Piasecki H-21 "The Flying Banana" in Vietnam War Action

When Vietnam War started the H-21 was the most capable helicopter of US Army. Main reason was the conflit experience that the french had in Algerian War with the type, not only carring troops but also armed with foward firing rockets, machineguns and bombs. The Flying Banana were better in transportation role and the Ch-34 was the main ground attack, one very good combination for French Army Aviation, but not so positive in Vietnam.

     

               

An American H-21 over Rice Paddies in Vietnam 

But also, was the official US evaluations that indicated the H-21 were more likely to survive multiple hits from AA that the H-34, becouse of the fuel tanks (but the lack of maneuverability and performance to ground atack was in fact a true problem). With no better machine,  the experience of arming Piasecki continue with remote guns on the noise and in the doors, and in December1961 they went to Vietnam with Army's 8th and 57th Transportation Companies in support of not very succed ARVN troops, proving that those experiences were wise.

H-21 crew pose with aircraft 034 in Vietnam 1963. A cal.50 in the door.

The first missions in Vietnam were not a problem becouse the Vietcong and NVA were suprised by the use that americans give the helicopter, so meany died or run. But fast they learn to shoot from trees against  H-21 when was in the ground with automatic guns and after they used AA heavy machine guns against vunerable parts like controls, motor and rotors. Guns in doors like 0.30, 0.50 and 7,62mm give protection and fire support but with  more powerfull armament soon they forced the US to use better helicopters and guns.

The Gunship concept was another important role for "The Flying Banana". With an M-60.

Armed with 0.30 and 0.50 fexible guns on the doors, the slow Ch-21 was important giving support to ARVN operations against the Vietcong. But the unprotected control cables and fuel lines proved vulnerable to automatic guns and heavy 12,7 mm AA machine guns. Another problem was the hot weather of South Vietnam in a helicopter design for could weather operations, wich give's to Piasecki poor performance (made for a crew of 20 men only carried 9 when in Vietnam). Dispite this events and also with the loss of an Ch-21 in July 1962 in Laotian - Vietnamese border with the death of 4 aviators, "the flying banana" were the workworse of the Army until 1964 when replaced by Uh-1 and Ch-47. 

The H-21C Cokpit

Most of the times importance of H-21 is not granted. When helicopters were used for transport and MEDEVAC, the french and americans made the operacional use of this machine to Assault and Gunship (also the S-58/ H-34 was used in the same missions), extendend de use of armed helicopters to give the troops close support and mobility that doesn't existed at that time. Other concepts like VERTREP or Howitzer Transportation was also tested operacionally in Vietnam and give a strategy vantage that a General like Giap never understand becouse he doesn't had it.

   

H-21 interior looking forward

It was the airmobile and the gunship concepts of first H-34 and H-21, with their problems and obstacles in Vietnam that bring to the conflit latter helicopters like Chinoock, Huey and Cobra. They made the biggining of what will be know as the "helicopter war" and prove that quick reaction teams "Eagle Flights" were very good to fly pursuit or block the enemy. Flexibility, units working together, shorter reaction time and the survivable concept of the helicopter was tested by this very first pioneers, specially the H-21 "flying banana", and proved to be right in this and other future wars like Afghanistan.  

Another 7,62 mm, this time in rear door


http://books.google.pt/books?id=qh5lffww-KsC&pg=PA30&lpg=PA30&dq=H-21C+Gunship+in+vietnam+war&source=bl&ots=jBJ-I5zqQr&sig=91oJLDIcJcmkW9xNHw7AcXoJu7g&hl=pt-PT&sa=X&ei=XcpvU6SGMsax0QWq8IDgBA&ved=0CFsQ6AEwBTgK#v=onepage&q=H-21C%20Gunship%20in%20vietnam%20war&f=false

A H-21 with a 105 mm gun. This was one of the first helicopters capable of carring heavy cargo

http://vietnam.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/h21shawnee-operation.html
 

