David
Sat January 3, 2004 11:51pm
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T-AGS Survey Ships
Function: Military Sealift Command's Special Missions program supports worldwide oceanographic programs with ships which perform acoustical, biological, physical and geophysical surveys. Ships such as USNS Silas Bent (TAGS 26), USNS Kane (TAGS 27) and USNS Bowditch (TAGS 62) gather data which provides much of the military's information on the ocean environment. Oceanographic and hydrographic survey ships are used to study the world's oceans. The collected data helps to improve technology in undersea warfare and enemy ship detection. The oceanographic and hydrographic survey ships' multibeam, wide-angle precision sonar systems make it possible to continuously chart a broad strip of ocean floor. Two oceanographic ships survey the sea bottom and collect hydrographic data, charting three-fourths of the world's coastlines. USNS John McDonnell (TAGS 51) and USNS Littlehales (TAGS 52) make it easier for navigators to find their way along well-traveled and not-so-familiar shipping routes.
History: The USNS John McDonnell (TAGS 51) was laid down Aug. 3, 1989, and the USNS Littlehales (TAGS 52) on Oct. 25, 1989. The McDonnell launched Aug. 15, 1980, the Littlehales on Feb. 14, 1991. The contract for the Pathfinder class of surveying ships was awarded in January 1991 for two ships with an option for a third which was taken up May 29, 1992. A fourth ship was ordered in Oct. 1994 with an option for two more. A fifth ship was ordered Jan. 15, 1997.
Description: The Silas Bent class of surveying ships were designed specifically for surveying operations. They have a bow propulsion unit for precise maneuverability and station keeping. The John McDonnell class of survey ships carries 34-foot survey launches for data collection in coastal regions with depths between 10 and 600 m and in deep water to 4,000 m. A small diesel is used for propulsion at towing speeds of up to 6 knots. SIMRAD high-frequency active hull-mounted and side scan sonars are carried. The Pathfinder class of survey ships have three multipurpose cranes and five winches plus a variety of oceanographic equipment including multibeam echo-sounders, towed sonars and expendable sensors.
General Characteristics, Silas Bent Class
Builders:
American SB Co., Lorain/Christy Corp, Sturgeon Bay, WI
Power Plant:
Diesel-electric; two Alco diesel generators; one Westinghouse/GE motor; 3,600 horsepower (2.69 MW); one shaft; cp prop; bow thruster; 350 horsepower (261 kW)
Length, Overall:
285.3 feet (86.96 meters)
Beam:
48 feet (14.63 meters)
Displacement:
2,550 to 2,843 long tons (2,590.92 to 2,888.62 metric tons) full load
Speed:
15 knots when towing
Crew:
31 civilians (12 officers) plus 28 scientists
Ships:
USNS Silas Bent (T-AGS 26)
USNS Kane (T-AGS 27)
General Characteristics, John McDonnell Class
Builders:
Halter Marine Moss Point, MS
Power Plant:
One GM EMD 12-645E6 diesel; 2,500 horsepower (1.9 MW) sustained; one auxiliary diesel; 230 horsepower (172kW); one shaft
Length, Overall:
208 feet (63.40 meters)
Beam:
45 feet (13.72 meters)
Displacement:
2,054 long tons (2,086.96 metric tons) full load
Speed:
12 knots (13.8 mph, 22.22 kph)
Crew:
22 civilians plus 11 scientists
Ships:
USNS John McDonnell (T-AGS 51)
USNS Littlehales (T-AGS 52)
General Characteristics, Pathfinder Class
Builders:
Halter Marine Moss Point, MS
Power Plant:
Diesel-electric; four EMD/Baylor diesel generators; 11, 425 horsepower (8.52 MW); two GE CDF 1944 motors; 8,000 horsepower (5.96 MW) sustained; 6,000 horsepower (4.48 MW); two Lips Z drives; bow thruster, 1,500 horsepower (1.19 MW)
Length, Overall:
328.5 feet (100.13 meters)
Beam:
58 feet (17.68 meters)
Displacement:
4,762 long tons (4,838.42 metric tons) full load
Speed:
16 knots (18.4 mph, 29.63 kph)
Crew:
28 civilians plus 27 scientists
Ships:
USNS Pathfinder (T-AGS 60)
USNS Sumner (T-AGS 61)
USNS Bowditch (T-AGS 62)
USNS Henson (T-AGS 63)
USNS Bruce C. Heezen (T-AGS 64)
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David
Sun January 4, 2004 12:31am
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SSBN726 - Ohio Class Flee
Function: America's current Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine.
