrade the current production of Chieftains for Iran (becoming known as Mark-1-Shir/Shir-1) to the new Chobham armored Mark-2-Shir/Shir-2.  The U.K.’s The British Army (known officially since 1707, after the supposed union of Scotland and England) was not concerned about their own Chieftains’ lack of armor protection, because they were focused on a new tank project called MBT-80.  The Iranians placed an order for 1-thousand-225 Shir-2s!

Shir 2, 1978. U.K. Ministry of Defence-Crown photo.

The new ‘Chieftain’ was created, FV4030/3, given the Farsi name Shir-2 (Lion-2).

Shir 2, 1978. U.K. Ministry of Defence-Crown photo.

Production of Shir-2 was to commence in 1979/80, however, something called The ’79 Revolution took place in Iran, and as a result the new Iranian government cancelled the order for Shir-2, and anyway, both the United States and United Kingdom halted weapons sales to Iran.  It should be noted that during the 1980’s Iran-Iraq War, Iran discovered that the Chieftains and Lion-1s could not handle prolonged combat in desert environments.

Mark-2-Shir/Shir-2, never delivered to Iran due to sanctions imposed after the ’79 revolution. U.K. Ministry of Defence-Crown photo.

What was ROF to do with all those Lion-2s it was building for Iran?  Luckily, the U.K. government was aware that the old Chieftain was far behind other new NATO tanks such as the U.S. M1 Abrams and German Leo-2, the MBT-80 project was having too many problems and was canceled, so they decided to spend the taxpayer’s pounds (at a cost in USD of 1.5-million in 1987 money) on the already in production Lion-2, but changed the name to FV4030/4 Challenger (keeping in the British tradition of naming their battle tanks with words that start with the letter C).  With some internal changes from the Shir-2, the Challenger entered service in 1983.

From U.S. Army Graphic Training Aid, Armored Vehicle Recognition, 1987.

In 1986, ROF was taken over by Vickers Defence Systems/Alvis Vickers.

From U.S. Army Graphic Training Aid, Armored Vehicle Recognition, 1987.

The Challenger has the L11A5 120mm riffled-bore main gun.

Operation Desert Storm: 17JAN1991–28FEB1991, known as Operation Granby to the British, it was the combat debut of Challenger.

A Challenger during Operation Desert Storm, 28FEB1991. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Holmes.

A Challenger during Operation Desert Storm, 28FEB1991. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Holmes.

Implementation Force (IFor), Bosnia-Herzegovina:  20DEC1995 to 20DEC1996.

A Challenger is off-loaded from a Russian cargo ship, Vladimir Vaslyaev, in Croatia, reporting for IFOR duty in Bosnia-Herzegovina, 23JUN1996. U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Brian Gavin.

A Challenger is off-loaded from a Russian cargo ship, Vladimir Vaslyaev, in Croatia, reporting for IFOR duty in Bosnia-Herzegovina, 23JUN1996. U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Brian Gavin.

Stabilization Force (SFor), Bosnia-Herzegovina: January 1997 to December 2004.

Bosnia-Herzegovina, 1997. Photo via The British Army’s National Army Museum, photo by Richard Stickland.

Already in 1986, Vickers Defence Systems (eventually taken over by BAE Systems) began work on a better Challenger, due to its lack of performance against the M1 Abrams and Leo-2.  Production began in 1993.  In 1994, the first production Challenger-2 failed to pass the acceptance trials, changes had to be made on the production, but the tank finally entered service in 1998.  FV4034 Challenger-2 is an improved version of Challenger, with a newly designed turret and the 120mm L30A1 rifled-bore main-gun. 97% of the tank is new and almost none of the parts can interchange with the old Challenger.

Never ending UN/NATO ‘Peacekeeping’ in  Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo (KFor), June 1999 to present.

Kosovo Battle Group. United Kingdom Ministry of Defence/Crown photo, September 2000.

By 2002, the last production Challenger-2 was delivered, just in time to invade Iraq.

Invasion of Iraq/Operation Iraqi Freedom: March 2003, combat debut of Challenger-2, known as Operation Telic to the British.

U.S. Marines check out a Royal Red Coat Challenger-2, staged on Camp Coyote, Kuwait, for the ‘done-deal’ invasion of Iraq, 03MAR2003. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sergeant Paul L. Anstine the Second.

External fuel drum on a Challenger-2, staged on Camp Coyote, Kuwait, for the ‘done-deal’ invasion of Iraq, 03MAR2003. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sergeant Paul L. Anstine the Second.

Weighed down by extra armor and electronic anti-IED devices, Challenger-2s practice some live-fire in Basra, Iraq, 17NOV2008. U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Gustavo Olgiati.

Jordanian Al Hussein (upgraded Challenger 1 FV4030/4). U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sergeant Richard Blumenstein, 07MAY2012.

(Vehicle I-D: JORDANIAN SHIELD اردني درع )

Ukraine Crisis: February 2014 (NATO backed coup) to present.

NATO video, demonstration of Challenger-2 on Sennelager Training Area, NATO-Germany, 15SEP2016:

Challenger-2 during wargame in NATO-Estonia, 10JUN2017. U.S. Army photo by Specialist Matthew J. DeVirgilio.

U.S. Army video by Major Charles Calio, Challenger-2s mulling about on Sennelager Training Area, NATO-Germany, 16SEP2017:

U.S. Army personnel help load a Royal Omani Challenger-2 onto a tractor-trailer/Tank Transporter, 06APR2019. U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Nahjier Williams.

