MACHINE OF WORLD WAR 2

FLAK CANNON

2010-09-01T18:58:00.003+07:00

The 88 mm gun (eighty-eight) was a German anti-aircraft and anti-tank artillery gun from World War II. They were widely used by Germany throughout the war. It was one of the most recognizable German weapons of the war. Developments of the original models led to a wide variety of guns.
The name applies to a series of anti-aircraft guns officially called the 8,8 cm FlaK 18, 36 or 37. FlaK is a German contraction of Flugzeugabwehr-Kanone or Flugabwehr-Kanone (hence the capital K) meaning anti-aircraft gun, the original purpose of the eighty-eight. In informal German use, the guns were universally known as the Acht-acht (8-8), a contraction of Acht-komma-acht Zentimeter (German: "8,8 cm" - comma being used as the decimal separator in German).
The name could also describe newer and more powerful models, the FlaK 41 and 43, although these were different weapons. Compared to the British QF 3.7 inch AA gun or United States 90 mm gun models, the 88 was built in very large numbers,^{[citation needed]} and when doubled in the anti-tank role, it was mounted on a versatile base from which it could be fired without unlimbering.^{[citation needed]}
Its success as an improvised anti-tank gun led to a separate line of guns for anti-tank use, the Panzerabwehr-Kanone (PaK) 88 (German: "anti-tank gun") and as the main armament for tanks such as the Tiger I, the 8.8 cm KwK 36, with the "KwK" abbreviation standing for Kampfwagenkanone ("fighting vehicle cannon").

Background

Most anti-aircraft guns of World War I were adaptations of existing medium-calibre weapons mounted to allow fire at higher angles. These weapons were useful, at least for deterrence, against the vulnerable and slow-moving aircraft of World War I. But when the performance of aircraft increased during the inter-war period, the usefulness of early AA guns decreased dramatically. They could not reach the higher altitudes at which new aircraft could fly, often flying over 6,000 metres (20,000 ft), nor could they fire rapidly enough to be effective against fast aircraft. Many military planners concluded that anti-aircraft artillery would no longer be effective, and only limited development was carried out by most countries. The exceptions were Germany, Britain and France, Sweden and later the USA and USSR, China, Japan, Spain, Czechoslovakia, Norway and Canada.
German planners instead developed more powerful guns with high muzzle velocity to reach high altitude, and much faster rates of fire. Since Germany had been forbidden to produce new weapons of almost every sort after World War I, the German Krupp company developed the new guns in partnership with Bofors of Sweden. The original design that led to the 88 was a 75 mm model. During the prototype phase, the army asked for a gun with considerably greater capability than the 75. The designers started over, using another common German calibre, 88 mm.

FlaK 18, 36 and 37

Prototype 88s were first produced in 1928. These early models, the FlaK 18, used a single-piece barrel with a length of 56 calibres, leading to the commonly-seen designation 88/L56.
The FlaK 18 was mounted on a cruciform gun carriage that allowed fire in all directions, as opposed to split-trail designs, which allowed fire within a relatively narrow arc only. This makes sense given its anti-aircraft role. ^{[clarification needed]} The two "side" members of the carriage could be quickly folded up, allowing the gun to be lifted onto two wheeled chassis for high-speed towing. The weight of the gun meant that only large vehicles could move it, and the SdKfz 7 half-track became a common prime mover. A simple to operate "semi-automatic" loading system ejected fired shells, allowing it to be reloaded by simply inserting a new shell into a tray. The gun would then fire, recoil, and, during the return stroke, the empty casing would be thrown backward by levers, and a cam would engage and recock the gun. This resulted in firing rates of 15 to 20 rounds a minute, which was better than similar weapons of the era.^{[citation needed]} High explosive ammunition was used against aircraft and personnel, and armour-piercing and high-explosive anti-tank against tanks and other armoured vehicles.
Widespread production started with the Nazi rise to power in 1933, and the FlaK 18 was available in small numbers when Germany intervened in the Spanish Civil War. It quickly proved to be the best anti-aircraft weapon then available. Further, the high muzzle velocity and large calibre made it an excellent long-range anti-vehicle weapon. This experience also demonstrated a number of minor problems and potential improvement opportunities.

