History, Politics And Current Affairs

A common SPAAG in Soviet Cat III and Mobilization-only units: the ZSU-57-2. Lack of radar and more modern fire-control systems meant it was practically useless against fast movers and only marginally effective against helos. But as a ground-support weapon, it was devastating to guerillas with no antiarmor weapons.

Didn’t the Mexicans get a lot of these?

Wolfman wrote: ↑Fri Nov 28, 2025 3:17 pm Didn’t the Mexicans get a lot of these?

If they did, it tells you what the Soviets thought of them.

Miss Buffy on a postwar visit Down Under, 1992:

Photo: An Soviet mine planted by Mexicans floats near the battleship USS Iowa (BB-61) prior to being detonated by explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team members during the battle of Brownsville Pocket, 3 October 1989.

A lot of mine clearance went on during and after the campaign. Remember, some of the mines laid were ours, trying to interdict traffic going in and out of the Port of Brownsville.

Old habits died hard after the Armistice: USS Texas (CGN-39) and a FER intelligence ship near the Kuriles while Texas was monitoring compliance with the Armistice, 1990:

Photo: The USS America (CV-66) with an F-14 about to land seen through the periscope of Royal Navy's Trafalgar class HMS Trafalgar (S-107) during the liberation of Iceland, 1987.

Photo: The Invincible-class aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious (R06) as seen during the Ocean Wave 1997 deployment. Ocean Wave '97 was the name of a Royal Navy battle group that was deployed to the Far East in 1997 for showing the flag near Hong Kong, anti-piracy operations in the South China Sea and supporting anti-Warlord operations in the former People Republic of China The flagship of the battle group was HMS Illustrious (R06). In addition to HMS Illustrious (R06), the fleet consisted of Fearless-class landing platform dock HMS Fearless (L10), Round Table-class landing ship logistics RFA Sir Galahad (L3005) , RFA Sir Percivale (L3036) and RFA Sir Geraint (L3027). The Type 42 destroyer HMS Gloucester (D96), Broadsword (Type 22) class frigate HMS Beaver (F93) and Type 23 (Duke) class frigate HMS Richmond (F239) were also part of the group. Fort Victoria-class replenishment oiler RFA Fort George (A388) , Fort Rosalie-class replenishment ship RFA Fort Austin (A386), and Ol-class tanker RFA Olna (A123) were available as supply and refueling ships. The nuclear-powered Trafalgar-class submarine HMS Talent (S92) where also part of the battle group. Over the course of the eight-month deployment, various other ships joined the Ocean Wave '97 group or were assigned to other tasks. At its peak, the task group comprised more than 20 units.

Lordroel, you might want to check with Bernard about HMS Invincible, because I think she was lost during the war…

Wolfman wrote: ↑Tue Dec 09, 2025 1:59 am Lordroel, you might want to check with Bernard about HMS Invincible, because I think she was lost during the war…

OOC: checking the data you are right, will chance it, thanks.

Lordroel wrote: ↑Mon Dec 08, 2025 5:26 pm Photo: The USS America (CV-66) with an F-14 about to land seen through the periscope of Royal Navy's Trafalgar class HMS Trafalgar (S-107) during the liberation of Iceland, 1987.

Even though it was a "friendly" sub, there are still only two types of ships to sub drivers: submarines and targets.

Matt Wiser wrote: ↑Tue Dec 09, 2025 6:12 am

Lordroel wrote: ↑Mon Dec 08, 2025 5:26 pm Photo: The USS America (CV-66) with an F-14 about to land seen through the periscope of Royal Navy's Trafalgar class HMS Trafalgar (S-107) during the liberation of Iceland, 1987.

Even though it was a "friendly" sub, there are still only two types of ships to sub drivers: submarines and targets.

In that instant, HMS Trafalgar was the Ayatollah of rock 'n' rolla...

A 3rd TFW F-4E on short final to Clark AB, The Philippines, 1988:

Photo: a RAF Puma HC1 with an underslung L118 105mm howitzer somewhere in Canada, 1987.

Imagine what the recoil would do to the flight characteristics of the helicopter!

I mean, I'm familiar with the AC-130, but this is taking things a bit too far!


Belushi TD

The photographer was praying, "Don't drop it and don't land here."

jemhouston wrote: ↑Thu Dec 18, 2025 3:07 pm The photographer was praying, "Don't drop it and don't land here."

Well they also where used to drop Canadian infantry as this photo shows then rappelling from a British Puma, 1988.

Lordroel wrote: ↑Thu Dec 18, 2025 3:19 pm

jemhouston wrote: ↑Thu Dec 18, 2025 3:07 pm The photographer was praying, "Don't drop it and don't land here."

Well they also where used to drop Canadian infantry as this photo shows then rappelling from a British Puma, 1988.

They're easier to dodge

A Mexican Communications Facility north of Hermosillo, Sonora, after being hit by F-15Es during the Baja War, 2010: