title: Middle name

text: Traditional middle names in Vietnamese are "Văn" for male names and "Thị" for female names. However, modern Vietnamese do not consider these to be attractive names, especially "Thị". Therefore, nowadays popular middle names also are popular first names. Middle names play an important role in Vietnamese full names; they could help create beautiful names when combined with first names, distinguishing people who have the same first name (there are many common last names in Vietnam), and also distinguishing the gender of the names (unisex names are used widely in Vietnam). Hence, Vietnamese rarely abbreviate their middle names.


title: Middle name

text: Middle names constitute the mother's maiden surname; is inserted between the given name and the surname (father's surname) and almost always abbreviated signifying that it is a "middle name".


title: Middle name

text: For example; given the name Jose Patricio Santos. This is usually abbreviated to Jose P. Santos. The abbreviated "P" signifies it is the maternal maiden surname.


title: Middle name

text: If a person has two given names, Jonathan Jose P. Santos, the abbreviated "P" will represent the mother's surname. The given name would therefore be Jonathan Jose. The second name "Jose" is never classified as a middle name. There have been a few documented exceptions, such as Benigno S. Aquino III, Jose P. Laurel, and Manuel L. Quezon, whose Western-style middle initials actually stand for their second given names Simeon, Paciano, and Luis respectively.


title: Zoë Buckman

text: Buckman was born in Hackney, East London, England, to Jennie Buckman, an acting teacher and playwright, and Nick Blatchley, a government health official. Her uncle is Peter Buckman, an English writer and literary agent.


title: Zoë Buckman

text: "Heavy Rag" examines the dichotomy of boxing, a sport in which gloves are used to harm, as well as for protection. The body of work was Buckman's first exhibition to open since her mother's passing, and was greatly inspired by Louise Bourgeois’ textile works. Although the themes in this exhibition are not very celebratory, the colorful and warm fabrics that Buckman uses throughout her punching bags, glove clusters and flatworks, remind her of her mother and grandmother.


title: Zoë Buckman

text: "Present Life" examines the temporary nature and beauty of life from the focal-point of the exhibit, Buckman's plastinated placenta. After the birth of Buckman's daughter, Cleo, Buckman was informed that her placenta had deteriorated and could have caused the premature death of her child had she not been born. Buckman preserved her placenta through plastination and used the experience to inform her "Present Life" art series. In the series, Buckman's plastinated placenta is shown encased in marble.


title: Zoë Buckman

text: "Every Curve" brings together Buckman's love of 1990s rap lyrics from The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur, and her Feminist ideology through an installation of embroidery on vintage women's lingerie. Buckman hand embroidered rap lyrics onto vintage garments to explore the conflict between feminism and hip-hop.


title: Zoë Buckman

text: Katherine Fritz of MTV says that the art series explores the dialogue between the misogynistic lyrics within rap and the pro-abortion rights, feminist content found within the text. "Every Curve" "illustrates the oppositional perceptions of woman as sexual object, woman as love, and woman as creator; perceptions which, with recourse to history, remain unchanged", stated art critic Hannah-Rosanne Poulton of A Taste for Art.


title: Zoë Buckman

text: "Mostly It’s Just Uncomfortable" is Buckman's response to the political controversy surrounding Planned Parenthood in the United States. The body of work includes gynecological and boxing imagery and objects.


title: Zoë Buckman

text: Two of the neon works from the series, "Champion" and "Champ" have been featured in the inaugural exhibition of For Freedoms, an artist-run Super PAC, at Jack Shainman Gallery and Rock The Vote's "Truth to Power" exhibition at the 2016 Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Philadelphia.


title: Zoë Buckman

text: "Let Her Rave" is a response to a line in Keats’ poem Ode on Melancholy. The work in this series is about the society’s control of women and their bodies through patriarchal constructs. Though she has been a long time Keats’ admirer, the artist was unable to resolve the line ‘Or if thy mistress some rich anger shows / Imprison her soft hand, and let her rave.’


title: Zoë Buckman

text: Sculptures of boxing gloves trimmed with vintage wedding dresses that hang from the ceiling as well as a powerful neon adorned with wedding veils explore the complex aggressions that women face each day and the idea that they must fight in response. Further in terms of matrimony they suggest the weight, strength, and delicacy of marriage and its impact on womanhood.


title: Zoë Buckman

text: Buckman is a member of For Freedoms, the first artist-run Super PAC founded by artists Eric Gottesman and Hank Willis Thomas. She has participated in several projects with the organization including an exhibition at Jack Shainman, New York, NY; a bus bench with Monique Meloche Gallery, Chicago, IL; a billboard -‘’Grab ‘Em By the Ballots’’ – in Harrisburg, PA; and a political campaign advertisement for "W Magazine" featuring Jemima Kirke.


title: Zoë Buckman

text: Buckman and Natalie Frank collaborated on Buckman's first public project, a mural at New York Live Arts during spring 2017 titled "We Hold These Truths To Be Self-Evident". The piece was a response to election of Donald Trump and it utilizes misogynistic text gathered from statements that former and current male politicians have made about women and their bodies.


title: Zoë Buckman

text: In 2010 Buckman married David Schwimmer. They had a daughter in 2011, and in 2017 they separated, then divorced.


title: Shaakuntalam

text: Shaakuntalam is an upcoming Indian Telugu-language mythological drama film written and directed by Gunasekhar. It is produced by Neelima Guna under Gunaa Teamworks and distributed by Sri Venkateswara Creations. Based on a popular play "Shakuntala" by Kalidasa, the film features Samantha in the titular role of Shakuntala and Dev Mohan as Dushyanta, the king of Puru Dynasty along with Mohan Babu, Gautami, Aditi Balan and Ananya Nagalla in supporting roles.


title: Shaakuntalam

text: The project was announced in October 2020 by Gunasekhar. The film's production began in February 2021 at Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad and ended in August 2021. The film was shot extensively around Hyderabad, including Ramoji Film City, Ananthagiri Hills, and Gandipet Lake.


title: Shaakuntalam

text: In 2017, director Gunasekhar announced a magnum opus "Hiranya Kashyapa" with Rana Daggubati as the lead. The film was based on the famous mythological tale of the Asura, Hiranyakashipu. In October 2020, the director announced that the pre-production of Hiranya Kashyapa was completed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the shooting process of the film will not start in the near future. Later in November, Gunasekher announced the film based on Kalidasa's 4th century play "Shakuntala" which tells the story of the legendary princess Shakuntala and king Dushyanta.


title: Shaakuntalam

text: Soon after the announcement, reports suggested that the makers have approached actress Anushka Shetty for the lead role of Shakuntala after the collaboration of the actress and director Gunasekhar in the 2015 historical drama, "Rudhramadevi" which did not materialize. During December 2020, actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu was confirmed to be cast as the lead actress to portray Shakuntala.


title: Shaakuntalam

text: Later in the year, Malayalam actor Dev Mohan and Telugu actress Eesha Rebba were approached for the film, with Mohan reportedly playing Dushyant and Eesha Rebba supposed character unknown. In March 2021, media mentioned that Rebba has walked out of the project due to several reason. In March 2021, Samantha has taken her social media to announce that Dev Mohan is officially a part of the project as Dushyant. Veteran actor Mohan Babu was also cast in the film. He was reportedly playing the hot-tempered Durvasa Maharishi and Aditi Balan was replacing Rebba in the film.


title: Shaakuntalam

text: Reports came around that the director will be approaching Jr NTR's son Abhay Ram or Allu Arjun's son Allu Ayaan to feature in as Shakuntala's son Bharata, but Allu Arjun's daughter Allu Arha is having her maiden debut in this production as said character. Actress Varshini Sounderajan confirmed of being a part in the film through an interview while actress Madhoo also joined the cast the cast.


title: Shaakuntalam

text: The film is set in the Northern of India in the backdrop of Hastinapur, parts of Kashmir and the banks of Himalaya. Makers have signed art director Ashok Kolarath to handle the set. The team has also hired National Awardee fashion designer Neeta Lulla who has also worked with Gunasekhar in "Rudhramadevi". The pooja and the principal photography of Shaakuntalam was kickstarted on 15 March 2021 at Annapurna Studios. It was revealed that Sekhar V. Joseph and Bishwadeep Chatterjee was also signed in for the project to handle the cinematography and sound design for the film respectively.


title: Shaakuntalam

text: The first schedule of filming was started on late March with Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Dev Mohan and Aditi Balan at Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad. But due to the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in India, the shooting was halted towards the end of June. During an interview, Gunasekhar has stated that almost 50% of filming has been completed on late June. The shooting will be recommenced during the end of June back at Annapurna Studios, then later in Ramoji Film City. Reportedly, Samantha Ruth Prabhu joined the second schedule of filming along with Dev Mohan and Aditi Balan. Several scenes were shot in Ananthagiri Hills and Vikarabad Forests with actor Dev Mohan. Several scenes were shot in Gandipet Lake in July 2021. The filming was finished on the last week of August 2021 at Annapurna Studios.


title: Shaakuntalam

text: The visual and graphics department is handled by industry professional Alagarsamy Maayan, with talents from Canada, Hong Kong and China working on the VFX to get the visualisation right. Director Gunasekhar has confirmed that the post production might be longer than 10 months, considering the vision of the director to be met. Samantha completed her dubbing portions in April 2022.


title: Shaakuntalam

text: "Shaakuntalam" was scheduled to be released theatrically on 4 November 2022 alongside dubbed versions in Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada but was later postponed due to the film being chosen to be converted into 3D format.


title: The Woman in Black (2012 film)

text: The Woman in Black is a 2012 horror film directed by James Watkins from a screenplay by Jane Goldman. It is the second adaptation of Susan Hill's 1983 novel of the same name, which was previously filmed in 1989. The film stars Daniel Radcliffe, Ciarán Hinds, Janet McTeer, Sophie Stuckey, and Liz White. The plot, set in early 20th-century England, follows a young recently widowed lawyer who travels to a remote village where he discovers that the vengeful ghost of a scorned woman is terrorising the locals.


