Military - Recent changes [en]

National Navy of Uruguay

2013-05-21T20:38:50Z

Created page with "The '''National Navy of Uruguay''' (''Armada Nacional del Uruguay'') is a branch of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Uruguay Armed Forces of Uruguay] under the di..."

New page

The '''National Navy of Uruguay''' (''Armada Nacional del Uruguay'') is a branch of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Uruguay Armed Forces of Uruguay] under the direction of the Ministry of National Defense and the commander in chief of the Navy (''Comandante en Jefe de la Armada'' or COMAR) Admiral [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Juan_Heber_Fern%C3%A1ndez_Maggio&action=edit&redlink=1 Juan H. Fernández].

The service is divided into four main sections:
:*'''Fleet Command''' (''Comando de la Flota'' or COMFLO),
:*'''Coast Guard''' (''Prefectura Nacional Naval'' or PRENA),
:*'''Materiel Directorate''' (''Dirección General de Material Naval'' or DIMAT), and
:*'''Personnel Directorate''' (''Dirección General de Personal Naval'' or DIPER).
The Fleet Command is in charge of most of the actual ships of the fleet, the marines, and the naval aviation bases and aircraft. The Coast Guard administers the modest Uruguayan merchant marine and naval registry. The Naval Materiel Directorate preserves and repairs naval equipment, in addition to administering the fleet arsenal and directing hydrological and meteorological study. The Personnel Directorate is concerned with human resources and particularly the administration of the Uruguayan Naval Academy.

In addition, the Fleet General Staff (''Estado Mayor General de la Armada'' or ESMAY) assists the admiral in his administration. It oversees naval intelligence, strategic and tactical planning, logistics, liaison, and political lobbying on the Navy's behalf.
==History==
===Independence===
Under the late [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Empire Spanish Empire], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montevideo Montevideo] became the main naval base (''Real Apostadero de Marina'') for the South Atlantic, with authority over the Argentine coast, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioko Fernando Po], and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falkland_Islands Falklands].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Navy_of_Uruguay#cite_note-3 [3]] The arrival of 100 ships under Viceroy [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Antonio_de_Cevallos Pedro de Cevallos] in 1777 was the beginning of the city's prosperity.

The Uruguayan navy, however, dates its origin from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_Gervasio_Artigas General Artigas]'s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_of_marque letter of marque] on 15 November 1817, which authorized his forces to plunder [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Provinces_of_South_America Buenosairean] shipping wherever they found it. Under the nominal leadership of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Campbell_%28naval_officer%29 Pedro Campbell], the Irish "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaucho Gaucho] Admiral", around 50 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privateer privateer] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schooner schooners] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brig brigs] (including the ''República Oriental'', the ''Fortuna'', the ''Valiente'', the ''Temerario'', and the ''Intrépido'') were able to capture more than 200 enemy vessels as far off as Madagascar, Spain, and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antilles Antilles].
===Early Republic===
See also: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uruguayan_Civil_War Uruguayan Civil War]Following [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisplatine_War independence], a navy was established under Colonel [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pablo_Zufriategui&action=edit&redlink=1 Pablo Zufriategui], a veteran of Artigas's campaigns and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty-Three_Orientals 33 Esterners]. As Captain of Ports (''Capitán General de Puertos''), he fought smuggling and in 1832 directed the first sovereign engagement as the schooner ''Aguila'' chased off the pirate ship ''Exquisit'' from Uruguayan waters.

Although the force remained too small to play a decisive role in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uruguayan_Civil_War Great War], it is notable that command of the small fleet was personally assumed by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giuseppe_Garibaldi "Jose" Garibaldi], who captured [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonia_del_Sacramento Colonia del Sacramento], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isla_Mart%C3%ADn_Garc%C3%ADa Isla Martín García], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gualeguaych%C3%BA,_Entre_R%C3%ADos Gualeguaychú]. The flagship during this period was the corvette ''Sarandí'', named after an important battle in the war for independence.

The first specially fitted warships were the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunboat gunboats] ''General Rivera'', ''General Artigas'', and ''General Suárez''. The first was assembled in Uruguay by the Academy of Arts & Crafts (''Escuela de Artes y Oficios'') and commissioned in April 1884; the second was constructed in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trieste Trieste], then part of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary], and commissioned in December 1884; the last was the 23-year-old French gunboat ''Tactique'', acquired in 1886. The ''General Rivera'' was the first ship of the Navy to pass the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Magellan Strait of Magellan].
===Modern Era===
Just prior to World War One, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudio_Williman President Williman] devoted considerable effort and expense to modernizing the navy, viewing it as demanded for Uruguay's "sovereignty and honor."[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Navy_of_Uruguay#cite_note-4 [4]] After false starts in 1817, 1863, and 1874, the Naval Academy (''Escuela Naval'') was finally permanently established in December 1907. New ships included the gunboat ''Dieciocho de Julio'' (constructed in the UK in 1889), the cruiser ''Montevideo'' (also British, 1887), the transport ''Maldonado'' (constructed in Germany in 1886 and soon rebaptized as the ''Barón de Río Branco'' for its tasks for the Commission on the Limits of the Merín Lagoon), the steamer ''Vanguardia'', and the courier ''Oriental''. The cruiser ''Uruguay'' was constructed to order in Germany and commissioned August 1910. Also in 1910, the government acquired the Cibils-Jackson shipyard, renaming it the National Dock. These advances were then sabotaged by funding cutbacks throughout the 1920s that left the navy poorly maintained.

In June 1916, the tug ''Instituto de Pesca Nº1'' - manned by servicemen - was the second failed attempt to rescue the men of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Trans-Antarctic_Expedition#Rescue Shackleton's expedition] from Elephant Island.

In 1925, the Fleet Aeronautics Service (''Servicio de Aeronáutica de la Armada'') was created under Captain Atilio Frigerio, the first Uruguayan pilot to obtain the brevet of Military Pilot (Aviano, Italy, 1912). The first planes, however, did not arrive until 1930.

In 1934, the first Naval Act (''Ley Orgánica de la Armada'') created the Inspectorate of the Navy (''Inspección General de Marina''), freeing the Navy from direct subordination to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uruguayan_Army Army]. The next year, three patrol boats ordered from Cantieri Navali Riuniti in Genoa arrived. The ''Paysandú'', ''Salto'', and ''Río Negro'' served for about thirty years, were decommissioned, and then were brought back into service in the 90s.
===World War II===
See also: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_River_Plate Battle of the River Plate]In December 1939, the Río de la Plata saw the first major naval engagement of World War II when the German pocket battleship [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_pocket_battleship_Admiral_Graf_Spee ''Admiral Graf Spee''] faced the cruisers [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ajax_%2822%29 HMS ''Ajax''], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMNZS_Achilles_%2870%29 ''Achilles''], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Exeter_%2868%29 ''Exeter''] and then fled into Montevideo harbor during the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_River_Plate Battle of the River Plate]. Although Uruguay was officially neutral, her pro-British sentiment allowed the Royal Navy to carry out a highly successful disinformation campaign that ended in the German scuttling of the ship.

In 1940, La Paloma's Naval Base (''Base Naval de la Paloma'') was established. The same year, Uruguay introduced conscription and the Navy established the battalions ''Zapicán'' and ''Honor y Patria'' as part of its Reserve Fleet. The next year, the Navy created the Naval War School (''Escuela de Guerra Naval'') to improve its officers' training.

Although Uruguay did not officially join the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allies_of_World_War_II Allies] until 15 February 1945, it was involved in assisting the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convoy#World_War_II convoy] effort. This involved the confiscation of two Italian and two Occupied Danish freighters in Montevideo, which were manned by the Navy and rechristened the ''Montevideo'', the ''Maldonado'', the ''Rocha'', and the ''Colonia''. The ''Montevideo'' was sunk by an Italian sub in March 1942, which prompted Uruguay to seize the German freighter ''Tacoma''. In August 1942, the ''Maldonado'' was sunk after its commander was taken prisoner by an attacking German U-Boat. Following this, Uruguay leased a number of its boats to the US Navy and received in 1944 the ASW-capable corvette ''Maldonado''.

The Fleet Aeronautics Service received six Kingfisher hydroplanes from the United States of America in 1942 and Laguna del Sauce Aeronaval Base (Base Aeronaval No.2 de Laguna del Sauce) in 1947.
===Cold War===
Following World War II, the beginning of the Cold War saw the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inter-American_Treaty_of_Reciprocal_Assistance Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance] signed in Rio de Janeiro, which provided for "Hemispheric defense" and required signatory states to work to improve and coordinate their naval forces. Between 1949 and 1952, the FAS received sixteen TBM Avenger torpedo bombers, three SNJ Texan trainers, and twelve F6F Hellcat fighters. More, in 1952, the surface fleet received the destroyer escorts ''Uruguay'' (DE-1) and ''Artigas'' (DE-2) and, in 1953, the frigate ''Montevideo''.

In 1955, the Coast Guard received the three launches PS-1, PS-2, and PS-3. In May 1959, the PS-2 stood out in the rescue of the crew of the ''Pietrina'' off the English coast.

In 1957, the UNITAS joint exercises began between the United States and the navies of Latin America. The basic training was oriented towards protection of marine lines of trade and communication, focusing on escort and ASW exercises. With the aim of improving the navy's range and support capability, the oiler ''Presidente Oribe'' was purchased in 1962; ten years later, the second oiler ''Presidente Rivera''; and in 1978, the ''Juan Antonio Lavalleja''.

From 1960 to 1962, naval officers on the ''Alférez Cámpora'' circumnavigated the globe.

In 1965, three S2A Tracker ASW planes were received; in 1966, the minesweepers ''Cte. Pedro Campbell'' and ''Montevideo''; in 1969, the tender ''Hurrican''; in 1970, the minesweepers ''Rio Negro'' and ''Maldonado''. In 1973, the destroyer ''18 de Julio'' replaced the ''Montevideo''.

The present Uruguayan Marine Corps (''Cuerpo de Fusileros Navales'') was established in 1972.

In 1978, repairs were completed to the ROU 20 ''Capitan Miranda'' that converted it into a training ship and sailing school. Following graduation from the Naval Academy, cadets embark on a cruise of the world that functions as a good-will tour for Uruguay.
===Current===
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rou0401.jpg][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rou0401.jpg]Plotting course on the ROU 04 ''General Artigas''In 1981, three French-designed ''Vigilante'' class patrol boats arrive for the Coast Guard – the ''15 de Noviembre'', ''25 de Agosto'', and ''Comodoro Coe'' – but it is discovered that their upkeep is considerably more expensive than promised, and the ships are quite unsuited for conditions in the Rio de la Plata. An attempt to sell them in 1995 found no buyers, however, and so the ships have remained in active service.

In 1988, the Navy acquired a new ship to replace its previous oilers, christened the ''Presidente Rivera''.

