The 2017 field season was record-breaking for Operation IceBridge, NASA’s aerial survey of the state of polar ice. For the first time in its nine-year history, the mission, which aims to close the gap between two NASA satellite campaigns that study changes in the height of polar ice, carried out seven field campaigns in the Arctic and Antarctic in a single year. In total, the IceBridge scientists and instruments flew over 214,000 miles, the equivalent of orbiting the Earth 8.6 times at the equator.

The mission of Operation IceBridge, NASA’s longest-running airborne mission to monitor polar ice, is to collect data on changing polar land and sea ice and maintain continuity of measurements between ICESat missions. The original ICESat mission launched in 2003 and ended in 2009, and its successor, ICESat-2, is scheduled for launch in the fall of 2018. Operation IceBridge began in 2009 and is currently funded until 2020. The planned overlap with ICESat-2 will help scientists connect with the satellite’s measurements.

Read more: www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2018/big-year-for-icebridge

For more about Operation IceBridge and to follow future campaigns, visit: www.nasa.gov/icebridge

NASA image use policy.

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.

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The OBL (Osama Bin Ladin) raid has been accurately recreated in lego for the one and only Brick Fair Virginia 2013. This collaborative MOC has been registered as an official collaboration and will be on display in a specific place at the convention for attendees and the public to veiw.

Following a night raid in Chalang Valley, Stalker-23 extracting a TF-Hasta chalk (Falchion-3) and a DEVGRU element (Neptune-9) was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire and crash landed. With multiple enemies converged at the crash site, the chalk commander immediately organized an all-around defence to repel enemies and stabilized the casualties.

Team-7 (callsign Osprey) on board of two Pave Hawks was returning to base when they heard that the helicopter was shot down by an enemy anti-aircraft technical. They immediately returned back to the AO to assist. The Pave Hawks inserted the team 7 a few kilometres from the crash site just outside anti-aircraft gun range. A support-by-fire element from Team-7 (callsign Osprey-B) setup an overwatch while the assault element (callsign Osprey-A) maneuvered to assault the enemy technical using a dry riverbed.

“Osprey-B, this is Osprey-A, we are set.”

“Alpha, this is Bravo. We have two tangos in our sights.”

“Bravo, this is Alpha, solid copy. All elements commence assault on my mark. 3, 2, 1, execute, execute.”

The team successfully ambushed the anti-aircraft technical. After the AA threat was neutralized, the chalk commander from the downed Chinook was able to call in CAS to suppress enemy advances.

To be continued...

Note: The story, all names, characters, and incidents are fictitious.

*

Rail Operation Group Class 47 No 47848 "Titan Star" passes Washwood Heath West Jn with a Stoke Works Jn to Burton Ot Wetmore Sidings move on 24th June 2016.

CSX's Operation Lifesaver 50th Anniversary unit rolls CSX train I015 (Chambersburg, PA to Bedford Park, IL, stacks) by the old Acme steel mill, now under the banner of Cleveland-Cliffs in Riverdale, Illinois on CSX's former B&OCT Barr Sub.

CSXT 4568 is a SD70MAC and was built by EMD for CSX as CSXT 768 in March of 2000.

+++ DISCLAIMER +++

Nothing you see here is real, even though the conversion or the presented background story might be based on historical facts. BEWARE!

Some background:

The OV-10 Bronco was initially conceived in the early 1960s through an informal collaboration between W. H. Beckett and Colonel K. P. Rice, U.S. Marine Corps, who met at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California, and who also happened to live near each other. The original concept was for a rugged, simple, close air support aircraft integrated with forward ground operations. At the time, the U.S. Army was still experimenting with armed helicopters, and the U.S. Air Force was not interested in close air support.

The concept aircraft was to operate from expedient forward air bases using roads as runways. Speed was to be from very slow to medium subsonic, with much longer loiter times than a pure jet. Efficient turboprop engines would give better performance than piston engines. Weapons were to be mounted on the centerline to get efficient aiming. The inventors favored strafing weapons such as self-loading recoilless rifles, which could deliver aimed explosive shells with less recoil than cannons, and a lower per-round weight than rockets. The airframe was to be designed to avoid the back blast.

The MV-10Hs are expected to provide support for these ground units in the form of all-weather reconnaissance and observation, close air support and also forward air control duties for supporting ground units. Precision ground strikes and protection from enemy helicopters and low-flying aircraft were other, secondary missions for the modernized Broncos, which are expected to serve well into the 2040s. Exports or conversions of foreign OV-10s to the Black Pony standard are not planned, though.

