About those 3D guns…

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In May 2013, Cody Wilson, through his Austin-based company Defense Distributed, created the Liberator, a nearly entirely 3-D printed, single-shot .380 ACP pistol for which he freely shared the plans for online. In the first two days, the files were downloaded nearly 100,000 times. Then the federal government, specifically the State Department under John Kerry, demanded the plans for the Liberator be pulled from the website until further notice under international arms regulations, citing “the United States government claims control of the information.”

Wilson, allied with the Second Amendment Foundation, challenged that logic in court and won the settlement announced this week that will see DefDist once again post 3-D gun files starting Aug. 1 via Defcad.com. “The age of the downloadable gun begins.”

And they aren’t just about the Liberator anymore:

More in my column at Guns.com.

Battlewagon on a lake, 103 years ago today

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Here we see the Illinois-class pre-dreadnought type battleship USS Wisconsin (BB-9) drawing 23 feet of water in Gatun Lake, Panama, 16 July 1915.

Obsolete within five years of her commissoning, she served with her two sisteres, Illinois and former Warship Wednesday alumn Alabama on the epic Great White Fleet and then, after a modernization in 1909 that left her looking more haze gray as seen above, she was used for training until 1919 when she was laid up for good and scrapped without ceremony in 1922.

In 1944 another battleship entered the fleet with the same name, which had a rather longer life.

 

If you are a fan of the USS Racine, you probably shouldn’t watch this footage

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Live fire from aircraft, a submarine, and land assets participating in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise sank the long-decommissioned ex-USS Racine (LST-1191) on 12 July in the Pacific Ocean. Ex-Racine was sent to the bottom at the end by aircraft from Strike Fighter Squadron 192 (VFA-192) at 8:45 p.m. in waters 15,000 feet deep, 55 nautical miles north of Kauaʻi, Hawaii.

The SINKEX featured live firing of surface-to-ship missiles by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and a Naval Strike Missile (NSM) from a launcher on the back of a Palletized Load System (PLS) by the U.S. Army, fired from Barking Sands. This marks the first time the U.S. Army and JGSDF have participated in a sinking exercise during RIMPAC as well as the first participation by a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft.

A torpedo from an unnamed submarine is shown at the 5:40 mark breaking her back. You can see her distinctive bow doors in several scenes, as well as her 1970s-era twin 3″/50 dual purpose gun mounts, still installed.

Racine, an 8,700-ton Newport-class of Landing Ship, Tank, was commissioned in 1971, decommissioned on 2 October 1993 as the Navy was getting out of the LST business and, after a planned transfer to Peru fell through, was set aside for use as a target while in inactive reserve at Pearl Harbor. She earned one battle star for her Vietnam service.

According to the Navy:

Each SINKEX is required to sink the hulk in at least 1,000 fathoms (6,000 feet) of water and at least 50 nautical miles from land. Surveys are conducted to ensure that people and marine mammals are not in an area where they could be harmed during the event.

Prior to the vessel being transported for participation in a SINKEX, each vessel is put through a rigorous cleaning process, including the removal of all polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), transformers and large capacitors, all small capacitors to the greatest extent practical, trash, floatable materials, mercury or fluorocarbon-containing materials and readily detachable solid PCB items. Petroleum is also cleaned from tanks, piping, and reservoirs.

A U.S. Navy environmental, safety and health manager and a quality assurance supervisor inspect the environmental remediation conducted in preparation of a vessel’s use in a SINKEX. Upon completion of the environmental remediation, the manager and supervisor provide signed certification of the work in accordance with EPA requirements.

SoDaks representing, 73 years ago today

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Artwork by John Hamilton from his publication, “War at Sea.” Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Gallery:

89-20-Z: U.S. Navy battleships firing guns on the Japanese mainland, July 1945.

“Believed to detail the first naval gunfire bombardment of the Japanese mainland on July 14, 1945, by Task Unit 34.8.1. (TU 34.8.1) ships included the battleships: USS South Dakota (BB-57), USS Indiana (BB-58), Massachusetts (BB-59) along with the heavy cruisers: USS Quincy, USS Chicago, and nine destroyers.”

The tale of U.S. battleships at sea in WWII is often focused on the bookends of Pearl Harbor vets and the Iowa-class, with the four ships of the South Dakota class often forgotten (although two endure as floating museum ships), so it is nice to see them remembered.

