Images

Type 88A in the Gobi Desert, sometime in 2021. People’s Liberation Army-Xinjiang Military Command photo by Li Renxi.

During the last decade of the non-official Cold War, China began experimenting with the Soviet designed T-54/55 tank, and the NATO United Kingdom designed 105mm L7 main gun. One of the results was the Type 88.

Type 88A conducts live-fire gunnery in the Gobi Desert, sometime in 2021. People’s Liberation Army-Xinjiang Military Command photo by Shi Jinguang.

In the 1990s, testing by South Africa revealed the NATO 105mm gun could not penetrate the armor of the upgraded Russian T-72, and that the Russian 125mm gun could easily destroy the Type 88. This revelation killed export sales of the Chinese tank, but amazingly China still uses the Type 88A (with the long barreled version of the L7 gun known as ZPL-94/Type 94).

Type 88A in the Gobi Desert, sometime in 2021. PLA-Xinjiang Military Command photo by Li Renxi.

Gobi Desert sometime in 2021. PLA-Xinjiang Military Command photo by Shi Jinguang.

The old Type 88A is being replaced with the new Type 15 Light Tank (aka ZTQ-15), which is also armed with the 105mm gun.

PLA-Xinjiang Military Command live-fire gunnery, April 2020. Photo by Han Qiang.

Type 88A, Uyghur Autonomous Region on 30MAR2020. Photo by Yuan Kai.

These PLA-Xinjiang Military Command Type 88As are equipped with something similar to the U.S. MILES lazer-tag wargame system. Photo by Sun Bo, 19MAR2020.

Not only are these PLA-Xinjiang Military Command Type 88As equipped with something similar to the U.S. MILES lazer-tag wargame system, their main antenna looks very much like a U.S. antenna. Photo by Sun Bo, 19MAR2020.

Night maneuvers Uygur Autonomous Region, January 2020. PLA-Xinjiang Military Command photo by Yuan Kai.

Can you identify a Type 88A at night?

Night maneuvers Uygur Autonomous Region, January 2020. PLA-Xinjiang Military Command photo by Yuan Kai.

Night maneuvers Tianshan Mountains, October 2019. PLA-Xinjiang Military Command photo.

Uygur Autonomous Region, August 2018. PLA-Xinjiang Military Command photo by Yuan Kai.

The exhaust pipes of the Type 88A are on the opposite side of the Grandfather T-54/55, and they are two large round pipes.

Uygur Autonomous Region, January 2020. PLA-Xinjiang Military Command photo by Yuan Kai.

In the above photo you can see a Type 88A being hauled away by an old fashioned T-54/55 ARV, notice the standard T-54/55 single exhaust pipe.

Vehicle I-D: CHINA’S H-6K

Zombie Tank: U.S. BRINGS DEAD IRAQI T-54/55 BACK TO LIFE!

International

Germany destroys U.S. bombers in Ukraine!

Image February 23, 2022 Hutchins AAron

During the night, the German Luftwaffe destroyed several U.S. bombers on the ground of Poltava Airbase in Ukraine. The U.S. bombers, of the 452nd Bomb Group, had arrived from United Kingdom as part of a ‘shuttle’ mission (aka Shuttle Raid).

The attack took place on 21JUN1944. Interestingly, the U.S. Army’s 8th Air Force claims they did not receive the photo negatives until December 1945, the photos of the destroyed B-17s were not even released in the United States until 22JUL1949, kept secret years after the war ended by the U.S. Air Force Historical Office!

The 8th Air Force was using Poltava Airbase as a rest & recovery area for its bombers and crews, after conducting bombing missions against Germany, and other targets in Eastern Europe, during the Second World War.

According to the Historical Museum of the U.S. Air Force, 21JUN1944 was also the first time B-17s were used for Shuttle Raids. I did find a photo dated April 1944 showing a B-17 on Poltava, but it doesn’t indicate if it was taking part in a Shuttle Raid.

U.S. Army Air Force crewmen stand next to a Soviet soldier, the day after the German airstrike.

During World War Two, Ukraine was one of the dozens of republics who were part of the Soviet Union, as was Russia.

U.S. Army Air Force personnel gaze at a portrait of Stalin, 04JUN1944.

Joseph Stalin was the leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and at the beginning of 1944 U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt convinced Stalin to allow U.S. combat aircraft to land in the Soviet Union.

A Soviet solder, based on Poltava, painted portraits of Stalin and Roosevelt, completed on 28DEC1944.