General characteristics:

Crew: 2

Length: 42 ft 2½ in (12,88 m) incl. pitot

Wingspan: 45 ft 10½ in(14 m) incl. tip sails

Height: 15 ft 2 in (4.62 m)

Wing area: 290.95 sq ft (27.03 m²)

Airfoil: NACA 64A315

Empty weight: 9,090 lb (4,127 kg)

Gross weight: 13,068 lb (5,931 kg)

Max. takeoff weight: 17,318 lb (7,862 kg)

Powerplant:

2× General Electric CT7-9D turboprop engines, 1,305 kW (1,750 hp) each,

driving 8-bladed Hamilton Standard 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) diameter constant-speed,

fully feathering, reversible contra-rotating propellers with metal hub and composite blades

Performance:

Maximum speed: 390 mph (340 kn, 625 km/h)

Combat range: 198 nmi (228 mi, 367 km)

Ferry range: 1,200 nmi (1,400 mi, 2,200 km) with auxiliary fuel

Maximum loiter time: 5.5 h with auxiliary fuel

Service ceiling: 32.750 ft (10,000 m)

13,500 ft (4.210 m) on one engine

Rate of climb: 17.400 ft/min (48 m/s) at sea level

Take-off run: 480 ft (150 m)

740 ft (227 m) to 50 ft (15 m)

1,870 ft (570 m) to 50 ft (15 m) at MTOW

Landing run: 490 ft (150 m)

785 ft (240 m) at MTOW

1,015 ft (310 m) from 50 ft (15 m)

Armament:

1x M197 3-barreled 20 mm Gatling cannon in a chin turret with 750 rounds ammo capacity

7x hardpoints for a total load of 5.000 lb (2,270 kg)

2x wingtip launch rails for AIM-9 Sidewinder AAMs

The kit and its assembly:

This fictional Bronco update/conversion was simply spawned by the idea: could it be possible to replace the original cockpit section with one from an AH-1 Cobra, for a kind of gunship version?

The basis is the Academy OV-10D kit, mated with the cockpit section from a Fujimi AH-1S TOW Cobra (Revell re-boxing, though), chosen because of its “boxy” cockpit section with flat glass panels – I think that it conveys the idea of an armored cockpit section best. Combining these parts was not easy, though, even though the plan sound simple. Initially, the Bronco’s twin booms, wings and stabilizer were built separately, because this made PSR on these sections easier than trying the same on a completed airframe. One of the initial challenges: the different engines. I wanted something uprated, and a different look, and I had a pair of (excellent!) 1:144 resin engines from the Russian company Kompakt Zip for a Tu-95 bomber at hand, which come together with movable(!) eight-blade contraprops that were an almost perfect size match for the original three-blade props. Biggest problem: the Tu-95 nacelles have a perfectly circular diameter, while the OV-10’s booms are square and rectangular. Combining these parts and shapes was already a messy PST affair, but it worked out quite well – even though the result rather reminds of some Chinese upgrade measure (anyone know the Tu-4 copies with turboprops? This here looks similar!). But while not pretty, I think that the beafier look works well and adds to the idea of a “revived” aircraft. And you can hardly beat the menacing look of contraprops on anything...

The exotic, so-called “tip sails” on the wings, mounted on short booms, are a detail borrowed from the Shijiazhuang Y-5B-100, an updated Chinese variant/copy of the Antonov An-2 biplane transporter. The booms are simple pieces of sprue from the Bronco kit, the winglets were cut from 0.5mm styrene sheet.

For the cockpit donor, the AH-1’s front section was roughly built, including the engine section (which is a separate module, so that the basic kit can be sold with different engine sections), and then the helicopter hull was cut and trimmed down to match the original Bronco pod and to fit under the wing. This became more complicated than expected, because a) the AH-1 cockpit and the nose are considerably shorter than the OV-10s, b) the AH-1 fuselage is markedly taller than the Bronco’s and c) the engine section, which would end up in the area of the wing, features major recesses, making the surface very uneven – calling for massive PSR to even this out. PSR was also necessary to hide the openings for the Fujimi AH-1’s stub wings. Other issues: the front landing gear (and its well) had to be added, as well as the OV-10 wing stubs. Furthermore, the new cockpit pod’s rear section needed an aerodynamical end/fairing, but I found a leftover Academy OV-10 section from a build/kitbashing many moons ago. Perfect match!

All these challenges could be tackled, even though the AH-1 cockpit looks surprisingly stout and massive on the Bronco’s airframe - the result looks stockier than expected, but it works well for the "Gunship" theme. Lots of PSR went into the new central fuselage section, though, even before it was mated with the OV-10 wing and the rest of the model.

Once cockpit and wing were finally mated, the seams had to disappear under even more PSR and a spinal extension of the canopy had to be sculpted across the upper wing surface, which would meld with the pod’s tail in a (more or less) harmonious shape. Not an easy task, and the fairing was eventually sculpted with 2C putty, plus even more PSR… Looks quite homogenous, though.

