tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60414539502894981562024-03-18T17:44:58.929+03:00OVERLORD'S BLOGInsider's view of MMO game developmentOverlordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04097311962547311945noreply@blogger.comBlogger879125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041453950289498156.post-31506784320783645172022-08-21T11:33:00.003+03:002022-08-21T11:33:34.313+03:00Tank: The Next Generation<p>Some weeks ago I ran the design a tank competition. The number of entries was rather low, as in, only two designs. One design came in, on the last day, and is part of the reason for the results delay, as the winner isn't answering his email! This, I suppose makes my life easier as judging is pretty simple.<br /></p><p>So the only winner I have to show to you is Bob Mackenzie's winning design:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/LHe7uHR.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="680" height="219" src="https://i.imgur.com/LHe7uHR.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step forward Mr Mackenzie, and give your tank a cool name!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><blockquote><p><i>The FMBT 2040 is a “light” MBT. Although protected against 155mm shell splinters exploding 5m away, 20mm APDS and AT mines, it is not heavily armoured, relying on superior situational awareness, mobility and advanced APS for survivability<br /><br />1) 1750bhp diesel electric drive. The engine powers electric motors on the sprockets, giving exceptional acceleration and mobility. The cooling fans for the engine are double the “traditional” size to reduce ambient engine temperature and this reduce IR signature.<br /><br />2) Micro drone hanger. Carries 10 micro drones each equipped with a high-res zoomable camera and a multi frequency (jam resistant) data link plus a GPS receiver. The drone increases situational awareness and allows the tank to conduct its own indirect fires.<br /><br />3) TV cameras with overlapping (for redundancy) 360 deg coverage horizontally and 180 deg vertically<br /><br />4) Active Protection System. Each point around the tank is overlapped by at least three tubes allowing for redundancy and combat sustainability. System will deal with both slow (missile) and fast (APFSDS) threats<br /><br />5) Millimetre Wave radar targeting sensor of APS, with a supporting IR system.<br /><br />6) Main commanders’ optical sight, wide angle and zoom optics plus a thermal imager and a laser rangefinder<br /><br />7) GPS receiver. Should this be jammed / non-functional then the tanks combat information system may receive position updates from other thanks in its company. There is an auxiliary inertial system. <br /><br />8) Datalink antenna for drones, has 20 different frequency settings allowing the tank to “watch” multiple drones and to watch drones for other vehicles plus larger drones supporting the formation.<br /><br />9) Bustle autoloader, able to deal with 3 types of ammo. There are blow off safety panels on the roof.<br /><br /></i></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><i>a. HE with a programmable airburst fuse (burst position for direct fires determined by laser rangefinder, for indirect fires based on the GPS co-ordinates of the directing drone). This round has a very much reduced propellant charge compared to other rounds.</i><br /><br /><i>b. Monolithic Heavy APFSDS. Long rod penetrator for dealing frontally with heavily armoured legacy threats</i><br /></p><p><i></i></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><i>c. Triform APFSDS. Contains three penetrators each sufficient to deal will all but the heaviest frontal armour. Once out of the barrel the penetrators diverge laterally then resume a converging course. Flight path is determined by the tank’s fire control computer in conjunction with the laser rangefinder. Penetrators have a MMW radar absorbent coating. The coating, plus the number and differing approach vectors to the target is designed to confuse and overwhelm enemy APS.</i><br /></p><p><i><br />10) Gantry to allow loading of cassettes for the autoloader rapidly and under fire<br /><br />11) Sensor mast which telescopes up to 15m high. For transport (and fitting under bridges) it may hydraulically pivot backwards<br /><br />12) 120mm main gun. With the change to APS as the primary method of protection, rather than armour, the 120mm is sufficient for all armoured threats in 2040. As legacy heavy armour systems are retired the tank is able to be down gunned to 105mm to allow for more ammunition to be carried.<br /><br />13) Main gunner’s sight. Dual channel TV and thermal imaging, plus a laser rangefinder<br /><br />14) Crew module. Turret is unmanned and the three crew members sit in the hull. Crew sit reclined and low down in the hull to reduce their exposure to fire. The Module has an automatic fire extinguisher plus an NBC system. Escape doors to either side and in the vehicle floor<br /><br />15) Now noise APU to power the electronic systems. Allows operation with the main engine turned off. For truly silent operation in sunny climes optionally an 10m x 10m rolled solar panel mat is provided (to be laid on the ground)<br /><br />16) Multi-spectrum smoke dischargers (opaque to laser, thermal imagers and MMW radar)<br /><br />17) Main exhaust. Exhaust is mixed with ambient air to reduce the IR signature<br /><br />18) Multipurpose, tuneable, jammer and radar warning. The jammer can be tuned to known threat frequencies for IEDs and enemy drones. A separate antenna is designed to operate against enemy MMW radar for APS. APS radars and drone links are too low power to be reliably detected by a simple threat receiver, however enemy jammers can be easily detected.<br /><br />19) Commanders’ auxiliary position (unmanned except in emergency). It is cramped but has direct view periscopes, auxiliary firing controls and auxiliary driving controls. These are routed on the opposite side of the tank to the primary controls. In the event of damage to various electronic components (for example the vehicle’s camera system) the tank can be fought from this position and moved to safety.<br /></i></p></blockquote><p> </p><p>Now interestingly Mr Mackenzie has gone the same direction as Rheinmetall's designers in the new KF51 Panther, which they put on show earlier this year.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/zMMMN4z.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="756" height="178" src="https://i.imgur.com/zMMMN4z.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />The concept is that by using other systems you can lighten the amount of armour you put on the tank, producing a lighter chassis and the massive cost benefits this creates.Why do I suggest the Panther is light on armour? Well by looking at the weight. The tanks weight range is 50-60 tons, hence the designation of KF51. Into that weight you've stuck a 130mm gun, autoloader and four crew, which is more stuff than current modern western tanks have, and yet they weigh around 70 tons. In addition the Panther is stated to have defences against top attack weapons, although it is obviously secret at this time. So unless the scientists at Rheinmetall have worked out how to break the laws of physics (which admittedly may have happened), the only way to achieve the specified weight is by stripping off huge slabs of armour.<p></p><p>Whilst modern anti-missile systems can, and likely, will destroy any incoming missiles, they can only intercept the first few launched at you. Most anti-missile systems these days will not shoot down more than about four missiles, and many will only be able to intercept two... then what? At that point your tank will be hit. We've seen in Ukraine some examples of Russian tanks surviving the first hit, at which point the Ukrainian defenders fire off another missile. There are other factors at play as well, anti-missile systems which shoot down incoming missiles all need targeting data, and there is no passive way of obtaining that information with enough accuracy to achieve interception. Thus you need a radar system emitting, which will give away your position. What if you're in a hidden position with anti-missile system switched off, and the enemy see you and launch on you? Equally, if you are fighting as part of a combined arms group (which you should be, again See Russian activities in Ukraine for an example of why you should do it), the infantry are at risk from the tanks anti-missile system, so it may well be switched off. That's the good thing about huge slabs of armour, it's always working and available as protection.</p><p>Of course, that's my own view. Obviously not everyone agrees with me, including those who do this for a living. So Thank you to Mr Mackenzie for submitting his design, and allowing me to start a discussion on the subject. I'd also point to feature number 10 on Mr Mackenzie's design, which is something a lot of people utterly neglect to think about, so a bonus point, if not several, for that! <br /></p>David Listerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531028120002922423noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041453950289498156.post-2103842145570615252022-07-03T12:15:00.002+03:002022-07-03T12:15:49.941+03:00A Tanks Future [competition]<p>Last week I asked if the tank is dead, which it is not. However, I suggested the shape of the tank may well change. But change to what?</p><p>Well we can all take our guesses as to what a tank will look like, so why don't we? Lets have a competition.</p><p><u><b>Prize: </b></u><br /></p><p></p><p>I have sitting on my book shelf, five brand new copies of the second edition of <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Forgotten-Tanks-1920s-1930s-1940s/dp/1399014323/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">Forgotten Tanks & Guns</a>. This is the paper back version of my first book. As it is the second edition it has some corrections in it, and I've gotten new artwork done to harmonise a lot of the drawings. In the first edition the artwork didn't get done on time, so I was sitting there drawing stuff, which led to the rather terrible plan drawings in some chapters. Well these have been replaced by the cracking 3d drawings from Andrei Kirushkin.<br /></p><p>I can of course sign the books before dispatch, or include a message. Just be aware my hand writing is terrible, so you have been warned on that score.</p><p><u><b>Task: </b></u><br /></p><p>To win one of these I want you to design a tank (or other AFV to do the role of a tank). For this I am defining a tanks role as to move weapons about the battlefield in a protected manner, and to close with and destroy the enemy with firepower, manoeuvre and shock effect.</p><p>A note on technology: I'm going to limit it to an in-service date of 2040 (when the current crop of MBT's are due to out of service). So ideally the technology will be roughly the same as now, with maybe limited advancements, of course where you think technology will be in a decade is entirely up to you.</p><p><u><b>How to Enter:</b></u><br /></p><p>Entering is easy!<br /></p><p>Get your designs together and email them into: historylisty-general@yahoo.co.uk (I hope I've set up that email account correct! If not, yell down in the comments, and I'll set it up again).</p><p>Now, don't worry if you can't draw. I can't either so I'm not judging anyone on their art standards. But a very rough plan allows me to understand what you are thinking. I'm also used to finding terrible sketches in documents as designers try to sell their ideas. Equally, with the abundance of modern graphics programs you should be able to get a basic outline done, which is all you need.<br /></p><p>You'll want to include some text to describe what you're thinking as well, but this could be notation of the drawings, or some paragraphs. As long as its legible I'm not fussed by English ability (also something I'm terrible at!). Remember, previous competitions I've run for writing a whole article have been won by non-native speakers. </p><p><i><b>Deadline for this will be 1st August. </b></i>After this date I'll pick the top five designs which I think are best, and contact you on the email address the entry was submitted from. I'll then post the books to the address you give.</p><p>I look forward to seeing your designs.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p> <br /></p>David Listerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531028120002922423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041453950289498156.post-61635526405373313202022-06-26T12:02:00.003+03:002022-07-14T20:08:55.856+03:00The Tank is Dead<p>Events in the Nagorno-Karabakh war back in September 2020 hinted at the new reality of warfare. These truths were thrown into sharp relief during the Ukrainian war, where light forces equipped with modern tank-killing weapons have annihilated Russian armoured columns. Swarms of cheap drones have given precision data allowing the modern anti-tank weapons to find and spectacularly destroy the lumbering dinosaur from the last century. <br />These lighter forces are more mobile, a cheaper platform and more agile with better ability to punch above their weight. They are a transformative option that signals the end of the century of the tank. Interconnectivity allows information dominance in the battlespace blah blah obsolete blah blah blah Cyber! Blah blah blah…<br /><br />Bollocks.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/ekEzY73.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="180" src="https://i.imgur.com/ekEzY73.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Knocked out T-90 in Ukraine.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><p>How many times recently have you read an article about the ‘Death of the Tank!111!’ from any number of media sites? They cite the ability of modern anti-tank weapons that have rendered the tank too vulnerable and have thus made them a liability on the modern battlefield. Well the pass-time of predicting the tanks demise is a long and proud one, and it has always been proved wrong. For the rest of this article we shall be looking at some of the previous claims of the end of the tank, from the first days when the tank crawled from the primordial mud of the Somme.<br /><br /><u><b>The Pioneers:</b></u><br />As we all know the Mk.I tank lurched its way across a muddy Somme swamp in September 1916. They had been born from the need to break the superiority of the machine gun. Throughout the war they had a chequered effect, and it has long been argued if they were a war winning weapon (for a more detailed argument see Tavers, 1992).<br />While historians are debating the effect of the tank during the First World War, there were similar contemporary debates after the war. In December 1919 Major-General Sir Louis Jackson gave a speech to the Royal United Service Institution. In it he stated: <br /><br /></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">‘The tank proper was a freak, the circumstances which called it into existence were exceptional and not likely to recur. If they do, they can be dealt with by other means.'<br /></p><p style="text-align: right;">(Quoted in Harris, 2015)<br /></p><p><br />While this may have been the opinion of a single such officer, there were other voices that cautioned not to become too enthralled by the tank, including one that was instrumental in designing the tank:<br /><br /></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">‘By the adoption of springs and other mechanical devices a speed of 20 miles an hour, which is a great deal faster than a fox hound, can be attained across country over hedges and ditches and so forth, and one thousand miles have been run without any appreciable wear and tear in the gear. This tank weighing 30 tons is able to pass over a brick lying on the road without crushing the brick, so delicate is the mechanism.<br />[...]<br />On the other hand the methods of anti-tank warfare have also made a profoundly significant advance. A new-form of grenade has been devised which can be discharged from the ordinary rifle capable of inflicting mortal injury on the wonderful little instrument which I have just described.<br />[...]<br />And the same thing applies to the growth of the tank as to the dual system of gun and armour. Whether the tank by increased speed, by the use of smoke, by increased protection, and by some other devices can maintain its ascendency cannot yet be foreseen. Of course its value against all enemies unprovided with these special means of offence will remain. The whole subject, however, is highly experimental and we should be most unwise to commit ourselves to any large programme of tank construction, involving heavy expense, until much more definite results can be reached and the whole practical aspect of this new war weapon has been further examined.’<br /></p><p style="text-align: right;">(Churchill, 1920)<br /></p><p><br />The argument being put forward here is that while the mechanical faults and inside conditions that plagued the tanks during the First World War were largely corrected, and that great developments had been taken in refining the vehicle, anti-tank methods had also advanced. Anti-tank guns had for the first time appeared and were more than capable of killing contemporary tanks quickly and effectively. But despite these concerns the tank did not die out, indeed it could be said to enter a golden age where everyone was experimenting with weird tank ideas.<br /><u><b><br />No Really, It Is Dead Now!</b></u><br />For this episode of the Tank is Dead, one would like to show you a newspaper article from a very well known name. It was published in 1940 of all dates:</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/tA5y6Fx.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="800" height="216" src="https://i.imgur.com/tA5y6Fx.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-18793992-7fff-468a-f974-09a8ceb5fd1d" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">(Thanks to Andrew Hills for supplying this)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Later in the decade chemical energy rounds such as HEAT and HESH were developed, or came into common use. These could knock holes through huge thicknesses of armour, and they became smaller and lighter, allowing a humble infantryman to carry a weapon that could kill a tank. Indeed, by the end of the War in Europe around 35 percent of British tank losses were knocked out by shaped charge warheads.<br /><u><b><br />It’s Dead Jim!</b></u><br />After the war, the chemical energy anti-tank rounds were quickly combined with guided rockets, and suddenly there were statements of the tank being obsolete, these seemed to come to a peak during the Yom Kippur War, where Israeli armoured columns were smashed by man-ported Sagger anti-tank guided missiles. <br /><br />But like all claims of the tank's demise, it missed one important thing. The new development that renders tanks obsolete gets countered. In the Yom Kippur the crews quickly learned how to deal with Saggers. The simple trick of waiting until the missile was about halfway through its flight, and then spraying the launch position with a burst of machine gun fire, and moving the tank a few feet forward would usually cause the missile to miss as the operator ducks to avoid the bullets, meaning the missile goes off guidance.<br />In the case of chemical energy warheads from the 1940s, composite and spaced armours were developed, with the first appearing on Wasp flamethrowers in 1945. Even against anti-tank guns there was a counter response from the tank. In the British case they developed the Close Support tank that was designed to blind anti-tank guns with smoke. While this turned out to be less successful than hoped, the simple expedient of combined arms being adopted enabled tanks to survive.<br /><br />Even today there are questions about the new technologies such as drones. First off I would challenge the claim that drones are ‘cheap’. They are not:<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/ohEBiBc.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="800" height="168" src="https://i.imgur.com/ohEBiBc.