title: The Woman in Black (2012 film)

text: The film was produced by Hammer Film Productions, Alliance Films, Cross Creek Pictures and the UK Film Council. A film adaptation of Hill's novel was announced in 2009, with Goldman and Watkins attached to the project. During July 2010, Radcliffe was cast in the lead role of Arthur Kipps. The film was meant to be shot in 3D before those plans were scrapped. Principal photography took place from September to December 2010 across England. Post-production lasted until June 2011. It attracted controversy after receiving a 12A certificate from the British Board of Film Classification, despite several cuts being made.


title: The Woman in Black (2012 film)

text: "The Woman in Black" premiered at the Royal Festival Hall in London before being theatrically released in North America on 3 February 2012 by CBS Films and Alliance Films and in the United Kingdom on 10 February 2012 by Momentum Pictures. The film received generally positive reviews with critics praising Radcliffe's performance, cinematography, direction, atmosphere and homages to Hammer's gothic horror films, calling it a "solid ghost story". It was also commercially successful, grossing $130 million worldwide.


title: The Woman in Black (2012 film)

text: A sequel, "", was released on 2 January 2015, without the involvement of Radcliffe, Watkins or Goldman.


title: The Woman in Black (2012 film)

text: In the English village of Crythin Gifford in 1889, three young girls playing in their nursery notice a presence in the room; appearing entranced, they all jump to their deaths from the window.


title: The Woman in Black (2012 film)

text: In 1906, in Edwardian London, lawyer Arthur Kipps's son Joseph is born, but his wife, Stella, dies after childbirth. Four years later, Arthur is instructed to visit Crythin Gifford to retrieve any documents left by Alice Drablow, the deceased owner of Eel Marsh House, an isolated and desolate estate on the marshland, as a prelude to the sale of the house. Upon arrival, Arthur finds the villagers cold and unwelcoming, though he finds sympathy in wealthy local landowner Samuel Daily.


title: The Woman in Black (2012 film)

text: Arthur meets Mr. Jerome, who tries to hurry him away from the village. Undeterred, he travels to Eel Marsh House. There, he is distracted by odd noises, a bolted nursery, and a spectral entity in black funerary garb. He hears sounds on the marshes of a carriage and a screaming child but sees nobody on the causeway. He tries to alert the village constable, who dismisses his concerns. Two children enter the station with their sister Victoria, who has ingested lye, but she collapses in Arthur’s arms and succumbs to death. The townspeople blame Arthur.


title: The Woman in Black (2012 film)

text: That night, Sam reveals that he and his wife, Elisabeth, lost their young son to drowning. Upon Arthur’s return to Jerome’s office, he discovers Jerome’s young daughter barricaded in the basement. She angrily rebuffs his attempt to help her, as she, too, believes him to be responsible for Victoria’s death. Sam attempts to take Arthur to Eel Marsh, but a gang of local men try to block them. Victoria's father tearfully accuses Arthur of seeing "that woman" at Eel Marsh.


title: The Woman in Black (2012 film)

text: At the house, Arthur uncovers correspondence between Alice and her sister Jennet Humfrye. Jennet demands to see her son Nathaniel whom the Drablows have formally adopted and barred her from contacting due to her being mentally unfit to look after him, which she denies. A death certificate reveals Nathaniel drowned in a carriage accident on the marsh. Jennet blames Alice for saving only herself and leaving Nathaniel to drown. Another death certificate shows that Jennet hanged herself in the nursery, vowing never to forgive Alice. Arthur hears noises from the nursery, now unlocked. From the window, he sees a boy crawling out of the ground and walking towards the house. He goes outside and sees dead children in the marshes, Victoria among them. Inside, he sees an apparition of a woman hanging herself.


title: The Woman in Black (2012 film)

text: Sam picks Arthur up the next morning. In town, Jerome's house catches fire with his daughter still inside. When Arthur attempts to save her, he sees the Woman in Black goading the girl into burning herself. The townspeople blame Arthur for this death as well. Elisabeth tells Arthur that the Woman in Black is Jennet, who claims the village children by having them take their own lives in penance for her own son being taken from her. Arthur realizes that his son Joseph, who is coming to Crythin Gifford that night, is Jennet's next victim.


title: The Woman in Black (2012 film)

text: In an effort to lift the curse, Arthur and Sam find Nathaniel's body in the marsh and place it in his nursery, where Arthur lures Jennet to him. They bury Nathaniel with Jennet, though her voice echoes through the house that she will never forgive the wrongs she suffered. Assuming that Jennet has been pacified, Arthur meets Joseph and his nanny at the railway station. While bidding farewell to Sam, Arthur sees the Woman in Black lure Joseph onto the tracks. Attempting to save him, both he and Joseph are apparently killed by the oncoming train. The horrified Sam sees the ghosts of all the village children who were killed standing with the Woman in Black.


title: The Woman in Black (2012 film)

text: On the tracks, Arthur and Joseph are met by resurrected Stella in a peaceful and bright train station. The family is happily reunited as the Woman in Black looks on.


title: The Woman in Black (2012 film)

text: Liz White's character is never referred to as "The Woman in Black" inside the film or during the credits, where she is listed as "Jennet".


title: The Woman in Black (2012 film)

text: The film was announced in 2009, with Jane Goldman as screenwriter and later James Watkins as director. Daniel Radcliffe was announced as the actor playing the part of Arthur Kipps on 19 July 2010. Two months later, it was announced that "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2" co-star Ciarán Hinds would join Radcliffe along with Janet McTeer as Mr and Mrs Daily respectively. Before filming, Radcliffe saw a psychologist so he could better understand his character. The part of Joseph Kipps was played by Misha Handley, who is Radcliffe's real life godson.


title: The Woman in Black (2012 film)

text: The film was planned to be shot in 3D, but the idea was later scrapped. Principal photography officially started on 26 September 2010. The next day, Radcliffe was pictured in costume just outside Peterborough, England. In early October the crew was filming in Layer Marney Tower. Filming officially ended on 4 December 2010.


title: The Woman in Black (2012 film)

text: The exterior shots of Eel Marsh House were filmed at Cotterstock Hall near Oundle in central England. The fictional Nine Lives Causeway leading to it was filmed at Osea Island in Essex. The village of Crythin Gifford was filmed at Halton Gill, north of Settle in the Yorkshire Dales.


title: The Woman in Black (2012 film)

text: At the Kapow! Comic Con in London during April 2011, director James Watkins confirmed filming had been completed in December 2010 and post-production would go on until June 2011. For its British release, several changes were made in order to qualify for a 12A certificate: Momentum Pictures, the distributor, arranged to have six seconds cut and for changes to other shots, with some scenes darkened and the sound level reduced on some others.


title: The Woman in Black (2012 film)

text: Despite the cuts, the 12A certificate was seen as highly controversial in the United Kingdom, and the British Board of Film Classification received 134 complaints from individuals that the rating was too low, the most complained-about film of 2012 according to BBFC figures. A cinematic re-release in October 2014, including a short clip from the forthcoming sequel "", was given a higher rating of 15.


title: The Woman in Black (2012 film)

text: The soundtrack for the film was composed by American film composer Marco Beltrami. It received positive reviews and was released as a soundtrack album on 12 March 2012 by Silva Screen Records.


title: The Woman in Black (2012 film)

text: "The Woman in Black" was met with generally positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a rating of 66%, based on 195 reviews, with an average rating of 6.10/10. The site's critical consensus states, "Traditional to a fault, "The Woman in Black" forwent gore for chills—although it may not provide enough of them for viewers attuned to modern, high-stakes horror." On Metacritic the film has a score of 62 out of 100, based on 40 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".


title: The Woman in Black (2012 film)

text: During opening weekend, "The Woman in Black" earned $20 million, the biggest US opening for a Hammer film in all of Hammer history, putting it at second place in the box office, behind "Chronicle", which earned about $1 million more. This is significantly more than the $11–$16.5 million industry analysts predicted it would bring in. By June 2012, "The Woman in Black" had made $127.7 million worldwide. The film also became the highest-grossing British horror film in 20 years.


title: The Woman in Black (2012 film)

text: The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc on 18 June 2012 in the United Kingdom, and was released in the United States on 22 May 2012.


title: The Woman in Black (2012 film)

text: In April 2012, Hammer Films announced that there would be a sequel to "The Woman in Black", which is titled "The Woman in Black: Angel of Death". The official plot synopsis is: "During World War II, the London bombings force schoolteachers Eve Parkins (Phoebe Fox) and Jean Hogg (Helen McCrory) to evacuate a group of children to Crythin Gifford. When the refugees take shelter at Eel Marsh House, Eve soon comes to realise that they are not alone. The longer they remain there, the more the house's evil spirit threatens the children. With the help of a pilot (Jeremy Irvine), Eve tries to protect the children and uncover the truth of the Woman in Black."


title: The Woman in Black (2012 film)

text: The original novel's author Susan Hill helped with the story, with the screenplay written by Jon Croker. In October 2012, Tom Harper was announced as the film's director. In April 2013, it was announced that Jeremy Irvine will play the lead role with rumors of Daniel Radcliffe briefly reprising his role from the first film, however Radcliffe ultimately did not appear in the sequel. It later was announced that Phoebe Fox and Helen McCrory had been cast in the film as well. The film began the shooting process in early 2014.


title: The Woman in Black (2012 film)

text: The film was released on 2 January 2015 to moderate box office returns but a generally negative critical response.


title: Anton Lesser

text: Anton Lesser (born 14 February 1952) is an English actor. He is well known for his roles as Qyburn in the HBO series "Game of Thrones", as Thomas More in "Wolf Hall", as Prime Minister Harold Macmillan in "The Crown", as Prime Minister Clement Attlee in "A United Kingdom" and as Chief Superintendent Bright in "Endeavour".


title: Anton Lesser

text: Born in Birmingham, Anton Lesser attended Moseley Grammar School and the University of Liverpool, where he read architecture. He then went to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and on graduation in 1977 he was awarded the Bancroft Gold Medal as the most promising actor of his year. He is of Jewish background.


title: Anton Lesser

text: As an associate artist with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), Lesser played many of Shakespeare's great roles in the BBC Television Shakespeare productions including Troilus ("Troilus and Cressida"), Edgar ("King Lear"), Petruchio, Romeo, Henry Bolingbroke, Brutus ("Julius Caesar"), Leontes ("Winter's Tale") and "Richard III".