NATO video of Challenger-2s showing off during wargames in NATO-Estonia (on Russia’s border), May 2019. Notice that some of the Challenger-2s are carrying NATO-Latvian pennants on their antenna:

Challenger-2 on Castlemartin Ranges in South West Wales. It is wearing ‘Urban Camo’, developed during the Cold War while occupying West Germany/West Berlin. United Kingdom Ministry of Defence-Crown photo, 15JUL2019.

NATO video showing Challenger-2s during wargame in NATO-Estonia, May 2020:

NATO video by Paris Grabeel, showing Challenger-2 during wargame in NATO Estonia, February 2021:

Quick U.S. Army video, by Specialist Elizabeth MacPherson, showing Challenger-2 during wargame in NATO-Estonia, May 2022:

The United Kingdom’s BAE Systems-Team Challenger is upgrading the Challenger-2, in the hopes of keeping it service until 2035.  Not all Challenger-2 are being upgraded, those that are not are being retired, or, as of 16JAN2023, “a squadron” of Challenger-2 s will be given away to Ukraine.

Challenger-3:

Photo published 29JUL2021, via The British Army-Crown.

Challenger-2 s being prepped for intensive Mark-3-Challenger upgrade.

Image via The British Army-Crown.

BAE Systems’ new Challenger with German Rheinmetall 120mm NATO compatible gun, and other improvements.

Cold War to Ukraine Crisis:  ILYUSHIN 76/78, RUSSIA & NATO?

NATO Vehicle I-D: CHALLENGER-2 vs LECLERC

Occupation of Iraq: U.S. ARMY BLOWS-UP BRITISH MADE IRANIAN CHIEFTAIN (Shir?) IN IRAQ!

International, Technology

Cold War to Ukraine Crisis: Ilyushin 76/78, Russia & NATO?

Video

Cold War: Approximately 1947 (due to U.S. President Harry Truman’s Truman Doctrine) to 1991 (Operation Desert Storm, collapse of Soviet Union).

The Ilyushin Design Bureau presented the idea of the ’76’ in 1967. Development commenced, with the first flight in March 1971.  Ilyushin is now part of United Aircraft Corporation (aka United Aircraft Russia).

Soviet II-76 Candid, photo released by NATO in January 1977.

Sometime during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, 1979-89.

Soviet II-76 Candid, photo released by NATO in April 1983.

Il-76, NATO reporting name Candid.

Soviet II-76 Candid, photo released by NATO in January 1988.

Ukrainian Il-76 in United Nations ‘peacekeeping’ service on Moi International Airport, Mombasa, Kenya, November 1992.

From U.S. Army FM 44-80, Visual Aircraft Recognition, July 1993 edition.

A Russian Il-76 delivers humanitarian aid at Goma Airport (then part of Zaire), for the Rwandan refugees, 03AUG1994. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Val Gempis.

Another contracted Il-76 delivers humanitarian aid from Canada on Goma Airport (then part of Zaire), for the Rwandan refugees, 03AUG1994. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Marvin Krause.

Russian Il-76 off-loads NATO-Canadian military equipment on Kigali Airport, Rwanda, 05AUG1994. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Marvin Krause.

PEACEKEEPER ’95: RUSSIA INVADES NATO-UNITED STATES! RED DAWN FOR REALS?

Russian Il-76 serving in the United Nations ‘peacekeeping’ operations, Sarajevo Airport, Bosnia-Herzegovina, 09JUN1995. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sergeant Michael J. Haggerty.

In August 1995, the Taliban captured a Russian Il-76 that was delivering military supplies to the pro-Russian government of Afghanistan.  Eventually the Russian crew would escape, with their Candid.

Russian vehicles roll off an Il-76 onto Tuzla Air Base, Bosnia-Herzegovina, 12JAN1996. USAF photo by Senior Airman Ken Bergmann.

Notice the military versions of the Il-76 have tail guns, while the silly-vilian (civilian) versions do not.

A Russian Il-76TD delivers humanitarian aid on Roberts International Airport, Liberia, under the guard of U.S. Marines. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Nathan E. Eason, 14AUG2003.

A contracted Il-76 delivers supplies to U.S. forces on Mosul, Iraq, 19SEP2003.

A derilict Iraqi Airways Il-76 sits on the tarmac of Baghdad International Airport. After Desert Storm, the U.S./NATO imposed a ‘no-fly’ zone over Iraq, including Iraqi civilian airline traffic, effectively killing Iraqi Airways. That changed in 2006. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Scott Sturkol, 21OCT2003.

The Il-78 (NATO reporting name Midas) is the aerial fueler version of the Il-76.

Indian Air Force Ilyushin IL-78MKI Midas aerial refueler on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, 29JUL2004. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Matthew Hannen.

Navigator station on the Indian Air Force IL-78 Midas. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Matthew Hannen, 30JUL2004.

Inside the cargo area of the Indian IL-78 Midas. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Matthew Hannen, 30JUL2004.

An Il-76 delivers a Mi-2 crop-duster on Baghdad International Airport, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by First Sergeant Robert Heberling, 03MAY2006.

Contracted Il-76 unloads supplies for U.S. forces in Iraq, 20MAR2008. USAF photo by Sabrina Johnson.

A contracted Il-76TD sits next to USAF C-17s on Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, 19NOV2009. USAF photo by Senior Airman Felicia Juenke.

South Carolina National Guard personnel arrive on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, 10JUN2012. Behind them, amid the gaggle of V22 Ospreys, is a Russian Il-76. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Caycee Watson.

Ukraine Crisis: February 2014 (NATO backed coup) to present.