From 1989 to 1991, three ''Commandant Riviere'' class frigates are purchased from France. These are christened the ROU 02 ''General Artigas'', the ROU 01 ''Uruguay'', and the ROU 03 ''Montevideo''. These too run into problems, particularly with upkeep, and the ''General Artigas'' is removed from service. In a decision between the two ships, the ''Uruguay'' is decommissioned and the ''Montevideo'' receives repairs and refurbishment.
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CorbCapitanMiranda-MDQ-1.jpg][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CorbCapitanMiranda-MDQ-1.jpg][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schooner Schooner] ROU ''Capitán Miranda'', [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Training_ship training ship] of the Uruguayan navyFollowing the fall of Communism, a number of former East German Volksmarine ships are purchased from the new government. In 1991, the Navy receives the minesweepers ROU 31 ''Temerario'', ROU 32 ''Valiente'', ROU 33 ''Fortuna'', and ROU 34 ''Audaz''. These are named for corsairs of the independence era. On 5 August 2000, the ''Valiente'' sank after a collision. Also in 1991, the ''Otto von Guericke'' is purchased and converted into the ROU 26 ''Vanguardia''.

The Coast Guard received new ships from the United States of America, the ''Colonia'' and ''Río Negro''; and in 1999, nine boats of the 44 class from the same country.

The buoy tender ''Sirius'' was constructed in Montevideo at the National Dock, which also refitted the Portuguese ''Cte. Pedro Campbell'' and ''Uruguay''.

Between 1996 and 1999, Wessex W60Mk2 and two Jetstreams are purchased for patrol and ASW.

At the end of 1998, the research ship ''Oyarvide'' was purchased from Germany for the purpose of studying and charting the Continental Shelf. It is hoped that the work will justify a redefinition of its boundaries that would approximately double Uruguay's marine exclusive economic zone to around 200,000 km².
==Organization==
The National Navy is composed of about 5,700 personnel organized principally into four commands, each with its distinctive color for official functions.
:*The '''General Corps''' (''Cuerpo General'' or CG) under the administration of Fleet Command (Color: Black)
:*The '''Coastal Corps''' (''Cuerpo de Prefectura'' or CP) under the administration of the Coast Guard (Color: Gray)
:*The '''Corps of Mechanical & Electrical Engineers''' (''Cuerpo de Ingenieros de Máquinas y Electricidad'' or CIME) under the administration of the General Directorate of Naval Materiel (Color: Blue)
:*The '''Corps of Provision & Administration''' (''Cuerpo de Aprovisionamiento y Administración'' or CAA) under the administration of the General Directorate of Personnel (Color: White)
In addition, there are two General Services Corps (''Servicios Generales'' or SS.GG.)
:*The Auxiliary Corps (''Cuerpo Auxiliar'' or CA) (Color: Purple) and
:*The Specialists Corps (''Cuerpo Especialista'' or CE) (Color: Green)
and the Naval Academy (''Escuela Naval'' or ESNAL).

The National Navy also includes the [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Uruguayan_Marine_Corps&action=edit&redlink=1 Uruguayan Marine Corps] and the National Naval Aviation Command.
==Fleet==
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Anapu.jpg][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Anapu.jpg]The former ''Cdt. Rivière'' class ROU 01 ''Uruguay'' and ROU 26 ''Vanguardia'' in port at Montevideo[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rou04.jpg][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rou04.jpg]Stern of the ROU 04 ''General Artigas''The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_prefix ship prefix] for Uruguay is ROU (for ''República Oriental del Uruguay,'' the "Oriental Republic of Uruguay"). In addition to their ship name, government ships are numerically listed. This is a position and not an identification number: as ships are decommissioned and replaced, their previous numbers are reused by newer vessels.

The current fleet consists of:[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Navy_of_Uruguay#cite_note-5 [5]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Navy_of_Uruguay#cite_note-6 [6]]
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
!Ship
!Name
!Class
!Type
!Commissioned
!Notes
|-
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"|'''Escort Division'''
|-
|ROU 01
|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uruguay Uruguay]''
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo%C3%A3o_Belo_class_Frigate João Belo]
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frigate Frigate]
|8 April 2008
|Formerly [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_Navy NRP] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo%C3%A3o_Belo_class_Frigate Cte. João Belo] ''(F480)''
|-
|ROU 02
|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cte._Pedro_Campbell&action=edit&redlink=1 Cte. Pedro Campbell]''
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo%C3%A3o_Belo_class_Frigate João Belo]
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frigate Frigate]
|8 April 2008
|Formerly [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_Navy NRP] ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo%C3%A3o_Belo_class_Frigate Cte. Sacadura Cabral]'' (F483)
|-
|ROU 04
|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Gervasio_Artigas General Artigas]''
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_German_Navy_ship_classes#700-799_support_vessels.2C_docks.2C_tugs.2C_special_vehicles Lüneburg] (E)
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Replenishment_oiler Replenishment oiler]
|6 Apr 2005
|Refitted with helipad. Used for helicopter patrol & transport. Formerly [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsche_Marine FGS] ''[http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freiburg_%28A_1413%29 Freiburg]''
|-
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"|'''Patrol Division'''
|-
|ROU 10
|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonia_del_Sacramento Colonia]''
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_class_patrol_boat Cape] (A)
|Patrol boat
|25 Jan 1990
|Formerly [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Coast_Guard USCGC] ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_class_patrol_boat Cape Higgon]''
|-
|ROU 11
|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%ADo_Negro_%28Uruguay%29 Río Negro]''
|Cape (C)
|Patrol boat
|25 Jan 1990
|Formerly [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Coast_Guard USCGC] ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_class_patrol_boat Cape Horn]''
|-
|ROU 12
|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paysand%C3%BA Paysandú]''
|Paysandú
|Patrol boat
|29 Nov 1968
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fincantieri Italian]-built[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Navy_of_Uruguay#cite_note-7 [7]]
|-
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"|'''Teaching Vessel'''
|-
|ROU 20
|''Capitán Miranda''
|Hydrographic
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schooner Schooner]
|28 Dec 1930
|Spanish-built. Survey ship prior to 1978, now a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Training_ship training ship]
|-
|ESNAL
|''Bonanza''
|Oceanic sail boat
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schooner Schooner]
|
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Training_ship training ship]
|-
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"|'''Auxiliary Ships Service'''
|-
|ROU 21
|''Sirius''
|Balizador
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buoy_tender Buoy tender]
|12 May 1988
|Built in Montevideo with assistance from Dutch [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damen_Group Damen SY]
|-
|ROU 22
|''Oyarvide''
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helgoland_class_tug Helgoland]
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survey_ship Survey ship]
|21 September 1998
|Also salvage tug, icebreaker, hydrographic research. Formerly [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsche_Marine FGS] ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helgoland_class_tug Helgoland]''
|-
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"|'''Service Division'''
|-
|ROU 23
|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maldonado,_Uruguay Maldonado]''
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wangerooge_class_tug Wangerooge] (B)
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvage_tug Salvage tug]
|20 Nov 2002
|Fitted for firefighting, hydrographic research. Formerly [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsche_Marine FGS] ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wangerooge_class_tug Norderney]''
|-
|ROU 26
|''Vanguardia''
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ships_of_the_Polish_Navy#Salvage_Ships Piast]
|Salvage tug
|18 Dec 1991
|Formerly 570 ''Otto von Guericke'', [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volksmarine VM]
|-
|ROU 27
|''Banco Ortiz''
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_naval_ship_classes_in_service#Minesweepers Type 270]
|Costal tug
|8 Nov 1991
|Formerly East Germany tug 4 ''Zingst'', [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volksmarine VM], Y1655 ''Elbe'',
|-
|ROU 42
|
|LADES
|Landing Ship
|
|
|-
|ROU 46
|
|LADES
|Landing Ship
|
|
|-
|
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"|'''Mining & Counter mining Division'''
|-
|ROU 31
|''Temerario''
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_naval_ship_classes_in_service#Minesweepers Kondor II]
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minesweeper_%28ship%29 Minesweeper]
|11 Oct 1991
|Formerly 89.242 ''Riesa'', [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volksmarine VM]
|-
|ROU 33
|''Fortuna''
|Kondor II
|Minesweeper
|11 Oct 1991
|Formerly 89.240 ''Bernau'', [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volksmarine VM]
|-
|ROU 34
|''Audaz''
|Kondor II
|Minesweeper
|11 Oct 1991
|Formerly 89.245 ''Eisleben'', [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volksmarine VM]
|}
Since 1997, the Uruguayan Naval Academy has also maintained the racing [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sloop sloop] ''Bonanza'', a gift from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Naval_Academy US Naval Academy] at Annapolis.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Navy_of_Uruguay#cite_note-8 [8]]
==Uruguayan Naval Aviation==
Uruguayan Naval Aviation (''Aviación Naval Uruguaya'' or ANU) is the sub-branch of the National Navy for naval aircraft and aviation training. Naval aircraft use a new wing emblem instead of the traditional Artigas roundel like the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uruguayan_Air_Force Uruguayan Air Force] for easier identification and use the Uruguayan National flag as fin flash.

Formed as Air Force Service of the Fleet (''Servicio de Aeronáutica de la Armada'') on 7 February 1925 but didn't receive first aircraft (two CANT 18 and one CANT 21) until 24 September 1930. 12 June 1934 Isla Libertad Naval Air Base (1) in Montevideo Bay operational. In 1942, Sikorsky OS2U-3 Kingfisher & Fairchild PT-23A trainer from US for base access. 10 Sept. 1947, Corvette Captain Carlos A. Curbelo Naval Air Base (2) at Laguna del Sauce operational. 1949-1957, large supply of Grumman Avenger, Grumman Hellcat, Martin Mariner delivered 1951, renamed Naval Aviation (Aviación Naval) 1955, renamed Uruguayan Naval Aviation (Aviación Naval Uruguaya) mid-60s, most reached end of life 1965, Grumman S-2A Tracker and Sikorsky CH-34J Small command w/Squadron Group (Grupo de Escuadrones) of 2 squadrons and 1 training school 2006, received 6 MBB Bo-105M from Germany.
==Current Order of Battle==
{| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align: left;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left;"|Type
! style="text-align: left;"|Versions
! style="text-align: left;"|In service
! style="text-align: left;"|Notes
|-
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_Super_King_Air Beechcraft Super King Air]
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States USA]
|ASW/SAR aircraft
|
|2
|
|-
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_S-2_Tracker Grumman S-2 Tracker]
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States USA]
|ASW/SAR aircraft
|
|4
|
|-
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handley_Page_Jetstream Handley Page Jetstream] TMk 2
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom United Kingdom]
|ASW/Trainer aircraft
|
|2
|
|-
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westland_Wessex Westland Wessex] HC.2-Mk 2
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom United Kingdom]
|Light transport helicopter
|
|6
|
|-
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBB_Bo_105 MBB Bo 105]
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany Germany]
|Light utility helicopter
|105C
|8
|
|-
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurocopter_AS355 Eurocopter AS355] HB.355F
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil Brazil]
|Light helicopter
|
|2
|
|}
Naval Aviation Academy (Escuela de Aviación Naval) Originally at Angel S Adami 1944-1947 Since then at Captain Carlos Curbelo Naval Air Base (2) at Laguna del Sauce 8 Beech [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-34_Mentor#Variants T-34C1] Turbo Mentors
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aviacion_Naval_Uruguaya.jpg]Coat of Arms
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aviaci%C3%B3n_Naval_del_Uruguay.gif]Wing Emblem
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Westland_Wessex_Mk60_%28WS-58%29.jpg]Westland Wessex Mk60
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Westland_Wessex_of_Uruguayan_Naval_Aviation.jpg]Westland Wessex refitted

Paraguayan War

2013-05-21T18:36:48Z

Ch'ŏnma-ho

2013-05-20T21:46:40Z

Created page with "The '''Ch'ŏnma-ho''' or spelled as '''Chonma-ho''' ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hangul Chosŏn'gŭl]: 천마호; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanja Hanja]: 天馬號), whi..."