After this massive body work, other hardware challenges appeared like small distractions. The landing gear was another major issue because the deeper AH-1 section lowered the ground clearance, also because of the chin turret. To counter this, I raised the OV-10’s main landing gear by ~2mm – not much, but it was enough to create a credible stance, together with the front landing gear transplant under the cockpit, which received an internal console to match the main landing gear’s length. Due to the chin turret and the shorter nose, the front wheel retracts backwards now. But this looks quite plausible, thanks to the additional space under the cockpit tub, which also made a belt feed for the gun’s ammunition supply believable.

To enhance the menacing look I gave the model a fixed refueling boom, made from 1mm steel wire and a receptor adapter sculpted with white glue. The latter stuff was also used add some antenna fairings around the hull. Some antennae, chaff dispensers and an IR decoy were taken from the Academy kit.

The ordnance came from various sources. The Sidewinders under the wing tips were taken from an Italeri F-16C/D kit, they look better than the missiles from the Academy Bronco kit. Their launch rails came from an Italeri Bae Hawk 200. The quadruple Hellfire launchers on the underwing hardpoints were left over from an Italeri AH-1W, and they are a perfect load for this aircraft and its role. The LAU-10 and -19 missile pods on the stub wings were taken from the OV-10 kit.

Painting and markings:

Finding a suitable and somewhat interesting – but still plausible – paint scheme was not easy. Taking the A-10 as benchmark, an overall light grey livery (with focus on low contrast against the sky as protection against ground fire) would have been a likely choice – and in fact the last operational American OV-10s were painted in this fashion. But in order to provide a different look I used the contemporary USAF V-22Bs and Special Operations MC-130s as benchmark, which typically carry a darker paint scheme consisting of FS 36118 (suitably “Gunship Gray” :D) from above, FS 36375 underneath, with a low, wavy waterline, plus low-viz markings. Not spectacular, but plausible – and very similar to the late r/w Colombian OV-10s.

The cockpit tub became Dark Gull Grey (FS 36231, Humbrol 140) and the landing gear white (Revell 301).

The model received an overall black ink washing and some post-panel-shading, to liven up the dull all-grey livery. The decals were gathered from various sources, and I settled for black USAF low-viz markings. The “stars and bars” come from a late USAF F-4, the “IP” tail code was tailored from F-16 markings and the shark mouth was taken from an Academy AH-64. Most stencils came from another Academy OV-10 sheet and some other sources.

Decals were also used to create the trim on the propeller blades and markings on the ordnance.

Finally, the model was sealed with a coat of matt acrylic varnish (Italeri) and some exhaust soot stains were added with graphite along the tail boom flanks.

A successful transplantation – but is this still a modified Bronco or already a kitbashing? The result looks quite plausible and menacing, even though the TOW Cobra front section appears relatively massive. But thanks to the bigger engines and extended wing tips the proportions still work. The large low-pressure tires look a bit goofy under the aircraft, but they are original. The grey livery works IMHO well, too – a more colorful or garish scheme would certainly have distracted from the modified technical basis.

A view of railway marshalling yards in the East False Creek Flats near downtown Vancouver.

Besides railroad use the area has educational venues, office space, restaurants, a craft brewery, art galleries, car dealerships, storage lockers, Sky-train tracks and the Rocky Mountaineer Rail-tours terminal (top left corner).

False Creek Flats is the heart of Vancouver as it is here where the transcontinental railway finally found its terminus.

FLATS HISTORY

An area long identified by transportation and commerce, the present day False Creek Flats was a muddy tidal flat on the eastern end of False Creek until the early 20th century.

A rich variation of natural features, combined with various streams cutting down the southern boundary of the area, the flats provided diverse and abundant resources for the First Nations people of the area, including some of the largest salmon and trout runs in Vancouver.

As the industrial activity of Vancouver’s resource economy filled in the downtown peninsula and the shores of False Creek, the City sought to accommodate further economic expansion and additional rail terminals.

In 1913, at the urging of a number of rail companies, the City took a plebiscite to the people of Vancouver requesting support to fill the eastern end of False Creek.

Following a favourable vote, the filing in of the Flats began in 1915 utilizing a variety of materials from nearby districts including land fill from development projects, scrap lumber and bricks from surrounding mills, general industrial waste and fill removed from the Grandview Cut that brought the railway tracks down from Grandview district.

By 1917, the Flats were completely filed in and by 1919 both the Great Northern Railway (GNR) and Canadian Northern Railway (later to merge with others to become the federally owned Canadian National) had established their new western terminals in the False Creek Flats laying the foundation for the area’s industrial future.