FlaK 36 being mounted onto its carriage

Many of these were incorporated into the FlaK 36, which had a two-piece barrel for easier replacement of worn liners, and a new, but heavier, trailer that allowed it to be set up much more quickly, simply dropping the base while still mounted on the wheels. This made it much more suitable for fast-moving operations, the basic concept of the blitzkrieg. FlaK 36s were often fitted with an armoured shield that provided limited protection for the gunners.
The eighty-eight was used in two roles: as a mobile heavy anti-aircraft gun, and in a more static role for home defence. In this latter role the guns were arranged into batteries, groups of four directed by a single controller, and were moved only rarely. Targeting indicators were attached from the central controller to each FlaK allowing for coordinated fire. Indeed, with the automatic loading system, the gun layers' job would keep the gun barrel trained on the target area based on the signals from the controller. The loaders would keep the FlaK fed with live ammunition which would fire immediately upon insertion—all while the gun layer aimed the weapon according to the data.
The later FlaK 37, included updated instrumentation to allow the gun layers to follow directions from the single director more easily. The parts of the various versions of the guns were interchangeable, and it was not uncommon for various parts to be "mixed and matched" on a particular example. Some sources mistakenly cite that the FlaK 37 was not equipped for anti-armour purposes. The fact is all 8.8 cm FlaKs were capable of the dual role. ^{[citation needed]}
During the initial phases of the Battle of France, when the French and British counter-attacked, the eighty-eight was pressed into service^{[citation needed]} against their heavily armored tanks such as the Char B1 bis and Matilda II, whose frontal armour could not be penetrated by the light anti-tank guns then available. Anti-tank usage became even more common during battles in North Africa and the Soviet Union. The 88 was powerful enough to penetrate over 150 mm of armour at ranges of 2 km or more, making it an unparalleled anti-tank weapon during the early war, and still formidable against all but the heaviest tanks at the end of the war. It was arguably most effective in the flat and open terrains of the North African campaign and the Eastern Front.
By August 1944, there were 10,704 FlaK 18, 36 and 37 guns in service. Owing to the increase in U.S. and British bombing raids during 1943 and 1944, the majority of these guns were used in their original anti-aircraft role, now complemented with the formidable 12.8 cm FlaK 40 and 10.5 cm FlaK 39. There were complaints that, due to the apparent ineffectiveness of anti-aircraft defenses as a whole, the guns should be transferred from air defense units to anti-tank duties, but this politically unpopular move was never made.

FlaK 41

8.8 cm FlaK 41 at US Army Ordnance Museum.

The altitude problems were not unknown to their operators, and as early as 1939 the Luftwaffe, now in charge of anti-aircraft defences instead of the army, asked for newer weapons with even better performance. Rheinmetall responded with a new 88 mm L/71 design with a longer cartridge. It fired a 9.4-kilogram (20 lb) shell at a muzzle velocity of 1000 m/s (3,280 ft/s), giving it an effective ceiling of 11,300 meters (37,073 ft) (maximum was 15,000 meters (49,213 ft)). It also featured a lower silhouette on its turntable mounting than did the 8.8-cm FlaK 18/36/37 on its pedestal mounting. Because of the high cost and complexity of this FlaK gun, the Germans manufactured relatively few of them (556 in all) and, in February 1944, fielded only 279. Improvements in reloading further raised the firing rate, with 20 to 25 rounds a minute being quoted. Two types of gun barrel were used, with three or four sections. Krupp's proposal was the 8.8 cm Gerät 42, but it was not accepted for production as an anti-aircraft gun. However, Krupp continued development, resulting in the dreaded PaK 43 anti-tank gun.
The FlaK 41 had the disadvantage of complexity, and was prone to problems with ammunition, cases often jamming on extraction. The first guns produced were used in Tunisia, but because of problems in service they were afterwards used almost exclusively in Germany where they could be properly maintained and serviced. Only 157 FlaK 41 guns were in use as of August 1944, and 318 in January 1945. A final adaptation, known as the FlaK 37/41, mounted the FlaK 41 on the FlaK 37 carriage, but only 13 were produced.

Production numbers

88 mm FlaK production numbers ^[1] ^[2]
	1939	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944	1945	Total
Army	0	0	126	176	296	549	23	1,170
Luftwaffe	183	1,130	1,872	2,876	4,416	5,933	715	17,125
Total	183	1,130	1,998	3,052	4,712	6,482	738	18,295

PaK 43 and KwK 43

PaK 43/41.

