David
Sat January 3, 2004 10:35pm
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T-AKF - MV American Cormo
Function: The MV American Cormorant, stationed at Diego Garcia, is part of Military Sealift Command?s Prepositioning Program. The ship carries Army watercraft.
History: The American Cormorant was built in 1974 by Eriksbergs Mekaniska Verkstads AB and named Ferncarrier. In 1982, American Cormorant was converted and acquired in 1985 for time charter by MSC.
Description: The MV American Cormorant is a semi-submersible float-on/float-off ship, the only one in the US Flag Merchant Fleet. The ship has the ability to submerge its cargo deck to load and discharge its floating cargo of Army watercraft. Her submersible capacity allows her to lift exceptionally heavy loads.
General Characteristics, American Cormorant Class
Builders:
Eriksbergs Mekaniska Verkstads AB
Power Plant:
One Eriksberg/Burmeister and Wain 10K8EF diesel; 19,900 hp; one shaft; two thrusters; 3,000 horsepower
Length, Overall:
738 feet (224.94 meters)
Beam:
135 feet (41.15 meters)
Displacement:
69,555 long tons (70,671.23 metric tons) full load
Speed:
14 knots (16.11 mph, 25.93 kph)
Crew:
21 civilians
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David
Sat January 3, 2004 10:35pm
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T-AO - Henry J. Kaiser Cl
Function: Thirteen underway replenishment oilers are operated by Military Sealift Command and provide underway replenishment of fuel to U.S. Navy ships at sea and jet fuel for aircraft assigned to aircraft carriers. Three of the newest MSC underway replenishment oilers have double hulls.
History: Fitted with integrated electrical auxiliary propulsion, the delivery of USNS Patuxent (T-ATF 201), USNS Rappahannock (T-ATF 204) and USNS Laramie (T-ATF 203) was delayed by the decision to fit double hulls to meet the requirements of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. This modification increased construction time from 32 to 42 months and reduced cargo capacity by 17 percent, although this can be restored in an emergency. Hull separation is 1.83 m at the sides and 1.98 m on the bottom. USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO 187) has become part of the MSC Prepositioning Program at Diego Garcia, carrying aviation fuel.
Description: There are stations on both sides of each ship for underway replenishment of fuel and stores.
General Characteristics, Henry J. Kaiser Class
Builders:
Avondale Shipyards, Inc., New Orleans, LA
Power Plant:
Two Colt-Pielstick 10 PC4.2 V 570 diesels; 34,442 hp(m) (24.3MW) sustained; 2 shafts; cp props
Length, Overall:
677.5 feet (206.50 meters)
Beam:
97.5 feet (29.72 meters)
Displacement:
40,700 long tons (41,353.16 metric tons); 42,000 long tons (42,674.02 metric tons) [T-AO 201, 203-204] full load
Capacity:
180,000; 159,000 [T-AO 201, 203-204] barrels of fuel oil or aviation fuel
Speed:
20 knots (23 mph, 37.05 kph)
Crew:
82 civilian crew (18 officers); 21 Navy (1 officer) plus 21 spare
Aircraft:
Helicopter platform only
Ships:
USNS Henry J. Kaiser (TAO 187) ? Prepositioning Program
USNS Walter S. Diehl (T-AO 193) USNS Ericsson (T-AO 194)
USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO 195)
USNS Kanawha (T-AO 196)
USNS Pecos (T-AO 197)
USNS Big Horn (T-AO 198)
USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO 199)
USNS Guadalupe (T-AO 200)
USNS Patuxent (T-AO 201)
USNS Yukon (T-AO 202)
USNS Laramie (T-AO 203)
USNS Rappahannock (T-AO 204)
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David
Sat January 3, 2004 10:52pm
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U.S. Coast Guard Barque E
Function: Training vessel for CG Academy Cadets
History: The Eagle bears a name that goes back to the early history of the United States' oldest contiunous seagoing service. The first Eagle was commissioned in 1792, just two years after the formation of the Revenue Marine, the forerunner of today's Coast Guard. Today's Eagle, the seventh in a long line of proud cutters to bear the name, was built in 1936 by the Blohm & Voss Shipyard, Hamburg, Germany, as a training vessel for German Naval Cadets. It was commissioned Horst Wessel and following World War II was taken as a war prize by the United States. On May 15, 1946, the barque was commissioned into U.S. Coast Guard service as the Eagle and sailed from Bremerhaven, Germany to New London, Connecticut.
