Tinker Air Force Base

Tinker Air Force Base is a major United States Air Force base, with tenant U.S. Navy and other Department of Defense missions, located in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, surrounded by Del City, Oklahoma City, and Midwest City.
The base, originally known as the Midwest Air Depot, is named in honor of Oklahoma native Major General Clarence L. Tinker, the first Native American Major General.
Tinker is the headquarters of the Air Force Materiel Command's (AFMC) Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center (OC-ALC), which is the worldwide manager for a wide range of aircraft, engines, missiles, software and avionics and accessories components. The commander of Air Force Sustainment Center (AFSC) is Lieutenant General Donald Kirkland and the commander of the OC-ALC is Brigadier General Jeffrey R. King. The host unit at Tinker is the 72nd Air Base Wing (72 ABW) which provides services and support for the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center and its tenant organizations. The Wing and Installation Commander of Tinker Air Force Base is Colonel Paul Filcek.
History.
Tinker Air Force Base is named in honor of Major General Clarence L. Tinker. An Osage from Pawhuska, Oklahoma, he received his wings in 1921. He was a graduate of Wentworth Military Academy who went on to become the first major general of Native American descent in U.S. Army history.
In 1926 he was awarded the Soldier's Medal for returning to his blazing aircraft to rescue a fellow officer. On 7 June 1942, he led a flight of B-24 Liberators on a long-range strike against Japanese forces on Wake Island during World War II. General Tinker was killed when his aircraft presumably crashed into the sea. At the time of his death, General Tinker was commander of the Hawaii-based Seventh Air Force.
The base was already called Tinker Field in April 1945
Several of the base's access gates are named in honor of persons with historic ties to the base or to Oklahoma. On 9 May 1997, base officials placed the following names:
In May 1997 the Base named the gates along Douglas Boulevard after aircraft that had been maintained at Tinker:
The base has more than 26,000 military and civilian employees and is the largest single-site employer in the state of Oklahoma. The installation covers approx. and has 760 buildings with a building floor space of over . The base is bounded by I-40 on the north and I-240 on the south.
With the City of Oklahoma City and Oklahoma County owning several square miles of land adjacent to the base, Tinker is one of the few military bases in a major metropolitan area with sufficient room for expansion. Furthermore, Tinker is located in a community that supports expansion; Oklahoma County voters approved a 2008 measure to purchase the former General Motors Oklahoma City Assembly plant (located adjacent to the base) and lease it to Tinker for future expansion. Now known as Building 9001, the former GM plant houses many shops moved from the main maintenance building, 3001.
Operational history.
In 1940 the War Department was considering the central United States as a location for a supply and maintenance depot. Oklahoma City leaders offered a site and acquired an option for additional land. On 8 April 1941, the order was officially signed awarding the depot to Oklahoma City. The Midwest Air Depot was formally activated later in 1941.
The depot was the site of a Douglas Aircraft factory producing approximately half of the C-47 Skytrains used in World War II. The site also produced a number of A-20 Havocs. Production ceased in 1945.
The first successful tornado forecast in history was issued on 25 March 1948 from Tinker, about three hours before a tornado hit the southeast corner of the base. A granite marker in the Heritage Airpark on the base commemorates the event.
On September 29, 1957 Buddy Holly and The Crickets recorded "An Empty Cup", "Rock Me My Baby", "You've Got Love", and "Maybe Baby" in the Tinker Air Force Base Officer's Club.
The base hosted the Space Shuttle "Columbia" and its carrier 747 on April 27, 1981 after its first mission (STS-1) during its journey back to Cape Canaveral. Oklahoma governor George Nigh, Oklahoma City mayor Patience Latting and Apollo 10 Commander Tom Stafford were there to greet the crew. The visiting personnel included Deke Slayton, who traveled beside the craft in a T-38 chase plane. An estimated 100,000 people were allowed to enter the base and take pictures.
On 14 November 1984, a massive fire that burned for two days destroyed or damaged over in the Air Logistics Center, Building 3001. The resulting repairs cost $63.5 million.
During much of the 1990s, Tinker was home to the Automated Weather Network switching facility, which consolidated all U.S. military weather data worldwide. Originally located at Carswell Air Force Base, this unit was later moved to an Air Force Weather Agency facility at Offutt Air Force Base.
In May 1992, Tinker became home to the Navy's "Take Charge and Move Out" (TACAMO) wing, which provides maintenance, security, operations, administration, training and logistic support for the Navy's E-6B Mercury aircraft fleet. TACAMO was the first Navy Air Wing fully integrated on an Air Force base, carrying out a Navy mission in joint operations.
On 3 May 1999, a deadly tornado caused extensive damage to the northwest corner of the base and surrounding communities. For many days afterwards, Tinker personnel helped by providing shelters, search and rescue, and clean-up efforts.
The Oklahoma Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul Technology Center (MROTC), a public-private partnership, was started in 2003. MROTC is managed by Battelle Oklahoma and owned by Oklahoma Industries Authority (OIA), a public trust housed in the offices of the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce. The first hangars were completed in 2007.
Tinker celebrated the 30-year anniversary of the E-3 Sentry from 29 June to 1 July 2007. Past and present airmen were invited to swap stories and learn about the latest upgrades.
On 13 May 2008, Oklahoma County voters voted in favor of $71.5 million in general obligation bonds, the majority of which has been used to purchase the former General Motors Oklahoma City Assembly plant which is located on the south west section of the base, next to the runway. A 50-year lease-purchase agreement was executed in September 2008 between Oklahoma County and the Air Force, covering the 3.8 million square foot (353,000 m²) facility and surrounding acreage. Oklahoma County officials paid $55 million to buy the plant from General Motors, which is now called the Tinker Aerospace Complex.
From 2008 to 2015, the Oklahoma Air National Guard's 137th Air Refueling Wing also assumed an aerial refueling mission in accordance with the 2005 BRAC Recommendations. The then-137th Airlift Wing (ANG) relocated from Will Rogers Air National Guard Base to Tinker AFB, was redesignated as an air refueling wing, and associated with the 507 ARW while its C-130H aircraft were redistributed to other ANG airlift wings. In 2015, the 137th ended its associate relationship with the 507th, was redesignated as the 137th Special Operations Wing (137 SOW), and returned to Will Rogers ANGB where it operates the MC-12 Liberty aircraft, operationally gained by Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).
In 2015, it was announced that the Tinker was in the running for a squadron of the new KC-46A Pegasus. In October, it was announced that the base would not be receiving the plane, which instead was given to the 916th Air Refueling Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Tinker was also in competition with Westover Air Reserve Base and Grissom Air Reserve Base for the plane.
25 March 1948 Tornadoes.
Two large tornadoes struck Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, damaging or destroying a large number of aircraft including at least two Douglas C-54 Skymasters, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain, and many Boeing B-29 Superfortresses stored from World War II. In the first storm, "54 aircraft were destroyed, including 17 C-54 transports valued at $500,000 apiece. Also destroyed were 15 P-47 fighters and two B-29 bombers. About 50 other planes were damaged and about 100 vehicles were damaged or destroyed." In the second tornado, "84 planes were hit, 35 of which were destroyed. These included 18 B-29s, 8 P-47s, 20 B-17s, and 3 C-47s. Hangars and other buildings were destroyed." Other types destroyed included Beechcraft AT-11s and Fairchild PT-19s and PT-26 Cornells. Damage from the second tornado was estimated at $6,100,000. Total damages for both storms was estimated at $16,350,000.
Role and operations.
Tinker AFB is home to major Department of Defense, Air Force and Navy units with national defense missions.
Air Force and related entities.
The Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex is the largest air logistics center in the Air Force Materiel Command. It provides depot maintenance, product support, services and supply chain management, and information support for 31 weapon systems, 10 commands, 93 Air Force bases and 46 foreign nations. It is the contracting office for the Air Force's Contract Field Teams program.
The Air Logistics Complex includes the 76 Aircraft Maintenance Group, the 76 Propulsion Maintenance Group, the 76 Commodities Maintenance Group, the 76 Software Engineering Group and the 76 Maintenance Support Group. Combined, these groups provide depot-level maintenance, repair and overhaul of KC-135, B-52, E-3, E-6, and B-1 aircraft, as well as engines, components, support equipment, and associated software for the US Air Force and US Navy.
The 72nd Air Base Wing is a multi-unit, multi-mission wing that includes base services and support for the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, associate organizations, dependents, and retirees.
The 38th Cyberspace Engineering Group, Air Force Space Command, has worldwide responsibility for engineering, installation, and interoperability of all communications and electronic facilities for the Air Force.
Oklahoma Wing Civil Air Patrol Headquarters is located at the base ops building and provides state level support to the 17 units across the state. The Flying Castle Composite Squadron is a Civil Air Patrol squadron that is composed of cadet and senior members that meet Tuesday evenings.
The 552nd Air Control Wing flies Air Combat Command's E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft. The E-3's radar and other sensors provide deep-look surveillance, warning, interception control and airborne battle management. The 552 ACW encompasses 3 groups: 552nd Operations Group, 552nd Maintenance Group and 552nd Air Control Group.
The 507th Air Refueling Wing of the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) is one of two Air Force Reserve flying units in the state of Oklahoma and administratively reports to Fourth Air Force (4 AF). The wing operates twelve KC-135R "Stratotanker" air refueling aircraft at Tinker and is operationally gained by Air Mobility Command (AMC). As an associate unit, the 507 ARW also operates the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) British Aerospace 125-800 aircraft (ex-USAF C-29A) in the aviation standards and navigational aid inspection mission.
Navy and other defense agencies.
The United States Navy's Strategic Communications Wing One consists of three squadrons and a wing staff, and employs over 1,300 active-duty sailors and 100 contractors to provide maintenance, security, operations, administration, training and logistic support for the E-6 Mercury aircraft fleet. The E-6B Mercury enables the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense to directly contact submarines, bombers and missile silos enforcing the country's national security through nuclear deterrence. The wing also operates alert facilities for E-6B aircraft at Travis AFB, California and Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.
Defense Mega Center Oklahoma City is the local branch of the Defense Information Systems Agency. The Mega center operates computer systems for the base and serves 110 other bases in 46 states.
Tinker has on base several offices of the Defense Logistics Agency, the agency that provides supplies to the military services and supports their acquisition and transportation of repair parts and other materials.
Public/private partnerships.
Community support for Tinker can be seen by the establishment of two public/private partnerships that support base operations by using local dollars to make available additional facilities for base use. While these partnerships are technically separate facilities, Tinker's security perimeter is extended around these facilities.
Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Technology Center (MROTC).
The first of the public/private partnerships is The Oklahoma Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Technology Center (MROTC), managed by Battelle Oklahoma, owned by Oklahoma Industries Authority (OIA), and partners with the Department of Defense to provide a national center for technical solutions to aging commercial and military aircraft. The MROTC is a MRO facility, on the south east site of Tinker AFB, sharing runways and security with the base. The MROTC complex is planned as a major military and commercial aircraft facility with 17 hangars and more than one million square feet of related industrial space and education and training facilities. The facility currently houses three hangars, one leased by Boeing (designed to accommodate Boeing 767-400 class aircraft), a second hangar for 767 for lease, and a third hangar designed to accommodate Boeing 707-300 class aircraft.
Building 9001 (Tinker Aerospace Complex).
The second of the public-private partnerships is Building 9001, originally known as the Tinker Aerospace Complex housed in the former General Motors Oklahoma City Assembly Plant located west of the runway on the south side of the base, north of I-240. A 50-year lease-purchase agreement was executed in September 2008 between Oklahoma County and the Air Force, covering the 2.5 million square foot (353,000 m²) facility and . Previously, the largest single building at the base was Building 3001 at . Tinker has leased about 4/5 of the facility and will host some current 76th Maintenance Wing operations as well as other Department of Defense missions, including work on the C-17 engines, joint strike fighter engines and core work on the new KC-46 tanker. Work being transferred to the complex is currently being done at 69 separate facilities on base, many of which are World War II-era temporary buildings located in runway clear zones. Burlington Northern Santa Fe provides a rail spur into the complex.
In 2014 Oklahoma County agreed to issue $10 million in bonds to help finance the purchase of a BNSF Railway marshaling yard, just north of the TAC building.
In addition to providing space for the work of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, the Tinker Aerospace Complex can also be used to house public/private business partnerships. Currently there are three programs. The Cooperative Research and Development Partnership has the objective of advancing science and technology to meet Air Force requirements and transferring technology into the commercial marketplace (CRADA, governed by Title 15 USC 3710a). Public Private Partnerships, or statutory partnering, is where the government acts as a seller to private industry in either a direct sales agreement, Workshare Partnering Agreement, or a Facilities Use Agreement (governed by Title 10 USC 2474). Finally, the Enhanced Use Lease requires Congressional approval and full fair market value rent for underutilized Air Force assets(governed by 10 USC 2667).
Based units.
Flying and notable non-flying units based at Tinker Air Force Base.
Units marked GSU are Geographically Separate Units, which although based at Tinker, are subordinate to a parent unit based at another location.
United States Air Force.
Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC)
Air Combat Command (ACC)
Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC)
United States Navy.
Commander, Naval Air Forces (COMNAVAIRFOR)


