View allAll Photos Tagged Defence
Israeli Soldiers from the Tsabar battalion during combined arms training exercise with a platoon from the 46th Armored Battalion - September 2013
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken towards the end of the third week of February 2017.
These are the critical stabilisation works at the Silverbridge site, adjacent to the N11 dual-carriageway:
Back in November 2014, we'd observed bank stabilisation works here involving excavation, repair and building of a support wall structure -- carried out by JONS Construction on behalf of the National Roads Authority.
We would occasionally catch sight of this work in the distance. Quite an impressive little piece of structural engineering.
Having built a retaining concave wall, backfilled for solidity, they were also drilling, fixing and sealing ground anchors to pin the entire structure together.
Now we see that further works are being undertaken.
Word has it that extra ‘stabilisation work’ had to be done to protect the integrity of the riverbank.
At the section here we can see that there’s not much space between the edge of the rock face and the Armco at the side of the dual-carriageway.
Have yet to determine what precisely that will entail. Serious work to reinforce the side access ramp down to the river.
The N11 carriageway runs adjacent to this sunken side of the riverbank -- barely 2 (large) paces divide the two. Even with twin strips of Armco along the roadside, it's perilously close. Traffic speeds along this stretch (maximum speed 100 kmp). Only needs a touch from a heavy vehicle to cause secondary impact, which (worst possible scenario) could result in something going airborne.
Working in these confined spaces puts a premium of safety and communication.
The guys have hard-filled a working shelf on the riverbed, to allow machinery access to the rockface. Obviously some serious drilling is called for before a form of extra 'pinning' is put in place.
They have sunk a series of hollowed tubes/casings -- obviously to form the foundations of a more extensive structure.
And some investigative work around the transverse buttress of the access bridge, parallel to the heavy-duty pipeline carrying water down from the Vartry reservoir.
At a (rough) guess -- I'd say the foundations were sunk to a depth of approx 4+m.
With such secure foundations in place, they would then look to construct a substantial bank of material, and/or retaining wall (similar to that in place further along the roadside bank).
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Previously the guys drilled and sunk 4+metre deep reinforced tubing and rods along a newly laid concrete base. Those stubs were then used to attach steel rod cradles -- which, in turn, were filled with poured concrete. Result - the wall quickly rises. Variation on the method they've used elsewhere along this stretch of the river.
A continuous stretch of protective wall has now been poured, and joined up with the section originally erected back in 2014.
As we can see from the side-on shot, the base of the wall has pre-cut openings for the retaining pins that have been driven into the side wall of the roadside cliff. These have been sealed and capped.
Progress has been rapid, the full stretch of wall is completed, and the guys are now working on back-filling the empty space between the protective wall and the roadside rock face. You don't just throw in a few trucks loads of soil and hope for the best. You load, layer, level and compress.
And, at the same time, the guys are clearing away material used to build access ramps down into the riverbed.
The thought crossed my mind -- in doing so (removing the stone-filled gabions etc,) are they potentially exposing the river bank on that side to erosion, slippage etc?
We know the destructive force of fast running waters. Hell, this is precisely why the protective works have been carried out along the rest of the stretch, down to the Bray Harbour. Unless they have other plans to stabilise it, what is going to be left here is loose soil -- very close to the access road into the halting site itself.
Some repair/reinforcing work is going on here to protect the (old) buttress that supports the pipework carrying water to the Bray region.
28 - 31 2016 at Naqueri Quiton Bitul Goa
Aerobatic show
air show
Helicopter
more pics and videos here goo.gl/Wtkp3J
401 Reconnaissance Battalion Exercise in the Galilee
These soldiers serve in the Reconnaissance Battalion of the IDF Artillery Corps' 401 Brigade. Last week, they participated in a unit-wide exercise in the beautiful mountain ranges of northern Israel's Galilee region.
Photo credit: Tal Lisos & Ben Ram David, IDF Spokesperson's Unit
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the last full week of October, 2016.
As seems to be the norm, all construction work has ceased by mid-Friday at the start of a Bank Holiday weekend.
Still a high level of activity along this stretch of the riverbank, and especially around the Irish Rail bridge.
Throughout the summer, this is where the heavy-duty engineering works have been taking place.
This is a section of the flood protection scheme that I have pretty much ignored -- it's inconvenient for me to access, and others cover it much better.
