Uncle Chester Shuffles out for One Last Go

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Named in honor of the fleet admiral that oversaw the Pacific War, the USS Nimitz (CVAN/CVN-68) was ordered on 31 March 1967 and commissioned just over eight years later on 11 April 1975.

USS Nimitz (CVN-68) replenishes from USS Mount Baker (AE-34) during UNREP training on her shakedowns in Guantanamo Operations Area, Caribbean, 31 July 1975. At the time, her wing, CVW-8, had two F-4J Phantom squadrons (VF-31 and VMFA-333), two A-7E Corsair units (VA-82, VA-86), an A-6E Intruder squadron (VA-35), and assorted EA-6B, E-2B, and SH-3H dets. She has outlasted all of these types. NHHC K-109941

Even new math shows that her 50th anniversary is coming up in a few weeks, and she will celebrate it haze gray and underway on her 30th deployment- and that’s not even counting almost smashing the Kido Butai!

The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (NIMCSG) departed Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington, for a regularly scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific on 21 March, with an all-DDG escort as the carrier has outlasted almost every U.S. cruiser that would have traditionally accompanied her.

Sailors man the rails on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in the Puget Sound after getting underway for a regularly scheduled Indo-Pacific deployment, March 21, 2025. An integral part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, the U.S. 3rd Fleet operates naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides realistic and relevant training to ensure the readiness necessary to execute the U.S. Navy’s timeless role across the full spectrum of military operations. (U.S. Navy photo 250321-N-QV399-1053 by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Japeth Carter)

As noted by 3rd Fleet PAO:

NIMCSG consists of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9.

The embarked air wing consists of nine squadrons flying F/A-18C/E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growler, E-2D Hawkeyes, C-2A Greyhounds, and MH-60R/S Sea Hawks; Squadrons are the “Fighting Redcocks” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22, “Mighty Shrikes” of VFA-94, “Kestrels” of VFA-137, “Blue Diamonds” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 146, “Cougars” of VAQ-139, “Indians” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6, “Bluetails” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 121, “BattleCats” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73, and the “Rawhides” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40.

DESRON 9 consists of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54), USS Gridley (DDG 101), USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108), and USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123).

Maskinpistolen!

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From the collection of the Danish Resistance Museum comes this amazing poster made just after the post-WWII Liberation.

Translation:

“The machine gun: Making STEN-Gun. The working drawings are exported and sent to several companies that each performed their part. Only 5 trusted men knew and worked at the ASSEMBLY SITE!!”

At least three Danish resistance groups (Ringen, BOPA, and Holder-Danske) were known to have manufactured Sten locally, with each giving the gun its own little tweaks, largely due to the materials available. Plumbers and bicycle shop owners proved particularly adept.

Making Holger Danske STEN guns Denmark Danish FHM-286695

Danish underground STEN workshop on Niels Finsens Allé in Søborg FHM-182982

Danish sten making workshop on Niels Finsens Allé, Søborg FHM-182978

Danish STEN BOPA’s workshop on Kongevejen in Holte FHM-182895

Danish homemade STEN BOPA workshop in Holte FHM-182924

They had a wild collection of differences, with each group setting up a thriving cottage industry, in many cases only dependent on the magazines (originals dropped from England or Suomi magazines smuggled from Sweden).

As detailed by the SADJ:

There were several variations of the Sten made by the different resistance organizations, of available materials. Producing barrels was a problem, largely solved by boring and re-rifling old rifle barrels. One Danish Sten copy was designed to use Suomi magazines. The Ringen Sten was a Danish design produced in small workshops using a number of aluminum castings.

Danish Resistance Sten Gun (Ringen type); butt, trigger housing and magazine housing are of aluminum alloy construction; lacks magazine. Height 195 mm., Length 910 mm., Width 100 mm. IWM (FIR 6156)

Same as above

Suomi quad mag Danish STEN Tøjhusmuseet in Copenhagen

Homemade Danish Sten in Freedom Museum FHM-261175

Danish Freedom Museum STEN collection FHM-316233

Danish homemade STEN coat gun FHM-153217

Danish homemade STEN. Note it is set up to accept an over-barrel suppressor. FHM-286723

Of course, there were some weapons dropped to the Danes via the efforts of the SOE and Free Danish forces in London.