The area’s post-fill history is intrinsically tied to that of the railway, ensuring the area to be well served by rail (including the British Columbia Electric Railway, Canadian National Railway, Great Northern Railway and later, SkyTrain and Rockymountaineer Passenger service.

As the importance of passenger and freight rail declined, cars and trucks became the more ubiquitous transportation modes in the city, converting the once rail-dominated composition of the Eastern Core into a mix of railway and roadway-based facilities.

The present landscape features an eclectic mix of residential, commercial and industrial zones; educational and institutional facilities; warehouses and artist spaces.

Despite the area’s newfound diversity, rail and transit remain as the literal and gurative centre of the area.

The False Creek Flats currently has four main rail yards, three of which are primarily used for goods movement for the Port of Vancouver operations on the south shore of Burrard Inlet.

The rail yards include;

CN Main Yard

This yard has traditionally been used as a support yard for container traffic. Rocky Mountaineer Tours also uses Main Yard for arrival and departure from its station.

BNSF Yard

This yard generally supports barge operations at Burrard inlet (top right in the photo).

Glen Yard

This is a smaller yard used primarily for staging grain and container cars. This one is to the top left out of the photo.

VIA Rail and Amtrak use the main station off Main Street for passenger arrival and departures (off to the left of this shot).

One of the former operation rooms in Pripyat hospital. Operating lights and medication are all that remain here....Did the workers and firemen after the Chernobyl Disaster pass through here those fateful hours and days after the explosion?

Lige et par af de mere mystiske fra Aros.

September 24 1944 somewhere in Holland

Finally some more reinforcements…

The last 8 days where pure hell for me and the rest…

I made this in respect for the people how lost there life’s in operation market garden.

Because Operation Market Graden was happening now 67 years ago.

A Sunwing passenger jet (SW703) traveling from Barkley Island to Victoria was hijacked by two gunmen from the Samedi Gang.

After two weeks of neogiation, an exchange of food and water for hostages, and the indication that the gunmen had a remote control, possibly a trigger for a bomb onboard, the Government of Victoria approved a hostage rescue and Team 7 of the National Mission Unit was deployed.

Just at dawn, snipers from Team 7 established an over-watch. Approaching from the plane's blind spot, the assault team also moved into position.

To be continued...

Note: The story, all names, characters, and incidents are fictitious.

During Operation Blue Moon www.flickr.com/photos/8212187@N05/49182441817/in/datepost..., the Combined Anti-Terrorism Task Force (CATF) captured an Al-Asad financier. Interrogation of the financier revealed that they were in the process of purchasing radioactive material from Panther (a Russian arms dealer name Ulysses Klaue) as the terror group planned to build several dirty bombs to target Victoria, United States and the United Kingdom. He could not provide further details on the location of Panther, but the TF believed the plan was derailed with his capture. The financier, however, did revealed the location of several high value individuals in the network. The CATF began to surveil these individuals.

Several months later, the CATF captured a high value individual through the intelligence obtained from the financier. The HVI confirmed that Al-Asad did indeed had plans to obtain radioactive materials to build several dirty bombs and the plans became dormant since the capture of the financier. However, the plot had recently been revived. Further, the HVI provided the TF with the location where the terror group will be receiving the materials from Panther. The exchange would occur in an area within the Russian sphere of influence and Panther himself would be at the exchange. However, according to the HVI, security would be light since they wanted to avoid drawing any attention at the exchange. It was expected that they would be traveling in civilian vehicles.

The intelligence was shared among allied nations. After a discussion at the highest Government level, it was decided that CATF would be assigned to capture both the radioactive material and the HVT Panther.

A Victorian special operations task force was assigned with the operation. To keep the operation a secret, a task force out of rotation was assigned. After receiving their orders from the Squadron HQ's SCIF, the team commanders immediately gave Warning Orders to their team members and made preparations to depart for Camp Oasis.

To be continued...

Note: The story, all names, characters, and incidents are fictitious.

A Victorian special operations task force was assigned to ambush an exchange of radioactive material and capture a high value individual (HVI) codename Panther, a Russian arms dealer. Although Team 8 form the task force has setup an ambush to intercept the radioactive material and capture Panther, the arms dealer arrived at the exchange in a BTR armored personnel carrier along with a Russian Spetsnaz unit. A strategic decision was made for Team 8 to stand down, fearing a direct engagement with Russian troops.

Although Panther was allowed to escape, the task force had a "bump plan" to intercept the radioactive material. The Advanced Force Operations teams continued to track the vehicles carrying the radioactive material. As the vehicles entered the Great Desert, Team 7 performed a heliborne interception.