Great painting.

Here is a Kodachrome of the actual event:

Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-K-6035 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command

Bombardment of Kamaishi, Japan, 14 July 1945: The U.S. Navy battleship USS Indiana (BB-58) fires a salvo from her forward 16″/45 guns at the Kamaishi plant of the Japan Iron Company, 400 km north of Tokyo. A second before, USS South Dakota (BB-57), from which this photograph was taken, fired the initial salvo of the first naval gunfire bombardment of the Japanese Home Islands. The superstructure of USS Massachusetts (BB-59) is visible directly behind Indiana. The heavy cruiser in the left center distance is either USS Quincy (CA-71) or USS Chicago (CA-136). Due to the Measure 22 camouflage, the cruiser is probably Quincy, as Chicago is only known to have been painted in Measure 21.

An interesting look inside UUVRON 1

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Last fall the U.S. Navy established its first-ever unmanned undersea vehicle squadron, UUVRON 1, at NUWC Keyport, Washington. Unmanned Undersea Vehicle Squadron One’s mission is to develop the tactics, techniques, and procedures that will shape how the Navy uses UUVs in the future. It is part of the secret squirrels of Submarine Development Squadron 5, which is the operational command that oversees the trio of special mission-oriented Seawolf-class nuclear-powered fast attack submarines USS Seawolf, Connecticut and Jimmy Carter.

Equipped with a wide array of assets, the 35-strong unit deployed a detachment to Argentina last year in the search for the lost submarine ARA San Juan that included a Blue Fin UUV and 6 Sailors.

“We’ll use UUVs in those areas that are too dangerous to put a manned vessel, and on the other side, we’ll use UUVs where it’s just too mundane for a long-term mission to keep a sailor out there,” CDR Scott Smith told the Kitsap Sun. “Those are really the two places I see UUVs working, but we’ll never replace the manned systems. In my mind, we’ll always need submarines out there doing what submarines do.”

More here.

A 1911 fit for an Aztec

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Colt 1911 Aztec Jaguar .38 Super Serial #29 of 300 This one sold for $3,424.99 through CDNN.

This full-sized stainless Government Model 1911A1 is chambered in .38 Super and features a beautifully intricate Aztec theme based upon the jaguar.

“The Aztecs regarded the jaguar as the bravest of beasts, and the proud ‘ruler of the animal world.’ The Jaguar was a favorite symbol in Aztec representations of war. In Aztec mythology and astrology, the jaguar also played an important role. Aztec kings, like their Classic Maya predecessors, used the jaguar to enhance their social status. As the jaguar was lord of animals, so an Aztec emperor was the ruler of men. Aztec emperors wore jaguar clothing into battle and sat in judgment on a throne. Jaguar Warriors were members of the elite Aztec military special forces.”

Sold through Talo, these limited edition Colt are a full sized 80-series stainless government in .38 Super caliber. The slide is first polished and then deeply embellished with Aztec themes of the jaguar, rulers, and high priests. The left rear slide panel features a gold rampant Colt.

The gray pearlite grips pick up the Aztec theme along with a gold rampant Colt medallion. The Jaguar pistols have special factory issued serial numbers AJW001-AJW300.

As an aside, .38 Super is the highest caliber handgun round availible (legally) to civilians in Mexico.

Some peculiar Englishmen, their hound, and their umbrella, 74 years ago today

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Part of the five-man crew of a MkI Staghound armored car “Frascati” of 1st King’s Dragoon Guards shelter from the sun and take a brew-up beneath a parasol fitted to the turret of their vehicle, somewhere in Italy, 13 July 1944.

Note the camo netting and packs tied to the hull. Via IWM

Chevrolet made 3,844 4×4 T17s between 1942-44 and, capable of making 55mph on good roads, they were fast and had decent range (longer than most tanks, anyway).

Most– some 2,844– were sent to the UK (designated Mk I) armed with a 37 mm M6 gun good enough for poking holes in anything that wasn’t a tank, a coaxial .30 cal Browning M1919A4 machine gun, and a British-pattern 2-inch smoke mortar in a rotating turret, another M1919A4 in the hull, and an option to add a third M1919 or similar up top on the turret.