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-45a335d8-7fff-3ce3-fff3-cfb07ebc130a" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Source: NaCTSO</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> As you can see to be carrying any sort of payload, with the range to use it, you need to spend large sums of money. In addition, laser and directed energy weapons are just getting to the point when they can be used to destroy drones. A defence which may be adapted to deal with anti-tank missiles. The US currently seems to be going with a slightly different approach to the problem, adopting the main armament of its next generation of IFV to have the ability to engage drones and such threats, thus every IFV in the battle group would have an anti-drone capability. Whether this approach will work, or could be used to provide ATGM protection remains to be seen, as the choice of 50mm cannon raises serious questions in AFV design. But either approach could easily create a massive no fun zone for drones and ATGM’s around the tank.<br /><br />In the latest war, where we apparently have seen the ‘death of the tank’, the Russian forces were, at the time of writing, still advancing slowly. Equally, on a number of occasions the Ukrainians have asked for large numbers of tanks to be supplied. This alone indicates that the tank is still a vital part of the modern military.<br />The fact remains, if you want to destroy the enemy with firepower, manoeuvre and shock effect you need a big cannon that can move around the battlefield, and is protected from enemy fire.<br />There is only one technological solution to this requirement, and that is the tank. Tanks will almost certainly change and gain new defensive systems, or need the support of new vehicles or capabilities from combined arms warfare, but they will remain. <br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><u><b>Sources:<span> </span></b></u></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>Churchill W (1920): Mr Churchill's Statement: Hansard: Volume 125, col 1356: debated on Monday 23 February 1920. Available at: <a href="https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1920-02-23/debates/260327d5-9b51-4ab3-9e4b-116dde81c6e8/MrChurchillSStatement?highlight=tank#contribution-b1cff7f9-56d1-496d-8a23-77ebb9cc8fca">https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1920-02-23/debates/260327d5-9b51-4ab3-9e4b-116dde81c6e8/MrChurchillSStatement?highlight=tank#contribution-b1cff7f9-56d1-496d-8a23-77ebb9cc8fca</a><br /></p><p> <span> </span> Harris, J (2015): Men, Ideas, and Tanks: British Military Thought and Armoured Forces, 1903-1939, Manchester University Press.<br /><span> </span>Tavers, T (1992): Journal of Contemporary History Vol. 27, No. 3 (Jul., 1992), pp. 389-406 (18 pages). Available at: <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/260897">https://www.jstor.org/stable/260897</a> </p><p> </p><p>Next week, I think we'll have a little competition about tanks. <br /><br /></p><br />David Listerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531028120002922423noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041453950289498156.post-81496868080546904182022-04-24T19:21:00.005+03:002022-04-24T20:00:40.566+03:00With a Bit of Guts Behind them!<span style="font-family: Arial;">Hello Historians, I am still alive and doing history stuff. As you may have gathered, it has not left me much time to do full articles. I do still provide history related content on my social media, with most of it going up on Facebook, but I do put some of it on Twitter (@History_Listy) as well (all dependent on word counts and the like).<br /><br /><br />Today as I have nothing planned, I thought we could have a look at part of my collection. Over the last few years I have been slowly collecting British Bayonets, and as I now have a decent quantity of them I figured a quick post is in order. So let me take you through my collection of stabby sticks.</span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/1ZobpNa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/1ZobpNa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'complete' collection<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /> </span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/xo1Qin5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="800" height="143" src="https://i.imgur.com/xo1Qin5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>First up we have what I am pretty certain is a Brown Bess musket socket bayonet. I got it second hand so its exact details are not stated. I am also daily certain it is a modern reproduction, but as the price was low even for a repo, it seemed silly not to get it. <p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/1kzWUrH.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="800" height="64" src="https://i.imgur.com/1kzWUrH.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Next we have our first real bayonet. In 1871 the British army introduced their new rifle, the Martini–Henry. Made famous today by its use and appearance in the film Zulu. This was similar to the Brown Bess bayonet, however the triangular cross-section is the same width on all of the sides. This particular one is quite badly battered, with the tip of the blade being quite beaten up. Which is a shame as at the time casting bayonets was tricky, and it was not possible with the technology of the time to get an equal sided point at the tip. So the outer edge had a slight curve to it.This particular one is missing part of the locking system, and has a cracked base, which leads us nicely on to:</span><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/tmFLOrV.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="172" data-original-width="800" height="69" src="https://i.imgur.com/tmFLOrV.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial;">This is a 1887 Mk.4 bayonet. After experience of the Martini–Henry bayonet, and its use in Africa, it was determined that the bayonet was in need of improvement. Specifically the old socket bayonets tended to break, and had troubles in their mounting system. So work began on sword bayonets, like this one. The term ‘sword’ is entirely appropriate as the blade is absolutely massive. In length it is about 18 inches (nearly 46cm)! This particular blade was forged in 1886 as part of the trials and development of the bayonet, then in 1891 it was converted to a 1887 pattern. The trials bayonets converted to the 1887 pattern became the Mk.4 of the weapon.<br /></span><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/JMBjfoU.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="800" height="74" src="https://i.imgur.com/JMBjfoU.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial;">The next bayonet seems to be a much more conventional length to us, and is an 1888 pattern. This particular one was forged in 1896. You can instantly see the similarities in the cross-guard and the bayonet socket on the hilt to the 1887. These were often converted to fighting knives during the First and Second World Wars. There is an interesting variant, which I don’t yet have an example of. It is the 1903 bayonet, the main visual difference is that the rivets holding the grip on are changed to screws, which then becomes the standard way of fitting the handles onto the bayonets.<br /></span><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/2kgDoeV.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="140" data-original-width="800" height="56" src="https://i.imgur.com/2kgDoeV.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial;">The new screw style of attachment is amply shown on our next subject, a 1907 sword bayonet. This particular weapon was forged in 1916, at the height of the First World War. These bayonets were fitted to the SMLE Mk.III and would serve all the way up until the early part of the Second World War. Like hte 1887 it is a sword bayonet, and is only a bit shorter in blade length than the 1887. However, the 1887 has a longer grip. <br /></span><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/SouHFDx.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="179" data-original-width="800" height="72" src="https://i.imgur.com/SouHFDx.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Our next bayonet is a bit of a special case, and unfortunately a bit of an example of a cowboy at work. The bayonet itself is a US made 1913 pattern, with a maker's date of 1917. This particular one then got sent to the British (as it is War Office marked) and is fitted with the leather UK style scabbard, this means it was highly likely it would have been issued to the Home Guard.</p><p>The down side is of course the grip. It seems that at some point in its past someone attempted to repair the grip by gluing a pair of wooden handles that they had crafted in place of the originals. The originals should look a lot like the 1907 handles, fixed in place by screws. Both the 1907 and the 1913 patterns look almost identical. So to distinguish the two types two vertical grooves were cut in the wooden handles. This one obviously lacks them, and so would need some restoration.<br /> </p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/EqMuVlr.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="207" data-original-width="800" height="83" src="https://i.imgur.com/EqMuVlr.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Our last Bayonet is a No4 Mk.II* spike bayonet. This was pretty much the standard bayonet for the British for the later half of the Second World War. This particular one lacks any markings at all, when combined with the finish makes me believe it may be one of the Post war Belgium production<br /><br />Anyway, I hope you found this brief look into my collection interesting. There’s still oodles of Bayonets out there to add, however, this is a work in progress.<br /></span><br />David Listerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531028120002922423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041453950289498156.post-14814895116847669362022-02-27T11:39:00.004+03:002022-02-27T11:39:53.194+03:00The Bridge<p>Over the years (soon to be decades!) I have been writing these articles I have focused on a great many items to <i>bridge</i> elements of the story, be it a tank, warship, location or even weapon system. But today, to <i>span</i> the passage of time, I am going to focus on a bridge. Waterloo Bridge to be exact. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/Q3LpfNz.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="800" height="201" src="https://i.imgur.com/Q3LpfNz.png" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p>Waterloo Bridge is actually the second bridge over the Thames to stand at this location. The first bridge, made of stone, was opened in June 1817. It was called the Strand Bridge. Over the years the flow of water around the piers caused the mud of the riverbed to be worn away. This caused the Strand Bridge to become undermined, and by the 1923 the middle of the bridge had settled and warped the structure. In 1925 a temporary metal bridge was constructed to take southerly traffic and ease the strain on the main bridge. As the Strand Bridge was considered a work of art, an argument broke out on what to do with it. Some were for maintaining it like you would any other culturally and historically important fine house or building. Others, headed by the London Country Council (LCC) wanted to tear it down and build a new modern structure. In 1934 the LCC was taken over by the Labour Party, and had a new leader, Herbert Morrison. This is the same Morrison that would design the Morrison Air Raid Shelter of which some half a million would be made during the Second World War. The new LCC decided to knock the Strand Bridge down and build a new structure. Morrison broke the first stone signalling start of the work that same year. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/ECgHwfJ.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="800" height="244" src="https://i.imgur.com/ECgHwfJ.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morrison Shelter showing what it can do.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>By the outbreak of the Second World War the bridge was not completed. As more men enlisted the work of construction moved to female workers, and it gave Waterloo Bridge it’s nickname, ‘Ladies Bridge’. A late modification to the bridge was to include recesses for explosives in the pillars, this was to enable it to be demolished should the Germans approach. <br /><br />The Germans did approach on the 19th of April 1941, when during the Blitz a German bomb hit the nearly complete Waterloo Bridge. There were only two London bridges hit during the Second World War, Waterloo and Kew Bridge. The latter occurred when a German bomber was attacked by RAF fighters, and it dumped its bombs. A bomb hit the centre of Kew Bridge, but was only a small bomb, as the Germans were want to drop, resulting in a small hole in the road way and some shrapnel damage to the massive stone blocks, which is still visible today. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/AocPFYS.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="360" height="189" src="https://i.imgur.com/AocPFYS.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Splinter damage on Kew Bridge<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>The Germans came close again in 1944 when a V-2 impacted into the Thames just to the east of Waterloo Bridge, but again with no effect. <br /><br />On 7th of September 1978 Georgi Markov was waiting at a bus stop when he felt a sharp pain on the back of his thigh. Spinning around he saw a man who had just dropped an umbrella. The man picked up his umbrella and hurriedly crossed the road and got into a taxi. Markov was a Bulgarian dissident and would die four days later from an unknown poison that many suspect to be Ricin. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgi_Markov" target="_blank">This was the infamous Bulgarian Umbrella assassination</a>. <br /><br />As you can see Waterloo Bridge has seen its own share of events over the years. </p><p style="text-align: center;">---------------------------- </p><p>
Thank you for reading. If you like what I do, and think it is worthy of a
tiny donation, you can do so via Paypal
(historylisty-general@yahoo.co.uk) <a href="https://www.patreon.com/HistoryListy?fbclid=IwAR3iF6RPPk42tSAEuXsfGCLGstVL4lj00sw7Xbj7lJrzR9gxgSCkkBIlOhQ" target="_blank">or through Patreon</a>. For which I can only offer my thanks. <a href="https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/David-Lister/a/3367" target="_blank">Or alternatively you can buy one of my books</a>.</p><p> Image credits:</p><p><a href="http://www.notechmagazine.com" target="_blank">www.notechmagazine.com </a><br /></p><p><br /></p>David Listerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531028120002922423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041453950289498156.post-14151032409856864132022-02-13T14:40:00.001+03:002022-02-13T14:40:08.075+03:00First and Last<p>On the 24th of February, 1815, two days before Napoleon escaped from Elba, and four months before the Battle of Waterloo, a huge ship of the line rumbled down the slipway at Bombay. She was named HMS Wellesley in honour of Arthur Wellesley, who at that time had had a distinguished career, albeit was shortly to fight the battle he became famous for. She weighed in at 1745 tons, and was armed with seventy-four guns, in a variety of sizes ranging from 12-pounders all the way up to banks of 32-pounders. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/gP3EIkk.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="800" height="235" src="https://i.imgur.com/gP3EIkk.png" width="320" /></a></div>Now I know what you’re thinking, hang on David, this is a bit outside the date range for your usual fare? Yes, she is, but the HMS Wellesley had a service career that lasts 125 years, at which point she picked up several unique events. <br /><br />The birth of the HMS Wellesley was somewhat difficult. She was ordered in September 1812 from the East India Company by the Royal Navy. The plans for her construction were dispatched to India aboard the ship HMS Java. But what else was going on in 1812? Yes, the war against the United States. HMS Java was captured en-route by the USS Constitution. To keep on schedule the shipyards in Bombay used the plans they already had on hand for a Vengeur class, and built the ship to those specifications. HMS Wellesley’s hull was laid down in May 1813. When she was completed, she cost a little over £55,000. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/cDgIzs3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="800" height="270" src="https://i.imgur.com/cDgIzs3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Her first taste of warfare was at Karachi in 1839. Here the local rulers had refused to sign a treaty with the East India Company. The EIC accused the locals of conducting piracy out of the port. Thus, on the first of February 1839 HMS Wellesley arrived and anchored under the fort that guarded the entrance to the harbour. Two days later she opened fire on the fort that had first been erected in 1797 and deployed her boats carrying the men of the 40th Royal Marines. HMS Wellesley fired upon the fort, in return the fort fired a single shot back. Due to the number of ratings needed to crew the boats, the remaining Royal Marines were kept aboard to help man the guns. Landing to the west the marines stormed the fort. They found just four or five men, without any guns to defend themselves, so they quickly took control of the fort, and Karachi surrendered. <br /><br />However, a new crisis was brewing in the Persian Gulf around Aden. The British Residency at Bushire was under siege from Persian troops. Arriving in March, HMS Wellesley once again deployed the Royal Marines while she stood off. There was a brief firefight during the landing when the British took three injuries, and the Persian troops fled. The Marines were then able to relieve the Residency and evacuate the staff. The Marines stayed in position until the 30th when all were evacuated. Later that year the Anglo-Persian treaty was signed. <br /><br />HMS Wellesley took part in the first Opium War in later that year. During the capture of Chusan HMS Wellesley became engaged in a firefight with shore batteries. Upon returning from this action 27 cannon balls were dug out of her sides. The following year she took part in the second battle of Chuenpi, which is vastly more famous for the ironclad paddle steamer Nemesis slaughtering the entire Chinese fleet. Then she took part in silencing the forts and shore batteries during the Battle of the Bogue and Battle of First Bar. Finally, this rampage ended with a battle against the Chinese Flagship, weirdly called ‘Cambridge’. She was involved in several other actions during the course of the war. <br /><br />After the Opium War she returned to the UK, where she became a guard ship at Chatham. HMS Wellesley was even mentioned in The Times at this point, and not in a flattering way: <br /><p></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><i>‘It is reported here that Her Majesty has graciously signified her pleasure that the name of the leviathan line-of-battle ship Windsor Castle, 140, shall be changed to that of "The Duke of Wellington," in token of Her Majesty's high esteem for the memory of that lamented hero. This resolve on the part of the Queen will be universally applauded, as we have nothing bearing the name of the deceased but two wretched old 74's (the Wellington and Wellesley).’ </i><br /></div><p><br />Then in 1859 Sir George Henry Chambers approached the Royal Navy. In the mid-late 1800’s social philanthropy was quite common and seen as a moral duty. Sir Chambers had an idea to rescue young boys who might otherwise fall between the cracks and descend into crime. Sir Chambers idea was to set up training ships to instruct young boys in how to be sailors while keeping them out of trouble and installing some discipline. The Royal Navy agreed, providing that Sir Chambers would raise some £2,000 in capital first. He promptly did so, and the Royal Navy handed over HMS Cornwall to become the training ship (prefix was changed from ‘HMS’ to ‘TS’). Two more ships would follow, and eventually HMS Wellesley was handed over. This is where things become a little complicated. TS Cornwall was renamed TS Wellesley and sent to South Shields where she was used as an industrial school. Meanwhile, HMS Wellesley became TS Cornwall. All this happened in 1868, although for clarity I will keep calling her HMS Wellesley. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/gk6YFme.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="800" height="228" src="https://i.imgur.com/gk6YFme.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ships company aboard TS Cornwall/HMS Wellesley<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/3MfvXkb.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="800" height="236" src="https://i.imgur.com/3MfvXkb.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main cabin of the head master of TS Cornwall/HMS Wellesley. They also had a bedroom and dinning room.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>HMS Wellesley remained in this role as a training ship for decades to come, although her location changed. In 1928 she was moved to Denton, and she remained there until the 24th of September 1940.<br />On that day the Germans had launched an air raid with some 200 bombers aimed at the heart of London. Setting off at around 0830, it was fought off by Fighter Command. About 1130 another 200 bombers formed up and headed for London. Fighter Command scrambled eighteen squadrons to intercept the formation. Only two made contact and the raid made it through. Wellesley was hit by a bomb. Lord Haw Haw is reported to have claimed the Luftwaffe sunk a battleship. Although that was put out, she later settled onto the riverbed, and was officially classed as ‘sunk’. This means she was the last ship of the line to be sunk by enemy action in the world, and the first to be sunk by air attack! </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/TjOjwmi.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="681" height="219" src="https://i.imgur.com/TjOjwmi.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HMS Wellesley sunk by the Germans.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>HMS Wellesley was raised in 1948, and beached at Tilbury Ness, where she was broken up. Much to everyone’s surprise a great many of her timbers were found to still be sound. These were used in repairs to the London Law Courts. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/fnnZ8XT.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="800" height="318" src="https://i.imgur.com/fnnZ8XT.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HMS Wellesley during salvage and breaking up.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p>While we're all here a brief chat about what's happening. I currently work a shift pattern that is unpleasant. Long portions of it equate to 2 days off out of 21 days. This has meant I've needed to focus my spare time on my studies and research, which has meant less time for writing articles.</p><p>However, in a few weeks my current shift pattern will be changed. It will mean a few more weekends off. So baring other problems I should be able to start doing more articles. </p><p>I've no idea if you lot will have an interest in it, but last year I brought a photo collection from the Second World War, which covers a variety of subjects. Some I have no idea on. I could, on the no article weeks, start to post these to twitter? That way it gives you something for the down time. Let me know your thoughts.<br /></p>David Listerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531028120002922423noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041453950289498156.post-1241768586327972752022-01-16T16:01:00.001+03:002022-01-16T16:01:13.735+03:00Intelegence Files 2: everything you wanted to know about the M1967<p> Hello Historians, and happy new year! I realise I've been very lacking in content of late, and once again I can only apologise. As I am acutely aware of not posting anything for a while, I've grabbed some off the shelf stuff.</p><p><a href="http://overlord-wot.blogspot.com/2021/07/intelegence-files.html" target="_blank">A few months ago I posted about some intelligence files where the British sent someone to assess Soviet and Chinese equipment captured in Vietnam</a>. In that the inspectors looked at several common tanks such as the T-55 and the Type 59. </p><p>Well, today I've extracted the pages for what the British called the M1967 APC. The more common name is the Type 63 APC. This is even more detailed than the tanks with nearly 100 pages of technical inspection, it even includes a large section on vulnerability.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/cEzvDcx.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="800" height="192" src="https://i.imgur.com/cEzvDcx.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/24okQx3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="800" height="205" src="https://i.imgur.com/24okQx3.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/CYFHPpU.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="800" height="206" src="https://i.imgur.com/CYFHPpU.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>As the file is so large, I'll once again upload it to dropbox. I caution if you want this data to download it sooner rather than later as this is a large file and may need to be deleted. <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/m011mu7rq3id1zc/m1967.rar?dl=0" target="_blank">It can be found here as a ZIP file.</a><br /></p><p>Thanks for your forbearance on article production. There will be some article in a week or two, and I'll try to post random stuff up on both Twitter and Facebook. I may even start an Instagram. Equally, there may be some far reaching news later this year, but we'll see.<br /></p>David Listerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531028120002922423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041453950289498156.post-78895632368444920282021-12-19T14:25:00.003+03:002021-12-19T14:25:31.477+03:00Fly Bite<p>Early in the day, on the 25th of March 1944, Flying Officer Douglas Jackson Turner and his co-pilot Flight Lieutenant Des Curtis were sitting in the cockpit of their Mosquito Tsetse, on the runway of RAF Predannack. Over the preceding three weeks they had been involved in multiple gun fights with shipping in the Bay of Biscay. Mostly these had involved gun battles with surfaced U-boats and their escorts. At this time the Germans were having difficulty getting U-boats into the Atlantic, so they had started escorting U-boats with light warships brimmed with AA weapons to try and discourage Allied air power. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/f8GUIN8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="433" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/f8GUIN8.jpg" width="219" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/CEAFeO9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="531" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/CEAFeO9.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br /></div>F/O Turner had been born in Wellingborough and worked as a constable in Essex Constabulary before the war, before joining the RAF in 1941. FLt Curtis was a Bank Clerk from Caterham, until he too had joined the RAF in 1941, when he turned 18. <br /><br />At 0905 F/O Turner revved his engines and hurtled along the runway. Once he had enough speed, he stayed on the runway aiming for a group of Irish labours who were working on extending the runway. At the last moment as they dived out of the way of the speeding Mosquito F/O Turner pulled up. There was a long-standing disagreement between the RAF personnel and the labourers. The workmen were getting paid danger money to work on the runway and were thus getting paid more than the aircrew who were flying out to be shot at. F/O Turner linked up with five further Mosquito’s, one of which was a Tsetse. <br /><br />The flight loitered along at just 40ft above the sea. Their mission was to find and attack another U-boat. Radio intelligence had detected a U-boat launching, and this information had been passed to the RAF who sent the strike package out to sink it before it got away. By doing this the British knew roughly where the U-boat would be and could intercept it. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/yEEJq9A.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="800" height="253" src="https://i.imgur.com/yEEJq9A.png" width="320" /></a></div>As the flight entered the search area, they climbed up to 1,500 feet, having avoided the German radar. They spotted the U-boat, turned and began to dive. As they screamed down on the gaggle of ships, a U-boat and two minesweepers, the German craft put up a hail of gunfire. One of the escorting Mosquito’s hosed down the submarine silencing the AA guns. F/O Turner lined up his Molins 6-pounder and began to fire. The heavyweight weapon managed to fire and cycle five times during the dive hurling out armour piercing rounds. The Tsetse soared over the U-boat at about 300ft, chased by AA fire from the minesweepers. The flight of Mosquito’s hurtled away all undamaged and returned to base. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/OIEK8Ps.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="515" height="246" src="https://i.imgur.com/OIEK8Ps.png" width="320" /></a></div>U-976, which had been the target of the attack was not so lucky. F/O Turner had aimed his shots at the sea, just beside the U-boat. Several of the shells had punched holes in the pressure hull, below the waterline and she was beginning to take on water. The crew, led by Kapitänleutnant Raimund Tiesler, fought to save her, however, she sunk after about 20 minutes. Only four of the fifty-three crew were killed during the attack, the others were all recovered by the minesweepers. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/HrIeNZu.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="800" height="224" src="https://i.imgur.com/HrIeNZu.png" width="320" /></a></div>The busy month would continue for F/O Turner, when two days later himself as part of a flight of eight Mosquito’s would encounter two U-boats escorted by nine warships. This was so close inshore German land-based AA joined in as well. One of the U-boats, U-960 was damaged in the subsequent attack, but so were most of the Mosquitos. For this, and other actions over the period both F/O Turner and FLt Curtis were awarded DFC’s in April. They would go on to fly around about 72 missions in total before the end of the war. <br /><br />After the war Turner carried on flying for a while, before retiring and becoming a landlord. He died in May 2008. Curtis is still alive, and in 1994 he wrote to a German historian asking if he had any details about the crews of the U-boats he had attacked. Much to his surprise the historian said he was close friends with Tiesler and offered to pass on a letter. The two men became good friends, until Tiesler’s death in February 2000.<p></p><p style="text-align: center;">---------------------------- </p><p>
Thank you for reading. If you like what I do, and think it is worthy of a
tiny donation, you can do so via Paypal
(historylisty-general@yahoo.co.uk) <a href="https://www.patreon.com/HistoryListy?fbclid=IwAR3iF6RPPk42tSAEuXsfGCLGstVL4lj00sw7Xbj7lJrzR9gxgSCkkBIlOhQ" target="_blank">or through Patreon</a>. For which I can only offer my thanks. <a href="https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/David-Lister/a/3367" target="_blank">Or alternatively you can buy one of my books</a>.</p><p> Image credits:</p><p><a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk">www.thesun.co.uk</a>, <a href="http://www.grahamtall.co.uk">www.grahamtall.co.uk</a>, <a href="http://www.history.navy.mil">www.history.navy.mil</a>, <a href="http://ww2aircraft.net">ww2aircraft.net</a> and <a href="http://www.ibiblio.org">www.ibiblio.org</a><br /></p>David Listerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531028120002922423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041453950289498156.post-18306228024154438152021-12-05T12:23:00.001+03:002021-12-05T12:23:12.346+03:00Fortress Koepenick<p> On 13th February 1849 a lowly shoemaker living in Tilsit, in Prussia, met his brand-new son. The son’s name was Friedrich Wilhelm Voigt, and he would have one the speediest rises through the ranks of the Imperial German Army. However, Voigt’s early years were somewhat less auspicious. At the age of 14 he was arrested and convicted for theft, and subsequently imprisoned for two weeks. Upon his release he found he had been expelled from school. Thus, with no other option open to him he learned the trade of a shoemaker from his father. Although he had a trade, he continued his criminal enterprise catching multiple sentences for theft, forgery and burglary. His final sentence was for a failed attempt at a cashier’s office, for which he received a sentence of 15 years. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/gEh34rZ.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="281" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/gEh34rZ.png" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Friedrich Wilhelm Voigt, taken in 1906<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>He was released the day before his 57th birthday in 1906. He then moved in with his sister in Berlin and obtained a job at a local shoemaking factory. However, his attempt at going straight would not last, as the local police soon began to harass him due to being an ex-convict, and eventually expelled him from Berlin on the 24th of August. It was at this point Voigt started his rise through the army’s rank structure. As he had been expelled from Berlin, he had to quit his job, and told everyone he was heading to Hamburg. However, in reality he stayed in Berlin. He then visited several second-hand shops purchasing parts of a Prussian captain’s uniform. Once he had a complete uniform, he began to approach German soldiers and test the effect he had on them whilst wearing it. In stereotypical Prussian fashion the soldiers leapt to obey his every command. This testing lasted until October when Voigt had refined his role enough that he felt confident of his disguise. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/y7PL4MW.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="345" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/y7PL4MW.png" width="138" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Voigt's officer uniform.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>On the 16th of October Voigt marched towards the barracks in the town of Tegel. He halted a group of four soldiers and a NCO and took command of the detachment, relieving the NCO and dismissing him. He then gathered another six soldiers from a nearby shooting range. Now leading ten armed soldiers he marched them to the station and onto a train, which took them to the town of Köpenick. Once there Voigt and the soldiers moved to the town hall. He informed the soldiers that the Mayor Georg Langerhans and the City Treasurer von Wiltberg were accused of fraudulent book keeping. With the might of the army behind him, he also obtained support of the local police, ordering them to stop all telephone calls at the local exchange for an hour but otherwise to keep out of politics and look to local law and order. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/H6ZKWPn.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="170" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/H6ZKWPn.png" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mayor Georg Langerhans</td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>Then Voigt led the soldiers into the town hall, and the mayor’s office. When Voigt arrested the Mayor, Langerhans demanded to see his warrant. Voight pointed to the soldiers, with bayoneted rifles and said ‘There is my authority!’ <br /><br />Voigt then sized the city’s funds, some 4,002 marks and 37 pfennigs. He did issue a receipt for the money, signed in the name of the jail warden he had been imprisoned under for the previous 15 years. He then had the soldiers commandeer two carriages, into which the two detained officials were placed, along with an armed guard in the form of some of the soldiers. The guards were told to deliver the men to the Royal Guardhouse in Berlin. The remaining soldiers were ordered to secure the offices of the mayor. Voight then simply left with the money, headed back to the train station and changed into civilian clothes. <br /><br />Unsurprisingly the military authorities were furious (although it is claimed the Kaiser was amused, as was the general public). Voigt was arrested on the 16th of October and sentenced on the 1st of December to just four years in prison. However, the Kaiser pardoned him in 1908. Voigt capitalised on his fame, with books, signing events and even wax work models in museums. In 1910 he moved to Luxembourg where he took up his old trade of shoemaker for a couple of years before buying a house and retiring. He would die in 1922. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/ZAgzfFA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="572" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/ZAgzfFA.jpg" width="229" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Voigt's grave at Cimetière Notre-Dame in Luxembourg</td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>Now, there is a reason for me telling you this story, other than it’s a damn funny story, and that is this incident became famous for the embarrassment of the German military. So much so that in 1943 when the Luftwaffe embarrassed itself Voigt’s exploits would be referenced by none other than Herman Goering. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/bjfAB1G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="756" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/bjfAB1G.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Düren, albeit after a Bomber Command attack in 1944<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>In early October 1943 the USAAF launched its infamous Schweinfurt raid. This caused a certain amount of alarm in the German officials, so that when on the 20th of October the USAAF launched a raid on a small town on the border of Germany and France called Düren, there were reports of the American bombers heading deeper into the Reich. It has been suggested this report was due to radar returns from window expended during the raid. The assumption from the Luftwaffe was that the Düren bombing was a feint, and there was another mass-formation heading towards Schweinfurt again. Thus, German fighters were scrambled and vectored in. Like the Battle of Barking Creek and the Battle of Los Angeles, the fighters were picked up by the ground radar, and this caused them to be mistaken for enemy aircraft. So further fighters were dispatched, and lo and behold the enemy formation grew in size, resulting in more fighters being scrambled, and so on. When many hours later the mistake was discovered, and the Luftwaffe had scrambled most of its squadrons, Goering sent a telegram to everyone involved (including himself, as he had taken direct command and ordered the scrambling of many of the fighter squadrons himself) congratulating them for the defence of Fortress Koepenick, a direct reference to Voigt's escapade. </p><div style="text-align: center;">
---------------------------- </div><p>
Thank you for reading. If you like what I do, and think it is worthy of a
tiny donation, you can do so via Paypal