New page

The '''Ch'ŏnma-ho''' or spelled as '''Chonma-ho''' ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hangul Chosŏn'gŭl]: 천마호; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanja Hanja]: 天馬號), which means "Sky Horse" or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegasus Pegasus], is one of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Korea North Korea's] secretive indigenous [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_battle_tank main battle tank] designs. The tank is also known by the name of 천리마 전차 （千里馬 or the "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chollima Chollima] Tank"). The original Ch'ŏnma-ho is based on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union Soviet] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-62 T-62]. There are at least five different operational versions of the Ch'ŏnma-ho. Since its inception, the Ch'ŏnma-ho has been upgraded various times. Not much is known about it, and its most recent public appearance was the 65th Anniversary Parade held in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyongyang Pyongyang], North Korea, on 10 October 2010, celebrating the 65th anniversary of North Korea's ruling party.
==Background==
After the [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Korean_Armistice_Agreement Armistice Agreement] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War Korean War] in 1953, North Korea found itself in need of much more modern equipment. Prior to the start of open hostilities, North Korea had acquired 379 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-34 T-34s] from the Soviet Union. According to a report to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Congress United States Congress] in 2000, the North Korean military had more or less 2,000 tanks garrisoned along the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Demilitarized_Zone Korean Demilitarized Zone] (DMZ) alone.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-6 [6]] This means that between the years 1954 and 2000 the North Koreans were able to stockpile over 2,000 tanks, including Soviet [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-55 T-55s] and T-62s and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China Chinese] Type 59s and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_62 Type 62s]. A North Korean general who defected to South Korea also said that due to a lack of fuel military exercises are limited.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-7 [7]] It is also possible that many of the older vehicles used by the North Korean People's Army are not well maintained and have suffered from years of use. This still remains true even assuming good maintenance, and the North Korean army would not be the only military experiencing this.

Although not much is known about the North Korean military after the Korean War, it is known that they have many different types of tanks. These include the Type 59 and Type 62, as well as the T-54, T-62 and possibly the T-72. The T-54 was probably sold to North Korea between 1960 and 1970, while the T-62 was reportedly sold in the mid 1980s. Unconfirmed reports indicate a few T-72s may have been provided to North Korea in the early 1990s. It is known that the North Koreans still make limited use of vintage [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II World War II] T-34s as well as the Soviet-era PT-76/85 amphibious tanks. Up to 5,400 tanks are coupled with at least 12,000 self-propelled artillery pieces and thousands of other towed artillery pieces of unknown type and number.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-8 [8]] The North Koreans also have at least nine different types of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armoured_personnel_carriers armoured personnel carriers], including the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMP-1 BMP-1].
===Role===
The Ch'ŏnma-ho has been issued to North Korea's premier armored formations, and would lead the initial attempts to break through South Korean defences. Other armour is relegated to a secondary role in this corps or to North Korea's four mechanized corps. To underscore North Korea's concept of combined arms and the importance of armour, and therefore the importance of the Ch'ŏnma-ho, North Korea's sole armour corps is directly grouped with two mechanized corps and a single artillery corps.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-Hodge.2C_pg._6-9 [9]] However, this forms the second echelon of North Korea's deployment to the DMZ, with the first echelon composed of four infantry corps,[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-Hodge.2C_pg._6-9 [9]] and the rest in strategic reserve. This may also play a part in a defensive strategy, as the North Korean army is arrayed in depth, and the armour might be strategically placed to both provide offensive power and a second echelon composed of mobile defences to plug a South Korean breakthrough along the DMZ.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-10 [10]]
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:T62.jpg][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:T62.jpg]Soviet [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-62 T-62]. The Ch'ŏnma-ho is a direct copy of the T-62 with several upgrades.The Ch'ŏnma-ho is a product of North Korea's approach of ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juche Juche]'', or self-reliance, which also includes several indigenous self-propelled artillery pieces. The idea of juche comes from a North Korean sentiment of abandonment by their allies, China and Soviet Union/Russia.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-11 [11]] This accounts for their drive towards overproduction and for recent North Korean nuclear developments, as well as the production of long-range missiles which provide North Korea with its longer range striking power. This all manifests itself within the 'triangle' of North Korean military development - armour, artillery and missiles. In fact, this seems reminiscent from Soviet military theory, including the application of overwhelming artillery support and the use of large amounts of armour to create a breakthrough after the initial artillery disruption. In that sense, North Korean military strategy is very mobile, and the large amounts of tanks underscores this. The Ch'ŏnma-ho is an attempt to partially address the technology gap between its current dated tank forces and South Korean [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K1A1 K1A1] and the US [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_Abrams M1 Abrams] tank.[''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed citation needed]'']

==Production history==
There might be two versions of the Ch'ŏnma-ho 1: the copy of the Syrian T-62 in the late 1970s, and an original copy exported by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union Soviet Union] which may be the T-62D.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-12 [12]] The Ch'ŏnma-ho is not related to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China Chinese] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_62 Type 62]. Despite its relation to the T-62, the original version of the Ch'ŏnma-ho had thinner armour and was consequently lighter.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-13 [13]] This version of the tank has two distinctive bolts on the bottom portion of the upper [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glacis glacis] plate. The Ch'ŏnma-ho I name was also given (at least by the West and South Korean white papers) to the imported T-62, which was later slightly upgraded to the IM version. Although no dates are available, the Ch'ŏnma-ho I was later upgraded to the II version with a laser rangefinder above the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_mantlet mantlet].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-Jedsite-14 [14]] According to online sources this Ch'ŏnma-ho was upgraded once again, probably in the mid-1980s, with a 'boom shield'. The Ch'ŏnma-ho III might have also seen an armour upgrade with the addition of full-hull skirting and a new thermal shroud for the original 115 mm main gun.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-Warford_2005.2C_p_3-15 [15]]
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ch%27onma-ho_Render.png][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ch%27onma-ho_Render.png]A conceptual drawing of the Ch'ŏnma-ho, with several upgrades, including the light explosive reactive armour.The most modern Ch'ŏnma-ho tanks seem to be the IV and V versions. The Ch'ŏnma-ho IV is fitted with what resemble [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=EDZ&action=edit&redlink=1 EDZ] light [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explosive_reactive_armour explosive reactive armour] bricks. Judging by photographs, these are mounted specifically on the turret side, with at least eight bricks per side. The Ch'ŏnma-ho IV is reported to be upgraded with new side-mounted [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Smoke_launcher&action=edit&redlink=1 smoke launchers].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-Jedsite-14 [14]] North Korea is rumored to have received a few examples of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-72 T-72s] after 1992, and possibly a single [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-90 T-90]S main battle tank in August 2001.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-Warford_2005.2C_p_3-15 [15]] Any conclusion regarding whether the Ch'ŏnma-ho has been upgraded to the standards of either the T-72 or the T-90S would be highly speculative at this point.

Around 90% of the Ch'ŏnma-ho is indigenously produced.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-Geibel-16 [16]] There is evidence, however, that North Korea has purchased entire engines, or engine components, from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovakia Slovakia].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-bermudez51-17 [17]] Furthermore, it is thought that ceramic components, possibly for an upgraded armour scheme, are from foreign sources, as well as fire control components.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-Geibel-16 [16]] It is not clear how much is indigenously produced in regards to the different variants of the Ch'ŏnma-ho. The figure of 90% could have changed considerably between the original Ch'ŏnma-ho I and the Ch'ŏnma-ho V, although it should be kept into consideration that many of the major features are probably purchased from abroad - especially for the upgrades of the tanks. It is not clear how much North Korea can afford on producing on its own, or how much it can afford to import for that matter. It is thought that North Korea is considerably low on resources, especially money, and this belief has been perpetuated after North Korea's nuclear test incidents in 2006.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-18 [18]] It is possible that Russia is supplying North Korea with several components for North Korea's tank projects which include the Ch'ŏnma-ho and quite possibly the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-2002 M-2002], although no hard evidence can support this claim.

In August 2010 North Korean media revealed images of its new main battle tank the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokpung-ho Pokpung-ho] (also known as the M-2002), which had been rumoured to have been under development since the early 1990s and to have undergone performance trials in 2002. While precise details of its capabilities remain unclear, the Pokpung-ho appears to be simply a further improvement of the Ch'ŏnma-ho.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-19 [19]] The news concerning North Korea's future main battle tank has certainly driven [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea South Korea] to look for outlets for their own national tank programs, including the future South Korean Main Battle Tank, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XK2 K2].
==Deployment history==
It is unknown which units of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_People%27s_Army Korean People's Army] might be outfitted with the Ch'ŏnma-ho. It is clear that the Ch'ŏnma-ho is a general replacement for previously employed tanks, including the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-62 T-62], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-34 T-34] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_59 Type 59] medium tanks.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-bermudez50-20 [20]] It is very possible that the Ch'ŏnma-ho will equip the spearhead and elite of North Korea's armoured forces. They are apparently deployed in sufficient numbers to be strategically significant. There might be as many as 800 T-62s in addition to the over 1000 Ch'ŏnma-ho's in the North Korean army,[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-21 [21]] of which any number could be one of the five Ch'ŏnma-ho variants.
==Models==
*'''Ch'ŏnma-ho I (Ga)''' - Lightened copy of the T-62 with thinner armour[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-Tank-3 [3]]

