Today is Armistice Day/Veterans Day

At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice started.  This armistice ended what was (until that time), the deadliest war known to man.  It was also called "the war to end all wars".  In it's aftermath, a group called the "League of Nations" was formed in order to facilitate negotiation between nations in order to avoid conflicts like that in the future.
Many people consider World War I to be the first industrial war but there are some historians that give the US Civil War that distinction.  However, World War I introduced some other horrors that were previously unknown.  It was the first war where poison gas was used against troops.  It also saw the first use of the tank and airplane.  It was also the first war where the submarine was used in an unrestricted fashion against civilian merchant ships.
By the time the war has finished, it is estimated that 10 million military members died from various war related causes.  It is also estimated that another 20 million civilians died from various war related causes (including the influenza outbreak).  It was also the first war to see the aerial attack of civilian populations.

This is a picture I took at the Marine Museum years ago.  I really liked the effect.
The first Armistice Day was celebrated on November 11, 1919 to commemorate the one year anniversary of the end of World War I.  In the United States, this has become Veterans Day.
It would be nice if some people would use this day to take pause and look at the devastation wrought by World War I.  Especially when you consider that some view World War II as continuation of it.

The Marine Static Displays

In the parking lot between Milliken State Park and the Ren Cen, they had some static displays set up.  This was showing some of the vehicles and equipment that are used by the U.S. Marines.

 I think this is an M777 155mm towed howitzer.   It was first fielded by the Marines in 2005.  There have been a couple of upgrades since then.

 The Marines also use the Humvee.  This particular one is uparmored for the various wars that are still going on.

 I think this is an LVTP-7 Amphibious Assault Vehicle.  It is designed so that the Marines can drive right up on the beach and assault that way.  Because it is tracked, it can be used as a transport as they push inland.

 It is equipped with an automatic grenade launcher and 50 caliber machine gun.

 I believe this is a LAV-25 (light assault vehicle).  The main armament is a 25mm Bushmaster chain gun.

 It is also amphibious.

 A Multiple Launch Rocket System vehicle.  This is designed to launch multiple rockets at a target.  If I recall, one batter can flatten an area the size the Eastern Michigan's main campus.

 An M1 Abrams tank. 

 The detail of an AH-1 Cobra.

 The front of an MV-22 Osprey.

 The cockpit of an Osprey.

 A Huey.

 I don't think I'll ever get a picture like this again.

Trying to get a better angle of the Huey.

Catching a Marine Ground Demonstration

Last week they had Marine Week in downtown Detroit.  Marine Week is kind of like Fleet Week.  It gives the Marines a chance to showcase some of their equipment to the people.
This was the first time that Detroit has hosted Marine Week.  Normally it is held in cities that are closer to the oceans but apparently they wanted to outreach to areas that don't normally get to see them. 

 Of course what got me interested when I read that they were going to do a joint aerial-ground demonstration.  Since I don't have many opportunities to see Marines in action, I figured it would be pretty cool.  I didn't arrive in time to see the F/A-18 Hornet or CH-53 Super Stallion pass by but I did catch the Cobra and Huey.

 The UH-1 Huey (Iroquois) was a utility helicopter that came out of the Army's need for one.  Originally it was designated the HU-1 which gave it the Huey name that stuck more than it's official name of Iroquois.  In 1962, the designation was changed to UH-1.
In 1952, the Army identified a requirement for a new helicopter to serve as a medevac, trainer and general utility helicopter.  The Army determined that the helicopters at the time were either too large, underpowered or too complex.  Twenty companies answered the bid.  One of those was Bell Helicopter.  In 1955, the Army announced that Bell would get the initial contract.  This was initially give the designation XH-40 and it first flew in 1956.  In 1960, Bell was awarded a contract for more helicopters.
While the Army was happy with the initial version, improvements were made.  The helicopter would ultimately become the icon for the Vietnam War.
By the time production ended in 1987, over 16,000 were produced.

 Here is a picture of the Marines lowering down to a barge that was parked in the middle of the Detroit River.  I think they were simulating the capture of a pirate ship.