Avery nice image of H-21 in South Vietnam 1963  carring troops

http://www.historynet.com/ch-21-shawnee-the-flying-banana.htm

U.S. door gunner in a "Shawnee" Gunship looks for a suspect vietcong who run for a foxhole in Mekong River. Jan. 17, 1964 in Mekong Delta when Army provided support during a ARVN offensive

http://msuweb.montclair.edu/~furrg/Vietnam/pbhelicopter.html

One of the first actions in Vietnam war of H-21 were give high mobility for ARVN troops

http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2012/05/15/photographer-collection-horst-faas-vietnam/5689/

A U.S. crewman runs from a crashed  Ch-21 "Shawnee in December 11 of 1962 near the Village of Ca Mau in South Vietnam

http://www.helis.com/stories/shufly.php

http://www.helis.com/types/gunship.php

Air mobility was first tested in a large scale on Vietnam by H-21

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_helicopter

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piasecki_H-21

PFC Gleen W. Rehkamp with a 0.30 M1919 in a Ch-21 from 57th Transportation Company (a pioneer unit in the use of armed helicopters in Vietnam) in first January 1963


https://sobchak.wordpress.com/2012/06/ 

PFC Gleen W. Rehkamp Door Gunner again in 15 April 1963

http://avaxnews.net/disgusting/Horst_Faas_Vietnam_War-era_Photographer.html

O Mito de Kalashnikov e da Ak-47.

A ideia de que a AK-47 é uma arma revolucionária criada do nada por obra do "espirito-santo" de Mikhail  Kalashnikov é completamente ridículo e figura como um dos mitos mais estapafúrdios no que diz respeito à projecção e construção de armas. Ao contrário da PPSh-41(http://world.guns.ru/smg/rus/pca-41-e.html) que advém de armas russas e foi projectada exclusivamente por soviéticos a Ak-47 não foi assim.

A Sudaev AS-44. A primeira tentativa dos Russos fabricarem um fuzil de assalto da STG-44. Infelizmente Sudaev faleceu em 1945 e não pode concluir o seu trabalho.

Centenas de obras e fontes bibliográficas (como David, Miller. "20th Century Guns". Pag.163,264. London, Greenwich Editions) e páginas de internet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AK-47) referem que o inicio da demanda dos soviéticos por um fuzil de assalto comça não em Mikhail  Kalashnikov mas sim nos primeiros modelos da MKB-42 (http://world.guns.ru/assault/de/mkb42-h-e.html) mais tarde melhorada e chamada de STG-44. Antes da entrada em cena do inventor da AK, surgem a Sudaev e a Tovarek, testadas respectivamente em 1944 e 1945.

Tovarek 7,62 fuzil experimental, testado no final de 1945.

Entretanto o mais novo Sargento de tanques soviético Mikhail  Kalashnikov ferido em combate em 1942, recupera dos ferimentos e decide projectar uma sub- metralhadora, que apesar de não ser aprovada é verificado o talento de um jovem que sem formação específica consegue projectar uma arma bastante complexa (o desenho não é aprovado devido à complexidade) e é enviado para continuar os seus estudos no NIPSMVO. Aí projecta a sua segunda arma desta vez uma carabina semi-automática derivada de outra que conhece bem, a M1fornecida pelos EUA (http://world.guns.ru/rifle/autoloading-rifles/usa/m1-carbine-e.html). Apesar de o seu projecto não ser novamente aprovado servirá de base para a Ak-46, escolhida entre outros 5 (de 16) projectos para protótipo de produção.

O primeiro protótipo da Kalashnikov de 1946 chamado de AK-46. Só aqui o então sargento Mikhail entra na contenda.