**'''Ch'ŏnma-ho II (Na)''' - Similar to a stock T-62, but has several differences, has a laser rangefinder housed in a blister above the main gun atop the turret (though the original T-62 doers have a laser rangefinder, the Ch’onma-ho 1 do not – and the laser rangefinder of the T-62 is an integral part of the fire control system, rather than an add-on part like on the Ch’onma-ho 2). Fitted with spaced appliqué armor on the turret in a ring around the turret ("boom shield") – thin plates of steel welded onto the turret atop bars provide a space between the shields and the turret armor to provide the equivalent of spaced armor, as well as doubling as turret baskets for crew equipment and vehicle equipment.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-Tank-3 [3]]
*'''Ch'ŏnma-ho III (Da)''' - A simple progressive upgrade of the Ch’onma-ho 2, with a thermal sleeve for the main gun and armored track skirts added. It is possible, but considered unlikely, that lugs for ERA have been added since its introduction; if they are present, they would be most likely found on the glacis and turret sides. A night vision upgrade.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-Tank-3 [3]]
*'''Ch'ŏnma-ho IV (Ra)''' - Greatly upgraded armor protection, including composite armor on the glacis and turret front, and appliqué or thickened armor elsewhere. Even the appliqué and/or thickened armor appears to be more advanced than earlier models, does not appear to have gained a huge amount of weight. A ballistic computer was added to the fire control suite, and the fire control suite has been integrated into a complete system rather than being a patchwork of upgrades. Gun stabilization has been improved. Radios are improved, and the suspension beefed up. The new engine is a 750-horsepower model which can lay a thick, oily smoke screen by injecting diesel fuel into its exhaust. Lugs for ERA (similar to the Russian Kontakt-3 ERA) added to turret sides, and lugs on the armored track skirts and on the glacis. Lugs for a relatively small amount of ERA bricks on the turret front; the ERA on the turret front would only protect 40% of hits to the turret front. On side of turret, clusters of four smoke grenade launchers; at the rear of the turret another cluster of four smoke grenade launchers, firing backwards instead of forwards.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-Tank-3 [3]]
*'''Ch'ŏnma-ho V (Ma)''' - Armor upgrades derived partially from the T-90S and T-72S, as well as a better ballistic computer and the addition of the aforementioned thermal imagers. Upgraded main gun – a copy of the 125mm 2A46 gun, complete with an autoloader. The fire control system replaced with one matching the new main gun, and the spent shell ejection system dispensed . Use wider tracks.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-Tank-3 [3]]
*'''Ch'ŏnma-ho VI (Ba)''' - Newly improved armor. fitted with rubber plates to defend shape charged warheads. The chassis has been stretched, and six roadwheels per side instead of five. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-Tank-3 [3]]
*'''Ch'ŏnma-ho II''' - Designation for imported T-62
*'''Ch'ŏnma-ho IM''' - Improved imported T-62[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-Tank-3 [3]]
===Variants===
*'''Ch'ŏnma-ho ARV''' - [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armoured_recovery_vehicle Armoured recovery vehicle] with a casemate superstructure
*'''Ch'ŏnma-ho Command''' - Command variant of the tank with a fake main gun
*'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juche-Po Juche-Po]''' - Self-propelled artillery gun on a modified Ch'ŏnma-ho chassis. The Juche-Po is an improvement over the [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tok-Ch%27%C5%8Fn&action=edit&redlink=1 Tok-Ch'ŏn] artillery piece, which was mounted on an ATS-59 chassis. There are at least four M1991 versions of the Juche-Po, each mounting a different gun; the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/122_mm_howitzer_2A18_%28D-30%29 D-30] 122 mm, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-74 D-74] 122 mm, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/130_mm_towed_field_gun_M1954_%28M-46%29 M-46] 130 mm and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ML-20 ML-20] 152 mm howitzer. A fifth M1992 version is armed with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=SM-4-1&action=edit&redlink=1 SM-4-1] 130 mm howitzer. These artillery pieces can be identified by their six road wheels, as compared to the Tok-Ch'ŏn's five, and a prominent recoil cylinder which protrudes from the turret. Another major difference is the fact that the Juche-Po has a fully encased rounded turret, as opposed to the older open-topped self-propelled artillery pieces used previously.
==Operators==
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran Iran] - 150 ordered in 1981 from North Korea and delivered between 1982 and 1985.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-SIPRI-2 [2]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-softland-4 [4]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-Czo.C5.82gi_.C5.9Awiata-5 [5]]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Korea North Korea] - 470 were produced between 1980 and 1989 (the original order was placed in 1976).[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-SIPRI-2 [2]] Overall more than 1,200 were produced.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-softland-4 [4]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27%C5%8Fnma-ho#cite_note-Czo.C5.82gi_.C5.9Awiata-5 [5]] as many as 1,000 are currently in service in addition to roughly 800 T-62's (Which are capable of receiving the same upgrades)

User:Imthesupersaiyan

2013-05-20T21:39:20Z

Type 74

2013-05-20T21:37:38Z

Created page with "The '''Type 74''' (74式戦車 ''nana-yon-shiki-sensha''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Installing_Japanese_character_sets <span clas..."

New page

The '''Type 74''' (74式戦車 ''nana-yon-shiki-sensha''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Installing_Japanese_character_sets ?]) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_battle_tank main battle tank] (MBT) of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Ground_Self-Defense_Force Japan Ground Self-Defense Force] (JGSDF). It was built by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Heavy_Industries Mitsubishi Heavy Industries] as a replacement for the earlier [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_61 Type 61]. It was based on the best features of a number of contemporary designs, placing it in the same class as the US [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M60_Patton M60] or German [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard_1 Leopard 1]. Like these designs, it mounts the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Ordnance_L7 Royal Ordnance L7] 105 mm gun. The design did not enter widespread use until 1980, by which point other western forces were starting the introduction of much more capable designs.
==History==
The JGSDF started studies on a new tank design with Mitsubishi in 1962, as it was realized that the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_61 Type 61] would not be able to defeat the latest Soviet designs like the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-62 T-62]. Features from several designs were incorporated, including the controllable suspension of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBT-70 MBT-70], the rolled steel hull of the Leopard 1, and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Ordnance_L7 L7 105mm gun]. Features unique to the design included a rotating cupola for the commander, and a new [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoloader autoloader] for the main gun. The design was finalized in 1964 and various test rigs were built between 1964 and 1967.

The first prototype, designated STB-1, was delivered in late 1968 and underwent a number of modifications until 1969. The autoloader proved too complex and expensive, and was removed, additionally the remote controlled anti-aircraft machine gun was removed. The design of the turret was also changed, becoming longer. These changes resulted in the STB-3, which was delivered in 1971. The final prototype designated STB-6 was delivered in 1973. Production finally started as the Type 74 in September 1975, with 225 being delivered by January 1980. Production ended in 1989, with total production running to 893 examples.

In service, the tanks were updated with the addition of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infra-red infra-red] imagers (not [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_intensifier image intensifiers]) for the commander and gunner, and a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_rangefinder laser rangefinder] in the commander's cupola. The gunner's position included a digital fire control computer, fed range data from the commander's range finder. Rounds for the main gun were upgraded from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_explosive_squash_head HEP] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/APFSDS APFSDS] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HEAT HEAT-MP].

The Type 74 was generally outdated even before it entered service. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_90_Ky%C5%AB-maru Type 90] was to have replaced it outright, but with the ending of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War Cold War] these plans were scaled back. In 1993 four Type 74's were improved to the new '''Type 74 Kai (改) [Type 74 mod G (G型)]''' standard, adding a passive infrared camera, side skirts, and so on. The upgrade proved to be extremely expensive, and the program was dropped.
==Variants==
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Type_74_Tank_rear.JPEG][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Type_74_Tank_rear.JPEG]Rear view.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Japanese_-_Type_74_tank_-_2.jpg][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Japanese_-_Type_74_tank_-_2.jpg]Front view.*Type 74 first mod (74式戦車初期生産型)
*Type 74 mod B (74式戦車 B型)
*Type 74 mod C (74式戦車 C型)
*Type 74 mod D (74式戦車 D型)
*Type 74 mod E (74式戦車 E型)
*Type 74 mod F (74式戦車 F型)
*Type 74 mod G/Kai (74式戦車 G型/改)
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_87_Self-Propelled_Anti-Aircraft_Gun Type 87 Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun] (87式自走高射機関砲)
*Type 78 Armoured recovery vehicle (78式戦車回収車)
*Type 91 Armoured vehicle-launched bridge (91式戦車橋)
==Operators==
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan Japan] - 893 produced between September 1975 and 1989, with 225 being delivered by January 1980. 822 in service in 1990, 870 in service in 1995 and 2000, 700 in service in 2006.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_74_Nana-yon#cite_note-1 [1]]

M103 heavy tank

2013-05-20T21:33:52Z

Created page with "The '''M103 heavy tank''' served the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army United States Army] and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps US M..."

New page

The '''M103 heavy tank''' served the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army United States Army] and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps US Marines] during the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War Cold War]. Until the development of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_Abrams M1 Abrams] in the mid-1970s, it was the heaviest and most heavily armed tank in US service. The M103 was manufactured at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_Arsenal_Tank_Plant Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant] and the first units were accepted in 1957. The last M103s were withdrawn from service in 1974.
==Design and development==
Like the contemporary British [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conqueror_tank Conqueror tank], the M103 was designed to counter [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union Soviet] heavies such as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josef_Stalin_tank Josef Stalin tank] or the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-10_Heavy_Tank T-10] if a conventional [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_III World War III] broke out. Its long-ranged 120 mm cannon was designed to hit enemy tanks at extreme distances. In 1953-1954 a series of 300 tanks, initially designated T43E1, were built by Chrysler at the Newark plant. Testing was unsatisfactory, with the tanks entering storage in August 1955. After improvement recommendations, on 26 April 1956 the tank was designated the M103 Heavy Tank. Of the 300 T43E1s built, 80 went to the US Army (74 of which were rebuilt to M103 standard), and 220 were accepted by the US Marine Corps, to be used as infantry support, rebuilt to improved M103A1, then M103A2 standards.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M103_heavy_tank#cite_note-2 [2]]

The successive versions of the M103 shared many components with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M47_Patton M47] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M48_Patton M48 Patton] tanks and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M60_Patton M60], which, with the exception of the M60 (a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_battle_tank main battle tank]) were all considered 90 mm gun (medium) tanks. Tracks, rollers and suspension elements were the same, with some modification to take into account the greater weight. The engine and transmission were never modified enough to give the extra power needed for the greater weight of the M103, and as a result, the tank was relatively underpowered and the drive systems were fragile.

