Russo-Ukrainian War: The Mil Mi-2MSB-1 (and Mi-2AM-1)

Source: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

     The oldest helicopter design currently seeing active service in the Russo-Ukrainian War is shown in this photograph released by the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (GUR). The design, the Mil Mi-2 (NATO reporting name Hoplite), first flew in September 1961 and after acceptance, the first examples entered Soviet service beginning in 1965. Although a Soviet design, all Mi-2 production occurred in Poland by the PZL-Świdnik company. Although manufacturing of the Mi-2 ceased in 1999, the Mi-2 remains active service with a number of countries, to include Ukraine. Specifically, the helicopter in the foreground is a Mi-2MSB-1 variant while the one in the background looks to be a Mi-2AM-1.

     The Mi-2MSB-1 is a modernization of existing Mi-2 helicopters undertaken by the Ukrainian company Motor Sich for the civilian market. The first examples of the Mi-2MSB-1 appeared in 2013. The main change is the replacement of the original pair of 400 horsepower Klimov GTD-350 turboshaft engines with two modern (and lighter) 465 horsepower AI-450M turboshaft engines. Along with the updated engines, the Mi-2MSB-1 also comes with a new gearbox, transmission, and new composite material rotor blades. Other changes include updated cockpit instrumentation for the new powerplants and a slightly redesigned fuselage to improve interior space capacity and a passenger door repositioning. Otherwise, the Mi-2MSB-1 is much the same as the original Mi-2. Motor Sich, of course, does offer optional electronic upgrades such as digital navigation systems.

     The Mi-2MSB-1 is operated by a crew of one, the pilot. If outfitted for passenger service, the Mi-2MSB-1 can accommodate up to 8 people. Internally, the Mi-2MSB-1 can carry up to 1.1 tons of cargo or if using external cargo slings, pendants, or cargo netting, the Mi-2MSB-1 has a slightly higher carry capacity of 1.2 tons. For performance, the maximum speed of the Mi-2MSB-1 (without cargo) is 130 miles per hour with a cruise speed of 124 miles per hour. The typical flight range on internal fuel capacity is 466 miles. Maximum service ceiling is 3 miles with the optimum ceiling being 1.4 miles.

     The particular Mi-2MSB-1 seen here, operated by the Defense Intelligence Aviation of  Ukraine, is outfitted for medical evacuation. The modernization and outfitting was funded by international monetary donations managed by the Olena Zelenska Foundation to the sum of $500,000USD. The helicopter is fitted with a modern Garmin navigation system while all of the medical equipment was produced by Weinmann Emergency Medical Technology GmbH. Equipment includes artificial lung ventilators, electrocardiogram (EKG) machine, cardiac event monitors, defibrillator, oxygen assist module (OAM) with pressure regulator, electric aspirator, and other medical supplies. Casualty capacity is three if they are ambulatory but only a single casualty if on a litter. The exterior pods are fuel tanks. Typical medevac time is 15 minutes to the location of the request though time can vary due to weather conditions, distance, and enemy activity.

     The Mi-2AM-1, also used for medical evacuation operations, is similarly outfitted as the Mi-2MSB-1. One of at least two Mi-2AM-1 helicopters, one was purchased through donations made by Polish citizens to the Zbroimy Ukrainę charity organization.

 

Army Hospital Corps Radiologist: Early Personal Protective Equipment

A British Army Hospital Corps radiologist with the rank of sergeant wearing protective equipment to ply his trade.

      The man credited with discovering X-rays was German physics professor Wilhelm Röntgen in 1895 and it would earn him a Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901. His X-ray of his wife's hand made in December 1895 was the first of a human body part. The first discussion of using X-rays in combat medicine came from the Prussian War Ministry but it would be the Italians during the First Italo-Ethiopian War who used the X-ray to locate bullets in two Italian soldiers who had been injured during the Battle of Adwa in 1896. The British started their foray into military radiology when the British Red Cross set up an X-ray station during the Greco-Turkish War of 1897 to provide medical support for Greek forces. A prominent radiologist in England at the time was Dr. John Francis Hall-Edwards and in 1900, he joined the Warwickshire Regiment during the Second Boer War and became the chief radiologist at the Imperial Yeomanry Hospital at Deelfontein, South Africa. By this time, X-ray equipment was standard issue to British military hospitals. Dr. Hall-Edwards spent 14 months at the hospital, performing X-rays on some 280 wounded soldiers. Up until World War One, the apparatus to perform X-rays was stationary, being located at hospitals with fixed locations. That changed in 1914 when Madame Marie Curie created “radiological cars” that were standard lorries donated to her from private sources and converted to become mobile X-ray labs. Nicknamed “Little Curies”, some 20 lorries were fitted with the X-ray apparatus and support equipment plus a dark room for the processing of the photographic plates. Curie herself trained a total of 150 women volunteers to crew the lorries which operated in the front lines with French field hospitals. Not content to lead from behind, Curie operated her own “Little Curie” in support of the effort. The first such lorry was deployed during the First Battle of the Marne which commenced in September 1914. Soon, other warring powers deployed their own mobile X-ray trucks to the front lines.

     The dangers of X-rays were known from the very outset of their discovery and subsequent experimentation with them. The majority was burns caused by long exposure to the rays but other ill-effects were documented. Despite this, some physicians claimed that there was no consequences to X-ray exposure at all. Typically, neither the radiologist or the patient was protected in any way during an X-ray examination and in part this was due to the still (at the time) debated side-effects of exposure which contributed to a lack of reliable safety protocols and training. Nevertheless, some steps were taken and this rather curious photograph shows one of them. This was a World War One British radiologist with the rank of sergeant (as denoted by the three reverse chevrons) in the Army Hospital Corps (as denoted by the circular Red Cross insignia) who is wearing a protective apron, gloves, and hood. Although it might appear that the rank is on the actual protective garment, the sleeve seam for the apron can be seen just above the rank and branch insignia. The protection was derived from lead within the apron, gloves, and the hood. It is possible that the hood's vision ports may be leaden glass. The protrusions coming off the hood could be straps or fasteners. There does appear to be a tie at the waist for the apron which suggests it may be more open in the back. It is unknown if this was a prototype or a piece of protective equipment that was put into production and issued to British military radiologists.