Hyunmoo-3

The Hyunmoo-3 is a new cruise missile that is to be fielded with the military of Republic of Korea. It is designed by Agency for Defense Development (ADD). The name Hyunmoo (Hangul: 현무) comes from a mythical beast described as the "Guardian of the Northern Sky", perhaps hinting North Korea.
Design and development.
As a signatory of the multilateral Missile Technology Control Regime, South Korea agrees to refrain from importing a non-indigenous ballistic missile with a warhead larger than 500 kg, or a range of more than 300 km. In addition, a bilateral agreement between ROK and USA limits indigenous South Korean produced missiles to no more than 500 miles in range, and warheads no larger than 1,100 lbs. (In September 2017, the presidents of the ROK and the USA agreed “in principle” to lift these bilateral limits, increasing the possibility of a longer-range, more powerful Hyunmoo-4 in the future.)
Therefore, a heavy emphasis was put on developing long-range cruise missiles by the South Korean government. With the introduction of Hyunmoo-3, which also has some advanced systems sometimes found on ICBMs, the Republic of Korea Army created the Missile Command in order to efficiently manage these missiles.
Hyunmoo-3 bears no resemblance to the previous Hyunmoo SSM, which were improved versions of Nike Hercules surface-to-air missiles that were converted into short-range high-speed surface-to-surface ballistic missiles in response to North Korea's Scud-B and Nodong-1 missile threats. Instead, the new missile's designs are strikingly similar to the United States Tomahawk cruise missile. It is powered by a turbofan engine, and has a maximum payload of of conventional explosive. The guidance systems consist of Inertial guidance system and Global Positioning System.
Hyunmoo-3A, which was nicknamed "Eagle-1" (독수리-1) during the testing, has a range of 500 km, while Hyunmoo-3B, nicknamed "Eagle-2" (독수리-2) Cheonryong (천룡 순항 미사일), has a range of 1,000 km. Hyunmoo-3C, or "Eagle-3" (독수리-3), will be capable of striking its target up to 1,500 km away. This is a significant improvement from Hyunmoo I which had a range of 180 km and Hyunmoo-2A, which only has a range of 300 km, both of which were ballistic and not cruise missiles.
Sejong the Great-class destroyers and KSS-III class submarines will be equipped with these "Chonryong" submarine-launched cruise missiles inside their Vertical Launching System (K-VLS).
A Hyunmoo-3B air-launched cruise missile with over 500 km range exists and it is called "Boramae".
A cruise missile called the Haeseong III is designed to be launched underwater from submarines. It is actually the designation for the Hyunmoo-3 cruise missile when launched from a submarine and is unrelated to the SSM-700K Haeseong missile design.


McClellan Air Force Base

McClellan Air Force Base (1935–2001) is a former United States Air Force base located in the North Highlands area of Sacramento County, northeast of Sacramento, California.
History.
For the vast majority of its operational lifetime, McClellan was a logistics and maintenance facility for a wide variety of military aircraft, equipment and supplies. Initially known as the Pacific Air Depot and Sacramento Air Depot, in 1939 the base was renamed for Major Hezekiah McClellan, a pioneer in arctic aeronautical tests. Born in 1894, he died on 25 May 1936 when his Consolidated P-30 which he was flight testing crashed near Centerville, Ohio.
The depot went through several name changes, finishing its life in 1995 as the Sacramento Air Logistics Center (SALC). The SALC reported to the Air Force Logistics Command (AFLC) and later the Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC).
In 1986, the U.S. Air Force established the McClellan Aviation Museum on what was then McClellan Air Force Base. The museum was later chartered by the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
The United States Coast Guard previously operated Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento at McClellan AFB as a tenant activity, operating and maintaining several HC-130 Hercules aircraft. CGAS Sacramento continues to operate at McClellan following its closure as an Air Force Base and is the only remaining military aviation unit and installation on the airfield.
In 1993, the base was selected by the Pentagon for closure. At first, McClellan was scratched from a list of bases to be closed, but that decision was faced with allegations that the Clinton administration was playing politics. The base was eventually selected for closure, and there were plans to offset the expected loss of $1.5 billion, and 11,000 jobs, to the California economy. The plan relied on privatization and other investment to offset the economic and employment losses. The base is now McClellan Business Park, a growing business enclave that hosts a diverse mix of companies spread across more than 8 million square feet of space of all types. This former military facility is now home to hundreds of private companies, as well as state, federal and local government agencies.
In 2005, the McClellan Aviation Museum changed its name to the Aerospace Museum of California. Various military aircraft sit on display inside one of the hangars, and many more are outside on the flightline. The museum has displays which highlight the mission of the base when it was active, as well as neighboring bases such as Beale AFB, Travis AFB and the since closed Mather AFB. The museum hosts educational programs to schools in the local area.
In 2015, the "Sacramento Bee" reported that McClellan Airfield had been designated as a Superfund site, because the Environmental Protection Agency has identified 326 waste areas on the base. Water wells closest to the base in the Rio Linda-Elverta district, have had the highest levels of hexavalent chromium, which is a known carcinogen. Water from six of 11 wells tested above the state’s maximum contaminant levels for chromium-6, which is 10 parts per billion.