1939 V 2019; GERMANY INVADES POLAND AGAIN, THIS TIME WITH THE HELP OF NATO!

Recovery Ops: DKM PRINZ EUGEN 2018, OR THE NINE ANCHORS

Kit Bashing, Technology

Vehicle I-D: “The Dud Scud” Fake News Ballistic Missile

Image February 20, 2022 Hutchins AAron

During the 1990s, following the end of the non-declared/non-official Cold War, the United States held a yearly massive NATO wargame called Roving Sands, in New Mexico.

U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Marv Lynchard, 23APR1995.

One of the many oddities that made an appearance at these war games was the U.S. military’s “The Dud Scud”; a 5-ton dump-truck (some of the info says duce-n-a-half, other info says 5-ton) with ballistic missile looking things mounted on top of the dump-bed. Scud is the NATO reporting name for a Soviet tactical ballistic missile launcher system.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Marv Lynchard, 23APR1995.

Of course the Dud Scud doesn’t look anything like a real Scud, they were just meant to simulate a generic ballistic missile launcher.

The Dud Scuds were positioned at various locations across Fort Sumner, New Mexico. USAF photo by Sergeant Nicole Snell, 29APR1995.

Because of the experience of having to hunt down Iraqi Scuds during Desert Storm, NATO exercise Roving Sands incorporated such a scenario into the yearly wargame.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Marv Lynchard, 23APR1995.

Cold War Vehicle I-D:

Photo attributed to Bernd Hartmann, Germany 1978.

FAKE NEWS ZSU-23-4 INTO THE J-A-W-S OF DEATH!

Technology, U.S.

Cold War: Going ‘Gangbusters’ with Texas F-4C & Georgia F-105G!

Image February 20, 2022 Hutchins AAron

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

Air National Guard photo by Airman First Class Sheryl D. Barnett, 10APR1981.

The U.S. National Archives makes available a lot of cool imagery, but unfortunately a lot of the info issued with it is wrong. Can’t blame the National Archives, they simply repost what was given to them, so a lot of the ‘false’ info actually comes from the source; the U.S. Department of Defense. The following is a case-in-point; photos of Cold War era Exercise Gangbuster #11 show both F-4C Phantom-2s and F-105G Thunderchief ‘Wild Weasels’, it lists both aircraft as being with the “128th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 116th Tactical Fighter Wing, Texas Air National Guardsmen”. For the record, the F-4s are part of the Texas Air National Guard but not the 128th TFS/116th TFW, the F-4Cs belong to the 182nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 149th Tactical Fighter Wing. The F-105Gs are part of the 128th TFS/116th TFW, which is Georgia Air National Guard. In some photos the obvious belly of an F-105G is shown, yet the info says it is an F-4 Phantom II. Also, the exalted U.S. Air Force/National Guard info calls the F-105 the “Delta Dart”! Maybe this was an attempt to deceive the Soviets?

A faded ‘blue bomb’, hi-drag ‘snake eye’, is brought to a waiting Texas F-4C. Photo by Airman First Class Sheryl D. Barnett, 10APR1981.

Georgia Air National Guard F-105G gets bombed-up with a cement filled Blue Bomb. Photo by Airman First Class Sheryl D. Barnett, 10APR1981.

This is one of the photos that was listed as being an F-4. Photo by Airman First Class Sheryl D. Barnett, 10APR1981.

Gangbuster XI took place on Stewart Airfield, Georgia, in April 1981. It was about bombing accuracy, and included the USS Clifton Sprague (FFG-16) as a floating target in The Atlantic Ocean.

Photo by Airman First Class Sheryl D. Barnett, 10APR1981.

Messing with the drogue ‘chute of the F-105G. Photo by Airman First Class Sheryl D. Barnett, 10APR1981.

The F-105G used water injection for take-off runs. Photo by Airman First Class Sheryl D. Barnett, 10APR1981.

Photo by Airman First Class Sheryl D. Barnett, 10APR1981.

I could find only two photos of Texas F-4Cs at Gangbuster XI, so here’s a photo of a 182nd TFS/149th TFW F-4C ‘intercepting’ a Soviet Tu-95 ‘Bear’ near Iceland, in 1981:

Photo dated 26AUG1981.

Weapon I-D: MARK 82, COLD WAR & BEYOND

Vehicle I-D: ROKAF 대한민국 공군 PHANTOMS

Idaho, Technology

New Cold War: Idaho Air National Guard trains with USMC F-35!

Image February 18, 2022 Hutchins AAron

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Mercedee Wilds, 08JAN2022.

“This is the first time we’ve worked with F-35s and we continue to build these types of relationships throughout all services and airframes. Other units outside of Idaho continue to come here because we have some of the best ranges in the world, thanks to the outstanding Airmen in the Idaho Air National Guard.”-Lieutenant Colonel Mike Hampton, director of operations for Idaho’s 190th Fighter Squadron/124th Fighter Wing

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 09JAN2022.