Dos testes levados a cabo e com a AS-44 a servir de base de comparação (a mesma tinha parado o desenvolvimento após morte de Sudaev) é escolhida a Ak-46, junto com a AB-46 de Bulkin e a AD de Dementiev. A AK acaba rejeitada pois era inferior às duas outras armas em questão mas Kalashnikov usa os contactos e apoios que tem na comissão avaliadora da NIPSMVO (que já o conheciam dos trabalhos efectuados entre 1943 e 1946), para influenciar a revisão dos resultados e obter "luz verde" para continuar o desenvolvimento da AK-46. 

Bulkin AB-46 fuzil de assalto experimental. Mais outra arma que influenciou  bastante o modelo final da AK-47.

Após o falhanço da AK-46, Kalashnikov e o seu parceiro de trabalho Zaitzev, decidem refazer o desenho e usar soluções técnicas de várias armas, incluindo as que estavam em competição (como a AB-46), mas também de outros fuzis de assalto como a AS-44 de Sudaev e inclusive da Browning e Remington model 8 rifle. Refira que este tipo de acções era encorajada pela doutrina soviética pois não existia propriedade intelectual singular mas sim propriedade colectiva pertencente ao "povo" onde neste caso o valor principal era conseguir o melhor fuzil de assalto para as forças armadas da URSS.   

Basicamente o primeiro modelo experimental de produção da Ak-47 de 1947. Para resolver o problema de pouca eficácia em disparo automático recorreu-se ao fuzil soviético TKB-415.

Novos testes mostraram-se inconclusivos entre a Kalashnikov, Bulkin TKB-415 e Dementiev KBP-410. Apesar de apenas as duas ultimas preencherem todos os requisitos da comissão, será escolhida a AK-47 principalmente devido à sua alta durabilidade.  A produção começaria em 1948 em IZHEVSK com  a adopção em 1949 pelas Forças Armadas Soviéticas.

O modelo fabricado entre 1949 e 1951. A segunda versão viria a incorporar muitas soluções de outro fuzil soviético de nome Koborov TKB-517.

Os problemas de produção acabariam por ser resolvidos novamente recorrendo a outra arma Korobov-TKB-517 (testada a meio da década de 1950), mais leve, barata de produzir e com melhor desempenho em disparo automático  ( http://world.guns.ru/assault/rus/korobov-tkb-517-e.html), sendo que apesar de melhor arma foi preterida pela AK/AKM com a qual os soldados soviéticos já estavam familiarizados.

A TKB-517. Viria a solucionar muitos dos problemas de produção, peso e fogo em automático da Ak-47. Apresentada aos soviéticos em meados dos anos 50, era superior em práticamente tudo à Kalashnikov mas acabou preterida pelo facto de as tropas já estarem habituadas à AK/AKM e possivelmente por razões também políticas.

Concluindo, Mikhail  Kalashnikov teve o mérito de juntar um conjunto de soluções de uma amalgama de armas e criar um dos maiores fuzis de assalto de todos os tempos. Agora é visível que o seu trabalho foi altamente influenciado por outros fuzis de assalto nomeadamente pela versão Soviética da STG-44 (a AS-44 de Sudaev, que se não falecesse se calhar a historia teria sido outra), a própria M1 americana e armas da concorrência como a TKB-415 e a KBP -410. Mesmo outras soluções foram copiadas das Browning e Remington e após a arma já estar em produção recureu-se à superior TKB-517 para resolver muitos dos problemas encontrados quer no fabrico mas também da operação da AK-47.

A MKB-42 alemã. A captura desta arma alemã ainda em 1942 foi um dos grandes impulsionadores da demanda dos soviéticos por um fuzil de assalto. Mais tarde a STG-44 seria praticamente adaptada e produzida por Sudaev. 

Mikhail Kalashnikov terá sempre o seu lugar na história ao conseguir projectar e construir uma arma viável e duradoura, superior neste aspecto às dos adversários e capaz de convencer a comissão a propósito de um fuzil de assalto resistente em detrimento da pontaria sobretudo em disparo automático. Agora, inspirou-se e copiou muitas soluções de outras armas e trabalhou com uma equipa da qual se destaca também Zaitzev que parece ter perdido o seu local na historia com o mito revolucionário da criação de Kalashnikov. 