Horsham Air Guard Station

Horsham Air Guard Station is owned by the Pennsylvania Air National Guard and located in Horsham Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The Air National Guard plays host to many different Army National Guard Units as well as other government agencies. The site was formerly the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove.
Units.
Horsham Air Guard Station is home to the following:


Spirit Albarn


Simmersberg

The Simmersberg is a mountain, , near Schnett in the municipality of Masserberg) in the county of Hildburghausen in Germany. It is the main summit of a forked mountain chain, which runs along the boundary between the Thuringian Forest and the Thuringian Highland from Masserberg towards the southwest and is bounded by the valleys of the Schleuse (in the northwest) and its tributary, the Biber (in the south).
Other subpeaks of the ridge are the "Hohe Warth (718 m)" in the west, the "Kohlberg (718 m)" in the southwest, the "Schnetter Berg (757 m)" in the north and the "Höheberg (780 m)" in the northeast. The volcanic origins within the otherwise non-volcanic mountain ridge can be recognised especially well near the Simmersberg and its two 718 metre-high pre-summits.
The 740-metre-high "Holzberg", which is 2 km northeast and adjacent to the Schnetter Berg and north of the Höheberg, separated by a deep valley from the Simmersberg peaks, must be considered as an independent mountain.
Views.
Because the summit of the Simmersberg, on which there used to be an inn, but now has a youth hostel, is largely treeless, the mountain has an extensive view in all directions without the need for climbing a tower.
In good visibility the outline of the Rhön in the west may be seen as well as the less high Haßberge hills to the south.
Still clearly outside the Thuringian Forest, but somewhat closer is the Dolmar near Meiningen (740 m) over 30 km away to the west, and the Gleichberge (642 and 679 m) to the southwest, 25 km distant – all three are clearly of volcanic origin.
To the left and east of them are the ruins of Straufhain Castle (449 m) and Coburg Fortress (464 m).
North (right) of the Dolmar in clear weather can be seen the Pleß (645 m), 52 km away to the northwest and, in the extreme northeast the Anterior Rhön can be made out.
Immediately right of that and about 14 to 20 km distant – and visible in even moderately good conditions – are the highest points of the Thuringian Forest:
In the east lies the nearby Rennsteigwarte watchtower on the Eselsberg (841.5 m) near Masserberg, to the southeast just 3 km away, but separated by the deep valley of the Biber, is the mining village of Waffenrod/Hinterrod with the mountains of Klingeberg (677.2 m), Eckartsberg (760.4 m) and Grendel (787.2 m).


Dennis Patrick

Dennis Patrick (born Dennis Patrick Harrison; March 14, 1918 – October 13, 2002) was an American character actor, primarily in television.
Early years.
Patrick was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to a family of Irish descent. He graduated from Northeast Catholic High School for Boys in 1935.
Career.
Patrick is known for his work in television shows. He portrayed Patrick Chase in the syndicated drama "Rituals" (1984), Vaughn Leland in CBS's "Dallas", Jack Breen in the ABC crime drama "Bert D'Angelo/Superstar" (1976) and Sergeant Pat O'Dennis in the syndicated comedy "The Cliffwood Avenue Kids" (1977).
He made four guest appearances on "Perry Mason", three of them as the murder victim: Martin Selkirk in the 1959 episode, "The Case of the Deadly Toy," Martin Somers in the 1962 episode, "The Case of the Tarnished Trademark," and golf pro Chick Farley in the 1966 episode, "The Case of the Golfer's Gambit." and as Prosecutor Darryl Teshman in the 1960 episode "The Case of the Prudent Prosecutor". Among his other television appearances were the roles of Jason McGuire and Paul Stoddard in "Dark Shadows", Mac in "Somerset", and in such films as "The Time Travelers" (1964), "Daddy's Gone A-Hunting" (1969), "Joe" (1970), "Dear Dead Delilah" (1972) and "Nightmare Honeymoon" (1974). He also was a stage actor, having won the Theater World Award for his starring role in "The Wayward Saint". He also portrayed Jean Paul Marat on Broadway in "Marat Sade".
Patrick appeared in more than 1,800 guest roles on television programs during his four-decade career, including stints on "Tales of Tomorrow" (1952), "Kraft Theatre" (1949–57), "Gunsmoke" (1958), "Playhouse 90" (1958), "Sugarfoot" (1959), "Buckskin" (1959), "Peter Gunn" (1959), "U.S. Marshal" (1959-1960), "77 Sunset Strip" (1960), "Bonanza" (1960, as Sam Bord in the episode "The Hopefuls"), "" (1960), "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1960–61); "Hawaiian Eye" (1962), "The Virginian" (episode "Big Day, Great Day" 1962), "Laramie" (1960-1963), "Perry Mason" (1959-1966), "Empire" (as Hoot Hinkley in "The Tiger Inside", 1963), "The Dakotas" (1963), "Lost in Space" (1966, as Keema "The Golden Man"), "Dark Shadows" (1967-1970), "Emergency!" (three episodes, 1972-1975), "Dallas" Dennis Patrick also appeared in Barnaby Jones; episode titled "Dangerous Summer" (02/11/1975).(1979-1984, as Vaughn Leland), "Quincy, M.E.", (three episodes, 1979–82) and "The Incredible Hulk" (as Buck Hendricks, a big game hunter looking to help news reporter Jack McGee capture "The jolly green giant")".
Patrick played Sheriff George Patterson in the film "House of Dark Shadows" (1970). He was television's first vampire (as Dennis Harrison) in a 1950 episode of "Stage 13" (1950).
Personal life.
Patrick married Amelia Baines and had two children. They divorced in 1969. He remained married to actress Barbara Cason, his second wife, from 1970 until her death in 1990.
On October 13, 2002, Patrick died next to his pet poodle as fire swept his four-story home in Hollywood Hills, California. He was 84. Patrick was suffering from cancer, needed kidney dialysis, and rarely left the house.


R.I.P. cartridge

The R.I.P. cartridge (Round Irritant Personnel) 12-gauge ammunition comprises cartridges filled with a mixture of micronized CS gas, an inert powder to add weight, and a further non-toxic powder which, on compression and friction, produces a large amount of carbon dioxide gas on exiting the barrel of the shotgun.
These specialist rounds are used in situations such as hostage rescue, where a less-than-lethal approach is required in order to resolve an incident.
Persons subject to the dispersed contents of an R.I.P. round will be incapacitated for a given amount of time, depending on the precise content of the round.
On 9 June 2008 English firearms officer PC Ian Terry was accidentally shot at point-blank range and killed by a R.I.P. round, in this instance filled with an inert white powder rather than CS gas, fired by a colleague whilst on a training exercise.


Fateh Mobin

The Fateh Mobin is an Iranian single-stage solid propelled Terminal Infrared homing dual surface-to-surface and anti-ship short-range ballistic missile. It was first unveiled on a military parade in Tehran on 13 August 2018 two days after American media reported it. It is an upgraded version of the Fateh-110 with better guidance. The Iranians plan on using its guidance systems on the Zolfaghar SRBM which some sources suggest does have a poor guidance system.
Characteristics.
In the words of Iranian defense minister Amir Hatami the missile is purely indigenous, low-observable and precision guided. The missile is thought to be a variant of the Fateh-110 with only a better guidance system and same range of 200-300 km. The missile probably has Terminal guidance through Imaging Infrared which explains its nose cone. A missile with such guidance itself is radar-evasive. The missile has a length of just 9 m which means that it can be loaded in sea containers to be launched from sea platforms.


DS30B rapid fire cannon

The DS30B rapid-fire cannon is a 30mm Oerlikon stabilized, ship-protection system created by MSI-Defence Systems and controlled by a single operator.
Description.
The DS30B is the predecessor to the 30mm DS30M Mark 2 Automated Small Calibre Gun, which mounts a 30mm Mark 44 Bushmaster II. The DS30B system consists of a marinized, stabilized gun mount which accommodates the Oerlikon 30mm cannon.