Team 7 successfully intercepted the two vehicles and the two insurgents immediately surrended. The team also captured the radioactive material. Once the team had secured the radioactive material, the entire task force exfil from the area.

Based on the gear, weapons, and movement of the Spetsnaz unit, the task force believed that it was a top tier unit. The fact that Panther was under the close protection of a top tier unit at the exchange, intelligence believed that Panther is not merely a Russian arms dealer but a Russian intelligence agent. Although the TF did not capture Panther at the exchange, it did further the CATF’s understanding of his role. The TF also successfully prevented radioactive material to fall into the hands of the insurgents and prevented their plot in building dirty bombs threatening Victoria and her allies. The mission was deemed a success.

- The End -

Note: The story, all names, characters, and incidents are fictitious.

Operation AVRO is a forcewide initiative that delivers a surge of extra resources and specialist officers to a different district within Greater Manchester each month.

This month (June 2022) saw the operation take place in Bolton.

The operation targets crimes that members of the public in that district have told us give them the most concern.

Members of the press and key partners, including local representatives, are invited to attend Operation AVRO deployments to see results first-hand and conduct important multi-agency work, such as welfare visits.

More details on AVRO can be found by visiting gmp.police.uk and following us on social media.

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.

You can access many of our services online at www.gmp.police.uk

Katy Texas on Feb. 14,2016.

My wounded minifigs being treated.

"Flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."

Series ảnh co-op vs bạn Tuấn Ê dô ạ

Bên trái ảnh bạn ý sờ mó

Bên phải ảnh mình sờ mó

Photo như nhau

Mô đờ như nhau

Original here :

www.flickr.com/photos/tuanerror/4342188895/

And

www.flickr.com/photos/milkyway_no13/4342923300/

(Ảnh mình edit xoay kiểu gì cũng xưn :-")

A Victorian special operations task force was assigned to ambush an exchange of radioactive material and capture a high value individual (HVI) codename Panther, a Russian arms dealer. Although Team 8 form the task force has setup an ambush to intercept the radioactive material and capture Panther, the arms dealer arrived at the exchange in a BTR armored personnel carrier along with a Russian Spetsnaz unit. A strategic decision was made for Team 8 to stand down, fearing a direct engagement with Russian troops.

Although Panther was allowed to escape, the task force had a "bump plan" to intercept the radioactive material. The Advanced Force Operations teams continued to track the vehicles carrying the radioactive material. As the vehicles entered the Great Desert, Team 7 performed a heliborne interception.

Did Team 7 capture the radioactive material? To be continued...

Note: The story, all names, characters, and incidents are fictitious.

To prevent insurgents to move south and infiltrate the local population. General Miller forward deployed a hand-picked team to a FOB. Just shortly after they arrived, ISR began tracking two leaders moving South. The insurgents stopped at a location and remained overnight. Senior Chief John and his 8-man assault team immediately launched to capture their targets.

The team was inserted several kilometers by helicopter from the target building. They silently patrolled towards the target building in the dark night.

To be continued...

Note: The story, all names, characters, and incidents are fictitious.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive 24 HDT 624N, a Bedford YRT built 1975 with a Duple Dominant C49F body stands in Bury Interchange. 13:59, Thursday 28th May 1981

Note, HDT 624N was originally owned and operated by the Godfrey Abbott Group Limited which was purchased by the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive in November 1976 although operations remained separate from the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive’s operations until 1979. It carries the Warburtons Travel fleet name, the coach business of Warburton Brothers (Bury) Limited was purchased by the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive on 1st November 1975

Ref no 01871

A Victorian special operations task force was assigned to ambush an exchange of radioactive material and capture a high value individual (HVI) codename Panther, a Russian arms dealer. Although Team 8 form the task force has setup an ambush to intercept the radioactive material and capture Panther, the arms dealer arrived at the exchange in a BTR armored personnel carrier along with a Russian Spetsnaz unit. A strategic decision was made for Team 8 to stand down, fearing a direct engagement with Russian troops.

Although Panther was allowed to escape, the task force had a "bump plan" to intercept the radioactive material. The Advanced Force Operations teams continued to track the vehicles carrying the radioactive material. As the vehicles entered the Great Desert, Team 7 performed a heliborne interception.

Did Team 7 capture the radioactive material? To be continued...

Note: The story, all names, characters, and incidents are fictitious.

Yo Shae

Boombox : Mf Doom - Who you think I am

A Victorian special operations task force was assigned to ambush an exchange of radioactive material and capture a high value individual (HVI) codename Panther, a Russian arms dealer.

The teams in the TF were assigned with different tasks. Team 8: the assault team, Team 55: the extraction team, and Team 7: the Quick Reaction Force (QRF). Video links with the Task Force's TOC, Victoria’s National Command Centre (NCC), United States’ Situation Room and United Kingdom’s COBRA were also setup to monitor the mission on the day of the exchange.

