previous post next post  

I'm too sexy for my skin...

By The Armorer on July 15, 2011 | | Comments (9)
...plus two instances of Armorer-Zen.  All pics should enlargify by clicking on them.

 
Zeko, an explosive detection Canine, takes a breather, after his handler puts his specially made balistic "doggles" on for his daily training at the newly built training course at Forward Operating Base McHenry, Iraq. (U.S. Army Photo By: Spc. Barbara Ospina, 1st BCT Public Affairs)


PACIFIC OCEAN (July 11, 2011) The Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) is fired during a live-fire gunnery exercise aboard the guided-missile frigate USS Boone (FFG 28). Boone is deployed supporting Southern Seas 2011. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Stuart Phillips)








U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles, from the 389th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, like the ones shown here, helped provide 176 consecutive hours of air support and drop more than 100 bombs in support of Operation Hammer Down II. Air Force close air support assets played a critical role in the success of the operation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Michael B. Keller)

Share This Article:

Share |

Categories:

Tags:

9 Comments

By Attila on July 15, 2011 12:57 PM
With precision-guided munitions, you can have unconventional platforms (F-15s) performing conventional missions (CAS). Technology has inverted the old airpower battle calculus of deciding how many airplanes to commit against a target. Now it's how many targets do we strike per airplane? This is commonly known in the airpower business as a "Good Thing." Each of those eggs are conceivably going after different aim points/targets...we (the US military) may be expensive, but the DoD is one Department where we get our money's worth a damn site more than most of the others.
 
By Casey on July 15, 2011 4:50 PM
Not only that, but the Eagle can prod serious buttocks wrt air superiority after dropping their eggs. I love that plane.

Alas, I look at that Phalanx shot and I think of RD/D2 with a woody....

 
By J.M. Heinrichs on July 15, 2011 5:07 PM
 It's just that explaining these things to pilots ... well, easier than gunners ...

Cheers
 
By wolfwalker on July 16, 2011 6:45 AM
re photo #1: I'm genuinely surprised a dog would wear something like that -- most dogs are rather eye-shy and hate wearing any kind of headgear.

re photo #2: when did the US Navy start mounting Daleks on its ships?  EX-TER-MI-NATE!
 
By ponsdorf on July 16, 2011 4:43 PM
Wish we'd had the CIWS way back when. Instead GQ had ME on a MA Deuce more than once.
 
By Quartermaster on July 16, 2011 7:37 PM
 A dog will get used it after while and quit fighting it. They probably showed him a pic of how kewl he looks when he wears them and how he would be chick magnet. I'm sure Zeko said "Kewl, man, put 'em on me."

Of course, we who have served know how the service lied to us. It's too late for him now. 
 
By BillT on July 17, 2011 12:29 AM
...in support of Operation Hammer Down II.

Someone at DoD is a sci-fi fan-atic. The original Operation Hammer Down was the bombing attack on the monster in Cloverfield -- which produced massive collateral damage, and

*koff*

was unsuccessful in killing the monster.

Better luck with HDII, guys...
 
By Casey on July 17, 2011 12:42 AM
...Obviously an AF plan, then. Heh.

 
By DL Sly on July 17, 2011 9:20 AM
As if there weren't enough reasons, (ie kitties, cool guns, kitties, etc etc) the VES has officially declared this site the coolest.  Probably has something to do with the fact that the jet in the pic is the same as the model she and her Grandpa put together shortly before he passed away.
Either way, you've got the official stamp of *Kewl!*. 
Very. Not. Bad. ....for a curmudgeonly auld phart.
0>;~}