Check out 'Turgidson'.
Standing on the new riverside walkway alongside Seapoint Court, we see construction activity sited along the Ravenswell Road, temporarily closed due to on-going works.
The construction activity is routed along the Ravenswell Road, temporarily closed due to on-going works.
That is the site of the old Bray Golf Club -- hotly contested as a (potentially) poorly considered as a site for a shopping centre development complex, and still an area of ground that has to act as a flood plain in the event of tidal surges.
As well as raising a heightened flood protection wall, they've created an access ramp down to the riverside. Further temporary soil shelves have been laid to allow construction machines to work alongside the riverbed. That access is critical to pursue work on the nearby Irish Rail bridge.
The area in the background, site of the old Bray Golf course, is both a works compound and vehicle route for the transportation of material to/from the other sectors along the River Dargle involved in construction works.
My camera (and/or my skills) prove insufficient in unfriendly light. Expertise in the photolab can only get me so far!
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A four-arch Bray Bridge was constructed in 1666, but this collapsed in 1741 and was replaced by a new bridge within the same year.
The 1741 bridge was replaced in 1856 by a new three-arch bridge designed by Mr Henry Brett.
The bridge was built by David Edge, and it bore his name.
The bridge was renamed on 5th July 2015 in honour of Bray resident Fran O'Toole, who was the lead singer with the Miami showband.
Three members of the showband were killed outside Newry in 1976, including Fran O'Toole.
The Railway Bridge downstream was built in 1853, a year prior to the opening of the railway between Dublin and Bray.
The railway company had to narrow the channel of the river and build a small shipping dock.
Between Bray Bridge and the Railway Bridge there was a wooden footbridge linking Ravenswell Road and the Seapoint Road, this bridge was built at the time of the railway coming to Bray.
It closed in 1870 and was removed shortly afterwards.
"The Little Book of Bray and Enniskerry" by Brian White.
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Combat Intelligence Soldiers Train in the South
The Combat Intelligence Corps operates to collect intelligence in the field. They must make use of their surroundings and environment in order to camouflage themselves. The Nahshol Company is a combat intelligence company which is made up solely of women, from the soldiers to the company commander. These are some photos from their routine exercise in the Southern Region.
Copyright: Israel Defence Force
Israeli soldier drive on a (APC) , armored vehicles during a military exercise in the Golan Heights northern Israel on 21 August 2012
The 13th Battalion of the Golani Brigade during a drill held in the Golan Heights, northern Israel. The NAMER ("Tiger"), a new vehicle combining the artillery abilities of the Merkava tank and the APC's shielding capacities, was fully integrated in this drill for the first time, improving the battle tactics used by the IDF in the field. August 21, 2012
Photo by Cpl. Shay Wagner – Israel Defence Force
As word of Australia's swiftly moving navy reaches the ears of the Indian army a fleet of 20 ships including 4 aircraft carriers set off to meet them, while three infantry divisions begin evacuating civilians from the coast, and taking them to the safe zones to safe zones in the capital, and begin setting up defences while they await for the arrival of 50 top of the line tanks and 60 artillery and anti- aircraft pieces.
We also request that our ally of Canada send as much assistance as possible.
The Desert Reconnaissance Battalion
The Desert Reconnaissance Battalion acted professionally during a company exercise.
Photo credit: Barak Chen,
IDF Spokesperson Unit
After reports of heavy siege equipment and chariots being positioned for an attack on Eastgate, the city council has commissioned new defences.
Weary from the long siege and the conflict between the now reunited brothers Dugal and Petera, the citizens, craftsmen, and soldiers have flocked to help keep the new enemy at bay.
Fortress Fermont, situated east of Longuyon, France, is part of the defences of the Maginot Line. The fortress has been constructed between 1931 and 1936 and its purpose was to prevent the Germans from invading France after they did so in the First World War. It constitutes a complex that stretches over more than two kilometres of subterranean corridors and occupies a surface of 27 hectares. In the Second World War only one French soldier has been killed in Fortress Fermont and that happened because of an accidental hit through one of the loop-holes.
The lifting cupolas are the characterizing aspect. Those are cupolas with various types of artillery that only become visible when raised. As long as the cupolas are in the down position and equal with the surrounding surface, they are barely distinguishable from their surroundings. On the surface, you will discover the other combat blocks, including the 75 turret of block 1, and learn how the Fermont structure, attacked from the rear on June 21, 1940, resisted all German assaults and held out until the armistice.