After conducting a high altitude high opening (HAHO) insertion, the assault team successfully infiltrated into the AO undetected and setup an ambush at the exchange site. Initially things seemed to be going according to plan as only two insurgents arrived at the exchange in two vehicles. However, Panther arrived at the exchange in a BTR armored personnel carrier along with a Russian Spetsnaz Unit. The assault team immediately radioed the TOC for instructions.

Will the assault team get the authorization to engage? To be continued...

Note: The story, all names, characters, and incidents are fictitious.

A direct action team from the Combined Anti-Terrorism Task Force was tasked to intercept a container truck after a surveillance team witnessed an exchange between an insurgent lieutenant and a courier of a known arms dealer at a shipping container port. An 8-man team launched from two MH-6 helicopters and caught up with the container truck after it moved away from densely populated area.

The team performed an heliborne vehicle interdiction and quickly captured the insurgent lieutenant.

To be continued...

Heading to the LA Sub from the Metrolink station in Riverside California 2001

Metra's Operation North Pole trainset arrives into Des Plaines, IL with a inbound train. It was cool to finally catch this fully wrapped train, and on Christmas Eve to boot!

Crewmembers onboard HMCS HALIFAX conduct inflight refueling with the embarked CH-148 Cyclone helicopter, call sign Kingfisher, during Operation REASSURANCE, in the Mediterranean Sea on January 6, 2020.

Photo: Corporal Braden Trudeau, Trinity - Formation Imaging Services

RP24-2020-0093-006

~

Des membres d’équipage du NCSM HALIFAX procèdent au ravitaillement en vol de l’hélicoptère embarqué CH-148 Cyclone, dont l’indicatif d’appel est Kingfisher, au cours de l’opération REASSURANCE, dans la Méditerranée, le 6 janvier 2020.

Photo : Caporal Braden Trudeau, Trinity – Services d’imagerie de la formation

RP24-2020-0093-006

A Victorian special operations task force was assigned to ambush an exchange of radioactive material and capture a high value individual (HVI) codename Panther, a Russian arms dealer.

The teams in the TF were assigned with different tasks. Team 8: the assault team, Team 55: the extraction team, and Team 7: the Quick Reaction Force (QRF). Video links with the Task Force's TOC, Victoria’s National Command Centre (NCC), United States’ Situation Room and United Kingdom’s COBRA were also setup to monitor the mission on the day of the exchange.

As the assault team patrol to the exchange site after being inserted into the AO by high altitude high opening (HAHO) insertion and the extraction team arrived at the rendezvous point, the QRF pre-positioned at FOB Spade ready to react.

To be continued...

Note: The story, all names, characters, and incidents are fictitious.

A Polish Armed Forces soldier trains a Ukrainian soldier in operating a Leopard 2A4 main battle tank at the driving circuit during Operation UNIFIER in south-western Poland, on February 20, 2023.

Photo by Corporal Marco Tijam, Operation UNIFIER, Canadian Armed Forces Photo

~

Un soldat des forces armées polonaises donne de l’instruction à un soldat ukrainien sur la conduite d’un char de combat principal Leopard 2A4 sur le circuit de conduite au cours de l’opération UNIFIER, dans le sud ouest de la Pologne, le 20 février 2023.

Photo : Caporal Marco Tijam, opération UNIFIER, Forces armées canadiennes

A CC-130 Hercules carrying supplies for Operation PRESENCE - Mali lands at the airfield in Gao, Mali on July 10, 2018.

Photo: MCpl Jennifer Kusche

IS03-2018-0035-002

A Sunwing passenger jet (SW703) traveling from Barkley Island to Victoria was hijacked by two gunmen from the Samedi Gang. There were eighteen passengers and three crew onboard consisted primarily Victorian citizens who were returning from vacation on Barkley Island.

Team-7 on counter-terrorism rotation is put on alert. The team was chosen since it has the most recent experience operating with the Barkley Island Defence Force and its National Mission Wing. The team immediately began mission rehearsals and ready for deployment.

To be continued...

Note: The story, all names, characters, and incidents are fictitious.

A CF-18 "Hornet" escorts a CC-150 "Polaris" after being refueled during Operation IMPACT on February 4, 2015.

PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 6, 2021) Sailors aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) heave a shot line on the ship’s flight deck during a fueling-at-sea with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer JS Makinami (DD 112). America Expeditionary Strike Group along with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, are conducting operations alongside partner nations and allies in support of the Combined and Join Battle Problem (CJBP). CJBP is one of many operations nested under the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s Large Scale Global Exercise (LSGE) 21. LSGE 21 is a global command and control exercise, with a regional focus, to enhance integration of the U.S., allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Vincent E. Zline)

Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) VILLE DE QUEBEC’s CH-148 Cyclone, Avalanche, deploys a member of the ship’s dive team into the Atlantic Ocean during Operation REASSURANCE on January 15, 2019.

