Garfield

Stryker 8-Wheel Drive Armoured Combat Vehicles, USA

Stryker is a family of eight-wheel-drive combat vehicles, transportable in a C-130 aircraft, being built for the US Army by General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada (formerly General Motors Defense) and General Dynamics Land Systems Division of USA.

Stryker is based on the GDLS Canada LAV III 8×8 light armoured vehicle, in service since early 2001. The LAV III is itself a version of the Piranha III built by Mowag of Switzerland, now part of GDLS - Europe.

Fabrication and final assembly of the vehicles is being shared among plants at Anniston, Alabama; Lima, Ohio; and London, Ontario.

The Stryker brigade combat team (SBCT) combines the capacity for rapid deployment with survivability and tactical mobility. The Stryker vehicle enables the team to manoeuvre in close and urban terrain, provide protection in open terrain and transport infantry quickly to critical battlefield positions. The eight-wheeled Stryker is the first new military vehicle to enter service into the United States Army since the Abrams tank in the 1980s.

The contract for the US Army's interim armoured vehicle (IAV) was awarded in November 2000. The vehicles form the basis of six brigade combat teams. The contract requirement covers the supply of 2,131 vehicles. Deliveries of Stryker infantry carriers began in April 2002. A seventh SBCT has subsequently been planned and the requirement raised to 2,691. Over 2550 vehicles have been delivered.

Initial operational test and evaluation began in May 2003 with the Arrowhead Lightning II exercise.

In November 2003, the Stryker entered operational service with the US Army, with the first Stryker SBCT, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, following its deployment to Iraq. The second SBCT, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, was deployed to Iraq in September 2004. The third SBCT, the 172nd, deployed in July 2005.

Contracts for 328 vehicles to form the 4th Brigade were placed in March / June 2004 for delivery during 2005 and 2006, and for 423 vehicles for the 5th Brigade in February 2005 with deliveries in 2006-07. 306 Strykers were ordered in April 2006, 103 in July 2006 and 109 in October 2006. 615 Stryker vehicles were ordered in August 2008 for delivery by 2011. The Pennsylvania Army National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, the only National Guard SBCT, deployed to Iraq in February 2009. The 5th Stryker Brigade is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan in summer 2009, the first SBCT to do so.

The first US Air Force Stryker unit made its first deployment in Iraq in August 2005.

In December 2008, the Iraqi Government requested the foreign military sale (FMS) of 400 Stryker infantry carrier vehicles.

Stryker variants

Stryker variants include the M1126 infantry carrier vehicle (ICV) and the M1128 mobile gun system (MGS).

There are eight configurations of the ICV include M1135 nuclear, biological, chemical reconnaissance vehicle (NBC RV); M1134 anti-tank guided missile (ATGM); M1133 medical evacuation vehicle (MEV); M1129 mortar carrier (MC); M1132 engineer squad vehicle (ESV); M1130 command vehicle (CV); M1131 fire support vehicle (FSV); and the M1127 reconnaissance vehicle (RV). They have parts commonality and self-recovery abilities and are equipped with a central tire-inflation system.

The reconnaissance vehicle is fitted with the Raytheon long-range advanced scout surveillance system (LRAS3). The system includes a second-generation horizontal technology initiative (HTI) thermal imager, day TV and eyesafe laser rangefinder. The US Army is to enhance the system by lengthening the sensor mast to 10m, increasing the range to 10km.

The mortar carrier (MCV-B) entered service in August 2005. The MCV-B's 120mm mortar is mounted inside the vehicle and fires through doors that swing open at the top of the vehicle. As well as the mounted mortar, the vehicle carries a second mortar which has to be unloaded before firing. The vehicle has a digital fire control system and a crew of five.

The first of 17 LRIP nuclear, biological, chemical reconnaissance vehicle (NBC RV) variants was delivered in December 2005. The system can collect and automatically integrate contamination information with vehicle navigation and meteorological sensor data and then transmit digital warning messages to other forces.