Mas tudo começou com as capturas da MKB-42/STG-44 e com o fornecimento de milhares de M1 pelos EUA.

Depois da captura das armas alemãs seria a carabina M1 a influenciar bastante os soviéticos. Aliás, a primeiro carabina semi-automática projectada por Kalashnikov foi baseada quase totalmente nesta arma e mesmo a AK-47 teria soluções desta e de outras armas como a Remington 8. 

http://world.guns.ru/assault/rus/ak-akm-e.html

IPM1 Abrams da 24th Division - "Desert Shield" November of 1990 - Saudi Arabia

Everebody makes M1 and M1A1 Abrams. And a IPM1? Hell, that's a good ideia! 

So, with a M1 from Hasegawa i make one of the first IPM1 Abrams of the US Army 24th infantry division in "Desert Shield" Saudi Arabia. This was the 1ºst heavy division to went to Persian Golf still equipped with older M1 and IPM1.

The IPM1 Abrams is very similar to M1 and the only visible diference is the new rear storage in the tower (the others are the reinforced suspension and a new turret armour). Some of the IPM1 had the retainer ring, the external APU  and other don't.

I made the conversion of the rear tower with Roco Models acessories and the suspension and blindage with plastic card. It is a Tank that never figth in "Desert Storm" becouse when the operations started all the M1 and IPM1 were retired. Only the M1A1 with a 120mm gun see action.

The pain work was from Revell and Tamya. I used Huile oil and Winton dry pastel to make him older and the dust on the whels. Mark's are from hasegawa sheet.

Desert land were make from hearth and stuff like sodio, in the top of modeler paste by Jovi. The paint were with Heller an Humbrol (bether fot this type of soil) and Tamya spray for the final touch. Then more dry pastel and some litle rocks from the garden.

An easy conversion and a fine job. The IPM1 that not went to war is done. Another project were closed and there's other to came. Finaly the photos and go to the net.

http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a241240.pdf

Kettenkrad (hasegawa 1/72) & 8.8cm Raketenwerfer 43 (Puppchen) scratch. Ardenas 1944

I see this idea with a Dragon Kit 1/35 and made it with a hasegawa 1/72. The Puppchen is scratch.

 The cenario is a American Soldier in Ardenes 1944 see the bike with the gun, left by the german with motor problems.

There is no Puppchen in 1/72 so i made it with plastic and other stuff.

 Soldier is from Revell and there are also components in Kettenkrad from Roco.

Harvard MK.IV

One of my last criations: From a Kit of ocidental 1/100 T-6G Texan.

 I made a Harvard MK.IV from AB-7 TETE Mozambique 1964

 It was used by Portugal in the Colonial War that ended in 1974

Used for close support, more than 257 T6 in Angola, Guine and Mozambique from 1961 to 1974

 

It was used also in Portugal for 1º st instruction 

Caspian Sea. Power of the nations.

When everybody his worried about Ukraine, in the Caspian Sea another "war" is taking place.  It is a little bit far from Occidental World so Media is not worried about the territory problems and the proposed division about the area in the water that witch country will administrated in future.   So is important to see how this nations are working to defend their territory and winch ships are include in this very important work. So, let´s forget Crimea and talk about  the Caspian Sea situation.

The Caspian Sea is strategic place for the countries of the region. Main reason is oil and natural gas (and Caviar of course), and for Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan the control of the maritime routes are the most important were an imagine line gives to the nations power to certain areas.  After decades of abandon the Caspian Navy's are today in great expansion, with all the nations buying and making new ships, not only the normal patrol but also corvettes and frigates (Iran said that have a destroyer but the tonnage is from a frigate). There is a danger of the number and size of  boats increase in the follow years so the situations is far from be pacific when small navy´s are gradually defiant the big ones and if the propose division in future will be a reality it is possible that the clash between several countries will increase.    