Description: The Eagle is a three-masted sailing Barque with 21,350 square feet of sail. It is homeported at the CG Academy, New London, Connecticut. It is the only active commissioned sailing vessel in the U.S. maritime services. (One of five such Training Barques in world. Sister ships include: MIRCEA of Romania, SAGRES II of Portugal, GORCH FOCK of Germany, and TOVARICH of Russia). The Eagle serves as a seagoing classroom for approximiately 175 cadets and instructors from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. It is on the decks and rigging of the Eagle that the young men and women of the Academy get their first taste of salt air and life at sea. From this experience they develop a respect for the elements that will be with them throughout their lifetime. They are tested and challenged, often to the limits of their endurance. Working aloft they meet fear and learn to overcome it. The training cadets receive under sail has proven to be an invaluable asset during their subsequent Coast Guard careers. On the Eagle, cadets have a chance to practically apply the navigation, engineering and other training they receive in classes at the Academy. As upper-class cadets, they perform the leadership functions normally handled by junior officers. As under-class cadets, they fill positions normally taken by the enlisted crew of the ship, including helm watch at the huge brass and wood wheels used to steer the vessel. Sailing in the Eagle, cadets handle more than 20,000 square feet of sail and 5 miles of rigging. Over 200 lines must be coordinated during a major ship maneuver, so cadets must learn the name and function of each line. The ship readily takes to the task for which it was designed. Eagle's hull is built of steel, four-tenths of an inch thick. It has two full length steel decks with a platform deck below and a raised forecastle and quarterdeck. The weatherdecks are three-inch-thick teak over steel. When at home, the Eagle rests alongside a pier at the Coast Guard Academy on the Thames River. The Academy was originally founded in 1876 with a class of nine students on board the Revenue Cutter Dobbin. In 1932, a permanent Academy was built on land donated by the New London community. Enrollment at the Academy numbers approximately 700 men and women, all of whom sail at one time or another on America's only active duty square rigger.
General Characteristics, Barque Eagle
Length, Overall:
295 feet
Maximum Range:
5,450 miles
Maximum Speed:
11-16 knots (under full sail)
Crew:
12 Officers, 38 crew, 150 cadets (average)
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David
Sat January 3, 2004 11:33pm
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BB61 - Iowa Class Battles
Function: Last of the world's Surface Action capital ships.
History: Following a legacy established by the HMS Dreadnaught, the Iowa class battleships represent the ultimate personification of the Ship of the Line. Originally designed as the flagship of the United States fleet, the battleships were overshadowed by the emergence of the aircraft carrier in World War II. Despite this, however, battleships played an indispensable role during that war, their enormous firepower serving to protect not only the carriers but the rest of the fleet from enemy surface and air action as well as providing unequaled fire support during amphibious operations. Despite their age, no other ship currently afloat can deliver the same degree of firepower with the same accuracy over an extended period of time as the Iowa class battleships. Commissioned in the 40's the Iowa class battleships have participated in every major conflict the United States has been involved in since World War Two. Following their peacetime recommissioning in the 1980's the four Iowa battleships were able to serve supporting roles in carrier or amphibious battlegroups, or in low air threat environments, serve as flagships for Surface Action Groups.
General Characteristics, Iowa Class
Ships:
USS Iowa (BB-61), Decommissioned, Inactive
USS Wisconsin (BB-64), Decommissioned, Inactive
Builders:
BB 61 - New York Naval Shipyard, Brooklyn, N.Y.
BB 64 - Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, PA
Power Plant:
Eight Babcock & Wilcox boilers, four General Electric or Westinghouse steam turbines, four shafts, 212,000 total shaft horsepower
Length, Overall:
888 feet (273 meters)
Beam:
109 feet (33.5 meters)
Displacement:
Approximately 57,353 tons full load
Speed:
35 knots (40 mph)
Dates Deployed:
February 22, 1943;
Decommissioned October 26, 1990 (USS Iowa)
April 16, 1944; Decommissioned September 30, 1991 (USS Wisconsin)
Crew:
Ship's Company: 1,515
Armament:
Guns:
9 Mk 7 16"/50 caliber naval cannons
12 Mk 12 5"/38 caliber general purpose cannons
1 Mk 15 Mod 2 Close-In Weapon System (4 mounts)
Missiles:
32 Tomahawk cruise missiles in Armored Box Launchers (ABL)
4 Mk 141 Harpoon Missile Quad-Cannister Launcher
Sensors:
One AN/SPS-48 air search radar
One AN/SPS-67 surface search radar
One AN/SPQ-9 gunfire control radar
Four Mk 37 gunfire control radar
Two Mk 38 gun director
One Mk 40 gun director
Countermeasures:
One AN/SLQ-29 electronic warfare suite
One AN/SLQ-25 towed torpedo decoy (Nixie)
Aircraft:
Four SH-3 or SH-60 helicopters
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David
Sun January 4, 2004 12:31am
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SSN671 - USS Narwhal Fast
Function: One-of-a-kind prototype built off of the Sturgeon class SSN design.