title: Anton Lesser

text: Lesser is a frequent radio contributor and played the title role in the BBC Radio adaptations of the first five "Marcus Didius Falco" mysteries by Lindsey Davis. He has also recorded many audiobooks, including much of the work of Charles Dickens. His recording of "Great Expectations" won him a Talkie Award. Other books range from John Milton's "Paradise Lost" and Homer to contemporary novels by Robert Harris ("Fatherland") and Philip Pullman. For two months in 2013, Lesser was a regular cast member playing Robin Carrow in "Ambridge Extra", a BBC Radio 4 Extra spin-off from the BBC Radio 4 drama "The Archers".


title: Anton Lesser

text: In 2015, Lesser was announced as a public supporter of Chapel Lane Theatre Company based in Stratford-Upon-Avon, UK.


title: Anton Lesser

text: Lesser portrayed Thomas More in the BBC mini-series "Wolf Hall", and received a nomination for the British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance.


title: Anton Lesser

text: With his wife Madeleine, he has two children, Harry and Lily Lesser. Lily is an actress, who has acted alongside her father in "Endeavour" and "Wolf Hall".


title: Parimatch

text: Parimatch is an international sports betting company in Europe with headquarters in Limassol, Cyprus, founded in 1994.


title: Parimatch

text: Parimatch was established in 1994 in Kyiv, Ukraine. The company entered the Russian market in 1998. Online betting website was launched in 2000 and was one the first among bookmakers in the CIS region. In September 2015, Parimatch entered the Kazakhstan market and began cooperation with Federbet to prevent match fixing. In 2018, the company began operations in Tanzania and Cyprus. In December 2018, Parimatch's CEO, Sergey Portnov won 'Leader of the year award' at the SBC Awards held in London. In February 2020, the company joined the Esports Integrity Commission to assist with battling cheating and fraud in esports. In June 2021, Parimatch expanded operations across India. In March 2021, Parimatch became the first betting company in Ukraine to buy a license after a new law regulation was adopted by the local parliament. In December 2021, Parimatch acquired the performance marketing organisation Mr Fish in addition to online poker room PokerMatch.


title: Parimatch

text: In March, 2022 Parimatch withdrawn the franchise from Russia due to the full-scale military invasion into Ukraine. Following this, In May 2022, Parimatch announced they had organised the Parimatch Foundation and had allocated €510,000 to support the people of Ukraine. The foundation while originally set up for educational and sports projects has re-allocated its resources toward helping Ukrainian woman and children during the humanitarian crisis.


title: Parimatch

text: In April 2022, Parimatch announced a restructure to their management, appointing Maksym Liashko as the new CEO of the organisation as Roman Syrotian (former CEO) stepped into a supervisory role.


title: Parimatch

text: In May 2022, Parimatch continued with the companies plan for international expansion via opening a new European hub in Prague. Additionally, the new office gave the opportunity to provide a working environment for the company employees from the Ukraine. The previous company R&D centre was in Kyiv but has been relocated for safety reasons due to military activity around the capital.


title: Parimatch

text: Parimatch operates under local licenses issued by the regulatory authorities of each country in Cyprus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Tanzania. Parimatch brand was represented in Russia and Belarus, but in 2022 the brand announced withdrawal the local franchises due to the full-scale military invasion into Ukraine.


title: Parimatch

text: The company also carries out its activity under the international license of self-governing territory Curaçao (eGaming)


title: Parimatch

text: On October 1, 2020, Parimatch launched into the UK market with their website being run by BV Gaming Limited.


title: Grease 2

text: Grease 2 is a 1982 American musical romantic comedy film and the sequel to the 1978 film "Grease", adapted from the 1971 musical of the same name by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. Originally titled "More Grease", the film was produced by Allan Carr and Robert Stigwood, and directed and choreographed by Patricia Birch, who choreographed the original stage production and prior film. The plot returns to Rydell High School two years after the original film's graduation, with a largely new cast, led by Maxwell Caulfield and Michelle Pfeiffer in her first starring role.


title: Grease 2

text: The film was released in United States theaters on June 11, 1982, and grossed $15 million against a production budget of $11 million, a far cry from its predecessor's $132 million domestic box office. Despite breakout roles for Pfeiffer, Adrian Zmed, and Christopher McDonald, the film received mostly negative reviews from critics. Despite this, "Grease 2" maintains a devoted fan base decades after its release.


title: Grease 2

text: It is 1961, two years after the events of the prior film, and the first day of school has arrived ("Alma Mater" from the original stage musical). Principal McGee and her secretary Blanche react as the students, including the ruffian T-Birds and Pink Ladies, arrive at high school ("Back to School Again"). The Pink Ladies are now led by Stephanie Zinone, who feels she has "outgrown" her relationship with her ex-boyfriend Johnny Nogerelli, the arrogant, chauvinistic, and rather immature leader of the motorcycle riding T-Birds.


title: Grease 2

text: A new arrival comes in the form of clean-cut British student Michael Carrington (a cousin of Sandy Olsson from the previous film). He is introduced to the school atmosphere by Frenchy, who agreed to help show Michael around. Frenchy has returned to Rydell to obtain her diploma so she can start her own cosmetics company. Michael eventually meets Stephanie and quickly becomes smitten with her.


title: Grease 2

text: At the local bowling alley, a game ("Score Tonight") turns sour from the animosity between Johnny and Stephanie. Stephanie retaliates by kissing the next man who walks in the door, who happens to be Michael. Bemused by this unexpected kiss, Michael falls in love with Stephanie. He asks her out, but learns she has a very specific vision of her ideal man ("Cool Rider"). After realizing how he can win her affection, Michael gets to work on acquiring a motorcycle. Michael begins to covertly accept payments from the T-Birds to write their term papers and uses the cash to buy a motorcycle. Substitute teacher Mr. Stuart leads a rousing biology lesson ("Reproduction").


title: Grease 2

text: A rival gang called the Cycle Lords (including members of the defunct Scorpions) led by Leo Balmudo, surprise the T-Birds at the bowling alley. Before the fight starts, a lone mysterious biker appears (actually Michael in disguise), defeats the enemy gang, and disappears into the night ("Who's That Guy?"). Stephanie is fascinated with the stranger. Meanwhile, T-Bird Louis attempts to trick his sweetheart, Pink Lady Sharon, into losing her virginity to him by taking her to a fallout shelter and faking a nuclear attack ("Let's Do It for Our Country").


title: Grease 2

text: The next evening while working at a gas station/garage, Stephanie is surprised again by the Cool Rider, and they enjoy a romantic twilight motorcycle ride, which includes a kiss. Just as Michael is about to reveal his identity, they are interrupted by the arrival of the T-Birds and Pink Ladies. Before Michael departs, he tells Stephanie that he will see her at the school talent show. Johnny, enraged by Stephanie's new romance, threatens to fight the Cool Rider if he sees him with her again. The Pink Ladies walk away haughtily, but this has little effect on the T-Birds' self-confidence ("Prowlin'").


title: Grease 2

text: At school, Stephanie's poor grades in English lead her to accept Michael's offer of help. Johnny, upon seeing them together in a discussion, demands that Stephanie quit the Pink Ladies to preserve his honor. Although still enchanted by the mysterious Cool Rider, interactions with Michael reveal that she has become romantically interested in him as well. Michael ponders over the continuing charade he puts on for Stephanie ("Charades").


title: Grease 2

text: At the talent show, Stephanie and the Cool Rider meet up but are abruptly ambushed by the T-Birds who pursue Michael on their respective motorcycles, with Stephanie, Sharon, Paulette, and Rhonda following in a car. They chase him to a construction site which conceals a deadly drop, and the biker's absence suggests that he has perished below, leaving Stephanie heartbroken and inconsolable. Johnny and his T-Birds remove the competing Preptones – preppie boys – by tying them to a shower pole in the boys' locker room and drenching them. During the Pink Ladies' performance in the talent show ("Girl for All Seasons"), Stephanie enters a dreamlike fantasy world where she is reunited with her mystery biker ("(Love Will) Turn Back the Hands of Time"). She is named winner of the contest and crowned the queen of the upcoming graduation luau, with Johnny hailed as king for his performance of "Prowlin'" with his fellow T-Birds.


title: Grease 2

text: The school year ends with the luau ("Rock-a-Hula Luau (Summer Is Coming)"), during which the Cycle Lords appear and begin to disrupt the celebration. The Cool Rider reappears, defeats the Cycle Lords again, and reveals himself to be Michael. Initially shocked, Johnny gives him a T-Birds jacket, officially welcoming him into the gang, and Stephanie is delighted that she can now be with him. Michael and Stephanie share a passionate kiss, and he whispers that he loves her. All the couples pair off happily as the graduating class sings ("We'll Be Together"). The credits start rolling in yearbook-style, as in the original film ("Back to School Again").


title: Grease 2

text: "Grease" co-producer Allan Carr had a deal with Paramount Pictures to be paid $5 million to produce a sequel, with production beginning within three years of the original film. Carr decided to hire Patricia Birch as director for the sequel, as she had previously served as the choreographer for the stage and film versions of "Grease". Birch was initially hesitant to accept after learning that neither composers Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey nor John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John would be involved in the film. Bronte Woodard, the writer who adapted the original stage material for the original film, had died in 1980, and Canadian comic Ken Finkleman (who was also writing and directing "" at the same time) was tasked with penning a new script mostly from scratch. The total budget for the production was $11.2 million, almost double the budget of the original.


title: Grease 2

text: "Grease 2" was intended to be the second film (and first sequel) in a proposed "Grease" franchise of four films and a television series. (The third and fourth films were to take place in the 1960s and during the counterculture era.) However, the projects were scrapped due to the underwhelming box office performance of "Grease 2". Maxwell Caulfield was unhappy with the film's "drab" title, and unsuccessfully lobbied to change it to "Son of Grease".


title: Grease 2

text: Birch proposed an idea to feature Travolta and Newton-John reprising their characters as a now married couple running a gas station near the end of the film, with Travolta to sing a new number "Gas Pump Jockey;" this did not come to fruition. Paramount tried to get Jeff Conaway and Stockard Channing from the first film to do cameos but this did not happen (Channing, by then 37 years old, had left Hollywood for a time in the early 1980s to focus on her stage career). Early plans for "Grease 2" had Conaway and Channing's characters, Kenickie and Rizzo, as main characters while they attended summer school.