Like we can see in down image Soviet Union had important research facility´s call "Facility Kaspiysk", were the famous "Caspian Monster" was tested for the first time, before went to Baltic.  Not only the Ekranoplane were used extensively but also missiles, speedboats, hovercrafts and also hydrofoils, because the very good conditions of "one big lake" gives to decades of prototypes unique conditions. Only Iran was an outsider but with Iran X Iraq war there was no time and interest in Russian experiments and probably the contraband of military equipment were the most important for Khomeini´s regime.  

It's true that Russia said that Ekranoplane is a "dead idea" and there is no plans for a future resurrection, but with money from oil an gas, and with the situation in Baltic and Black Sea, everything is possible.  The idea is very good and all the research is made with also a positive service evaluation  so is just a matter of time to see at least one of them near the water in great speed, firing several missiles or leaving troops near the coast.

Russian Fleet

Russia have the most powerful fleet in the Caspian Sea. The Flagship is the Tatarstan (two Gepard class frigate but is possible that more go into service) that is the one of the bigger's ships in that waters (the other is the Iran destroyer/frigate), arm with  SA-N-4 and SS-N-25, one 76,2mm and two 30 mm guns, more torpedoes and anti-submarine rockets. Other units include two Gunboats, four missile boats (three Buyan corvette's with at least four under construction, armed with one 100mm and two 30mm guns and Igla M/SS-N-27 in a VLS launcher or other similar equipment),  three Tarantul corvettes ( SS-22/25, SA-N-5, one 76,2mm and two 30mm guns) and three Matka class missile boats (SS-25 and similar guns to other classes). 

Gepard class frigate

Three Sonya minesweeper, one Dyugon landing craft and four Serna hovercrafts complete the fleet. The Headquarter is in Kaspiysk and there are also helicopters (Kamov/Mi) and vehicles (BTR/BMP/BRDM). The troops are three infantry, one reconnaissance and one artillery battalion and a ECM battalion. Is official name is Caspian Flotilla and was created in 1722 by Peter the Great and had great importance in all the wars that Russia and USSR fight since those times.  

Buyan corvette

Russia are working hard in the modernization of the Caspian Flotilla and it is possible that by 2020 at least 16 new ships  will arrived. The Navy Commander Vladimir Vysotsky said to Russia Today that Moscow will also deployed coastal missile systems in the coast and is making a better port in Makhachkala to make two units in the same fleets (the other is in Astrakhan in the Volga Delta).  

Main missions of the fleet is of course give the security to Oil an Gás companies and provide safe navegation in Russian waters. We can see the good health of the flotilla (some said that ships are old but for my they make their job like de old monitors in Beasilian navy) in exercices like the one made in 2011 and there are plans to another "join venture" with Iran in a major naval exercices.

At least there are two intenctions: First is to advise ocidental nations (like US and Israel) that the Caspian Sea is a place of  Russian (and Iran to) influence and that Caspian countries now to talk and resolve ther problems. Second, that when the area is running to re-arm their armed forces, Russia is still the powerfull nation in the Caspian Sea.   

Gun Boats project  1204 "Bumblebee"

http://www.rferl.org/content/caspian_states_on_course_for_naval_arms_race/24278751.html

http://www.eurasianet.org/node/67196

http://rt.com/politics/caspian-fleet-missiles-warships/

Dyugon Class Landing Craft

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matka_class_missile_boat

Serna class 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarantul_class_corvette

Tarantul corvette

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buyan_class_corvette

Zubr Class

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gepard_class_frigate

Sonya minesweeper

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buyan_class_corvette

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caspian_Flotilla

Matka Class Missile Boat

http://survincity.com/2010/05/naval-forces-in-the-caspian-sea/

Azerbaijani Navy

The Azery Navy is the second large in the Caspian Sea. Tradition of this now member Azerbaijani Armed Forces is back in to 6 August 1918 when was boarn but after the rise of Soviet Union the six ships were transfered for their jurisdiction and only in July 2002 started to operate full independent of Russian Navy (after de colapse of USSR the navy made the missions together with Russia who gives the necessary support and maintenance).