 The AH-1 Cobra was developed using the Huey as a basis.  As the Vietnam War was expanded, it became clear that the UH-1 Hueys would need an escort of some sort.  At first, modified Hueys were used in this roll but that wasn't enough.  The Cobra first flew in 1965 and was introduced in 1967.
The Helicopter above was actually a Super Cobra which is serious improvements of the Cobra.  It has better engines and a four blade rotor.  Originally the Marines wanted to use the Apache but were denied funding.

 The V-22 Osprey had a longer road to get to this point than the Huey.  After the failure of the Iranian Hostage Rescue, it was determined that the military needed a plane that could ferry troops to the battlefield but take off and land like a helicopter.  In 1982, this was known as the Joint Vertical take-off/Landing Experimental Aircraft (JVX).  The Marines were really interested in this project.
Bell partnered with Boeing Vertol to produce a version of a tilt-rotor that they already had and because there's was the only proposal, they were awarded a design contract in 1983.  In 1985, the JVX became the V-22 and six prototypes were being produced.
In 1988, the V-22 was rolled out but the Army backed out.  The Defense Department wanted to cancel it though but Congress kept it going.  In 1989, the first prototype flew.  The fourth and fifth prototypes crashed in 1991 and 1992.  After that, Bell and Boeing went back to the drawing board and flights resumed in 1994.  There were a few more setbacks and now the aircraft is one of the safest in the air.

 One of the neat things about the plane is that it can fly like a helicopter and I think it can even auto-rotate like one.

 But the rotors will tilt forward so it can fly like a plane.

 Another picture of the Cobra.

 The Huey flaring back to hover over the barge.

 I never realized the maneuverability of the Cobra.

 I did realize it's thin front.

 The operation successful and the marines are pulled from the barge.

 A flyby of a C-130 and two F/A-18s.

 And I don't think I'll get a shot like this again.

The Marines passing by in their inflatable boats.

The Dawn Patrol Rendezvous - Part II

After the flight demonstration, I decided to wander around and look at some of the things they had set up.

 They had a few people that were dressed up in World War I uniforms.  These guys were dressed up as US Marines from World War I.  If you will recall, the Marines fought in a few battles during World War I and they fought pretty well.

 A Vickers 0.303 inch water cooled machine gun.  This machine gun was developed by the Vickers Company in 1912 and saw service with the British Army until 1968.  It could fire at a rate of 450 rounds per minute.

 Someone depicting someone from the Medical Corps.

 Some of the equipment used by the Medical Corps.  He had a pretty sizable set of equipment. 

 There was someone there with surveying equipment from the period.

 A map and some of the direction equipment that would be used in conjunction with the map.

 A person representing a soldier from the Canadian Army.  Because they were part of the British Commonwealth, they were equipped with British equipment, so a British soldier from the same period would look similar.

 Some more British equipment.

 A pair of German helmets.

 A US Soldier.

 A US helmet from the 1st Infantry Division.

 This person would be depicting a US pilot from World War I.  I think he is wearing Cavalry boots from the era.

 A German Soldier.

 Another SPAD.

 I think one of the interesting things is how sparse the cockpits are.   Although many of these things are still in a modern cockpit in one form or another.

 I think some of the pilots opt for a more modern looking cockpit.

 They also had some cars from the era.

 A Buick.

 Another Buick.

 A pilot posing in front of the Pup.

The McLaughlin Auto Company began in 1876 as the McLaughlin Carriage Company near Oshawa, Ontario.  In 1907, they became a car company.  They became part of General Motors later.

 They also had some decent scale aircraft.  This is one of the German bombers.

 During the demonstration, it dropped some simulated bombs.

 A radio controlled version of one of the earlier aircraft.  I think this is a French aircraft.

 The Wright Flyer.

 A model of a Canadian airplane.

 The Fokker Triplane.  Sadly, I wouldn't see this bad boy take the sky.

 Another one of the radio controlled planes.  It's amazing how realistic these look.

A fire truck set up, just in case.