Description: Since the first Poseidon submarines took to the seas in 1960, the sole purpose of the Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine has been strategic deterrence. Given their wide operational area (70% of the world's surface is covered by water) the SSBN represents the most survivable and unreachable "leg" of America's land, sea, and air nuclear deterrence tripod. Built to accommodate the Improved Trident I ballistic missile and relying on advances pioneered by the Narwhal's natural circulation reactor as well as the advanced sensor capabilities of the Los Angeles class fast attack submarines, the Ohio class SSBNs are the most advanced ballistic missile submarines in the world. Virtually undetectable at operating speed and depth, the Ohio class SSBN can maneuver with impunity through the world's oceans and given the submarine's sensory capabilities an Ohio class boat will detect and maneuver around any threat long before the threat can acquire the SSBN. Of the eighteen Ohio class SSBNs currently in service, the first eight were designed to fire 24 Trident I Submarine Launched Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (SLICBM) each of which carries 10 Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) warheads. The remaining ten were designed to carry the more powerful Trident II SLICBM each of which carries 12 MIRVs. Current Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) conditions limit the number of MIRVs to eight per missile. In 1992 the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START II) was signed, limiting member nations to 14 SSBNs each. As a result, only four of the original eight will be backfitted with the Trident II missile, while the rest will either be converted to SSGN cruise missile boats, Special Operations support ships (similar to the SSN640 class) or decommissioned.
General Characteristics, Ohio Class
Builders:
General Dynamics Electric Boat Division
Power Plant:
One S8G nuclear reactor, two geared steam turbines, one shaft, 60,000 shaft horsepower
Date Deployed:
November 11, 1981 (USS Ohio)
Length, Overall:
560 feet (170.69 meters)
Beam:
42 feet (12.80 meters)
Displacement:
18,750 long tons (19,000.1 metric tons) submerged
Speed:
20+ knots (23.02+ miles per hour, 37.05 +kph)
Crew:
15 Officers; 140 Enlisted
Armament:
Mk 48 ADCAP Torpedoes, launched from four 533mm torpedo tubes
Radar:
1 AN/BPS-15 navigation and fire control radar
Sonar:
One TB-16 passive towed sonar array
One AN/BQR-19 navigation sonar
One AN/BQQ-6 low frequency spherical bow sonar array
One AN/BQS-13 active sonar
Optics:
One Type 2 attack periscope
One Type 18 search periscope
Countermeasures:
WLR-10 acoustic intercept receiver
WLR-8 surveillance reciever
WLY-1 acoustic countermeasures system
Mk 2 torpedo decoy
Ships:
Homeported at the Naval Submarine Base, Bangor, WA:
USS Ohio (SSBN-726)
USS Michigan (SSBN-727)
USS Florida (SSBN-728)
USS Georgia (SSBN-729)
USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN-730)
USS Alabama (SSBN-731)
USS Alaska (SSBN 732)
USS Nevada (SSBN 733) I
Homeported at the Naval Submarine Base, Kings Bay, GA:
USS Tennessee (SSBN-734)
USS Pennsylvania (SSBN-735)
USS West Virginia (SSBN-736)
USS Kentucky (SSBN-737)
USS Maryland (SSBN-738)
USS Nebraska (SSBN-739)
USS Rhode Island (SSBN-740)
USS Maine (SSBN-741)
USS Wyoming (SSBN-742)
USS Louisiana (SSBN-743)
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David
Sun January 4, 2004 12:31am
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SSN688 - Los Angeles Clas
Function: Nuclear powered Fast Attack submarine.