(historylisty-general@yahoo.co.uk) <a href="https://www.patreon.com/HistoryListy?fbclid=IwAR3iF6RPPk42tSAEuXsfGCLGstVL4lj00sw7Xbj7lJrzR9gxgSCkkBIlOhQ" target="_blank">or through Patreon</a>. For which I can only offer my thanks. <a href="https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/David-Lister/a/3367" target="_blank">Or alternatively you can buy one of my books</a>.</p><p> Image credits:</p><p><a href="http://www.vdl.lu" target="_blank">www.vdl.lu </a><br /></p><p><br /></p><br />David Listerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531028120002922423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041453950289498156.post-4356468107904661512021-11-21T15:08:00.006+03:002021-11-21T15:08:45.350+03:00Firestarter<p> What I find interesting, and I’m not sure if I’ve said it before, is how Britain studied the effects of German bombing conducted during the Blitz on contemporary life and structures. They quickly discovered the Germans were dropping too small bombs. This meant that even when the Germans did land a stick of bombs in the right place, it had minimal effect and the infrastructure was soon back in operation. This was quickly seen as a worry, as the British bombing efforts were all but identical to the German ones. It was quite sensible to assume that their bombing efforts were as effective on the Axis as the Germans were against the UK. Thus, the British went away and worked out what would work, so that when they started bombing the Germans, they did it properly. As Bomber Harris said, ‘They sowed the wind, and now they are going to reap the whirlwind’. This was very literally true. This study work, of course, covered incendiary bombs. </p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/VInEAxd.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="800" height="204" src="https://i.imgur.com/VInEAxd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/Lt5N6DA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="521" data-original-width="800" height="208" src="https://i.imgur.com/Lt5N6DA.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Testing of German 1kg incendiary bombs. Top picture is at 15 seconds after ignition, bottom is at 45 seconds.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>‘Beat Firebomb Fitz’ was a famous poster from the Blitz and featured the German B1E 1kg incendiary bomb. It has become a slightly iconic poster of the time. The principle behind it was that a small detonating charge would trigger a thermite warhead filler. This in turn would cause the body of the bomb, which was made from magnesium, to catch fire. Magnesium is very difficult to extinguish, indeed using water on a magnesium fire is a very bad idea. But despite this, Britain did not burn… but Germany would. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/nmctpdt.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="486" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/nmctpdt.png" width="210" /></a></div> <p></p><p>The main weapon for the RAF for starting fires was the humble 4-pounder incendiary bomb. Now despite what I said earlier, this was in service from the start of the war. It worked on an identical principle to the German weapon, containing an igniting element and a magnesium body. But today very little is written of it, especially when compared to ‘Firebomb Fritz’s’ reputation. I would suggest that this in part is down to looks. The German weapon looks like a bomb, whereas the British 4-pounder weapon is a hexagon some 21 inches long, and about 1.67inches wide, and barely looks like a piece of ordinance. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/niHIlGP.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="584" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/niHIlGP.png" width="234" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">German civil defence personnel holding a 4-pounder to give an idea of the size.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>In August 1940 it was realised that these incendiary bombs were using a colossal amount of magnesium. So, a study was begun to find parts of the bomb that could be changed from that precious and scarce metal to much more common (and cheap) cast iron. Even a small saving would pay big rewards due to the large number of bombs being constructed. This simplified bomb became the Mk.III weapon (the Mk.II was just alterations to the internal arrangements). At the same time the supply issues meant the British started looking at a bomb that was 2in shorter than standard. This would save about 0.25lbs per bomb, with the new bomb using 0.75lbs of magnesium. <br /><br />During 1941 two major factors happened, first the Bomb was to be produced in the US. Changes to the design to allow improved manufacturer became the Mk.IV bomb, which was subsequently mass produced. The other change was in how the bomb was tested. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/Rtukd1N.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="734" height="107" src="https://i.imgur.com/Rtukd1N.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colour shot of a surviving 4-pounder Mk.IV at the IWM.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>In October the task of assessing how incendiary bombs would work was passed to the Road Research Laboratory. Their solution was to build a German style house roof, including attic floor. They managed to obtain copies of German house construction styles and copied it to the letter, even going so far as to obtain supplies of German roofing tiles (Bibeschwanz and Ludovici tiles, in case you’re wondering). The mechanics of incendiary bombs suggest that the ideal effect of a bomb is to penetrate the roof tiles, then the attic floor boards before igniting in the structure below. So, this was tested by the expedient of the RRL converting a 2-inch mortar to fire the bombs at the test target. Different impact velocities could be obtained due to an alterable gas check, made from brass, at the base of the mortar. To keep the hexagonal bomb straight in the round tube several guide lugs were added at the muzzle end. One point in these tests were that similar US tests, held at the Standard Oil Company, were getting very different results. There was an investigation, and despite the comparison identifying several different factors between the two test targets (such as tile overlap, rafter spacing and the like) and these being standardised to the British model the divergence of results continued. <br /><br />In the middle of 1942, the shortened version of the 4-pounder bomb which had begun development in 1940 finally made it to testing. Those experiments showed that the incendiary effect was not lowered by the reduction in magnesium. In the middle of 1942, another suggestion was for the bomb design to have a spring-loaded pop-out tail, so when loaded into a bomber it would only be 8in long, with the tail deploying when the bomb was dropped. Both bombs were tested against the RRL’s German roof target, and one critical point was discovered. As the bombs were lighter their impact energy was lower. Thus in turn they failed to penetrate the target. This lack of effect doomed both projects, with them being cancelled in 1943. <br /><br />So far, we’ve just focused on the 4-pounder’s incendiary effect. However, from before the war it was recognised that one way to improve the effectiveness of the bomb was to incorporate explosives with a time delay to hamper firefighting efforts. Thus in 1939, after a few months of development starting in 1938, ‘Type E’ bombs were produced. For those following such things the nomenclature was the ‘type’ of bomb would come after the Mk number, so for example ‘4-pounder, Mk.IV.E’. These incorporated a small gunpowder charge in the body of the bomb and would detonate between 1 minute and 56 seconds to 4 minutes after impact. It produced a fairly paltry explosive effect but was deemed acceptable. <br /><br />The Germans did something very similar with some of their incendiary bombs, so the British learned and in December 1940 started looking at using a high explosive charge. For this weapon they added a canister at the rear of the tail with a small HE charge (later models would have a nose filled with explosive). These would be ‘Type X’. The tail-based container was also switchable to chemical weapons if needed, with the idea that this would prove much more effective at deterring fire fighters. What followed was a lot of bureaucratic backwards and forwards between the Ordnance Board and other departments within the government. The problems of supply of the explosive, and construction were causing a bit of a circular development, with one party changing the design to fix a flaw and causing follow on problems. This continued until 1941, when it was decided to see if such an addition had a useful effect. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/NJNIwhr.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="800" height="264" src="https://i.imgur.com/NJNIwhr.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lancaster loaded with a bomb-load codenamed 'Usual'. This consisted of a 4,000lb 'cookie'. The idea was to create massive blast that would damage the roofs of German cities. The damage would weaken the roof structure so that when the 4-pounders impacted they would have a easier time penetrating into the structures.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>Thus, London Fire Brigade was consulted on the effectiveness of such bombs, as they had encountered them in the shape of the German weapons dropped in the Blitz. The effectiveness of the bombs against both personnel and the chance to break hoses was considered. <br /><br />LFB* raised several objections to the weapon. The foremost being that during a heavy night raid the crews were so busy that the presence of such bombs would not affect how they worked. It was also pointed out that such bombs would be almost invisible in the blackout conditions. Equally it was advised that if they did start to suffer several casualties, orders would be issued to stay clear of any suspected weapons for a period of time to give it a chance to detonate. As to the idea of breaking hoses, the hoses were put through such rough treatment during the course of normal operations that a few additional incidences of damage would be hardly noticed. With this information in hand, it was recommended to the Air Ministry that the idea be dropped. However, the RAF stated the requirement remained. They had a strategy of having 50% Type X bombs, and 50% normal weapons per bomb load. This would be continued until German fire crews were warned to stay away from the bombs for a period. At which point the loads could be switched to nearly 100% normal incendiaries, in the hope the Germans would stand back allowing these to develop into decent fires. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/KUh7Wg3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="800" height="217" src="https://i.imgur.com/KUh7Wg3.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loading 4-pounders into a bomb bay one at a time would have taken huge number of man hours. So the bombs were loaded into 'Small Bomb Containers'. Here we see three partition versions, but they also came in two and four versions. Each partition can take twenty 4-pounders. <a href="http://www.211squadron.org/blenheim_armament.html#SBC" target="_blank">For more detail.</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>In February 1942 the Air Ministry suddenly demanded 2,000 Type X bombs by 1st of March for a planned operation. These were manufactured with a 4.5-minute delay on the explosive. On the 28th of March 1942 234 bombers attacked the Port of Lübeck. 25,000 incendiaries were dropped and created the first Allied firestorm of the war. More were to follow, and most were powered by the humble looking grey hexagon.</p><div style="text-align: center;">
---------------------------- </div><p>
Thank you for reading. If you like what I do, and think it is worthy of a
tiny donation, you can do so via Paypal
(historylisty-general@yahoo.co.uk) <a href="https://www.patreon.com/HistoryListy?fbclid=IwAR3iF6RPPk42tSAEuXsfGCLGstVL4lj00sw7Xbj7lJrzR9gxgSCkkBIlOhQ" target="_blank">or through Patreon</a>. For which I can only offer my thanks. <a href="https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/David-Lister/a/3367" target="_blank">Or alternatively you can buy one of my books</a>.</p><p> Image credits:</p><p><a href="http://www.berlinluftterror.com">www.berlinluftterror.com</a><br /></p><p> </p>David Listerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531028120002922423noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041453950289498156.post-34439075807527158532021-10-24T12:41:00.002+03:002021-10-24T12:41:59.033+03:00They Don't like it Up 'em<p>Hello Historians, Sorry to have been so absent in content these last few weeks, but a lot has been going on. Due to that reason I've not got anything prepared, so today I'm going to have a quick chat about this picture:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/byXX4Rc.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="591" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/byXX4Rc.png" width="250" /></a></div><p>We're obviously looking at a Home Guardsman, armed with a improvised pike made out of a length of steel tubing and a 1907 bayonet. You're all giggling and thinking of Dads Army aren't you? Stuff like 'wow, what good would that be in a modern fight?'</p><p>Well lets consider. First off, I like Dad's Army, its a good comedy. However it has tarnished the reputation of the Home Guard forever. Whenever you talk about the Home Guard you can see Dad's Army inserting itself into the conversation like a 400lb Gorilla. Indeed, it seems that any Home Guard related product has to include reference to the show to be accepted by the public. Images like the above, at first glance, seem to re-enforce the concepts laid out in that show. But look closer.</p><p>First off the Home Guard was filled with old men, right? Wrong. Average age of the Home Guard was 40, which looks about right for the bloke in the above picture. But what about the wider situation? Well here's F Platoon, 8th Essex Home Guard (chosen because the Corporal above is from the 8th Essex Home Guard battalion, although we don't know what platoon):</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/CczWN97.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="800" height="201" src="https://i.imgur.com/CczWN97.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>Looks to be a good collection of blokes in their 40s and 50s, doesn't it? Now consider what was happening 22 years previously to the Home Guard being formed. The First World War. If you look on the picture that started this rant you'll see the gentlemen's medal ribbons. This particular collection is known as 'Pip, Squeak & Wilfred'. They're the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the British Victory Medal. This clearly puts the bloke as having Served as a soldier in the BEF from the outbreak of the war. What happened next we don't know, but I would venture there's a good chance he picked up fair old whack of experience of fighting, and you've just given him a length of 55 inch pipe with a 17 inch bayonet on the end, and asked him to defend his home and wife.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/OtedEUv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/OtedEUv.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't think people appreciate exactly how massive the 1907 Bayonet actually is. Here we see my 1907 (and my 1888 pattern) on my chair to give some kind of size comparison.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Now, before you continue mocking the concept of a croft pike, whom will he be up against? A German Fallschirmjager armed with a pistol until he can get to his weapon canister, and whose to say the local Home Guard might not get there first? Now I'm boo no means saying that leaving the Home Guardsman without a rifle is a good idea, it's not. But it's not as ridiculous as many suggest. Equally, as Essex is not in the front lines most at risk of invasion, so it makes a bit more sense when you consider that any Fallschirmjager carrying planes would have to have flown through the RAF first, which is not likely to be a pleasant experience. It also makes sense for Britain to issue weapons to those who are likely to be in the front line first, for example those on the south coast. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/mfTa0gC.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="726" height="228" src="https://i.imgur.com/mfTa0gC.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another picture of the Essex Home guard, from the same area as all the other pictures. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </p><p>Finally I would argue that even Home Guard units quipped with Croft pikes were not entirely defenceless. Rifle and firearm ownership in the UK was much higher than it is today. Take for example the Cambridgeshire Home Guard. Eden's call to arms summoning the Home Guard was broadcast on the Tuesday. The same night a fully armed guard of ten men was posted on the local telephone exchange. That Guard was maintained until the Saturday when it was relieved by regular troops. </p><p>And keep in mind, there is one part of Dad's Army they got right in the film. The scene in the police station, following Eden's address announcing the formation of the Home Guard. The sheer willingness of the population to step forward and do their duty. Originally it was expected that a total of 500,000 might join up. In reality, within seven days they had 250,000, and within two months 1.5 million people signed up. The Home Guard would go on to provide an active part of the defence of the UK, as well as assisting with Internal security, they also gave large amounts of manpower to assist in the Anti-air and coastal artillery roles.<br /></p><div style="text-align: center;">
---------------------------- </div><p>
Thank you for reading. If you like what I do, and think it is worthy of a
tiny donation, you can do so via Paypal
(historylisty-general@yahoo.co.uk) <a href="https://www.patreon.com/HistoryListy?fbclid=IwAR3iF6RPPk42tSAEuXsfGCLGstVL4lj00sw7Xbj7lJrzR9gxgSCkkBIlOhQ" target="_blank">or through Patreon</a>. For which I can only offer my thanks. <a href="https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/David-Lister/a/3367" target="_blank">Or alternatively you can buy one of my books</a>.</p><p> </p><p> <br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>David Listerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531028120002922423noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041453950289498156.post-90669113124854031402021-10-03T12:11:00.004+03:002021-10-03T12:11:32.666+03:00Gleaming Sea<p class="Paragraph BCX2 SCXW49224649" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px;"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">On
the 24th of April 1916 the drifter <i>Gleaner of the Seas</i> was at anchor
off Walcheren. She was a tiny ex-fishing vessel, only 91 tonnes, powered
by a steam engine. Built in 1912 she had been taken into Royal Navy </span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">s</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">ervice
in 1915. Her role, and that of her nine crew, was to tend the
anti-submarine nets that made up part of the Dover Barrage. These nets
had been installed just a year </span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">and a few </span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">months
earlier in February 1915. On that day in April the crew felt a sudden
lurch and peering over the side saw the grey shape of a U-boat, SM
UB-13, tangled up in their anchor cable. Even as they watched it managed
to rip itself free and powered into the steel net. The </span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">s</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">kipper of the boat, Robert George </span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">Hurren</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">, grabbed at the wooden haft of a harpoon and leapt to tackle the grey whale.</span></span><span class="EOP BCX2 SCXW49224649" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph BCX2 SCXW49224649" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="EOP BCX2 SCXW49224649" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/RKkWkjz.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="800" height="209" src="https://i.imgur.com/RKkWkjz.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is not <i>Gleaner of the Seas</i>, however it is a drifter in RN service with a very similar size and role.</td></tr></tbody></table></span></p><p class="Paragraph BCX2 SCXW49224649" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="EOP BCX2 SCXW49224649" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span><span class="TextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px;"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">The ‘harpoon’ in this case was also known as a ‘</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">L</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">ance </span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">B</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">omb’.