History: Literally in a class by herself, the USS Narwhal was the only submarine of the Sturgeon class to be built with a prototype natural circulation nuclear reactor. Because the natural circulation powerplant did not need noise generating pumps to circulate the reactor coolant, at the time of her construction the Narwhal was the quietest submarine in the world. Coupled with the most advanced sensors and combat systems available, the Narwhal was without peer in the performance of her duties. Given her superior performance, Narwhal was ideally suited to perform intelligence gathering eavesdropping missions; during the course of her career Narwhal deployed overseas seventeen times and was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation, three Meritorious Unit Commendations, five Battle Efficiency "E" awards, four Engineering "E" awards, the Antisubmarine Warfare "A", the Communications "C", and the Supply "E" awards.
General Characteristics, USS Narwhal
Builders:
General Dynamics Electric Boat Division
Power Plant:
One S5W nuclear reactor, two steam turbines, one shaft, 15,000 shaft horse power
Date Deployed:
July 12, 1969; decommissioned January 5, 1999
Length, Overall:
314 feet (95.7 meters)
Beam:
38 feet (11.58 meters)
Draft:
28.8 feet
Displacement:
5,350 tons submerged
Speed:
20+ knots (23.02+ miles per hour, 37.05 +kph)
Crew:
120
Armament:
Mk 48 ADCAP Torpedoes, launched from 4 533mm torpedo tubes
Harpoon anti-ship missiles (tube launched)
Tomahawk anti-ship/ land attack missiles (tube launched)
Radar:
1 AN/BPS-14/15 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-2/5 low frequency spherical bow sonar array
1 AN/BQS-12/13 active sonar array
1 AN/BQR-6 active sonar array (in submarines equipped with the BQQ-2)
1 AN/BQR-7 passive sonar array (in submarines equipped with the BQQ-2)
Optics:
1 Type 2 attack periscope
1 Type 18 search periscope
Countermeasures:
WLR-9 acoustic intercept receiver
WLQ-4 ESM
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David
Sun January 4, 2004 12:31am
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SSN688(I) - San Juan Clas
Function: Nuclear powered Fast Attack submarine.
History: The Los Angeles class SSN design proved to be so effective that as time progressed and technological improvements were made to the submarine's systems, rather than build a completely new class of boat it was decided to reuse the Los Angeles design, but fitted with newer, more advanced systems. Based on research and development studies, performed in part by USS Memphis (SSN691) which had been specifically modified during refit to serve as a technology test bed, several major improvements were made to the basic Los Angeles design. In addition to internal upgrades to improve the submarine's sensors and to make it quieter, the hull was also modified to increase submerged speed. Furthermore, by strengthening the sail and moving the forward dive planes from the sail to the bow, the San Juan boats have a true "under ice" capability. The Improved Los Angeles (or San Juan class) submarines currently fill the role of America's front line fast attack submarine, surpassing the Los Angeles class in all respects, and will continue to serve until replaced by either the Seawolf class (SSN21) or the Virginia class (SSN774).
General Characteristics, San Juan 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
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, launched from a 12 tube vertical launch system (VLS)
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 San Juan (SSN 751), Groton, CT
USS Pasadena (SSN-752), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Albany (SSN-753), Norfolk, VA
USS Topeka (SSN-754), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Miami (SSN-755), Groton, CT
USS Scranton (SSN-756), Norfolk, VA
USS Alexandria (SSN-757), Groton, CT
USS Asheville (SSN-758), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Jefferson City (SSN-759), San Diego, CA
USS Annapolis (SSN-760), Groton, CT
USS Springfield (SSN-761), Groton, CT
USS Columbus (SSN-762), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Santa Fe (SSN-763), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Boise (SSN-764), Norfolk, VA
USS Montpelier (SSN-765), Norfolk, VA
USS Charlotte (SSN-766), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Hampton (SSN-767), Norfolk, VA
USS Hartford (SSN-768), Groton, CT
USS Toledo (SSN-769), Groton, CT
USS Tucson (SSN-770), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Columbia (SSN-771), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Greeneville (SSN-772), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Cheyenne (SSN-773), Pearl Harbor, HI
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David
Sun January 4, 2004 12:31am
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Deep Submergence Rescue V
Function: Deep submergence rescue vehicle.