Today is independent navy with 5 000 man, 36 ships and 6 aircraft, based near Baku (Wolf Naval Base in Baku´s Bay) and is lead by Vice-Admiral Shahin Sultanov since 2011 (the first leader was Captain Rafig Asgarov) in the Azeri's control of their territorial waters.

Probably the most strange ship use by this navy is the Triton Submarine (four of them but it is not clear witch type and for what missions). The bigger ship is one Petya classe frigate (ARN Gusar modernize by USA and Turkey) and the rest area Patrol Boats (5 Stenka torpedo boats, 3 Osa missile boats, 2 AB25, 2 Svetlyak and 1 Point class cutter) and minesweepers (2 Syonia and 5 Yevgenya).

Very important are the landing crafts (6 Polnocny) becouse the Azeri navy has one of the best special forces (641st Special Warfare Naval Unit), similar to Turkish Navy (who coperate with them in the creation of the unit) and with training give by US Navy SEAL and USA Blackwater maritime division.

Osa class missile boat

The Naval Aviation has three Casa CN-235, two Eurocopter Dauphin and one Eurocopter Super Puma. It is possible that like Azerbaijani Air Force and Army some of the ex. Soviet material Kamov's, Mi-8 and Mi-24 will be in active in navy's units.

America donated three power motor boats and there is an agreement to provide more tecnical support to Azeri warships. The US Military are also provided advanced laser marksmanship device and are training for the use of the equipment. Turkish Armed Forces are expanding the cooperation betwen two countries in exercices like the one in 2006 witch the military's clean mines and against terrorist forces in a very good practice of maritime and sea operations.   

Stenka and Yevgenya class Minesweeper

Moscow is not pleased with the new ocidental friends, so when Azerí's said that in 2014 they will build local new ships (Navy power modernization program by 2020) and will operade from a new naval base next year (the plan is like the Russians to had several diferent divisions in north and south), Kremlin sell 75 Millions Dollars of "Uran E" missiles to equiped the boats (and it is possible that other material will folow).

But Azarbeijan is also purchase missiles "Barak" from Israel and gunboats from Turkish, so voices like from Iran Navy Commander Habibollah Sayari told journalist Sara Rajabova from Azernews that "some countries are interested in disturbing the peace of the region, and that some neighboring countries witj other states area taking steps to toward violating peace in Caspian Sea.    

1400M Grif Class

http://englishrussia.com/2013/11/04/soviet-midget-submarine-triton/3/

Sonya Class Minesweeper

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijani_Navy

Older ASW boat "Araz" a Turkish AB-34, now a Patroal Boat

http://valdaiclub.com/defense/41620.html

Petya Class Corvette

http://rusnavy.com/nowadays/concept/opposite/azerbaijaniannavy.htm?print=Y

Two Polnocny landing Crafts

http://worldmilitaryintel.blogspot.pt/2013/05/blog-post_8222.html

Iran Caspian Fleet

With a force of  90 vessels in the sea (and a plan for more 75 missile ships to build in the area in the next years), Tehran have the same retoric like in the Persian Golf. Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayari talk about Iran's force like was the most powerfull in Caspian Sea but it is not true that they control good all the 20% share of the sea.

For decades Iran atention was to war with Iraq and then to US expansion in Ormuz and Persian Golf (and it is their first attention). Only in the last years the rich oil and gás reserves and the navy's re-boarn in Caspian Sea made the islamic nation look with another atention to the region. The Hamzeh (an old yatch) was been equiped with C-802 anti-ship missiles an deployed in Anzali (an ancient training base but now home of the fleet) with a new Moudge class frigate (SSM and SAM missiles) launch in 2013 (more 6 are under construction but only one or two will go to Caspian Sea). 