In 2015, Russia began using the new Il-76MD-90A.

In May, 2015, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) used an Il-76 to deliver humanitarian aid to Nepal, following a devastating earthquake. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Melissa B. White, 08MAY2015.

NATO video, NATO-Belgian troops take a ride on a Ukrainian military Il-76MD, 23OCT2015:

Russia uses Il-76MD hospital aircraft called ‘Scalpels’, to return Russian journalists and military personnel who’ve been wounded in the NATO instigated Syrian ‘civil war’.

Candid reports for duty with the USAF in Kuwait, 11MAR2019. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Robert Cloys.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Robert Cloys, 11MAR2019.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Robert Cloys, 11MAR2019.

An Il-76 working for the USAF on Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, 09JUL2019. South Carolina Air National Guard photo by Captain Stephen Hudson.

USAF time-lapse video by Technical Sergeant Michael Mason, loading a contracted Il-76 in Kuwait, 09JUL2019:

In August 2019, a Ukrainian Il-76TD was blown up by rebel forces in Libya. The NATO instigated ‘civil war’ is still raging, and believe it or not both Ukraine and Russia support the NATO approved ‘government’ forces!

Russian Defense Ministry video of Il-76 rough-field landing/taking-off, 2019:

In March 2020, Russia sent nine Il-76s to NATO-Italy, carrying medical personnel to help NATO-Italy fight the so-called covid pandemic.

Il-76MD water bomber.

In Summer 2021, Iran sent a waterbombing Il-76TD to NATO-Turkey to help fight wildfires.

In 2021, Russia announced it will overhaul six of India’s Il-78MKI Midas tankers.

Russian Defense Ministry video of Il-76 airborne troop operation, during wargame in Belarus, September 2021:

Palettes of CoViD-19 vaccines were delivered to Yemen, using an Il-76. This included vaccines paid for by U.S. taxpayers through USAID. A previous delivery was made in August 2021. They were delivered by the UN-WHO/Gates Foundation/World Bank’s Gavi Alliance. Photo by Drew Sullivan, 20DEC2021.

Pakistani Il-78s being upgraded to MP standard in Ukraine, photo posted February 2022.

YY-20, CHINA’S NEW LONG RANGE AIRBORNE FUELER, OFFSPRING OF THE IL-76?

Photo via UARussia (United Aircraft Russia), November 2022.

Russian news report about newest Il-76, the Il-76MD-90A, the video shows the roll-out of the 18th ‘MD-90A’ on 29NOV2022:

The fifth production Il-76MD-90A, of 2022, made its first flight on 04DEC2022.  Since 2014, at least 18 of the new Candids have been built.

On 10DEC2022, Russian Aerospace Forces took official possession of two new Il-76 aircraft, one an upgraded Il-76MDM, the other a new build Il-76MD-90A. The ‘MD-90A’ has a new designed wing, strengthened landing gear, more efficient turbines, a ‘glass cockpit’, and an electronic defense system against anti-aircraft missiles. 

Cold War to Ukraine Crisis:   AMX-10RCR

F-15 EAGLE NOW 50 YEARS OLD

KAMOV 27 HELIX

U.S.

Biden’s Borderland: End of Year Boat People Captures, Florida & Texas

Video

Welcome to borderland hell under U.S. President Joseph Robinette Biden Junior, incomplete (just the tip of the iceberg) list of videos and reports from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) about the increasing flood of boat people from Bahamas, Cuba, and Haiti, and the increasing illegal fishing operations by Mexico, for December 2022:

FLORIDA: The USCG captured a boat full of illegals, about 15 miles south of Marathon, on 05DEC2022. Video by Petty Officer First Class Dustin Williams:

USCG District 7 photo, 07DEC2022.

About 20 miles southwest of Marquesas Key, on 07DEC2022 the USCG captured this boat full of illegals.  On 10DEC2022, a total of 152 illegals were sent back to Cuba.

The USCG District 7 reports repatriating 71 people to Cuba, on 08DEC2022.

On 12DEC2022, about 50 miles south of Cudjoe Key, the USCG captured a boat that was overloaded with 110 illegals from Haiti.  They were sent back to Haiti on 20DEC2022. Video by Senior Chief Petty Officer Brodie MacDonald:

Another capture on 12DEC2022, this time about 20 miles south of Woman Key.  The illegals from this capture were sent back to Cuba on 16DEC2022, along with more than 160 other illegals. Video by Petty Officer First Class Dustin Williams:

The USCG District 7 reports repatriating 162 people to Cuba, on 14DEC2022.

On 14DEC2022, the Little Haiti Cultural Center celebrated 50 years of illegal Boat People operations to Florida:

17DEC2022, USCG captures illegals from Cuba, 10 miles south of Marquesas Key.  They were returned to Cuba on 20DEC2022. USCG District 7 video:

The USCG District 7 reports repatriating 82 people to Cuba, on 18DEC2022.

USCG District 7 photo, 19DEC2022.

19DEC2022, about 50 miles south of Marathon, the USCG picked up illegals from Cuba, they were included with the total of 67 illegals sent back to Cuba on 22DEC2022.

USCG photo by Petty Officer Third Class Ryan Estrada, 22DEC2022.

Illegals asking for help, near Boca Raton, 22DEC2022.  Along with illegals captured the day before (21DEC2022), a total of 143 illegals were sent back to Cuba on 27DEC2022.

USCG District 7 photo, 23DEC2022.

Boat-people captured near Sands Key, 23DEC2022.  They became part of 82 illegals sent back to Cuba on 28DEC2022.