History: DSRVs were developed as a result of the USS Thresher submarine accident in 1963, when all hands were lost. At the time, submarine operating depths greatly exceeded the capabilities of rescue vessels. The Deep Submergence Systems Project contracted with Lockheed Missiles and Space, Co. to produce a deep diving rescue submarine, the first of which was launched in 1970.
Description: The primary mission of the DSRV is to provide a quick reaction, worldwide, all-weather capability to rescue personnel from submerged, disabled submarines (DISSUB) of the U.S. Navy or foreign navies at depths up to 2000 feet. The maximum operating depth is approximately 5000 feet. Mystic can be transported by truck, aircraft, surface ship, or on a mother submarine. For a rescue operation, it can dive, locate the DISSUB, and attach itself to the DISSUB's rescue seat. After the DSRV is properly attached to the submarine, the DISSUB's access hatches are opened and submarine personnel can directly the DSRV. The DSRV then detaches from the submarine and transfers the rescued personnel to the support ship.
General Characteristics, DSRV
Builders:
Lockheed Missiles and Space Company, Sunnyvale, CA
Power Plant:
Electric motors, silver/zinc batteries,
1 shaft, 15 shaft horsepower, 4 thrusters, 7.5 horsepower
Length, Overall:
49 feet (14.94 meters)
Beam:
8 feet (2.44 meters)
Displacement:
38 long tons (38.61 metric tons)
Speed:
4 kts (4.6 mph, 7.40 kph)
Maximum Operating Depth:
5,000 feet (1524 meters)
Crew:
2 pilots, 2 rescue personnel and capacity for 24 passengers
Sonar:
Deep submergence obstacle avoidance sonar (DSOAS): 27 kHz, (8,000 yard range)
Downward looking sonar (DLS): Sonar for hatch mating 500 kHz (600 ft. range)
Altitude/depth sonar(A/D): 24 kHz SONAR 0-5,000 ft. range)
UQC, 8 kHz, Voice and CW (ATM 504)
Directional listening hydrophone tuned to 3.5 kHz
Side looking sonar (installed for alternate mission), 1 ft. resolution, 183 kHz; maximum range 1200 ft. either side (2400 ft. total)
Equipment:
One gripper/cutter designed to clear debris from hatch; capable of cutting steel cable and lifting 1000 lbs.
Ships:
Mystic (DSRV-1) deployed 1970
Avalon (DSRV-2) deployed 1971
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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 3:22pm
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Third Armored Division
Worn from: 15 April 1941 to 1991
Tab "Spearhead"
Activated at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana. The Arabic number three represents the division's designation. The tab recalls the numerous times when the Third was called upon to "spearhead the attack."
Campaigns:
WWII (Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe), Armed Forces Expeditions (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait).
Decorations:
Presidential Unit Citation WWII (streamer embroidered MONS), French Croix de Guerre with Palm (streamer embroidered MONS), Belgian Fourragere 1940, cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in Belgium and action in the Ardennes.
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David
Thu January 8, 2004 3:22pm
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Sixth Armored Division
Worn from 15 February 1942 to 16 March 1956
Tab: "Super Sixth"
Activated at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The Arabic number six shows the division's designation. The history of the Super Sixth is brief, but their deeds were great and live on in the hearts of all patriotic Americans. Normandy, Muhlhausen, Buchenwald, and the Battle of the Bulge are inscribed for all time in the pages of this outfit's history, and the spirits of nearly five thousand soldiers killed or wounded bear witness to the unit's sacrifices in the cause of freedom. The Super Sixth gained fame for its ability to move and overcome enemy resistance rapidly and was credited with 272 days of combat but lost 4,670 men killed and wounded in five campaigns
Campaigns: WWII (Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe)
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David
Thu April 15, 2004 2:05pm
Rating: 10
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Trenton, 26 December 1776
The winter of 1776 was the bleakest of what had become a War for Independence, a time that indeed "tried men's souls." The victorious British had driven General George Washington and his army of Continentals and militia from New York. Confident that the ill-clad and ill-fed Americans would fade away when enlistments expired at the year's end, General William Howe withdrew a major portion of his force from New Jersey to the comforts of Manhattan island. Washington realized his army's only chance of survival lay in a victory over the remaining scattered garrisons of the British and their Hessian mercenaries.
On Christmas evening Washington's ragged American army left its encampment and crossed the Delaware River in a driving sleet and snow storm. At dawn, 26 December 1776, the near-frozen Continentals surged into Trenton catching the Hessians, weary from the previous night's celebration, by surprise.
Colonel Johann Rall, the garrison commander, attempted to form a line of defense on King and Queen Streets with two regiments and the Knyphausen battery. Aware of Rall's plans, the Continentals, supported by General Henry Knox's artillery and heartened by the presence of Washington, overwhelmed the guns at a dead run. The loss of the artillery position caused Rall's regiments to withdraw. Their powder damp, deprived of artillery support, their commander mortally wounded, the surviving Hessians surrendered.
Bolstered by this success Washington was able to keep his army together for several more weeks during which time he again crossed the Delaware and won a victory over the British troops at Princeton. These two engagements assured the survival of a small core of Continentals and, in turn, the survival of the American cause of Independence.
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Doc.2/47
Wed June 2, 2004 1:35pm
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Command track 2-47(Mech)
Took this 2nd pic. of the command track a little further down Hwy. 7 from the first.Wanted a pic. of the road sign-first I'd seen in a long time.
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frisco-kid
Wed August 11, 2004 3:55pm
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A Good Time.
Even the dogs were having a good time.
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David
Mon September 13, 2004 6:50am
Rating: 10
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XM8
The XM8 Future Combat Rifle is intended to replace existing M4 Carbines and select 5.56mm x45 weapons in the US Army arsenal beginning as early as the fourth quarter of FY05.
In October 2002 ATK (Alliant Techsystems) was awarded a $5 million contract modification from the U.S. Army Armament Research, Development, and Engineering Center (ARDEC), Picatinny, N.J., to develop the new XM8 Lightweight Assault Rifle. ATK Integrated Defense, Plymouth, Minn., and teammate Heckler and Koch, Oberndorf, Germany, will support the rapid development program, which will investigate the potential of the XM8 as the lightweight assault rifle for the Army's Objective Force.
The XM8 will be based on the kinetic energy weapon that is part of the XM29 next-generation infantry weapon system (formerly the Objective Individual Combat Weapon) currently under development by ATK Integrated Defense. The kinetic energy weapon, which fires 5.56mm ammunition, will provide maximum commonality in components and logistics with the XM29 system.
The XM8 will provide lethality performance comparable to the currently fielded M4 carbine rifle, while weighing 20 percent less than the M4 because of advanced technologies developed for the XM29 program.
The XM8 Lightweight Assault Rifle will reduce the 21st century soldier's load and increase his mobility - two very important aims of the Army's Objective Force Warrior and Land Warrior initiatives. The progress made to reduce weight and improve performance on the XM29 program is key to the decision on accelerating the development of the XM8, which is integrated with the Army's efforts to transform to a more lethal and rapidly deployed fighting force as part of its Objective Force.
ATK Integrated Defense is the system integrator on the XM29 program. Teammates on the program are Heckler and Koch, weapon development; ATK Ammunition Systems, Arden Hills, Minn., ammunition development; Brashear LP, Pittsburgh, Pa., integrated full solution fire control; and Omega, Columbus, Ga., training systems.
The XM8 is a true family of weapons with different barrel lengths designed to address all the needs of an infantry squad. The standard model is expected to be lighter than the M4 carbine and no larger in size. There?s also a sharpshooter version for increased range; a compact version for cramped quarters; and an auto-rifle version for a squad-automatic weapon. The XM8 family has a 9-inch compact, 12.5-inch carbine and a 20-inch sharpshooter and automatic rifle. The 12.5-inch carbine is 6.4 pounds with an objective of 5.7 pounds and is 33 inches with its adjustable stock extended. The M-16 A2 is 39.63 inches long and 8.79 pounds with a 30-round magazine.
