Posted on 07/19/2004 12:00:16 AM PDT by SAMWolf
If you post, they will come. :-)
This receipt given to Mary Pickersgill by the U.S. Army shows that she was paid $405.90 for making the Star-Spangled Banner and $168.54 for making a smaller flag. Notes on the reverse by Maj. George Armistead, Fort McHenry's commander, indicate that he received both flags on Aug. 19, 1813.
Courtesy Star-Spangled Banner Flag House and 1812 Museum
Yeah, I seem to attract 'em.
Guess I'll wait in ambush then.
Von Steuben was obviously pretty successful in his efforts. This sounds like my basic training.
Say Hey!
Hiya miss Feather.
coo-coo-cachoo!
*chuckle*
Haven't found any live ones lately.
$405.90 was quite a bit of money in 1812.
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Air Power |
The S-3B Aircraft was originally developed with Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) as its primary mission. Now, the S-3B Aircraft’s role in Carrier Aviation is changing focus. The S-3B Aircraft’s ASW and Mining Warfare missions were deleted by Chief of Naval Operations Message in December 1999. Deconfiguration of aircraft, in compliance with removal of ASW specific equipment, was accomplished in accordance with AFC 284, this change was completed in FY00. The S-3B Aircraft continues to perform a myriad of functions which include, but are not limited to, Anti-Air Warfare, Anti-Surface Warfare (ASUW), Amphibious Warfare, Counter-Targeting, Over-the-Horizon Targeting, Airborne Reconnaissance, and Command and Control. S-3B Aircraft are tasked by the Carrier Battle Group Commanders to provide surface surveillance and intelligence collection, electronic warfare, mine warfare, coordinated search and rescue, and fleet support missions, including air wing tanking.
The sound of its engines are often compared to that of a vacuum cleaner, hence its nickname, the "Hoover." The S-3B Viking is an extremely versatile aircraft, capable of carrying out several missions vital to the carrier battlegroup. The S-3 has a tremendous fuel capacity and efficient engines, which enable it to stay on station extremely long periods of time.
Its impressive surveillance capability consists of a sophisticated ESM (electronic surveillance measures) suite and an inverse-synthetic aperture radar (ISAR). Both of these tools allow the S-3 to collect electronic intelligence invaluable to the battle group. In addition, S-3B "War Hoovers" have also been cleared to carry the AGM-84D Harpoon and AGM-65F Maverick missiles, giving the Viking an anti-surface capability to match its sensors. Finally, because of their high endurance, S-3's are used as tankers, carrying "buddy stores" that enable them to transfer jet fuel in-flight to other aircraft.
The upgrades for the "S3-B Strike Viking"
AN/AGM-32(V2) Maverick Plus System [ECP - NADEP NORIS S3B/008-00] is a new system which will introduce loading, control, targeting and launching capabilities for Maverick Missile delivery to the S-3B aircraft. It will also provide the S-3B with full capability for in-flight control and targeting of the SLAM-ER Missile after it has been launched from another platform. Terminal phase control of the SLAM-ER Missile is through data link with the AN/AWW-13 Extended Range Data Link Pod carried by S-3B targeting and control aircraft. The MPS system will add a new offensive capability to the aircraft. The S-3B "Strike Viking" combines advanced sensors and proven weapon systems to provide a force multiplier to the battle group. With the addition of the Harpoon anti-ship missile, the Viking now has a long range strike capability in the anti surface role. The S-3B is projected to serve the carrier battle group into the year 2015.
Upgrades to the radar, mission computer, communications and navigation suite will support organic reconnaissance capabilities in the littoral regions. Added to the planned airframe structural enhancements, these upgrades will curb obsolescence and ensure an adequate inventory of this essential platform well into the 21st century.
Capabilities being tested provide real time tactical data to units on the ground or onboard ships. In the summer of 1999, Commander Sea Control Wing Atlantic (CSCWL) and Commander Sea Control Wing Pacific (CSCWP) embarked on a joint demonstration of the Viking Surveillance System Upgrade (SSU). The Pacific Wing aircraft was fitted with Ultra High Resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (UHR/SAR) imagery, Joint Tactical Information distribution System (JTIDS) Link-16, Real Time Sensor Data Link (RTSDL) and the AN/AYK-23 Digital Computer. A long range Electro Optical/Infra Red (EO/IR) sensor capable of real time data link to ground and airborne stations was placed in an Atlantic Wing aircraft. The modifications were done at Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), Patuxent River by Veridian contract personnel at Force Aircraft Test Squadron and Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida. This joint effort minimized installation time and cost and maximized visibility.