All of the galleries of the Ouvrage are located at an average level of 30 m below ground, access is possible by stairs or by 6 freight elevators, two of which were designed to receive equipment and ammunition. The main gallery, approximately 1 km long, is equipped with a trolley and a 60 cm track where locotractors run, powered by 600 volt direct current, produced on site by a power plant equipped with four 225 hp generators. Captain AUBERT and the Fermont crew left the structure on June 27, 1940 in front of a German military detachment.
Fermont is also, in front of the Munitions entrance, the outdoor museum which contains most of the equipment used on the Maginot line. There are notably three artillery turrets from the Brehain structure which are the only ones in France to be presented to the public in this way, and two turrets recovered from Fort Molvange, one of 75.32 and a twin machine gun turret
Members of HQ ARRC have deployed to Grafenwoehr, Germany to take part on Ex DYNAMIC FRONT 18. .
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Photographer:.
(Crown Copyright / Warrant Officer Class 2 Tom Robinson GBR Army / Released)Members of HQ ARRC have deployed to Grafenwoehr, Germany to take part on Ex DYNAMIC FRONT 18. Exercise Dynamic Front 18 includes approximately 3,700 participants from 26 nations at the U.S. Army’s Grafenwoehr Training Area (Germany), Feb. 23-March 10, 2018. Dynamic Front is an annual U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR) exercise focused on the interoperability of U.S. Army, joint service and allied nation artillery and fire support in a multinational environment, from theater-level headquarters identifying targets to gun crews pulling lanyards in the field.
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Photographer:.
(Crown Copyright / Warrant Officer Class 2 Tom Robinson GBR Army / Released)Members of Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps have deployed to Grafenwoehr, Germany to take part on Ex DYNAMIC FRONT 18. In this photo, service personnel are pictured working in the Tactical Operations Centre..
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Exercise Dynamic Front 18 includes approximately 3,700 participants from 26 nations at the U.S. Army’s Grafenwoehr Training Area (Germany), Feb. 23-March 10, 2018. Dynamic Front is an annual U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR) exercise focused on the interoperability of U.S. Army, joint service and allied nation artillery and fire support in a multinational environment, from theater-level headquarters identifying targets to gun crews pulling lanyards in the field.
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Photographer:.
(Crown Copyright / Warrant Officer Class 2 Tom Robinson GBR Army / Released)
On November 20th, IDF soldiers from the Ground Force's 71st Battalion completed a training exercise in the hilly terrain of the Golan Heights.
Photo Credit: Tal Lisus, IDF Spokesperson's Unit
Member of the Irish Defence Forces serving in Lebanon as part of UNIFIL during a routine patrol of the Blue Line in the vicinity of UNP 6-52. 2014
Vernazza (Latin: Vulnetia)
is a town and comune located in the province of La Spezia, Liguria, northwestern Italy. It is one of the five towns that make up the Cinque Terre region. Vernazza is the fourth town heading north, has no car traffic, and remains one of the truest "fishing villages" on the Italian Riviera.
Vernazza's name is derived from the Latin adjective verna meaning "native" and the aptly named indigenous wine, vernaccia ("local" or "ours"), helped give birth to the village's moniker.
History
First records recognizing Vernazza as a fortified town date back to the year 1080. Referred to as an active maritime base of the Obertenghi, a family of Italian nobility, it was a likely point of departure for naval forces in defence of pirates.
Over the next two centuries, Vernazza was vital in Genova's conquest of Liguria, providing port, fleet, and soldiers. In 1209, the approximately 90 most powerful families of Vernazza pledged their allegiance to the republic of Genova.
The first documented presence of a church dates back to 1251, with the parish of San Pietro cited in 1267. Reference to the Church of Santa Margherita d'Antiochia of Vernazza occurs in 1318. Some scholars are of the opinion, due to the use of materials and mode of construction, that the actual creation of the Church of Santa Margherita d'Antiochia took place earlier, some time in the 12th century. The Church of Santa Margherita d'Antiochia was expanded upon and renovated over the course of the 16th and 17th centuries, and thereafter was erected the octagonal bell tower that rises from the apse.