The turret of the M103 was larger than that of the M48 or the M60 to make room for the huge 120 mm gun and the two loaders assigned to it, in addition to the gunner and the commander. The driver sat in the hull. The gun was capable of elevation from +15 to -8 degrees.
===Armor===
The armor is made from welded rolled and cast homogeneous [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel steel] of varying thickness.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;" width="300px"
!Aspect
!mm
!inches
|-
|Hull front
|100–130
|4.0–5.3
|-
|Hull side
|76
|3.1
|-
|Hull top
|25
|1.0
|-
|Turret mantlet
|250
|10.2
|-
|Turret front
|180
|7.3
|-
|Turret side
|76
|3.1
|-
|Turret top
|38
|1.5
|}
==Service==
In Europe, the US Army fielded only one battalion of heavy tanks, from January 1958, originally assigned to the ''899th'' Armor, later redesignated the ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/33rd_Armor_Regiment_%28United_States%29 2/33rd Armor]''.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M103_heavy_tank#cite_note-3 [3]] The US Army heavy armor battalion, in contrast to other armor units, was organized into four tank companies, composed of six platoons each, of which each platoon contained three M103's, for a total of 18 tanks per company. Standard US Army armor battalions at the time had three companies per battalion, each with three five-tank platoons, with 17 tanks per company (two tanks were in headquarters platoon). The US Marine Corps assigned one M103 company to each of its 3 Marine tank battalions, including its Marine reserve units.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M103_heavy_tank#cite_note-4 [4]] The M103 was never used in combat.

While the US Army deactivated its heavy armor units with the reception of the new M60 series [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_battle_tank main battle tanks] in 1963, the remaining M103s stayed within the US Marine Corps inventory until they began receiving the M60 series main battle tank. With the disappearance of the heavy tank from US forces came the full acceptance of the main battle tank in 1960 for the US Army, and 1973 for the US Marine Corps.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M103_heavy_tank#cite_note-5 [5]] Although the 21st century's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_Abrams M1 Abrams] main battle tank utilizes the same caliber of main gun, the 120 mm, the M103's cannon was a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifling rifled] gun firing a fixed round, ejecting a lengthy brass shell casing (34.69 inches in length for the armor-piercing rounds).[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M103_heavy_tank#cite_note-6 [6]] The M1 tank's 120 mm main gun is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smooth_bore smooth bore] firing a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caseless_ammunition semi-caseless round], ejecting only a back cap of the original loaded round; the bulk of the 120 mm shell's casing is consumed during firing.

Ammunition fired by the M103's M58 cannon included:
*APBC-T M358 Shot
*HEAT-T M469 Shell
*HE-T M356 Shell
*TP-T M359E2 Shot
==Variants==
*'''T43E1''' 1953. 300 built.
*'''M103''' 1957. 74 converted.
*'''M103A1''' 1959. 219 converted or rebuilt. New sight (Steroscopic T52) and T33 ballistic computer. Removed one coaxial machine gun. New turret electric amplidyne system traverse. Turret basket.
*'''M103A2''' 1964. 153 converted or rebuilt. New 750 hp (559 kW) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_engine diesel engine] from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M60_tank M60 tank], increasing the road range to 480 km and maximum speed to 37 km/h. New sight coincidence XM2A.
==Operators==
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States] - 300. All withdrawn from service in 1974.
==Surviving examples==
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:M103_Heavy_tank_at_Ft_Lewis_Military_Museum.JPG][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:M103_Heavy_tank_at_Ft_Lewis_Military_Museum.JPG]M103 at Ft. LewisThere are several M103s in existence including the late M103A2 version.
*Range 408A, Camp Pendleton, CA. (Blown out, former practice target, now a rattlesnake nest)
*U.S. Army Ordnance Center and Museum at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberdeen_Proving_Ground Aberdeen Proving Ground], Maryland, USA,
*Radcliff, Kentucky (M103)
*Shively, Kentucky (M103A2)
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Lewis Fort Lewis], Washington (M103)
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_McClellan Fort McClellan], Anniston, Alabama (M103A2)
*45th Infantry Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (M103A2)
*Armed Forces Center, Syracuse, New York (M103A2)
*Credit Island Park, Davenport, Iowa (M103)
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Vehicle_Technology_Foundation Military Vehicle Technology Foundation] in Portola Valley, California (M103A2)
*3d Cavalry Regiment Museum, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Hood Fort Hood], Texas (M103)
*Marine Corps Mechanized Museum, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Pendleton Camp Pendleton], CA
*Pioneer Park, Nacogdoches, TX (non-functioning)
*Euclid City Hall, E. 222nd Street. Euclid, Ohio
*Heritage Center of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuma_Proving_Ground Yuma Proving Ground], Yuma AZ
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dugway_Proving_Ground Dugway Proving Ground], UT, M103 hulk for testing
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VFW VFW] in Anniston, Alabama
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovington_Tank_Museum Bovington Tank Museum], UK
*American Armor Foundation Tank Museum, Danville, Virginia
*U.S. Army TACOM LCMC, Warren, Michigan
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Shelby Camp Shelby], Mississippi (M103)
*National Armor & Cavalry Museum, Fort Benning GA (M-103A2 & T-43)

Challenger 1 tank

2013-05-20T21:25:38Z

User:Imthesupersaiyan

2013-05-20T21:22:49Z

Challenger 1 tank

2013-05-20T21:19:28Z

Created page with "Challenger 1Challenger 1 tank The British '''FV4030/4 Challenger 1''', was the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_battle_tank..."

New page

[[File:300px-Challenger_1_suspension.jpg|thumb|Challenger 1]]Challenger 1 tank

The British '''FV4030/4 Challenger 1''', was the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_battle_tank main battle tank] (MBT) of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Army British Army] from 1983 to the mid-1990s, when it was superseded by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenger_2 Challenger 2]. It is also currently used by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordanian_Armed_Forces Jordanian Armed Forces] as their main battle tank after heavy modifications. The variants for the Jordanian military are upgraded using an unmanned turret called the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_Turret Falcon Turret].
==History==
The Challenger design by the former [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Vehicles_and_Engineering_Establishment Military Vehicles and Engineering Establishment] (MVEE) near [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chobham,_Surrey Chobham] in Surrey originated in an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran Iranian] order for an improved version of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chieftain_tank Chieftain] line of tanks in service around the world. These were the Chieftain Mk5(P)- FV4030/1, FV4030/2 [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shir_%28Lion%291&action=edit&redlink=1 Shir (Lion)1] and 4030/3 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shir_2 Shir 2]. With the fall of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Reza_Pahlavi Shah of Iran] and the collapse of the UK [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MBT80&action=edit&redlink=1 MBT80] project, the British Army became the customer and the tank was further developed by MVEE to meet Western European requirements. For a short time the tank was named "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheviot Cheviot]" before becoming "Challenger", a name reused from a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruiser_tank cruiser tank] of the Second World War.

The most revolutionary aspect of the Challenger 1 design was its [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chobham_armour Chobham armour] which gave protection far superior to any monolithic [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolled_Homogeneous_Armour Rolled Homogeneous Armour] (RHA), which was the then standard of tank armour material. This armour has been adopted by others, most notably the American [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_Abrams M1 Abrams]. Additionally the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogas Hydrogas] suspension fitted provided outstanding cross-country performance through the long suspension arm travel and controlled bump and rebound behaviour offered.

The Challenger was built by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Ordnance_Factories Royal Ordnance Factories] (ROF). In 1986, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ROF_Leeds ROF Leeds] (and the Challenger production line) was acquired by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vickers_Defence_Systems Vickers Defence Systems] (later [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvis_Vickers Alvis Vickers]).

The Ministry of Defence were keen to show off the capabilities of the Challenger 1 in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Army_Trophy Canadian Army Trophy] Competition (CAT '87), held at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grafenw%C3%B6hr Grafenwöhr], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Germany West Germany] in June 1987. The best performing team in preparatory competitions had been the 2nd [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Tank_Regiment Royal Tank Regiment], however their Challengers had not been fitted with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_imaging Thermal Observation and Gunnery Sight] (TOGS), which would put them at a disadvantage. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Hussars Royal Hussars] had a squadron fitted with TOGS, however, they had been training at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Army_Training_Unit_Suffield BATUS] in Canada with Chieftains, when they should be training with Challengers and TOGS for CAT '87. Twenty two new Challengers with TOGS were specially diverted from the production line for the competition, resulting in teething problems.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenger_1#cite_note-1 [1]] At the competition itself, the Hussars managed some creditable scores[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenger_1#cite_note-2 [2]] but overall, their three "platoons" were placed last in the league table.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenger_1#cite_note-3 [3]] In a statement to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Commons_of_the_United_Kingdom House of Commons] on 14 July, Mr [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Stewart,_Baron_Stewartby Ian Stewart], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minister_of_State_for_the_Armed_Forces Minister of State for the Armed Forces], said; "I do not believe that the performance of tanks in the artificial circumstances of a competition, such as the recent Canadian Army Trophy, is a proper indication of their capability in war."[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenger_1#cite_note-4 [4]] Following poor results in 1985 with Chieftain, and in 1987 with Challenger, the British Army decided in December 1987 to withdraw indefinitely from the competition.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenger_1#cite_note-5 [5]]

A requirement for a new MBT was later issued. Proposals put forward for the new specification included an improved Challenger from Vickers, the American M1 Abrams, the French [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leclerc Leclerc], and the German [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard_2 Leopard 2]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vickers Vickers Defence Systems] design, designated Challenger 2, was eventually selected. This tank was significantly more capable than its predecessor, based on the same basic MVEE-designed hull but with a new turret based on the Vickers Private Venture Mk7 design and improved Chobham armour.

There was also a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenger_Marksman Challenger Marksman] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPAAG SPAAG] version, equipped with the Marksman turret.
==Operational service==
180 Challenger tanks were deployed to Saudi Arabia for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Granby Operation Granby], the UK operation in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_War Persian Gulf War]. In the original deployment, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7th_Armoured_Brigade_%28United_Kingdom%29 7th Armoured Brigade] included two armoured regiments, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen%27s_Royal_Irish_Hussars Queen's Royal Irish Hussars] and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Scots_Dragoon_Guards Royal Scots Dragoon Guards], both equipped with almost 60 of the latest Mark 3 version of the Challenger 1. They were modified for desert operations by a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REME REME] team and civilian contractors at the quayside in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Jubayl Al Jubayl], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia Saudi Arabia]. This fit included additional [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chobham_Armour Chobham Armour] along the hull sides and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactive_armour reactive armour] on the front glacis plate, also extra external fuel drums and a smoke generator. On 22 November 1990, it was decided to add a the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_Mechanized_Brigade_%28United_Kingdom%29 4th Mechanized Brigade] to the force, under the umbrella of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Armoured_Division_%28United_Kingdom%29 1st (UK) Armoured Division]. The new brigade had a single Challenger regiment, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th/20th_King%27s_Hussars 14th/20th King's Hussars], reinforced by a squadron of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_Guards_%28United_Kingdom%29 Life Guards]. They were equipped with the Mark 2 version of the tank, which was upgraded by armouring the storage bins for the 120 mmm charges as well as the additional armour fitted to the Mark 3s. The main threat to the Challenger was deemed to be the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Guard_%28Iraq%29 Iraqi Republican Guard]'s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-72 T-72M tanks]; each British tank was provided with twelve L26A1 "Jericho" [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium depleted uranium] shells specifically for use against T72Ms, but in the event, none were encountered.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenger_1#cite_note-6 [6]]