Sina Class Missile Boat (a made copy of La Combattante II) Paykan was also to Caspian and at least more three units are seen in Naval Base in Anzali. There are plans to launch some units of the Ghadir Class midget submarines and more patrol boats but at this time there are only see some gunboats similiar to Chinese Hainan class  

There is one force of Minesweeper (probably some units of Riazi class) and Navy Aviation presence are ASH-3D and AB-212 ASW (Mi-17 it is possible too) but in small numbers (the most of them are in Persian Golf). No landing crafts or hovercrafts have been see but it is easy make them come (or build) into these waters.  

It is always difficult to now what forces have iran In Caspian Sea from the "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_of_the_Army_of_the_Guardians_of_the_Islamic_Revolution". They have no regular base in Anzali or near but ther presence is garanted becouse they are everywere, with Thondar, Seraj missile boats, Tir and Zolfaghar torpedo boats, Zodiac commando boats and Boghamar Patrol Boats with helicopters like the Mi-17( in 2007 the Iran governement split the areas of action to IRIAN in Caspian Sea and Ormuz, since the IRGCN have the Persian Golf, but nothing is garanted in this islamic republic).

Regular exercices are made in Caspian Sea by Iran Navy (with the participation of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution), but most important are with Russia like the one made in the last week of June 2013 ( when Iran send 10 ships to Astrakhan and with Russia's fleet made joint exercices).For now Tehran only can give some land and sea manouvers in response to the rase of naval power of other nations, but in future with US and Turkish influence in the area, it is normal that the number of ships and man get bigger. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandar-e_Anzali

The ancient yatch hamzeh

http://en.trend.az/regions/iran/2165143.html

http://www.eurasianet.org/node/67196

http://rt.com/news/submarines-caspian-iran-oil-123/

http://en.trend.az/regions/iran/2165143.html

Kazakhstan Navy

The Kazakhstan Navy is one of the small navy´s in the Caspian Sea, with a force of 3 000 man and 14 to 17 ships, but it is truth that was the last one established in 7 May of 2007 in Aktau. In 2011 a naval aviation base was open (612th) with 2 Su-27 and some helicopters (MI-8/Mi-24).

It is only seen gunboats in the fleet (there's a reference to a missile boat name Kasakhstan but the one with the number "250" have rockets), 4 Almaty class patrol boats, 1 Dauntless, 5 Guardian vessel, 2 Grif patrol craft and 2 Turk vessels. Plans are made to buy patrol missiles boats from Koreia (3 Chamsuri gun boats were receved in 2006 with 032-033 numbers) and 2 Minesweeper to Russia.  

 Kazakhstan is one of the two so call  "Navies of landlocked Countries" (no acess to sea) of the Caspian Sea (the other is the Azarbeijan), what makes a problem to buy a vessel. The only way of make a foreign boat to go pass the Caspian is by the Volga (like the Azeri's US cutter) with aproved by the Russia. Then, more that the patrol boats (like future PKX or Yoon-Young - HA class from South Korea) may be a problem. 

It is true that this small flotilla is formed for the protection of  economic interests in the Kazakh sector of the Caspian Sea but if the plans made in mid-1990s with bases from the Caspian to Aral Sea (and Lake Balkhash to), only two things are possible: Make the ships local or buy them to Russian's state company's (the deal about boats with USA were cancelled after a sell of Mig-21 to North Korea). 