Main articles: 8.8 cm PaK 43 and 8.8 cm KwK 43

A dedicated anti-tank gun, the 8.8 cm PaK 43 was developed from Krupp's Gerät 42, mentioned above. This used a new cruciform mount with the gun much closer to the ground, making it far easier to hide and harder to hit. It was also provided with a much stronger and more angled armour shield to provide better protection. The standard armament of the Tiger II, the KwK 43 tank gun, was essentially the PaK 43 externally modified to fit into a turret. There were also self-propelled versions of the gun, including the Nashorn and Jagdpanther tank destroyers. All versions were able to penetrate about 200 mm of armour at 1,000 m, allowing it to defeat the armor of any contemporary tank.

Comparison to other anti-aircraft guns

The 88 was not as powerful as its Italian or Allied counterparts. As an anti-aircraft gun it fired a 9.2 kilogram (20 lb) shell at a muzzle velocity of 790 m/s (2,600 ft/s) to an effective ceiling of 7,900 meters (26,000 ft) (at maximum 10,600 meters (35,000 ft)). Although this was useful during the U.S. daylight raids, which typically took place at 7,600 meters (25,000 ft), many aircraft could fly higher than its maximum effective ceiling. In comparison, the British 3.7-inch (94 mm) Mark 3 fired a 13 kilograms (29 lb) projectile at 790 m/s (2,600 ft/s) to an effective ceiling of 10,600 meters (35,000 ft), and the American 90 mm Mark 1 fired a 10 kilograms (22 lb) shell at 820 m/s (2,700 ft/s) to the same height, while the Italian Cannone da 90/53 fired a 10.33 kg projectile at 830 m/s to an effective ceiling of 12,000 meters (39,000 ft). The Allied weapons also had the advantage of a higher rate of fire, because of their automated fuse-setters that raised the rate of fire to about 20 rpm, as opposed to the original 88 which could generally reach only 15 rpm. Their capabilities were augmented by the introduction of proximity fuses, which allowed them to remain effective even with the introduction of jet engined aircraft. The Allies' and Italian weapons were heavier and less mobile, with the Allied weapons being almost useless for ground fire until numerous modifications were carried out.^{[citation needed]} While the U.S. and Italian 90 mm would go on to serve as powerful anti-tank guns, they were by no means as universally deployed as tank-killers as was the German 88. A reason for the 88's success was due to its versatility: it was used throughout the war as an anti-aircraft gun or an anti-tank weapon. Its standard anti-aircraft platform allowed gunners to depress the muzzle below horizontal, unlike most other anti-aircraft guns. During the initial stages of the war, as it was becoming increasingly clear that existing anti-tank weapons were unable to pierce the armour of heavier enemy tanks, gunners increasingly put the weapon to use against enemy tanks, a situation that was aided by the prevalence of the 88 among German forces. Thousands of 88mm guns would be produced throughout the war in various models and mounts, serving in more numerous capacity as either an anti-tank or anti-aircraft gun than its equivalents.

Combat history

North Africa. towed behind an SdKfz 7

In combat, USSR, 1942

88 with crew, France, 1944

VJ modification with two 262mm M-87 launch tubes

The German forces employed the 88 extensively in World War II, not only in its original role as an anti-aircraft gun, where it performed well, but also as an anti-tank gun.
The German Condor Legion made extensive use of the 88 in the Spanish Civil War, where its usefulness as an anti-tank weapon and a general artillery piece exceeded its role as an anti-aircraft weapon. Erwin Rommel also used the 88 as an anti-tank weapon, first in France and later in North Africa. His timely use of the gun to blunt the British counterattack at Arras ended any hope of a breakout from the blitzkrieg encirclement of May 1940. In Libya and Egypt, he lured British tanks into traps by baiting them with apparently retreating panzers. When the British pursued, concealed 88s picked them off at ranges far beyond those of the 2-pdr and 6-pdr guns of the British tanks. The British 8th Army eventually learned to coordinate their heavy artillery with their ground advances, ^{[citation needed]} destroying the relatively immobile 88s in their emplacements once they revealed their positions.
The weapon saw continuous use on the Soviet Front. The appearance of the outstanding T-34 shocked the German tank crews, whose 37 mm and 50 mm tank guns could only penetrate the Soviet tank's armour at extremely close range.
The less open terrain in Italy and Northern France was less suitable for the 88. The success of the 88 caused the Allies to take steps to defend against it in new tank design. Stopgap measures included adding more armour, or even using sandbags, to try to defeat the 88's projectiles. The Germans took advantage of this effective design in the armament of vehicles such as the Tiger tank and the Elefant tank destroyer (with an 88 mm Pak 43/2 anti-tank gun).
The FlaK 36 was briefly issued in January 1945 to the American 7th Army as captured weapons.
In the civil war in Yugoslavia various FlaK guns were used mainly by the naval artillery of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA).Serbian Army (VJ) also used Flak carriages mounted with double 262mm launch tubes from M-87 Orkan MLRS,instead of 88mm gun.It was capable of deploying cluster bombs,anti personnel and anti tank mines up to 50km. However only few were made during the summer of 1993,and entire project was generally regarded as unsuccessful.