USCG District 7 photo, 23DEC2022.

This boat was captured near Elbow Cay, on 23DEC2022, the occupants were sent back to Cuba on 28DEC2022.

USCG District 7 photo, 30DEC2022.

One of the last boat-people captures of the year, about 31 miles south of Upper Matecumbe Key, 30DEC2022.  These illegals became part of a group of 71 sent back to Cuba on 03JAN2023.

TEXAS: USCG District 8 video, Mexicans fishing illegally off the coast of Texas try to escape capture, 09DEC2022:

USCG District 8 photo, 09DEC2022.

USCG District 8 reports they captured a total of two boats with 600 pounds of illegally fished red snapper on 09DEC2022.  Eight Mexicans were also captured.

USCG District 8 video, more Mexicans fishing illegally off the coast of Texas try to escape capture, 29DEC2022:

USCG District 8 photo, 29DEC2022.

Apparently 29DEC2022 was a busy day for the USCG, 22 illegal fishermen from Mexico were captured, along with 590 pounds of red snapper.  The fishermen were handed over to Customs and Border Protection.

Biden’s Borderland, November 2022: HOW MUCH DO THOSE ‘BOAT PEOPLE’ COST THE U.S. TAXPAYERS? HINT; YOU COULD END HOMELESSNESS IN THE U.S.!

Idaho, International, Technology

Idaho invades Morocco, swan song of the M109A6?

Video

My Idaho National Guard alma mater, photo by me.

During the month of June, 2022, the Idaho Army National Guard’s  1st Battalion-148th Field Artillery Regiment-116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team (aka Snake River Brigade) pounded the countryside of Morocco, on the African continent.  Apparently it is part of having good international relations, and somehow reduces deployments: “One goal of the National Defense Strategy is to have good international relations and partnerships. Building multinational relationships, increasing their tactical proficiency and understanding how to work together reduces deployment requirements for our military and our international partners, and helps provide global security.”-Major Ryan Batt, 1st Battalion-148th Field Artillery Regiment-116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team

A now all too familar sight in Idaho, boarding a contracted plane for deployment, this time to Morocco, 18JUN2022. Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur.

I say ‘somehow’, because the past few decades of this ‘National Defense Strategy’ has actually increased deployments, especially for the Idaho National Guard, and has not made the United States any more international friends, nor has it increased international security.

Somebody needed some attention from an Idaho -Snake River- Medic, this was not a drill (real blood folks). Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 25JUN2022.

“Global security and the National Defense Strategy is important not only to us in Idaho but as a whole nation and should be important globally. This relationship has always been there, and we want to keep it strong moving forward.”-Major Ryan Batt, 1st Battalion-148th Field Artillery Regiment-116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team

Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 21JUN2022.

Back to the pounding of Morocco.  This was part of what has become the largest yearly U.S./NATO wargame on the African continent, called African Lion.  About 80 Idaho Army & Air Guard personnel joined others from Oregon, Utah and Wisconsin Army National Guards, as well as a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve unit from California, and a Regular Army (RA, aka full-time active duty) unit from Texas, along with military personnel from Brazil, NATO-Canada, Ghana, Morocco, NATO-Netherlands, Senegal, Tunisia and NATO-United Kingdom.  Whew, more than 8-thousand military personnel!

‘Rock Drill’ before the action. Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 24JUN2022.  Named Rock Drill because most of the time you use rocks to represent different things on the battlefield.

Originally, Exercise African Lion started as a computer simulation in 1998, between a U.S. Army airborne unit in NATO-Italy and an airborne unit in Morocco.  It was held every two years.  By 2005, it involved actual military personnel on the ground in Morocco.  In 2007 it became a yearly wargame, involving more and more U.S. personnel and other NATO countries (again proving that this type of National Defense Strategy does not reduce deployments, or anything else).  Interestingly, in March 2020,  General Stephen Townsend, the commander of U.S. Africa Command (USAfriComm), stated “African Lion has been significantly reduced in scale and scope based on concerns that we all have about the safety of our troops and those of our partners.”  Really?

‘Punching the Tube’. Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 22JUN2022.

The Idaho National Guard also took part in African Lion in March 2019.

Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 22JUN2022.

The days of Idaho’s M109A6 Paladins are numbered; during this wargame it was revealed that Idaho will be getting the new M109A7 (and I say don’t call it a Paladin because it is a totally different beast).

FiSTs & COLTs, I was a 13F decades ago in Pocatello. They get to call in and direct the artillery fire. Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 24JUN2022.

COLT=Combat Observation Lasing Team

FiST=Fire Support Team

“Fire!” Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 22JUN2022.

“Shot Out!” Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 24JUN2022.

“Splash!” Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 24JUN2022.

Video sequences recorded by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 26JUN2022, edited together by me:

Vehicle I-D: M109, COLD WAR to UKRAINE CRISIS

2022: IDAHO BASED SNAKE-RIVER INVADES TEXAS, NEXT STOP; KUWAIT & IRAQ!

KING OF THE STALLIONS STAMPEDES IDAHO!

IDAHO INVADED BY APACHES FROM ARIZONA & SINGAPORE?

CALIFORNIA, IOWA, NORTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, UTAH, WASHINGTON INVADE REBEL IDAHO!?

2021:  Snake River Brigade deploys yet again!

IDAHO GETS ‘SMART’ ARTILLERY ROUNDS, REVEALS “UPCOMING MOBILIZATIONS”

SINGAPORE’S IDAHO BASED SKY PIRATES BOMB LAS VEGAS?

