Maggie’s Military Jeopardy

[sirhrmechanic]

Downtown got it... And the trapezoid was important because that shape was only used to defend irbm launchers. Other field manuals specified other layouts. So when analysts saw Sam batteries in a trapezoid, they knew that there were irbm launchers being deployed. And immediately found nuke storage bunkers and crates that could only have been Sov nuclear missiles. It helped that the us analysts had a copy of the Soviet "book" thanks to Oleg Penkovsky. Any other sam layout and U.S. intelligence would not have found the missiles on Cuba until it was too late and they were operational.

But enjoyed the detail on pmi post....

Cheers, Sirhr

 

[FS1]

In world war 2 a pigeon was awarded the Victoria cross for this action.

 

[Downtown]

I don't believe Oleg Penkovsky lasted too long after that. Wasn't he executed for treason?

 

[MarinePMI]

Sorry I was so verbose Sirh, but I was one of the "analysts" you describe, so a flood of memories come back when I start talking PID of assets. I still think the most challenging (and fun) task, was "calling out" the SS-24Mod1's, scattered in the rail yards. Was always an interesting test in patience/persistence to track them as the rail cars moved around a yard.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Fs.. animals are not eligible for the Victoria Cross itself.

But there is an equivalent called the Dickens medal or something like that. And several pigeons earned it for everything from carrying messages from Invasion beaches to rescuing aircrew.

When I was at Bletchley Park last fall I saw a great exhibit on the birds and animals in one of the restored hot's. Including several medals. They were awarded to dogs horses and lots of pigeons. The pigeons being the focus of The Bletchley Park exhibit because often those messages were coded.

Cheers sirhr

 

[Strykervet]

In world war 2 a pigeon was awarded the Victoria cross for this action.

His name was Commando and he was a bad ass motherfucker that carried nearly 100 messages across enemy lines. I remember this from a documentary.

He wasn't issued the Victoria Cross though, he was issued the animal version (I had to look this up when I went to check if I was right, it's the Dickins Medal) which sold for a fortune.

 

[Strykervet]

What was the Davy Crockett and why was it cancelled?

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

What was the Davy Crockett and why was it cancelled?

The blast exceeded the launch distance, suicide gig for the operator.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Davy Crockett s an operation was one of Hal Moore's Air Cav Search and Destroy missions early in the VN war.

But you are probably talking about the Nuclear recoiless rifle? Or Nuclear Bazooka.

Back when they were even considering making things like 'nuclear hand grenades.' Technically possible. What idiot would throw it, however?

Fun to give out squad level nukes... except for the squad. Which was probably why they cancelled the program.

If you read my buddy Jim's book on the Berlin Det., he talks about the SADARM's for the first time. That's the backpack nukes that were designed to be carried into targets by SF. To this day, noone knows whether the 'Start Timer' button just set the thing off. ;-)

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[MarinePMI]

If you read my buddy Jim's book on the Berlin Det., he talks about the SADARM's for the first time. That's the backpack nukes that were designed to be carried into targets by SF. To this day, noone knows whether the 'Start Timer' button just set the thing off. ;-)

Cheers,

Sirhr

What was the title of this book? I ask because the wife was a USAF "pocket rocket" in Berlin circa the early eighties. It'd be interesting to compare notes. OpPlan Trip Wire comes to mind...

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Special Forces Berlin A unit history of the Berlin Det.

There are a couple of threads devoted to it and excerpts here on SH. I've been shamelessly plugging it for a year now!

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Special Forces Berlin A unit history of the Berlin Det.

There are a couple of threads devoted to it and excerpts here on SH. I've been shamelessly plugging it for a year now!

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[MarinePMI]

This weapon system was deployed in a pattern that (ironically) symbolized the Jewish nation state...

 

[shootist2004]

who was Time Magazines Person of the Year in 1938?
don't look it up! see if you can guess.........

 

[Sean the Nailer]

Shoot, I didn't look it up, but wasn't it adolf hitler?

 

[shootist2004]

yup..........

 

[Sean the Nailer]

Ok, pic coming with today's "Daily Double". Gimme a few mins.....

 

[timesublime]

This weapon system was deployed in a pattern that (ironically) symbolized the Jewish nation state...

Nebelwerfer?

 

[Downtown]

SA-2 Missiles, again in Cuba, in a Star of David pattern.

 

[Sean the Nailer]

Ok, for a "Daily Double", here goes:

What is it,
And what's it do?

(I know that isn't the correct format, but work with me here)

 

[Thumper580]

My father in law is retired CIA and has a sample section of the main power cable from the sub.....

Regarding the Azorian project... here is the section of cable from the sub recovered by the CIA.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Ok, for a "Daily Double", here goes:

What is it,
And what's it do?

(I know that isn't the correct format, but work with me here)

Bare fuse??? Goes off after shell has burrowed into concrete? Cheers Sirhr

 

[MarinePMI]

SA-2 Missiles, again in Cuba, in a Star of David pattern.

We have a winner! (And yes, from the image you posted, that is an active one, with what appears to be a Cone Dish communications system adjacent the Fan Song FC radar)

 

[Sean the Nailer]

SirHR, nope.... but you're definitely onto a potentially right track.

I chose this one, because as far as I know, it's pretty much "ungoogle-able" and not only that, but as I would understand.... very few people would/should actually recognize what it is, and/or what it does.

The average civilian absolutely won't have a clue. So lets see how this goes......

 

[MarinePMI]

Part of a nuclear reactor?

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Regarding the Azorian project... here is the section of cable from the sub recovered by the CIA.