The 88 "family"

8.8 cm FlaK 18 New semi-automatic breech, high velocity gun. Entered production in Germany in 1933. Used the Sonderanhänger 201 trailer. Weight 7 tonnes. Rate of fire 15 to 20 rounds per minute. Later, fitted with a gun shield to protect the crew when engaging ground targets. Produced by Krupp.
- Mod 1938 II: Approximately 50 guns modified so a single man could adjust elevation and traverse.
8.8 cm FlaK 36 Entered service 1936–37. It used the redesigned trailer Sonderanhänger 202 enabling faster time to action from the move. The SdAnh 202 had twin wheels on two similar carriages. Could engage ground targets from its traveling position. Weight 7 tonnes. Rate of fire 15 to 20 rounds per minute. Produced by Krupp. Later, fitted with a shield to protect the crew when engaging ground targets.
- 8.8 cm KwK 36: Main gun of the PzKw VI Ausf. E (Tiger I) tank. Despite its designation, some classify it as a parallel development with very similar specifications rather than a derivative of the FlaK 36.
8.8 cm FlaK 37: An updated version of the FlaK 36, the main difference being Übertragungser 37 (a data transmission system). Produced by Krupp. Last of the versions with the shorter 571 mm cartridge case.
8.8 cm FlaK 41: Entered service 1943. Improved development, longer barrel and cartridge case. Fitted to the Sonderanhänger 202 as standard. Produced by Rheinmetall-Borsig.
8.8 cm Gerät 42: Krupp design to fill the same role as the FlaK 41; did not enter service as an anti-aircraft gun. Further development of the weapon led to the PaK 43 anti-tank gun.
8.8 cm PaK 43: Anti-tank model developed from Krupp's 8.8 cm Gerät 42. New gun carriage the Sonderanhänger 204. Developed by Krupp and manufactured in its different versions, including KwK 43, by at least Dortmund Hoerder-Hüttenverein, Henschel, Weserhütte and Fr. Garny. A 71 caliber barrel and a 822 mm cartridge case.
- 8.8 cm PaK 43/41: Pak 43 mounted on single axle split-trail field gun carriage produced as a stop-gap measure due to scarcity of materials. Weight 4.9 tonnes.
- 8.8 cm PaK 43/1: Pak 43 as mounted in the Nashorn tank destroyer.
- 8.8 cm PaK 43/2 Pak 43 as mounted in the Ferdinand/Elefant tank destroyer. On occasion referred to as "StuK 43/1".
- 8.8 cm PaK 43/3 and 43/4: Pak 43 as mounted in the Jagdpanther tank destroyer. Falling wedge breech block.
- 8.8 cm KwK 43: Pak 43 modified as a tank gun. Main gun of the Tiger II heavy tank. Falling wedge breech block.

NAZI UFO'S

2010-01-10T07:19:00.002+07:00

"The Nazi party had a secret flying disc already off of the drawing board and flying and it was capable of 1200 miles an hour. Vertical take-off, 90? changes, much like a helicopter, and of course was far superior to anything the Allies powers had at that time. Secondly they also had another craft about to be up and going it was capable of doing 2500 miles per hours, which was double the original. Not only did it have the characteristics of the original craft, but it also had a laser weapon aboard it which capable of penetrating four inches of armour. Needless to say that really spooked the allied forces into making a redemptive attempt against Von Braun and bringing him … into a state of capitulation." (1)

the RFZ UFO was always manned by the same person, LUTHER VEITZ, but it seemed to be not very safe, because during the tests it dropped a lot of times.