Internally, the XM8 uses a rotary locking bolt system that functions and fieldstrips like those used in the M-16 rifle and M-4 carbine, according to the XM8 manufacturer?s ? Heckler & Koch ? Website. The bolt is powered by a unique gas operating system with a user-removable gas piston and pusher rod to operate the mechanism. Unlike the current M-4 and M-16 direct gas system with gas tube, the XM8 gas system does not introduce propellant gases and carbon back into the weapon?s receiver during firing.
While the XM8 was not exposed to battlefield conditions, it?s still a feat the current service rifle hasn?t come close to rivaling, said Rich Audette, deputy project manager for PM Soldier Weapons. During their Oct. 20-23 2003 trip to Germany, the weapons experts said they were impressed after watching Heckler & Koch engineers fire four high-capacity magazines, with 100 rounds a piece, in less than five minutes.
This improved reliability can be credited to differences in the XM8?s operating system from the one in the M16. For instance, a thin gas tube runs almost the entire length of the barrel in all of the M16 variants. When the weapon is fired, the gases travel back down the tube into the chamber and push the bolt back to eject the shell casing and chamber a new round. The XM8?s gas system instead is connected to a mechanical operating rod, which pushes back the bolt to eject the casing and chamber the new round each time the weapon is fired. So there?s no carbon residue constantly being blown back into the chamber, reducing the need to clean the weapon as often. You don?t get gases blowing back into the chamber that have contaminates in them. The XM8 also has a much tighter seal between the bolt and the ejection port, which should cut down on the amount of debris that can blow into the weapon when the ejection port?s dust cover is open.
The XM8 is part of the Army?s effort to perfect an over-and-under style weapon, known as the XM29, developed by Alliant Techsystems and H&K. It fires special air-bursting projectiles and standard 5.56mm ammunition. But the XM29 still is too heavy and unwieldy for Army requirements. Instead of scrapping the XM29, the Army decided to perfect each of XM29?s components separately, so soldiers can take advantage of new technology sooner. The parts would be brought back together when lighter materials become available. The XM8 is one of those components.
From December 2003 through late May 2004, soldiers got a chance to fire the prototypes in desert, tropical and arctic environments. A limited-user test then was conducted, possibly at Fort Campbell, Ky., where soldiers test the prototypes for about three weeks while training in offensive and defensive scenarios. Improvements will be made based on soldier and test feedback before the final three-months of operational tests, which are scheduled to begin in fall 2004. The final decision will be up to the Army?s senior leadership, but weapons officials said they were confident the XM8 weapon system will be adopted. If all goes well, the XM8 could be ready for fielding by late summer 2005.
Beginning life as the 5.56mm KE (kinetic energy) component of the 20mm air-bursting XM29 Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW), the XM8 Lightweight Modular Carbine System represents the state-of-the-art in 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles. Developed by the US Army?s office of Project Manager for Soldier Weapons located at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey in close conjunction with the US Army Infantry Center, the XM8 Future Combat Rifle is intended to replace existing M4 Carbines and select 5.56mm x45 weapons in the US Army arsenal beginning as early as the fourth quarter of FY05. Once adopted, the M8 Carbine will replace the aging M16/M4 family of weapons, which have been in service for nearly four decades, longer than any previous US service rifle. The M8 Carbine will be up to 20% lighter than a comparably equipped M4 Carbine MWS and yet offer additional features and performance unavailable currently in any assault rifle in the world.
As a direct development of the separable OICW (XM29) KE or Kinetic Energy module, the M8 Carbine will share a high degree of common parts and training and maintenance procedures to lessen the required support for the ?family? of XM8 weapons. Being developed are four XM8 variants, which include a baseline carbine, a sharpshooter variant, an automatic rifle variant, and the ultra-compact carbine variant. A unique feature of the XM8 modular weapon system is the ability to easily and quickly reconfigure the weapon from one variant to the other to meet changing mission requirements, to include caliber conversion.