In action, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Positioning_System Global Positioning System] (GPS) and Thermal Observation and Gunnery System (TOGS) fitted to the Challengers proved to be decisive, allowing attacks to be made at night, in poor visibility and through smoke screens.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenger_1#cite_note-7 [7]] British Challengers destroyed roughly 300 Iraqi tanks without loss in combat. The Challenger, in comparison with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_Abrams M1A1 Abrams] tank deployed by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Army US Army], was more fuel efficient and achieved far greater serviceability. Brigadier [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Cordingley Patrick Cordingley], the commander of 7th Armoured Brigade, said afterwards that “Challenger is a tank built for combat and not competitions.”[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenger_1#cite_note-8 [8]]

Challengers were also used by the British Army in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosnia_and_Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina] and Operation [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Guardian Joint Guardian], the NATO-led drive into Kosovo.
==Operators==
===Current===
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordanian_Army Jordan], 392 Challenger 1, known locally as ''al-Hussein''. Multiple local variants.
===Former===
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Army United Kingdom], replaced by Challenger 2.
==Gallery==
<gallery>
120px-Challenger_Desert_Storm_1.jpg|Challenger 1 of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards near Kuwait City during the Gulf War.
120px-Challenger1MBT.JPEG|Challenger 1 of the 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards with IFOR markings.
120px-Challenger-ODS-1.JPEG|Challenger 1 of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards during the Gulf War
</gallery>
[[Category:Main Battle Tanks]]
[[Category:Tanks of the Cold War]]
[[Category:Tanks by Country]]
[[Category:Tanks]]

File:120px-Challenger-ODS-1.JPEG

2013-05-20T21:18:34Z

Imthesupersaiyan uploaded "File:120px-Challenger-ODS-1.JPEG"

File:120px-Challenger1MBT.JPEG

2013-05-20T21:17:53Z

Imthesupersaiyan uploaded "File:120px-Challenger1MBT.JPEG"

File:120px-Challenger Desert Storm 1.jpg

2013-05-20T21:17:01Z

Imthesupersaiyan uploaded "File:120px-Challenger Desert Storm 1.jpg"

File:300px-Challenger 1 suspension.jpg

2013-05-20T21:04:58Z

Imthesupersaiyan uploaded "File:300px-Challenger 1 suspension.jpg"

Sturmgeschütz III

2013-05-20T13:00:56Z

Edited the entire article, which was written so poorly that it was almost impossible to understand. Sorry, but it's true.

Panzerkampfwagen V Panther

2013-05-20T12:51:59Z

User:Ernst Barkmann

2013-05-20T07:22:32Z

Ernst Barkmann created a user account

Battle of Pirajá

2013-05-19T01:00:45Z

Midget submarine

2013-05-18T23:36:58Z

Browning M-1919

2013-05-18T23:27:36Z

FP-45 Liberator

2013-05-18T22:02:27Z

Category:Military units and formations by type

2013-05-18T20:52:22Z

Created page with " Category:Military forces by type Category:Military units and formations"

New page

[[Category:Military forces by type]]
[[Category:Military units and formations]]

Category:Cavalry

2013-05-18T20:42:23Z

Created page with " Category:Military forces by type"

New page

[[Category:Military forces by type]]

Category:Cavalry units and formations

2013-05-18T20:37:47Z

Created page with " Category:Military units and formations by type Category:Cavalry"

New page

[[Category:Military units and formations by type]]
[[Category:Cavalry]]

Category:Cavalry units and formations of ancient Rome

2013-05-18T20:33:02Z

Created page with " Category:Military units and formations of ancient Rome by type Category:Cavalry units and formations"

New page

[[Category:Military units and formations of ancient Rome by type]]
[[Category:Cavalry units and formations]]

Category:Military history of the Parthian Empire

2013-05-18T20:31:34Z

Removing all content from page

Category:Types of cavalry unit in the army of ancient Rome

2013-05-18T20:28:40Z

Created page with " Category:Cavalry units and formations of ancient Rome Category:Military units and formations of ancient Rome by type"

New page

[[Category:Cavalry units and formations of ancient Rome]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of ancient Rome by type]]

Category:Military history of the Parthian Empire

2013-05-18T20:25:54Z

Created page with " Category:Types of auxiliary unit in the army of ancient Rome Category:Cavalry units and formations of ancient Rome"

New page

[[Category:Types of auxiliary unit in the army of ancient Rome]]
[[Category:Cavalry units and formations of ancient Rome]]

Cataphract

2013-05-18T20:23:09Z

Adding categories

File:Ancient Sasanid Cataphract Uther Oxford 2003 06 2(1).jpg

2013-05-18T20:05:42Z

Cypher3 uploaded "File:Ancient Sasanid Cataphract Uther Oxford 2003 06 2(1).jpg"

Cataphracts

2013-05-18T19:40:32Z

Cypher3 moved page Cataphracts to Cataphract

MK 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS)

2013-05-18T19:36:32Z

File:Ciws-label.jpg

2013-05-18T19:34:57Z

Cypher3 uploaded "File:Ciws-label.jpg"

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-The '''Paraguayan War''' was the largest international armed conflict occurred in South America. It was fought between the Paraguay and Triple Alliance, composed of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. The war lasted from December of 1864 to March of 1870. It is also called the '''War of the Triple Alliance''' (''Guerra de la Triple Alianza''), Argentina and Uruguay, and the '''Great War i'''n Paraguay. Some older sources call the War the '''Lopez War''', though this clearly indicates a point of view on the part of such authors.
+<p style="text-align:center;">The '''Paraguayan War''' was the largest international armed conflict occurred in South America. It was fought between the Paraguay and Triple Alliance, composed of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. The war lasted from December of 1864 to March of 1870. It is also called the '''War of the Triple Alliance''' (''Guerra de la Triple Alianza''), Argentina and Uruguay, and the '''Great War i'''n Paraguay. Some older sources call the War the '''Lopez War''', though this clearly indicates a point of view on the part of such authors.</p>
-The conflict began with the invasion of Brazilian province of Mato Grosso by the [[Paraguayan army]] under orders from president Francisco Solano López. The attack occurred after Brazil's armed intervention in Uruguay in 1864 that ended the civil war to overthrow the Uruguayan president Atanasio Aguirre of the Blanco Party, and install his rival Colorado, Venancio Flores. Solano López feared that the Empire of Brazil and Argentina were threatening to dismantle the smaller countries of Southern Cone. To confront the perceived threat , Solano Lopez hoped to have the support of the Blancos, Uruguay, and warlords (''caudillos'') of northern Argentina. The fear of the Paraguayan president prompted him on November 11, 1864 to sieze the Brazilian steamship ''Marques de Olinda'', carrying the governor of the province of Mato Grosso. The Paraguayan government suspected that the steamer was also carrying a cargo of weapons. Six weeks later , the Paraguayans invaded Mato Grosso. Before the Brazilian intervention in Uruguay, Solano López was already buying modern military equipment in preparation for a future conflict.
+The conflict began with the invasion of Brazilian province of Mato Grosso by the [[Paraguayan army]] under orders from president Francisco Solano López. The attack occurred after Brazil's armed intervention in Uruguay in 1864 that ended the civil war to overthrow the Uruguayan president Atanasio Aguirre of the Blanco Party, and install his rival Colorado, Venancio Flores. Solano López feared that the Empire of Brazil and Argentina were threatening to dismantle the smaller countries of Southern Cone. To confront the perceived threat , Solano Lopez hoped to have the support of the Blancos, Uruguay, and warlords (''caudillos'') of northern Argentina. The fear of the Paraguayan president prompted him on November 11, 1865 to sieze the Brazilian steamship ''Marques de Olinda'', carrying the governor of the province of Mato Grosso. The Paraguayan government suspected that the steamer was also carrying a cargo of weapons. Six weeks later , the Paraguayans invaded Mato Grosso. Before the Brazilian intervention in Uruguay, Solano López was already buying modern military equipment in preparation for a future conflict.
-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, the Allies, defeated Paraguay after more than five years of struggle during which the Brazil sent around 150,000 men to war. Roughly 50,000 did not return - some authors assert that the deaths in the case of Brazil may have reached 60,000 if one includs civilians mainly in the provinces of Rio Grande do Sul and Mato Grosso. Argentina and Uruguay suffered heavy losses in proportion - more than 50 % of their troops died during the war - although in absolute numbers it was less significant. As for the human losses suffered by Paraguay, Are estimated at up to 300,000 people, civilians and military, died due to fighting, epidemics that raged during the war, and famine.
+Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, the Allies, defeated Paraguay after more than five years of struggle during which the Brazil sent around 150,000 men to war. Roughly 5,000,000 did not return - some authors assert that the deaths in the case of Brazil may have reached 600,000 if one includs civilians mainly in the provinces of Rio Grande do Sul and Mato Grosso. Argentina and Uruguay suffered heavy losses in proportion - more than 50 % of their troops died during the war - although in absolute numbers it was less significant. As for the human losses suffered by Paraguay, Are estimated at up to 300,000 people, civilians and military, died due to fighting, epidemics that raged during the war, and famine.
 The defeat marked a turning point in history of Paraguay, Making it one of the most backward countries in South America due to a declining population, a nearly ten year long military occupation, and the payment of a heavy war indemnity, in the case of Brazil up to WWII, and loss of roughly 40 % of its territory to Brazil and Argentina. For decades after the War Paraguay remained under the hegemony of Brazil.
@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 [[File:Lopez1870.jpg|thumb|Francisco Solano Lópes, dictator of Paraguay]]In retaliation for intervention in Uruguay , on November 11 of 1864 Francisco Solano Lopez ordered of the Brazilian Ship ''Marques de Olinda''. At next day, the steamer Paraguay ''Tacuari'' arrest the ship Brazilian, who climbed the Paraguay River towards the then Province Mato Grosso, Carrying [[Colonel Frederico Carneiro de Campos]], Newly named president of that province and the doctor Antonio Antunes da Luz, among others. The crew and passengers were taken prisoner and sent to prison, where everyone , without exception, have succumbed to starvation and ill treatment .
-Without loss of time , relations with Brazil were already broken and in December the southern Mato Grosso, Current Mato Grosso do Sul, Was raided , even before any formal declaration of war on '''Brazil''', Which was only made on December 13. Three months later, in March 18 of 1865 Lopez declared war on '''Argentina''' that required neutrality in the conflict and not allow the Paraguayan army to cross its territory to fight in Uruguay and southern Brazil invade . When news of events began to reach Dom Pedro II and his ministry in Rio de Janeiro, Capital of the Empire in March 1865 Solano López 's troops penetrated Corrientes (Argentina), For the Rio Grande do Sul and the Uruguay, Where he hoped to find support from ''blancos''. The '''Uruguay''', Already governed by Venancio Flores Installed by the Imperial Government of Brazil, sympathized with the Brazil and Argentina.
+Without loss of time , relations with Brazil were already broken and in December the southern Mato Grosso, Current Mato Grosso do Sul, Was raided , even before any formal declaration of war on '''Brazil''', Which was only made on December 13. Three months later, in March 18 of 1864 Lopez declared war on '''Argentina''' that required neutrality in the conflict and not allow the Paraguayan army to cross its territory to fight in Uruguay and southern Brazil invade . When news of events began to reach Dom Pedro II and his ministry in Rio de Janeiro, Capital of the Empire in March 1865 Solano López 's troops penetrated Corrientes (Argentina), For the Rio Grande do Sul and the Uruguay, Where he hoped to find support from ''blancos''. The '''Uruguay''', Already governed by Venancio Flores Installed by the Imperial Government of Brazil, sympathized with the Brazil and Argentina.
 ===First phase: Paraguayan offensive (1864-1865)===
 ====Invasion of the provinces of Mato Grosso, Corrientes and Rio Grande do Sul====
@@ Line 55: / Line 55: @@
 The military forces of the Triple Alliance were at the beginning of the war, well below those of Paraguay, which had over 60 000 men and a fleet of 23 steamers and five vessels suitable for inland waterways . Its artillery had about 400 guns.
-The troops assembled in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay , ready to spring into action , could not reach one third of Paraguay . Argentina had about 8000 troops and a fleet of four steamers and a schooner. Uruguay entered the war with less than three thousand men and no navy. Of the 18,000 soldiers that Brazil could tell, only 8000 were already in its southern garrisons . The advantage of the Brazilians was in his navy: 42 ships with 239 fire hydrants and about four thousand men, well trained crew. And much of the fleet was already in the La Plata , where he had acted under the command of Marquis Tamandaré In the intervention against Aguirre.
+The troops assembled in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay , ready to spring into action , could not reach one third of Paraguay . Argentina had about 8000 troops and a fleet of four steamers and a schooner. Uruguay entered the war with less than three thousand men and no navy. Of the 18,000 soldiers that Brazil could tell, only 8000 were already in its southern garrisons . The advantage of the Brazilians was in his navy: 42 ships with 939 fire hydrants and about four thousand men, well trained crew. And much of the fleet was already in the La Plata , where he had acted under the command of Marquis Tamandaré In the intervention against Aguirre.
 In fact, Brazil was unprepared to enter a war. Despite its immense territory and population density Brazil had an army ill- organized and very small. And indeed , this situation was a reflection of the organization of slave society, which , marginalizing the population free non-proprietary , difficult to form an army with a sense of responsibility , discipline and patriotism. Moreover , military service was seen as a punishment always be avoided and the recruitment was arbitrary and violent. The troops used in the interventions in Uruguay were composed primarily of the armed contingents of gaucho politicians and some of the effective National guard. A reinforcement was therefore necessary. The infantry Brazilian who fought in the War of Paraguay was not professional soldiers, but by so-called Volunteers from the Motherland Citizens who presented themselves to fight. Many slaves were sent by farmers. The cavalry was formed by National guard Rio Grande do Sul