The US and Russion had both suggested that many of the UFO sightings after the second world war were actually quite possibily German Technogoly. Could Hitler have been behind the UFO phenomenon?

Nazi UFO Secret: Hitler's UFO Weapon

Welcome to Nazi UFO Secret .com - With this website we intend to look at and reveal all the known information about Hitlers UFO connections and the full story to the Nazi UFO secret and the possible connection to UFO sightings across the US and the rest of the world. Could these UFO sightings be nothing more then man made technology stolen from Nazi Germany at the end of the second world war?

Antartica Nazi UFO Bases

In 1950, Captain C. Moreno, commander of the Argentine ship Navy, wrote the following report:

"In 16 hours. 10 minutes. March 24 crew of our ship seen in the skies over the island into Antarctic Disepshn object that was neither aeroplanom nor the satellite, weather balloon and nor any of the famous aircraft."

In June and July 1950, followed by a series of observations UFOs in the sky by Chilean and Argentine Antarctic weather. The Brazilian newspaper O'Estado "in July 1950, reported looked like one of those UFOs:

"… The object was inswept form, its surface flow from red to green. Zigzag machine flying in a westerly direction, changing course several times and speed. The object remained stationary for about 20 minutes at an altitude of 5000 meters. Peredvigalsya it in full silence" .

In September 1950, Officer A. Orrego Chilean Navy photographed a very large object flying inswept form manoeuvre in the sky of the Chilean Antarctic.

"German submarines frequently appeared in the southern Atlantic. In 1942, Captain Gerlach archipelago Goug investigated as a possible base for radars and camps for prisoners. April 4, 1944 British submarine sunk the German submarine U-859. 47 crew members were killed, but 20 were saved. After 30 years one of the escaped told that the boat was a secret shipment of mercury. It is known that mercury is used for the production of certain fuels. Some light on the interest of Germans to Antarctica sheds statement commander of the German submarine fleet K. Denitsa, that "the German submarine fleet rebuilt in another part of the world in the impregnable fortress".

Just before the end of the WWII, two German provision U-boats, U-530 and U-977, were launched from a port on the Baltic Sea. Reportedly they took with them members of the antigravity-disk research and development teams [ULTRA], and the LAST of the most vital disc components [much of this technology and hardware had been transported to the base during the course of the war]. This included the notes and drawings for the latest saucer or aerial disk designs, and designs for the gigantic underground complexes and living accommodations based on the remarkable underground factories of Nordhausen in the Harz Mountains. The two U-boats duly reached the new land of Neu-Schwabenland where they unloaded everything. When they arrived in Argentina several months later, their crews were captured. It seems as if they were either counting on the formerly German-friendly Argentineans to allow them access, or it could have been that they intentionally allowed themselves to be discovered for misinformation purposes, i.e. -- "yes... we are the last two renegade German subs. We've been trying to hold out but...oops, you caught us... the war's finally over!"

More than one year after the surrendering of U977 the US NAVY launches the biggest military operation in the Antarctic ice under the command of Admiral Richard E. Byrd. This is the operation 'HIGHJUMP', including 13 ships, 1 aircraft carrier, 2 seaplane tenders, 6 two-engined R4D transports and 4000 men. The only official statement on the purpose of such a task force is the need for testing "new material under the extreme Antarctic conditions." The force starts up at the established US bases in the "ROSS SEA", then it moves up the western Antarctic coast heading toward the Northern Antarctic coast, 'NEUSCHWABENLAND' and building up a bridgehead on January 27th 1947 somewhere west of it. Officially the expedition is a big success because it delivers many new facts of the use of military equipment under extreme conditions. "-- What is the need of such a big task force in this area? IF the expedition was such a success, WHY did Byrd already return to the US in February 1947? The operation was planned and equipped for a full 6-8 month duration.

News:

According to leaked documents from archives, Nazi scientists were working on "The Rory Project" to develop 6 foot 6 android based blond haired males with pale white skin. It is not known if any prototypes were built as the lab was destroyed by air raid. Rumour has it though that one successful prototype was deployed.