Program 505


Weldon Spring Ordnance Works

Weldon Spring Ordnance Works (WSOW) was a U.S. Government-owned, contractor-operated (GOCO) facility in St. Charles County, Missouri, 55 km west of St. Louis. The site was originally operated by the Atlas Powder Company during World War II from 1941 to 1945 to produce explosives. The Atomic Energy Commission acquired part of the property in 1955, and Mallinckrodt, Inc. processed uranium ore from 1957 to 1966 under contract. The site has been divided into several parcels, and ownership has transferred over the years. Two portions of the original WSOW property are now Superfund sites that require substantial cleanup efforts. The environmental remediation of the WSOW site is currently designated as a major project of the Defense Environmental Restoration Program of the United States Department of Defense. Part of the original property is still used by the Army Reserve as the Weldon Spring Training Area.
Weldon Spring Ordnance Works.
The site was purchased in 1941, totaling of largely rural land. The towns of Hamburg, Howell, and Toonerville and around 700 citizens of the area were displaced beginning in 1940 and ending the following year. From 1941 to 1945, the Atlas Powder Company manufactured trinitrotoluene (TNT) and dinitrotoluene (DNT) at the site. Four TNT and two DNT production lines were situated on what was to be the Chemical Plant. These operations resulted in nitroaromatic contamination of soil, sediments, and some off-site springs. After World War II, over were transferred to the State of Missouri, including the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area. Additional land was transferred to the University of Missouri, St. Charles County, and the Francis Howell School District. Much of the land that was transferred to the University of Missouri has become the Weldon Spring Conservation Area.
Weldon Spring Chemical Plant.
Following a considerable amount of environmental remediation of the facility by the U.S. Army and the Atlas Powder Company, of the former ordnance works were transferred to the United States Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) in 1955 for construction of the Weldon Spring Uranium Feed Materials Plant, now referred to as the Weldon Spring Chemical Plant. Mallinckrodt, Inc. operated the plant from 1957 to 1966 under a contract with the AEC. An additional were transferred to the AEC in 1964. The plant converted processed uranium ore concentrates to uranium tetrafluoride, uranium trioxide, intermediate compounds, and uranium metal. A small amount of thorium was also processed. Wastes generated during these operations were stored in four raffinate pits located on the plant property. Uranium processing operations resulted in radiological contamination of the area.
Uranium processing operations ceased in 1966, and on December 31, 1967, the AEC returned the facility to the Army for use as a defoliant production plant. The defoliant project was canceled before any process equipment was installed, and the Army transferred of land encompassing the raffinate pits back to the AEC while retaining the Chemical Plant. The AEC, and subsequently the United States Department of Energy (DOE), managed the site, including the Army-owned Chemical Plant, under caretaker status from 1968 through 1985. In 1984, the Army repaired several of the buildings at the Chemical Plant, decontaminated some of the floors, walls, and ceilings, and isolated some equipment. In 1985, the Army transferred full custody of the Chemical Plant to the United States Department of Energy (DOE), at which time the DOE designated control and decontamination of the Chemical Plant, raffinate pits, and Quarry as a major project. The DOE legacy management web site has additional documentation on the status of the site.
Weldon Spring Quarry.
The Weldon Spring Quarry was mined for limestone aggregate used in construction of the ordnance works. The Army also used the quarry for burning wastes from explosives manufacturing and disposal of TNT-contaminated rubble during operation of the ordnance works. These activities resulted in contamination of the soil and groundwater at the quarry.
In 1958, the Army transferred the Weldon Spring Quarry to the Atomic Energy Commission, who used it from 1959 to 1966 as a disposal area for uranium, thorium, and radium residues from the Chemical Plant (both drummed and uncontained) and for disposal of contaminated building rubble, process equipment, and soils from demolition of a uranium processing facility in St. Louis. Radiological contamination occurred in the same locations as the nitroaromatic contamination.
Weldon Spring Training Area.
By 1959, with the majority of the site already transferred out of government hands, was redeveloped as for the U.S. Army Reserve as the Weldon Spring Training Area.
Superfund sites.
Weldon Spring Quarry/Plant/Pits (USDOE/Army) site.
On October 15, 1984, the United States Environmental Protection Agency proposed listing the portions of the Weldon Spring area contaminated with radioactive waste on the National Priorities List. The site was finally listed on July 22, 1987. The Weldon Spring Quarry/Plant/Pits (USDOE/Army) site covers and is located between the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. The site includes the disposal area, the abandoned Uranium Feed Materials Plant, various smaller properties, and the former limestone quarry located 4 miles from the plant. Primary contaminants of concern at the Chemical Plant and surrounding soil include uranium, thorium, radium, and their radioactive decay products. The quarry contains materials contaminated with TNT and DNT residues, as well as uranium, thorium, and radium residues and contaminated materials and equipment. The quarry is located from the St. Charles County well field, which is used as a drinking water source for approximately 70,000 people.
Weldon Spring Former Army Ordnance Works site.
On July 14, 1989, the United States Environmental Protection Agency proposed adding the Weldon Spring Ordnance Works to the National Priorities List. The site was officially listed on February 21, 1990. Contaminated areas are spread throughout the site, with the greatest concentration in the Training Area. Areas of concern include seven unlined lagoons where TNT wastewater was stored, TNT production lines, two DNT production lines, drainage ditches below TNT production lines, and eight areas where explosive wastes were burned. The primary contaminants of concern at the site are TNT, DNT, and lead. These contaminants have been identified in soil at several areas on the site, and TNT was detected in 1987 in surface water downstream of the lagoons.
Portions of the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area are within the Weldon Spring Former Army Ordnance Works site.


HMS Nomad

HMS "Nomad" was an built for the Royal Navy during the First World War. She was sunk during the Battle of Jutland in 1916.
Description.
The Admiralty M class were improved and faster versions of the preceding . They displaced . The ships had an overall length of , a beam of and a draught of . They were powered by three Parsons direct-drive steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by four Yarrow boilers. The turbines developed a total of and gave a maximum speed of . The ships carried a maximum of of fuel oil that gave them a range of at . The ships' complement was 76 officers and ratings.
The ships were armed with three single QF Mark IV guns and two QF 1.5-pounder (37 mm) anti-aircraft guns. These latter guns were later replaced by a pair of QF 2-pounder (40 mm) "pom-pom" anti-aircraft guns. The ships were also fitted with two above water twin mounts for torpedoes.
Construction and service.
"Nomad" was ordered under the Third War Programme in November 1914 and built by Alexander Stephen and Sons at their shipyard in Linthouse. The ship was launched on 7 February 1916 and completed in April 1916. She was commissioned under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Paul Whitfield and briefly served in the 13th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet.
"Nomad" was part of the 13th Destroyer Flotilla at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916. At 16:09 hr, Admiral Jellicoe commander of the Grand Fleet ordered the 13th Flotilla to launch a torpedo attack against German battlecruisers, while at almost the same time, Admiral Hipper, commander of the German battlecruisers, ordered a torpedo attack on British battlecruisers by the German 9th Flotilla. The two destroyer forces became involved in an intense engagement, during which "Nomad" was disabled by a shell hit in her engine room. Two torpedoes fired by the German destroyers at "Nestor" failed to strike, passing under the British destroyer. Later that afternoon, "Nomad", together with sister ship , also immobilised in the earlier attack, was engaged by German battleships. "Nomad" launched all her torpedoes at the German ships, but failed to score a hit, while the German battleships , , and fired at "Nomad" with their secondary armament. She was heavily hit, with the damage forcing her crew to abandon ship, while a final hit caused "Nomad"s forward magazine to explode, the destroyer sinking at 17:30 hr, with "Nestor" sinking shortly afterwards. Eight of "Nomad"s crew were killed while 72 survivors (including Whitfield) were rescued from the sea by German torpedo boats and became prisoners-of-war.
The wreck is designated as a protected place under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. The wreck of "Nomad" was found by accident in 2001 by a dive team including marine archaeologist Innes McCartney. The ship's bell can be seen on display at the Jutland shipwreck museum.
Popular culture.
She was depicted in a book called "Prisoner of War", by Martin Booth, serving as the protagonist's ship.


Supreme Revolutionary Committee

The Supreme Revolutionary Committee, sometimes referred to as the Revolutionary Council or the Revolutionary Committee, is an interim body in Yemen formed by the Zaidiyyah Shia group Ansar Allah (more commonly known as the Houthis). In their 6 February 2015 "constitutional declaration" after seizing control of the Yemeni capital and much of former North Yemen, and the failure of Thursday talks between the Houthis and Yemen’s many political parties that were aimed at forming a government to replace Hadi and his cabinet, the group declared the committee would act as Yemen's interim authority. The committee was given the task of forming a new 551-seat parliament, which would then select a five-member presidential council to rule the country for two years.
The president of the committee was Mohammed Ali al-Houthi.
On 15 August 2016, the Supreme Revolutionary Committee partially handed power to the Supreme Political Council.
International reactions.
The legitimacy of the committee was rejected by a number of Yemeni opposition groups, including the Houthis' Sunni rivals in the Islah Party and the separatist Southern Movement, as well as the United Nations, United States, and Gulf Cooperation Council.


Leslie Thrasher

Charles Leslie Thrasher (September 15, 1889 – December 2, 1936) was an American illustrator best known for his magazine covers for "Liberty" magazine and the "Saturday Evening Post".
Biography.
Thrasher was born in Piedmont, West Virginia, on September 15, 1889, to Mason and Dorothy Thrasher. As a teenager, he studied art at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and became a commercial artist at age 17. After graduating, he earned a scholarship to Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris. When he returned to the United States, he became a student of Howard Pyle. Thrasher's work first appeared on the cover of the "Saturday Evening Post" in 1912, for which he eventually did twenty-three covers. During the First World War, he enlisted in the 40th Engineer Battalion. He was sent to France, where he partook in camouflage work. His lungs were severely damaged during a poison gas attack. Returning to the United States after the war, he married his wife Janet (née Jackson) at St. Stephen's in New York City in 1920, and settled in Long Island. He was hired in 1924 to create a series of covers for the then-new "Liberty" magazine, for $1000 per week. According to American Illustration's project on Leslie Thrasher, "in 1926, against the advice of fellow artist Norman Rockwell, he agreed to complete a cover a week for "Liberty Magazine" over a six year period." His contract with "Liberty" was terminated in 1932 because of declining circulation; Thrasher had created 360 covers for the publication.
A house fire occurred at Thrasher's residence in Old Field, New York, on November 29, 1936. Following cries for help from his wife, Thrasher, deaf at the time of the fire, was rescued unconscious from an upstairs bedroom by his neighbor and fellow artist, T. McFerguis Cooper. He was taken by ambulance to John T. Mather Memorial Hospital, where he was treated for severe smoke inhalation. He developed pneumonia and died at the hospital on December 2, 1936. The same fire destroyed much of Thrasher's work.
Thrasher had one daughter, Audrey.
Style and legacy.
Thrasher was a realist painter, often compared to Norman Rockwell. He is usually considered inferior to Rockwell, but it is noted that he had less time to develop his art. While Rockwell's backgrounds were highly detailed, Thrasher's backgrounds were simply set on white. Nonetheless, Thrasher is occasionally mistaken for Rockwell, in particular the piece "Tipping the Scales", which appeared on the "Saturday Evening Post" in October 1936.
Thrasher's most popular series of covers was created for "Liberty" and named "For the Love o' Lil." Lil represented a typical (if unusually attractive) middle-class woman, and the covers represented her "life" from young womanhood to middle age. "Storylines" for Lil were often suggested by readers. In 1930, a movie was made featuring Thrasher's character, and a radio show for the character was also produced.
In addition to his magazine cover illustrations, his work was featured prominently in advertisements for Chesterfield Cigarettes, Cream of Wheat, DuPont, and the Fisk Tire Company.


