No, this wouldn't be Iran, they aren't the correct color for desert warfare. I have somebody telling me that they're the older Bradley M2A2 version destined for an Army Depot for dismantling, but who knows? I've seen many equipment transfers before (a lot of people have), but I've never seen that many pieces of equipment transferred at one time.
Also, I did a little research to determine the validity of this video. As you can see, this particular video was actually copied and reposted (there are 5 different YouTube accounts with this particular video). However, there are 3 other videos of this train, all from different cities along this California route, and all posted on the 19th. Here they are: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzCGBYcCta0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e7KJerIit0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRMYMFD2fKQ
The fact is that I don't know if these are M2A2's or not, because it is very hard to tell without having a clearer picture of the turret. And, of course, I don't know what the purpose of the transfer is. I just thought that it was pretty interesting. One thing that I do know, if SOPA/PIPA were law, these videos wouldn't exist.
Or, possibly just headed for a rotation at the National Training Center at Ft. Irwin, just east of L.A. You'll know it's getting serious when the pizza deliverers start showing up en masse at certain locations in D.C...
Probably a National Training Center rotation at Fort Irwin, CA (middle of the Mojave). Every Heavy Brigade in the Army has to go through there... including the Army National Guard who has mostly older equipment.
Could also be the pre-positioned stocks from the middle east. That was the equipment that started the war. When the new stuff was shipped out to Iraq through Kuwait (with a nice desert paint-job) they just parked the older stuff out in the desert (at Arifjan).
The word from the transpo guys is that some of the shipping to bring the stuff home in recent months couldn't go through the strait into the Med. Instead they had to ship it through the Indian Ocean and Pacific - to California.
So, it is also possible that this is just those old Iraq Bradley's making their way east to Anniston Army Depot.
On the back of each vehicle will be a bumper number. If the prefix of the number is the same, then they are all part of one unit. If they are all painted the same, then they are more likely all part of one unit.
If there are various bumper number prefixes, or the bumper numbers have been painted out then it is probably just old equipment on its way for upgrade/refurbishment or disassembly and retirement.
If the paint jobs are not all the same, some olive drab, others forest camolflage, others maybe desert tan, then they are likely just old equipment bound either for upgrade or disassembly, DRMO, and probably melt-down.
There is some talk amongst the online "commenters" that these are indeed DRMO. Further, a certain YT commenter (who says he was involved) is stating that these are returned equipment from S. Korea, that they have received the "newish" M2A3 version and have returned these to the US for DRMO at Sierra Army Depot. Who knows if any of this is true? But I do challenge such comments based upon 'Information Security' grounds, because even if this were true, military personnel (as well as contractors) are forbidden from divulging such information to anybody (esp. on a public forum), even if such information is innocuous. As of yet, I have found no DoD statements supporting the "S. Korea returning equip. for newer upgrades" explanation.
What actually caught my attention was the actual number of units, as well as the support equipment (fuel tankers) that was being transferred in accompaniment. This tells me that this is an actual unit of APCs and support vehicles, not a random mix of equipment. Further, I didn't see any other markings other than the itinerary documents affixed to the front of every 10 (roughly) APCs, so they certainly aren't prior service from S. Korea. In fact, the color scheme is more olive drab than any S. Korean Bradleys that I have ever seen (S. Korea favors a tan/green color scheme).
Like I said, I don't know what the purpose of this equipment transfer is, I just thought that it was interesting.
Also, like I said, I didn't see ANY markings on the APCs. Usually, if they are DRMO there will be markings painted on the side indicating such. Usually, the marking will be "D/L" in white spray paint, or some other marking in white spray paint. I didn't see any of that.
Destination Iran.
ReplyDeleteThe military industrial complex is alive and well.
ReplyDeleteLooks like something out of Red Dawn.
ReplyDeleteDestination L.A.
ReplyDeleteOr Detroit?