History: Deployed on November 13, 1976, the Los Angeles (SSN688) fast attack submarine marked a technological leap forward in submarine design. Built from the screw forward as a dedicated antisubmarine warfare (ASW) platform, the Los Angeles class submarines were designed to guard American Carrier Battle Groups by hunting Soviet submarines and anti-surface warfare (ASUW) capitol ships like the Kirov class BCGN. The Los Angeles submarines were faster, quieter, carried more sophisticated sensors and possessed better weapons than any other submarine in existence. In addition to their primary function as offensive ASW weapons the 688 boats perform a number of additional duties to include sub surface precision land attack strikes (using tube launched Tomahawk cruise missiles), intelligence gathering, mine warfare, and special operations support (SEAL deployment and recovery). In fact, their performance was so revolutionary that beginning with USS Providence (SSN719) the hull was lengthened to accommodate 12 vertical launch system (VLS) tubes to allow the submarines to launch Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles. Nearing the end of their 30-year lives, the Los Angeles class submarines are slowly being replaced by the Improved Los Angeles (San Juan SSN751), the Seawolf (SSN21) and ultimately by the Virginia class (SSN774).
General Characteristics, Los Angeles Class
Cost:
About $900 million each
Builders:
General Dynamics Electric Boat Division
Power Plant:
One S6G nuclear reactor, one shaft, 35,000 shaft horse power
Date Deployed:
November 13, 1976 (USS Los Angeles)
Length, Overall:
360 feet (109.73 meters)
Beam:
33 feet (10.06 meters)
Draft:
35 feet (10.67 meters)
Displacement:
6,927 tons (7,010.73 metric tons) submerged
Speed:
32 knots submerged
Crew:
13 Officers; 121 Enlisted
Armament:
Mk 48 ADCAP Torpedoes, launched from four 533mm torpedo tubes
Harpoon anti-ship missiles (tube launched)
Tomahawk anti-ship/ land attack missiles (tube launched SSN688 - SSN718, VLS launched SSN719 - SSN751)
Sensors:
BSY-1 combat data system
Radar:
1 AN/BPS-5 surface search radar
1 AN/BPS-15 navigation and fire control radar
Sonar:
1 TB-16 passive towed sonar array
1 TB-23 passive "thin line" towed sonar array
1 AN/BQG-5 wide aperture flank array
1 AN/BQQ-5 low frequency spherical bow sonar array
1 AN/BQS-15 close range active sonar (ice detection)
Mine and Ice Detection and Avoidance System (MIDAS)
SADS-TG active detection sonar)
Optics:
1 Type 2 attack periscope
1 Type 18 search periscope
Countermeasures:
WLR-9 acoustic intercept receiver
WLQ-4 ESM
WLY-1 torpedo decoy
Ships:
USS Los Angeles (SSN-688), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Philadelphia (SSN-690), Groton, CT
USS Memphis (SSN-691), Groton, CT
USS Bremerton (SSN-698), San Diego, CA
USS Jacksonville (SSN-699), Norfolk, VA
USS Dallas (SSN-700), Groton, CT
USS La Jolla (SSN-701), San Diego, CA
USS City of Corpus Christi (SSN-705), Groton, CT
USS Albuquerque (SSN-706), Groton, CT
USS Portsmouth (SSN-707), San Diego, CA
USS Minneapolis-St. Paul (SSN-708), Norfolk, VA
USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN-709), Norfolk, VA
USS Augusta (SSN 710), Groton, CT
USS San Francisco (SSN-711), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Houston (SSN-713), San Diego, CA
USS Norfolk (SSN-714), Norfolk, VA
USS Buffalo (SSN-715), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Salt Lake City (SSN-716), San Diego, CA
USS Olympia (SSN-717), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Honolulu (SSN-718), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Providence (SSN-719), Groton, CT
USS Pittsburgh (SSN-720), Groton, CT
USS Chicago (SSN-721), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Key West (SSN-722), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Oklahoma City (SSN-723), Norfolk, VA
USS Louisville (SSN-724), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Helena (SSN-725), San Diego, CA
USS Newport News (SSN-750), Norfolk, VA
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David
Thu January 8, 2004 3:03pm
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4th Army Air Force
Worn from 1 September 1943 to 1 September 1960
The Fourth Air Force provided air defense for the western United States until 1943. Later, it was engaged primarily in training replacements for combat units. The winged star symbolizes army air forces, while the four golden rays represent the unit's numerical designation. Activated 9 April 1941, March Field, California.