The Navy Commander Zhandarbek Zhanzakov have great plans for future patrol boats (with Exocet missiles) but so far the ships made local area armed with guns (AA missiles and modern guns are not see) and at least Zenit power plant is making more huls. There's no other way when Russia and Iran are not supporters of Kazakhstan Navy and America or Europe see this new nation with noo need of boosting cooperation, at least for now.

http://theasiandefence.blogspot.pt/2010/01/kazakhstan-navy-looks-to-buy-south.html

http://www.eurasianet.org/node/65268

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/centralasia/kazak-navy.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamsuri-class_patrol_boat

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navies_of_landlocked_countries

http://en.tengrinews.kz/military/Kazakhstan-to-buy-two-mine-hunters-from-Russia-20807/

http://www.isn.ethz.ch/Digital-Library/Articles/Detail/?lng=en&id=142497

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Forces_of_the_Republic_of_Kazakhstan

http://mod.gov.kz/en/index.php?section=vms

Turkmenistan Navy

A Lightning Class corvette

For years there was no formal Navy in Turkmenistan but a Border Guard Service with arround 700 men and 16 ship. The four missiles Boats (12418 Lightning Class corvettes with 76mm gun, SSM Uran E and SAM Igla with more one to buy in next years becouse it is one of the most heavy armed ships of the Caspian Sea), one Point Class Cutter (ex Point Jackson 82378) and five Kalkan Patrol vessel's. Since 2009 that were made plans for a navy and in 2010 the Naval Institute was created an a naval program until 2015, with aquisition of Ukrainian patrol boats (more like Zhuk class or Stenka but documents refer to Grif and Kalkan M) and Sable Russian Patrol vessel's.

When there's a proximity with Moscow an Tehran (and against the Azerbaijan) chance of getting more equipment is bigger, but for now only Russia can sell modern patrol boats so when the local governement talks about getting Iran's frigates when the islamic republic have only a few in Caspian Sea it is only propaganda of President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov. 

Kalkan Patrol vessel

Only in 10/10/2011 was created in Asgabath the Turkemenistan Navy with the mission of protect the homeland waters of the nation and two YTKB patrol boats made by Turkish in a 55 millions contract were delivered (armed with Oto Melara 40mm gun). In September 2012 the country made ther first naval exercice named Khazar 2012, after a summer of tensionwith Azarbeijan over natural gás field in a contested part of the Caspian Sea. The way that this recent navy is making garanties his policy of neutrality but they now how rich is Caspian Sea (Turkemenistan holds the fourth-larger natural gás reserves in world), so there's a need of a strong group of man and ships (240 millions of dollars to 2015) to have a good neighborliness with other nations in area. But US Department have some interest in the country naval plans and Turkemenistan started becoming interest in 2007 in military cooperation (by Wikileaks) and they receved de EDA Cutter Point Jackson. It is a slow cooperation but in the future and with problems with Russia in Crimeia, who now.

Zhuk class

Port of operations is Turkmenbashi (there area plans for a new base in 2015 with a surveillance radar system) but there's more than 700 km of coast to patrol. Two LCAC class Skat are now in active service and there´s plans for buy more from Russia and made a quiet purchase to Turkey for more eight Tuzla inproved class (one 40mm, two 25mm, two 12,7mm guns and four Teseo missiles). But with all the money spent in boats, personal and plans for a new base, the Turkemenistan Navy is still the more week of the reigion and it is likely that this naval force upgraded can't no match with Azarbeijan.

http://blogs.euobserver.com/paul/2013/04/      

Point Class Cutter (ex Point Jackson 82378)

http://turkishnavy.net/2013/06/06/turkmenistan-makes-another-quiet-purchase-of-warships/

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=131

TCG - Tusla YTKB patrol boat 

http://survincity.com/2011/11/two-russian-boat-lightning-joined-the-navy-of/

TCG - Tusla YTKB patrol boat in Caspian waters

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/centralasia/turkmen-navy.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caspian_Sea

http://www.eurasianet.org/node/62897

Patrol Boat Class Sable

http://www.satrapia.com/news/article/the-first-naval-exercises-of-turkmenistan-in-the-caspian-sea/

http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=2463

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Turkmenistan