2020: T-A-C-P-S USE HORSE POWER TO CALL IN AIR STRIKES ON IDAHO MOUNTAINS!

2019: UNITED STATES INVADES IDAHO!

2017:

Utah Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Annie Edwards, 14OCT2017.

UTAH’S SECRET(?) WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION EVENT IN EAST IDAHO!

2012: IDAHO’S MICRON TECHNOLOGY INVADES JAPAN! 

Technology

Cold War to Ukraine Crisis: AMX-10RCR

Video

Cold War: Approximately 1947 (due to U.S. President Harry Truman’s Truman Doctrine) to 1991 (Operation Desert Storm, collapse of Soviet Union).

From U.S. Army Graphic Training Aid, Armored Vehicle Recognition, 1987.

Depending on your source of information, France has been using the AMX-10RC since 1979 or 1981. One source says development began in 1970, with the first French unit getting its AMX-10RCs between 1981 and 1982.

From U.S. Army Graphic Training Aid, Armored Vehicle Recognition, 1987.

I think it is strange that information on this armored car is so conflicting, and it is strange that I cannot find any images of in-service AMX-10RCs prior to Operation Desert Storm.

The RC stands for Roues-Canon, in English it means Wheeled-Cannon.  It was made by a company called GIAT Industries (now called Nexter Systems).

French invasion of Chad, I mean peacekeeping operations, 1984.

Somewhere in Saudi Arabia, French AMX-10RC reconnaissance vehicles during a parade of coalition armor after Desert Storm. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant H. H. Deffner, 14MAY1992.

SFor (Stabilisation Force) AMX-10RC in Bosnia-Herzegovina, 1998.

Beginning in 2005, France began upgrading their AMX-10RCs, changing the name to AMX-10RCR, the extra R stands for Renove, meaning renovated in English.

Qatari AMX-10RC, 28APR2013. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Juanenrique Owings.

On Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 27OCT2017. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Damarko Bones.

On Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 27OCT2017. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Damarko Bones.

Ukraine Crisis: February 2014 (NATO backed coup) to present.

French recon unit, Arta Training Range, Djibouti. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sergeant Steve H. Lopez, 06OCT2015.

Moroccan AMX-10RC, 2018.

Moroccan AMX-10RC during U.S./NATO wargame African Lion, June 2021.

Moroccan AMX-10RC during U.S./NATO wargame African Lion, June 2021.

Djiboutian Range Complex, Djibouti, 11AUG2021. U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sergeant Amanda Stock.

Djiboutian Range Complex, Djibouti, 11AUG2021. U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sergeant Amanda Stock.

NATO video of Ukrainian An-124 delivering French AMX-10RCR to NATO-Romania, 03MAR2022:

Moroccan AMX-10RC during U.S./NATO wargame African Lion, June 2022.

Djibouti, Horn of Africa, 10NOV2022. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Destani K. Matheny.

On 04JAN2023, President of France Emmanuel Macron announced that French taxpayers will give some AMX-10RCRs to Ukraine.

Ukrainian newspaper says the AMX-10RCR is “Not Bad, Though not Really a Tank”

Cold War to Ukraine Crisis: H-A-W-K, HOMING ALL-THE WAY KILLER

M1117, GUARDIAN OF SECURITY OR A FRANKENSTEIN?  Originating with Viet-Nam era V100, now being given away to Ukraine!

Technology

Vehicle I-D: What happened to the super impressive E-F-V?

Video

Somewhere off the coast of California, date not known.

The U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) had an impressive, and expensive, replacement for its outdated Cold War era Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAV).  It demonstrated incredible abilities for speed, range and firepower, and then was suddenly canceled in favor of a British empire (BAE Systems) offering that is lacking in performance.

In the mid-1990s, General Dynamics set about to create what the USMC always wanted (officially since 1985), a true ‘kick-ass’ AAV, one that could not only match the M1 Abrams performance on land, but set new standards for performance in water.  They called it the Advanced AAV (AAAV).

On 12OCT1995, the official newspaper of USMC’s Camp Lejeune, The Globe, reported that testing at the U.S. Army’s Aberdeen Proving Grounds proved that the AAAV’s suspension was more than adequate: “We’ve been running them through every wicked kind of test we could devise. We want to see what breaks and what doesn’t.”-Colonel Jim Feigley 

Photo of prototype published in the July 1996 edition of Marine Corps Gazette.

Photo published in March 1997, showing two prototypes in the water.

In the January 1998 issue of Leatherneck, it was optimistically stated that the “triple-AVs…will begin reaching the fleet in 2004.”

Photo published in July 1999.

In November 2002, sensing resistance in the U.S. Congress to the AAAV/EFV, Daniel Goure, vice president of the Lexington Institute, warned “…in order to execute such operations effectively the Marine Corps will need such systems as the AAAV…  it is absolutely essential to have such systems in place before the need arises. Otherwise it will be far too late.” 

In this USMC photo (date not known) from Camp Pendleton, you can see that the EFV is still referred to as the AAAV.

High speed run on Camp Pendleton, California. USMC photo, date not known.

In 2003, the name was changed to Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV).  Even though each phase of development was successful, there were many delays (as many as 14 years worth), and costs only skyrocketed (estimated at $22.3-million per EFV, in 2007).

2003 promotional video about the EFV.  The EFV had hit water speeds of 25-knots, it was able to do this by hydroplaning.  To achieve hydroplaning, the roadwheels are raised and special skirts are used (among other tricks):

This photo, date not known, shows you how crazy fast the EFV/AAAV is on water.

Crazy fast!

Loading onto a High Speed Vessel Swift, date not known.