ReplyDeleteNo, this wouldn't be Iran, they aren't the correct color for desert warfare. I have somebody telling me that they're the older Bradley M2A2 version destined for an Army Depot for dismantling, but who knows? I've seen many equipment transfers before (a lot of people have), but I've never seen that many pieces of equipment transferred at one time.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I did a little research to determine the validity of this video. As you can see, this particular video was actually copied and reposted (there are 5 different YouTube accounts with this particular video). However, there are 3 other videos of this train, all from different cities along this California route, and all posted on the 19th. Here they are:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzCGBYcCta0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e7KJerIit0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRMYMFD2fKQ
The fact is that I don't know if these are M2A2's or not, because it is very hard to tell without having a clearer picture of the turret. And, of course, I don't know what the purpose of the transfer is. I just thought that it was pretty interesting. One thing that I do know, if SOPA/PIPA were law, these videos wouldn't exist.
Joseph FetzJan 22, 2012 10:30 PM
DeleteSome excellent notes and observations.
Or, possibly just headed for a rotation at the National Training Center at Ft. Irwin, just east of L.A. You'll know it's getting serious when the pizza deliverers start showing up en masse at certain locations in D.C...
ReplyDeletethat or eric holder is giving them to the drug cartells...
ReplyDeleteThe DC Terrorists are preparing for civil unrest as they are going to devalue the US dollar by about 30% very soon now.
ReplyDeleteI kid you not!
Got Gold?
Probably a National Training Center rotation at Fort Irwin, CA (middle of the Mojave). Every Heavy Brigade in the Army has to go through there... including the Army National Guard who has mostly older equipment.
ReplyDeleteCould also be the pre-positioned stocks from the middle east. That was the equipment that started the war. When the new stuff was shipped out to Iraq through Kuwait (with a nice desert paint-job) they just parked the older stuff out in the desert (at Arifjan).
The word from the transpo guys is that some of the shipping to bring the stuff home in recent months couldn't go through the strait into the Med. Instead they had to ship it through the Indian Ocean and Pacific - to California.
So, it is also possible that this is just those old Iraq Bradley's making their way east to Anniston Army Depot.
On the back of each vehicle will be a bumper number. If the prefix of the number is the same, then they are all part of one unit. If they are all painted the same, then they are more likely all part of one unit.
ReplyDeleteIf there are various bumper number prefixes, or the bumper numbers have been painted out then it is probably just old equipment on its way for upgrade/refurbishment or disassembly and retirement.
If the paint jobs are not all the same, some olive drab, others forest camolflage, others maybe desert tan, then they are likely just old equipment bound either for upgrade or disassembly, DRMO, and probably melt-down.
There is some talk amongst the online "commenters" that these are indeed DRMO. Further, a certain YT commenter (who says he was involved) is stating that these are returned equipment from S. Korea, that they have received the "newish" M2A3 version and have returned these to the US for DRMO at Sierra Army Depot. Who knows if any of this is true? But I do challenge such comments based upon 'Information Security' grounds, because even if this were true, military personnel (as well as contractors) are forbidden from divulging such information to anybody (esp. on a public forum), even if such information is innocuous. As of yet, I have found no DoD statements supporting the "S. Korea returning equip. for newer upgrades" explanation.
DeleteWhat actually caught my attention was the actual number of units, as well as the support equipment (fuel tankers) that was being transferred in accompaniment. This tells me that this is an actual unit of APCs and support vehicles, not a random mix of equipment. Further, I didn't see any other markings other than the itinerary documents affixed to the front of every 10 (roughly) APCs, so they certainly aren't prior service from S. Korea. In fact, the color scheme is more olive drab than any S. Korean Bradleys that I have ever seen (S. Korea favors a tan/green color scheme).
Like I said, I don't know what the purpose of this equipment transfer is, I just thought that it was interesting.
Also, like I said, I didn't see ANY markings on the APCs. Usually, if they are DRMO there will be markings painted on the side indicating such. Usually, the marking will be "D/L" in white spray paint, or some other marking in white spray paint. I didn't see any of that.
DeleteHMMMM
ReplyDelete