Verlinden Modeling Magazine Vol.5 No.3

Just imagine, you are an American tanker, serving in Germany during the 70s or 80s. It's an extremely hot day and your commanding officer gets the bright idea to initiate a CBR (chemical-bacteriological-radiation) exercize. The M60A1 is hotter than an oven, the protective clothing and mask weighs a ton. You are in this situation for hours trying to perform your assigned tasks under these circumstances. Your vehicle is assigned a hiding position in the hedgerows next to a small river, and guess what? You look outside and see a couple of teenagers frolicking in the cool water having a great time. Then the radio cracks. "Move out fast to your alternate position". That is the scenario for this diorama. The centerpiece of the scene is the Tamiya M60A1 updated with the VP set (No. 320). The camouflage pattern was airbrushed with green-brown-light sand and black. After the traditional "wash" the green and brown was drybrushed with lighter shades of the same basic colors. Figures are VP U.S. Tank Crew CBR dress. Kitbags. rucksacks, ammo boxes, in a word, the usual selection of gear stowed on exercises, was painted and affixed to the diorama.

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Military in Scale 02 2003

History suggests that there will always be a last minute scramble to enhance capabilities in the last days before an operation is launched. Who can forget the frantic race to field an expeditionary force to retake the Falkland Islands. Even as the British task force steamed south equipment was being purchased off the shelf and flown out to meet the ships at Ascension Island. One of the most dramatic upgrades was the fitting of SNEB free flight rockets to Army and Royal Marine Gazelle recce Helicopters, this was earned out at sea. All 3 services earned out numerous mods to their respective Heli fleets, the absence of this equipment prior to the balloon going up can be attributed to various factors. Economy as always is a prime variable in defence procurement, witness the current comparison between the cost of the Army's Apache buy and the cost of new hospitals! The other age-old variable is of course, the unexpected; who foresaw the need to field a UK division to liberate Kuwait? Yet again we will have to wait for the 'desertisation' of the Challenger regiments as the cost cutters ruled out another deployment!

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Waffen-Arsenal Sonderband S-53 - Schwere Beiwagenkraeder der Wehrmacht 1935-45

Schon frühzeitig standen auch in Reichswehr und Wehrmacht die schweren Motorräder mit Seitenwagen - im allgemeinen militärischen Sprachgebrauch Beiwagenkräder genannt - bei den Soldaten hoch in der Gunst. Verständlich, denn in den 30er Jahren wurde in Deutschland auf dem zivilen Motorradmarkt intensiv für das Motorrad mit Seitenwagen geworben. Beigetragen hat hierzu sicherlich der wirtschaftliche Aufschwung ab 1933, der von den trügerischen Hoffnungen im Dritten Reich beflügelt wurde. Konnte bis dahin überwiegend nur der Solo-Motor-radfahrer den Spaß an aufregenden Uberlandtouren allein genießen, so produzierte die Motorradbranche nunmehr vermehrt komfortable Seitenwagen. Billige Kleinwagen oder Dreiradmobile waren auch in den dreißiger Jahren auf dem Markt. Wenn sich der Käufer trotzdem für ein Motorrad mit Seitenwagen entschied, so war dieser Entschluß sicherlich auch auf die damalige intensive Werbung für die Seitenwagengespanne zurückzuführen. Seitenwagengespanne mit elegantem Stahlblech-Kastenrahmen, Kardan und Vierganggetriebe waren aber auch Luxus für verhinderte Autofahrer.

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Waffen-Arsenal Sonderband S-39 - Beuteflak bei der Wehrmacht 1939-1945

Mit der in diesem WA-Sonderband vorgestellten ßeuteflak sind vor allem die Flugabwehr-Geschütze gemeint, die während des Krieges in deutsche Hände fielen und, soweit noch funktionsfähig, für den eigenen Bedarf eingesetzt wurden. Nur die 8,35 cm Flak 22 (t) war bereits vor Kriegsbeginn aus Beständen des tschechischen Heeres von der Wehrmacht übernommen Morden, wie diese auch eine Anzahl 4 cm Flak Bofors M 33 schon bei der Eingliederung Österreichs an das Deutsche Reich 1938 vereinnahmt hatte und später auf vielen Kriegsschauplätzen erbeutete. Die schweren Beutegeschütze standen vorwiegend ortsfest in sog. Flaksperrfeuerbatterien im Heimatkriegsgebiet oder im besetzten westlichen Ausland und am Atlantikwall im Einsatz, während vor allem die 4 cm Bofors fast an allen Fronten zur Truppe kam. Zur Bedienungsmannschaft der schweren Batterien in der Heimat gehörte im Verlauf des Krieges mehr und mehr sog. Hilfspersonal. Dazu zählten in erster Linie die Luftwaffenhelfer. Dies waren Schüler, später auch Lehrlinge, der Jahrgänge 1926-1929. Aber auch Männer des Arbeitsdienstes versahen an Stelle der zur Front versetzten Flaksoldaten in den Flakstellungen Dienst.