Photo: MCpl Andre Maillet, MARPAC Imaging Services

RP19-2019-0013-001

~

Un membre de l’équipe de plongée du navire est largué dans l’océan Atlantique par l’Avalanche, l’hélicoptère CH-148 Cyclone du Navire canadien de Sa Majesté (NCSM) VILLE DE QUEBEC, au cours de l’opération REASSURANCE, le 15 janvier 2019.

Photo : Cplc Andre Maillet, Services d’imagerie des FMAR(P)

RP19-2019-0013-001

Victorian Intelligence Officer Grayhawk was tasked with special activities and special reconnaissance at the border region. He established a safehouse and intelligence network at the Naran Darre Mountains and began his operation.

After Grayhawk received word that one of the tribal leaders in the region had major intelligence, a meeting was immediately setup. As Grayhawk entered the elder's house to meet, the rest of the team interact with the villagers to gather intelligence.

To be continued...

Note: The story, all names, characters, and incidents are fictitious.

Intelligence has located a group of insurgents massing in the Naran Darre mountains. A task force comprised of a 20-operator assault team and a 6-man fire support team was assigned to assault the suspected cave complex.

At nightfall, the task force was inserted by a Chinook helicopter. The task force patrolled towards the cave along the ridge line. The fire support team established a SBF position as the assault team advanced towards the cave complex.

To be continued...

Note: The story, all names, characters, and incidents are fictitious.

US Naval Ship SUPPLY (centre) conducts a replenishment at sea with HMCS MONTREAL (bottom), and USS GONZALEZ (top), in the Mediterranean Sea during Operation REASSURANCE on February 15, 2022.

Please credit: Corporal Braden Trudeau, Canadian Armed Forces photo

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L’US Naval Ship (USNS) Supply (au centre) effectue un ravitaillement en mer avec le NCSM Montréal (en bas) et l’USS Gonzalez (en haut) dans la mer Méditerranée au cours de l’opération REASSURANCE, le 15 février 2022.

Photo : Caporal Braden Trudeau, photo des Forces armées canadiennes

Members of the Canadian Armed Forces take their post as part of Exercise Crystal Arrow during Operation REASSURANCE at Camp Adazi, Latvia on March 22, 2023.

Photo: Canadian Armed Forces Photo

Des membres des Forces armées canadiennes sont en position au cours de l’exercice Crystal Arrow dans le cadre de l’opération REASSURANCE, au Camp Adazi, en Lettonie, le 22 mars 2023.

Photo : Forces armées canadiennes

Today (10 December 2015) saw a series of raids in the Wythenshawe area.

Police have launched a ’12 days of Christmas’ pre-emptive strike against offenders causing misery during the festive period.

The 12 high-profile days of action which will tackle the traditional spike in crime usually seen during this time of year.

The operation, which is codenamed ‘Bauble’, will see up to 1,000 officers take to the streets across Greater Manchester to disrupt criminal activity and stop offenders in their tracks.

Operation Bauble will target a range of offences including burglary, domestic abuse, robbery, handling stolen goods, dangerous and illegal driving and alcohol-fuelled violence.

Local officers will be joined by specialist resources during each of the 12 days, including traffic, tactical aid, ANPR, intercept teams, mounted and dog units. The teams will blitz areas and weed out individual’s intent on committing crime and preying on vulnerable people.

Police are also calling on communities to keep themselves and others safe, report crime and suspicious activity and look out for neighbours, relatives and friends.

Superintendent Craig Thompson said: “We want law-abiding people to remember Christmas for all the right reasons and to make sure this happens we’ll be doing everything we can to take offenders off our streets through Operation Bauble.

“Divisional officers with the support of specialist resources will be targeting local issues to ensure there isn’t a spike in crime and people can go about their daily business safely.

“The community can also do their bit to keep themselves and others safe this time of year by keeping their homes secure, arranging a safe mode of transport after a night out or checking on elderly neighbours to see if they are OK.”

To report crime call Greater Manchester Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency. Alternatively please contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 111 555.

Keep up-to-date with news from the Operation Bauble Team by following #OpBauble and #GMPChristmas on Twitter.

Operation PRESENCE-Mali's Force Protection team assists a simulated casualty during a combat casualty exercise in Mali on December 17, 2018.

Photo: Corporal Ken Beliwicz

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Ewok masters' buildings.