Yemeni peace process

Yemeni peace process refers to the proposals and negotiations to pacify the Yemeni Crisis by arranging a power transfer scheme within the country and later cease-fire attempts within the raging civil war. While initially unsuccessful, the reconciliation efforts resulted with presidential elections, held in Yemen in February 2012. The violence in Yemen, however, continued during the elections and after, culminating in Houthi successful grip of power and the ensuing civil war.
Yemeni Revolution reconciliation.
2011 mediation attempts.
In April, the Gulf Co-operation Council attempted to mediate an end to the crisis, drafting several proposals for a transition of power. Toward the end of the month, Saleh signaled he would accept a plan that would see him leave power one month after signing and provided for a national unity government in the lead-up to elections. Though some protesters ballyhooed the deal, criticizing provisions that granted the president immunity from prosecution and required the opposition to join with Saleh and his ministers in the national unity government, opposition leaders eventually agreed to sign it. By the end of the month, though, Saleh reversed course and the government announced he would not sign it, putting the GCC initiative on hold.
In early May, officials again indicated that Saleh would sign the GCC deal, and the opposition agreed to sign as well if Saleh signed it personally in his capacity as president. However, Saleh again backed away, saying the deal did not require his signature, and the opposition followed suit, accusing Saleh of negotiating in bad faith. Protests and violence across the country intensified in the wake of this second reversal by Saleh.
In late May, opposition leaders received assurances that Saleh would sign the GCC plan after all, and they signed the deal the day before the president was scheduled to ink it as well. But Saleh once again decided not to sign, and a brief but tense standoff occurred on 22 May when Saleh's supporters surrounded the embassy building of the United Arab Emirates in Sana'a, trapping international diplomats (including the secretary-general of the GCC) inside until the government dispatched a helicopter to ferry them to the presidential palace.
On 23 November 2011, Saleh flew to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia to sign the Gulf Co-operation Council plan for political transition, which he had previously spurned. Upon signing the document, he agreed to legally transfer the powers of the presidency to his deputy, Vice President Abdu-Rabbo Mansour al-Hadi within 30 days and formally step down by the 21 February 2012 presidential elections, in exchange of immunity from prosecution for him and his family.
Saleh step-down agreement and elections.
On 21 January 2012, the Assembly of Representatives of Yemen approved the immunity law. It also nominated Vice President Hadi as its candidate for the upcoming presidential election. Saleh left Yemen on the next day to seek medical treatment in the United States, and is reportedly seeking exile in Oman.
A presidential election was held in Yemen on 21 February 2012. With a report claims that it has 65 percent of its turnout, Hadi wons 99.8% of the vote. Abd Rabbuh Mansur al-Hadi was sworn in as president of Yemen on 25 February 2012, officially removing Saleh from power, who has ruled the country for 33-years. Saleh returned home at the same day to attend Hadi's presidency inauguration.
2015 Civil War cease fire attempts.
May 2015 cease-fire.
A five-day ceasefire proposed by Saudi Arabia was accepted by the Houthis and their allies in the military on 10 May 2015. The ceasefire was intended to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to the country. The temporary truce began on the night of 12 May to allow the delivery of food, water, medical, and fuel aid throughout the country.
On the fourth day of the truce, the fragile peace unraveled as fighting broke out in multiple southern governorates. At least three civilians in Aden and 12 in Taiz were killed on 16 May, despite the ceasefire. Agence France-Presse reported that "dozens" were killed in southern Yemen by the clashes, including 26 Houthi and 12 pro-Hadi fighters.
Omani Initiative.
Around this same time in 2015 reports surfaced in the media suggesting that Oman, which is the only Middle Eastern Monarchy not taking part in the coalition and has a border with Yemen, has presented a 7-point plan to both Iran and Saudi Arabia. Oman has played a vital role as a bridge between Tehran and the West in the past to help in the nuclear negotiations and thus enjoy good relations with Iran as well as its GCC neighbors. It has also been suggested that Oman was responsible to mediate a 24-hour ceasefire although analysts doubt if Oman can help bring about more rigid negotiations.
The following parts constituted the planned initiative:
2019.
The UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement, is initiated by the United Nations in Yemen.
2020.
2020 ceasefire in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After the United Nations urged both sides to pursue peace talks in order to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in Yemen, the Saudi-led coalition called a unilateral ceasefire beginning 9 April at noon, to support efforts to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. However, despite pledging ceasefire in Yemen, the Saudi-led coalition carried out dozens of airstrikes in the span of a week. The Yemen Data Project stated that at least 106 Saudi-led airstrikes, across 26 raids in Yemen had been carried out by the Kingdom in just one week. On July 2, coalition fighter jets launched scores of airstrikes on several Yemeni provinces. The operation was a response to ballistic missile and drone launchings by the Houthis against Saudi Arabia.
Prisoner Exchange.
On 27 September 2020, the United Nations announced that the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and the Hadi government supported by the Saudi-led military coalition, agreed to exchange about 1,081 detainees and prisoners related to the conflict as part of a release plan reached in early 2020. The deal stated the release of 681 rebels along with 400 Hadi government forces, which included fifteen Saudis and four Sudanese. The deal was finalized after a week-long meeting held in Glion, Switzerland, co-chaired by UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths. The prisoner-swap deal was done by the UN during 2018 peace talks in Sweden and both parties were agreed on several measures including the cease-fire in the strategic port city of Hodeida. A prisoner swap deal was made as part of the 2018 peace talks held in Sweden. However, the implementation of the plan clashed with military offensives from Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition, which aggravated the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, leaving millions suffering medical and food supply shortages.
2021.
The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced in January 2021 that he would designate three leaders of the Houthi movement in Yemen as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. The aid workers and diplomats raised concerns following the announcement, saying that it would hamper the peace process and the aid delivery to Yemen.


Delta L problem

The delta L problem (ΔL problem) refers to certain firearm chambers and the incompatibility of some ammunition made for that chamber. ΔL is a Commission Internationale Permanente (C.I.P.) geometric dimensioning and tolerancing definition for cartridge cases that are longer than the chamber they have to fit in. "Delta L" essentially means "difference in length".
If the chamber in a C.I.P. conforming firearm (a firearm with chamber dimensions specified by the Commission Internationale Permanente) is shorter than a non-C.I.P. conforming maximum sized cartridge (a cartridge with external dimensions larger than specified by the Commission Internationale Permanente), use of that ammunition in the firearm may lead to chambering and/or feeding problems in the shoulder area of the chamber, or other headspace issues.
There is normally no cause for alarm regarding any cartridge designated as a ΔL problem cartridge, as the ΔL problem does not create a dangerous condition in the firearm in the rare event that ΔL problems are actually present.
Firearms users that have to rely on their weapon under adverse conditions, such as big five and other dangerous game hunters, obviously have to check the correct functioning of the firearm and ammunition they intend to use before exposing themselves to potentially dangerous situations.
Delta L (ΔL) problem.
The length specification "S" is a basic dimension (or a datum reference) for the computation of the dimensions of firearms cartridges and chambers. It designates the distance between the breech contact surface and the apex of the junction cone. When the length values for the peak of the junction cone measure of the cartridge and the chamber are compared it becomes clear that these values do not always agree. A precondition for such a comparison is that the shoulder angles are identical, since otherwise shifts will occur, which are not recognizable at first glance.
.30-06 Springfield maximum C.I.P. cartridge dimensions. All sizes in millimeters (mm).
Junction cone dimensions

"alpha (α) = Angle of junction cone (Americans would define the shoulder angle as alpha/2)"

"S = Length of the peak of the junction cone"

"r1 min = Radius of junction at the extremities of diameter P2"

"r2 = Radius of junction between junction cone and collar"
The diameters of the cartridge are, logically, smaller than the appropriate diameters of the chamber. But the corresponding lengths "L1" and "L2" are larger. This condition results from the fact that the length of the junction cone becomes larger if the diameter becomes smaller. With most European cartridges, the dimension "S" is always identical. On the other hand, many American cartridge designs exhibit an oversize designated as delta L (ΔL). This leads to the situation that a cartridge manufactured at the upper tolerance limit can not be loaded into a chamber that was manufactured at the lower tolerance limit. Because cartridges are often manufactured in the lower dimensional tolerance limits and chambers tend to be manufactured in the higher dimensional tolerance limits, these problems are often avoided with (semi) automatic and repeating arms. The locking mechanism normally compensates a light oversize of 0.02 mm – 0.03 mm without any problems.
On the other hand this oversize is a major problem with break action and combination guns, which are less common in the United States than in Europe, because correct cartridges cannot be loaded into correct weapons in the event ΔL was not considered during manufacturing. Break barrel arms will not close when the cartridges and chamber dimensions are not in concert. For this reason the chambers of break barrel arms are generally manufactured with reamers that take ΔL into account.
Generally bolt-action and break barrel hunting rifles in C.I.P. regulated countries are not cut to the minimum C.I.P. chamber dimensions so this problem is mostly theoretical. The arms manufacturer SIG Sauer brands Blaser and Mauser are however known for hammer forging tight (but still C.I.P. conform) chambers in their Blaser R93 straight pull bolt-action and Mauser M03 bolt-action switch barrel rifles and some rifle owners reported ΔL problems with those rifles. These problems can also occur with other European made rifle brands.
Conflicting industry standards.
The main cause for the ΔL is that the two main civilian ammunition and firearms industry standards organizations, C.I.P. and SAAMI, have assigned different standards for the same cartridges. This leads to officially sanctioned conflicting differences between European and American ammunition dimensions and chamber dimensions. Since C.I.P. and SAAMI do not rule nor control civilian ammunition standards worldwide other causes for conflicting standards leading to ΔL issues are also possible.
Delta L (ΔL) cartridges list.
The C.I.P. published a ΔL cartridge and theoretical C.I.P. minimum chamber length shortage dimensions list. The value of ΔL must however be taken from the relevant cartridge data information in the C.I.P. Tables. Most cartridges on the list are of American origin, and many are only chambered in commercial firearms manufactured by American companies using SAAMI specifications. The table shows the popular .30-06 Springfield cartridge family with ≈ 0.15 mm (0.0059 in) theoretical chamber length shortage to be the most prominent ΔL problems candidate.
List of cartridges for which C.I.P. lists ΔL and the amount in millimeters (mm).
Calibre (C.I.P. nomenclature) ΔL (mm)
The value of ΔL must be taken from the relevant calibres in the C.I.P. Tables.
Firearm cartridges with otherwise problematic headspace.
There are also some firearm calibers with problematic headspace listed by C.I.P.

