Two highback Humvees filled with Marines from the Maritime Special Purpose Force (MSPF) of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), practice firing their M240G medium machine guns while on the move during during live fire training on the Udari Range outside Camp Beuhring, Kuwait, Dec. 11, 2005. The 22nd MEU (SOC) is currently in Iraq conducting combat operations in the Al Anbar province. Photo by: Sgt. Robert A. Sturkie
Seeing that twigged a few memories. I couldn't find the exact pics I wanted, but I did find these. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Ya want to be able to fight on your feet, have some cover, and be able to look *down* on the countryside around you. Admittedly, Bill takes that to an extreme. Though - I do remember times at the National Training Center when I was looking *down* into the cockpits of helos and A10s from the walls of the Central Corridor during Force-on-Force ops (where they use lasers for guns). Of course, up in Live Fire, I only saw *down* into helos. For some reason, the A10's were just specks high in the sky... The Air Force doesn't really believe in "Big Sky, Little Bullet." To tell the truth, I don't think helo pilots do, either. They just don't have any choice in the matter. Remember this challenge? How many holes can you find in Hubert?
The Vietnam era 'Gun Truck'. Used for convoy protection, the gun truck has been revived for Iraq. Only one original gun truck came back from Vietnam. This replica has been a labor of love.
Hey - old airplane guys - izzit me, or is this just a cool picture? A-12 Shrikes in the Phillipines before WWII.
Heh. Anti-aircraft gunnery... the hard way. I really find it interesting that they kept their pantel (panoramic telescope, used for laying the gun for direction, 'dial sight' to a Commonwealth soldier) on the gun (the thing sticking up in front of the guy crewing the piece). There *is* a way you could use that sight to reflect lead... but a ring-and-bead sight would be better.
Last, but not least... ain't tanks a mighty fine thing? As long as they're yours?
And is it just me - but given the range and power of the 120mm gun, don't they seem to have very thin barrel walls?
Don't forget to Vote For Us! We're not gonna catch those punk El-Tees at The Officer's Club unless you guys quit voting for Matty (who is untouchable at this point) but we're neck and neck with that Lawyer at Intel Dump.
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! »Sadly, my cubicle is back to looking like most of yours (who work in Dilbertville, anyway).
Fuzzybear Lioness notes Devotion to Duty.
From Stop the ACLU:
Even though with my Irish blood (of course, there's just as much English in there, too) I'm supposed to hate all she stands for, I'll stand with the Queen on this one.
The MSM doesn't seem to have much interest in this story about 2,000 Muslims in anti-christian rampage. Bet if we swapped the words Christian and Muslim they'd be all over it.
And, of course, Mr. Newdow is offended every time he turns around.
Carnival Barker Punctilious notes that Myopic Zeal is hosting a Red White and Blue Carnival of the Recipes.
Another casualty of Hurricane Katrina - the USS Alabama. Showing why Navies put to sea and avoid or ride out storms out there, rather than chance being beached. She's a tough old bird, she'll be okay. Some of the stuff inside that museum building, however... (h/t, Larry K.)
Happy Birthday to the Secretary of State, Dr. Rice. Heh. It's Prince Charle's birthday today, too, but I'm afraid the Prince of Wales doesn't impress me nearly as much as his mother does, much less Dr. Rice.
On this day in 1942, the loss of the USS Juneau, including the 5 Sullivan Brothers.
Speaking of the Sullivan Brothers - here's a nice piece from the Rocky Mountain News about one of the hardest jobs in the military for people who aren't deployed. H/t, Tony J.
In closing - how about some Gun Pr0n?
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! »We're leaving for the airport. We're going to be at the Straight White Guy's , meeting all these Really Smart, Debonair, and All 'Round Kewl! people...
With luck, we'll be back with incriminating photographs.
In the meantime - this is why you don't leave the keys to the Armory out whenever JTG is around. He takes everything apart, and there's always parts missing when he's done...
Send the Armorer pics like this, as SezaGeoff does, and you too, can be a Friend of the Castle!
Regarding the discussions about tanks and who had what operable Tigers where, Geoff sent along this pic he thought (correctly) I might find interesting - from the French tank museum at Saumur. It is an early model Jagdpanzer IV(you can tell by the vertical armor plate vice later models, which were lower and sloped), a German tank-hunter used in the last year of the war.
