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Photos © by David L. Smith,
formerly: 3 Bn, 36th Inf, 3AD |
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IRAN and the 3rd ARMORED DIVISION
-- A NUCLEAR CONNECTION --
An Irony of History
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Iranian military personnel are shown (in 2nd and 3rd photos below) mingling
with 3AD troops after being bused for discussions and a live-fire
demonstration of the Davy Crockett nuclear launcher. On this
occasion two, of course, dummy rounds were fired. The year was
1965 and the location was the U.S. Army's Hohenfels training
area in what was then southeastern West Germany. In the top photo,
3AD soldiers from 3 Bn, 36th Inf demonstrate the set-up and firing
technique of the launcher, which utilized a 51-pound nuclear
warhead. (See more information below.) |
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In photo below, a 3AD soldier from the 3rd Bn, 36th Inf cleans the
37mm spotting gun on the Davy Crockett launcher. Looming on the
right is a W-54 nuclear warhead look-alike (inert training version).
The actual W-54, at 51 pounds, was the smallest and lightest
nuclear munition ever deployed by the U.S. |
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News clipping below is from the front page of the 3AD's Spearhead Newspaper
dated 12/9/68, one of many Iranian visits to the 3AD during the
1960's and '70's. The 3AD Commander, Maj. Gen. Donald Cowles,
is at right. (Photo by Sp5 Mack Thomas of Div. PAO) |
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Of course, from WWII to the
Islamic Revolution of 1979, Iran was
a close military ally of the U.S. It's leader during that time
was a Sunni, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, aka the Shah of Iran, and
Iranian military men regularly visited U.S. military facilities
in Europe for observation and/or training purposes. It is fair
to assume that discussion and demonstration of U.S. (and 3AD)
nuclear weaponry included more than the Davy Crockett system. |
For related info, see "3AD Nuclear Weapons"
on the Cold War Index.
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