Article

2007-09-24 Iraq

Alaska troops train for war with Iraqis and Indians

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Posted by john frum 2007-09-24 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11130 views ] Top

#1 WOW, I hadn't heard much of our brothers in arms up there in that part of the country, I hope their weather adaptation is sound, for the diametrically opposed temperatures and climate conditions greeting them, will say the least; be a tempest in a teapot!

Posted by smn 2007-09-24 03:36|| 2007-09-24 03:36|| Front Page Top

#2 For the Indian troops at least, the climate won't be a problem... their Siachen base is at 20,000 ft in the Himalaya.

Posted by john frum 2007-09-24 06:53|| 2007-09-24 06:53|| Front Page Top

#3 The Indians do a lot of their work up in the Himalayas above the snow line, interdicting Pakistani jihadis attempting to cross the line of control, smn. It's the Iraq expats who are more likely to be troubled by unexpected frostbite, I'd think.

Posted by trailing wife 2007-09-24 07:01|| 2007-09-24 07:01|| Front Page Top

#4 Ladakh, Indian Kashmir... near the Chinese border

Posted by john frum 2007-09-24 07:13|| 2007-09-24 07:13|| Front Page Top

With the peaks of the Karakoram range in the background, a group of Indian troops cling to an ice wall during high-altitude training

Posted by john frum 2007-09-24 07:16|| 2007-09-24 07:16|| Front Page Top

Indian soldiers pause by a glacial stream as they return to base camp following their tour of duty at higher elevations

Soldiers on patrol near India's Forward Logistics Base

Posted by john frum 2007-09-24 07:26|| 2007-09-24 07:26|| Front Page Top

Indian soldiers check their weapons outside a shelter at the Forward Logistics Base. Siachen Glacier stretches away behind them

A view of the 75-km long Siachen glacier from the cockpit of an Indian air force helicopter

Posted by john frum 2007-09-24 07:29|| 2007-09-24 07:29|| Front Page Top

#8 GREAT PICTURES (as usual from you) John!

Thank you so much.

Posted by Mullah Richard 2007-09-24 09:02|| 2007-09-24 09:02|| Front Page Top

#9 Best Comments Section Photo Essay Award!

Posted by Excalibur 2007-09-24 09:09|| 2007-09-24 09:09|| Front Page Top

#10 Most of the Siachen photos are from TIME

Posted by john frum 2007-09-24 09:14|| 2007-09-24 09:14|| Front Page Top

#11 I gotta hand it to John Frum, he is totally priceless on just about anything that has to do with India.

Hail John Frum!

Posted by Mike N. 2007-09-24 09:18|| 2007-09-24 09:18|| Front Page Top

#12 It's not just a job. It's an adventure.

Posted by Ebbang Uluque6305 2007-09-24 12:05|| 2007-09-24 12:05|| Front Page Top

#13 Glacier goggles, overwhites, and 7.62mm firing long guns.... what's not to like? Anyone ID the manufacturer of that towed artillery piece? Note the helo blade and men walking on PSP. Thank you Mr. Frum, most excellent indeed!

Posted by Besoeker 2007-09-24 12:38|| 2007-09-24 12:38|| Front Page Top

#14 Swedish Bofors FH77B 155mm Howitzers

Photos from 1999 Kargil War. They are blasting Pakistani positions. According to Nawaz Sharif, they wiped out most of the Pak Northern Light Infantry with their salvos...

Posted by john frum 2007-09-24 13:05|| 2007-09-24 13:05|| Front Page Top

#15

The 155mm Bofors aims towards Tiger Hill.

Indian soldiers raise their flag atop the 18000 ft Tiger Hill in Kashmir after recapturing it from Pakistani forces

Posted by john frum 2007-09-24 13:13|| 2007-09-24 13:13|| Front Page Top

#16 Sharif refuted Musharrafs claims that international pressure over Kargil had demoralised him. "It is an interesting claim... I was not demoralised by international pressure.... first, he begged me for a ceasefire and then bade me farewell at the Chaklala airbase for Washington."

Sharif said he came to know about India recapturing Tiger Hill from Pakistani troops after his first round of meeting with the then US president Bill Clinton.

"You have lost everything already, now what should I talk about," Sharif claimed to have told Musharraf during a telephone call from the US.

Posted by john frum 2007-09-24 13:14|| 2007-09-24 13:14|| Front Page Top

#17 Musharrif is still losing things. Now he's lost most of the Tribal Areas to the taliban/aq. Must be the worst general in the pak army. No wonder he's President!

Posted by Old Patriot">Old Patriot 2007-09-24 14:06|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]">[http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/] 2007-09-24 14:06|| Front Page Top

#18 Thank you Mr. Frum!

Posted by Besoeker 2007-09-24 14:09|| 2007-09-24 14:09|| Front Page Top

#19 I think that the Indians use the Aerospatiale SA-315B "Lama" helicopter up there in the high altitude theater of operations in Kashmir. It is basically an Alouette II airframe with an Alouette III engine and rotor system. No gingerbread. It is a stripped down model. Just the basics. Nylon mesh seats, no extras, as the extras take away from payloads at 5500 meters, where they operate. Hell of a high altitude machine, where the air up there is rare. Here is a link to the particulars of the machine.

Posted by Alaska Paul">Alaska Paul 2007-09-24 14:12|| 2007-09-24 14:12|| Front Page Top

#20 Thanks John from all your West Coast Fans! Pleaze Keep edumacting us.. Fantastic pics

heh al-Aska Paul long time no see,

I think Denali and the Alaska Range in the dead of Winter would give the Indians a run for their training money!!

Posted by Red Dawg">Red Dawg 2007-09-24 18:48|| 2007-09-24 18:48|| Front Page Top

#21 Hello, Red Dawg! Yep, the upper slopes of Denali would be a good training ground, from 15 to 20,000 ft altitude. Only trouble is that the National Park Service would fight it tooth and nail, heh heh.

Posted by Al Aska Paul, Resident Imam">Al Aska Paul, Resident Imam 2007-09-24 20:53|| 2007-09-24 20:53|| Front Page Top

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