The US Army placed a contract for 33 medical evacuation vehicles (MEV) in September 2007. The MEV can accommodate up to six patients and a medical team. Deliveries are to be completed by 2010.

Infantry carrier vehicle

The Stryker is a full-time four-wheel drive, selectively eight-wheel drive, armoured vehicle weighing approximately 19t. The vehicle can attain speeds of 62mph on metalled roads and has a maximum range of 312 miles.

The basic infantry carrier vehicle (ICV) provides armoured protection for the two-man crew and a squad of nine infantry soldiers. The basic hard steel armour is augmented by applique panels of lightweight ceramic / composite armour produced by a team led by IBD / Deisenroth Engineering of Germany.

The armour provides integral all-round 14.5mm protection against machine gun rounds, mortar and artillery fragments. In Iraq, in January 2004, Stryker vehicles were outfitted with a 'cage' of slat armour, which encircles the vehicle about 18in from the main body, as protection against rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs).

In March 2005, United Defense (now BAE Systems Land and Armaments) was awarded a contract to provide 289 full-vehicle add-on reactive armour kits for the Stryker, to be delivered between September 2005 and October 2006.

The ICV has a protector remote weapon station, from Kongsberg Protech of Norway, with a universal soft mount cradle, which can mount either a 0.50-caliber M2 machine gun, MK19 40mm grenade launcher or MK240 7.62mm machine gun. It is also armed with four M6 smoke grenade launchers.

In August 2005, Kongsberg awarded BAE Systems a contract to supply the TIM1500 640×480 uncooled thermal imaging camera for the remote weapon station.

The vehicle's commander has an FBCB2 (force XXI battle command brigade and below) digital communications system that allows communication between vehicles through text messaging and a map network, as well as with the battalion. The map shows the position of all vehicles on the battlefield and the commander can mark the position of enemy forces on the map which can then be seen by other commanders. FBCB2, 'the tactical internet', includes the Raytheon AN/TSQ-158 enhanced position location reporting system (EPLRS).

The Stryker driver has three M-17 periscopes and a DRS Technologies AN/VAS-5 driver's vision enhancer (DVE). The vehicle commander has seven M45 periscopes and a thermal imager display with video camera.

In February 2009, BAE Systems was awarded a production contract for the Check-6 thermal imaging driver's rear-view camera (DRVC) system for the Stryker ICV. The system is fitted to the vehicle's taillight housing. Deliveries are to begin in April 2009.

Stryker mobile gun system

Eight pre-production Stryker mobile gun systems were delivered to the US Army between July 2002 and March 2003. Low-rate initial production (LRIP) of 72 additional mobile gun variants is underway at General Dynamics Anniston facility. The first was delivered in December 2005.

The MGS entered service with the US Army in May 2007, with the first operational deployment to Iraq with the 4th brigade, 2nd Division. By November 2007, three Stryker brigades had received the MGS. A production contract for 62 vehicles was placed in August 2008.

Stryker MGS was selected by the Canadian Army, which planned to acquire 66 systems to replace Leopard 1 tanks. However it was decided to acquire surplus Leopard 2 tanks instead.

The Stryker mobile gun system variant consists of the basic vehicle with a General Dynamics Land Systems fully stabilised shoot-on-the-move low-profile turret. The turret is armed with a M68A1E4 105mm cannon with muzzle brake and an M2 0.50-calibre commander's machine gun.

The Stryker mobile gun system can fire 18 rounds of 105mm main gun ammunition, 400 rounds of 0.50-calibre ammunition and 3,400 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition. Curtiss-Wright Corp's Vista Controls supplies the fully automated ammunition loading and replenishing system. Two M6 smoke grenade launchers are also fitted.

The mobile gun system has the same C4ISR communications and driver's vision equipment as the ICV, but the gunner has three periscopes and a compact modular sight with dual field of view day and thermal channels. The MGS also has detectors for nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.