Four U.S. Marine Corps F-35Bs, from Yuma Marine Corps Air Station, Arizona, spent the weekend of 07-09JAN2022 over Gowen Field, Idaho, playing tag with the Idaho Air National Guard’s A-10Cs, it was a first.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 09JAN2022.

“This shows that one of the best attack aircraft in the inventory, the mighty A-10 Thunderbolt II, can lethally integrate with the newest, most advanced aircraft in the world, the F-35 Lightning II. Additionally, it is an opportunity for two services to train together in anticipation of fighting alongside each other in future conflicts.”-Lieutenant Colonel Mike Hampton, director of operations for Idaho’s 190th FS/124th FW

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 09JAN2022.

“Training with other units is a critical component to our wing maintaining combat readiness. We typically operate in a joint combat environment, working hand-in-hand with other services, and this training is imperative to prepare our pilots for combat operations.”-Colonel Chad Kornberg, 124th Fighter Wing commander

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 09JAN2022.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Mercedee Wilds, 08JAN2022.

New Cold War: IDAHO’S 124TH PREPS FOR AIR STRIKES! OR, LABOR SHORTAGES CAN GIVE YOU A CASE OF THE BLUE BOMBS!

Vehicle I-D: IDAHO GETS NEW UH-60M

Idaho, Technology

Vehicle I-D: Idaho gets new UH-60M

Image February 17, 2022 Hutchins AAron

“It’s an exciting and unprecedented opportunity to have access to the newest air frame in the U.S. Army’s fleet. It’s exciting being on the leading and cutting edge of aviation. The M model has really set us up as a state and a National Guard entity to continue to lead the way and be on par with active duty counterparts.” -Lieutenant Colonel Nicole Washington, 1-183rd Assault Helicopter Battalion commander

Brand new UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters line the tarmac on Gowen Field. Idaho National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 13JAN2022.

Idaho Army National Guard’s 1-183rd Assault Helicopter Battalion has completed the transition to the new UH-60M. As of January 2022, Idaho now has 20 of the newest Black Hawk.

Idaho National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 13JAN2022.

Pilots says the UH-60M is a long distance runner; crews don’t feel as exhausted after an all day mission, compared to the older Black Hawks, because for one thing the UH-60M has less vibration. Improvements include stiffer rotary wings for more lifting power, a new airframe, more powerful engines and advanced digital avionics inside the enlarged ‘glass’ instrument panel, being able to track yourself in relation to enemy/friendly forces, etc.

Idaho National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 13JAN2022.

Idaho’s 1-183rd Assault Helicopter Battalion has already put to use the UH-60M, last year they dumped more than 200-thousand gallons of water on forest fires in the Northern part of The Gem State.

Idaho National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 13JAN2022.

The 1-183rd AHB flew the AH-64A Apache for almost 20 years before transitioning to the AH-64D Longbow model in 2012, and then to the UH-60A/L Black Hawk through 2016-2018. In 2019 they went through UH-60M training. The unit received its first UH-60M on Gowen Field in June 2020 and flew the remaining 19 airframes back from New Jersey to Boise since then. On 16JAN2022, the last two of a total of 20 UH-60Ms arrived on Gowen Field.

“Combined with the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team’s modernized armor equipment, the Idaho Army National Guard is one of the most modernized states in the Army National Guard. Modernized equipment enhances our capability to be interoperable with our active duty peers.”-Brigadier General Farin Schwartz, commander of the Idaho Army National Guard

Idaho Army National Guard photo by Private First Class Jessica L. Pauley, 31JUL2016.

The first time the Idaho/Oregon/Montana Army National Guard experienced the UH-60M was while taking part in NATO wargames in Romania, in 2016: BRAND NEW BLACK HAWKS: CANUCKS JOIN SNAKE RIVER MILITIA, AIR ASSAULT MOVE TO CONTACT, ROMANIA!

New Cold War: IDAHO ARMY NATIONAL GUARD MEDEVACS WOUNDED FROM GOWEN FIELD!

Disaster 2021: Idaho Army National Guard UH-60 & UH-72 rescue Boise fire fighters from raging rapids…..truck trailer?

IDAHO BLACK HAWKS HEAD SOUTH, DOWN CENTRAL AMERICA WAY, YOU PAID FOR IT!

International, U.S.

New Cold War: U.S. taxpayers forced to send Ukraine $5.4-billion!

