Video and photos posted recently to social media show the HIMARS launchers, two of 39 delivered, being unloaded from an Antonov An-124 transport aircraft at Harrisburg International Airport in Middletown, Pennsylvania.
Of the two M142 vehicles, the first — distinguished by its prominent white-cross identification markings — appears to have sustained shrapnel damage on at least one side, with as many as 16 hits visible, although, overall, the damage seems fairly minor. Both armored front windows have also been damaged.
The second vehicle looks like it may have struck a mine and has more significant damage, including the loss of the front wheel on the right-hand side and parts of the bottom of the cab having been torn off. Notable on the second vehicle is also the portrait of Ukrainian far-right militant leader Stepan Bandera on the front of the cab.
Seems like quite some effort flying them back and forth for servicing. Surely US could do the work also in their european bases?
Saw these photos this morning as “being loaded” and as in Ukraine. So I don’t know if the info this morning was incorrect or this is incorrect.
Poland operates himars and repairs much stuff for Ukraine, so shipping them to the US seems weird. But maybe because of specific damage.
Well, here’s the watermarked source:
https://nitter.jakefrosty.com/KSOSINT
They link to a The War Zone article that has video of units being unloaded from a strategic airlifter, with more pictures.
https://www.twz.com/news-features/situation-report-battle-damaged-himars-return-to-united-states
That does sound like they require repair work.