An advantage to the brigade combat teams in having the mobile gun vehicle of the same Stryker family of vehicles is the commonality across the entire capability and the reduced logistics requirement.

The Stryker mobile gun does not require a track-vehicle mechanic as would be required for example for the deployment of an M-8 mobile armoured gun system.

Transportation

Stryker can be transported on the ground using trucks or by air on C-17, C-5 and C-130 aircraft. The C-5 and C-17 aircraft can carry seven and four Strykers respectively.

The C-130H can fly safely carrying a maximum 38,000lb load for up to 1,000nm. The Stryker's weight, 36,240lb, and size are within the payload limit of the C-130H. The C-130 can operate from smaller airfields in more remote locations. All configurations of the Stryker can disembark from the C-130 in combat-ready status.

MG 42 and MG 3 machine gun (Germany)

MG 42 machine gun in LMG role, right side view with bipod folded and carrying sling attached.

MG 42 machine gun in LMG role, left side view, with bipod extended.

MG 42 machine gun in MMG role, on infantry tripod mount Lafette 42.

MG3 machine gun in "light machine gun" role, as made under license in Pakistan.

MG3 machine gun in "medium machine gun" role, as made in Iran.

German soldier aiming the MG3, fitted with EOTech holosight red-dot optics and a 50-round plastic belt container (which appears to be empty).

Barrel change for MG 42 - barrel is unlatched and its breech part is exposed for removal.

MG-42, bolt assembly, with locking rollers and extractor claw seen at the right and belt-feed operating stud at the left.

MG-42, bolt assembly schematic.

	MG 42	MG 3
Caliber	7,92x57	7,62x51
Weigth	11,6 kg (gun) + 20,5 kg (Lafette 42 trpod)	10,5 (gun) + various tripods
Length	1219 mm	1225 mm
Length of barrel	533 mm	565 mm
Feed	belt	belt
Rate of fire	1200 - 1500 rounds per minute	700-800 or 1100-1200 rounds per mniute

With adoption of the MG 34 machine gun the Wehrmacht had the weapon that was envisaged some 20 years before, and the MG 34 bears the distinction of being the first practical universal (or general purpose) machine gun. While the MG 34 was good and practical, it was certainly not ideal. German experts wanted their machine guns to fire faster, while being simpler and less costly. A high rate of fire was desirable both for AA applications and for surprise flanking fire against targets moving through the battlefield. As early as 1937 HWaA issued a request for the next new universal machine gun,and three companies received development contracts – Johannes Grossfuss AG, Stubgen AG and Rheinmetall-Borsig AG. In 1939 a commission selected the Grossfuss-made MG 39 prototype for further development. Designed by engineer Gruner (often wrongfully referred to as Grunow) and small arms designer Horn, new weapon, in accordance with HWaA request, had a stamped steel construction, combined with locked breech, short recoil action. Initial trials suggested that the Grossfuss MG needed further development, and in late 1941 a small batch (about 1500 pieces) of improved guns was manufactured for troop trials as the MG 39/41.

The new machine gun, while being made to lower standards of fit and finish, proved to be quite functional and reliable (a feature that the much more “refined” MG 34 lacked, especially in the mud and snow of the Russian front). Subsequently, it was officially adopted as the MG 42, and production commenced later the same year.

In general terms, the MG 42 was a great success. It fulfilled the roles of a light machine gun on a bipod, a medium machine gun (on a newly developed Lafette 42 tripod), and an anti-aircraft machine gun, mounted in single and twin installations, ground and vehicle-mounted. It was relatively inexpensive to make and required less raw materials than the MG 34, and it was simple to maintain and use. On the minus side, it had a somewhat excessive rate of fire, usually quoted as 1200 rounds per minute, although German WW2 era manuals listed it as 1500 rounds per minute (25 rounds per second). This rate of fire resulted in excessive consumption of ammunition and rapid overheating. While the extremely rapid barrel change procedure allowed for sustained fire, the resulting accuracy left something to be desired; excessive vibration from recoil, combined with a short sight radius, resulted in degraded long range accuracy compared with earlier MG 34 and, especially, the heavy MG 08 Maxim guns.