Testing on the U.S. Army’s Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, date not known.

A land speed of 45-miles-per-hour could be obtained.

Testing on the U.S. Army’s Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, date not known.

EFV testing in Del Mar Boat Base, Camp Pendleton, California. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist Second Class Zack Baddorf, 05DEC2005.

Shock testing the armor. USN/USMC photo, date and location unknown.

Ballistic protection can defeat rounds up to 14.5mm, or fragments from exploding 155mm artillery projectiles.

From a photo of a demonstration for the Secretary of the Navy, Camp Pendleton, California, 08MAY2006. USN photo by Journalist Chief Petty Officer Craig P. Strawser.

U.S. Secretary of the Navy, Donald C. Winter, checks out the EFV’s extended bow. USN photo by Journalist Chief Petty Officer Craig P. Strawser, 08MAY2006.

In 2007, the USMC reported that it was delaying production due to suspension reliability problems. Those problems were remedied, but also in 2007, a Congressional subcommittee required the addition of armor protection against ‘roadside bombs’ (IED).

EFV gets loaded aboard a hovercraft, on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 30OCT2009. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sergeant Danielle Bolton.

Random USMC video (by Staff Sergeant Sean McCollum) of EFV hovercraft/landing ship loading operations, 30OCT2009:

Emerging from the turret of the EFV. USMC photo by Gunnery Sergeant Bryce Piper, 30OCT2009.

In May 2010, USMC Colonel Keith Moore stated that the EFV could “generate never-before-realized operational tempo across warfighting functions” and that it is “the most capable infantry fighting vehicle that will exist in the U.S. inventory at the time it will get fielded. It is a very robust, survivable infantry fighting vehicle that has to meet the Marines’ unique requirements.”

By June 2010, the EFV was handed to the USMC for ‘real-world’ testing.

Notice the ‘skirt’ lifted to reveal a raised roadwheel. Camp Pendleton, California. USMC photo by Sergeant Marcy Sanchez, 12JUL2010.

However, then U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates had already made hints (before the the USMC began EFV testing) that he was going to cancel the project.  Another problem is that the U.S. Navy was considering new amphibious landing ‘rules’ which basically required zero military opposition from the enemy, of course rendering the need for a super amphibious tank unnecessary.

This is a video interview by California newspaper The Orange County Register (OCR), released in August 2010:

Not even five months after The OCR published the above video interview, in January 2011 it published an article announcing the cancelation of the successful kick-ass EFV!  The OCR article has some great ‘walk-around’ detail photos of the EFV.

Even after impressive USMC testing results, in January 2011 the DoD cancelled the EFV, and the 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James F. Amos, supported the decision.

25JAN2011: General Dynamics Makes Final Argument for Keeping EFV Alive)

The decision to cancel the EFV was blamed mainly on placating several taxpayer organization calling for an end to spending on long-running development programs, that included the F-35 Lightning-2 and V-22 Osprey.  Leadership within the Department of Defense seemed more intent on keeping the aircraft, thus sacrificing the EFV on the alter for concerned taxpayers.

It should be noted the the USMC eventually decided to get rid of its M1A1 Abrams units, as part of their Force Design 2030 reorganization, yet another reason not to have an AAV that could match the M1 in performance.

However, cancelling the EFV did not result in saving money for taxpayers as the rest of the EFV funding went to upgrading the aged AAV7s, which benefited United Kingdom based BAE Systems as BAE took control of the AAV7’s manufacturer United Defense, and on buying a new ‘AAV’ of much less capability, which also just happened to be created by the company BAE Systems. It is called the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV).

Vehicle I-D: NO MORE AAV, SAY HELLO TO THE ACV, FINALLY?

2018: USMC AAV7 VIDEO-FEST

Vehicle I-D:

CANADA’S BRITISH EMPIRE M113, NOT YOUR UNCLE SAM’S M113

ULTIMATE GUN-TRUCK, 20MM VULCAN, why was it rejected?

International, Technology

World War 3, Vehicle I-D: Serbia’s new T-72MS

Video

During the Cold War, Yugoslavia developed their own version of the Soviet T-72, using NATO targeting systems, called the M-84.  Now, Serbia is using the new MS (MC in Serbian Cyrillic) version of the T-72.

Mounting the 12.7mm heavy machine gun. Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 26SEP2022.

Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 26SEP2022.

Tank Commander station. Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 26SEP2022.

Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 26SEP2022.

Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 26SEP2022.

The battalion that operates the T-72MS is known as the ‘March 2022 Generation’ T-72M Battalion.

Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 20JUL2022.

Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 20JUL2022.

Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 20JUL2022.

‘Punching’ the gun tube. Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 20JUL2022.

Checking the fuel level in the fender mounted fuel tank. Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 30DEC2021.

The abilities of the T-72MS were presented to the Serbian taxpayers during wargame Lighting Strike 2021, in June 2021.

During wargame Lighting Strike 2021. Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 27JUN2021.

Serbian Defense Ministry video, T-72MS action during Lightning Strike 2021:

During wargame Lighting Strike 2021. Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 27JUN2021.

Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 21JUN2021.

The Serbian Defense Ministry claims the T-72MS is a joint development between Russia and Serbia.  However, all 30 T-72MS tanks were made in Russia.  They are described as having ‘special protections’, and is basically an upgraded T-72B1.  The deal was announced in 2019, with the first Serbian ‘White Eagles’ arriving towards the end of Gregorian 2020.

Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 23MAY2021.

In May 2021, the donated T-72MS were paraded in front of Defense Ministry officials:

Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 23MAY2021.