The headspace defined by:

Depth of rim recess
Chamber cone
End of chamber


Great Fire of Northampton

The Great Fire of Northampton occurred in September 1675 in Northampton in Northamptonshire, England. The blaze was caused by sparks from an open fire in St. Mary’s Street, near Northampton Castle. The fire devastated the town centre, destroying about 700 buildings [out of 850] including All Saints church, in six hours. Three quarters of the town was destroyed, 11 people died and about 700 families were made homeless. Many people escaped the fire by going through Welsh House on the market square to safety.
Local people and businesses raised £25,000 towards re-building the town centre based around the Market Square. Streets were widened to help prevent a re-occurrence. King Charles II donated 1,000 tons of timber from Salcey Forest for the re-building. A commemorative statue of the king (dressed in a Roman toga) stands on the portico of the re-built All Saints church.
In 1724, the town's new appearance inspired author and traveler Daniel Defoe to describe Northampton as the "handsomest and best built town in all this part of England…..finely rebuilt with brick and stone, and the streets made spacious and wide".
The fire received fictional treatment in book 2 of Alan Moore's 2016 novel "Jerusalem".
External links.


Trout Lake Mudflow

The Trout Lake Mudflow was a lahar in the U.S. state of Washington that descended from Mount Adams about 6,000 years ago. It was the largest lahar at Mount Adams since the end of the last ice age, having emplaced about of mud and rock in a deposit covering more than of the White Salmon River valley near Trout Lake. The mudflow began as a slope failure high on the southwest flank of Mount Adams where the accumulation zone of the White Salmon and Avalanche glaciers are now located, flowed down tributaries to the White Salmon River, then followed the river valley southward. Husum, an unincorporated community nearly downstream from Mount Adams, marks the maximum known extent of the mudflow.
The mudflow deposit is poorly sorted, unstratified, not graded, and contains abundant clasts of hydrothermally altered andesite. Veneer deposits, up to several tens of centimeters thick, crop out at scattered localities on hillsides and high terraces in valleys below timberline. Along Cascade Creek, between Salt Creek and the White Salmon River, younger lahars obscure the Trout Lake Mudflow at most localities. No deposits of the Trout Lake Mudflow have been found in the upper narrows of the White Salmon River although it flowed through that reach. The most extensive deposit of the Trout Lake Mudflow, a lode nearly long and a maximum of wide, underlies the Trout Lake lowland.
The Trout Lake Mudflow changed the courses of both the White Salmon River and Trout Lake Creek in the Trout Lake lowland. Emplacement of the mudflow dammed Trout Lake Creek to form Trout Lake. The original lake is now a complex of interconnected ponds and marshland. The White Salmon River returned to its former channel incised in bedrock near the distal margin of the Trout Lake lobe. An ancient White Salmon River channel in the upper Trout Lake lowland is located at a base level about below and farther west of its present location. In the upper Trout Lake lowland, the White Salmon River and Trout Lake Creek flow along the margin of the lahar where its surface is slightly convex in the upper Trout Lake lowland; near the confluence they have incised into the lahar. The White Salmon River has dissected the mudflow and underlying alluvium throughout much of the lowland; locally it is incised into of the basalt of Ice Cave.


.429 DE

The .429 DE is a cartridge introduced in 2018 by Magnum Research for the Desert Eagle line of handguns. The parent cartridge is the .50 AE and it was necked down to .429". The cartridge features a 25% increase in velocity and 45% increase of energy over a standard 240-grain, .44 Magnum load.
Though similar to the obsolete .440 Corbon, it is not interchangeable with that cartridge. The same bolt and magazines can be used as the .50 AE-chambered Desert Eagle.


USS Laffey (DD-459)

USS "Laffey" (DD-459) was a of the United States Navy during World War II. She was the first destroyer named for Bartlett Laffey.
"Laffey" was laid down on 13 January 1941 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Company, San Francisco, California; launched 30 October 1941; sponsored by Miss Eleanor G. Forgerty, granddaughter of Seaman Laffey; and commissioned on 31 March 1942, Lieutenant Commander William E. Hank in command. She was lost in action on 13 November 1942.
Service history.
After shakedown off the west coast, "Laffey" headed for the war zone via Pearl Harbor, arriving at Efate on 28 August 1942. She steamed in the antisubmarine screen until she joined Task Force 18 on 6 September. When the flagship— the aircraft carrier —was sunk on 15 September, "Laffey" rescued survivors and returned them to Espiritu Santo. She sailed with Task Force 64 and touched at Noumea, New Caledonia, on 18 September.
"Laffey" had her first fleet action in the Battle of Cape Esperance (also known as the Second Battle of Savo Island) on 11 and 12 October 1942. The destroyer operated with Admiral Norman Scott's cruiser group, guarding against enemy attempts to reinforce Guadalcanal. On 11 October, when the group formed into single column, "Laffey" joined two other destroyers in the van. About an hour later, sailors ran to their battle stations, steel doors clanged shut, and all made ready for battle. When the engagement began, "Laffey" raked the cruiser with three of her 5-inch guns. The furious gunfire roared on through the night. At dawn, destroyer was sinking, was badly damaged, and cruiser , though hard hit, had weathered several powerful blows. However, the Japanese losses were even greater. was sinking, "Aoba" was badly damaged, and had sunk.
After the battle, "Laffey" met with a group escorting transports from Nouméa on 11 November, and sailed to Lunga Point, arriving the next day. The disembarking operations were interrupted by a heavy air attack. On 13 November, "Laffey" was placed in the van of a column of eight destroyers and five cruisers under Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan. Early in the midwatch, the radar operator reported contact with the enemy. The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal was just about to begin when the Japanese force, a group of two battleships, one light cruiser, and 14 destroyers, under Vice Admiral Hiroaki Abe, appeared on the horizon. "Laffey" lashed out at the enemy with gunfire and torpedoes. At the height of the violent battle, the battleship came through the darkness and both ships headed at full speed for the same spot. They missed colliding by . "Laffey" unleashed her torpedoes and, using all her firepower, raked the battleship's bridge, wounding Admiral Abe, and killing his chief of staff. Admiral Abe was thereafter limited in his ability to direct his ships for the rest of the battle. With a battleship on her stern, a second on her port beam, and two destroyers on her port bow, "Laffey" fought the Japanese ships with the three remaining main battery guns in a no-quarter duel at point-blank range. She was hit by a 14-inch shell from "Hiei". Then, a torpedo in her fantail put "Laffey" out of action. As the order to abandon ship was passed, a violent explosion ripped the destroyer apart and she sank immediately with heavy loss of life. This action earned her the Presidential Unit Citation.
Of the 247 crew members aboard, 59 were killed, including the commanding officer, William E. Hank. The wounded in the engagement numbered 116.
Awards.
"Laffey" was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for her performance in the South Pacific, and three battle stars for service in World War II.


Ria Bartok

Marie-Louise Pleiss, stage name Ria Bartok (28 January 1943 Einbeck, Nazi Germany – 2 March 1970 Paris) was a French singer of yéyé pop songs.
Bartok was the daughter of an opera singer. She saw her first success at the age of 20 with the song "Parce que j'ai revu François". Part of the yéyé wave of the 1960s, she faced difficulty making herself known to the public at large. She was overshadowed by other singers of her generation such as Johnny Hallyday, Sylvie Vartan, and Richard Anthony. Bartok nevertheless saw her greatest success with the song "Et quelque chose me dit".
Her last concert in France was on 13 May 1967. She died suddenly in a fire in 1970 at the age of 27.