Nonetheless the MG 42 was an impressive and fearsome weapon, known among Allied soldiers as “Hitler’s saw”, for the sound of the firing which resembled the sound of a giant mechanical saw.

After the WW2 this weapon, unlike other wartime designs, lived on, as in 1958, the FRG (West Germany) re-instituted its official armed force, known as the Bundeswehr. Since the core of the Bundeswehr was formed of WW2 veterans, it was logical to adopt weapons which were already proven and familiar to the troops; and the MG 42 was one of such weapons. It was, obviously, chambered for a ‘non-NATO’ cartridge, but this was only a minor issue, as the 7.62x51 NATO and 7.92x57 Mauser shared the same cartridge base diameter, and were somewhat similar in ballistics. The real problem, however, was that Germany had lost most manufacturing facilities for the MG 42, so the newly reestablished Rheinmetall concern had to install production facilities from the ground up. The production documentation for original MG 42 machine guns was obtained from Grossfuss company and transferred to Rheinmetall (German government had to pay significant royalties to Johannes Grossfuns for manufacturing rights). Since the preparation for manufacture took some time, the FRG purchased some ex-Wehrmacht MG 42 weapons from other countries. Those guns were converted to 7.62 NATO by Rheinmetall and officially designated MG 2. The newly produced MG 1 guns went through a number of modifications, which resulted in the definitive MG 3 version, which still is rather close in design to the war-time MG 42, although made to much higher standards of fit and finish. The simplicity, low manufacturing cost and high effectiveness of the MG 3 attracted several other countries, which either bought the guns from Rheinmetall (such as Denmark), or obtained manufacturing licenses and build (or at least have built in the past) the same guns domestically (such as Italy, Iran, Turkey, Pakistan and Yugoslavia). In total, at least twenty armies have used or still are using the MG 3 and its versions. It must be noted that in some countries these guns were used under their "commercial" Rheinmetall designation MG 42/59. The MG 42 is a short-recoil operated, air cooled, belt fed weapon which fires from an open bolt. The barrel is quick-removable, and can be replaced in less than six seconds by a properly trained crew, although an asbestos glove is required to remove the hot barrel. The action of the weapon is operated by the recoil of the locked barrel, assisted by a muzzle booster which uses pressure from the muzzle blast to increase the recoil impulse. Locking is achieved by a pair of rollers, which are forced outwards from the sides of the bolt head to engage cuts in the barrel extension. Locking (outward) movement of the rollers is controlled by the wedge-shaped front part of the bolt body; unlocking (inward) movement of the rollers by the cams made in the receiver. This is a simple and solid system which minimizes the length of parts that are under stress upon discharge, and also minimizes the strain on the receiver. On MG 3 machine guns, two types of bolts are available, with standard weight (about 650 gram) for fast rate of fire and with heavy weight (about 900 gram) for slow rate of fire. It must be noted that those bolts also are used along with different return springs.

The receiver and barrel jacket are made in one unit, and formed from a sheet of rolled steel, cut to shape by pressing and stamping, and then welded and pinned to form a gun housing of generally rectangular cross-section. The front part of the housing serves as a barrel jacket and has a number of oval cooling slots at all sides except the right. The right side of the jacket has one long slot which is used to remove the barrel. The barrel is held in place by a hinged lock, located at the rear of the opening in the right side of the jacket. To remove the barrel, the operator must first lock the bolt in the open position (cock the weapon), and then turn the barrel lock to the right and forward. This will release the barrel and bring its breech area out of the jacket, so it can be grabbed (using the issued asbestos glove or other heat insulation means if the barrel is hot) and pulled back and out of the jacket. The new barrel is then inserted all the way forward and lock then is snapped into place, bringing the barrel into alignment with the action.

