Captured Chinooks in Afghanistan
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Captured Chinooks in Afghanistan
Recent media photos show captured CH-47s (Boeing 234s?) in non-military colours. Are they civilian owned and operated or military owned and operated or a mix of both?
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/b...stan-3dbzhflgk
if this is the image your referring to its not a Chinook it's a CH46 Sea Knight. Not seeing any markings and it may have belonged to the Afghanistan Air Force?
if this is the image your referring to its not a Chinook it's a CH46 Sea Knight. Not seeing any markings and it may have belonged to the Afghanistan Air Force?
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...in-afghanistan
The U.S. State Department has confirmed that seven CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters, also colloquially known as "Phrogs," belonging to its Air Wing have been rendered inoperable and abandoned in Afghanistan as part of the ongoing evacuation effort. This non-combatant evacuation operation, or NEO, could very well be the last major mission ever for any Sea Knight belonging to the U.S. government, with the State Department already in the process of divesting its entire fleet.
In addition, the Pentagon says that this NEO could be the second largest in American military history, the other being the evacuation of Americans and others from South Vietnam in 1975. As The War Zonehas already reported, there is evidence that at least one of the State Department's now-abandoned Sea Knights in Afghanistan, which it originally obtained second-hand from the U.S. Marine Corps, took part in both operations.
US ARMYA US State Department CH-46E Sea Knight with US civil registration code N38TU. There is evidence that points to the possibility that this helicopter, then in service with the US Marine Corps, took part in Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Americans and others from South Vietnam in 1975, and then also helped get people from the US Embassy in Kabul to nearby Hamird Karzai International Airport on Aug. 15, 2021.
"The Department left seven CH-46 helicopters behind in Afghanistan which were rendered inoperable," a State Department official, speaking on background, told The War Zone. "These helicopters were already being phased out of the Department’s inventory and were slated for eventual destruction due to age and supportability issues."
In addition, the Pentagon says that this NEO could be the second largest in American military history, the other being the evacuation of Americans and others from South Vietnam in 1975. As The War Zonehas already reported, there is evidence that at least one of the State Department's now-abandoned Sea Knights in Afghanistan, which it originally obtained second-hand from the U.S. Marine Corps, took part in both operations.
US ARMYA US State Department CH-46E Sea Knight with US civil registration code N38TU. There is evidence that points to the possibility that this helicopter, then in service with the US Marine Corps, took part in Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Americans and others from South Vietnam in 1975, and then also helped get people from the US Embassy in Kabul to nearby Hamird Karzai International Airport on Aug. 15, 2021.
"The Department left seven CH-46 helicopters behind in Afghanistan which were rendered inoperable," a State Department official, speaking on background, told The War Zone. "These helicopters were already being phased out of the Department’s inventory and were slated for eventual destruction due to age and supportability issues."
The Iranians will probably get them and have them rebuilt in a few months. They have extensive capabilities in keeping aircraft from the1970s in serviceable flying condition. I would expect to see most, if not all of the former Afghan Airforce back in the air in IRIAF colors.
The Iranians will probably get them and have them rebuilt in a few months. They have extensive capabilities in keeping aircraft from the1970s in serviceable flying condition. I would expect to see most, if not all of the former Afghan Airforce back in the air in IRIAF colors.
cheers
Why have these and the rest of the Afghan Air Force aircraft not been torched? Even if they are rendered 'unflyable' they've presented the Taliban with a vast amount of valuable spares and parts to swamp the world markets with, quite apart from the propaganda points they score by parading this vastly. And if the vast stores of spares remain intact what's to stop Iran od otheres offering support to fix them up again?
Why have these and the rest of the Afghan Air Force aircraft not been torched? Even if they are rendered 'unflyable' they've presented the Taliban with a vast amount of valuable spares and parts to swamp the world markets with, quite apart from the propaganda points they score by parading this vastly. And if the vast stores of spares remain intact what's to stop Iran od otheres offering support to fix them up again?
https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/uzb...ay-11630315800
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Spose they cut the looms & removed the guts of the avionics. Oh and the wipers of course!
What an incredible loss of coin.
When the US military turned OFF the mains and sneaked out of Bagram Airfield in the middle of the night in early July without notifying their Afghan partners the local looters quickly followed.
The hundreds of abandoned armoured vehicles were a bit hard to sneak off with I'm guessing. And the keys were taken by the thoughtful departing troops.
https://apnews.com/article/bagram-af...251aaaa167e623
On the other hand it was nice of Uncle Joe to ensure the Taliban were gifted a fully working Kabul airport infrastructure at midnight on August 30.
PS. I'm just an old Aussie boomer, no skin in the game.
Last edited by SLFstu; 1st Sep 2021 at 14:59. Reason: added bit about vehicle keys