This one having been hunted a bit itself... that is a solid shot with tracer armor piercing round stuck in the glacis. There's a gouge from another hit... and then there's all that cracked and broken armor. Any crewmen on that side of the vehicle had soiled trousers, if they survived. Of course, there was a tendency on the battlefield to put "insurance shots" into armored vehicles that weren't obviously dead, as in a catastrophic kill. It was not unusual (especially with Geman vehicles which didn't burn as readily as US vehicles, being fueled with diesel and not gasoline) to have many extra holes in them as tanks passing by on their way elsewhere made sure for themselves.
This grouping of shots however, strikes me as an indicator of a duel between this vehicle and one or two other Allied tanks or anti-tank guns. Perhaps a first hit (the large hole on the lower portion) on the transmission housing immobilizing the vehicle followed by subsequent shots until the crew bailed or the Allied crew/s were satisfied the vehicle was no longer a threat. Perhaps CAPT H has some thoughts on the possibilities?
Hi-res, click here.
He sent along this commentary:
I mentioned the Musee des Blindes at Saumur in France in the comments. One of the exhibits in the German Hall was a Jagdpanzer that had been taken out by multiple hits of AP. One was still stuck in the glacis! Apparently the US soldiers took it over afterwards and used it for a while, which explains the steel plate where the MG was. I thought you might like to look at the picture.
And he's correct! I think the plate over the MG he's referring to is actually just the normal construction for the early version of this vehicle (see the pics in the article linked to above), but who cares? Kewl pic of a vehicle that saw real action, unlike most of the vehicles and aircraft you'll find in US museums. Not a slam on US museums, but we didn't tend to bring our own shot-up stuff back. And precious little of the other guy's stuff. By contrast, the Europeans, pretty much always being the Home Team last century, had lots of stuff to pick and choose from, without the transport costs.
Thanks, Geoff! Oh, and Geoff, my email box has high capacity and I have broadband access... no worries!
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! »1. SWWBO will be back from London tonight!
2. The hand doesn't hurt, at least yet! Looks nasty, though. Oh, go ahead. Look. You know you want to...
3. Most of you have probably already read this at Blackfive's, but I owe him the link to push it up Google. Team EasonGate Returns! Media Slander.com
Get some, guys! Hat tip to the Castle Adjutant!
4. This is an interesting development in projectile weapons. Can't really call it a firearm... If it pans out and proves practical, as opposed to (since it exists) simply possible, there is a lot of potential impact here. Hat tip - Jim C.
5. In search of eclectic knowledge, I visit the Ghost of a Flea fairly often. A while ago I linked to the "Kosovo" video done by the Norwegian peacekeepers, the Flea has a link to one by Brit troops in Iraq. If you haven't seen it elsewhere, visit the Flea and watch it from there! Frankly, from a boy's perspective (not one of Punctilious' Child Labor Unit's age) Flea's ads are worth the visit! Okay, *especially* ones the age of Punct's!
6. The Commander, 1-24 Infantry, has produced a short briefing in defense of the Stryker. The ability of the vehicle to take a lot of damage yet still be repairable is remarkable, leaving aside good crew survivability. It must be, since I just remarked on it! Anyway, get it here! Hat tip: Bob S.
7. Since it's about time to go make my obeisance at the TRICARE altar and report my Emergency Room visit and some other administrivia... I'll close with this study of US Army POW operations, written by a fellow gun-nut and good friend of mine here at Leavenworth - get some balance vice what the MSM has to say on the subject. It's a critical examination - not a whitewash. The Road to Abu Ghraib: US Army Detainee Doctrine and Experience. It's 1.7 megs, dial-up users might want to right-click and save-as.
Update: Heh. The Exodus begins. Starting at 1300 CDT, traffic has dropped precipitously as you all blow off the afternoon and get an early start on the holiday.
Be safe - have fun, but remember, it's Memorial Day, eh? Give a thought for those no longer with us. The Castle will reprise last year's post, since I can't improve on it.
Hindrocket has a good point. Of course, the answer is - good news ain't news. That said, in defense of the MSM... it *is* Memorial Day coming up, not Veterans Day - though they did miss Armed Forces Day, too. Hat tip to the Commissar, who has his own points to make... and we have to Hat Tip to Conservative Thinking for send us to the Commissar in the first place...