Vehicle I-D: NATO SLOVENIJA uses Cold War era M-84, updated to A4 SNIPER, 2021

World War 3: RUSSIA DEPLOYS MORE T-72B3M

Biden’s War: U.S. TAXPAYERS TO UPGRADE COLD WAR ERA T-72B FOR UKRAINE! 

U.S.

Drugs, the American Way: More doctors, more pharmacies, more hospitals, more illegals!

Video

Incomplete (tip-o-the iceberg, seriously this isn’t the half-of-it!) list of video reports and links to United States (U.S.) drug related crimes and oddities for the month of December 2022:

ARIZONA: Border Patrol agent gets more than 12 years in federal prison for his crimes, including illegal drugs, and he has to refund the taxpayers the salary he was paid!

Mesa Police capture 2-hundred pounds of methamphetamines:

CALIFORNIA: Doctor accused in federal court of making and distributing adulterated fentanyl, as well as Medicare fraud!

Hayward based e-pharmacy Truepill is accused by the DEA of illegal selling prescription drugs!

San Diego Sheriff’s Department to expand DUI testing to include ‘common drugs’, including prescription drugs:

Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, and the Sacramento City Police Department, taking extra precautions to protect their ‘working dogs’ from drug exposure:

COLORADO: DEA Rocky Mountain Division helped to capture almost 45-pounds of a fentanyl and cocaine mixture, and arrested one person with direct ties to Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel.

FLORIDA: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) captured more than 9-million potentially deadly doses of fentanyl in 2022, in The Sunshine State.

Mexican citizen pleads guilt to drug smuggling, gets more than 12 years in federal prison.

USCG District 7 photo by Chief Petty Officer Stephen Lehmann, 16DEC2022.

Crewmembers from Coast Guard Cutter Forward (WMEC 911) offload an estimated $176-million worth of cocaine on Port Everglades, Florida, December 2022.

KANSAS: PharmScript, a long-term care pharmacy, will pay a $3-million fine for illegally distributing prescription drugs!

MASSACHUSETTS: Northeast Hospital Corporation-Beth Israel Lahey Health fined $1.9-million for losing track of their inventory of prescription pills!  At least 17-thousand-846 pills went missing/stolen!

MICHIGAN: Eight people arrested in Warren:

MISSOURI: The owner of Rockstar Burgers pleads guilt to using restaurant in $1.7-million drug smuggling operation!

MONTANA: An investigation into an international drug smuggling gang, connected to the Sinaloa Cartel, resulted in 22 people going to federal prison.  The drug smugglers are from California, Mexico and Montana.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: City of Manchester gets $300-thousand in taxpayer funding to create new Director of Overdose Prevention:

NEW YORK: A Brooklyn-NYC doctor hit with 18 criminal charges, including illegal distribution of oxycodone and witness tampering!

A doctor is one of nine people now accused of illegally selling tens of thousands of prescription pills, in Manhattan-NYC and Staten Island-NYC!

TEXAS: DEA Houston Field Division claims they captured 7-million doses of fentanyl in 2022, just in the “…southern, eastern, and western parts of…” Texas!

WASHINGTON: A 50-years old repeat offender was sent to prison for seven years, for his part in a international drug smuggling operation.

King County Sheriff’s Office concludes year-long investigation, 12 people arrested:

Drugs, the American Way, November 2022:  NEW OPIUM WAR, TARGET U.S.A.! ‘TAKE BACK DAY’ NUMBERS PROVE MOST AMERICANS ARE DRUGGIES!

U.S. Civil War, 2022: DRUGS, EDUCATION, GUN BANS, IMMIGRANTS, INFRASTRUCTURE, MANDATES, PANDEMICS, SECESSION

OBAMA’s LEGACY: WHO’S THE WORLD’S BIGGEST DRUG PUSHER? 

U.S. CIVIL WAR-CHICAGO, 16 – 20 JUNE 2014: AFGHAN HEROIN CONNECTION?

Technology

World War 3, Vehicle I-D: Serbia’s new Lazar-3

Video

Photo via Ministry of Defense of Republic of Serbia, 12MAY2019.

It is armed with the M15 remote controlled weapon station (RCWS), with a 12.7mm heavy machine gun, or a much larger turret with a 30mm gun.

Photo via Ministry of Defense of Republic of Serbia, 21DEC2022.

The infantry inside the vehicle can fire their personal weapons through gun ports on the sides.

Photo via Ministry of Defense of Republic of Serbia, 11NOV2022.

Photo via Ministry of Defense of Republic of Serbia, 05SEP2022.

In August 2020, the Serbian Armed Forces announced a “major step forward” with the full production of a new 8×8 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC); the Lazar-3.

Serbian Defense Ministry promotional video, released 10AUG2020:

 

Photo via Ministry of Defense of Republic of Serbia, 05DEC2019.

The motor is located in the front.  The armor is claimed to be of ‘modern’ type, which includes anti-mine armor. The vehicle is air conditioned.  Maximum speed is 110-kilometers per hour.  It can drive a 60% gradient, a 30% side slope, overcome half-meter tall vertical obstacles, cross 2-meter trenches, and ford 1.6-meter deep water obstacles.

Photo via Ministry of Defense of Republic of Serbia, 05DEC2019.

Serbian Defense Ministry video, 17DEC2019:

Photo via Ministry of Defense of Republic of Serbia, 05DEC2019.

In July 2019, it was announced that production orders were being increased.

Photo via Ministry of Defense of Republic of Serbia, 25JUL2019.

Photo via Ministry of Defense of Republic of Serbia, 25JUL2019.