In the 15th century, Vernazza focused its defence against the dreadful and regularly occurring pirate raids, erecting a fortifying wall. In the mid-17th century, like many of the Cinque Terre villages, Vernazza suffered a period of decline that negatively affected wine production, and prolonged the construction of the trail system and harbour molo (mole constructed to protect against heavy seas).
In the 19th century, after a long period of stagnation, Vernazza returned to wine production, enlarging and creating new terraced hillsides. The result was a revitalisation of Vernazza's commerce. Also at this time, the construction of the Genova–La Spezia rail line began, putting an end to Vernazza's long isolation. The population of Vernazza increased by 60% as a result. Meanwhile, the construction of La Spezia's naval base also proved important to Vernazza in providing employment for many members of the community.
With the arrival of the 20th century, Vernazza experienced a wave of emigration as working the land was viewed as dangerous and the cause of disease, and the ability to further exploit agriculture diminished.
In 1997, the Cinque Terre was recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and in 1999 the National Park of the Cinque Terre was created. Today the main source of revenue for Vernazza is tourism. However, as a testimony to the strength of centuries-old tradition, fishing, wine and olive oil production still continue.
On 25 October 2011, Vernazza was struck by torrential rains, massive flooding, and mudslides that left the town buried in over 4 metres of mud and debris, causing over 100 million euro worth of damage. The town was evacuated and remained in a state of emergency for many months.
Paratroopers Prove Themselves On the Ground
The paratroopers of the 101st Battalion had a full week of training to make sure they know exactly what to do once they land on the ground.
Images: Copyright Israel Defence Force
Israeli Soldiers from the Herev Battalion (Sword Battalion)training in the Golan – 2011
The IDF Sword Battalion (Gdud Herev) is an Arabic-speaking unit of the Israel Defense Forces, also known as Unit 300 and formerly known as the IDF Minorities Unit. Non-Jewish minorities also serve in the Druze Reconnaissance Unit and the Bedouin Trackers Unit. In 1987, "Unit 300" was officially renamed the "Sword Battalion."
The Minorities Unit was formed in the early summer of 1948 by incorporating a unit of Druze defectors from the Arab Liberation Army and small numbers of Bedouin and Circassians.[1] The unit was attached to the Oded Brigade and fought in Operation Hiram in October 1948. It has fought in every war since. Today, most members of the unit are Druze, but there are also Bedouins, Circassians and Christian and Muslim Arabs. The unit has produced several generals.
The Minorities Unit has a small elite Sayeret special forces branch.
Druze and Circassian men are subject to mandatory conscription to the IDF.[2] In the mid-1950s, the Druze leadership appealed to David Ben-Gurion, then Minister of Defense, to draft Druze men on the same basis as Jews. The State Defense Act of 1949, which called for drafting all individuals in the country, allowed the minister to issue exemptions for certain groups. The Druze asked that their exemption be canceled. [3] Originally, they served in the framework of a special unit. Since the 1980s, Druze soldiers have joined regular combat units, attaining high ranks and commendations for distinguished service. 83 percent of Druze boys serve in the army according to IDF statistics.[4] According to the Israeli army, 369 Druze soldiers have been killed in combat operations since 1948.[5]
There is a long-standing government policy of encouraging Bedouins to volunteer and offering them various inducements. In some Bedouin communities a military career is seen as a means of social mobility. Muslim and Christians Arabs are also accepted as volunteers.[6]
In 1987, the unit was officially renamed from "Unit 300" to the "Sword Battalion." (Gdud Herev)[7]
An impromptu flood defence during the downpour that led to floods in the west of England in July 2007. Possibly not a water-tight defence...
The 13/9/09 Al-Quds Day demonstration in London, in support of Palestine. It was demonstrated against by members of the English Defence League.
The Irish Defence Forces parachute Team are made up exclusively of Defence Forces members who compete in international competitions and oversee parachute training, which is an essential military skill, within the Defence Forces. 16th June 2011
Defence Forces Triathlon took place in Lilliput Adventure Center in Mullingar on the banks of Lough Enell
Estonian Defence Force Soldiers live fire training while serving with BKN09 in Mali
Photos: srs Valner Väino
@kaitsevagi.edf
The Givati Reconnaissance Brigade's Final Test
The Givati Reconnaissance Brigade concluded its training in an exercise testing its soldiers' skills in navigation, camouflage, urban warfare and assaults in open areas. The soldiers completed the exercise using the weapons that they had specialized in during their basic training.