This was essentially a shaft 39in long, with a large conical bomb
strapped the end. This contained some seven pounds of amatol. It was
designed by Marten Hale, owner of the Cotton Powder Company. The company
produced about 1,000 such weapons during the First World War, at a cost
of £4 each. The weapons were issued to Royal </span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">N</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">avy drifters and auxiliaries, each ship would receive a bundle of staves containing ten </span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">shafts a</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">nd a box which contained four warheads. They were married up on ship.</span></span><span class="EOP BCX2 SCXW49224649" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph BCX2 SCXW49224649" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/KwDkb6O.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/KwDkb6O.png" width="205" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surviving Lance bomb warhead, <a href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30020500" target="_blank">held at the IWM</a>.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="Paragraph BCX2 SCXW49224649" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="EOP BCX2 SCXW49224649" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px;"></span><span class="EOP BCX2 SCXW49224649" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px;"></span><span class="TextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px;"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">Hurren</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649"> grabbed one of the Lance Bombs, stood at the side and aimed at the </span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">g</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">rey
shape. He cast the bomb like a harpoon, and it struck the U-boat on the
foredeck, causing the U-boat to sink to the bottom. Some sources say it
was later sunk by explosive charges </span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">from</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649"> a </span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">d</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">estroyer. It is likely that there is more to this tale, as </span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">Hurren</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649"> was awarded a </span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">D</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">istinguished Service Cross for his efforts, but modern sources fail to mention the account in detail.</span></span><span class="EOP BCX2 SCXW49224649" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph BCX2 SCXW49224649" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="EOP BCX2 SCXW49224649" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/Z1XfPuM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="800" height="251" src="https://i.imgur.com/Z1XfPuM.png" width="320" /></a></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/Ce6qnMg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="800" height="249" src="https://i.imgur.com/Ce6qnMg.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Demonstrating the use of a Lance Bomb<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX2 SCXW49224649" style="direction: ltr;"><p class="Paragraph BCX2 SCXW49224649" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="EOP BCX2 SCXW49224649" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px;"></span><span class="TextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px;"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">Hurren</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">
and <i>Gleaner of the Seas</i> would not survive the war. On the 27th of
October she was tending the nets as usual, when the Germans launched a
raid to combat the Dover </span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">B</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW49224649">arrage.
Destroyers and torpedo boats swarmed the little ships that maintained
the barrage and reaped a huge tally of sunken vessels. This included six
drifters, of which <i>Gleaner of the Seas</i> was one. She was sunk by
shellfire.</span></span><span class="EOP BCX2 SCXW49224649" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX2 SCXW49224649" style="direction: ltr;"><p class="Paragraph BCX2 SCXW49224649" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><div style="text-align: center;">
---------------------------- </div><p>
Thank you for reading. If you like what I do, and think it is worthy of a
tiny donation, you can do so via Paypal
(historylisty-general@yahoo.co.uk) <a href="https://www.patreon.com/HistoryListy?fbclid=IwAR3iF6RPPk42tSAEuXsfGCLGstVL4lj00sw7Xbj7lJrzR9gxgSCkkBIlOhQ" target="_blank">or through Patreon</a>. For which I can only offer my thanks. <a href="https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/David-Lister/a/3367" target="_blank">Or alternatively you can buy one of my books</a>.</p><p class="Paragraph BCX2 SCXW49224649" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="EOP BCX2 SCXW49224649" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px;"></span></p></div>David Listerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531028120002922423noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041453950289498156.post-30997922074222760832021-09-26T11:15:00.001+03:002021-09-26T11:15:07.626+03:00Discovery Jet<p> It's not often I get to update you with good news about making a find, but today is one such time.</p><p>Earlier this week I was at MoD Kineton, where the army has their explosive ordnance disposal training school, which has a museum. Myself and my guide were going around, and I asked a question about 5-inch chemical rockets. So my guide said there was some chemical staff over here and led the way. He glanced at something and asked 'What's an "Jet, Anti-tank"?'.</p><p>Apparently, I got very excited at that point. You and me have encountered this before, but only in documentary form:</p><p><a href="http://overlord-wot.blogspot.com/2019/03/anti-tank-squirter.html">http://overlord-wot.blogspot.com/2019/03/anti-tank-squirter.html</a></p><p>I've never seen a picture of one, indeed doubted I'd actually find a survivor. But here we are! It's only the tank, but it's resting on the attachment points for the straps:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/PwF7udt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/PwF7udt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Looks so innocent don't she? There would be 9l worth of Zyklon-B (Hydrogen Cyanide's more infamous name) in that tank. Now the question is 'how does this work?' First let me show you the other shots of it:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/AeyU0yI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/AeyU0yI.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/EqJ135Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/EqJ135Z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/YtphwKJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/YtphwKJ.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Now, we know that the HCN (the gasses shortened designation) was poured into the container. We also know it was fitted with a electrically fired cordite charge, as well as a pipe to the nozzle. I suspect that the screw bolt is the filling hole, and the bottom two attachment points are the cordite charge holder and the pope attachment point. </p><p>Anyway, that's all we have time for today. My thanks to the EoD Museum for letting my get a good look at something that was so rare, and I never thought would have survived.<br /></p>David Listerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531028120002922423noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041453950289498156.post-47190875304798171852021-09-12T13:27:00.003+03:002021-09-12T13:27:40.149+03:00Getting Clear Away<p>Just before 1730 on Sunday the 17th of March 1918 Lt Edwin Arnold Clear banked his SE.5a through the skies above Crevecoeur. The patrol he was part of, from 84 Squadron, had suddenly become engaged with some nine enemy aircraft. Below him Lt Clear could see a Fokker Dr.I closing on his patrol leader. Lt Clear angled his plane down and dived on the Fokker. The German seeing Lt Clear’s aircraft coming down on him made a sharp turn to its port side, directly towards a cloud bank. Coming round the clouds at the same time, the other way was, an Albatross D.V, and both German aircraft collided. Lt Clear was awarded the credit for both aircraft and they brought his tally up to five, making him an ace. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/gm7YbWy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/gm7YbWy.jpg" width="253" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First World War dogfight.... Or is it? It is one of a series of faked pictures. <a href="https://warbirdsnews.com/warbirds-news/fun-facts/famous-hoax-wwi-dogfighting-photos-sell-auction.html" target="_blank">Would you like to know more</a>?<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>Lt Clear had spent most of the war as a vehicle mechanic in Egypt, before volunteering for the Royal Flying Corp in April 1917. He was commissioned in September, and dispatched to France and 84 Squadron in October. All his career had been on SE.5a’s. His first confirmed victory was a German Observation plane in January, which he shot down in flames. By the war’s end Lt Clear would get twelve kills, with the last on the 28th of May. The following month he was pulled from combat patrols and sent to work as an instructor in the UK. He was awarded a Military Cross for his service, and the number of kills he had obtained, although the MC was awarded sometime after his 7th kill at the end of March 1918. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/51BBcrG.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="800" height="217" src="https://i.imgur.com/51BBcrG.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Random First world War SE.5a picture.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>Shortly after the end of the war Lt Clear decided to show off and flew under a bridge. As this sort of showboating was strongly discouraged in the RAF Lt Clear was duly arrested and sent for Court Martial. He promptly escaped, and found himself at RAF Shotwick, in North Wales, where he saw an SE.5a, which he promptly stole, he decided to flee to Ireland. He flew for several hours before alighting on an island, only to find he was on the Isle of Man. Upon learning of his mistake, he decided to continue to Ireland, however, before he left, he gave an impromptu aerobatics display for the locals. Halfway through the SE.5a’s engine cut out, and he crashed. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/HZGAIBD.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/HZGAIBD.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Replica Se.5a during filming for the film Richthofen & Brown<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>Lt Clear survived, largely unharmed and was arrested by the authorities. He was back at his original airbase of RAF Poulton shortly afterwards. From his escape to return he had been AWOL for five days. He was Court Martialled two months later in July. He pleaded not guilty to the original charge of low flying, but did plead guilty to stealing the SE.5a. In a remarkable turn his punishment was limited to loss of seniority, and his pay being docked for the price of the SE.5a. <br /><br />In September 1919 the wounds sustained during his crash caused him to drop from the active list into the RAF Reserve, where he would remain until 1935. Ill health caused him to slowly drift down the fitness scales until in 1935 he left the RAF Reserve. This was caused not only by his wounds, but also as his mental situation deteriorated. Suffering from mental problems he was eventually admitted to the Bethlem Royal Hospital where he stayed for many years. Interestingly, in 1939, while still listed as a patient housed at the hospital, he was holding down a job as a railways clerk. <br /><br />During his life he married once, and had two children, although how they fit into the above story is not immediately obvious. Edwin Clear died on the 15 February 1960 at St Pancras Hospital (some sources give his death as 21st Feb in Barnet). </p><div style="text-align: center;">
---------------------------- </div><p>
Thank you for reading. If you like what I do, and think it is worthy of a
tiny donation, you can do so via Paypal
(historylisty-general@yahoo.co.uk) <a href="https://www.patreon.com/HistoryListy?fbclid=IwAR3iF6RPPk42tSAEuXsfGCLGstVL4lj00sw7Xbj7lJrzR9gxgSCkkBIlOhQ" target="_blank">or through Patreon</a>. For which I can only offer my thanks. <a href="https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/David-Lister/a/3367" target="_blank">Or alternatively you can buy one of my books</a>.</p><br />David Listerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531028120002922423noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041453950289498156.post-27285846818265817322021-08-29T11:44:00.004+03:002021-08-29T11:44:56.936+03:00Outrageous Behaviour<p> At 1030 on Saturday the 23rd of January 1909, a 17 year old office worker got out of a chauffeured car, carrying a heavy bag of money. Inside the bag was some £80, these were the wages for the factory that he was now standing outside of. He saw a worker in the factory, a huge hulking man known only as ‘Elephant’ waiting for him with another male. Then the other man pulled a gun, starting a remarkable chain of events. <br /><br /><a href="http://overlord-wot.blogspot.com/2021/08/now-thats-riot-control.html" target="_blank">A few weeks ago, I was talking about Police Hangers, in it I mentioned that the last time one was issued was at the Tottenham Outrage</a>. The armed robbery mentioned above is the first step of the Outrage, and it’s such a remarkable story I felt it deserved its own article. <br /> <br />A word of note: In several places I give values in Pounds Sterling, to the modern eyes these values look tiny. To give a scale of what we’re talking about, £10 in 1909 is worth about £1,221 today. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/VACTVvx.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="758" height="165" src="https://i.imgur.com/VACTVvx.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Schnurmann Rubber Factory. The front gate where the car halted to let the Office boy out can be seen.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Anyway, back to the gates of the factory. The premises were the Schnurmann Rubber Factory on Chestnut Road, Tottenham. The 17 year old office boy had been sent out in the owners car to collect the weeks wages from the bank, as they always did. The two men who held up the wages upon their return to the factory were Paul Helfeld and Jacob Lepidus, a pair of Latvian Jews who were fighting for the cause of the Communists against the Tsar. Both had been in Paris previously, with Lepidus’ brother, who was a well-known terrorist. Right up until he had blown himself up with his own bomb, whilst en-route to blow up the Prime Minister of France. The French obviously took a dim view of this, and started a crackdown, so the two villains felt it wise to get outside of the French authorities reach and headed to the United Kingdom. They ended up in Scotland, then moved to London after a year. Both took employment, Helfeld at the Schnurmann Rubber Factory. Upon employment he refused to give his details and so was nicknamed Elephant due to his size. <br /></p><p>After he had opened the gate, and the car started to drive forward, the criminals grabbed the 17-year-old and tried to separate him from the bag of money. However, the boy put up a struggle, and the chauffeur stopped the car leapt out and entered the fray. The three of them struggled, and eventually Lepidus was holding the bag triumphantly. The chauffeur then started to move towards Lepidus when Helfeld drew his pistol and fired several rounds at near point-blank range at the chauffeur. All the shots hit his coat apart from one bullet, which grazed the man’s abdomen, but he was otherwise unharmed. Startled, the chauffeur halted and the two Latvians began to flee along the road. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/nRMBMOJ.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="800" height="179" src="https://i.imgur.com/nRMBMOJ.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tottenham Police station. The Rubber factory would have been on the road that you can see to the left of the picture.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>However, the criminals had, somehow, failed to consider one important fact. Directly opposite the Schnurmann Rubber Factory was a large building called the ‘Tottenham Police station’. Yes, the criminals had conducted a robbery directly outside the local nick. Alerted by the gunfire two constables immediately raced out of the station, unarmed, but set off in pursuit of the two perpetrators. At this time a spirited member of the public jumped Lepidus, and there was a brief wrestling match which Lepidus ended by shooting the member of the public four times, at point blank range. Two of the rounds went through the man’s cap, another missed and one glanced off his collar bone. More people joined the chase, some policemen, both on and off duty, many on foot, but some on commandeered bicycles. Only one of these officers was armed, he had borrowed a pistol from a member of the public and had little ammunition and no training. Soon the chauffer from the factory had caught up in his car, he slowed to allow one of the two original constables to board, while the other remained on foot.</p><p><br /> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/jLkrflV.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="490" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/jLkrflV.png" width="299" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weapons recovered after the event. Top is a Browning in .32 cal, and the bottom is a Bergmann 1894 model in 6.5mm. The large picture of a male with a moustache next to the Browning's pistol grip is one of the original police constables, PC William Tyler.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Unable to outdistance the car which quickly caught up with the robbers, after several turns, on Mitchley Road, both villains turned and fired at the pursuing car. As usual they used a lot of ammunition, but this time they managed to hit and wound both the chauffer and the constable. Unfortunately, their wild fire resulted in the death of a 10 year old boy who was hit in the chest. There is some confusion on what happens next, some sources claim a 2nd car tried to run the robbers over but missed and crashed, others that the factory’s car crashed or was otherwise damaged by hits to its radiator. Either way the forces of law and order no longer had access to automobiles. <br /><br />As the criminals continued to flee, the 2nd of the original constables (PC Tyler) took a short cut and ended up ahead of the pair of armed robbers. Unarmed, he approached the two Latvians and was heard to say ‘Come on; give in, the game's up.’ at which point Helfeld shot him once. The round hit the constable in the head, and he was mortally wounded. <br /><br />As the pair of robbers approached the Tottenham Marshes they had to battle over a bridge in the face of a crowd, who had some armed support from a few duck hunters. However, they made it through the marshes, not without incident as they had disturbed a local football game, and the crowd and the two teams had set off in pursuit. There was a brief stand at a lock bridge, when the pursuing crowd was held at bay by a few volleys from the robbers, and one PC again borrowed a pistol from a member of the public, sneaked into a firing position, but the gun jammed and the PC was seen and injured by return fire. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/wupcgfM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/wupcgfM.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Tram hijacked by the Criminals.