Ship with helicopters @ inland waterway - 2013 MIL

[FISHER01]

To summarize all;

• On 28 January, the Dynamica left Antwerp with 4x AH-64 and 4x CH-47 above deck. Most likely below deck were another 8x AH-64 (not confirmed as such, but most likely as this group has been seen by Elmar being towed towards Coleman Barracks on the 31st).
• On 4 February, the Dynamica left Antwerp with 16x AH-64 (8 above and 8 below deck, as confirmed by CIS)
• But before the 28th, apparently another voyage had already been moved from Antwerp to Coleman Barracks. No confirmation on which ship, on which date, and with how many choppers onboard.

If this first shipment indeed did take place, unnoticed to us all, and if it had the same cargo as the shipment on the 28th (4x CH-47 and 12x AH-64), I get a total of 8x CH-47 and 40x AH-64, which is exactly what Jeroen already predicted on the 28th.

The big question now; did this first voyage indeed take place, and how many helicopters were actually carried - so do we have to prepare for another dark, cold and windy night standing on some bridge in Zeeland, or can we stay home?

if you look at the history of Dynamica you see: it arrived Manheim on 24 end dept 26. it is possible this was the first shipment.

[michel N]

When looking at my pics of today's transport, I noticed that 6 Apaches had their exhausts facing up, and 2 had their exhaust facing backwards. Also clearly visible on the first pic of Jeroen. Why the difference?

[Edwin]

When looking at my pics of today's transport, I noticed that 6 Apaches had their exhausts facing up, and 2 had their exhaust facing backwards. Also clearly visible on the first pic of Jeroen. Why the difference?

Compared to the 'old' backwards exhaust, the 'new' upturned exhaust on the Apache will throw the exhaust into the rotor wash, dispersing it more thoroughly and over a wider area, which makes them less visible to infra-red heat seaking SAMs. In a few years this will be standard on all US Army Apaches, but priority was giving to the aircraft that got sent on deployment.

BTW; also got the confirmation that Monday's shipment was the last one.

Edwin

[cis]

About 1 hour ago the Dynamica passed Lampertheim, but continued towards Mannheim/Worth. It looks like it is first going to drop off the cars on the 2nd barge before returning to Lampertheim to unload the choppers.

[Sjoerd]

Unfortunately this is correct. any idea jow long this will take?

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[cis]

No, I don't know how long it will stay moored in Mannheim. It still is moored there now.
I think it will be 1 - 1:15h travel time back to Lampterheim.
I will keep you all informed on this forum.

Are you in the area now?

[SF-25 piloot]

Im in the area, saw the dynamica passing in the morning.
It's very quiet here...

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[cis]

Any movements or anything to see from the previous shipments of helicopters at Coleman Barracks?

[SF-25 piloot]

There are 2 apaches outsite and ive seen 3 inside a hangar.
All unreadable.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[cis]

After some hours of no AIS signal received (marinetraffic), there is a signal again so I expect the Dynamica to leave its dock in Mannheim shortly.

[cis]

Just left the port in Mannheim, but traveling further south !

[mungo74]

Because of the high water, landing at the normaly position was unable. Next Stop is Woerth near Karlsruhe.

[perry dirkx]

Because of the high water, landing at the normaly position was unable. Next Stop is Woerth near Karlsruhe.

The next stop at Woerth is the next schedueled stop every time as helicopters were offloaded at Lampertheim.
As far as I know the stop this afternoon at Mannheim-Rheinau isn't, but looking at the satelite option in Marinetrafic.com,
some John Deere's are clearly visible at the offloading point. The question is, were helicopters offloaded there as well, as they need the space for the returnload from Woerth back to the Netherlands....

Perry

... Where is my real time spy satelite?

[Sjoerd]

I've just come back from our hunt. Unfortunately none were onloaded in Mannheim, nor did this vessel make a stop (the AIS-signal was lost). We tracked it near Altrip (going south), with all 8 Apaches still on the deck.

We also noted 2 Apaches at Coleman. One of them was (xx-xxx)97.

HTH!

Cheers,

[cis]

The Apaches were off-loaded (near Mannheim) south of Altrip.

They will be transported to Coleman within the next weeks. I will try to keep you all updated.