The gun is fed using belts only. Feed direction is from the left to right; the feed is of the one-stage, push-through type. The belt is same as for the MG 34, with steel links with open pockets, assembled into non-disintegrating 50-round lengths. The same MG 34 type “Gurttrommel” 50-round drum-type belt containers can be used with the MG 42, and a new type of lightweight plastic 50-round belt container was developed in West Germany by HK and is now issued with MG 3 guns. The belt feed is operated by the reciprocating bolt which has a roller at the top of its body. This roller engages the cam track in the oscillating lever, located in the top-opening feed cover. The lever operates the belt pawls in two steps, on both opening and closing movement of the bolt, resulting in a smooth and positive feed. This two-step belt traction is particularly useful because the high rate of fire results in high-speed belt movement, and this system reduces the strain put on both the feed unit and belt links. Current production MG 3 guns can fire either non-desintegrating or desintegrating belts.

The trigger unit is of relatively simple design, and permits for automatic fire only. The manual safety is of the cross-bolt, push button type, located at the top of the pistol grip. The charging handle is located at the right side of the receiver, and is separated from the bolt group (it does not move when gun is fired). Each MG 42 was issued with an integral, adjustable bipod attached near the muzzle; MG 3 guns may have two points for bipod attachment, one near muzzle and another near the center of the gun. In the medium role, the MG 42 was used from the Lafette 42, a complicated foldable tripod with buffered cradle. A wide number of tripods is available for MG 3 guns, as produced in several countries.

The standard sights are open, fully adjustable, and mounted on folding bases. The universal tripod has provisions for mounting telescopic sights for long range and indirect fire missions.

M/Y Triton - 88m superyacht by Platinum Yachts

True to her mythological name, the 88 metre diesel-electric superyacht Triton is destined to be the queen of the sea. Platinum Yachts, a Dubai World Company Dry Docks World subsidiary, unveiled this superyacht at the inaugural 2009 Abu Dhabi Yacht Show in March. Triton was designed by the combined talents of Sam Sorgiovanni and Azure Naval Architects. With a 14.6 metre beam and 4.4 metre draft, she is the first in a planned series of six.

Triton’s design has timeless elements of classic yachts, with a modern perspective. She is a full displacement, twin screw diesel-electric motor yacht with a round bilge steel hull and aluminum superstructure. Her exterior consists of four accommodation decks and a spacious sundeck that can be fitted as a fully compliant helideck at the owner’s request. She has teak exterior decks, stainless-steel railings, glass windscreens, and tinted single glazed windows.


Her general arrangement allows great flexibility, providing luxury owner and guest accommodations, dining, large outdoor areas with ample stowage for water sports and diving equipment, swimming pool, two outdoor Jacuzzis, spa area, and full gymnasium. The Platinum Yachts mission was to create a superyacht perfect for vacation come rain or sunshine. Interior and exterior merge effortlessly without distracting from the surrounding beauty.

This superyacht’s diesel-electric propulsion configuration was designed in close collaboration with Imtech Marine, featuring a “single-deck” engine room that allowed more luxury interior space when compared with yachts of similar size. Though this propulsion design has a greater cost and is generally heavier in weight than others, the trade-offs for these minor considerations include better fuel consumption, low noise and vibration, less need for controllable pitch propellers, and easy maintenance due to the conventional arrangements. Triton has a maximum speed of 19 knots. At a cruising speed of 15 knots, she has a range of approximately 5000 nautical miles. Her classification is Lloyd’s Register - 100A1 SSC Yacht (P) Mono G6 - LMC, UMS, SCM, MCA Large commercial yacht code (LY2) compliant.



Throughout this superyacht, her living spaces focus on the wellness of those onboard. Water and light are the ingredients used to provide a unique atmosphere and ambience. The spa at the top, the three exterior Jacuzzis, the pool and the amazing “beach-club” at the transom form an interacting environment with light and water. The “beach-club”, in addition to the large pool (with waterfall) consists of a sunbathing area, beach bar and diving center, as well as everything a water-sports lover could dream off.