title: Grease 2

text: Timothy Hutton was announced as the male lead, but Maxwell Caulfield was cast after impressing producers off-Broadway in "Entertaining Mister Sloane". Caulfield had already made his Broadway debut with roles in "The Elephant Man" and "Entertaining Mr. Sloane". Having seen his performances, Allan Carr offered Caulfield the role of Michael over thousands of applicants. Unlike co-star Pfeiffer, Caulfield's career following "Grease 2" was damaged by the film's failure. He has been quoted as saying: "Before "Grease 2" came out, I was being hailed as the next Richard Gere or John Travolta. However, when "Grease 2" flopped, nobody would touch me. It felt like a bucket of cold water had been thrown in my face. It took me 10 years to get over "Grease 2"."


title: Grease 2

text: With only a few television roles and small film appearances, Michelle Pfeiffer, then aged 23, was a relatively unknown actress when she attended the casting call audition for the role of Stephanie. Other actresses considered for the part included Lisa Hartman, Kristy McNichol, Andrea McArdle, and singer Pat Benatar. Pfeiffer was a wild card choice, but according to Birch, she won the part because she "has a quirky quality you don't expect." She later commented on being cast:


title: Grease 2

text: That was really weird for me. I'd been taking singing lessons and I had taken dance, because I loved to dance, but I had never considered myself a professional at all. I went on this audition as a fluke, and somehow, through the process of going back and dancing, and then going back and singing, I ended up getting the part. I went crazy with that movie. I came to New York and the paparazzi were waiting at the hotel. I know the producers put them up to it. I am basically very private, and I'm really nervous about doing publicity. Every time I set up an interview, I say, "That's it, this is my last one. I'll do this because I committed to doing it, but I'm never doing another one." It was insane.


title: Grease 2

text: Lorna Luft was the last star cast. The part played by Connie Stevens was originally meant for Annette Funicello but she was unable to appear because her schedule as Skippy peanut butter spokeswoman did not allow her time to film the scene.


title: Grease 2

text: Adrian Zmed had previously played the role of Danny Zuko in the stage version of "Grease", a role he would later reprise in the 1990s.


title: Grease 2

text: Scenes at Rydell High School were filmed at Excelsior High School, a recently closed high school in Norwalk, California. Filming took place throughout a 58-day shooting schedule during the autumn of 1981. According to director Birch, the script was still incomplete when filming commenced. Sequences that were filmed but cut during post-production include scenes in which Frenchy helps Michael become a motorcycle rider, and a sequence at the end of the film showing Michael and Stephanie flying off into the sky on a motorcycle.


title: Grease 2

text: In the film, after Stephanie wins the contest, it goes on to show the stakeout in the final scene. Originally, there were a few minutes dedicated to a scene in which Michael (believed to be dead in his alter ego, by Stephanie) comes out on stage as Stephanie is exiting the stage, unbeknownst to her that he is the cool rider and he is alive. He attempts to ask her what's wrong and she storms past him and runs off crying, then it cuts to the stakeout. There was a scene within the "Who's that Guy?" number in which Goose accidentally smashes Rhonda's nose at the Bowl-A-Rama door. None of these scenes have been shown since the film's release.


title: Grease 2

text: The sequel took in just over $15 million after coming at fifth on opening weekend behind "", "", "Rocky III", and "Poltergeist".


title: Grease 2

text: , on Rotten Tomatoes, the film had an approval rating of 35% based on 43 reviews, with an average rating of 4.3/10. The site's consensus read: ""Grease 2" is undeniably stocked with solid songs and well-choreographed dance sequences, but there's no getting around the fact that it's a blatant retread of its far more entertaining predecessor." , on Metacritic it had a score of 52% based on reviews from 11 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".


title: Grease 2

text: Janet Maslin of "The New York Times" condemned the film as "dizzy and slight, with an even more negligible plot than its predecessor had. This time the story can't even masquerade as an excuse for stringing the songs together. Songs? What songs? The numbers in "Grease 2" are so hopelessly insubstantial that the cast is forced to burst into melody about pastimes like bowling."


title: Grease 2

text: "Variety" commended the staging of the musical numbers, writing that Patricia Birch has come up with some unusual settings (a bowling alley, a bomb shelter) for some of the scenes, and employs some sharp montage to give most of the songs and dances a fair amount of punch."


title: Grease 2

text: Roger Ebert of the "Chicago Sun-Times" gave the film 2 stars out of 4, saying: "This movie just recycles "Grease", without the stars, without the energy, without the freshness and without the grease."


title: Grease 2

text: Pfeiffer received positive notices for her first major role. "The New York Times" review cited her performance as the "one improvement" on the original film: "Miss Pfeiffer is as gorgeous as any cover girl, and she has a sullen quality that's more fitting to a "Grease" character than Miss Newton-John's sunniness was." "Variety" wrote that she was "all anyone could ask for in the looks department, and she fills Olivia Newton-John's shoes and tight pants very well." Pfeiffer told the "Los Angeles Times" three years later:


title: Grease 2

text: Barry Diller of Paramount said that the film "on no level is as good as the first. The quality isn't there."


title: Grease 2

text: Jim Jacobs described it at the time as "awful ... the pits." In an interview 27 years later, Jacobs noted that "Grease 2" "still brings a brief frown to his face."


title: Grease 2

text: During his appearance on "Rotten Tomatoes" to promote the film "Tick, Tick... Boom!", British actor Andrew Garfield cited the film as one of his five favorite musicals, calling it "great".


title: Grease 2

text: Pfeiffer was nominated for a 1983 Young Artist Award in the category of Best Young Motion Picture Actress.


title: Grease 2

text: The film was nominated for a Stinkers Bad Movie Awards for Worst Picture. Later on, the Stinkers would unveil their picks for the 100 worst films of the 20th century with their "100 Years, 100 Stinkers" list. "Grease 2" ranked in the listed bottom 20 at #13.


title: Grease 2

text: The film's screenplay was adapted in the Kannada (South India) feature film "Premaloka", starring Ravichandran and Juhi Chawla, released in 1987, which went on to become a blockbuster.


title: Grease 2

text: In 2003, Olivia Newton-John confirmed that a second sequel was being developed. "They're writing it, and we'll see what happens. If the script looks good, I'll do it. But I haven't seen the script, and it has to be cleverly done." Newton-John died in 2022 before any such script was completed.


title: Grease 2

text: In 2008, it was reported that Paramount was planning a new sequel to "Grease" that would debut straight to DVD. However, the project never came to fruition.


title: Grease 2

text: In 2019, it was announced that a prequel to the original film entitled "Summer Lovin"' with John August attached to write the screenplay was in the works at Paramount.


title: Grease 2

text: The film was later adapted into a musical, "Cool Rider", with the script re-written and modified for the stage.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: The National Guard of Ukraine (NGU; , , ) is the Ukrainian national gendarmerie and internal military force. It is part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, responsible for public security. Originally created as an agency under the direct control of the Verkhovna Rada on 4 November 1991, following Ukrainian independence. It was later disbanded and merged into the Internal Troops of Ukraine on 11 January 2000 by then-President Leonid Kuchma as part of a "cost-saving" scheme. Following the early 2014 Ukrainian revolution on 13 March 2014, amidst the Russian intervention, the National Guard was reestablished, and the Internal Troops were disbanded.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: The objective of the National Guard is to serve as a military unit with law enforcement powers. Its mission is to ensure state security, protect the state borders (supporting the State Border Service), participate in activities to neutralize paramilitary armed groups, terrorist organizations, organized groups and criminal organizations, protecting and guarding critical infrastructure such as Ukraine's nuclear power plants, as well as diplomatic missions, public authorities and buildings of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The NGU has sent personnel to UN peacekeeping missions. During peacetime the National Guard focuses on civilian public security: combating organized crime and controlling civil unrest. However, during wartime the National Guard can be mobilized as a regular military force and take part in combat operations alongside the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which has been done during the War in Donbas and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: The NSU was originally created by the Law of Ukraine "On the National Guard of Ukraine" dated 4 November 1991, No. 1775 -XII. The National Guard was based on the Internal Troops of the Soviet Union in the Ukrainian SSR, the Internal Troops of Ukraine also was established at the same time in 1992 from the Ukrainian branch of the old Soviet Internal Troops. The National Guard claimed to inherit the traditions and legacy of the Gendarmerie of the Ukrainian People's Republic, which existed from 1918 to 1919.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: During its early existence, the National Guard was indirectly involved in the Transnistria War during the spring and summer of 1992, helping to defend the border against a threatened spill-over of the conflict into Ukraine. Formations involved were the 3rd, 4th and 5th divisions NGU (equipment transferred from the 93rd Motorized Rifle Division was also used in this deployment). Afterwards, up until 1998, National Guard units backed up the border guards in anti-smuggling operations conducted on the border with Moldova and Moldova's breakaway Transnistria region. In 1994, the National Guard was also involved in the 1992-1994 Crimean Crisis, which was an attempted by the Autonomous Republic of Crimea to declare itself sovereign after the 1991 Crimean sovereignty referendum. The National Guard was sent to restore order and Ukrainian sovereignty over Crimea.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: On 1995, there were already calls for the dissolution of the National Guard by political opponents of the then-president Leonid Kuchma accused him of dictatorial behavior after he resubordinated the guard to himself by decree. After Kuchma's re-election after the 1999 Ukrainian presidential election, the opposition continued to demand the extinction of the National Guard, which was done in 2000 as part of concession to the opposition by Kuchma and justified as part of a "cost-saving scheme".