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Waffen-Arsenal Band 83 - Die Panther-Familie

Beim Angriff auf die Sowjetunion 1941 stieß man auf die schweren KW I und KW II, sowie den mittelschweren T 34/76. Völlig neue Panzer, die sich bald als sehr ernsthafte Bedrohung für das Unternehmen "Barbarossa'1 herausstellten. Nur ihre anfänglich noch geringe Anzahl und die schiechte Ausbildung ihrer Besatzungen verringerte die Wirkung dieser hervorragenden Panzertypen. Zur Wiedererlangung der deutschen Panzer-Überlegenheit gab, neben dem Auftrag zur Entwicklung eines schweren Kampfpanzers (Tiger), das Rüslungsministerium Daimler-Benz und MAN Aufträge zur Entwicklung eines 30 bis 35 Tonnen mittelschweren Panzers mit geneigter Panzerung von 40 bis 60 mm Stärke, einer 7,5 cm KwK als Hauptwaffe und einer maximalen Geschwindigkeit von 55 km/Std. Der Daimler-Benz-Vorschlag war fast eine getreue Kopie des T 34-Modells, mit hinterem Dieselmotor, Ganzstahllaufrädern und Blattfederaufhängung. Wahrscheinlich wäre dieses Modell besser zu entwickeln und zu fertigen gewesen als das MAN-Modell, das ein rein deutscher Entwurf war, bei dem nur die geneigte Panzerung des T 34 übernommen worden war. Der Turm war zurückgesetzt, um das Übergewicht der neuen längeren L/70-Ka-none und der Mündungsbremse zu reduzieren.

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Panzer Tracts No.14 - Gepanzerte Pionier-Fahrzeuge

As ordered by the General der Pioniere und Festungen on 28 December 1939: Through In 6 the head of the army has ordered the rapid procurement of 100 Abwurfvorrichtungen (explosive charge dropping device) for Panzer units. These devices had already been developed, and were proven successful by Pionier-Battalion 38 of the 2.Panzer-Division. From inside a buttoned-up Pz.Kpfw.I it was possible to use this Abwurfvorrichtung, mounted on the rear deck, to drop explosive charges weighing up to 50 kilograms onto obstacles and barriers. Every Panzer-Division was to be issued 10 Abwurfvorrichtungen. These Abwurfvorrichtungen were mounted on the rear deck of Pz.Kpfw.I Ausf.B. In the case of Pionier-Battalion 38, a larger version was mounted on the rear of a Pz.Kpfw.II. On 4 March 1940, orders were issued to create a Panzer-Pionier-Kompanie in each Panzer-Division. Organized in accordance with K.St.N.716 (Behelf) dated 6 March 1940, each Panzer-Pionier-Kompanie was to have two Zerstoerungszuege (destruction platoons) each with five Pz.Kpfw.I (M.G.) (Sd.Kfz.101). Orders had already been given on 21 February 1940 to issue 11 Pz.Kpfw.I Ausf.B to each Pionier-Battalion, one for the company commander and five each for the 1. and 2.Zug.

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Panzer Tracts No.3-1 - Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf A-B-C-D

Now for the first time, we have compiled an accurate account of Germany's prewar development of the Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.A to D and the predecessor Lcichttrak-tor. This documentary is based solely on primary source documents created by those who designed, produced, and employed the Panzers. Previous attempts at writing this history have been based on British Intelligence reports written during and directly following the war. Unfortunately, having been based on "guesses", these intelligence reports contain numerous errors (such as, 30-mm-thick armor overall on the Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.D, and that the Krupp's M.K.A. was a predecessor to the Pz.Kpfw.III). Therefore, these intelligence reports were purposefully rejected because they do not qualify as primary sources. Interested in German technology at the end of the war, the British School of Tank Technology carted off the correspondence files between Krupp's design office and the Heeres Waffenamt (German Army ordnance department). It was very fortunate that the files on the M.K.A. were among these records and therefore survived. These original project records reveal Krupp's plans for creating a series of tanks for export to foreign countries. At the same time that these original records were in the hands of the School of Tank Technology, M.I. 10 was erroneously reporting that the M.K.A. was a predecessor to the Pz.Kpfw. III. The true story of the development of this M.K.A. for export is revealed now for the first time.