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Tiring now the two robbers continued their flight, eventually hijacking a tram. Most of the passengers and the driver fled, however the conductor was taken hostage and forced to drive at gun point while the second criminal fired at pursuers from the top deck. The pursuers had also commandeered a tram, on the opposite track, and had it locked into reverse at full speed. Then another policeman appeared, mounted on a horse and buggy. The lone policeman was armed and drove the trap nimbly up to the fleeing hijacked tram and attempted to shoot the robbers. However, the rear gunner on the hijacked tram saw him coming and shot the horse, causing the buggy to overturn. The conductor warned the two robbers that the next turn would take them past another police station, so not wanting to kick over another hornets nest the two criminals abandoned the tram, and stole a milk cart by shooting the driver. <br /><br />Another pair of policemen appeared in a car, and one of these officers were armed. The milk cart was moving at a glacial pace with one wheel locked. This was because Lepidus (who was driving) had forgotten to release the brake. The horse was soon exhausted from dragging the cart along, so the two robbers abandoned the milk cart. They took off on foot along the footpath of a nearby river. However, the path soon became impassable, and there was a 6ft fence locking them into a corner. Lepidus made it over the fence, but Helfeld was unable to climb. Surrounded, and about to be captured he put the gun to his head and shot himself. His accuracy was on par with the rest of the days shooting and he only injured himself, with the bullet travelling along his skull from one temple to the other. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/6VxM0ll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/6VxM0ll.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oak Cottage, a name that implies something rather more grandiose today.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Lepidus managed to get inside a house called Oak Cottage, where he tried to lock the door, with a pair of children inside. However, the quick reactions of the police had one constable smash in a window and grab the children out, while three others barged through the front door. Lepidus then tried to hide in the chimney, however, was unable to fit so he bolted into a room where he tried to barricade himself. The three constables blasted their way into the room, one was using a double-barrelled shotgun, and in the hail of gunfire Lepidus managed to shoot himself in the head and died moments later. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/uoDQRdf.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="800" height="206" src="https://i.imgur.com/uoDQRdf.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bed where Lepidus shot himself. You can still see his Bergman pistol on the bed.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>Helfeld remained in hospital, however his condition worsened as he contracted meningitis caused by the path of the bullet knocking bone fragments into his brain. He died 21 days after the outrage. <br /><br />During the chase which had gone on for several hours, some 400 rounds of ammunition had been fired from the two robbers alone. The police and bystanders had fired more. The two robbers had caused 23 casualties, but only two were fatal. For those of you interested in treasure hunting, the bag of money was never recovered, except a small bag of silver that was found on Lepidus containing £5. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/JxQuPY2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="800" height="189" src="https://i.imgur.com/JxQuPY2.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The route of the outrage, somewhere along that route there's £75 in old coins...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>The Home Secretary Herbert Gladstone, then pushed for a payment of £100 to the constable’s widow, after he had contributed £10 to it. </p><div style="text-align: center;">
---------------------------- </div><p>
Thank you for reading. If you like what I do, and think it is worthy of a
tiny donation, you can do so via Paypal
(historylisty-general@yahoo.co.uk) <a href="https://www.patreon.com/HistoryListy?fbclid=IwAR3iF6RPPk42tSAEuXsfGCLGstVL4lj00sw7Xbj7lJrzR9gxgSCkkBIlOhQ" target="_blank">or through Patreon</a>. For which I can only offer my thanks. <a href="https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/David-Lister/a/3367" target="_blank">Or alternatively you can buy one of my books</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Image Credits & Sources:</p><p><a href="http://walthamforestecho.co.uk">walthamforestecho.co.uk</a>, <a href="http://www.currybet.net">www.currybet.net</a> and <a href="http://www.geograph.org.uk">www.geograph.org.uk</a><br /></p><br />David Listerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531028120002922423noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041453950289498156.post-29983884488263093972021-08-21T21:19:00.002+03:002021-08-21T21:19:54.310+03:00The Boys Is Back<p> Earlier in the week I found a document from Mid 1941 listing weapon and Ammunition production for British anti-tank weapons. As it included some oddities (such as the 18-pounder AP, or the 75mm SAP) I posted it up, at which point someone spotted the Boys ammunition entry.</p><p>The table:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/Jh7PEiL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="561" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/Jh7PEiL.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><br /><p>A requirement of a whopping 11,000 guns and 9million rounds of ammunition. A requirement that was utterly missed. Well, I had some other stuff on that situation, and as I had nothing planned for today, here it is.</p><p>At the Start of 1943 Churchill starts to question why in the hell are we still producing Boys Rifle ammunition, especially when we have the PIAT. Surely we could cut production and save resources?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/qqahrLE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="602" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/qqahrLE.png" width="241" /></a></div><p>Nothing happens for a while, until a gentle reminder is sent out, stating it's been six weeks since the initial enquiry. Well he gets a situation update from the War Office, on the 2nd of February.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/m7NQAQ2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="734" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/m7NQAQ2.png" width="294" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/eNAQ3xL.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="728" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/eNAQ3xL.png" width="291" /></a></div><p></p><p>Then on the 24th of February the entire story comes out:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/CKxS1FW.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="660" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/CKxS1FW.png" width="264" /></a></div><p>Yes, you are reading that right, we were producing 15 million rounds per year! Particularly perplexing when we had some 10 million rounds in stores, and were only using 2 million per year. I think in this case Churchill was right, perhaps we could stop production. Especially as we have the PIAT in service by this point.</p><p>Of course there are reports of the Boys kicking about and turning up in some odd places as a heavy Anti-material rifle, so the ammo stockpiles do make sense.<br /></p><div style="text-align: center;">
---------------------------- </div><p>
Thank you for reading. If you like what I do, and think it is worthy of a
tiny donation, you can do so via Paypal
(historylisty-general@yahoo.co.uk) <a href="https://www.patreon.com/HistoryListy?fbclid=IwAR3iF6RPPk42tSAEuXsfGCLGstVL4lj00sw7Xbj7lJrzR9gxgSCkkBIlOhQ" target="_blank">or through Patreon</a>. For which I can only offer my thanks. <a href="https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/David-Lister/a/3367" target="_blank">Or alternatively you can buy one of my books</a>.</p><p><br /></p>David Listerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531028120002922423noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041453950289498156.post-78738885236339093952021-08-08T12:59:00.002+03:002021-08-08T12:59:23.112+03:00Concrete Cows<p>The last couple of months have seen a handful of videos posted on YouTube about the Bison mobile pillbox. In these videos assorted commentators have laid into the Bison explaining how bad an Armoured Fighting Vehicle it was, one even suggested that it’d be ineffective against the Germans simply because they were Elite Germans. Well, I contend that the Bison was in fact an effective vehicle, in its role, and that the assorted individuals laying into it have failed to grasp what they’re looking at and are viewing it through the wrong lens. So let’s have a good rummage around into the history of the Bison, and it all starts during the First World War. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/xdL6YXj.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="800" height="182" src="https://i.imgur.com/xdL6YXj.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ambrose and Mathews</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>In the Great War both sides were chucking huge amounts of artillery at each other. Defensive positions need stout bunkers to resist the storm of fragments and conclusion of the shell explosions. The obvious answer was concrete, which would provide the strength needed for the field works. However, the logistics of erecting the shuttering, transporting the wet concrete and then pouring it into the shuttering, is time consuming, and would be all but impossible near the front line. The answer came from two Royal Engineers, John Goldwell Ambrose and Charles Bernard Mathews. They started working on precast concrete. This is a construction method where the concrete is poured into moulds, then when dry transported to the site for its use, where upon it can be quickly erected. In 1919 both men formed a new company called Concrete Limited. Its logo was a Bison. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/DhE1dZ3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="175" data-original-width="288" height="175" src="https://i.imgur.com/DhE1dZ3.png" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Concrete Ltd's logo, in later life after being acquired by another company and being renamed. The Bison logo however seems constant.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>Fast forward to 1940, and the immediate aftermath of Dunkirk. In the intervening time the company has worked hard on developing new methods of precasting concrete, and even holds some patents on the matter. It’s not clear from the records if Ambrose is still part of the company, but Mathews is often cited as being involved in what happens next. Mathews set his company to work, and they created a prototype of a pillbox like structure on a truck. This was demonstrated to local military authorities, and some helpful advice was given about the design, which Mathews took to heart. With the design finalised production began of a fleet of vehicles that all bore the name Bison, after the manufacturing company. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/dv37jIz.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="640" height="237" src="https://i.imgur.com/dv37jIz.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have my suspicion's this is actually the prototype Bison.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>There seems to have been two types of Bison, although some commentators have assigned designations to the samples drawn from the pictures, it is unclear if there were any formal identification of the sub variants. It seems unlikely, as the concrete was placed on whatever vehicle was available, so each individual vehicle was different. The basic design difference was if the concrete bunker was a single unit or a split unit. In the single unit the cab was encased in its own concrete, while there was a separate bunker on the rear. The other type had a single bunker that covered both the cab and the truck bed.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/Hp8tD1n.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="800" height="143" src="https://i.imgur.com/Hp8tD1n.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The non-separated bunker version of a Bison<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>Production process was to take the donor vehicle, remove all the bodywork and excess weight and then erect shuttering around the areas to be concreted. Multiple layers of expanded steel were then placed inside the shuttering to help reinforce the concrete. Then the concrete was poured in. Once set, a precast roof was affixed. The donor chassis could literally be any heavy-duty truck. There are reports of a steam truck being modified, although this was done by removing the boilers and associated pipe work and leaving the chassis as a simple towed trailer. <br /><br />How to use a Bison, and here is where the aforementioned commentators have gotten it wrong. It is not an Armoured Fighting Vehicle. What it is, is a mobile pillbox, and defensive position. Imagine, if you will, you are in charge of a German Fallschirmjager force. You are planning to capture a British airfield. You have airborne reconnaissance that details the locations of all the bunkers and strong points. You start your planning, detailing units to capture set objectives, maybe even using gliders in a coup de main on a particularly stubborn position. The day of the operation arrives, and you land, but all the bunkers have moved! Now the bunker you have to capture is 150 yards away across flat open ground, and there’s blistering rate of rifle fire coming from it. You have at best, an anti-tank rifle which has absolutely no effect on this behemoth. Furthermore, even if you do knock it out by some miracle, it’s several tons of wreckage, quite possibly sitting in the middle of the landing zone which you have no way of moving, and your reinforcements are about to start landing. I wonder whom will win, several tons of concrete and steel, or a JU52 ploughing into it at 100mph. The Bison is literally a movable speed bump designed to throw a spanner in the works of any plan to capture airfields. It never was intended to be an Armoured Fighting Vehicle. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/4XoIBxB.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="649" height="221" src="https://i.imgur.com/4XoIBxB.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An entire heard of Bison's ready to sweep the Germans in to the sea in a stampede! These are the other, seemingly more common type of Bison, with the separate flatbed bunker. If you look on the front of all the vehicles, it clearly says the name Bison.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>That said there is an entry in the war diary of the 40th Royal Tank Regiment, which lists a party collecting seven Bisons from Concrete Limited at Stourton Works in Leeds on the 5th of October 1940. It is not clear if these were for the unit’s use, or if the drivers were acting as ferry troops. It should be noted that at the time the 40th RTR owned precisely two tanks, one cruiser and a light for training purposes. The use of Bison to allow crews experience of driving heavy vehicles was not a bad one. What happened next to those seven Bison is not recorded, but they were not shipped out with the unit, and are never mentioned in the war diary again. <br /><br />The vast majority of Bison’s would have served during the invasion scare at assorted locations, most likely airfields. Their fate is largely not recorded, and then simply disappear. We do, however, have enough detail to piece together, in part at least, the story of one Bison. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/TtbvfqI.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="647" height="222" src="https://i.imgur.com/TtbvfqI.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pair of Bisons? This picture was taken at RAF Speke.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>In Lincolnshire, about eleven miles southeast from Lincoln is RAF Digby. A Bison was fitted to a 1915 Leyland box van. This van was originally owned and used as a furniture removals van by a company in Sleaford, before being enlisted and going off to get its concrete uniform. She was then posted to the RAF airfield, not too far from her home. As the war progressed the need for local defence diminished, and the Army Transport Corps were detailed to remove it to a site in Yorkshire for long term storage. However, like many Bison’s the sheer weight of the conversion had all but wrecked the automotive parts. Interestingly, as the van had solid rubber tyres, they would have held up quite well. As the hulk could not be moved any great distance, it was dragged to the A15 road, where it served as a bunker to cover the road block the Home Guard had set up there. On the 3rd of December 1944 the Home Guard were stood down. Again, the Bison was unwanted, and simply shoved into a copse of trees at Quarington Lane End, where she was abandoned. Over the following years she was slowly stripped of parts and vandalised. Eventually she found a new lease of life as the chassis, shed of the concrete burden, was used as a farm trailer. The concrete additions were left dumped in the copse, and children were often found playing on the remains. In early 1991 the remains were recovered by two local historical preservation societies, and the concrete parts are now resting at Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre. </p><div style="text-align: center;">
---------------------------- </div><p>
Thank you for reading. If you like what I do, and think it is worthy of a
tiny donation, you can do so via Paypal
(historylisty-general@yahoo.co.uk) <a href="https://www.patreon.com/HistoryListy?fbclid=IwAR3iF6RPPk42tSAEuXsfGCLGstVL4lj00sw7Xbj7lJrzR9gxgSCkkBIlOhQ" target="_blank">or through Patreon</a>. For which I can only offer my thanks. <a href="https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/David-Lister/a/3367" target="_blank">Or alternatively you can buy one of my books</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Image Credits & Sources:</p><p><a href="http://www.warwheels.net">www.warwheels.net</a> and <a href="www.forterra.co.uk " target="_blank">www.forterra.co.uk </a><br /></p><p><br /></p>David Listerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531028120002922423noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041453950289498156.post-13344657953458514392021-08-01T14:22:00.001+03:002021-08-01T14:22:24.126+03:00Now That's Riot Control<p> Recently I've been volunteering with a local Police museum. This has gotten me interested in some of the early policing stuff, so today I'm going to have a look at something that is always a controversial subject, arming the Police. Of course, we'll be doing it in a historical style, and there's some interesting turns, like the attempt to make the existing technology less lethal and improve safety.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The first UK Police forces
were formed in the final years of the 18th century, their jurisdiction was the
Thames River, and were in part privately funded. From the start, these forces
were armed with swords to help protect the shipping trade.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">In the 1820s when the
land-based Police were formed swords were provided. These were similar to the later swords but had a squared-off hilt. You will see these swords termed either
‘cutlasses’ or ‘hangers’, both names mean the same thing, but cutlass is used
for this type of sword in a maritime sense and hanger on land. </span></p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/2AqdPyB.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="736" height="204" src="https://i.imgur.com/2AqdPyB.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Police in Bristol in 1877 practising their sword drill. Note the several individuals out of uniform? I suspect these may be Special Constables, who were members of the local population recruited as needed, a bit like the sheriff deputising people in the Wild West.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> The hangers were only to be
issued when two Justices agreed they should be, mainly for the protection of
the constable. The Cutlass could only be worn at night, or when serious civil
unrest was expected, although Specials were not allowed to be armed with them.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">One such example is the story
of Parish Constable James Beech in Staffordshire. On the evening of Thursday,
the 4th of August 1843, Constable Beech arrived at the house of John Vaughan,
the gamekeeper for Apedale Hall. About 2230 Vaughan and Beech left to patrol
the grounds looking for Poachers. About 0200 the next morning a pair of servants
at the hall were woken by a voice yelling ‘Murder!’. Upon investigation, they
found Vaughan, collapsed in a road and covered with blood. Loading him into a
chair they carried him to his house and a surgeon was summoned. Others were
woken and a search was carried out for Constable Beech. His was found at the
site of the attack, along with the stock of a firearm and its gun-lock.