United Arab Emirates takeover of Socotra

On 30 April 2018, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) deployed more than a hundred troops with artillery and armored vehicles to the Yemeni archipelago of Socotra in the Guardafui Channel without prior coordination with Yemen. The initial deployment consisted of UAE military aircraft carrying more than fifty UAE soldiers and two armored vehicles, followed by two more aircraft carrying more soldiers, tanks and other armored vehicles. Al Jazeera reported that shortly after landing, UAE forces dismissed Yemeni soldiers stationed at administrative installations such as Socotra Airport and seaports until further notice, and the flag of the United Arab Emirates was raised above official government buildings in Hadibu.
Background.
Since 2000, UAE humanitarian organizations such as Emirates Red Crescent have played an active role in Socotra. The organization provided relief and aid in March 2000 after major floods damaged buildings and agriculture. In a 2003 US diplomatic cable, Iranian companies were also noted to have completed several projects in Yemen, including building the Socotra airport strip.
In early November 2015, two tropical cyclones – Chapala and Megh – struck the Socotra archipelago, causing severe damages to the main island's infrastructure, homes, roads, and power. Due to the collective impacts of Chapala and Megh, the United Arab Emirates sent an aid ship and plane, carrying tons of food, blankets and tents, and barrels of food.
In 2016, the UAE increased supplies delivered to Socotra which had been largely abandoned and forgotten during the ongoing conflict. In October 2016, the 31st cargo aircraft landed in Socotra Airport containing two tons of aid. At that time, the UAE also established a military base on the island as part of the Saudi led intervention.
In 2017, Emirati troops had already been deployed on the island as part of the Saudi-led intervention, some Yemeni political factions accused the UAE of attempting to occupy Socotra and looting and ravaging the flora of the island.
History.
Yemen's internationally recognised government condemned the takeover as "an act of aggression"; however no military resistance to Emirati troops was reported.
"The Independent" newspaper reported that the UAE has annexed the island and built a communications network, as well as conducted census and provided Socotra residents with free healthcare and work permits in Abu Dhabi.
Two weeks later on 14 May, Saudi troops were also deployed to the archipelago and a deal was brokered between the United Arab Emirates and Yemen for a joint military training exercise and the return of administrative control of Socotra's airport and seaport to Yemen.
Reactions.
A statement from Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr’s office said the UAE military’s seizure of the seaport and airport on Socotra was an “unjustified” assault on Yemen's sovereigny. The UAE Foreign Ministry responded by saying it was "surprised" by the statement and blamed the Muslim Brotherhood for "distorting" its role – "The UAE military presence in all liberated Yemeni provinces, including Socotra, comes within the efforts of the Arab Coalition to support legitimate government at this critical stage in the history of Yemen."
UAE Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash tweeted, "Some have recently remembered Socotra Island to challenge the Arab coalition and the UAE. We have historical relations with the families and people of Socotra."
On 3 May 2018, protests rallied against the UAE takeover, demanding an immediate withdrawal. However, on 6 May 2018, pro-Emirati supporters gathered in the island's capital Hadibu to support the UAE presence on the island.
On 10 May 2018, the United States said it was "closely following the situation on the island of Socotra" and called for "de-escalation and dialogue" between the UAE and Yemen.
On 11 May 2018, Turkey showed concern about the event. The Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs said "we are closely following the recent developments in Yemen's Socotra Island. We are concerned about these developments that pose a new threat to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Yemen", and called on all relevant actors to respect the legitimate Yemeni government and to refrain from taking measures that could further complicate the situation.
The Yemeni political party claimed, as of 8 September 2020, that the government of United Arab Emirates (UAE) had been trying to build a military base on Yemen's Socotra island. The Yemeni government has accused the UAE of supporting Southern Transitional Council (STC) to take control of the Socotra province with its own interests in Yemen.


ASAT program of China

China's anti-satellite (ASAT) program has been under development since 1964. The ASAT program has since been moved from Program 640 to Program 863, the General Armaments Department and the State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND, formerly known as Commission for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense). Since its inception, the ASAT program has made progress on the development of three ASAT capable Systems: direct fire, directed-energy weapon, and microsatellites. Tests of these systems have either been directly acknowledged by the PRC, or reported on as ASAT capable. China is pursuing a broad and robust array of counterspace capabilities, which includes direct-ascent antisatellite missiles, co-orbital antisatellite systems, computer network operations, groundbased
satellite jammers, and directed energy weapons.
Defense Intelligence Agency chief Ashley has claimed that China has space weapons capable of shooting out satellites during the early stage of a conflict, including anti-satellite missiles, maneuvering satellites and lasers and electronic jammers.
People's Liberation Army has formed military units and begun initial operational training with counterspace capabilities that it has been developing, such as ground-launched ASAT missiles.
History.
China has worked on technologies applicable to Anti-Satellite (ASAT) weaponry since the 1964. For much of the 1960s and 1970s the majority of funding and development of ASAT capabilities were run through Program 640. The initial purpose of Program 640 was to develop anti-ballistic missiles and SAM sites, but in 1970 Program 640 began an ASAT program. The program's progress was hampered by the effects of the Cultural Revolution, because many of the prominent scientists associated with the program were among those purged by the younger generation. A review of the scholarly articles from China in the 1970s demonstrates that one prominent scientist wrote the majority of information regarding ASAT systems.
In 1980, Program 640 was abandoned. The projects under Program 640 were not publicized until 1986, when Program 863 was introduced as the PRC's newest technological research and development program. Program 863 has since been closely tied to the operations of the General Armaments Department's Project 921 and COSTIND (now known as SASTIND) of the People's Liberation Army.
In 2008, during the development of the JL-2 submarine-launched ballistic missile, it was reported that China was considering modifying the missile to accommodate an anti-satellite warhead to give it a sea-based anti-satellite capability.
A 2016 US Congress report warns about China developing space weapons to destroy American satellites.
Systems.
Three kinds of ASAT systems have been under development and/or active tests by the PRC. The systems are not acknowledged by the PRC as being strictly ASAT, but they are capable of destroying or disabling a satellite.
Direct fire systems.
A Direct Fire System refers to the instrumentalities required for a land or vehicle based missile to strike a satellite. A Direct Fire System is a kinetic kill system designed to physically destroy or damage a satellite, instead of electronically disrupting its orbit or mission. The PRC demonstrated its ability to launch a land-based kinetic kill vehicle into a satellite when it fired a SC-19 missile into an aging Fengyun series satellite and destroyed it on January 11, 2007.
No known tests of a "vehicle-based" Direct Fire System have occurred, but it has been reported that the new Jin-class submarine will have the ability to launch the SC-19 or a similar type of missile.
Directed-energy weapons.
A directed-energy weapon is a high powered laser or microwave weapon designed to either disrupt or electrically damage a satellite. It is not yet considered a kinetic kill system because directed-energy weapon cannot physically destroy a satellite. These weapons are part of the PRC's New Concept Weapons program.
One directed-energy weapon, a high powered laser, has been under development since 1995 and was tested on orbiting US satellites in 2006.
Microsatellites.
A microsatellite is defined as any object orbiting the earth that has a mass greater than 10 kg and less than 500 kg. This includes man made satellites and natural satellites, like debris. While man made micro-satellites are primarily peaceful, they are easily weaponized. Because of a satellite's high relative velocity to another satellite, any collision would destroy both satellites, and micro-satellites have the advantage of being cheaper, more maneuverable and harder to track.
In 2001, a Chinese newspaper stated that the PRC was testing a parasitic micro-satellite that could latch onto another satellite and destroy it on command. While no evidence has been found to demonstrate the development of such a parasite system, in 2008 the BX-1 micro-satellite released by the PRC passed dangerously close to the International Space Station at a relative speed which would have destroyed both objects had they collided. This close call raised awareness of the PRC's ability to use micro-satellites as a kinetic kill ASAT system.
Associated government organizations and personnel.
General Armaments Department.
The General Armaments Department (GAD) of the PRC, established in 1998, has three major responsibilities. The first is to develop, maintain, and distribute all weapon systems in the PLA. The second is to manage the nation's nuclear program. The third is to oversee all space programs. The GAD has authority over all weapons development programs, including ASAT weapons. It also is responsible for space related activities, such as Project 921 (the manned spaceflight program) and the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre. Every ASAT program developed by the PRC must be developed and tested by the GAD. The GAD also includes the development branch of SASTIND, and oversees the operations of Program 863.
Chen Bingde.
General Chen Bingde was the Director of the GAD in 2007 during the first successful test of the Chinese Direct Fire ASAT System. Being the head of all of the PRC's military involvement in space, Chen would have overseen the development of the SC-19 and authorized its deployment on January 11, 2007. Shortly after the system's success, Chen was promoted to Chief of the General Staff.
Chang Wanquan.
General Chang Wanquan was promoted to the position of Director of the GAD after General Chen Bingde accepted the position of Chief of the General Staff. Wanquan has been in charge of development and tests of the PRC's ASAT since mid-2007.
SASTIND.
The State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND, formerly known as COSTIND) is the scientific branch of the PRC's military and was absorbed into the GAD when it was formed in 1998. The institution has changed over the years, and continues to change, but there are five major responsibilities within their jurisdiction.
Since ASAT technology is considered a tool of national defense, SASTIND is responsible for the development of ASAT programs, and all matters regarding policy recommendations, safety regulations, organization and the projects' global images.
Zhang Yunchuan.
Zhang Yunchuan was director of SASTIND from 2003–2007. He received his degree from Harbin Military Engineering Institute, and spent most of his political career as a governor. Shortly after the successful ASAT test in 2007 he was promoted to Chairmen of the People Provisional Congress.
Zhang Qingwei.
Zhang Qingwei followed Yunchuan as director of SASTIND from 2007–2009. He received a master's degree in Engineering and has spent most of his career working on the manned space flight program.
Chen Qiufa.
Chen Qiufa replaced Qingwei as director of SASTIND in 2009. He has served in a leadership role at SASTIND since the first Direct Fire ASAT test in 2005, and he was also promoted in 2007 after the successful SC-19 test.
Operations.
All operations listed here have either been acknowledged by the PRC, or reported by a foreign government.
2006 – Directed Energy.
In 2006, the United States government reported that the PRC had marked US observation satellites with a high power laser. No significant damage to the satellites was reported; it is possible that none occurred and that the lasers used were low-power and designed for ranging, to determine exact satellite orbits, and not as ASAT weapons to blind or disrupt the satellites.
Direct Fire incidents.
Failed Attempts.
There were two failed attempts made by the PRC to use a Direct Fire ASAT weapon. The first was on July 7, 2005 and the missile did not get close to the satellite. The second was on February 6, 2006 and the missile got close enough to the satellite for observers to question whether a near miss was the PRC's intent.
2007 – SC-19.
"From Main Article: 2007 Chinese anti-satellite missile test"
The 2007 Chinese anti-satellite missile test was conducted by China on January 11, 2007. A Chinese weather satellite—the FY-1C polar orbit satellite of the Fengyun series, at an altitude of , with a mass of 750 kg—was destroyed by a kinetic kill vehicle traveling with a speed of 8 km/s in the opposite direction (see "Head-on engagement"). It was launched with a multistage solid-fuel missile from Xichang Satellite Launch Center or nearby.
"Aviation Week & Space Technology" magazine first reported the test. The report was confirmed on January 18, 2007 by a United States National Security Council (NSC) spokesman. At first the Chinese government did not publicly confirm whether or not the test had occurred; but on January 23, 2007, the Chinese Foreign Ministry officially confirmed that a test had been conducted. China claims it formally notified the U.S., Japan and other countries about the test in advance. The Chinese claim is consistent with a sharp rise in queries from American sites concerning FY-1C on at least one space-related Web site starting about 24 hours before the actual intercept.
2008 – BX-1.
In September 2008, the PRC sent two men into space on the Shenzhou-7. During their time in orbit the astronauts released the BX-1 micro-satellite. Within 4 hours of its release the micro-satellite flew within 27 miles of the International Space Station at a relative speed of 17,000 mph. The International Space Station will move if anything gets within 1,000 miles of its position, and the micro-satellite was well within this range and dangerously close to the Station. A collision between the BX-1 and the Station would have destroyed both objects and been fatal to the astronauts aboard the Station. The BX-1 did not strike the Station, but demonstrated China's ability to develop and deploy a micro-satellite with ASAT capabilities.
2010 – SC-19.
On January 11, 2010 the PRC directed another SC-19 (雙城-19) missile at a moving target and destroyed it. This time the target was a CSS-X-11 medium-range ballistic missile launched from Shuangchengzi Space and Missile Center. While using the same systems as the January 11, 2007 test, it is not clear what the function of the 2010 test was. This test is considered to be a continuation of the PRC's ASAT testing because it employed the SC-19 system, but because the target was a missile and not a satellite the test may have been directed towards re-purposing the SC-19 missile as an ABM.
Dong Neng series.
On 13 May 2013, the PRC conducted a test launched from Xichang Satellite Launch Center referred to as "'Kunpeng-7". The object was launched on a 32 deg inclination south east path to a high sub-orbit altitude of more than 18,600 miles. The launch was subsequently identified by the US as a test for the Dong Neng/动能-2 (DN-2) ASAT interceptor.
On 23 July 2014, the PRC was reported to have conducted a successful land based missile test. However, the US said that the test was a 'non-destructive' test of an anti-satellite weapon.
A Chinese military official confirmed in December 2015 Beijing's latest test of a satellite-killing missile DN-3 that threatens U.S. space assets.
IN February 2018, the Dong Neng-3 was tested.