July 2009 News

Hitler's Secret Weapon Unvieled

Hitler's secret weapon that could have made Nazi bomber planes invisible to Allied forces has been unveiled for the first time.

The stealth fighter-bomber, named the Horten 229, closely resembles the US Air Force's current B2 bomber and was estimated to be about 20 years ahead of Germany's rivals in terms of stealth technology. But the Nazis didn't have time to put the "flying wing" into mass production before their surrender in 1945.American forces held onto the aircraft's prototypes and equipment — and the makers of the B2 Northrop Grumman Corp have now replicated the design for a documentary.

"This was the most advanced technology that the Germans had at the end of the war, and Northrop solved the question of how stealthy it was and its performance against Allied radar at the time," Fox News reported documentary maker Mike Jorgenson as saying.

"It's significantly better than anything flying operationally probably until the 1960s."

Researchers believe the Ho 229's stealth capabilities would have allowed it to appear invisible to British Royal Air Force radars if it were to fly a few dozen feet from ground level.

pcture's:

sumber:naziufosecret.com

T-34

2009-12-06T20:12:00.000+07:00

The T-34 was by far the best tank design in World War 2. In addition to having an excellent combination of firepower, armor, mobility, and shape, its superb technical design, which emphasized simplicity and durability, made it possible to mass produce it in enormous numbers, and gave it very high field and combat reliability, two critical attributes which the advanced German tanks lacked. It was the main war winning weapon of Russia in World War 2.
The T-34 was a medium tank which evolved from a series of pre-war Russian light tanks, which were designed for very high speed (53mph with tracks, and over 60mph in good roads without tracks!!) and long travel range, features which made them a formidable weapon for fast advances very deep into enemy territory, but they severely lacked firepower and armor, so they were not suitable as main battle tanks. Some modern wheeled military vehicles armed with powerful anti tank missiles and machine guns can be regarded as more successful descendants of this type of fighting vehicle.
As a result of the need for an all-purpose main battle tank, the T-34 was developed as a medium tank descendant of those fast light tanks, gradually evolving from their superb technical design, but designed to be a capable main battle tank. The T-34 was lower in height (8ft) than German and American tanks, which was better in using the terrain for taking cover and make it a smaller target to hit. It had sloped armor in both the front and side hull and the turret, which made it harder to penetrate, and of course it had a powerful 76mm gun, which was then a large caliber, and sufficiently thick armor. During World War 2 the gun of the T-34 was upgraded to a more powerful long-barrel 76mm gun and later to 85mm gun, to keep up with the advances in German tank guns and armor.
Initial production and deployment of the T-34 was before the German invasion of Russia. Small numbers of T-34 tanks participated in a series of border battles between Russian and Japanese forces in the far East in early 1941, just three months before the German invasion to Russia.
Both the new T-34 tank and Zhukov, who was later Russia's top military commander in World War 2, made their impressive early debut there, in the far East. Both were noticed and reported by the Japanese, but the Germans ignored those reports and were therefore shocked when they met the first T-34 tanks in combat later that year when they invaded Russia. The Germans so appreciated the performance of the T-34 that when the German military discussed the development of their next tank, the Panther, one of the suggested designs was simply a German copy of the T-34.
There were still small numbers of the new T-34 when the invasion began, and the rapid German advancement so deep into Russia, as far as Moscow, forced the Russian industry, which already lost countless factories, to an unprecedented operation of literally moving its entire remaining military industry factories over 1000 miles further East, to Siberia, to avoid losing it to the advancing Germans.
In those newly built factories, Russia's military industry restored and far exceeded its pre-war mass production capacity. The furious motivation of the Russian production workers to stop the terribly cruel German invaders which were more brutal than Russia's own brutal Communist regime, and the desperate draconic measures of the Russian regime itself, in which being late to work in a factory during the war could result in 10 years imprisonment, gave the wartime Russian military industry the high efficiency that Communism never reached before or after World War 2. In wartime Russia, workers and soldiers alike were motivated by the desire to revenge and the fear of draconic punishments, and were paid in food, which soldiers and workers received while the rest of the population starved severely during the war.
The immense production rate of the T-34 was further boosted by the fact that massive American and British material support enabled the Russian war industry to focus all its effort on the production of a small number of main weapon systems, while other greatly needed equipment, such as trucks and jeeps, field rations and even some aircraft types, were supplied in large numbers by the western allies.
So after the initial tremendous defeats in 1941 which cost Russia millions of soldiers and a huge lost territory, since mid 1942 the Russian army was equipped with rapidly increasing numbers of T-34 tanks which matched the German tanks and increasingly outnumbered them.
Since late 1942, in the late stages of the great battle of Stalingrad, and then in the huge tank battle in Kursk in mid 1943, and until the end of the war, T-34 tanks in ever increasing large numbers, outnumbered and crushed the German tanks, and pushed the German invaders all the way back to Berlin, serving as one of the main war winning weapons of World War 2.
The T-34 was a medium tank, weighed 26 tons. It had a crew of four, it had a good speed of 55kmh (34mph) and a range of 115 miles. During the late stages of the war, the Russian army perfected its mobility so much that tanks were sometimes refueled while still driving forward, without stopping, and the Russian infantry used to keep pace with the advancing tanks simply by riding on them from one battle to the next.
Some T-34 tanks are apparently still being used by some military forces even today, and the generations of Russian tanks developed since World War 2, which were produced in vast numbers during the cold war and still used by many armies, are direct descendants of the T-34, the best tank in World War 2.