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: The National Guard was dissolved by the Law of Ukraine "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine" dated 11 January 2000, and merged with the Internal Troops of Ukraine.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: In 2014, amidst Russian intervention to Crimea, the reformed force was created partially on the basis of the Internal Troops of Ukraine, with plans for the "Volunteer Battalions", militias and armed wings from certain of Ukraine's political parties and organisations, including the Euromaidan movement, to be also incorporated into it. However those plans have run into resistance from at least some of the latter, who do not wish to give up their weapons or otherwise subordinate themselves to government control. Direct recruitment from military academies was also intended. The National Guard was recreated in accordance with the Law of Ukraine "On the National Guard of Ukraine" [Law number 4393] dated 12 March 2014, (the draft legislation being originally introduced to the Ukrainian parliament on 11 March). A previous attempt by then President Yushchenko to bring back the National Guard during civil unrest in 2008 had been blocked in the "Rada". It was finally re-established in March 2014 after the beginning of the Crimean crisis. On 16 March, the Yatsenyuk Government announced plans to recruit 10,000 people within the next 15 days for the by now revived National Guard. Individual volunteers were also accepted.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: The 2014 law provided for an initial authorised strength of 33,000 personnel. It also tasks the National Guard with maintaining public order, protecting sites like nuclear power plants and "upholding the constitutional order and restoring the activity of state bodies", in part a reference to the situation in Crimea, as well as to the perceived Russian threat to Ukraine as a whole. In the eastern parts of the country in particular, not only will the National Guard reinforce regular military units defending against a feared Russian invasion, it will also be expected to uphold Part 1 of Art. 109 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (i.e. it is intended to act as a counterinsurgency force against fifth columnists and infiltrators).


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: The National Guard will be receiving a large proportion of the money from the emergency budgetary reprogramming approved by parliament for the funding of weapons procurement, equipment repair, and training (said reprogramming is equivalent to $600 million in 2014 Dollars). It is hoped that, eventually, the strength of the National Guard will rise to 60,000 personnel. The pay for National Guard regulars is approximately 214 Euros ($297) a month, equivalent to an average Ukrainian's monthly income. Officers receive about twice that amount. There are also some attached Internal Troops personnel, mostly for training and/or logistical support purposes, e.g. K-9 teams that have been taking part in training and demonstration sessions.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: During the ongoing war in the Donbas region of Ukraine, the forces of the revived National Guard have fought against pro-Russian separatists and Russian troops disguised as separatists. Due to lack of reserves, earlier in the conflict willing civilians and political groups created their own militias and paramilitary groups, known as the "Volunteer Battalions", to fight the separatists on their own. The Battalions were credited to have held the line against the separatists and allowed the National Guard and the Armed Forces to reorganize and strike back. Some of the Battalions were placed under the aegis of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Two of them were the Azov and Donbas battalions, which were the largest volunteer units by far with a strength of 1,000 and 900 soldiers. Due the size and operational success of those Battalions, they were transferred to be under the command of the National Guard.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: On May, the National Guard saw one of its first combat operations at the First Battle of Mariupol, where they clashed with pro-Russia militants and demonstrators during the unrest in Mariupol. They first attempted to occupy several government buildings before they were routed by National Guard riot troops, but soon the unrest envolved into heavy fighting between government and separatist militia forces. Around the same time on May, separatist troops captured the terminal buildings of Donetsk International Airport, the National Guard circled the separatist forces, issuing an ultimatum demanding the surrender of the separatists — which was denied — and the paratroopers launched an assault on the airport. The incident became known as the First Battle of Donetsk Airport. On early June, a Border Guard base and a National Guard were besieged in Luhansk and after 10 hours of battle the base fell after the guardsmen ran out of ammunition.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: On October 13, several National Guards troops protested outside the Ukrainian presidential administration building in Kyiv, they demanded the end of conscription, and their own demobilisation. According to "Kyiv Post", many of the protesters were former Internal Troops who had clashed with Euromaidan protesters, and that they were not in favour of that movement or the new government.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: Three National Guardsmen died in a riot on 31 August 2015 at the Verkhovna Rada when a policeman on leave threw a grenade outside the facade.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: According to official figures, by mid-April 2016, the Interior Ministry and the National Guard have lost 308 personnel since the war in Donbas broke out, including 108 from the National Guard's volunteer battalions.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: Beginning Thursday, 24 February 2022, the day the Russian Armed Forces invaded Ukraine, the NGU has been active in many of the land battles fought by Ukrainian forces during the current war.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: In the first day of the war, the Russian Airborne Forces (VDV) attempted an air assault on the Antonov Airport in Hostomel, northwest Kyiv, in order to do an air lift and bring more troops and heavier equipment to the capital in a military engagement that became known as the Battle of Antonov Airport. In the initial phases of the assault, the VDV expelled a small garrison of the National Guard and took control of the airport. However, the 4th Rapid Reaction Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard swiftly reacted by launching an extensive counter-attack, using armored vehicles and artillery, that encircling the unsupported Russian troops and repelled the attack. The airport was captured by a renewed Russian offensive the next day, but the airport was rendered unusable by battle damage. The actions of the 4th Brigade were credited with preventing the quick capitulation of Kyiv, and led to the Russian Offensive on Kyiv stalling and eventually withdrawing.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: 169 National Guard troops were captured after the Battle of Chernobyl. Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that "Currently, control over the situation at the Chernobyl NPP is being exercised jointly by Russian servicemen, Ukrainian specialists, the plant’s civilian personnel, and that country’s National Guard". But later reports indicated they were captured and locked in a bunker for 30 days. On 6 April, the Ukrainians officially announced the National Guard had retaken and reestablished control over the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: The Azov Regiment was heavily involved in the Siege of Mariupol, being one of the primary defenders of the city. The other units of the National Guard defending the city were the . The Azov's origins as a neonazi and ultranationalist militia, and its legitimization by the Ukrainian government and inclusion in the official structure of the National Guard has been a point of contention. It has been used by Russia to paint the Ukrainian government as Nazi-leaning, as justification for the brutality in Mariupol and as a "casus belli" for the invasion itself.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: A sixth Operational-Territorial Command for Crimea has been organized only on paper until the peninsula is returned by Russia to Ukraine (currently the Crimean units are under the National Guard of Russia).


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: In case that martial law would be declared all National Guard units, with the exception of the units tasked with guard and convoy of individuals taken into custody and the units tasked with diplomatic security of embassies and consulates, would come under the command of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine as auxiliary to the Armed Forces proper. This was applied for the first time during the 2022 Russian invasion when martial law was put in place in the country.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: The Western Operational-Territorial Command, headquartered in Lviv, covers the oblasts of Lviv, Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Khmelnytskyi, Rivne, Ternopil, Vinnytsia, Volyn and Zakarpattia.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: The Northern Operational-Territorial Command, headquartered in Kyiv, covers the city of Kyiv and the oblasts of Kyiv, Cherkasy, Chernihiv and Zhytomyr, forming parts of the forces that fought Russia in the current war in its area of operations.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: The Central Operational-Territorial Command, headquartered in Dnipro, covers the oblasts of Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad and Poltava.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: The Eastern Operational-Territorial Command, headquartered in Kharkiv, covers the oblasts of Kharkiv, Donetsk, Luhansk and Sumy, and is the frontline command of National Guard forces forward deployed first in the war in Donbas and then in the subsequent Russian invasion.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: The Southern Operational-Territorial Command, headquartered in Odesa, covers the oblasts of Odesa, Kherson, Mykolaiv and Zaporizhzhia. During the ongoing Russian invasion, the NGU Southern Command is responsible for all National Guard forces forward deployed in Southern Ukraine.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: Under the pre-2000 structure, the National Guard administratively came under the Ministry of Internal Affairs but operationally answered directly to the President of Ukraine, though prior to 1995 parliament had some operational oversight. In the 2014 structure, it reports both administratively and operationally to the Minister of Internal Affairs, a position at present held by Arsen Avakov. In the old NSU, its overall Commander was originally appointed by the Presidium of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) for 5-year terms. His Deputy Commander was appointed to the post by the President of Ukraine upon a submission from the Commander. However, in 1995 the system was changed so that both the Commander and Deputy Commander would be appointed by the President.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: Also part of the NSU was the "Military Council", which approved the personal staff of the President of Ukraine based on submissions from the Commander, and the "Department of National Guard", an administrative entity acting in accordance with the terms of reference approved by the President of Ukraine. This included the Guard's secondary Disaster management role.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: As of late March 2014, it was still in flux. However, current developments suggest that the 'new' National Guard will primarily be a Light infantry force, heavily reliant on reserve units with a few mechanized and armor support elements. This is in contrast to the 'old' National Guard, which was mostly a Mechanized infantry force, albeit one that incorporated a number of specialized formations and units, along with organic armor, artillery and air support elements.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: The first of the new National Guard's regular battalions formally paraded on 6 April, after only three weeks of training. The unidentified battalion consists of 500 members of between 18 and 55 years of age, and it appears to be tasked as a rapid reaction force, using soft skinned vehicles such as trucks for transport.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: The commander of the National Guard of Ukraine is appointed by the president since 25 December 2015. Up until then, the commander was appointed by the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament) under a motion from the President.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: The unit was created in order to create a model in order to turn the National Guard into a fully professionalized army. Thus, is one of the National Guard's top units, having assault battalions, a tank battalion and an artillery squadron, and receiving superior training and equipment. The unit was trained by foreign military advisers and veterans and organized with NATO standards.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: Named after the Sea of Azov, the unit was created in Mariupol which is a major coastal city and operates as the capital of Donetsk Oblast due to the occupations of Donetsk by insurgents. The unit was one of the first battalions to form and begin to resist the rebels, playing a large role in the defence of Mariupol. The battalion is mostly composed of Russian-speaking volunteers from Eastern Ukraine and initially was headed by Andriy Biletsky.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: The unit is known for far right agenda and has been reported as displaying Nazi symbols. The unit denies the allegation that they use Nazi symbols, claiming that their logo is based on the Coat of Arms of Ukraine while elements of the national flag are also used. In 2014, a spokesman for the regiment said around 10–20% of the unit were neo-Nazis.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: It was upgraded into a full regiment in 2015, and is the only one with foreign soldiers in its ranks. It is also the NG's only territorial defence regiment in service, having fought with distinction in both the Donbas War and the current Russian invasion.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: The most well-known and first volunteer battalion to form to resist Russian insurgents in the Donbas, often referred to as the "little black men" as an analog to Crimea's Little green men. The unit was conceived and is headed by Semen Semenchenko, an ethnic Ukrainian. It formed from local ethnic Russian volunteers of the Donbas region who disagreed with the separatist philosophy and wished to remain part of Ukraine but were dissatisfied with the inaction of Ukrainian government forces in the area. In effect it is an analog of the separatist formed Vostok Battalion which formed from ethnic Russians fighting for separatism.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: Since its formation the unit became much more diverse accepting volunteers from all over Ukraine and foreign nations into their ranks, however ethnic Russians still make up the majority of the unit. The unit is one of the largest volunteer battalions in Ukraine with nearly 1,000 members and has participated in most major battles since the start of the war in Donbas. Despite being part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ National Guard unit, battalion had received funding from various donors. The unit also aided in the defence of Mariupol when Russian forces invaded through Novoazovsk, the battalion sent several tank destroyers to slow the Russian advance. The offensive toward Mariupol was halted near Shyrokyne and Bezimenne.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: In September 2014 the unit was reorganized into a Regiment the bulk of which consisted of a 700-man Battalion Tactical Group. The Ministry of Defence stated that the unit would be armed with tanks and armored personnel carriers. A Spetsnaz unit within the battalion was also formed. The unit has been re-designated as the 3rd Reserve Battalion of the National Guard of Ukraine after being integrated into regular forces, but the Spetsnaz company remained.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: New recruits (those not transferring in from the Internal Troops, Ground Forces or military academies) will undergo an initial two-week compressed training course, covering a range of areas from firearms and unarmed combat, to map reading and communications. Those signing up to be full-time members of the Guard will receive at least an additional four weeks of training. For those part-time members who complete their two-week training and return to their communities to await call-up, the authorities appear to be planning to implement a variation of the March battalion system; based where possible around existing civilian militias and armed groupings. Most of those use the sotnya as their basic unit, as does the National Guard itself.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: In March 2015, the National Guard of Ukraine received training from the U.S. 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. The training took place at the Yavoriv training center near the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. The 173rd Airborne paratroopers trained the Ukrainians on how to better defend themselves against "Russian and rebel artillery and rockets." Training also included securing roads, bridges, and other infrastructure and treating and evacuating casualties.