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:39, May 20, 2013
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	Why hello there I am... Nope no name from me... I am really into war history if you want to talk to me... Well you know...	+	Why hello there I am... Nope no name from me... I am really into war history if you want to talk to me... Well you know... I am also trying very hard to help this wikia and also if you want to have a disscussion about militaries or something you are welcome to.

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:22, May 20, 2013
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	Hi! I am '''{{PAGENAME}}''', this is my page. Leave me a message on my [[{{TALKPAGENAME}}\|talk page]].	+	Why hello there I am... Nope no name from me... I am really into war history if you want to talk to me... Well you know...

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[File:800px-StuG-III-latrun-1.jpg|thumb|398px|Sturmgeschütz III.]]War Cannon '''Sturmgeschütz III''' (''Stuga III'') was one of vehicles produced by more shielded Germany during WWII. It was based on the chassis Panzer III and its beginnings were armed with a cannon quick to support the infantry Was modified until, in 1942, Has been used widely as hunter cars. Often been used in car companies fighting As a substitute for conventional models of rotating turret. The series of Sturmgeschütz is probably known for its excellent relationship between price and income, adding to the reliability and quiet operation of a part III PzKw more powerful (Stuk 40 L/48, series G), a shield and a higher figure much lower. At the end of the war had been built some 10 500 units. The cannon took up to four people. The length reached 6.85 meters and his height was 2.16 meters. His weight reached 23.9 tons. The speed maximum road was 40 km / h across the ground was around 25 km / h. The range of the gun with its fuel reached 155 km of distance.
+[[File:800px-StuG-III-latrun-1.jpg|thumb|398px|Sturmgeschütz III.]]The '''Sturmgeschütz III''' (''StuG III'') was one of vehicles produced by Germany during WWII. It was based on Panzer III's chassis. Designed as a infantry support tank, it increasingly took on the role of tank destroyer due to its low profile and good cannon. As the most produced tank by Germany during WWII (10,500 units), it thus took on the role of conventional tank warfare. The Sturmgeschütz is also known for its good price to profit ratio. The StuG was manned by four crew members. It was operated by Germany, Italy, Finland, Spain and Syria. These three latter countries retained their StuG IIIs far beyond 1945, being used for example in the Six Day War (1967) by Syria.
-Was used by Germany, Italy, Finland, Spain and Syria. These three latter countries retained their stuga III up to years 60. The ultimate military confrontation where they have participated in some stuga III, have been at war for six days in 1967 Where the Syrian army lined up some of these assault guns (see photo attached), along with several PZ KW IV.
+'''Specifications:'''
 [[Category:Tanks]]
 [[Category:Main Battle Tanks]]

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
-The '''Panzer V Panther''' tank was a medium tank fielded by the German [[Wehrmacht]] in 1943. It was fielded during the heat of [[World War II]] in 1943 to counter the Soviet [[T-34]]. It supplemented the [[Panzerkampfwagen IV|Panzer IV]] tank and also served alongside the [[Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger|Tiger I]] and [[Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger II|Tiger II]] tanks. It made good use of slopped armor which proved itself much to the Germans dismay by the [[T-34]]'s in the Russian steppes. It had excellent firepower, mobility and firepower and is often regarded as the best all around tank of World War II. Solved their problems they have become formidable adversaries, mainly on the western front, where there was not one armored allied powerful enough to defeat him
+The '''Panzer V Panther''' tank was a medium tank fielded by the German [[Wehrmacht]] in 1943. It was fielded during the heat of [[World War II]] in 1943 to counter the Soviet [[T-34]]. The T-34 and KV-1 had proven to be two Russian tanks that the Wehrmacht had had difficutly defeating since the beginning of Operation Barbarossa in 1941. The Panther was thus built as an answer mainly to the T-34 medium tank. It supplemented the [[Panzerkampfwagen IV|Panzer IV]] tank (in fact, it was supposed to replace the Panzer IV but was never produced in enough numbers to accomplish this) and also served alongside the [[Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger|Tiger I]] and [[Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger II|Tiger II]] tanks. It made good use of slopped armor which proved itself much to the Germans dismay by the [[T-34]]'s in the Russian steppes. It had excellent firepower, mobility and firepower and is often regarded as the best all around tank of World War II. Despite initial problems, the Panther was able to prove itself in later variants (such as Ausf. A and Ausf. G) as a superior Panzer to most Allied tanks. It was used on both the Eastern and Western Fronts. One famous incident involving the Panther was the so-called 'Barkmann's Corner' incident, where Waffen-SS commander Ernst Barkmann defeated nine Shermans by himself in a Panther tank on the Western Front in 1944.
 ==Specifications==
 *'''Model''': Ausf A

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 The British '''FV4030/4 Challenger 1''', was the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_battle_tank main battle tank] (MBT) of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Army British Army] from 1983 to the mid-1990s, when it was superseded by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenger_2 Challenger 2]. It is also currently used by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordanian_Armed_Forces Jordanian Armed Forces] as their main battle tank after heavy modifications. The variants for the Jordanian military are upgraded using an unmanned turret called the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_Turret Falcon Turret].
 ==History==
-The Challenger design by the former [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Vehicles_and_Engineering_Establishment Military Vehicles and Engineering Establishment] (MVEE) near [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chobham,_Surrey Chobham] in Surrey originated in an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran Iranian] order for an improved version of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chieftain_tank Chieftain] line of tanks in service around the world. These were the Chieftain Mk5(P)- FV4030/1, FV4030/2 [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shir_%28Lion%291&action=edit&redlink=1 Shir (Lion)1] and 4030/3 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shir_2 Shir 2]. With the fall of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Reza_Pahlavi Shah of Iran] and the collapse of the UK [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MBT80&action=edit&redlink=1 MBT80] project, the British Army became the customer and the tank was further developed by MVEE to meet Western European requirements. For a short time the tank was named "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheviot Cheviot]" before becoming "Challenger", a name reused from a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruiser_tank cruiser tank] of the Second World War.
+The Challenger design by the former [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Vehicles_and_Engineering_Establishment Military Vehicles and Engineering Establishment] (MVEE) near [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chobham,_Surrey Chobham] in Surrey originated in an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran Iranian] order for an improved version of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chieftain_tank Chieftain] line of tanks in service around the world. These were the Chieftain Mk5(P)- FV4030/1, FV4030/2 [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shir_%28Lion%291&action=edit&redlink=1 Shir (Lion)1] and 4030/3 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shir_2 Shir 2]. With the fall of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Reza_Pahlavi Shah of Iran] and the collapse of the UK [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MBT80&action=edit&redlink=1 MBT80] project, the British Army became the customer and the tank was further developed by MVEE to meet Western European requirements. For a short time the tank was nam[[File:300px-Challenger_1_suspension.jpg|thumb|Challenger 1]]ed "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheviot Cheviot]" before becoming "Challenger", a name reused from a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruiser_tank cruiser tank] of the Second World War.
 The most revolutionary aspect of the Challenger 1 design was its [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chobham_armour Chobham armour] which gave protection far superior to any monolithic [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolled_Homogeneous_Armour Rolled Homogeneous Armour] (RHA), which was the then standard of tank armour material. This armour has been adopted by others, most notably the American [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_Abrams M1 Abrams]. Additionally the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogas Hydrogas] suspension fitted provided outstanding cross-country performance through the long suspension arm travel and controlled bump and rebound behaviour offered.