Then we there's this:
You don't see these too often!* Hi-Res, click here.
And then there is "Why Soldiers Like UAV's...," courtesy the Israel Defence Force. What you are seeing is some Bad Guys® servicing a mortar firing on Israeli settlements (near the cursor, you'll see some muzzle blast and people scurrying around) who are clueless (and have bad crew drill, anyway) to the fact they are being watched... until the missile arrives.
Oh! Ry - still working it, dude. I keep trying to write a book!
Provided as translated by Pravda. New vehicle in the Russian armored force. Interesting look and concept.
Update: CAPT H provides the following (it is *so nice* to have a research assistant, I just wish he was prettier and made better coffee):
Was inspired by (copied from).
Russia's new defense machine, the Terminator, marks new generation of Russian weaponry 03/16/2005 12:49 The capacity of the new tank support vehicle doubles the efficiency of six armored vehicles and 40 soldiers
The Russia army is taking a new military vehicle in the arsenal - the Terminator. Such a strange name has been given to the new tank support vehicle. At the end of 2004, when Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov was talking about new generations of the Russian arms that were planned to be added to the arsenal in 2005, he was talking about the Terminator too.
Specialists of the Ural Transport Machine-Building Design Bureau developed the new machine - the enterprise is a division of Uralvagonzavod, which is Russia's largest tank-maker.
Military specialists say that the capacity of the new tank support vehicle doubles the efficiency of six armored vehicles and 40 soldiers. Testing procedures for the latest development of the Russian defense industry are about to be over, a spokesman for the defense ministry's administration for armored vehicles, Nikolai Kovalev said.
"The use of the new machine in a tank battalion will add up to 30 percent of efficiency to the detachment. The tank support vehicle is capable of firing at three targets on a battlefield simultaneously," General Kovalev said.
The concept to develop the new tank support machine for the Russian army appeared from life experience itself. The storming of the Chechen capital of Grozny on January 1, 1995 resulted in a tragedy for the Russian federal forces. Chechen gunmen destroyed hundreds of Russian tanks and other armored vehicles in narrow streets and quarters of the city.Russian military specialists were originally going to solve the tank support problem with the help of self-propelled antiaircraft systems known as Shilka. Four 23-millimeter guns could provide appropriate defense and fire efficiency. However, Shilka systems are not armored because they were not developed for offensive actions. In addition, Shilka does not have the most important quality at this point - it cannot destroy tanks.
The new vehicle is capable of overcoming three-meter ditches and breaching 1.5-meter walls.
Specialists of the US Armed Forces are also working on the question to develop a new armored vehicle to replace a not very successful M-2 Bradly machine.
Spokesmen for the Israeli Defense Ministry evinced interest in the new Russian tank support machine during a military technological show in the city of Nizhni Tagil. Israeli officials said that they would like to conclude a contract with Russia to acquire new machines for their Merkava tanks that were used for scouring procedures in Palestinian settlements. They later said, however, that Israeli specialists would be able to develop a similar machine themselves.The new Russian machine as the latest military technological development is not regulated with the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE). The Terminator is a vehicle of a new class. The CFE Treaty stipulates certain restrictions for the number of units of weaponry in Europe.
Russia has a right to have 6,350 tanks and 11,280 armored vehicles on its territory. These terms are acceptable for Russia - they provide the necessary numeral parity with the armed forces of European NATO members. In connection with the conflict situation in the Caucasus, Russian diplomats were going to ask European authorities for certain concessions. The appearance of the Terminator makes such an intention useless, because the class of the new machine is not mentioned in legal documents of the CFE Treaty. Terminator is neither a tank, nor an armored vehicle. These peculiarities will inevitably lead to numerous discussions as far as the Terminator's class is concerned. Russia has a right to use as many Terminators as needed in the Caucasus until European authorities introduce certain amendments to the CFE Treaty. It is noteworthy, though, that the Russian treasury might not be able to handle this issue.
"Specialists of the US Armed Forces are also working on the question to develop a new armored vehicle to replace a not very successful M-2 Bradly machine. [emphasis mine, misspellings theirs] "
Heh. Wanna dance, Ivan?
To give us something to do this weekend (though there *will* be a comment party later) here's a pic to caption...