The Task Force has identified that fighters were massing in the Naran Darre mountains. After gathering intelligence and mission planning, General Miller approved a mission to assault the suspected cave complex.

At nightfall, the operation was launched. The 20-operator assault team and a 6-man fire support team were inserted by a Chinook helicopter. The helicopter performed a pinnacle landing at a ridge line to insert the assault force.

To be continued...

Note: The story, all names, characters, and incidents are fictitious.

I looked at this photo and although it's gruesome it looks quite clinical (to me). Imagine spiders being able to complete medical surgery.. So many hands! LOL!!!!!

Gelsenkirchen

The Ruhr area ('Ruhrgebiet') is named after the river that borders it to the south and is the largest urban area in Germany with over five million people. It is mostly known as a densely-populated industrial area. By 1850 there were almost 300 coal mines in operation in the Ruhr area. The coal was exported or processed in coking ovens into coke, used in blast furnaces, producing iron and steel. Because of the industrial significance, it had been a target from the start of the war, yet "the organized defences and the large amount of industrial pollutants produced a semi-permanent smog or industrial haze that hampered accurate bombing". During World War II, the industry and cities in the Ruhr area were heavily bombed. The combination of the lack of historic city centres, which were burned to ashes, and (air) pollution has given the area and the cities a bad reputation. Especially because it is so close to the Netherlands, I thought it would be an interesting area to visit for a little trip. I have spent three nights at a campsite on the Ruhr and visited six cities.

Gelsenkirchen is the 25th largest city in Germany and the fourth largest in the Ruhr region with a population of 260,000. Gelsenkirchen remained a small settlement until the nineteenth century, when the industrial revolution led to a rapid population increase. It became an independent city in 1896. The city used to have many torches due to the excess of coke oven gas from the coking plants, which gave Gelsenkirchen its nickname Stadt der 1000 Feuer (City of 1000 Fires). Gelsenkirchen is primarily known for its soccer club: Schalke 04, which is named after the Gelsenkirchener district Schalke.

Gelsenkirchen suffers from problems including high unemployment due to its former reliance on the coal and steel industry, high crime rates and a large amount of vacant houses caused by population decline. The population reached an all-time high in 1959 with 391,745 inhabitants; the forecast for 2025 lies at only 226,100 inhabitants, making it one of the fastest shrinking cities in Germany. Gelsenkirchen now tries to turn around things by expanding its service sector and positioning itself as a hub for solar technology.

Even though 75% of the city was destroyed during World War II, there are still plenty of remains of the architectural past.

Source: Wikipedia

The Liebfrauenkirche was constructed in 1894.

Her Majesty's Canadian Ship MONCTON sits at anchor in Pond Inlet, Nunavut during Operation QIMMIQ on August 21, 2015.

Photo: Corporal Felicia Ogunniya, 12 Wing Imaging Services

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Le Navire canadien de Sa Majesté MONCTON est à l’ancre à Pond Inlet, au Nunavut, au cours de l’opération QIMMIQ, le 21 août 2015.

Photo : Caporal Felicia Ogunniya, Services d’imagerie de la 12e Escadre

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During Operation Blue Moon www.flickr.com/photos/8212187@N05/49182441817/in/datepost..., the Combined Anti-Terrorism Task Force (CATF) captured an Al-Asad financier. Interrogation of the financier revealed that they were in the process of purchasing radioactive material from Panther (a Russian arms dealer name Ulysses Klaue) as the terror group planned to build several dirty bombs to target Victoria, United States and the United Kingdom. He could not provide further details on the location of Panther, but the TF believed the plan was derailed with his capture. The financier, however, did revealed the location of several high value individuals in the network. The CATF began to surveil these individuals.

Several months later, the CATF captured a high value individual through the intelligence obtained from the financier. The HVI confirmed that Al-Asad did indeed had plans to obtain radioactive materials to build several dirty bombs and the plans became dormant since the capture of the financier. However, the plot had recently been revived. Further, the HVI provided the TF with the location where the terror group will be receiving the materials from Panther. The exchange would occur in an area within the Russian sphere of influence and Panther himself would be at the exchange. However, according to the HVI, security would be light since they wanted to avoid drawing any attention at the exchange. It was expected that they would be traveling in civilian vehicles.

The intelligence was shared among allied nations. After a discussion at the highest Government level, it was decided that CATF would be assigned to capture both the radioactive material and the HVT Panther.

A Victorian special operations task force was assigned with the operation. To keep the operation a secret, a task force out of rotation was assigned. After receiving their orders from the Squadron HQ's SCIF, the team commanders immediately gave Warning Orders to their team members and made preparations to depart for Camp Oasis.

To be continued...

Note: The story, all names, characters, and incidents are fictitious.