Image February 11, 2022 Hutchins AAron

During the 2013-14 so-called revolution in Ukraine (openly supported by U.S. politicians who actually went to Ukraine to call for revolution, like John McCain in December 2013), an apparently democratically elected government was overthrown by an obviously pro-NATO insurgency. Since then, and according to a report issued on 10FEB2022 by the U.S. Air Force’s 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs, U.S. taxpayers have shelled out $5.4-billion in military (“security/non-security”) assistance to Ukraine!

U.S. Air Force photo by Roland Balik, 10FEB2022.

On top of that, there are military shipments to Ukraine that are officially listed as a Foreign Military Sale. On 10FEB2022, another ‘Foreign Military Sale’, things marked ‘explosives’, were loaded onto a giant transport aircraft on Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, for shipment to Ukraine.

USAF photo by Roland Balik, 10FEB2022.

This latest ‘sale’ is so important that two officials from Ukraine were present to watch the loading of the aircraft, along with an official from the Biden administration: From left to right; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United States Oksana Markarova, Major General Borys Kremenetskyi, and Biden’s Deputy Assistant Secretary-Bureau of Political-Military Affairs Mira Resnick.

USAF photo by Roland Balik, 10FEB2022.

Vehicle I-D: 2S3 AKATSIYA (2C3 АКАЦИЯ), COLD WAR TO UKRAINE BORDER CRISIS!

Ukraine 2017: CALIFORNIA CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF National Guard Operations IN UKRAINE!

Mother of all Money Pits: KURDS TAKE THE FIGHT TO ‘ISLAMIC STATE’, WHILE U.S. TAXPAYERS FUND DINNER PARTIES!

Idaho, U.S.

New Cold War: Idaho Army National Guard MedEvacs wounded from Gowen Field!

Image February 9, 2022 Hutchins AAron

MedEvac=Medical Evacuation

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Captain Bonnie Blakely, 05FEB2022.

On the weekend of 04-06 February 2022, Idaho’s Gowen Field (on the south side of Boise Airport) was attacked. Idaho’s A-10Cs responded with ‘combat turn’ air strike missions, while Air Guard medics responded to the cries of the wounded.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Captain Bonnie Blakely, 05FEB2022.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Joshua C. Allmaras, 04FEB2022.

Idaho Air National Guard 124th Medical Group’s Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT) called in the Idaho Army National Guard’s Detachment 1, G Company, 1-168th Aviation Regiment, to fly out the wounded on their UH-60 Black Hawks.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Captain Rebecca Solosabal, 04FEB2022.

This was all part of an intense weekend warrior training scenario on Gowen Field, to prep for future deployments: “The significance of this training is huge because it gives us an opportunity to train with the Army before being in a deployed environment.”-Senior Master Sergeant Virginia Holmgren, 124th CCATT

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Captain Bonnie Blakely, 04FEB2022.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Joseph Morgan, 05FEB2022.

The training was continued at the Orchard Combat Training Center (OCTC), to simulate medevac ops from a Forward Operating Base (FOB).

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Joseph Morgan, 05FEB2022.

New Cold War: IDAHO’S GOWEN FIELD UNDER GAS ATTACK!

IDAHO’S 124TH PREPS FOR AIR STRIKES! OR, LABOR SHORTAGES CAN GIVE YOU A CASE OF THE BLUE BOMBS!

Idaho, U.S.

New Cold War: Idaho’s Gowen Field under gas attack!

Image February 8, 2022 Hutchins AAron

Even the 124th FW medics had to done MOPP gear while they tried to fight off attackers, using their M240 machine guns. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Captain Bonnie Blakely, 04-06FEB2022.

Airmen of Idaho Air National Guard’s 124th Fighter Wing fighting for their lives after a gas attack on Gowen Field, the weekend of 04-06 February 2022, or at least that’s what it looked like.

Another Idaho Air National Guard medic reloads his M240. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Captain Bonnie Blakely, 04-06FEB2022.

It’s not easy fighting for your life while wearing full Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP) gear. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Mercedee Wilds, 04-06FEB2022.

124th Logistics Readiness Squadron fire fighters responded as best they could. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Captain Bonnie Blakely, 04-06FEB2022.

Idaho Guard personnel are inside! Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Mercedee Wilds, 04-06FEB2022.

Searching for victims. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Mercedee Wilds, 04-06FEB2022.

Got one, looks like his feet have been blown off! Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Mercedee Wilds, 04-06FEB2022.

Stay tuned, Idaho Army National Guard’s Detachment 1, G Company, 1-168th Aviation Regiment UH-60 Black Hawks are on their way for the MedEvac mission! The 1-168th is based in Washington, with units spread across Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, California and Arizona.