To get you started: "Oh, Carp! The Bedoodlewhoopies are loose! Call for backup!"
As an aside, Pam (The Castle's graphic artist) is hosting the Carnival of the Recipes!
Want more captioning fun?
Wizbang.
Villainous Company.
OTB.
Conservative Life.
Let's do a "What is this?" for them. CAPT H - you can't play, simply too easy for you, but you *can* offer up an analysis of *where* this is...
This one will probably suffer some mis-identification at first, but there's a grognard out there who will score pretty quickly, I would think. Cockpits are a lot harder than externals. Just like when I posted the interior shots of the T-55 and people had real trouble with that - only fair. No fun if they're too easy.
Unless you *know* what it is - don't go with your gut, do some research.
Update: Completely unrelated, saving on space update.
Terrorist Catch and Release program, over at Techography.
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! »...to get you focused. The Castle's DP28, more of which can be found here. Beth just identified the magazine as a "round, bullet-thingy." Sometimes the technical vocabulary side of firearms is, well, more than Beth wishes to waste brain cells on...
Suitable for framing, click here.
On to the winners of the caption contests!
For the Chinook: SangerM!
"Betcha 20 bucks I can get that a**hole to piss in his pants."
"Yer on."
Sanger can keep playing - but he can't win anymore, for a while, anyway. That's twice now. (note to self, check logs for ballot-stuffing)
For the Bulldozer: Jack of Random Fate!
Uh, Sir, I know the order in the President's speech was to "push back the tide", but wasn't that really just a metaphor?Sir?????
Winners get mugs with the picture and their caption on it. Which means, Jack - I'll need a snail-mail address. Sanger - ya wanna wait until you make the move?
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! »This was the picture:
All the answers (that are printable on Castle electronic stationary, anyway) are in the comments to this post.
And we have a Winnah!
3rd Runner up: UtahMan with:
"Told ya you couldn't make it."
2nd Runner up: Mythilt with:
"Fred."
"Yes Steve?"
"When we get back to base, we saw nothing, we just woke up and the tank was gone. Right?"
"Right."
1st Runner up: fluke_boy with:
Damned manual said this thing was amphibious.(I've got some family experience with this one... not me, my Dad.)
(Drum roll, please)
And the Winnah is: Tammi! For her double entry, which really is near perfect when used together...
Oh shit.....and.....
Ok Ok Ok, this is fixable.
Just remove the "....and.."
And you probably have something close to what was actually said
Oh shit...Ok Ok Ok, this is fixable.
- followed by some of the more scatological captions that were passed around in email only....
So, Tammi - send along an email and we'll talk your options for a mug or mousepad.
That was so much fun, let's do it again. Same thing - at least 10 people entering, no limit on number of entries per person - no being pointlessly nasty or gross (* out key letters in words like f*ck, please - don't want to get banned by net-nanny software or bumped into Google's restricted pages - already had that fight with the deployed Air Force)
Go for it. Show us what ya got. Obviously, I tend to go for simple. After I master the poll thingy, I might just let all y'all vote!
Update: Oh yeah! Extra credit - correctly identify the rifle. If you're really good at obscure stuff (and you can lie your butt off here, I have no clue) the regiment! The rifle shouldn't be too hard. If you've no idea, the general picture should give you an idea of the era. And here's a hint - there's a very similar one in the Arsenal at Argghhh!
1. This week's Carnival of the Recipes is up at CalTechGirl's place. (Hmmm, just how gay *is* a tiled background of a naked guy with sword (non-expansible) and funny hat...?) Not that the Castle would mind having the funny hat and sword. Shield, either.
2. SangerM points us to Bill Whittle on Michael Moore. I like Whittle's analysis of actors...
3. Beth obliquely discusses Andyism. Andyism is a polite philosophy, if a touch too narcissistic for my taste... But it *is* a tolerant philosophy, as long as you acknowledge him as Supreme High Being, Master of the Universe. Which isn't as bad as it sounds, 'cuz the SHB will most likely be playing video games, so if you don't unplug anything, he's not gonna mess around with you.
At Pool of Thought, Brad is spitting nails, however.