Although the best efforts of the surgeon were applied, Constable Beech was
dead, he had been stabbed with his own cutlass. Three men were arrested,
including one who had offered threats of violence to Vaughan previously. Two of
these men, Benjamin Spilsbury and James Oakes, would be convicted of Wilful
Murder, and thus were either hanged, or more likely transported to Australia.</span></p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/l0UkvFt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/l0UkvFt.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of the safety, on a partially drawn hanger.the button on the hilt is pushed by your thumb. It is attached to the bar of metal that turns into a hook. When the sword is fully in the scabbard, the hook (or maybe latch?) is tucked under the brass end piece of the scabbard, and held there by the spring. To draw the sword you use your right hand to grab the handle, then use your right thumb to press the button which withdraws the latch allowing you to draw freely.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </span></p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">Because of similar incidents
happening to constables, and prison wardens who were also equipped with the
same style of hanger, a new pattern was brought out around the 1860s. This had
a safety catch that locked the hanger into the scabbard and could be released
by pressing a spring-loaded button with the thumb on your right hand. The sword
was worn on the left-hand side, which meant that the button faced into the
constable’s body giving it an increased layer of protection against being drawn
by an assailant.</span></p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/ykcTKy6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="144" src="https://i.imgur.com/ykcTKy6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the museums swords. The top one is the standard Police hanger, with the blade similar to the one dating back to the 1820's. You can clearly see how they reduce in length but increase in curve. Equally, I think the latest one has a steel, not brass, hand guard, which would presumably be to make it cheaper.</td></tr></tbody></table></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">The interesting thing about
the Police hangers is that they are said to be unsharpened. Most swords are
mechanically sharpened after manufacture. However, the Police hangers are said
to have not been. This, in turn, means they would be less lethal than a normal
sword. As you can see from the examples on display there are several different
patterns, that become shorter and more curved. This may be down to the
increasing curve being better for slashing. Slashing wounds could be considered
to be less lethal than stabbing ones. Thus, by increasing the curve of the
sword you obtain more effective slashing attacks, but do not increase the
lethality of stabbing ones, which are consequently harder to do.</span>
</p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The last recorded use of a Police hanger was during the Tottenham Outrage of 1909, when during the hue and
cry against the two armed robbers and the running gunfight and
tram/car/foot/cart chase between the Police and offenders. Police hangers were
issued, although not used due to the presence of the large number of firearms.</span></p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></p><div style="text-align: center;">
---------------------------- </div><p>
Thank you for reading. If you like what I do, and think it is worthy of a
tiny donation, you can do so via Paypal
(historylisty-general@yahoo.co.uk) <a href="https://www.patreon.com/HistoryListy?fbclid=IwAR3iF6RPPk42tSAEuXsfGCLGstVL4lj00sw7Xbj7lJrzR9gxgSCkkBIlOhQ" target="_blank">or through Patreon</a>. For which I can only offer my thanks. <a href="https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/David-Lister/a/3367" target="_blank">Or alternatively you can buy one of my books</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Image Credits & Sources:</p><p><a href="https://www.oldpolicecellsmuseum.org.uk/content/history/police_history/police_swords" target="_blank">For a bit more on Police hangers see this website.</a><br /></p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></p>
David Listerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531028120002922423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041453950289498156.post-48014298151801393872021-07-25T14:27:00.002+03:002021-07-25T14:27:30.958+03:00Intelegence Files<p> We're going to have a quick one today, straight from the archives. <br /></p><p>A few years ago I got hold of an intelligence assessment on captured Soviet and Chinese equipment from the National Archives. This written after a team from the UK toured South Vietnam looking at all the shiny kit that had been captured from the NVA and Chinese. This team evaluated every aspect of the captured equipment, even measuring armour hardness.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/qCwEuaR.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="800" height="198" src="https://i.imgur.com/qCwEuaR.png" width="320" /></a></div>They studied a T-54, Type 59 and T-54(M), as well as a light tanks, M1967 APC's and several other guns. In interests of keeping this manageable, I've uploaded only the tanks segment, which covers the three MBT's. Even this 'brief' segment is about 65 pages long, and includes plenty of pictures of the crew positions and the like. <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/ouq6j45ws67rxey/DEFE%2044-413%20Sov%20%2B%20Chinese%20equipment%20in%20Vietnam.rar?dl=0" target="_blank">So I have put it into a zip file, which can be downloaded here</a>.<p></p><p></p><p>As well as the above picture that came from the file (there are others), here's some samples:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/hTl44Mu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="525" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/hTl44Mu.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/NRKEHUw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="502" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/NRKEHUw.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><p>Anyway, I hope that's of interest/use to someone. Next week I have something a little different planned, I just need to get down to a museum to get some pictures, which I'll do on Tuesday hopefully.</p><div style="text-align: center;">
---------------------------- </div><p>
Thank you for reading. If you like what I do, and think it is worthy of a
tiny donation, you can do so via Paypal
(historylisty-general@yahoo.co.uk) <a href="https://www.patreon.com/HistoryListy?fbclid=IwAR3iF6RPPk42tSAEuXsfGCLGstVL4lj00sw7Xbj7lJrzR9gxgSCkkBIlOhQ" target="_blank">or through Patreon</a>. For which I can only offer my thanks. <a href="https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/David-Lister/a/3367" target="_blank">Or alternatively you can buy one of my books</a>.</p><p><br /></p>David Listerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531028120002922423noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041453950289498156.post-83889277679060833742021-07-18T11:47:00.002+03:002021-07-18T11:47:17.384+03:00Historical Duxford<p>Waaay back in 2014 I visited Duxford and took some pictures, I figured that those would make a nice quick article. </p><p>Note: This was back before IWM Lambeth got trashed in its 'reimagining', and a lot of the cool exhibits got moved to Duxford. I mean what do I know about museums, silly me I'd have loads of exhibits that you can get up close too, but apparently I'm wrong and what the public want is for you to remove a floor, and replace it with five exhibits. A V-2, a press 4x4, the remains of an IED, the Nery Gun and tucked away at the back a T-34, hidden behind the stairs almost like its an embarrassment. Espcially when you compare the current IWM to what it used to be like.</p><p>Here's the old one:<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/Vpb3Qpj.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="800" height="119" src="https://i.imgur.com/Vpb3Qpj.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>To the right of the camera are loads of tanks and the guns etc. and here's the modern one:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/X7mZYEZ.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="800" height="199" src="https://i.imgur.com/X7mZYEZ.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>The good news is that with all the exhibits being shuffled off to Duxford the modern Duxford is vastly more exciting and excellent. Anyway, enough of my ramblings...</p><p><br /></p><p>One of the better parts was the land warfare hall. They've got a nice battle scene, with some good little twists.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/HJUtkhq.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/HJUtkhq.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The T-34 is depicted as part of a convoy driving along a road. The road heads between several ruined houses, and disappears down the street, depicted by a giant Street fighting picture on the far wall. The T-34 commander is pointing to a wrecked house off to the side, when you get round to the other side of the house you see that there's a German soldier pressed up against the wall getting ready to ambush the convoy. Another little one which very few people notice is the building behind the T-34 in that picture, if you look at the upstairs window there's a German with a Panzerfaust.</p><p>Elsewhere in the museum, and utterly unacknowledged by most is Coastal Motor Boat 4:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/oQMhSOE.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/oQMhSOE.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I try to point this out to everyone who visits simply <a href="http://overlord-wot.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-secret-service-yacht-club.html" target="_blank">because of this story</a>. It's a VC winner like the Nery gun, but its hardly ever mentioned.</p><p>Elsewhere we also have this interesting vehicle:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/qH4i9oL.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/qH4i9oL.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Again, it's often overlooked. most people just assume it's some kind of command vehicle and ignore it, but it's much more interesting than that. It's a SPR-1, which is a GT-MU carrier adapted to carry jamming equipment. Once while watching it drive around the arena at Duxford the commentator suggested it could be used to trigger fuses in some artillery rounds as they were fired overhead.</p><p>Some of the other exhibits on display back then:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/uYw0fqE.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/uYw0fqE.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/lYQi9uH.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/lYQi9uH.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/mmfIlJf.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/mmfIlJf.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/Hbfa0lo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/Hbfa0lo.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/IC8RSAE.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/IC8RSAE.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/brEeHcN.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/brEeHcN.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/17yNit1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/17yNit1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/fjxvArm.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/fjxvArm.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/C8M2fja.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/C8M2fja.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/uJ9IagE.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/uJ9IagE.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/rxaYFBc.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/rxaYFBc.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/BF0eEdK.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/BF0eEdK.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/7ZEaakO.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/7ZEaakO.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/F4GNaYu.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/F4GNaYu.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://overlord-wot.blogspot.com/2015/08/a-killa-sherman.html" target="_blank">This Sherman is also something we've visited before.</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Anyway, next week we have something a bit different. <br /></p>David Listerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531028120002922423noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041453950289498156.post-81638514347886651582021-07-11T14:26:00.000+03:002021-07-11T14:26:06.916+03:00Liberating a U-boat<p> On the 7th of July, 1943, U-468 slipped out of the U-boat pens at La Pallice, and departed on her third patrol. Morale amongst the crew was particularly low. Over recent weeks the crew had heard of repeated losses and very few boats returning from patrol. To the extent the crews were beginning to call the submarine arm ‘Totenkommando’ or ‘Hundsmord’, which translates to ‘suicide squadron’ and ‘dog's death’. In addition, the crew of U-468 had been experiencing bad luck on their previous patrols.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/HLy4ADD.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="600" height="235" src="https://i.imgur.com/HLy4ADD.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">U-468 at sea.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>Her first patrol had seemed to start off well, until she was subjected to a heavy depth charge attack that kept her submerged for a prolonged time, and her stern became too heavy taking on a downwards angle while at a depth of about 190m. She eventually resurfaced and found a British tanker called SS Empire Light that had been previously damaged by another U-boat’s torpedo. The SS Empire Light had become separated and would seem to have been easy prey for the U-468, however, it still took some five torpedoes to score a hit on the tanker. The Empire Light’s crew then abandoned ship. After a while as the ship had not sunk the crew prepared to re-board, resulting in the U-468 firing a sixth and final torpedo, which sent the Empire Light to the bottom. After the U-468 returned to base the crew were not given a full leave period, with just thirteen days between arrival and departure. The next patrol was even worse. Spotted early on by Allied aircraft the U-468 was subjected to a severe hunt by surface and air units that forced her to spend about a day and a half submerged whilst the aircraft and later a destroyer prosecuted the hunt for her. She finally managed to escape but had suffered some damage and thus returned to base for repairs. <br /><br />Now, U-468 was departing on her third patrol. The captain had been drilling her crew extensively in AA work, however, to avoid having to test out his crew’s skills the captain took the boat down the coast of France and Spain to avoid crossing the Bay of Biscay, which was rapidly becoming a killing zone for the Allied anti-submarine efforts. <br /><br />By the 11th of August U-468 was off the coast of Dakar, so far, the patrol had been quiet, only one small steamer had been found. As it was brightly lit, the crew had exchanged challenges with her, only to find that she was a Swiss ship and thus neutral. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/6NUCPNu.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="800" height="244" src="https://i.imgur.com/6NUCPNu.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">B-24 from 220 Squadron<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>At about 0945 U-468 was travelling on the surface when a B-24 Liberator was sighted at 6,000 yards. This was from No. 200 Squadron from the RAF and was flown by the New Zealand pilot Flying Officer Lloyd Allan Trigg. The Liberator was manoeuvring to set up its attack run. By this stage in the war the U-boat crews knew that it was better to try and fight the enemy aircraft, than to dive and try to hide. So, the two single barrelled 20mm’s on the U-boat began to fire. Astoundingly the accurate 20mm fire scored a hit, and the rear of the plane became a fireball enveloping the tail entirely. Instead of breaking off F/O Trigg continued to press home his attack. With no deflection the German gunners could hardly miss. Battered by 20mm, soon the Liberator entered range of the two MG81 machine guns also mounted on the conning tower, and these joined in the hammering of the Liberator. Tracer from the gunfire was seen to punch through the Liberator and carry on, all the while the fire continued to rage and spread. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/t9JvjPP.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="285" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/t9JvjPP.png" width="228" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">F/O Trigg<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>F/O Trigg’s attack run was from the port side of U-468, and it was perfectly flown, with the Liberator crossing just aft of the conning tower, at a height of 50ft. The German gunners could see their rounds bursting in the Liberators gaping bomb bay, in which several depth charges hung. As the Liberator soared over, she released a string of six depth charges. Two of these charges landed within 6ft of the U-boat, bracketing her. In the spray of water exploding the Captain of the U-boat lost sight of the Liberator, spinning around he saw the fireball slam into the water a short distance away, at which point a loud explosion occurred. There were no survivors from the Liberators crew. <br /><br />Onboard U-468 the shockwaves had caused devastation. Most of the machinery was ripped from its mountings. There were several serious water leaks and U-468 was settling in the water. The radio was utterly destroyed, and one of the fuel tanks had split flooding some 65 gallons of diesel into the submarine. The rear torpedo tube had fractured and a 2in wide stream of water was flooding in, but worse was to come. Water was entering the battery compartment, which caused a cloud of chlorine to fill the submarine. Choking men tried to evacuate but the damage and the gas meant it was difficult, if not impossible. U-468 sunk in about ten minutes. <br /><br />Just under half the crew, some 20 men, managed to jump overboard, many were likely gun crews, but some were suffering chlorine poisoning as they had tried and failed to get their lifebelts. As the men thrashed in the sea most were taken by drowning, sharks and barracuda. After half-an-hour one of the few survivors found a dinghy that had been thrown clear of the F/O Trigg’s aircraft when it exploded. Remarkably this was unpunctured, and still had its inflation bottle attached. After triggering the bottle some seven survivors were able to clamber onto the life raft. <br /><br />Later in the day a Sunderland appeared in the skies above the life raft and dropped a supply canister to the survivors. The next day HMS Clarkia arrived at the location after being directed to them by Allied air and rescued the Germans. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/HlxJZ4q.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="600" height="212" src="https://i.imgur.com/HlxJZ4q.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">U-boat POW's being landed, including the crew of U-468.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>The U-boat captain recommended that F/O Trigg be decorated. Based solely on the testimony of the seven German survivors F/O Trigg was awarded the Victoria Cross. This is the only time in the history of the VC that it was awarded based only on the account of the enemies. Some of you might be thinking what about Lt-Cmdr Roope (HMS Glowworm) or Sgt Durrant (St Nazaire raid). Both of those actions were recommended by German personnel, but there were surviving Allied witnesses to support the German recommendation. In F/O Trigg's case there were no Allied witness.</p><div style="text-align: center;">