title: National Guard of Ukraine

text: Officers and NCOs of the NGU are trained under the aegis of the National Guard Military Academy of Ukraine.


title: Self-propelled artillery

text: Self-propelled artillery (also called locomotive artillery) is artillery equipped with its own propulsion system to move toward its firing position. Within the terminology are the self-propelled gun, self-propelled howitzer, self-propelled mortar, and rocket artillery. They are high mobility vehicles, usually based on continuous tracks carrying either a large field gun, howitzer, mortar, or some form of rocket/missile launcher. They are usually used for long-range indirect bombardment support on the battlefield.


title: Self-propelled artillery

text: In the past, self-propelled artillery has included direct-fire vehicles, such as assault guns and anti-tank guns (tank destroyers). These have been armoured vehicles, the former providing close fire-support for infantry and the latter acting as specialized anti-tank vehicles.


title: Self-propelled artillery

text: Modern self-propelled artillery vehicles often mount their main gun in a turret on a tracked chassis so they superficially resemble tanks. However they are generally lightly armoured which is insufficient to withstand direct-fire combat, nonetheless this protects their crews against shrapnel and small arms and are therefore usually included as armoured fighting vehicles. Many are equipped with machine guns for defense against enemy infantry.


title: Self-propelled artillery

text: The key advantage of self-propelled over towed artillery is that it can be brought into action much faster. Before the towed artillery can be used, it has to stop, unlimber and set up the guns. To move position, the guns must be limbered up again and brought—usually towed—to the new location. By comparison, self-propelled artillery can stop at a chosen location and begin firing almost immediately, then quickly move on to a new position. This shoot-and-scoot ability is very useful in a mobile conflict and particularly on the advance.


title: Self-propelled artillery

text: Conversely, towed artillery was and remains cheaper to build and maintain. It is also lighter and can be taken to places that self-propelled guns cannot reach. Since the Vietnam War, heavy transport helicopters have also been used for rapid artillery deployment. So, despite the advantages of the self-propelled artillery, towed guns remain in the arsenals of many modern armies.


title: Self-propelled artillery

text: During the Thirty Years' War, early 17th century experiments were made with early types of horse artillery. Batteries towed light field guns where most or all of the crew rode horses into battle. The gunners were trained to quickly dismount, deploy the guns and provide instant fire support to cavalry, and act as a flexible reserve. The Russian army organized small units of horse artillery that were distributed among their cavalry formations in the early 18th century. While not forming large batteries and employing only lighter 2- and 3-pound guns, they were still effective and inflicted serious losses to Prussian units in the Seven Years' War. This inspired Frederick the Great to organize the first regular horse artillery unit in 1759. Other nations quickly realized the capability of the new arm and by the start of French Revolutionary Wars in 1790s Austria, Hannover, Portugal, Russia, France, Great Britain and Sweden had all formed regular units of horse artillery. The arm was employed throughout the Napoleonic Wars and remained in use throughout the entire 19th century and into the first half of the 20th century, when advances in weapons technology finally made it obsolete.


title: Self-propelled artillery

text: The British Gun Carrier Mark I was the first example of a self-propelled gun, fielded in 1917 during World War I. It was based on the first tank, the British Mark I and carried a heavy field gun. The gun could either be fired from the vehicle, or removed and set up as normal. In effect, the carrier replaced the use of a separate horse team or internal combustion engine powered artillery tractor, and allowed a new way for the gun to be used.


title: Self-propelled artillery

text: The next major advance can be seen in the Birch gun developed by the British for their motorised warfare experimental brigade (the Experimental Mechanized Force) after the end of the War. This mounted an 18-pounder field gun, capable of both the usual artillery trajectories and high angle anti-aircraft fire, on a Vickers medium tank chassis. It was designed and built for investigations into a general approach to warfare where all arms, infantry and artillery included, would be able to operate over the same terrain as tanks. The Red Army also experimented with truck- and tank-mounted artillery, but produced none in quantity.


title: Self-propelled artillery

text: At the outbreak of World War II, virtually all artillery was still being moved around by artillery tractors or horses. While the German Blitzkrieg doctrine called for combined-arms action, which required fire support for armoured units, during the invasion of Poland and France this was provided by the Luftwaffe using Junkers Ju-87 'Stuka' dive-bombers effectively acting as artillery. Conventional towed howitzers followed.


title: Self-propelled artillery

text: As the war progressed, most nations developed self-propelled artillery. Some early attempts were often no more than a field gun or anti-tank gun mounted on a truck—a technique known in the British Army as carrying "portee". These were mobile, but lacked protection for the crew. The next step was to mount the guns on a tracked chassis (often that of an obsolete or superseded tank) and provide an armoured superstructure to protect the gun and its crew. Many of the early designs were improvised and the lessons learned led to better designs later in the war. For example, the first British design, "Bishop", carried the 25 pdr gun-howitzer on a Valentine tank chassis, but in a mounting that severely limited the gun's performance. It was replaced by the more effective Sexton.


title: Self-propelled artillery

text: The first battery of self-propelled artillery guns was created when Hauptmann Alfred Becker, a mechanical engineer and battery captain in the 227th Infantry Division, mounted his 10.5 cm leFH 16 howitzers on the chassis of captured British Vickers Mk.VI light tanks to mobilize his guns. His 10.5 cm leFH 16 Geschützwagen Mk VI 736 (e) was the forerunner to German tracked field guns such as the Wespe and Hummel.


title: Self-propelled artillery

text: The Germans also mobilized their anti-tank guns, using light, obsolete or captured tracked vehicles. Examples include the Marder I, using captured French Lorraine 37L tractors, the Marder II, using the Panzer II light tank chassis, and the Marder III, which was based on the Panzer 38(t) Czech chassis. These led to better-protected Assault guns – "Sturmgeschütz" – with fully enclosed casemates, built on medium tank chassis. In the same way self-propelled anti-tank guns such as the Jagdpanzer IV and Jagdpanther. Some designs were based on existing chassis (such as the Brummbär), leftover chassis from cancelled programs (Elefant and Sturer Emil); others were converted from battle-damaged tanks (Sturmtiger). The single most-produced armored fighting vehicle design for Germany in WW II, the Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III) assault gun, in 1936-37 pioneered the later casemate-style fully enclosed armor that would be used on almost all late-war German self-propelled artillery and "Jagdpanzer"-format tank destroyers.


title: Self-propelled artillery

text: The Soviets experimented with truck-and tank-based self-propelled weapons, producing a few Komsomolets tractor-mounted 57-mm ZiS-2 guns early in the war. By 1943, the series of "Samokhodnaya Ustanovka" casemate-armored vehicles had started to appear at the front, starting with the SU-85, and by late 1944 the SU-100, which mounted powerful guns on modern chassis adopting the full-casemate enclosure of the crew compartment as the Germans had done with the StuG III. These had the advantage of being relatively cheap to build and mounting a larger gun compared to the conventional tank that they were derived from, but at the expense of flexibility.


title: Self-propelled artillery

text: Heavily armoured assault guns were designed to provide direct-fire support to infantry in the face of enemy defenses. Although often similar to tank destroyers, they carried larger caliber guns with weaker anti-armor performance but capable of firing powerful HE projectiles. The German 105mm howitzer-armed StuH 42 based on the StuG III, and the immense 152mm howitzer-armed, Soviet ISU-152, both fully casemated in their design, are examples of this type of self-propelled artillery.


title: Self-propelled artillery

text: All major nations developed self-propelled artillery that would be able to provide indirect support while keeping pace with advancing armoured formations. These were usually lightly armoured vehicles with an open-topped hull; the US M7 Priest, British Sexton (25 pdr) and German Wespe and Hummel being typical examples. A different route was chosen by the Soviets, who did not develop a specialized indirect fire vehicle, but following a tradition of dual-purpose towed artillery, built a series of versatile assault guns with indirect fire capabilities (example ISU-152). A related and novel program was the development of the Soviet Katyusha self-propelled multiple rocket launchers, which were unarmored trucks with a simple rocket rack on the back, a cheap and crushingly effective weapon, provided area saturation was called for rather than accurate fire. The Axis powers had captured the Katyusha and made their own versions; Germany created the "8 cm Raketen-Vielfachwerfer", while Romania developed the Mareșal tank destroyer, an early prototype of which was armed with a Katyusha. It also had self-propelled howitzer versions.