Images Copyright: Israel Defence Force
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the first week of August 2014, during the long Bank Holiday weekend.
Work is now on-going in this area of the The Slang/Dargle River, involving: -- Site preparation and mobilisation comprising sheetpile flood defence walls. The site preparation required the removal of mature trees and vegetation along the riverbank. Section-by-section, long lengths of steel sheet piling are aligned within a frame, and then driven partially into the bedrock by crane-suspended hydraulic hammers.
After a spell of spectacularly good weather, the rain squalls were about to deluge various parts of the country.
Hey, come back! Click this and view On Black :D
This is a long exposure from my recent visit down to Cullercoats Bay inbetween Whitley Bay and Tynemouth beaches.
Tech Info : 422 seconds @ f11, Hitech 10 Stop Pro with a Lee 0.9 Soft Grad.
Mono processed with Niksoft Silver Efex Pro 2.
Bit of a crappy sunrise as usual for me but hey you have to work with what youve got right? :)
I met a canny lad down here that morning called Michael Marsten who isnt on Flickr but hopefully will be soon :) Shame the tide wasnt higher like this morning where some of the Ramble with Amble gang got a soaking! :D
This image is from the 4th Infantry Group which served with the United Nations Mission in Cyprus from Jan 1965 – June 1965.
bear in mind,they fought with swords ect..so small slits stopped raiders coming in and allowed swords to get jabbed out..
Estonian Defence Force Soldiers live fire training while serving with BKN09 in Mali
Photos: srs Valner Väino
@kaitsevagi.edf
Israeli soldiers conducting search missions during the search for three missing teenagers June 16, 2014 in Halhul, West Bank. Israeli soldiers have so far detained more than 150 suspects in the search for three teenagers who went missing in Jewish settlements in the West Bank late last week.
Photos: Ilia Yefimovich
Anti-DSEi arms trade show protesters Die-In at BAE Systems HQ - London
On 13/09/2011 as part of this week's London-wide campaign of protests against the presence in East London of the DSEi (Defence & Security Equipment International) arms fair, activists from the 'Stop the Arms Fair' coalition - comprised of Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT), Food Not Bombs, the Green Party, and various Christian groups - congregated outside the London headquarters of weapons manufacturer BAE Systems and held a mass Die-In on the road to a loud soundtrack of falling bombs, explosions, machine-gun fire and screaming, watched warily by a large number of police.
Earlier in the day several protest actions had been held at the ExCel Centre in Dockland in East London where the DSEi Arms Fair is held every two years. This year the Arms Fair has received £320,000 of British taxpayer's money in subsidies provided by the government, and policing the event is costing up to £4 million. Meanwhile, the borough of Newham where the Arms Fair is held, and is one of the poorest boroughs in the UK, is being forced by the government to make £118 million of savings, which will be taken from essential frontline services.
The protesters particularly object to the presence of representatives from many states where the populations are regularly repressed, imprisoned without trial, tortured and killed by dictatorial or military regimes, and it is not right, say the protesters, that these regimes should be invited onto British soil with open arms by Her Majesty's Government who seem to turn a blind eye to their crimes against humanity just for the sake of profit.
During the DSEi event, thanks to the diligence of the protesters who had infiltrated the Arms Fair, the Pakistani Defence Export Promotion Organisation pavilion and the Pakistan Ordnance Factory had to be suddenly excluded from the fair because they were exposed as openly selling cluster-mines and bombs banned under UK export controls and International Law (http://twitpic.com/6lc7mz/full), and one British company, Beechwood Equipment - which has recently been awarded a £5million contract with the UK Ministry of Defence caught was selling items specifically for torture.
Before the die-in the crowd were entertained briefly by activist Charlie Veitch, who cranked up the volume of the portable PA in a converted ice-cream seller's tricycle, spoke to the crowd and danced crazily to drum 'n bass tunes, dangerously close to the assembled police whilst videoing himself and them.
After the die-in the crowd simply got up off the road and left quietly, heading towards Trafalgar Square and the National Portrait Gallery where a reception dinner was being held for delegates and politicians involved in the Arms Trade, and where the mood got much angrier, but that's another story...
All photos © 2011 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my permission.
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