4. Marine Bumper Stickers.
5. Sorta Happy Birthday to the National Guard - in 1903 the Militia Act established the Guard in it's modern form.
6. Caption Contest. If I get 20 or more entries to choose from (no more than 2 from any single person will count, though you can submit more) gets a Castle Mug or Mousepad, what the heck.
CAPT H, ever a shill for Canadian defence (sic) industries, opines that rather than Chinese amphibious jeeps of unknown safety and quality, or rather-hard-to-get-parts-for obsolete WWII German jeeps and tanks - I should go for a nice, North American made, Grizzly.
To which I respond, if I was gonna go Canadian, rather than the minivan he proposes, I'd go with the tricked out SUV, complete with back-up camera (or look into the next county camera) and all the other bells and whistles, the Coyote.
Either way, a new garage would be required.
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! »Israel - supplier to China, India, and Russia. Given the amount of Chinese and Russian stuff used against Israelis over the years - and still used in Armies hostile to Israel - this is an interesting development.
PROCUREMENT: Israel, India and Russia Produce 125mm Tank ShellJanuary 17, 2005: Israel, India and Russia are teaming up to manufacture superior munitions for Russian weapons. IMI (Israel Military Industries) has agreed to co-produce (with India and Russia) 125mm tank shells for Indian tanks, as well as for export. IMI has long been a producer of high end tank shells. Incorporating some of the IMI technology into 125mm shells for the Indian army will be no problem. India and Russia hope to gain experience in higher quality manufacturing methods as a result of this deal. Both Russia and India have long suffered from quality control problems in their military weapons and munitions plants.
Interesting to note in the picture above, which is from an advertisement for Indian Ordnance Factories - what do the M1 and M113 in the background represent? Targets for the ammo? Or a cachet of quality?
And, given the Schwimmwagen post below, this seems an appropriate bit to share:
ARMORED WARFARE: China's Swimming JeepJanuary 17, 2005: China has developed an amphibious jeep, the BY5020TSL. The vehicle, based on the forty year old BJ2020S (itself based on the older Russian GAZ69), can drive into water and move at a top speed of 12 kilometers an hour. The 1.2 ton vehicle can carry 900 pounds, and seats five. The amphibious version is intended for reconnaissance units, to make it easier for the recon troops to get across rivers or other water obstacles. On land, these 4x4 vehicles have a top speed of 105 kilometers an hour. Civilians can buy one for $15,000, from the Beijing Jeep Company. China's basic BJ2020S design has been continually improved over the years. In the 1990s, many engineering improvements were made by using technology borrowed (via a joint manufacturing deal) from the American Jeep Cherokee.
Looks like it may have a little in common with the Ford GPA (the US amphibious Geep) of WWII, as well.
Hat tip: Strategy Page.
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! »When SWWBO saw the King Tiger yesterday, she burst out laughing... because she knew I wasn't kidding.
However, there *is* a toy I could probably talk her into.
A Schwimmwagen.
A nice little tidy amphibious package.
For those who might be confused. Kübelwagen.
Just to make sure: Schwimmwagen.
Would this not look good in the Castle Motor Pool?
And where did I put that 19,000 Euros I was wondering what to do with?
And last, but not least... this is a good suggestion from the Rantin' Raven. 'Bout time to change the old "close enough for Government work" shibboleth, anyway! While your there, scroll down one post and take a look at Enlightened Management in action. Not.
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! »Here's some shots that came in via email yesterday of some of the Marine tanks fighting in Fallujah. Might even be the same tank company whose commander wrote the AAR I posted last week.
Click the pic to go to the album. Click the pictures in the album to see them full size. Work safe, I think. No dead, burned bodies or anything. If you work in an anti-war environment - well heck, you're endangering yourself just reading me, so some pictures aren't going to make any difference.
Bill the Rotorhead ferreted out the truth. In his comment to the "Chia Tank" post he opined:
ALCON--Now that we've posilutely ID'd it as an M48A2, John's first post at dawn will reveal that it's actually an M60A3 hull that's been PhotoShopped three degrees laterally with an Aussie immersion heater from Gallipoli cut'n'pasted on a T-64 turret... =]
He got it right except it was a US Army immersion heater from Bastogne and this is my second post.
So, to do that, I started with this shot:
Then I threw the elements onto a clean canvas, doing some stamps and blending of grass from the backyard to get the 'chia' part.
Slapped 'em together....
Adjusted some more...
