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Hiya from Hurriya Base

By Bill on March 24, 2008 | | Comments (5)

My Sur'n Baptist bud was a tad taken aback to learn that Iraqis know what Easter's about. So, in return for the enlightenment, he introduced the stoo'nts to an ancillary side of the day -- the Chocolate Easter Bunny.

Heh. Ever seen a bunch of 25-year-old 12-year-olds?

Aaaand speaking of 25-year-olds(Oh, right. Like, *that* will get me off the hook), Happy -- Albeit Belated -- Birthday(s) to Maggie and kat!

However, as a (very) belated, Joint Present, here’s the Whatziss in context.

See? No TP holder, kat

The muted *thud* you just heard was John’s bewhiskered chin hitting the bedrock floor of ry’s digs under the sub-sub-dungeon. And the ahr-tees-teec effects in the background are the results of me OPSECing the need-to-know-only stuff. The Whatziss itself appears in all it's un-PhotoShopped, hullycarp-it's-been-there-a-while condition.

Yeah, I *know* what it is and I can even hazard a guess as to how it got here and why it’s got the unorthodox accessories.

Meantime, you've got about three minutes to google the beastie before John recovers and starts flailing his arm and hollering, "Ooooh! Ooooh! *I* know!"

Relax, John, the dataplate's gone but I got the fiddly bits on digits.

Whoops. Almost forgot (*sigh* -- what *else* is new?) about the post's title. See, Kirkuk Regional Air Base is Joint US Army, US Air Force, Iraqi Air Force and US Cavalry (hey, they *think* they're a separate service, so I'll humor them just in case they've gotta come pull me out of a jam. Uhhhh, make that *when*). FOB Warrior *was* the Army side of the runway(s), but it's now the USAF side and sandwiched between the USAF side and the runway(s) is the Iraqi Flight School compound where I work. The Iraqi staff calls it "Hurriyya Base."

Hurriyya means "Freedom"...

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5 Comments

By AFSister on March 24, 2008 6:52 AM
Hurriyya means "Freedom"... does it get any better than that!!! I was reading a CNN article this morning which quotes Iraq's national security advisor as saying "This is global terrorism hitting everywhere, and they have chosen Iraq to be a battlefield. And we have to take them on. If we don't prevail, if we don't succeed in this war, then we are doomed forever....I understand and sympathize with the mothers, with the widows, with the children who have lost their beloved ones in this country. But honestly, it is well worth fighting and well worth investing the money and the treasure and the sweat and the tears in Iraq." Well said, Mr. Mowaffak al-Rubaie! And that's exactly why we need to finish this thing the right way, so that ALL Iraqi's can experience hurriyya.
 
By AFSister on March 24, 2008 6:57 AM
Here's the link to the CNN article- it's actually the transcript of Wolf Blitzer's show last night. The part I quoted is maybe halfway through the script.
 
By John of Argghhh! on March 24, 2008 7:44 AM
Heh. The ultimate expression of the 18 pounder QF gun on the Mk 2 carriage with the WWII pneumatic tires and smaller gun shield. The wheels don't look quite right, but the Finns used these guns and mebbe they used that kind of wheel. I wasn't looking far enough back, and I admit I was focused more on AA weapons, given where you're located. But I'm also sure I wouldn't have gotten it anyway... because all the late model 18 pounders with the armored box have taller boxes on the recuperators. Got more pix? 8^ ) So's I can add 'em to this one and this one and this one?
 
By BillT on March 24, 2008 8:31 AM
...the Finns used these guns and mebbe they used that kind of wheel. So did the Sovs, and that's Russkie rubber on them thar disks. I figgered the carriage for a Mk 1, but you're the expert. Dunno if the Brits left any souvenirs here after they pulled out, but my Most-Logical-SWAG on it is that it went from GB to the USSR, got the Sov wheels installed, got fired until the lands wore down, then was foisted off on Saddam (along with at least one MiG-15bis) as part of a Fraternal Socialist Military-Modernization Aid Package -- which would also neatly explain why all the *other* artillery I've seen here is of -- heh -- ChiCom origin. Got more pix? Megs of 'em. Why? *heh!*
 
By John of Argghhh! on March 24, 2008 9:30 AM
I did not know the Russkies used this gun - but here 'tis... and the box on the end of their recuperators matches the one in your pic. Unless that's one of the Finn guns - both in your pic and in the link above.. Britain sold 30 Mk 2 guns on Mk 2 carriages with pneumatic tires to Finland during the Winter War but they arrived too late to be used. They were used as "84 K/18" during the Continuation War of 1941 - 1944 by Field Artillery Regiment 8, 17th Division, so the one in the link might be a captured gun - and the Finns using Russian tires makes sense, too. Regardless, she's had an interesting life to end up there as yard art.