title: Self-propelled artillery

text: After the end of World War II, the assault gun fell from use with a general trend towards a single heavy gun-equipped vehicle, the main battle tank, although some wheeled AFV's such as the South African Rooikat, the Maneuver Combat Vehicle of the JGSDF, and the US M1128 MGS, among others, are still developed with large-caliber, direct fire weapons. Self-propelled indirect-fire artillery remains important and continues to develop alongside the general purpose field gun.


title: Self-propelled artillery

text: Many vehicles have used ancillary smoke mortars for local defense, which project one or more smoke grenades in a pattern that allows them to lay down a smoke screen some distance in order to conceal the vehicle from enemy observers. Mortar carriers are vehicles which carry a mortar as a primary weapon. Numerous vehicles have been used to mount mortars, from improvised civilian trucks used by insurgents, to modified IFV's, such as variants of the M3 half track and M113 APC, to vehicles specifically intended to carry a mortar, such as the 2S31 Vena. The Israeli Makmat is a mortar carrier based on the M4 Sherman tank chassis.


title: Self-propelled artillery

text: The Russian army uses a "2S4 Tyulpan" (Tulip) self-propelled 240 mm heavy mortar. Patria Hägglunds, a joint venture between Finnish Patria and Swedish BAE Systems Hägglunds manufactures AMOS (Advanced Mortar System), which is a 120 mm automatic twin barrelled, breech loaded mortar turret. There are also numerous AFV's and even MBT's that can be equipped with a mortar, either outside or inside of the cabin. The Israeli Merkava MBT carried a 60mm mortar in the small troop compartment in the rear, which fired through an opening in the roof, allowing the crew to remain protected. This was useful for fighting nearby infantry, as a mortar is shorter ranged and cheaper to shoot than the large main gun, as well as being better suited to wounding enemy infantry taking cover behind objects. However, since the mortar is only a secondary weapon in this case, the Merkava is not considered a mortar carrier.


title: Self-propelled artillery

text: Self-propelled artillery remains important in the equipment of many modern armies. It saw a significant role throughout the Cold War era conflicts and in the recent Gulf Wars.


title: Self-propelled artillery

text: Modern SP artillery is highly computerized with the ability to self survey firing positions using systems such as GPS and inertial navigation systems. This, in conjunction with digital fire control/ballistic computers and digital communications, allows individual guns to disperse over a wide area and still deliver rounds on target simultaneously with the other guns in their battery.


title: Self-propelled artillery

text: These capabilities also increase survivability manyfold as modern SP artillery can displace and avoid counterbattery fire much more quickly and effectively and, if desired, more frequently than previously possible. In conjunction with modern logistic systems (where the SP gun's systems can track and report on ammunition consumption and levels) with similar navigation systems and palletized load dropping/lifting capabilities mean that the rapid displacement can occur without significant disruption to actually firing missions as it is possible for the ammunition to keep up with the guns.


title: Self-propelled artillery

text: A modern battery of six guns, each firing 43 kg projectiles with a burst firing speed of four rounds per minute, can deliver over a tonne of ordnance per minute for up to four minutes. This is an immense weight of fire, which can be delivered with very high accuracy.


title: Self-propelled artillery

text: One example of the increased firepower provided by modern mobile howitzers is the latest version, the "G6-52", of the 155 mm G6 howitzer. It can fire up to six rounds in quick succession that will land nearly simultaneously. This is achieved by firing the shells at different trajectories so that the first round has the longest flight time and the last round the shortest. This is an improvement of the concept of MRSI (Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact), itself an enhancement of the earlier TOT (Time On Target) concept. The necessary rapid reloading is made possible by an automated ammunition feed system.


title: Self-propelled artillery

text: Rockets have greater ranges and carry much more complex "shells" than guns since there is less of a restriction on size (calibre). The MLRS can be used to saturate a large area with sub-munitions.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: The first-generation Barracuda was based on the Chrysler A-body and was offered from 1964 to 1966. A two-door hardtop (no B-pillar) fastback design, it shared a great majority of parts and bodywork with the Plymouth Valiant, except for the huge and distinctive wraparound rear glass.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: The second-generation Barracuda, though still Valiant-based, was heavily redesigned. Built from 1967 to 1969, it was available as a two-door in fastback, notchback, and convertible versions.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: The third generation, offered from 1970 to 1974, was based on the Chrysler E-body, exclusive to it and the slightly larger Dodge Challenger. A completely new design, the two-door Barracuda was available in hardtop and convertible body styles.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: During development of the Barracuda, one of the worst kept secrets was Ford's plan to introduce a new sporty compact car based on the inexpensive Falcon chassis and running gear (which was eventually released as the 1964 1/2 Mustang); the extent of the other changes was not known. Chrysler stylist Irv Ritchie sketched a fastback version of the compact Valiant. Budgets were limited due to research and development of the Chrysler Turbine Car, but the company's executives wanted to have an entry in this emerging and potentially lucrative sporty-compact car market segment, beginning by syphoning off some of the Chevrolet's Corvair Monza's sales. Plymouth's executives had wanted to name the new model "Panda", an idea unpopular with its designers. In the end, John Samsen's suggestion of "Barracuda" prevailed.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: Based on Chrysler's A-body, the Barracuda debuted in fastback form on April 1, 1964. The new model used the Valiant's wheelbase and the Valiant hood, headlamp bezels, windshield, vent windows, quarter panels, doors, A-pillar, and bumpers; the trunk and some of the glass was new. Utilizing the same hybrid design approach as Ford did turning its Falcon into the Mustang significantly reduced Plymouth's development and tooling cost and time for the new model. The greatest effort was put into creating its distinguishing rear window, a collaboration between Pittsburgh Plate Glass (PPG) and Chrysler designers that created the largest ever installed on a standard production car to that time.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: Powertrains were identical to the Valiant's, including two versions of Chrysler's slant-6 six-cylinder engine. The standard-equipment engine had a displacement of and an output of ; the option raised the power output to .


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: The highest-power option for 1964 was Chrysler's all-new LA V8. A compact and relatively light engine equipped with a two-barrel carburetor, it produced . The Barracuda sold for a base price of US$2,512 ($ today).


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: The 1964 model year was the first for the Barracuda and also the last year for push-button control of the optional Torqueflite automatic transmission. This year also marked the first use of the smaller "TorqueFlite 6" (A904) transmission behind a V8.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: In the marketplace, the Barracuda was "obviously" a fastback version of the Valiant that had a frugal family transportation image. The sales brochure for the first Barracudas pitched it as a car "for people of all ages and interests." The more "sporty" Mustang was marketed with abundant advertising to young professionals and with its youthful image proved widely successful following its mid-1964 introduction. This became known as the "pony car" niche of modestly appointed compact-sized sedans and convertibles, which came with standard 6-cylinder engines and basic interiors, but could be outfitted with powerful V8s and "custom" appointments and luxury features. The success of the Mustang has long obscured the fact that the Barracuda actually predated Ford's introduction by two weeks. The abbreviated sales season for the 1964 Barracuda totaled 23,443 units compared to the 126,538 Mustangs sold during the same time.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: In 1965, the 225 slant-6 became the base engine for the U.S. market, though the remained the base engine in Canada.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: New options were introduced for the Barracuda as the competition among pony cars intensified. The 273 engine was made available as an upgraded "Commando" version with a four-barrel carburetor, 10.5:1 compression, and a more aggressive camshaft, still with solid tappets. These and other upgrades increased the engine's output to .


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: A new "Formula 'S' " package included the Commando V8 engine, suspension upgrades, larger wheels and tires, special emblems, and a tachometer. Disc brakes and factory-installed air conditioning became available after the start of the 1965 model year.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: For 1966, the Barracuda received new taillamps, new front sheet metal, and a new instrument panel. The latter had room for oil pressure and tachometer gauges on models so equipped. The 1966 front sheet metal which, except for the grille, was shared with the Valiant, gave a more rectilinear contour to the fenders. Deluxe models featured fender-top turn signal indicators with a stylized fin motif. The bumpers were larger, and the grille featured a strong grid theme. A center console was optional for the first time.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: Although the first Barracudas were heavily based on the contemporary Valiants, Plymouth wanted them perceived as distinct models. Consequently, the "Valiant" chrome script that appeared on the model's trunk lid was phased out at the end of the 1965 model year in the U.S. market, and the large stylized "V" trim above the deck lid was changed to a unique Barracuda fish logo for 1966, though in markets such as Canada and South Africa, where Valiant was a marque in its own right, the car remained badged as "Valiant Barracuda" until the A-body Barracuda was discontinued.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: The second-generation Barracuda was redesigned with model-specific sheet metal, yet still shared many components with the Valiant. It rode on a wheelbase A-body and available as a convertible and a notchback hardtop coupe versions in addition to the fastback design.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: The new Barracuda was chiefly the work of John E. Herlitz and John Samsen, with Coke-bottle side contours and heavily revised front and rear ends. Design changes included wider wheel openings, curved side glass, and S-curved roof pillars on the hardtop.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: The roofline on the fastback coupe was more streamlined, more steeply raked, and with a much smaller flush rear window in place of the distinctive massive wraparound in the original model. Also, the overall use of chrome trim was more restrained.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: During this time the first U.S. Federal auto safety standards were phased in, and Chrysler's response a requirement for side-marker lights distinguishes each model year of the second-generation Barracuda:


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: As the pony-car class became established and competition increased, Plymouth began to revise the Barracuda's engine options.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: In 1967, while the slant-6 was still the base engine, the V8 options ranged from the two- and four-barrel versions of the to a seldom-ordered "B" big-block, rated at , the latter available only with the "Formula S" package.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: In 1968, the 273 was replaced by the LA engine as the smallest V8 available, and the new LA four-barrel was released. The 383 Super Commando engine was upgraded with the intake manifold, camshaft, and cylinder heads from the Road Runner and Super Bee, but the more restrictive exhaust manifolds specific to the A-body cars limited its output to .