Danish Resistance members process an SOE para-dropped weapon container at Søholt (Røgbølle Sø) on Lolland in March 1945. The picture was taken by the light from the headlights of the truck brought along. Note the M1 Carbines. FHM-200342 and 200349

Danish resistance STEN guns dropped via canister. Also note Mills bombs, explosives, and detonators. 

The assorted Danish Resistance groups counted some 90,110 members during the war, and while most of these were involved in passive resistance and intelligence gathering, they were very active when it came to rubbing out collaborators and informers, with Likvidering (liquidation) units assassinated upwards of 400 alone in 1943-1944 ala Flame & Citron.

The Resistance also helped spirit over 7,000 Danish Jews out of the country to nearby Sweden, helped hide Danish police and military personnel, ratline downed Allied aircrews back to Freedom, and kept British intelligence very well informed of German movements.

It was only after August 1944 (!) that the British SOE began dropping weapons to the Danes, totaling just 600 tons of munitions and supplies by March 1945, and followed that up with 53 SOE agents.

And when the order to take back the country came in May 1945, most areas of Denmark were self-liberated. The now in the open Resistance, wearing identification armbands, typically met the British as they arrived, the situation already in hand and, in many cases, the local German garrisons isolated and waiting to hand over their guns.

Danish Resistance, 1945, World War II sten mausers k98 m1 carbine stg44

Danish Freedom fighters in Vejle May 1945 STEN FHM-238868

Danish STEN guns at the Liberation

Danish STEN resistance Godthåbsvej, in Frederiksberg 1945 FHM-244069

Danish STEN resistance Godthåbsvej, in Frederiksberg 1945 FHM-244064

At least 850 members of the Danish Resistance would perish in the war, with 102 of those executed.

However, no one doubts that a few STENs haven’t been set back for a rainy day in Danish communities. They often show up at police stations, are found in attics, and handed quietly down with grandpa’s old things.

Turned in to a Danish police station in 2024: Mausers, Berthiers, STENs and a MP40

Lucked into a RIA NM 1911

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Well, as you may remember from my previous posts, I wound up in Round 4 of the CMP 1911’s program. After sending in my packet in the summer of 2023, I pulled Random Generated Number (RGN) 46295 in the lottery on 10 October 2023.

Then, I waited.

And waited.

Finally, on 25 February 2025, I got the magic call and was told all four grades were available. As I already have a pretty neat Service Grade that I lucked into during Round 2, I went “Range Grade” which typically have aftermarket parts installed and were usually either A) late-use guns issued out to SF units in the 1990s and early 2000s, or B) guns used by the military marksmanship teams in target completion.

Requesting a Colt (if possible), my gun shipped the next day and I recently managed to break free and swing by my local FFL to pick it up.

And here we are:

Delving into it piece by piece, the frame is that of a Colt Military Model M1911A1, SN# 824784, which was made in 1942.

CMP Forums books notes: It shipped to Springfield between September 18 and October 22, 1942 probably destined for Europe with the Army. For example, SN 823189 went from Colt to Springfield on 10/02/42 and from Springfield to the NY Port of Embarkation on 10/13/42. The very closest SN is 824446 was with the 6th Army on 07/09/46.

The rest of the gun quickly points to that fact that it was subsequently selected for upgrade to a National Match competition-grade pistol in 1968 at Rock Island Arsenal (RIA and NM marked on right side of frame) with a Colt NM 7791435 marked slide including 1/8” .358 high front sight, a Colt NM 7791414 marked barrel, NM7267718 barrel bushing, large U.S. marked Kensight rear sight, aluminum trigger, milled front strap, straight mainspring housing, checkered thumb safety, and black checkered grips. The right side is marked: Colts PT. F.A. Mfg. Co. Hartford, Conn. U.S.A. Lightly scratched into the rear of right slide is “WC.”

It was likely issued out to a division, post, regional, Army, state, or other-level Marksmanship Training Unit post-1968 until finding its way to Anniston Army Depot and the CMP. It has a UID label (an animal only introduced in 2005) on the dust cover, a clue that, along with the more modern grips, may mean that it was still in use with a team until very recently.