Within her exterior, the arrangement, the spaces, the circulation of crew and guests has been developed in order to provide a home-like feeling combined with sophisticated luxury and privacy. There is a central staircase with glass elevator that connects the five decks together, allowing access from the Lower-deck embarkation platform directly to all the accommodation spaces.

Beginning at the lower deck, the layout includes a full gymnasium with en-suite toilet facilities as well as crew cabin accommodation, fully-equipped galley and laundry facilities. On the lower deck is also the tender garage, capable of handling 11-meter tenders.

The main deck features six VIP suites with en-suite bathrooms, as well as the main dining with seating for 18 and the main salon.

The upper deck has a full-beam owners suite with his/hers bathrooms and walk-in closets, private outside forward deck with Jacuzzi, and informal salon convertible into a theater linked to the aft outside dining and seating area with bar.

The bridge deck this superyacht has a full spa-treatment room with sauna and steam-room, combined with great outdoor seating and sunbathing. Forward is the wheelhouse, office and Captain’s cabin. The Sundeck allows for more sunbathing with Jacuzzi, and exterior seating with dinning space offering a great forward view.

Tenaga Nasional main HQ

I went to pay my electricity bill at TNB's HQ building recently. Suprisingly they have not done any refurbishment to it. The building looks pathetic.

With the money they get, they should do something. It does not give confidence to users of their professionalism.

The Blogger.

36m gulet with a modern interior by Nauta Design

Creating the interior design for a traditional Turkish motorsailor. When that challenge was accepted by Nauta Design, few of the designers in the Milanese studio were expecting such a beautiful and remarkable end result.

The 36 mt. L.O.A., steel yacht has been built in Tuzla, homeland of yachting in Turkey, for an owner whose ideas about its concept were both stimulating and ambitious. The design brief focused on the study of a contemporary winning style, which reminded of the wooden traditional gulets that sail the Turkish waters.

The spirit of the gulet tradition is strong and clear when it comes to the exterior styling; two typical masts, a remarkable roof, a high volume hull, a cosy aft deck and the classic stern.

But it’s below deck that the traditional exterior styling is combined with a modern, minimalist style. For the interior, the designers used traditional construction materials and fabrics, upholsteries and carpets, to create an ethnic, yet very modern Turkish style.

The result is remarkable: simple yet refined. The use of colors inside plays an important role within the interior, which is dominated by the sophisticated contrast of dark and light materials. Use of bleached oak elegantly matches the darker colours of wengé wood, which is used to enframe several vertical and horizontal surfaces.

The owner’s suite is probably the room where Nauta best expressed their creative work. The cabin featues a clever layout, and overlooks the aft transom through large stern windows and features a small library and a large bathroom, large enough to be used as a true Turkish bath/hamam.

The double king size bed faces the huge window on the aft transom, and there is a large sofa just below, which invites to seating and reading, whilst overlooking the yacht’s wake when she’s sailing.

The small dinette/relax area on the portside features an L-shaped sofa, whist on starboard side there is a small study with an ample table to allow working in comfort, with the fantastic view through the aft transom windows.

The same use of contrasting woods can be found in the guest cabins, large galley and in the inviting saloon which is made up by a lounge area and a dining area, dominated by a comfortable table.

The owner’s choices in terms of decor and furniture, enrich the interior with that “ethnic” touch which makes this yacht one of the most interesting recent Turkish projects within her size.

L.O.A.: 41,26 mt. (bowsprit forward included)
Beam Max.: 8,57 mt.
Draft: 4,80 mt.
Displacement: 182 tons
Sail surface: 600 m2
Cruising speed: 12,5 kt.
Guest berths: 8
Crew: 6
Fuel total =9.980 lts
Fresh Water =9.740 lts
Shipyard: Evadne Yachts, Turkey
Naval Architect: Karatas Yacht Design
Interior design: Nauta Design
Interior fitting: Ber-line yacht interiors