New Cold War: IDAHO’S 124TH PREPS FOR AIR STRIKES (after mock attack on Gowen Field)! OR, LABOR SHORTAGES CAN GIVE YOU A CASE OF THE BLUE BOMBS!

Technology

Cold War Vehicle I-D: Short lived Chenowth F-A-V, U.S. Army vs U.S. Navy

Image February 7, 2022 Hutchins AAron

U.S. Navy SeAL Team 5’s Scorpion Fast Attack Vehicle (FAV, now called Desert Patrol Vehicle or DPV), Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California, January 1993. USN photo by Photographer’s Mate Second Class Mike Poche.

USN SeAL Team 5’s three seat Scorpion Fast Attack Vehicle (FAV), Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California, January 1993. USN photo by Photographer’s Mate Second Class Mike Poche.

The Marine Corps Combat Development Command checked out the Chenowth Scorpion FAV in February 1992, on Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. USMC photo by Lance Corporal S.D. Dommer.

Photo by Charles Mussi, October 1991.

Scorpion FAV with ASP 30mm chain gun, October 1991. Photo by Charles Mussi.

USN SeAL team parade their Scorpion FAVs through San Diego, California, 18MAY1991 (after Desert Storm). USN photo by Journalist Petty Officer First Class Joe Gawlowicz.

In May 1987, my father William Hutchins (a GS12 Contract Monitor on Edwards Air Force Base) became one of several people responsible for maintaining several of the original two seat Chenowth FAVs.

Sometime in the early 1990s, Edwards AFB, California.

In the early 1990s, my dad actually let me, and on another occasion my brother (Ernst F. Hutchins) and one of my brother’s friends, take an FAV for a joy ride. I thought it was like any other Volkswagen powered dune buggy, I never liked those air cooled boxer motors.

Sometimes Ernie was the passenger…

My dad’s photos of my brother’s test drive make it look like he was enjoying it.

…sometimes the driver.

Ernie would go on to become an Officer in the U.S. Navy, his last duty assignment at CentCom HQ in Florida, before early retirement.

My father ended up retiring early (too early for him, anyway) from USAF Civil Service, in the mid-1990s.

The U.S. Air Force intent was to use the former U.S. Army FAVs in the development of its Mobile Targeting Systems (like the LANTIRN program that helped kill the N/AW-10), as moving ground targets.

U.S. Army ‘s 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry, 9th Infantry Division (Light) FAV during exercise Team Spirit, in Korea, March 1986. U.S. Army photo by Al Chang.

TOW missile armed FAV, exercise Team Spirit, March 1986. USA photo by Staff Sergeant Arnold W. Kalmanson.

Over-watching the Han River crossing operation, March 1986. USA photo by Al Chang.

Photo by Sergeant Jimmie T. Dugans Junior, March 1986.

FAV armed with Mark 19 40mm grenade launcher. USA photo by Staff Sergeant Arnold W. Kalmanson, March 1986.

FAV with a 30mm chain gun (bolt is electrically operated by a chain drive system). Photo dated October 1984.

FAV prototype being tested on Fort Lewis, Washington, September 1982. USA photo by Master Sergeant Gene D. Tackett.

Chenowth FAV prototype being tested on Fort Lewis, Washington, September 1982. USA photo by Master Sergeant Gene D. Tackett.

Chenowth FAV prototype with M60D and Mk19, Fort Lewis, Washington. Conflicting dates on the photo, some prints say September 1982 while others say October 1983. USA photo by Master Sergeant Gene D. Tackett.

FAV with M2 and M60D, Fort Lewis, Washington, September 1982. USA photo by Second Lieutenant Alan Knox.

WW2 Vehicle I-D: RARE KAMIKAZE TYPE 4 FOUND ON USMC BASE IN CALIFORNIA!

Cold War (and beyond) Vehicle I-D: SUOMALAISET SISU XA-203, XA-180M, 90M CROTALE & 6×6

Blind Bat News

Images

Zombie Tank: China still uses the NATO gunned Type 88 Warsaw Pact based tank

Germany destroys U.S. bombers in Ukraine!

Vehicle I-D: “The Dud Scud” Fake News Ballistic Missile

Cold War: Going ‘Gangbusters’ with Texas F-4C & Georgia F-105G!

New Cold War: Idaho Air National Guard trains with USMC F-35!

Vehicle I-D: Idaho gets new UH-60M

New Cold War: U.S. taxpayers forced to send Ukraine $5.4-billion!

New Cold War: Idaho Army National Guard MedEvacs wounded from Gowen Field!

New Cold War: Idaho’s Gowen Field under gas attack!

Cold War Vehicle I-D: Short lived Chenowth F-A-V, U.S. Army vs U.S. Navy

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