I have a FOIA request for its history and will update you guys with what I find out.

A little 5.56 will jam an outboard right up

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The downright elderly (60 years in commission) 210-foot Reliance-class USCGC Valiant (WMEC 621) recently offloaded approximately 12,470 pounds of cocaine, worth an estimated $141.4 million, at Coast Guard Base Miami Beach after wrapping up a patrol of the Florida Straits and Caribbean.

Valiant’s crew secured the illegal drugs after six interdictions in international waters, including one incident on 17 February some 50 miles northeast of the Dominican Republic, that included the crew of her 26-foot RHIB zapping a go-fast with M4s.

Now, being the Coast Guard, they aimed for the outboards, not the crew, and brought said coke boat to a halt.

Law enforcement crew members from USCGC Valiant (WMEC 621) stand in front of interdicted narcotics and engine covers at Base Miami Beach, Florida, Mar. 6, 2025. (U.S. Coast Guard photo 250306-G-FL647-1055 by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Strasburg)

A USCGC Valiant (WMEC 621) law enforcement team is underway with interdicted narcotics approximately 50 miles northeast of the Dominican Republic, Feb. 17, 2025. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations aircrew detected the suspicious vessel and vectored in the Valiant crew who apprehended five suspected smugglers and seized approximately 1,280 pounds of cocaine. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Seaman Reese Fishbaugh)

Roll that beautiful bean footage:

How it Started vs How it Ended, Vickers Edition

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Two WWII images, five years apart to the day, bookended by the same weapon system.

Vickers water-cooled .303 machine guns of the 7th Battalion Cheshire Regiment, 1st Division, at Aubigny-au-Bac, 23 March 1940. This was just six weeks before the end of the Phoney War and the beginning of a very different one.

Note the immaculate Pattern 37 gear and uniforms. Capt. Len Puttnam, war photographer, IWM F 3273

“Crossing the Rhine, 23 March 1945: British commandos of the 1st Commando Brigade man two Vickers water-cooled .303 machine guns machine guns in the shattered outskirts of Wesel. The 1st Commandos had formed the spearhead of the British assault by making a surprise crossing in assault craft on the night of 23 – 24 March under a barrage of 1,500 guns.” This was just six weeks before VE-Day.

Meanwhile, the Commandos look much more comfortable. By Sgt. Norris, No. 5 Army Film and Photo Section, Army Film and Photographic Unit, IWM BU 2329

Of course, the Vickers, which first entered service by virtue of List of Changes No.16217 in November 1912 and remained in inventory until 30 March 1968 when it was replaced by the L7 variant of the FN MAG 58

The best single-volume work on the gun is the 860-page Vickers Machine Gun: Pride of the Emma Gees, edited by Dolf Goldsmith, Richard Fisher, Robert G. Segel, and Dan Shea.

I got mine personally from Mr. Shea– who is a gentleman and a scholar of the first kind– when I bumped into him in Germany last year.

Zippo Monitor, in Vivid Color!

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Early 1969 U.S. Navy images from the National Archives, show a “Zippo” flamethrower installed on a 56-foot Armored Troop Carrier monitor– an armored LCM (6) landing craft–  in testing along an unnamed river in the Republic of Vietnam.

Note the camo “duck hunter” jungle hat, worn slouch style. DN-SC-82-03010

DN-SC-82-03009

DN-SC-82-03008

As detailed in War in the Shallows: U.S. Navy Coastal & Riverine Warfare in Vietnam, 1965-68 by John Sherwood page 178:

In the summer of 1967, when the Viet Cong constructed bunkers capable of withstanding 40mm rounds, RIVFLOT 1 began exploring the idea of deploying flamethrowers on riverboats as a potential bunker buster. On 4 October, the M132A1, an Army flamethrower, was shoehorned into an ATC. Commanders hoped the M132A1’s 32-second burst and 150-yard range would not only neutralize enemy bunkers but also deter river ambushes. Tests proved satisfactory, but the M132A1, weighing 23,000 pounds, was too heavy for the Navy’s needs. Instead, lighter M10-8 flamethrowers were installed on six monitors delivered in May of 1968.