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Thank you for reading. If you like what I do, and think it is worthy of a
tiny donation, you can do so via Paypal
(historylisty-general@yahoo.co.uk) <a href="https://www.patreon.com/HistoryListy?fbclid=IwAR3iF6RPPk42tSAEuXsfGCLGstVL4lj00sw7Xbj7lJrzR9gxgSCkkBIlOhQ" target="_blank">or through Patreon</a>. For which I can only offer my thanks. <a href="https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/David-Lister/a/3367" target="_blank">Or alternatively you can buy one of my books</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Image Credits & Sources:</p><p><a href="http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-468A/U-468INT.htm" target="_blank">Full transcript of U-468's crew interrogation can be found here.</a><br /></p><p><a href="www.ussflierproject.com " target="_blank">www.ussflierproject.com </a><br /></p>David Listerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531028120002922423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041453950289498156.post-87904103176171040422021-07-04T10:48:00.001+03:002021-07-04T10:48:13.459+03:00International Relations<p> Slowly, HMS Hood’s turrets swung to the broadside of the ship. The huge gun barrels elevated, and shortly afterwards massive belches of fire and smoke erupted from the guns. Its target, many miles distant was an enemy battleship. But it is not the Bismarck. Yesterday was the eighty-first anniversary of the attack on Mers-el-Kébir.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/kRRLVg3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="800" height="236" src="https://i.imgur.com/kRRLVg3.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HMS Hood's forward gun turrets.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Now, as you all know, I am British, and thus it is from a British viewpoint I look back on this. However, the French view on this is very different. Thus, to make sure we have at least some balance, I asked Marisa Belhote, a writer I know from Tanks-Encyclopaedia, to give us a few paragraphs on the subject. They are suited to this as they’re French. </p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><i>‘The British attempt to push the French fleet out of the war or out of Axis hands at Mers-el Kébir ended tragically due to the refusal of the French to comply with the British demands in any way, resulting in tragic losses of ships and most significantly lives for the French navy.</i></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><i><br />It cannot be argued that safeguarding the French fleet from becoming a threat was vital for the Royal Navy to keep control of the seas, particularly in the already hotly contested Mediterranean sea. What this resulted in at Mers-El Kébir ended up being the deadliest and costliest day for the French navy ever since the Napoleonic war though, a blow caused by a country that merely days prior was still considered France’s ally. As such, and even though the incident could likely have been prevented with better decisions from the French high-command, it isn’t surprising to see the attack was, and often still is, viewed as treason pretty universally in France. The effects at the time were fairly considerable; a British attack on the French fleet days after the armistice resulted in likely far lower opposition to the installation of Vichy’s authoritarian regime which was in full swing during July of 1940, as well as future collaboration policies with Germany. At the same time, for the Free French, while officially De Gaulle moderately defended the British action to avoid dissent that would have been hard to manage that early into the Free French movement, behind curtains, the action was deeply unpopular within the Free French leadership and the few troop and sailors the movement could count on by that time. Not only did it have a significant demoralizing effect on the Free French, but De Gaulle feared the attack would likely have a significant effect on the number of Frenchmen willing to clandestinely join the UK to continue the fight against Germany.</i></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><i><br />Nowadays, Mers-El Kébir is still remembered tragically in French memory - as is most of the French Navy’s Second World War career, as many of the modern, 1930s-built ships of the fleet would end up scuttled, ironically to avoid German capture, in November of 1942. Mers-El Kébir remains the deadliest day of the French navy likely since Trafalgar. No matter how much the British position and will to neutralize the potential threat of the French navy, Mers-El Kébir and as such entered the French psyche as treason - not helped by the eventual fate of much of the rest of the French Navy which ended up fulfilling its commitment not to surrender itself to the Germans, even though this is hindsight the British obviously couldn’t have in 1940. Many in France notably tend to gloss over some terms of the ultimatum, such as the variety of proposals offered by the British to the French fleet outside of outright joining the allies or scuttling itself.’</i></p><p><br />Now, like a lot of French defence of events at Mers-el-Kébir it relies on the hindsight clause (as Marisa points out). Yes, we know now that the French would eventually scuttle their own ships. But equally, there’s significant history of French Forces fighting the Allies, Operations Exporter, Ironclad and Torch to name but a few. Many of those include the use of tanks and armour. Which is not an insignificant use of force. Or there is the re-use of French arms and factories to supply and equip Axis forces. To flatly argue from that stance, that any attempt to size the ships would result in their scuttling is rather flawed in logic. Equally, and more importantly, it is an unknowable fact at the time. The French were also given the opportunity to scuttle their fleet at that point, but instead the French commander, Admiral Marcel-Bruno Gensoul, refused.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/485dDP1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="800" height="192" src="https://i.imgur.com/485dDP1.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French Naval power at Mers-el-Kébir</td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>It seems very likely that Gensoul’s views essentially framed the outcome. Described as pig-headed and with significant hatred of the British. During the 3rd of July he repeatedly refused to meet with the British representative to discuss matters and threatened to pitch the entire French fleet into an attack on British assets. Precisely the thing that the British were concerned about.</p><p><br />As it was, the French were given the option to put their ships beyond German use, and any option to achieve that was acceptable. Even sailing them to the French West Indies, where they would still be under command was acceptable. The first attempt at negotiation started at 0630 when the British delegation was dispatched aboard a British destroyer. Gensoul refused to meet them. Even ordering them to leave at 0847. The British ship left, but the delegation boarded a small fast launch and headed towards Gensoul’s flagship, only to be intercepted. The ultimatum was handed over in desperation to prevent the opening of fire. Then the British delegation waited outside the harbour. It was not until 0415 that Gensoul relented and agreed to negotiate, despite several hours of attempts, and many postponements of the commencement of hostilities. Indeed, the French appear to have been stalling for time, summoning reinforcements from elsewhere I the Mediterranean. The British intercepted this communication, and so now knew there was hard deadline in place. Thus, with the French stalling for time, the British knew they had no choice but to open fire, which they did at 1730.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/xU7AzyB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="714" height="316" src="https://i.imgur.com/xU7AzyB.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strasbourg bracketed by gunfire.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/nSPAKRY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="800" height="202" src="https://i.imgur.com/nSPAKRY.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The destroyer Mogador after suffering a 15in hit.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>After a short exchange of shells, most fired by the British a cease fire was requested. This was granted to give the French sailors time to abandon ship. The French did no such thing and made a break for open waters with a battleship, a seaplane carrier and five destroyers. The Destroyers exchanged gunfire with British ships and launched attacks on a British submarine. At least one of the escaped Destroyers and the Seaplane carrier would later enter axis service, which sort of vindicated the British concerns.</p><p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/5iDDdfG.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="602" height="200" src="https://i.imgur.com/5iDDdfG.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mers-el-Kébir from the air during the attack.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p> So over to you. Mers-el-Kébir, vicious war crime by Perfidious Albion, or necessary evil?<br /></p><div style="text-align: center;">
---------------------------- </div><p>
Thank you for reading. If you like what I do, and think it is worthy of a
tiny donation, you can do so via Paypal
(historylisty-general@yahoo.co.uk) <a href="https://www.patreon.com/HistoryListy?fbclid=IwAR3iF6RPPk42tSAEuXsfGCLGstVL4lj00sw7Xbj7lJrzR9gxgSCkkBIlOhQ" target="_blank">or through Patreon</a>. For which I can only offer my thanks. <a href="https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/David-Lister/a/3367" target="_blank">Or alternatively you can buy one of my books</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Image Credits & Sources:</p><p><a href="http://www.portsmouth.co.uk" target="_blank">www.portsmouth.co.uk </a><br /></p>David Listerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531028120002922423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041453950289498156.post-29211162462722989662021-06-27T16:39:00.005+03:002021-06-27T16:39:35.608+03:00The Inevitable Mistake<p> A few weeks ago I held the<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRTMa-nj6Ww&t=19s" target="_blank"> presentation on the Bombard</a> in support of my <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Defeating-Panzer-Stuka-Menace-British-Weapons/dp/1526787156/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=defeating+the+panzer+stuka-menace&qid=1624800862&sr=8-1" target="_blank">new book</a>. During the Q&A afterwards I got talking to Chris Gibson about a weapon he'd found in the National Archives, tucked away in a batch of documents from the Explosive Research and Development Establishment under the name of 'L U S Blacker'. Mr Gibson has given me permission to share it with you. </p><p>It's also important I mention it now, as I had speculated about this weapon in my book, as I had seen the plans for it from another archive. But I lacked context of any supporting documents. Thus my speculation was rather badly wrong. Luckily I do say the thoughts were entirely speculative comments.</p><p>The weapon in question was Blacker updating the idea of the PIAT to make the mother of all PIATs.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/r8zP8wb.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="800" height="203" src="https://i.imgur.com/r8zP8wb.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Novel Platoon Projector, read to fire. The plans interestingly show a bi-pod which seems to be missing here.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The weapon itself is known by two names depending on the document involved. The plans are listed as the 'Stewblac platoon Projector', while the Kew document is known as the 'Novel Platoon Projector'. It was a quite advanced design, with the case being made from glass fibre to keep the weight down. The projectile seems to have used a rocket booster after launch made in accordance with <a href="https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search/family/010137525/publication/GB773190A?q=773190" target="_blank">Blackers Patent, which can be found here</a> (If you want a complicated legalese description on how to improve rockets). Interestingly the Patent for the projectile was dated to 1953, while the Kew document was dated to 1960. Blacker lists possible warheads such as HESH (for anti-structure work), HEAT (for anti tank) and a HE anti-personnel round, which has a feature of a time fuse that can be adjusted up until the last moment, and thus can be used to create an airburst. This weapon would provide the infantry platoon the ability to kill targets out to 400 yards.</p><p></p><p>However, Blacker went one step further. He suggested that in a prepared position, the platoon might need accurate anti-tank fire out to 1,400 yards (which I'll bet is the maximum range of his weapon). To achieve this the Platoon Projector could be fitted with a tripod, and a wire guided missile.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/VL3jmUs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="365" data-original-width="781" height="187" src="https://i.imgur.com/VL3jmUs.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tripod and wire guided missile fitted.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The missile is launched much the same way as the dumb projectile, which is exactly the same a PIAT, through a retaining clip and a spigot. However, weapon guidance is done a bit differently to what you might expect. In most systems some form of sight is used, which somehow translates movements to the missile. In Blackers weapon you had a battery box with a switch. The switch was how the weapon was guided. If you flicked the switch to the left, the missile would turn left, and the same applies travelling the other direction. There was no pitch up/down control, so the missile could only be moved in one plane.<br /></p><p>I'd just like to thank Mr Gibson for letting me share this with you, and for giving me an excellent piece of info about the final form of the PIAT, which as you know was the best Platoon level Infantry anti-tank weapon of the war.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>David Listerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531028120002922423noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041453950289498156.post-3549466676642714012021-06-20T11:22:00.002+03:002021-06-20T11:22:12.976+03:00Operation Cygnet<p>Last few weeks have been a bit unpleasant for me, due to repeated bouts of illness, the last one, putting my back out, has prevented me from sitting at my desk, and so I was unable to write. Hence why I've been cheating with documentation. This week is no different, although in this case, we do get a story. Usually I'd use the following report as a basis for an article, with other research mixed in. However, that's not been an option. So you'll just have to put up with the raw Op Cygnet Report. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/WJsyp7L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="800" height="189" src="https://i.imgur.com/WJsyp7L.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kangaroo's of hte 4th Hussars, depicting their use at the River Senio.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>Op Cygnet was the crossing of the River Senio in Italy. This report follows the exploits of the armoured component, focusing on the use of Kangaroo APC's.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/DQqBlN6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="460" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/DQqBlN6.jpg" width="184" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/cgcJkOl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="688" data-original-width="800" height="275" src="https://i.imgur.com/cgcJkOl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/fg1Mtns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="800" height="283" src="https://i.imgur.com/fg1Mtns.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/9GRBAlD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="800" height="284" src="https://i.imgur.com/9GRBAlD.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/8rrrcsA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="800" height="282" src="https://i.imgur.com/8rrrcsA.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />David Listerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531028120002922423noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041453950289498156.post-27946205119953267282021-06-13T11:39:00.004+03:002021-06-27T13:30:16.481+03:00360 or 20?<p>Here's another file from the archives. As you can see, from the introduction page, its a comparison between the differences of putting a turret on a tank, and having a casemate mounted weapon.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/WccyqId.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="715" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/WccyqId.png" width="286" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/WM206Px.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="160" src="https://i.imgur.com/WM206Px.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>There's an interesting entry there, the SU-249, which I think is the ISU-122? Any Russian tank experts want to confirm or deny?</p><p><br /></p><p>Also for something a bit longer, here's the link to the Bombard live stream I did last week:</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRTMa-nj6Ww&t=1s">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRTMa-nj6Ww&t=1s</a><br /></p>David Listerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531028120002922423noreply@blogger.com3