Campaigns:
American Theater.
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David
Thu January 8, 2004 3:03pm
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7th Army Air Force
Worn from 21 May 1943 to 1 July 1957
Originally constituted as Hawaiian Air Force on 19 October 1940, this unit provided air defense for the Hawaiian Islands and, after mid 1943, served in combat in the central and western Pacific areas. The star on a blue disk represents the army air forces and the Arabic numeral seven is the unit's designation. Activated 5 February 1942, Hickam Field, Hawaii.
Campaigns:
WWII (Central Pacific: Air Offensive, Japan; Eastern Mandates; Western Pacific; Ryukyus; China Offensive.)
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David
Thu January 8, 2004 3:03pm
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13th Army Air Force
Worn from 18 January 1944 to May 1955
The Thirteenth Air force served in the South Pacific and, later, the Southwest Pacific, participating in the allied drive north and west from the Solomon's to the Philippines. The winged star is the symbol for army air forces. The Arabic number thirteen is the numerical designation of the unit. Activated 13 January 1943 at Noumea, New Caledonia.
Campaigns:
WWII (China Defensive, Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Northern Solomon's, Eastern Mandate, Bismarck Archipelago, Western Pacific, Leyte, Luzon, Southern Philippines, China Offensive.
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David
Thu January 8, 2004 3:03pm
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Twentieth Army Air Force
Worn from 26 May 1944 to 1 March 1955.
Some combat elements of this unit moved in the summer of 1944 from the United States to India where they carried out very heavy bombardment operations against targets in Japan, Formaosa, Thiland, and Burma. Other combeat elements began moving late in 1944 from the US to the Marianas, being jo8ined there early in 1945 by the elements that had been in India. From the Marianaas, the Twentieth bonducted a strategic air offensive that was climaxed by the dropping of two atomic bombs on Japan. This unit also served in combat for a short time at the beginning of the Korean War. Among the commanders of this air force were General of the Army, Henery H. "Hap" Arnold, Major General Curtis E. LeMay and Lietenant General Nathan F. Twining. The winged star represents the army air forces, and the arabic number twenty is the unit's designation. Both are superimposed upon a globe. Activated 4 April 1944 at Washington D.C.
Campaigns:
WWII (American thater; India-Burma; Air Offensive, Japan; China Defensive; Eastern Mandates; Western Pacific; Central Burma).
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David
Thu January 8, 2004 3:03pm
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Air Force Air Transport C
The Air Force Air Transport Command (AFATC) shoulder patch was changed from the design previously used by its parent unit the Air Force Ferrying Command. This modified patch would be of the same general design but would be silver, instead of gold, and the morse code would read "AFATC" instead of the "AFFC". The design of the shoulder patch suggests a stylized aircraft being ferried from east to west over a portion of the globe. The design is based on a Presidential Directive from Franklin D. Roosevelt (as Commander in Chief) ordering that ircraft be ferried for delivery to the British "with the greatest possible speed." It should be noted that the short and long red and blue lines extending from the globe to the tip of the wing form the Morse code letters and were part of the originally approved design. Although the QMG made no mention of the new "cloth" insignia just the metal insignia, it is believed that these patches were worn by local approval only.