And the rest is just little details. Some smoothing, some blending, adding some Koreans using Illustrator, cutting and pasting some roadwheels return rollers. modifying the fenders, and a pixel by pixel rework of the background of the original pic.
Then, Voila'! You have this.
See how easy that is? The hardest part was paying for Adobe Creative Suite!
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! »This issue having generated some interest, I thought I'd post a comparison shot of the standard (i.e., no anti-RPG armor) M113 and Light Armored Vehicle (LAV), which the Marines use and from which the Stryker is descended.
Bill T. mentions the ACAV, and riding on top in Vietnam. Pretty good story on that with lots of pictures is available here. Here's a site covering Canadian M113s, of interest being the bottom photos of a M113 damaged by mines during operations in Bosnia. Mike Sparks, a big fan of the M113, might just have the most comprehensive overview of what's going on with getting them to Iraq, and includes a discussion on the up-armoring of the vehicles.
...that we just send the M113s over to Iraq and quit worrying about up-armoring the HMMWVs... guess what?
We are.*
Perhaps more important, perhaps George Soros or Michael Moore could give this guy a hand. Someone should. Stanislav Petrov, I salute you, sir. Doing your true duty to your nation, not the reflexive one. I, too, was sitting in alert sites babysitting my battalion nukes during those dark days of 1983, when the NRAS (Nuclear Release Authentication System) messages weren't just training messages.
For those of you dropping in from Mudville - you might also be interested in this follow-up.
*If you can't get into the link - go to the extended post.
Flash Traffic (extended entry) Follows » Reporting As Ordered, Sir! »Over at Strategy Page today they have an interesting discussion of what tank is the baddest of the bad.
In their discussion of the subject - the M1A2 wins, barely, over the Leo2, with the Challenger and LeClerc trailing... with no Russian products really in the running.
What say you, tankers? I'd really like (unlikely, I know, but one can hope) to hear from some Brits, German, French, Eastern European and other tankers in addition to the normal garrulous visitors from North America!
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! »You asked, Monteith answers. Between the two of us, we have the makings of a pretty good museum! Bring in Chris, and heck, we could probably make money!
Where do I start...The Daimler Ferret is an outgrowth of the WWII Daimler Dingo and Daimler Armored car. The Dingo, being a LMG (light machine gun) armed scout car (2 man crew, 3 tons, wireless set, etc) and the Daimler Armored car being a 'wheeled light tank' as the role was envisioned at the early stage of it's design.
The Dingo came first and was used by the BEF in France. It was a purpose-built vehicle with a chassis and drive line arrangement built for war from the start vs a civilian light truck chassis being adapted by fitting an armored body (ala the Humber Light Recce cars or earlier Lanchester/Rolls/Crossley armored cars). The power plant was a Daimler 2.5 liter straight 6 engine driving through a fluid coupling, Wilson pre-selector gearbox and separate transfer box for forwards and reverse capability. Thus the vehicle had 5 gears forwards and reverse (get out of trouble as fast as you get into it, you know).
The Daimler Armored car was largely an expansion of the existing Daimler Dingo chassis to a 7 ton size and with a 3 man crew. The armament was a 2 pounder (40mm) AT gun and a coaxial BESA 7.92mm MG. There was also a Bren LMG for AA and close in defense work plus personal weapons. The Daimler armored car had a similar drive line to that of the Dingo including the 5 speeds forwards and reverse but instead had a larger 4.5 liter engine.
At war's end the Daimler Dingo and Armored Cars soldiered on, but around the end of the 40's a replacement was sought. The Ferret was an expansion of the basic design with some refinements and a larger engine. Daimler was approached to carry out the development of the prototype and production after the prototypes were approved. There were two main variants, a liaison vehicle that had no turret (pintle-mounted MG) and a scout version that had a 1 man manually traversed turret containing a MG. The drive line was just as similar as it's two predecessors, just updated in a few areas for details and easier servicing. The engine in this case being a 4.25 liter straight 6 Rolls Royce design.