That is beyond amazing. But,are you sure that is Azorian and not Ivy Bells??? Same timeframe... Lots of the sam folks. Looks more like underwater cable than sub part. Though I was not a naval engineer... So could easily be a nuc power cable.

Whatever it is...,awesome!!!

Cheers, Sirhr

 

[Foul Mike]

Torpedo fuse?

 

[Thumper580]

It's from that salvage, using Howard Hughes Glomar Explorer. My father in law, retired CIA was given the piece as a souvenir. It's the real deal.

 

[Strykervet]

Davy Crockett s an operation was one of Hal Moore's Air Cav Search and Destroy missions early in the VN war.

But you are probably talking about the Nuclear recoiless rifle? Or Nuclear Bazooka.

Back when they were even considering making things like 'nuclear hand grenades.' Technically possible. What idiot would throw it, however?

Fun to give out squad level nukes... except for the squad. Which was probably why they cancelled the program.

If you read my buddy Jim's book on the Berlin Det., he talks about the SADARM's for the first time. That's the backpack nukes that were designed to be carried into targets by SF. To this day, noone knows whether the 'Start Timer' button just set the thing off. ;-)

Cheers,

Sirhr

Yeah, the Davy Crockett mortar. They have two of 'em in the Infantry Museum at Benning, the big one and the "small" one. It looks like a big ass bottle rocket on bipod with a small fat man bomb on the end. Super simple. The idea was to stop a Russian invasion in it's tracks. But yeah, the big one put the operator in or awful close to the blast radius and both were prone to massive radiation exposure depending on weather.

I read about backpack nukes in a SOF magazine when I was a kid (damn, nearly 28 years ago!) and I read something by a guy that was familiar with 'em... Maybe the guy you're talking about? Anyway, based on the protocol they assumed it was a "detonate now" button because if they had enough time to get away, they'd have to leave a fucking nuke unsecured.

You KNOW that shit ain't happening!

I forget all the details around it though --or the details I was privy to.

 

[Strykervet]

It's from that salvage, using Howard Hughes Glomar Explorer. My father in law, retired CIA was given the piece as a souvenir. It's the real deal.

That's just plain fucking cool. Wow. Could you imagine being there? I'm sure you've seen the video and pictures.

 

[Strykervet]

Ok, for a "Daily Double", here goes:

What is it,
And what's it do?

(I know that isn't the correct format, but work with me here)

Is that an old torpedo fuse? I'm guessing based on the shape and material and wear spots it's a naval fuse of some type. Second guess would be a depth charge fuse.

edit: didn't see Mike called the torp. fuse at first... Sorry.

 

[Sean the Nailer]

No, it isn't an "old torpedo fuse" nor is it an "artillery fuse" (?) or a "depth charge fuse".... but here's another photo with a Canuckian Nickle in there, for scale and comparison. With an added bonus hint, for some.

 

[MarinePMI]

Interesting. I'm assuming the ID of that tube is stepped, so that a flanged something that goes in the tube can be released to extend of pas through the tube?

 

[Sean the Nailer]

Marine, no, the ID of that tube is not stepped.

 

[MarinePMI]

Now I'm really curious what this doohicky (yes, that's an engineering term used frequently at work) does. LOL!

 

[timesublime]

Pressure relief valve?

 

[Foul Mike]

I know, I know,!!! It is a clerenderm that works in conjunction with a zoomerino that goes along with a bogatrod in series!!!
In other words, I haven't a fucking clue. You have got me here.
I will be watching for the answer in eager anticipation. FM

 

[Sean the Nailer]

Well, I won't deny that I'm actually enjoying this, because "You lot" are the ones with the experience and the brains and the history. But even then, it is only a "small" segment of ya'll whom actually "SHOULD" know what this is.

In a perfect world. How I know, and learned, is a different story.... to say the least. But, since only a few have looked/responded/guessed, it is up to ya'll as to how long before I "pop that balloon" and everything fizzles.

I was hoping there'd be a "wider" selection of branches inputting, because one of ya'll HAS to know what it is. Too many have 'fiddled' with them, over time.

(stack of hints, in the above)

 

[MarinePMI]

Any clues that aren't absolute spoilers?

 

[Foul Mike]

I am going to take a guess here.
Does it have something to do with the Japanese Balloon Bombs launched during WW2? FM

 

[Sean the Nailer]

Any clues that aren't absolute spoilers?

FM, no, and to all... this is an American item.

These were carried by so many, but unfortunately, too many were thrown away before they were used.

 

[timesublime]

Striker for a hand-held flare?

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

Is it the device that inflates an releases the balloon antenna from the survival radio kit from WW II, Korean, early V/N war?

 

[Sean the Nailer]

Striker for a hand-held flare?

No, but sorta close.

Is it the device that inflates an releases the balloon antenna from the survival radio kit from WW II, Korean, early V/N war?

No, but you too have the 'era' right!

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

Max altitude fuse for a (BSF) Battle Star illumination flare?

 

[Foul Mike]

Maybe a radio Sonde but those were not carried by all so that is out.
Is it a gas attack detection device?
I am only guessing here as I haven't a clue. FM

 

[Sean the Nailer]

You guys are thinking 'intricate' and 'complicated' and whatnot. This is much more common and simple. But as I stated to begin with, very few will ever actually have seen it. If you did, you either "shouldn't be" or were in a considerable specialty.

Remember, ya'll'd throw these things away, before anyone used one.

 

[MarinePMI]

Heck, maybe it's something to detonate a nuclear bomb to prevent it's capture.

 

[timesublime]

land mine fuse, and the safety pin?

 

[Sean the Nailer]

No, and

No.