The AFATC was established on June 20th, 1942, as a successor Command to the SAir Forces Ferrying Command with Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The Ferrying Division of AFATC took charge of all ferrying operations and continured this missiion of ferrying aircraft to foreign and domestic destinations and often delivered 8,000 aircraft monthly. AFATC was also made responsible for transporting all War Department personnel, material, and mail (escept for areas served by Troop Carrier Units). In addition, AFATC was given the control, operation, and maintenance for all air route facilities and establishments in effect, the AFATC became "an agency in which the War Department had centered a;ll responsibbility for the development of air transport." To accomplish its mission, AFATC established a network of over 200 bases along 100,000 miles of overseas routes and 35,000 miles of domestic routes. Aircraft from civilian carriers were contracted (Air Carrier Contracat Personnel)) and added to the Command, ad passenger service became a major function of AFATC. With the addition of overseas wings to the Command, the prompt delivery of cargo to combat areas in any theater of operations became "one of the most significant developments of the war." While statistics do not indicat4 how many battles were won by the prompt delivery of priority cargo to the battlefront by the Air Transport Command, history reveals that no battle was ever lost because of a lack of support from the men of this fine unit.
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David
Thu January 8, 2004 3:03pm
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5th Army Air Force
The 5th Air Force - Headquarters on Java in the Neatherlands Indies, February 1942. Headquarters moved to Brisbane, Australia in September 1942, and moved throughout the Sowthwest Pachific with the Allied advance.Worn from 25 March 1943 to the Mid 1950's
This air force lost most of its men and equipment in the defense of the Philippines after 7 December 1941. In January 1942, re-equipped, they were sent to Java to help delay Japanese advances in the Netherlands Ins. The Fifth participated in operations that stopped the Japanese drive in Papua, recovered New Guinea, neutralized islands in the Bismarck Arhipelago and the Netherlands East Indies, and liberated the Philippines. From June 1950 to July 1953, it was engaged in the Korean war. The five small stars form the Southern Cross constellation under which the unit fought in the Pacific theater. The army air force star is encompassed in the comet taken from the unit's aircraft markings. The three tails represent bombers, fighters, and troop carriers. Activated 5 February 1942 in the Dutch East Indies.
Campaings:
WWII (Philippine Islands; East Indies; Air Offensive, Japan; China Defensive; Papua, New Guinea; Northern Solomons; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; Southern Philippines; China Offensive), Korean War (UN Defensive, UN Offensive, CCF Intervention, First UN Counter Offensive, CCF Spring Offensive, UN Summer-Fall Offensive, Second Korean Winter, Summer-Fall 1952, Third Korean Winter, Summer-Fall 1953).
Decorations:
Distinguished Unit Citations (Philippine Islands, 8-22 December 1941; Philippine Islands, 7 December 1941-10 May 1942; Papua, September 1942-23 January 1943). Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (two are shown in AFR 900-902)
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David
Thu January 8, 2004 4:36pm
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Western Defense AAA Patch
Western Defense AAA Patch (AAA Commamd) 7/1942-10/1946
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David
Sat January 10, 2004 1:57am
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RT West Virginia CCC Spec
RT West Virginia CCC Special Forces Patch 11/1967-3/1972
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David
Thu April 15, 2004 2:05pm
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Vincennes, 24 February 17
Warfare between frontiersman and Indian increased in intensity during the Revolution. The British from posts at Niagara and Detroit encouraged Indian attacks that harassed the westernmost settlements. In mid-1778 George Rogers Clark with about 175 to 200 men set out on an expedition sponsored by the Commonwealth of Virginia with the ostensible purpose of defending Kentucky but with secret orders to take the British posts in the Illinois country and if possible, Detroit. In July 1778 by surprise moves and by winning the sympathy of the French settlers he captured Vincennes and Kaskaskia without firing a shot.
In December 1778 Colonel Henry Hamilton, the British commander at Detroit, retaliated, recapturing Vincennes and rebuilding the dilapidated Fort Sackville there. Clark, determined not to have Vincennes remain in British hands, started out on a bold 180-mile mid-winter march from Kaskaskia to retake the fort. Fording and ferrying numerous icy streams and flooded rivers, Clark and his nearly starved men reached Vincennes on 23 February 1779. He warned the inhabitants of his approach and marched his men back and forth with many flags to create the impression of an overwhelming force. The French welcomed the Americans and the Indians fled into the woods.
After a brief fight Hamilton agreed to surrender, and on the 25th marched his garrison from the fort between two companies of frontiersmen. Looking around as he presented his sword to Clark, Hamilton is said to have exclaimed, "Colonel Clark, where is your army?" At the same moment two other American companies entered Fort Sackville and raised the American flag.
Clark was unable to achieve his goal of capturing Detroit and did not completely halt Indian attacks on Kentucky, but his amazing exploits strengthened American claims to the Northwest territory.
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David
Thu April 15, 2004 2:05pm
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Yorktown, 14 October 1781
In the summer of 1781, ending a campaign in Virginia, Cornwallis took post at Yorktown with a force of about 8,000 men. Washington, meanwhile, guarding Clinton's main British force in New York, was joined in April by 4,000 French troops under the Comte de Rochambeau. On 14 August he learned that French Admiral De Grasse, with a powerful fleet, was sailing from the West Indies to the Chesapeake Bay. In the hope of surrounding Cornwallis by land and sea, Washington hurried southward with the main portion of the Franco-American Army, leaving only a small force to guard Clinton in New York.
The plan worked remarkably well. De Grasse arrived in the Chesapeake on 30 August, landed additional French troops, and fought an indecisive battle with the British fleet, but at its end remained in firm control of the bay as the Allied armies arrived. On 28 September these armies began siege operations, using the traditional European system of approaches by parallel trenches. In order to complete the second parallel, Washington ordered the seizure of two British redoubts near the York River. The French were assigned the first, Redoubt No. 9, and the American Light Infantry under Lt. Col. Alexander Hamilton the second, Redoubt No. 10. On the evening of 14 October, as covering fire of shot and shell arched overhead, the Americans and French moved forward. The Americans, with unloaded muskets and fixed bayonets, did not wait for sappers to clear away the abatis, as the French did, but climbed over and through the obstructions. Within ten minutes the garrison of Redoubt No. 10! was overwhelmed. The French also met with success but suffered heavier losses.
After a vain attempt to escape across the York, Cornwallis surrendered his entire force on 19 October 1781, an event that virtually assured American independence, although the final treaty of peace was not signed until 3 September 1783.
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David
Mon October 4, 2004 11:07am
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Lance Cpl. Brian E. Ander
Lance Cpl. Brian E. Anderson
26
2nd Light Armored Reconnais- sance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division
Durham, North Carolina
Killed in a vehicle accident west of Nasiriya, Iraq, on April 2, 2003
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:52am
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Defence Medal 1939-1945
Defence Medal 1939-1945
The Defence Medal was awarded for service in the forces in non-operational areas subjected to air attack or closey threatened for at least three years service in Great Britain until 8th May 1945 or six months in territories overseas until 2 September 1945. In the case of mine and bomb disposal units the time qualification was three months and Canadians serving for one year in Newfoundland were eligible and persons serving for six months in Hong Kong were also eligible. Service in West Africa, Palestine and India, other than operational air crew, qualified also for this award. Those awarded the George Cross or the George Medal for civil defence received this award and the Home Guard gualified also for this award.
Owing to the terms of reference it was not unusual to find a person with this awards who had never heard a shot fired, but a person with only the Defence Medal, for example, whilst serving in the rescue services in London earned also this award and only the man who wears this award knows how it was earned.
The award has the coinage head of King George VI on the obverse. The reverse shows the Royal Crown resting above a small oak tree and flanked by two heraldic lions. The dates 1939 and 1945 appear in the top left and right respectively on the reverse, whilst beneath are the words THE DEFENCE MEDAL.
The light green ribbon is 1.25 inches wide with a central stripe of orange, which is 0.5 inches wide, and a narrow black stripe in the middle of each green stripe. The orange (flame colour) represents the enemy attacks on the green land of England and the black stripes represents the black-outs.
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