This modularity includes the exchange of interchangeable assembly groups such as the barrel, handguard, lower receiver, buttstock modules and sighting system with removable carrying handle. In addition and in parallel, the new XM320 quick detachable single-shot 40mm grenade launcher with side-opening breech and LSS lightweight 12 gauge shotgun module can be easily added to the XM8 by the user in the field without tools. The unique buttstock system allows the operator exchange buttstocks without tools from the standard collapsible multi-position version, to an optional buttcap for maximum portability or an optional folding or sniper buttstock with adjustable cheekpiece for special applications. Internally the XM8 employs a combat-proven robust rotary locking bolt system that functions and fieldstrips like that used in the current M16 rifle and M4 carbine. However this bolt is powered by a unique gas operating system that employs a user removable gas piston and pusher rod to operate the mechanism. Unlike the current M4/M16 direct gas system with gas tube, the XM8 gas system does not introduce propellant gases and the associated carbon fouling back into the weapon?s receiver during firing. This greatly increases the reliability of the XM8 while at same time reducing operator cleaning time by as much as 70%. This system also allows the weapon to fire more than 15,000 rounds without lubrication or cleaning in even the worst operational environments. A cold hammer forged barrel will guarantee a minimum of 20,000 rounds service life and ultimate operator safety in the event of an obstructed bore occurrence.
The XM8 has fully ambidextrous operating controls to include a centrally located charging handle that doubles as an ambidextrous forward assist when required, ambidextrous magazine release, bolt catch, safety/selector lever with semi and full automatic modes of fire and release lever for the multiple position collapsible buttstock. The operating controls allow the operator to keep the firing hand on the pistol grip and the weapon in the firing position at all times while the non-firing hand actuates the charging handle and magazine during loading and clearing. Major components of the weapon are produced from high-strength fiber reinforced polymer materials that can be molded in almost any color to include OD green, desert tan, arctic white, urban blue, brown and basic black. Surfaces on the XM8 that interface with the operator are fitted with non-slip materials to increase comfort and operator retention. The XM8 uses 10 or 30-round semi-transparent box magazines and high-reliability 100-round drum magazines for sustained fire applications.
Special integral flush mounted attachment points are located on the handguard and receiver to allow the quick attachment of targeting devices. Unlike MIL-STD-1913 rails, the XM8 attachment points do not add additional weight, bulk and cost to the host weapon, and will accept MIL-STD-1913 adapters to allow for the use of current in-service accessories. The attachment points for the standard multi-function integrated red-dot sight allow multiple mounting positions and insure 100% zero retention even after the sight is removed and remounted. The battery powered XM8 sight includes the latest technology in a red dot close combat optic, IR laser aimer and laser illuminator with back-up etched reticle with capability exceeding that of the current M68-CCO, AN/PEQ-2 and AN/PAQ-4. This sight will be factory zeroed on the weapon when it is delivered and does not require constant rezeroing in the field like current rail-mounted targeting devices. The XM8 will be fully compatible with future Land Warrior technology and components.
The US XM8 Carbine is being designed at the HK Defense design center in Sterling, Virginia and will be produced and assembled in the United States at the new Heckler & Koch manufacturing plant located in Columbus, Georgia, adjacent to Fort Benning. The unit cost of the XM8 will be less than that of the current M4 Carbine and will guarantee the American war fighter uncompromising performance far exceeding that of current in-service M4 Carbines.
XM-8 Prototype Specifications
Caliber:
5.56 x 45mm NATO
Builder:
Heckler & Koch
Weight:
6.4 lbs (prototype),
5.7 lbs objective
Overall Length:
33.3 inches (carbine stock extended)
Barrel Length:
Assault: 12.5"
Sharpshooter: 20.0"
Compact: 9.0"
Automatic Rifle: 20.0"
Rate of Fire:
Cyclic - 750 rpm
Sustained - 85 rpm up to 210 rounds
Rate of Twist:
1 in 7 inches
Barrel Life:
20,000 rounds mininum
Muzzle Velocity:
3005 feet/second (M855 Ball) with 20" barrel
2675 feet/second with 12.5" barrel
2365 feet/second with 9.0" barrel
Magazine Capacity:
10 or 30 rounds (magazines can be nested together); 100 round drum available
Stock:
5 position adjustable for length
Bayonet Lug:
Yes (12.5 & 20" barrels)
Bipod Interface:
Yes (20" only)
Sighting System:
Fully integrated red dot with laser illuminator and pointer
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David
Tue October 5, 2004 2:54am
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Iron Cross, Eisernes Kreu
Iron Cross, Eisernes Kreuz
The history of the Iron Cross dates back to her introduction as a Prussian decoration for merit by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia.1813. It was instituted as a direct result of the liberation war against Napoleon. Because of this institution it was more or less a campaign decoration.