All three vehicles have an individual drive shaft running to each wheel station allowing a lower overall profile as there is less requirement to fit crew and other kit above a large front and rear mounted differential. The transfer box is what contains the differential. The two WWII era Daimlers have standard frames with the armored bodies fitted to them whereas the Ferret has the drive line components directly mounted within a monocoque body(meaning the body is built to be a single unit), this allows a low height, but increases noise as the drive shafts and other running gear are with in the enclosed space of body with the crew. Power is transmitted to the 4 wheels which have reduction gearing in the hubs for a lower amount of torque exerted on the drive shafts for a correspondingly higher amount of torque where the rubber meets the road.
Normal crew is 2 men for the scout car version and 2-3 for the liaison version. Internal stowage arrangements are dependent on which role the vehicle is assigned. Wireless sets were standard kit with 2 sets and an intercom component as part of the radio sets. Early ferrets used WS 19 sets with WS 88's for liaison with infantry units. Later on they used the Larkspur series C42/45 and B47/48 depending on arm of service. Ferrets in the 80s used the Clansman series of radios and intercom sets.
The Ferret had two larger siblings for the heavy armored car role and wheeled APC (armored personnel carrier) role. Those being the Saladin and Saracen. The Saladin and Saracen have 6x6 arrangements that follow the ferret's configuration with individual drive shafts for each wheel station. The Saracen swapped the engine from the rear to front for reasons of easy debussing (dismounting, 'un-assing' in US miltary parlance) by the PBI (Poor Bloody Infantry) carried in the back area.
As John stated in comments, the Ferrets were built from '53 to '71 and were used up through the first Gulf War. The British used them everywhere their forces needed reconnaissance and scouting including, Cyprus, Northern Ireland, Germany, Aden, North Africa and Southeast Asia. Several Commonwealth nations also operate Ferrets to this day. The last Ferrets were disposed of following the Gulf War and make a very good choice for wheeled armor by the average collector. Prices range from $10K up in the US.
Photo's of all three are available here.
Plus details and movies of the Daimler Armored
car are at this place.There is also a parallel set of movies on the Humber Armored Car.
Photos (with lots of interior shots) of Monteith's Ferret, as well as some of the more interesting vehicles that took part in the Veteran's Day parade are available here.
Oh, and did I mention... I WANT ONE!
This one was tougher than I expected. It even disturbed the Commissar. Dunno why, though. It's Commie iron. Arditi and Captain H pretty well nailed it, with just a little help.
Here's your final clue to the challenge. New pics also added to the album. Apparently, not many of you have seen the inside of many tanks. And at least two of you who have, CW4Bill and the Instapilot, have only seen the interiors of tanks because you blew their turrets off, which does make it hard to get a good sense of the interiors, what with the altitudes, ranges, speed and all.
This beast is one of several vehicles kept around here so SOF soldiers can learn how to hotwire 'em, drive 'em, shoot 'em, and blow 'em up. Hey, if you know how to use the other guy's stuff, you don't have to bring as much of your own, eh?
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! »Give him a tank to play with. New action figure: East German Tank Commander Johann.
Something else getting a fast-track push to get developed and into the hands of the troops, outside of normal processes:
RPG air-bags. Yep. RPG air-bags. You know the bad guys will come up with a response, but that will take awhile.
ARMORED WARFARE: RPGs Stopped by Air Bags and ElectricityNovember 8, 2004: Rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) are the typical weapons of choice when insurgents decide to attack trucks and armored vehicles. RPGs are cheap, simple to operate, and if used properly can inflict significant damage on Stryker and Bradley armored vehicles. Unarmed and armored Hummers are especially vulnerable, since the various armor kits for the Hummer are designed to protect occupants from small arms and machine gun fire, not anti-tank grenades.
One quick fix to protect the Hummer is a unique airbag system developed by a small California company that deploys a "curtain" down outside the side of the vehicle being attacked. Four bags are needed to protect all quadrants and are held in place with simple Velcro straps. A small radar detects the incoming RPG or RPGs and inflates the airbag with a carbon dioxide gas cartridge. The RPG is literally "caught" by the airbag like a pillow and slowed enough so the nose-mounted fuse doesn't detonate the warhead. Instead, the RPG ends up collapsing upon itself, shredding the secondary self-destruct fuse and looking like a stomped-on beer can. Currently, the airbag and cartridge have to be replaced after one use, but the designers are working on a reusable airbag that can simply be rolled up and put back into place.