List of large volcanic eruptions

This is a sortable summary of the pages Timeline of volcanism on Earth, List of Quaternary volcanic eruptions, and Large volume volcanic eruptions in the Basin and Range Province. Uncertainties as to dates and tephra volumes are not restated, and references are not repeated. Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) values for events in the Miocene epoch sometimes lack references. They are given as VEI-equivalent, as orientation of the erupted tephra volume. This is not a comprehensive list.


Monica Zetterlund

Monica Zetterlund (born Eva Monica Nilsson; 20 September 1937 – 12 May 2005) was a Swedish jazz singer and actress. Through her lifetime, she starred in over 10 of Swedish film productions and recorded over 20 studio albums. She gained international fame through her collaborative album with Bill Evans, "Waltz for Debby."
Career.
Singer.
Zetterlund began by learning the classic jazz songs from radio and records, initially not knowing the language and what they sang about in English. Her hit songs included "Sakta vi gå genom stan" (Swedish cover of "Walking My Baby Back Home"; in Swedish a tribute to Stockholm town), "Visa från Utanmyra", "Sista jäntan", "Trubbel", "Gröna små äpplen" ("Little Green Apples"), "Monicas vals" ("Waltz for Debby"), "Stick iväg, Jack!" ("Hit the Road Jack"), "Att angöra en brygga", "Var blev ni av", "Måne över Stureplan" (cover of Sting's "Moon Over Bourbon Street") and "Under vinrankan!", among many, many others.
She also interpreted the works of such Swedish singer-songwriters as Evert Taube, Olle Adolphson and Povel Ramel, as well as international jazz musicians/songwriters. She worked with leading American players including Louis Armstrong, Bill Evans, Stan Getz, Steve Kuhn and Quincy Jones, and in the Scandinavian jazz world with people like Georg Riedel, Egil Johansen, Arne Domnérus, Svend Asmussen and Jan Johansson.
In 1964, she recorded the jazz album "Waltz for Debby", featuring Bill Evans, a record she herself described as "the best I've done" and was the most proud of. Her professional skill was amply demonstrated in this album in performing the challenging Harold Arlen song, "So Long, Big Time".
Her long career also included the song "En gång i Stockholm" ("Winter City"); a jazz ballad with which she represented Sweden in the 1963 Eurovision Song Contest. She finished last, however (mainly because the song genre was not suitable for the competition) and scored "nul points", but remained successful in Sweden.
Actor.
Her collaboration with the comic duo Hasse & Tage (in the 1960s and 1970s) eventually led to a stage career in revues and films. Memorable are her parts in the films "Att angöra en brygga" and "Äppelkriget", with her most memorable role being in Jan Troell's "Utvandrarna" (aka "The Emigrants"; with Liv Ullmann and Max von Sydow in the leads) as Ulrika, a former prostitute who together with her teenage daughter Elin (portrayed by Zetterlund's daughter, Eva Lena Zetterlund) join the main characters in their emigration to America in the 1850s, a role for which Zetterlund received a Guldbagge Award for Best Supporting Actress. She appeared in more than 20 films and television series.
Health and death.
She suffered from severe scoliosis which began after a childhood accident, and as a result was forced to retire from performing in 1999.
On 12 May 2005, she died following an accidental fire in her apartment in Stockholm, probably due to her habit of smoking in bed.


Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant

The Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant was a government-owned, contractor-operated (GOCO) facility 12 miles west of Texarkana, Texas that was established in 1942. The land was purchased from local citizens through Eminent Domain by the United States Department of Defense. The Lone Star Defense Corporation, a subsidiary of the B. F. Goodrich Rubber Corporation, won the contract on July 23, 1941 to produce artillery shells, bombs, fuses, boosters, and other auxiliary munitions at the site. The plant produced ammunition throughout World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The plant was last operated by Day & Zimmermann.
Today.
The Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant was officially deactivated September 30, 2009, after serving its mission of providing ammunition for almost 70 years. Future plans include directing the I-69 Corridor through the facility once the property has been transferred from the local community.
Environment.
The Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant was listed as a Superfund site on the National Priorities List on July 22, 1987. The United States Environmental Protection Agency listed the primary contaminants of concern as tetryl, mercury, chromium, and lead. Cleanup activities began on June 29, 2001 and continued until September 24, 2002. The site should be deleted from the National Priorities List in 2010.


.307 Winchester

The .307 Winchester cartridge was introduced by Winchester in 1982 to meet the demand of .300 Savage performance in a lever-action rifle equipped with a tubular magazine. It is nearly dimensionally identical to the more common .308 Winchester cartridge, the only differences being a rimmed base and thicker case walls.
Overview.
The Winchester Big Bore Model 94 Angle Eject rifle was the only rifle produced to fire the cartridge, though competitor Marlin Firearms created some prototype model 336 rifles chambered in .307 Win. It is still commercially loaded today, but many handload to gain better performance and accuracy. Because of safety concerns owing to the rifle's tubular magazine, flat-nosed bullets are normally used.
Specifications.
180 gr (12 g) Super-X Power-Point bullet.
Ballistic Coefficient: 0.251
Child cartridges.
The .307 Winchester is the parent case for the .356 Winchester, and the proprietary round 6.5 JDJ #2.
It is also the parent case for the 7mm STE (Shooting Times Eastern).


Bharat-52

The Bharat-52 gun is a 155mm, 52 caliber towed howitzer manufactured by Bharat Forge, a subsidiary of Kalyani Group.
Bharat-52 is being considered by the Indian Army to fulfill its requirements for towed howitzers.
Kalyani group has also made a strong pitch for supplying heavy weapons to the Saudi Arabian military.
Two gun systems, both developed by Kalyani Group, will be sent to Saudi Arabia for trial evaluation by the Royal Saudi Army.
The guns include the Bharat 52 and the Garuda V2, a 105 mm gun mounted on a light vehicle chassis for added mobility.


Poggioreale

Poggioreale (Sicilian: Poggiuriali) is a ghost town and "comune" in the province of Trapani, western Sicily, southern Italy, located in the Belice valley. The Economy was mostly based on agriculture and fruit cultivation.
Earthquake: The Belice Valley earthquake destroyed the entire town of Poggioreale and killed 200 people in 1968. Eventually the town was rebuilt in a safer place a few kilometers south. Some of the families moved to the USA according to this CNN article. Mayor Girolamo Cangelosi wants to bring Poggioreale back to its former glory. Some of the former residents and their families have been on organized tours of Poggioreale. They reunited using social media and the internet. According to the New York Post Sicilians call it their modern Pompeii. Unfortunately Mayor Girolamo Cangelosi was seriously injured in an auto accident. It remains unclear what effect this may have upon his reconstruction efforts.
References.
<BR>