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Panther in Action

Development of an improved replacement for the PzKpfw IV medium tank had proceeded at a slow pace, since the IV had proven to be a reliable and versatile design. Despite fairly high losses during certain stages of the Polish and French campaigns, the Germans were relatively satisfied with the PzKpfw II, III, and IV. Though certain pre-war incidents should have warned them that the Soviet Union was preparing a new and heavy armored force, the German military leaders disregarded these warnings. One such incident took place during the spring of 1941 when Hitler specifically ordered that a Russian military commission be shown the latest developments in tank designs. After viewing the Panzer IV the Russians refused to believe this was the latest and heaviest German tank and were so insistent that the German Ordnance Office concluded that the Russians must already possess better and heavier tanks. The attack on the Soviet Union ran into the KV-1 heavy tank and the T-34/76 Medium tank, completely new types which soon proved to be a most serious threat to the German plans for "Operation Barbarossa". Only lack of numbers and poor armor tactics reduced the deadly effectiveness of these two fine Russian tanks. General Guderian urgently requested a study commission to come up with a new advanced tank as soon as possible to restore German superiority, even went so far as to suggest that the T-34 be copied as soon as possible. Out of this critical situation came two new German tanks: the Tiger I and the Panther. In late 1941, the German Armament Ministry let out contracts with Daimler Benz and MAN for designs for a 30-35 ton medium tank, with sloped armor of 40-60mm thickness, a 7.5 cm L/48 main weapon, and a 55 kmph (35 mph) top speed.

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Classic AFVs No.2 - Lee & Grant

At the end of World War 1, the United States of America disbanded her tank corps, subordinating a large proportion of the tanks she had retained to the infantry, to be used in a support r61e. The European war had left the country with over 30 million dollars tied up in tanks, yet it would be another 20 years or so before the United States would be forced into building tanks on a large scale and to gain a predominance in production of tanks which, at the time, could only be imagined. The first year of the 1920s saw General Rocken-back attempting to retain or reform the tank corps as an indigenous arm, though he was defeated along with such far-seeing men as Majors George Patton, Sereno Brett and Dwight Eisenhower, who were at the only United States Tank School. An act of Congress was passed rejecting all ideas of a separate lank corps; the tanks would go to the infantry and would be their sole responsibility. Some steps were taken to get the thoughts and requirements, should the need arise, of serving officers on the type of tanks that would be needed. A staff major, who had served on the Anglo-American Tank Commission in the previous war, R. E. Carlson, wrote a paper on the development of the tank which laid flown the possible requirements for light and medium tanks in a future United States Tank Corps. The aftermath of war affected the country, just as it did her allies, and in such a climate of mass demobilisation, unemployment and restricted government spending, it is not surprising that Carlson's paper went largely unnoticed and unread.

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British Tank Destroyer Achilles

The 17-pdr M10 S.P. Achilles IIC (Danish Army registration number 17.125) belonging to Ole Drostrup's collection of military vehicles at his property in Soenderborg, Southern Jutland, Denmark. This is the sole running and fully equipped Achilles tank destroyer preserved in Europe. Manufactured by General Motors' Fisher Body Corporation plants in the first half of 1943 as a M10 3-inch GMC. this vehicle was shipped to the U.K. and rearmed with the 17-pdr gun sometime in 1944. It was most likely issued to the 1st Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, which was attached to the 1st Canadian Infantry Division. The division landed in Sicily in July 1943 and fought its way up the Italian peninsula from Ortona to the Senio with the British 8th Army, and halted its advance in late December 1944. The division was finally moved from Italy as part of Operation Goldflake in March 1945, finishing the war in the Netherlands with the 1st Canadian Army.

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Vickers Aircraft since 1908

The great armament firm Vickers, Sons and Maxim Limited became interested in aircraft as soon as their military potential was appreciated. This was in the period just after the turn of the twentieth century when powered balloons, or dirigibles as they were called, were successfully navigated through the air and when the Wright brothers had shown that powered flight with a man-controlled heavier-than-air machine was a reality. Vickers' interest crystallised in 1908, when they undertook to construct a large airship of the rigid type for the Admiralty. The British naval authorities were alarmed at the progress being made by the German Zeppelin airships, particularly in their application to naval reconnaisance. This Vickers' naval airship, facetiously called the Mayfly, was not a success, and on its trials at Barrow suffered structural failure when being brought out of its shed for flight. However, this setback made no difference to Vickers' attitude to aviation, and in the same year as the disaster, 1911, the Company established an aviation department to design and construct aeroplanes and, a little later, started a flying school at Brooklands, scene of a great deal of the early British pioneering effort in aviation.

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British Flying Boats

The origins of the British flying-boat, that is to say a water-based aircraft employing a hull rather than a fuselage and floats, can be traced back to within a few years of the dawn of flight. The opening decade of the twentieth century was a period of enormous aeronautical experiment that witnessed many aircraft of wildly varying competence, including numbers of freakish efforts. During that time, despite scant encouragement from official bodies, a core of determined British designers and aspiring aviators pressed ahead with considerable fortitude in their belief that heavier-than-air, powered, sustained and controlled flight would soon be achieved in this country. Their perseverance paid off and by the turn of the decade and just beyond, the leading British pioneers had attained a measure of success - with landplanes. Thoughts quickly turned to the possibility of marine aircraft; initially it was believed by some that flying from water might be safer than from land. However, as the inevitable crashes started to occur it became clear aquatic impact could often be as painful as hitting terra firma.

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