After Napoleon defeated the Prussian army in 1807, it was forced to fight for the French cause. Right after Napoleons defeat at Moscow in December 1812, the Prussians resisted their oppressor. To commemorate that fact the Iron Cross was instituted on March 20th 1813. The design came from Karl Friedrich Schinkel, a Prussian architect.
The design was kept very simple. The core was made by a black cross, surrounded by a silver trim. The obverse side had an oak leave in the middle. Below that on the lower arm the year 1813 was placed. The upper arm was gifted with a crowned Royal Cipher ?FW?. The front side would be blank until the original obverse turned to front side in 1838. The decoration was instituted with three grade, the Grosskreuz (Grand Cross) for senior commanders and the 1. Klasse (1st Class) and 2.Klasse (2nd Class) for individual merit in combat. The 1st and 2nd Class crosses had a size of 42mm although examples are known within the sizes 28mm to 42mm. The 2nd Class cross contained an eye welded to the top with which it could be attached to a ribbon. At the backside of the 1sr Class cross two eyes were welded to be able to sew is to the uniform. The ribbon was black with on both sides a white stripe. Non-combatant receivers got the Iron Cross on a white ribbon with two black stripes. The Grand Cross was 62mm in size and was worn on a ribbon around the neck in the same colours.
The Iron Cross was only to be awarded in war times with the goal to replace the peacetime awards. In reality other awards like the Rote Adlerorden (Order of the Red Eagle) and the Pour le M?rite were also awarded.
After the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, the Iron Cross was not to be awarded until the ending of the Franco-Prussian war in 1871. The decoration was re instituted on July 19th 1870 as a campaign award for merit.
The front (original obverse) was kept unchanged, but became once again the obverse. On the renewed front the upper arm got a crown and the Royal Monogram ?W? was placed in the middle. The year 1870 was placed on the lower arm. After the Franco-Prussian War, the Iron Cross again wasn?t awarded until the outbreak of the First World War.
It was again renewed in 1914. The institution date for the new Iron Cross was August 5th 1914. The design was kept the same as the 1870 version, but the date of 1870 was replaced with 1914. The Iron Cross retained her three grades, but this time with a standard size of 42mm. The width of the ribbon could vary between 25mm and 30mm. The construction was unchanged with a blackened iron core surrounded with the silver trim. Because iron and silver became rarer during the war, later crosses were made of alloy and silvered plated trim.
In 1939 the Iron Cross again was renewed, this time as an order of the German Reich. The ribbon now got the Reich?s colours black white and red. In contrary to the old Imperial orders, the Iron Crosses grades all could be awarded regardless the military ranks. Also the Iron Cross became for the first time a real German decoration. Before that is was only awarded to Prussian military. The original symbolic Iron Cross was remained unchanged, but the old Imperial and Royal symbols were replaced by the new Reich symbol of the Swastika. The year was changed to 1939 as the new date of institution.
At the institution date, four grades were instituted, 2nd Class, 1st Class, Knights Cross and Grand Cross. The grades would be further extended during the war years. To commemorate actions of merit from the First World War, both the 1st Class (EK I) and 2nd Class (EK II) crosses could be worn in the form of a new clasp called a ?spange?, worn on a First World War ribbon. To obtain a higher grade, all lower grades had to be obtained first. In some cases EK II and EK I could be obtained at the same time. Even more rarely this also was done with higher grades. It was allowed to wear all grades at the same time, which was not a custom in other countries with comparable orders. Most recipients found the original decoration to be very valuable that they often bought cheaper replica at own costs. The original was mostly kept at home.
A grade in the Iron Cross could be awarded for different reasons. Beside actions of exceptional merit, it could also be obtained for successful military planning, courage in non military actions, exceptional leadership and even for merital actions done by the soldiers under the command of the recipient. The Iron Cross could be obtained by military within the whole Wehrmacht, military from Germany?s allies, but also by uniformed civilians.
After the Second World War the carrying of the Swastika and German World War 2 decorations for military and political activities were forbidden by law. In 1957 this law was changed. Decorations from the Second World War were permitted. The Swastika still is forbidden, but the decorations themselves could be worn again, when the Swastika was removed. Recipients of the Iron Cross got with this possibility their recognition for pure military merit and it lost her political history. To replace lost or broken examples and because many didn?t want to remove the Swastika from their historical item, in 1957 from most former military decorations a special denazified version was produced.
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