Nicknamed “Zippo” after the popular cigarette lighter, these monitors mounted two M10-8 flamethrowers, each with an effective range of 200–300 yards. With 1,350 gallons of napalm fuel, the M10-8 could lay down a sheet of flame for 225 seconds. Sailors would make napalm by mixing a powder consisting of the coprecipitated aluminum salts of naphthenic and palmitic acids with gasoline. Compressed air propelled the napalm through the flamethrower, and a gasoline lighter acted as the trigger.

“You had to be careful to get the right jelly consistency when making it,” explained Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class Joseph Lacapruccia, “but firing the weapon was not dangerous. No one was ever burned. It was much safer than the 20mm, and napalm was effective against the VC because it could travel into spider holes and deplete oxygen.”

Zippo Monitor of Task Force 117 using dual flamethrowers to reduce possible enemy ambush sites along riverbank Mekong Delta, May 3, 1968, USN 1135595.

Limits and Renewals

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Well, my friends, we made it to Spring. Enjoy the sun on your face and the smell of nature renewing after the long, and often bitter, winter.

I was fortunate enough to soak up some beauty yesterday. There is a good reason Mobile is known as the “Azalea City.”

Speaking of limits and renewals, the below post came across on one of the scores of FB groups I am a member of (odds are, if you are in any gun, military, naval, or aerospace group on social media, I may be lurking!).

For those curious, “Melde mich ab” means “log me out.”

One of these days, we will all ask someone to log us out, so to speak. Always remember that the time we have here is limited. Remember to take care of yourselves and your people.

Let us keep up the fellowship and sharing of our knowledge for as long as we can.

You are all kings.

New Army History Magazine Now Available!!

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Via the U.S. Army’s Center for Military History:

In this Winter 2025 issue of Army History, we are excited to share two outstanding articles, a look at an interesting Army artifact, a special feature that highlights both the art and artifacts of a famous artist, and a selection of quality book reviews.

The first article, by Donald Wright, details the transformation of the 7th Infantry Division into a light division, a concept that was developed toward the end of the Cold War.

The second article, by Ryan Hovatter, examines the career of Florida National Guard soldier Fred A. Safay. Hovatter expertly tells the story of this relatively unknown soldier, highlighting his service, warts and all.

The Artifact Spotlight for the issue shows us the High Standard Model HDMS pistol. This silenced .22-caliber pistol entered service in early 1944 and was used primarily for clandestine missions by members of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS).

This issue contains a slightly different feature, instead of our usual museum spotlight, which gives us the rare opportunity to look at not only some Army artwork but also some artifacts that belonged to the artist.

Get your FREE download here: https://history.army.mil/Publications/Army-History-Magazine/

Renegade Gunfighter

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Some 50 years ago, a spectacular image of a Vought F-8J Crusader of VF-24, the “Fighting Renegades,” in flight, 1975.

U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation photo No. 1996.253.7337.016

Assigned to Carrier Air Wing 21 (CVW-21) aboard the Essex-class fleet carrier USS Hancock (CVA-19), the Renegades deployed to the West Pac on “Hannah” from March 18 to October 20, 1975, a period that included the Fall of Saigon (Operation Frequent Wind).

Notably, it was the last of nine Vietnam deployments for Hancock, which was headed to mothballs, and the final Crusader deployment for VF-24, a type they had flown since 1956.

Upon return to San Diego, VF-24 on 9 December 1975 received its first F-14A and soon after updated its name to the “Red Checkertails,” one they would carry through 1996 when they were disestablished.

The Promise of an old Pasteboard box

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Now and then, you come across an old box.

You may be tempted to toss it, or even just ignore it, until you find that it has a bit of heft. This of course ignites the curiosity in milliseconds and sometimes unveils a hidden secret.

Like a Colt M1908 Pocket Hammerless in .25 Auto with a serial number that places it circa 1917, a pivotal year in history that included America’s entry to the Great War, the Russian Revolution, the first dedicated hamburger bun, and the introduction of Chuck Taylor All-Stars.

Never take an old box for granted.

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