Cost for the system is expected to run between $5,000 to $7,000 dollars and weighs around 50 pounds. The Army is in the process of awarding a contract with the goal of getting systems to Iraq within 6 months, at a initial product rate of 25 systems per month. Other systems are being refined for use on canvass-topped vehicles and the Stryker. The system has the potential to replace both the current Stryker "RPG" fence standoff metal framework as well as reactive armor systems and has the twin advantages of being lighter and less expensive than reactive armor. It's also safer around infantry than reactive armor. Multiple tests of the airbag system have been run using RPGs, with one test managing slow down an RPG enough to stop it relatively intact – forcing a stop to the tests until range safety could come out and blow it up in place.
Over the longer term, the Army is looking towards electronically "charged" armor protection. The protection scheme would be composed of an outside armored plate, a spaced gap, and an inner charged plate. Shaped charges are essentially hot streams of metal traveling at (very) rapid speed to penetrate armor. A shaped charge from an RPG or other antitank weapon would detonate, penetrate the outer armor plate, and the hot metal stream would make contact with the charged inner plate, forming an electrical circuit that ends up plattering the metal across the inner plate rather than breaking through into the hull of the vehicle.
Charged armor is a better solution than reactive armor, as it is both lighter than reactive and also non-threatening to nearby infantry. At least two anufacturers have successfully demonstrated charged armor solutions, one retrofitting a Bradley AFV with a large capacitor to charge the inner hull plate. One manufacturer has demonstrated that the Bradley charged armor can take multiple RPG hits onto the same section of the hull without penetration and was willing to show a short demonstration film to those of the proper security clearance. In theory, charged armor should work equally well against weapons with larger shaped charge warheads, but the manufacturer would not comment on any tests done in that area. Ideally, charged armor would be an integrated solution as a part of a hybrid-electric vehicle. Power would be available from the vehicle to charge the armor for protection and installing the equipment would not require an expensive rebuild from the ground up. – Doug Mohney
Hat tip: Strategy Page!
Other interesting tidbits from the boys at Strategy Page. Twas a busy day in history today. Some good, some bad.
Good. 1789 Elijah Craig brews the first bourbon whiskey, Bourbon County, Ky. Can't stand the stuff myself, but I know there are those of you who love it...
Bad. 1923 Hitler's "Beer Hall Putsch" in Munich.
Bad. 1939 Failed assassination attempt on Hitler in Burgerbraukeller, Munich
Good. 1942 Hitler proclaims fall of Stalingrad (He was wrong)
Good. 1942 Operation Torch: U.S. and British forces land in northwestern Africa (Really bad day for Germany.) Bad day for France, too. They got beat again - by us, this time. If you think about it, France and Italy are the only countries in WWII to lose to both sides.)
Lastly, for the Instapilot: Good. 1950 1st jet combat, Lt. Russell J. Brown's F-86 scores a North Korean MiG-15
...with the "Identify this tank" challenge. There has been one successful ID thus far.
Here's a clue:
And here's another.
Which, being full of guns, with grounds full of artillery and tanks, is one of the Armorers favorite places to visit. The Armorer doesn't want to move here, but he does like visiting!
In the rotating exhibit section, to the right of the entrance, there are some OIF and OEF exhibits. Saddam's hunting rifle and ceremonial sword are in great company. The collection of the Infantry museum holds other relics of tyranny, such as Himmler's hunting guns and Goering's marshall's baton.
American infantry have thrown down numerous tyrants in their day. Assisting and assisted by their brother Anglosphere infantry, I would hasten to add. And, now and again, French infantry, when their government allows it. Ably assisting in this effort, and acknowledged by the museum, are their fellow-travelers, the Artillery and Armor.
The museum contains furniture the Armorer would like to have. Especially this piece for the living room. She Who Will Be Obeyed will allow it becaue it has a lot of nice brass in it.
And boy is the museum full of interesting little tidbits. Two Davy Crocketts. Several items the Armorer would like to add to the Funny Hat collection.
Developmental. rifles. all. over.
Mortars. Funny cars. And guns, guns, guns. What's not to like?
There's even a train!
If you are ever in Columbus, go visit Ft. Benning. See the Airborne School - and above all, visit the National Infantry Museum!
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! »Which results in this challenge.
I have high expectations, Captain H. All the contextual clues are there!
No comments. Email. I don't want John spoiling it with an instant-answer!
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