As for the KDG’s, they traced their lineage back to 1685, fought in both World Wars and were amalgamated with the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen’s Bays) in 1959 to form the seniormost (line) cavalry regiment in the British Army: 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards (QDGs, “The Welsh Cavalry”) which endure today riding Jackal armored vehicles which are very much like the old Staghound.

As for Englishmen and umbrellas, that is a whole other thing.

But since you have come this far, how about some more umbrellas on tanks, IFVs, and APCs:

Officers of the 11th Hussars rest under the shade of a beach umbrella with their Morris CS6 during a patrol of the Egyptian/Libyan frontier, 26 July 1940

Trooper John Weire of Mentone, Vic, uses an umbrella to shelter from the shower of rain, during Operation Ballarat which began 4 August 1967 and ended 16 August 1967, while the remainder of the crew, Sergeant John Murphy of Cressy, Vic (left), and Craftsman Terry Parker of Launceston, Tas, keep a sharp lookout for Viet Cong (VC) from their armoured personnel carrier (APC) from A Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment. South Vietnam. AWM Photo EKT 67 0063A VN 

A US M48A1 tank crew in Vietnam, March 1971. Note the track links used as extra armor, the non-standard twin .50 caliber machine guns mounted at the commander’s hatch, and the beach umbrella

Bovington Tank Museum’s visiting Leopard C2, complete with Jolly Roger and umbrella

There is armor under there…somewhere

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1 ARMD, the 1st Armoured Regiment of the Royal Australian Army, last week celebrated their 69th anniversary, founded on July 4th (funny, right) 1949 but tracing its lineage to the Light Horse units of the Boer War and Great War, and various armored units of WWII. Part of the celebration and regimental parade included these two fine examples of Oz armor, an M1A1 Abrams AIM in a new Kryptek-like camo overlay, and a “shaggy dog” ASLAV-25.

1800×773 Click to big up

1800×783 Photo via 1 ARMD

Of note, the Australians have also been using some Saab Barracuda camo on their M1s lately.

(The Red Kangaroo is still there…)

Cohen’s watch back home

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Israeli spy Eli Cohen, whose Omar Sherif good looks and smooth attitude allowed him to penetrate the Syrian defense ministry and highest levels of politics like the stuff of a Bond film under the cover identity of Kamal Amin Taabet, was caught in mid-transmission by the Syrians in 1964 after a KGB HF/DF team tracked his radio down.

His life ended in a public execution in Damascus and his body was reportedly buried three different times over the years to keep the Israelis from finding it.

However, in what was described by the BBC as a secret operation by the Mossad, his wristwatch has been recovered.

Amos Ben Gershom/Laam

The watch, which was with Cohen until his death, surfaced in Syria several months and was put up for sale by whoever stumbled across it. In a twist of fate, Russian assets reportedly help locate it.

As detailed by the Jerusalem Post:

Cohen operated behind enemy lines – establishing close ties with the top Syrian political and military leadership – from 1962 until he was hanged almost exactly 43 years ago on May 18, 1965. Cohen, who was known in intelligence circles by the number 566, wrote in encrypted French and sent his messages via a tiny radio transmitter. Cohen’s transmissions were instrumental in helping the IDF prepare for the 1967 war with Syria. He provided information about the Syrian Air Force and military positions on the Golan.

Born Eliyahu Ben-Shaul Cohen in Egypt, Cohen worked for Israeli military intelligence throughout the 1950s then, working for the Mossad and after muddying his tracks in Argentina, relocated to Syria– while he had a wife and three kids back in Israel.

It went far beyond that. His apartment was the crossroads for the Who’s Who of Damascus, which he encouraged, and then dutifully took note. This evolved into field trips to highly secure locations throughout the country, blessed by the Syrian brass. Cohen somehow managed to make it back home three times from Syria, on each occasion bringing photographs and sketches of Syrian positions– strategic gold.

A national hero in Israel, Sacha Baron Cohen of all people is set to play Cohen in new Netflix movie.

Getting my vintage sci-fi on

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That moment when watching Blake’s 7 that you spot a sweet Colt SP-1, the “OG” of AR-15s.

Also, if you have no idea what 1978-ish space opera goodness B7 was, all four seasons are for free on the Tube. Ep 1, Season 1, below.

Written by Terry Nation, who also created the Daleks for Doctor Who, it is something of a George Lucas meets George Orwell on a low-fi budget and appeared on BBC1. I first caught it on PBS in the late 80s, but it is still great today.

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