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: Also in 1968, Chrysler made approximately fifty fastback Barracudas equipped with the Hemi for Super Stock drag racing. These cars were assembled by Hurst Performance and featured items such as lightweight Chemcor side glass, fiberglass front fenders, hood scoop, lightweight seats, sound deadener, and other street features such as rear seats omitted. An included sticker indicated that the car was not for use on public roads; it could run the quarter-mile in the mid-tens in 1968.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: For the South African export market, a high-performance version of the 225 slant-6 called "Charger Power" was offered with 9.3:1 compression, two-barrel carburetor, more aggressive camshaft, and low-restriction exhaust system. A handful of Savage GTs were also built from the second-generation Barracuda.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: In 1969, Plymouth placed an increased emphasis on performance. A new option was the "Mod Top", a vinyl roof covering with a floral motif, available in 1969 and 1970. Plymouth sold it as a package with seat and door panel inserts done in the same pattern.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: The 1969 version of the 383 engine was upgraded to increase power output to , and a new trim package called" 'Cuda" was released. The 'Cuda, based on the Formula S option, was available with either the 340, 383 and, new for 1969, the 440 Super Commando V8.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: The redesign for the 1970 Barracuda removed all its previous commonality with the Valiant. The original fastback design was deleted from the line and the Barracuda now consisted of coupe and convertible models. The all-new model, styled by John E. Herlitz, was built on a shorter, wider version of Chrysler's existing B platform, called the E-body. Though sharing its platform with the newly launched Dodge Challenger, no exterior sheet-metal interchanged between the sibling cars. The Challenger, at , had a wheelbase that was longer, and a body longer than the Barracuda's.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: The E-body Barracuda was now "able to shake the stigma of 'economy car'." Three versions were offered for 1970 and 1971: the base Barracuda (BH), the luxury oriented Gran Coupe (BP), and the sport model 'Cuda (BS).


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: Beginning mid-year 1970, and ending with the 1971 model, there also was the Barracuda Coupe (A93), a low-end model with the Slant Six as a base engine, lower-grade interior, and (like other Coupe series Chrysler offered that year) had fixed quarter glass instead of roll-down rear passenger windows. The high-performance models were marketed as" 'Cuda" deriving from the 1969 option. The E-body's engine bay was larger than that of the previous A-body, facilitating the release of Chrysler's for the regular retail market.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: For 1970 and 1971, the Barracuda and Barracuda Gran Coupe had two slant I6 engines available — a new version and the previous 225 — as well as four different V8s: the 318 CID, the , the 383 with two-barrel carburetor and single exhaust, and the 383 with four-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust SAE gross.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: The Cuda had the 383 SAE gross (same as Dodge's 383 Magnum) as the standard engine. Options included the , AAR "Six-Pack", with triple 2-barrel carburetors, a four-barrel Super Commando, the 440 triple two-barrel Super Commando Six Pack with a gross rating of , and the Hemi. The 440- and Hemi-equipped cars received upgraded suspension components and structural reinforcements to help transfer the power to the road.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: Other Barracuda options included decal sets, hood modifications, and some unusual "high impact" colors such as "Lime Light", "Bahama Yellow", "Tor Red", "Lemon Twist", "Curious Yellow", "Vitamin C", "In-Violet", "Sassy Grass" and "Moulin Rouge".


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: Swede Savage and Dan Gurney raced identical factory-sponsored AAR (All American Racers) 'Cudas in the 1970 Trans-Am Series. The cars qualified for three pole positions but did not win any Trans-Am races; the highest finish was second at Road America. Four 1970 Hemi 'Cudas were also successfully raced by Chrysler France, from 1970 until 1973. The works team director Henrí Chemin piloted the first car, and then sold it on to friend and privateer J. F. Mas who went on to race it for another two years. This Hemi 'Cuda won four French Group 1 class championships, three on track and one in hill-climbing.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: The Barracuda was changed slightly for 1971, with a new grille and taillights, seat, and trim differences. This would be the only year that the Barracuda would have four headlights (which the Challenger had for all five years of their concurrent run), and also the only year of the fender "gills" on the 'Cuda model.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: The 1971 Barracuda engine options would remain the same as that of the 1970 model, except that the 340 6-Bbl was gone, and the four-barrel carbureted 440 V8 engine was no longer on the options list, but could be had via special order and perhaps a dozen cars were built with it installed; otherwise, the 440-powered Barracudas had a six-barrel carburetor setup instead.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: In 1970 and 1971 only, the shaker hood (option code N96), elastomeric (rubber) colored bumpers, and the Spicer-built Dana 60 rear axle were available. The shaker hood was available with 340, 383, 440 four-barrel, 440 six-barrel, and 426 Hemi engines. The elastomeric (rubber) colored bumpers were available either as a front-only option, option code A21, or as a front and rear combination, option code A22. The heavy-duty (and heavy) Dana 60, with a ring gear, was standard equipment with manual transmissions and 440 six-barrel and 426 Hemi engines, and was optional on those with the automatic transmission.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: With a new grille and single headlights (very similar to the 1970 model) and four circular taillights for 1972, the Barracuda would remain basically unchanged through 1974, with new bodyside stripes, and minor changes to the bumpers to conform with federal impact standards being the only significant variations. Big block engines (383, 440, & 426 Hemi), heavy-duty suspensions and rear axles, and large/wide tires mounted on 15" x 7" wheels were no longer offered. Additionally; the convertible model was dropped; though a few late build 1971 convertibles were built with 1972 grills and back end panels and provided to Paramount Studios for TV and movie work; being seen on "Mannix", "The Brady Bunch" and other shows. Convenience and comfort items such as power seats, power windows, and upgraded interior (leather seats and plush carpeting) options were dropped, though heavy-duty air conditioning and a sunroof could still be ordered. For 1972 only, three engine choices were offered: a 225 six, the 318 (base engine for both 'Cuda and Barracuda), and a revised 340 detuned to meet emission standards. In addition, all three were tuned to run on low/no-lead gas and were power rated on the NET (installed) method. Three transmissions were offered: a 3-speed manual, the Torqueflite automatic, and the "Hurst" shifter equipped four-speed. For 1973 federally mandated safety bumpers were added front and rear, and the 225 six was dropped, with the 318 and 340 V8s being the only engine choices. For late production 1973 cars, and for 1974 a slightly more powerful 360 V8 (245 E bodyhp) replaced the 340. As since 1970; optional was a four-speed manual transmission (equipped with a Hurst shifter) mated to a performance ratio (3.55 to 1) rear axle for the 340 and 360 engines, though as many as three cars (in both 1973 and 1974) were built with the 318 engine and Hurst 4-speed thru special orders or factory errors.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: As with other American vehicles of the time, there was a progressive decrease in the Barracuda's performance. To meet increasingly stringent safety and exhaust emission regulations, big-block engine options were discontinued. The remaining engines were detuned year by year to reduce exhaust emissions, which also reduced their power output. There was also an increase in weight as bumpers became larger and, starting in 1970, E-body doors were equipped with heavy steel side-impact protection beams. Higher fuel prices following the 1973 oil crisis and performance-car insurance surcharges deterred many buyers as the interest in high-performance cars waned. Sales of pony cars were on the decline. Sales had dropped dramatically after 1970, and while 1973 showed a sales uptick, Barracuda production ended April 1, 1974, ten years to the day after it had begun.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: SAE gross hp ratings were tested with no accessories, no air cleaner, or open headers. In 1971, compression ratios were reduced in performance engines, except the 426 cu in and the high performance 440 cu in, to accommodate regular gasoline. 1971 was the last year for the 426 Hemi.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: Chrysler had plans to continue the 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A for 1971, even publishing advertisements for a 1971 Dodge Challenger T/A. However, no 1971 Dodge Challenger T/A was made. Similarly, no 1971 Plymouth AAR Cuda was made.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: The 383 Magnum was the standard engine for the 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T, 1970 Dodge Coronet Super Bee, 1970 Plymouth Cuda, and 1970 Plymouth Road Runner; it was not available in any other models.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: A 1975 Barracuda had been planned before the end of the 1970-74 model cycle. Plymouth engineers sculpted two separate concepts out of clay, both featuring a Superbird-inspired aerodynamic body, and eventually reached a consensus upon which an operational concept car could be built. Due to a rapidly changing automotive market due to the energy crisis, the concepts were scrapped and the Barracuda was not put into production for 1975.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: In 2007, "Motor Trend" magazine reported a rumor that Chrysler was considering reviving the Barracuda in 2009. A new Barracuda would've been badged as a Chrysler, due to the Plymouth brand having been phased out in 2001. However, the Barracuda has not been reintroduced alongside the third generation Dodge Challenger. Rumors of the Barracuda making a comeback were brought up again by "Motor Trend" in 2012 when reports leaked that the Barracuda would come back in 2014 under the SRT Marque, "replacing" the Challenger instead of being built alongside it. It was also stated the car would not be of a retro design. Ultimately, the SRT division was re-consolidated under the Dodge banner and the Challenger remained in production without a Barracuda replacement.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: After years of silence, an all-new Barracuda, now under the Dodge brand, was shown to FCA dealers along with other future vehicles on August 25, 2015. Based on stretched underpinnings of the rear-drive Alfa Romeo Giulia, it was rumored to be powered by a turbocharged V6 and arrive within the 2019 model year.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: The Barracuda (particularly the 1970–1974 E-Body cars) is a collectible car today, with the high-performance versions and convertibles commanding the highest prices. The small number of Barracudas remaining in existence is the result of low buyer interest (and low production/sales) when the vehicles were new. The remaining cars of any condition are rare, and the outstanding examples fetch high appraisal values today. Original Hemi super stock Barracudas (and similarly configured Dodge Darts) are now prized collector vehicles, with factory (unaltered) cars commanding high prices.


title: Plymouth Barracuda

text: The 1971 Hemi 'Cuda convertible is now considered one of the most valuable collectible muscle cars. Only thirteen were built, seven of which were sold domestically. The most recent public sale was at the June 2014 Mecum auction in Seattle, where a blue on blue 4-speed sold for US$3.5 million (plus buyers premium). Several replica cars were created to look like Hemi 'Cudas and driven by the title character in the late-1990s police procedural "Nash Bridges". None of these replica cars had a Hemi V8 under the hood.