The Lazar-3 was officially introduced in 2018.

Photo via Ministry of Defense of Republic of Serbia, 20DEC2018.

Serbian Defense Ministry video, officially revealing the Lazar-3, 20DEC2018:

Photo via Ministry of Defense of Republic of Serbia, 12MAR2017.

Factory fresh Lazar-3, March 2017.

The Lazar-3 has been in development since 2015.

Cold War to Ukraine Crisis:  MAINTAINING YOUR GAZELLE, THE SERBIAN WAY!

Influenza

Operation Jupiter: EcoHealth Alliance, a taxpayer funded N-G-O specializing in Gain-of-Function?

Video

26 December 2022 (11:51-UTC-07 Tango 06) 05 Dey 1401/02 Jumada t-Tania 1444/04 Ren-Zi (12th month)4720/26 Декабрь 2022 года

Ever hear of the non-governmental organization (NGO) EcoHealth Alliance?  Most people haven’t, but on 06DEC2022 a former vice president of the NGO released a ‘tell-all’ book about how taxpayer funded EcoHealth Alliance was directly involved with gain-of-function at the Wuhan Lab in China!

Andrew G. Huff, the former VP of the NGO, who is also a disease specialist (epidemiologist), and a U.S. military veteran, stated in his book “The U.S. government is to blame for the transfer of dangerous biotechnology to the Chinese.I was terrified by what I saw. We were just handing them bioweapon technology.”

The book is titled The Truth About Wuhan.

To be fair, on 05DEC2022 EcoHealth Alliance issued a statement about the damning book, essentially call it a lie, and calling the author a liar. They also refer to the former VP as just an “employee” who worked for them for a couple of years.

Fox News: Ex-EcoHealth Alliance VP pens book on how COVID came from lab leak: ‘All of this could have been avoided’

Washington Examiner: Wuhan whistleblower claims COVID-19 leaked from Chinese lab

EcoHealth Alliance was founded by a United Kingdom born scientist who has a passion for what we now know of as Gain-of-Function; the intentional laboratory manipulation of natural diseases to make them more powerful.  The excuse has always been that by doing so you could prepare for a disease’s natural evolution (mutation) into new strains.  This has never been proven!

Peter Daszak not only founded EcoHealth Alliance, but is still the current president. The NGO is based in New York City.  Daszak helped the Wuhan Lab get U.S. taxpayer funding, yet adamantly denied his organization was doing anything wrong.  However, just days after the book The Truth About Wuhan was released, Daszak proudly published photos and videos of he and his EcoHealth Alliance team capturing bats in Thailand.

09DEC2022 video:

South East Asia (including Thailand and Cambodia) is known as the region with the highest concentration of coronavirus infected bats!

In October 2022,  the U.S. National  Academy of Medicine (NAM) claimed there was no evidence that Daszak had violated their ‘code of conduct’.  Realize that gain-of-function does not violate most scientific codes of conduct!

In November 2021, the journal Science revealed EcoHealth Alliance’s history of taxpayer funding, and how the Trump Administration canceled the funding as soon as it was connected to Wuhan, yet the author of the article still considers Daszak a “prophet”!

From the journal Nature, August 2020: ‘Heinous!’: Coronavirus researcher shut down for Wuhan-lab link slams new funding restrictions

Operation Jupiter, November 2022: U.S. ARMY ISSUES BIVALENT IMMUNIZATION to children in Europe, ALONG WITH A DOSE OF LIES!

Operation Jupiter, October 2022: SCIENTISTS CREATE NEW DEADLIER OMI-S WHILE PROVING (accidentally) THAT THE m-R-N-A VAX DOES NOT WORK!

Operation Jupiter, September 2022: INTERNATIONAL MILITARY ORGANIZATION WARNS OF NEW KILLER INSECTS?

Operation Jupiter, May 2022: “SPILLOVER EVENTS” & “RESERVOIR HOSTS”

Operation Jupiter, 2021: U.S. MILITARY’S NEW GLOBAL FEVER PROGRAM?

PROJECT SEA RAVEN, WHY IS THE U.S. NAVY SEARCHING FOR NEW DISEASES IN CAPE VERDE?

Operation Jupiter, 2020: U.S. ARMY CONTINUES TO WARN OF NEW PANDEMIC (not coronavirus)

Operation Jupiter, 2019:MEASLES PANDEMIC SPREAD BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, OR EVIL BILDERBERG VACCINE PROGRAM?

Operation Jupiter, 2018: U.S. MILITARY’S SECRET FLU IMITATING VIRUS EXPOSED, VACCINATIONS FOR MILITARY ONLY!

Operation Jupiter, 2016: MASSIVE SYPHILIS OUTBREAK NEAR U.S. MILITARY BASE! IT IS NOT 1ST, 2ND OR 3RD TIME U.S. GOVT SPREAD THE DISEASE!

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE EXPOSED TO AIDS AND HEP B & C IN U.S. HOSPITAL!

Operation Jupiter, 2015: ANTHRAX IS THE ZOMBIE DISEASE LAZARUS! U.S. SUPPLIES NORTH KOREA WITH ANTHRAX MAKING EQUIPMENT! MORE SECRET ANTHRAX DRILLS IN THE U.S.!

Is MERS the spawn of Operation Jupiter? 

In 2015, I discovered an actual U.S. military operation called JUPITR-ATD, essentially it was all about A SMALL PART OF A LARGER MILITARY OPERATION SPREADING DISEASE AT A HOSPITAL NEAR YOU, admittedly as a way of preparing for new forms of biological warfare!