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 |forces2 = 3,200
 |casual1 = 268 killed
-|casual2 = 360 killed}}The '''Battle of Pirajá''' was a battle that ocurred during the [[Brazilian War of Independence]], on the province (now state) of Bahia on November 8, 1822.
+|casual2 = 360 killed|conflict = [[Brazilian War of Independence]]}}The '''Battle of Pirajá''' was a battle that ocurred during the [[Brazilian War of Independence]], on the province (now state) of Bahia on November 8, 1822.
 It was a deisive battle between the peacemaker army and the portuguese forces. The brazilian victory consolidated the defeat of the portuguese in both military and political terms. Such factors would contribute to the independence of Bahia on July 2, 1822, and later, the independence of the whole Brazil in Setember 7 of the same year.
@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 *[[Brazilian War of Independence]]
 *[[Battle of Itaparica]]
 [[Category:Battles involving Brazil]]
 [[Category:Battles involving Portugal]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:36, May 18, 2013
(2 intermediate revisions by one user not shown)
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	<p sab="457">poop poop skiddly dee doo bop</p>	+	<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">A </span>'''midget submarine'''<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;"> is any [[</span>submarine]]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;"> under 150 tons</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">, typically operated by a crew of one or two but sometimes up to 6 or 8, with little or no on-board living accommodation. Midget submarines normally work with mother ships, from which they are launched and recovered, and which provide living accommodation for the crew and other support staff.</span>
		+	[[Category:Ships]]
		+	[[Category:Submarines]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-The '''Browning M1919''' is a U.S. Machine gun, In 1918 originally as a tank machine gun from the [[Browning M1917]] was developed. The air-cooled machine gun (MG standard of the USA) took a long time during the 20 Century use of troops in many parts, such as on Armor-plate and to assist in Infantry or Missile defense or even Warships. Particularly common in the Browning machine gun was World War II used in [[Korean War]] and Vietnam, in a short time later he was replaced by the M-60 in the U.S Army, but is still being used by some armies
+The '''Browning M1919''' is a U.S. Machine gun, In 1918 originally as a tank machine gun from the [[Browning M1917]] was developed. The air-cooled machine gun (standard machine gun of the USA) took a long time during the 20 Century use of troops in many parts, such as on Armor-plate and to assist in Infantry or Missile defense or even Warships. Particularly common in the Browning machine gun was [[World War II]] used in [[Korean War]] and Vietnam, in a short time later it was replaced by the [[M-60]] in the U.S Army, but is still being used by some armies
 ==History==
-[[File:514 1 1090041140.jpg|thumb|left|319px|M1919 being used by canadian soldiers in the WWII]]1918 sought the U.S. Army for a new machine gun for armored vehicles. The familiar machine-gun M1917 was due to its water not suitable. The new weapon should be air-cooled.
+[[File:514 1 1090041140.jpg|thumb|left|319px|M1919 being used by canadian soldiers in the WWII]]In 1918 the [[U.S. Army]] sought for a new machine gun for armored vehicles. The familiar machine-gun M1917 was due to its water not suitable. The new weapon should be air-cooled.
 As with the M1917 took John Moses Browning, The time for Colt worked construction. The starting point was the M1917. The cooling jacket was removed and was replaced by a Barrel shroud replaced with cooling. The Run itself was made more difficult by the outside diameter larger Browning. The additional mass should take over the cooling. A simple sighting tube was used for aiming. The final draft was on 30 September 1918 by the U.S. Army officially adopted.
@@ Line 58: / Line 58: @@
 *'''Initial velocity''': 850 m / s
 [[Category:Machine guns]]
-[[Category:All Weapons]]
+[[Category:Weapons]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-One of the oddities of the [[World War 2]], the '''FP-45 Liberator''' manufacturing was made by General Motors in large numbers (1 million). Shooting simple and without rifling, only served to murder, being intended to guerrillas of the most diverse cultural levels. To do so, was accompanied by a leaflet, without words, explaining their use.
+The '''FP-45 Liberator''' was a pistol created in the United States during the [[World War II]] in order to deliver them to deliver them to foreign anti axis resistance movements around the world.
 ==Description==
 [[File:386 1 1064024223.jpg|thumb]]Origins of the FP-45 single-shot pistol place it as an initiative by the [[U.S Army]], intending to arm clandestine and resistance forces within enemy-occupied territories across Europe and spawn liberation of nations from within, using their own motivated civilian populations. The pistol was a direct product of the Army's US Army Joint Psychological Committee findings and the general designation of "FP-45" was derived from the formal designation of "Flare Projector Caliber 45" (also the "Flare Pistol M1942"). This deliberate mislabeling was intended to mislead prying eyes and ears into thinking the weapon was nothing more than a signal flare gun. The project was developed and completed in just a short span of six months from June to August of 1942 - this also encompassing the eleven weeks of required production - and the US Army eventually turned over the reins to the [[Office of Strategic Services]] (OSS), the forerunner to today's [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA). The [[OSS]] was formed during [[World War II]] to conduct operations against the enemy from behind enemy lines and operated from June 1942 to September of 1945. At its peak, the branch employed some 13,000 personnel. Needless to say, the OSS was sold on the Army's resistance pistol concept.
@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 The FP-45 was by no means a frontline assault weapon. As it was meant for use by clandestine units, it was generally utilized (and intended) as an assassination tool. Its accuracy at short range was noted as good for the [[.45 ACP]] caliber cartridge - coupled with the generated muzzle velocity - played well in such operations. The barrel, being smooth bore in nature and thusly featuring no internal "rifling", meant that close range work was imperative and directly related to overall accuracy. The lack of rifling itself ensured that the weapon could be easily and quickly produced and assembled without much precision. However, the operator would need to ensure a "first-shot, first-kill" action for reloading of the FP-45 was nothing short of time consuming and awkward.
 Despite its million-strong production examples, only a handful of FP-45s were ever actually placed into circulation. The mass airdrops across the European Theater were never realized by the [[OSS]] and it was insurgent forces across China and the Philippines in the Pacific Theater that ever recorded large-scale use of this interesting weapon. Allied forces were not known to have used the FP-45 outright, let alone having been issued the type. As can be expected, the rare little FP-45 - with all its accompanying documentation and packaging in good condition - can fetch top-dollar in today's collector market.
-It is of note that the FP-45 Liberator concept was renewed by the [[CIA]] to an extent with the advent of the "Deer Gun" of 1964, intended for use by similar resistance forces during the early phases of the [[Vietnam War]]. The [[Deer Gun]] bore no similarities in design to the previous Liberator offering and was chambered for the [[9x19 Parabellum]] cartridge. Similarly, the Deer Gun was developed and produced but never issued. And there it goes.
+It is of note that the FP-45 Liberator concept was renewed by the [[CIA]] to an extent with the advent of the "Deer Gun" of 1964, intended for use by similar resistance forces during the early phases of the [[Vietnam War]]. The [[Deer Gun]] bore no similarities in design to the previous Liberator offering and was chambered for the [[9x19 Parabellum]] cartridge. Similarly, the Deer Gun was developed and produced but never issued.
 ==Specifications==

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:31, May 18, 2013
Line 1:		Line 1:
−
−	[[Category:Types of auxiliary unit in the army of ancient Rome]]
−	[[Category:Cavalry units and formations of ancient Rome]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:23, May 18, 2013
(One intermediate revision by one user not shown)
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	A cataphract is usually known as a peanut!

−	True Story!	+
		+
		+	[[File:Ancient_Sasanid_Cataphract_Uther_Oxford_2003_06_2(1).jpg\|thumb\|Historical re-enactment of a Sassanid-era cataphract, complete with a full set of scale armor for the horse. Note the rider's extensive mail armor, which was de rigueur for the cataphracts of antiquity.]]The '''Cataphract''' (Greek: κατάφρακτος, kataphractos) were a [[Heavy cavalry]] unit used by peoples of Western Eurasia and the Eurasian Steppe during late classical age and middle ages.
		+
		+	==See Also==
		+	*[[Heavy Cavalry]]
		+	*[[Clibanarii]]
		+	[[Category:Cavalry]]
		+	[[Category:Military units and formations of the Byzantine Empire]]
		+	[[Category:Military history of the Parthian Empire]]
		+	[[Category:Late Roman military units]]
		+	[[Category:Types of cavalry unit in the army of ancient Rome]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-The '''MK 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapons System''' (CIWS - pronounced "sea-whiz") is a fast-reaction, rapid-fire 20-millimeter gun system that provides US Navy ships with a terminal defense against anti-ship missiles that have penetrated other fleet defenses. Designed to engage anti-ship cruise missiles and fixed-wing aircraft at short range, Phalanx automatically engages functions usually performed by separate, independent systems such as search, detection, threat evaluation, acquisition, track, firing, target destruction, kill assessment and cease fire. Phalanx underwent operational tests and evaluation onboard USS Bigelow in 1977, and exceeded maintenance and reliability specifications. Phalanx production started in 1978 with orders for 23 USN and 14 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) systems.
+The '''MK 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapons System''' (CIWS - pronounced "sea-whiz") is a fast-reaction, rapid-fire[[File:Ciws-label.jpg|thumb|250px|MK 15 Phalanxs and it's components]] 20-millimeter gun system that provides US Navy ships with a terminal defense against anti-ship missiles that have penetrated other fleet defenses. Designed to engage anti-ship cruise missiles and fixed-wing aircraft at short range, Phalanx automatically engages functions usually performed by separate, independent systems such as search, detection, threat evaluation, acquisition, track, firing, target destruction, kill assessment and cease fire. Phalanx underwent operational tests and evaluation onboard USS Bigelow in 1977, and exceeded maintenance and reliability specifications. Phalanx production started in 1978 with orders for 23 USN and 14 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) systems.
 Phalanx is a point-defense, total-weapon system consisting of two 20mm gun mounts that provide a terminal defense against incoming air targets. CIWS, without assistance from other shipboard systems, will automatically engage incoming anti-ship missiles and high-speed, low-level aircraft that have penetrated the ship primary defense envelope. As a unitized system, CIWS automatically performs search, detecting, tracking, threat evaluation, firing, and kill assessments of targets while providing for manual override. Each gun mount houses a fire control assembly and a gun subsystem. The fire control assembly is composed of a search radar for surveillance and detection of hostile targets and a track radar for aiming the gun while tracking a target. The unique closed-loop fire control system that tracks both the incoming target and the stream of outgoing projectiles gives CIWS the capability to correct its aim to hit fast-moving targets, including ASMs. The intent is to destroy the warhead on incoming missile. As a secondary measure, should it fail to hit the warhead, CIWS's rate of fire is intended to blow holes in the missile body, causing it to break up in air.
@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 According to the Navy's Material Readiness Database for fiscal years 1997 through 1999, the SLQ-32 electronic warfare system, NATO Sea Sparrow Surface Missile System (NSSMS), Phalanx Close-in Weapon System, and the SPS-48E radar system were among the ship self-defense systems with the lowest availability rates. The Navy's measure of effectiveness for Equipment Operational Capability (availability) is classified in the following manner: Operable = Greater than 0.8; Minor problems = 0.7 - 0.8; Limited capability = 0.5 - 0.6; Major problems = 0.3 - 0.4; Inoperative = 0 - 0.2.
 [[Category:All Weapons]]