The prototype S-3B Surface Surveillance Upgrade (SSU) represents years of collaboration between the Sea Control community and the defense industry to provide carrier battle groups an organic, all weather, real-time targeting asset. To a casual observer, it appears identical to every other S-3B Viking in service, but a look inside reveals cutting edge technology at the heart of Time Critical Strike. The new SSU incorporates Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), capable of producing detailed images of land objectives at great distances. Additionally, it has an information systems suite which enables instantaneous information access to warfare commanders, imagery analysts, and strike aircrew. Because the S-3B is carrier based, the SSU alleviates the complexity and time delay of a battle group having to task a national imagery asset to gain targeting information.
US Naval strike warfare relies heavily upon the effective use of precision guided, air-delivered munitions in all environmental conditions. The evolution of the Global Positioning System has yielded accurate and reliable weapons like the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW), which are unaffected by adverse weather conditions and allow aircrew to deliver their payloads at safer distances and altitudes. These weapons, however, are only as accurate as their assigned attack coordinates. The development of platforms that can precisely target enemies on land and pass these target coordinates to airborne strike aircraft in a timely manner is of great interest to the Navy.
During FY97 and FY98, four S-3B Aircraft were modified to employ the AGM-65F Infrared (IR) Maverick Missile. The Maverick modification kits were installed for fleet demonstration project purposes, and presently the IR Maverick Missile is in the Research and Development (R&D) process.
The SSU aircraft's first deployment was with the Abraham Lincoln Battle Group and the Blue Wolves of VS-35. It was flown from the deck of the Lincoln on a journey halfway around the world to NAS Jacksonville by members of VS-24 and VS-35. VS-24 aircrew participated in intense ground training in preparation for flying the SSU in combat operations and are anxious to employ its capabilities. After undergoing some refits and minor maintenance, the jet became an important asset during Carrier Air Wing Eight’s combined COMPTUEX and JTFEX aboard USS Enterprise. The SSU deployed with VS-24 to the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Gulf in 2001.
In FY-00, a new program was begun to develop and integrate a system for the S-3B using information learned from the original proof of concept for aircraft equipment with Maverick Missile systems. This program, identified as the Maverick Plus System (MPS), began initial engineering efforts in the third quarter CY-00 with TECHEVAL conducted during the first quarter of CY01. OPEVAL began during the second quarter CY01 with integration into fleet aircraft begining in the late summer of CY01. Once installed the system is designated as AN/AGM-32B(V2).
Specifications:
Primary Function: Antisubmarine Warfare and Sea Surveillance
Contractor: Lockheed-California Company
Unit Cost: $27 million
Powerplants: Two General Electric TF-34-GE-400B turbofan engines (9,275 pounds of thrust each)
Crew: Four
Dimensions:
Length: 53 feet 4 inches (16 meters)
Wingspan: 68 feet 8 inches (20.6 meters)
Height: 22 feet 9 inches (6.9 meters)
Weight: Max design gross take-off: 52,539 pounds (23,643 kg)
Performance:
Speed: 450 knots (518 mph, 828.8 kph)
Ceiling: 40,000 feet
Range: 2,300+ nautical miles (2,645 statute miles, 4232 km)
Armaments:
Up to 3,958 pounds (1,781 kg) including
AGM-84 Harpoon, AGM-65 Maverick missiles, torpedoes, mines, rockets and bombs.
Let us know as soon as you know.
Germany is pushing their limit with the Poles and should be very careful.
What type of ammo did you use?
Yes, I thought of them, too. Imagine having a Frenchman (one time capitalization in honor of Lafayette),a German and two Poles playing substantial roles in our Revolution. Today we would only have the Poles to count on.
Oh, hadn't thought of that. So the alibi would be "I was just on my way to grandma's house to fix her plumbing and make some potato soup for her".
HotShot wasp spray, full can, repeated ambush and encirclement.
Had to make several passes.
That had to be pretty good money in 1813.
Thanks Johnny. Hope things are going well for you.
LOL. Supressing fire!!! It's times like these you need someone to cover you.
LOL!
More like fire for effect, and the wasps had no idea what to expect or where to look for me from.
Just soaked the crud out of the nests, miracle since they were up inside a box girder of a sort and thus somewhat behind cover.
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