Having been in the "Bidnez" the video below brought back a torrent of memories. I mean, not engaging in back alley contraband of gun-running, but the packing, crating and shipping of boom-boom candy all throughout the world.
I always wore a "white" hat, for I do value being able to have a sound sleep at night. However, being in that milieu, one always heard through the grapevine the tricks and travails that those wearing "black" hats were doing. One heard of the Antonov that chased and shadowed the tail of a commercial plane all the way down range to Africa, so as to merge its radar image with the legal plane. Or of the Angolan bound cargo ship that all of a sudden "made water" and sank in international waters right after being temporarily seized and inspected by Portuguese authorities in Lisbon. A bad case of Limpets befell on them, I heard.
But I digress, two days ago the Israeli Navy seized a Cyprus owned cargo ship on its way from Iran to Syria, with plenty of CONEXes (or is it CONECIES never mind) with "Bulldozer Parts" in it were tons of F1 HE Hand Grenades, Hundreds of Thousands of Chinese made 7.62x39mm Cartridges, Iranian Made 60mm HE Long Range Mortar Bombs, 122mm "Katyusha" Rockets and Warheads, and most important from my perspective, 106mm Recoiless Rifle Ammunition.
These M40A1 HEAT Cartridges were made by Sistemas Militares Santa Bárbara back in 1985, at their Ammunition Plant in Granada Spain. Undoubtedly during the height of the Iran-Irak War, and kept in climate controlled bunkers ever since. I do recognize the markings on those all-up rounds well. What is ironic, is that Santa Bárbara was purchased in 2001 by General Dynamics. So an American Company now owns the manufacturer of the ammunition that was sold to Iran, which was intended for use by Hezbollah against the Israelis Do I miss the twists and turns of the Boom-Boom Bidnez.
Here's the first video:
Here's the Video with the Boom-Boom Candy.
Boq
I always wore a "white" hat, for I do value being able to have a sound sleep at night. However, being in that milieu, one always heard through the grapevine the tricks and travails that those wearing "black" hats were doing. One heard of the Antonov that chased and shadowed the tail of a commercial plane all the way down range to Africa, so as to merge its radar image with the legal plane. Or of the Angolan bound cargo ship that all of a sudden "made water" and sank in international waters right after being temporarily seized and inspected by Portuguese authorities in Lisbon. A bad case of Limpets befell on them, I heard.
But I digress, two days ago the Israeli Navy seized a Cyprus owned cargo ship on its way from Iran to Syria, with plenty of CONEXes (or is it CONECIES never mind) with "Bulldozer Parts" in it were tons of F1 HE Hand Grenades, Hundreds of Thousands of Chinese made 7.62x39mm Cartridges, Iranian Made 60mm HE Long Range Mortar Bombs, 122mm "Katyusha" Rockets and Warheads, and most important from my perspective, 106mm Recoiless Rifle Ammunition.
These M40A1 HEAT Cartridges were made by Sistemas Militares Santa Bárbara back in 1985, at their Ammunition Plant in Granada Spain. Undoubtedly during the height of the Iran-Irak War, and kept in climate controlled bunkers ever since. I do recognize the markings on those all-up rounds well. What is ironic, is that Santa Bárbara was purchased in 2001 by General Dynamics. So an American Company now owns the manufacturer of the ammunition that was sold to Iran, which was intended for use by Hezbollah against the Israelis Do I miss the twists and turns of the Boom-Boom Bidnez.
Here's the first video:
Here's the Video with the Boom-Boom Candy.
Boq
Somebody must have dropped a dime on this load big-time!
Thanx for the link, Boq! Way cool!
my dad LOVES the 106RR.... he used one to make a black-sailed fishing boat in da nang harbor go BOOM!
(his words)
he also went through the ONTOS school, but the seabees never got any of those.
it's a damn shame such a good gun gets into the wrong hands.....
Just proves that the Iranians are really out to work over the U.S. and our allies- arming the Syrians, Hezbollah, the Al Quida in Iraq and the bad guys in Afghanistan.
I hope the Israelis are very generous with their new toys. And send every single round to Syria and Hezbollah at the first opportunity.
If Israel takes out the Iranian nuke program that will be a HUGE favor for us and the whole civilized world.
Meanwhile, the next time they learn about a shipment like this, I hope the ship just suddenly sinks for unexplained reasons. I understand the Israeli submarine guys are really good. Might even be able to keep a little secret, if you know what I mean.
But then again, the 1970's was another era.
"Waste not, want not."
As if. I'd already been down the road with flightlines, hydrostatic locks, travel locks, squelch grease, 1/2 pound of track tension, skyhooks, static lines, and all sorts of other nonsense. But I sure did like shooting the 106 (and that 50 cal spotter rifle). Not sure I'd want to do that in a war, but in Hawaii, who cared?
The 106 guys used to practice with a dummy round (wooden head in a shell), which was kept on the vehicle and once, while on the big island waiting for the ship to arrive so we could upload the junk to take back to Oahu, we went to a local store for some munchies. Outside, for some dumb reason, we got the urge to play-act loading a round and tracking the gun to the front door of the store.... Seemed funny at the time, but after we went inside and discovered the owner cowering with phone in hand, trying to dial the police, we realized we'd been kind of stupid.... we apologized and paid up and left. Quickly.