sumber:2worldwar2.com

C-47 Skytrain/Dakota

2009-11-15T06:23:00.000+07:00

The DC-3 did not go unnoticed by one of Douglas's oldest customers -- the U.S. Army.

The military career of the Douglas DC series began in 1936 when the Army Air Corps ordered a pair of DC-2s under the designation C-32. A contract followed for 18 DC-2s in the C-33 freighter configuration and two more as C-34 staff transports. Then, in 1937, the Army ordered a plane built to its own specifications. It was a hybrid design that combined the fuselage of the DC-2 with a DC-3 tail. This was the sole C-38 prototype and it led to 35 production versions called the C-39. The C-39 represented the first serious effort by the Army to establish an airlift capability.
By 1941 the old Air Corps had been transformed into the Army Air Forces, and it selected a modified version of the DC-3 -- the C-47 Skytrain -- to become its standard transport aircraft. A reinforced fuselage floor and the addition of a large cargo door were the only major modifications. Other changes included the fitting of cargo hooks beneath the center wing section and the removal of the tail cone to mount a hook for towing gliders.
As a supply plane, the C-47 could carry up to 6,000 pounds of cargo. It could also hold a fully assembled jeep or a 37 mm cannon. As a troop transport, it carried 28 soldiers in full combat gear. As a medical airlift plane, it could accommodate 14 stretcher patients and three nurses. Seven basic versions were built, and the aircraft was given at least 22 designations, including the AC-47D gunship, the EC-47 electronic reconnaissance aircraft, the EC-47Q antiaircraft systems evaluation aircraft and the C-53 Skytrooper.
Every branch of the U.S military and all the major allied powers flew it. The U.S. Navy version was the R4D. The British and the Australians designated it the Dakota (a clever acronym composed of the letters DACoTA for Douglas Aircraft Company Transport Aircraft). The aircraft operated from every continent in the world and participated in every major battle. By the end of World War II, more than 10,000 had been built. For all of its official and unofficial names, it came to be known universally as the "Gooney Bird." General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe, termed it one of the most vital pieces of military equipment used in winning the war.
C-47s remained in active military service long after the end of World War II. They played a critical role in the 1948 Berlin Airlift and saw action in the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Specifications

First flight:	Dec. 23, 1941
Model Number:	C-47/R4D
Wingspan:	95 feet 6 inches
Length:	63 feet 9 inches
Height:	17 feet
Service ceiling:	24,000 feet
Normal range:	1,600 miles
Maximum range:	3,800 miles
Weight:	31,000 pounds
Cruise speed:	160 mph
Power plant:	Two 1,200 horsepower Pratt & Whitney R-1830 radial engines
Accommodation:	Three crew and 6,000 pounds of cargo, or 28 airborne troops, or 14 stretcher patients and three attendants

sumber: www.boeing.com

u-47

2009-10-29T16:07:00.000+07:00

U-47: Build Details and Technical Specifications

The following information covers the basic technical specifications of the Type VIIB U-boat in general, and U-47 in particular.

A. Build Details

Type: VIIB
Works: Krupp Germaniawerft, Kiel
Series: U45 - U55
Build Commissioned: 21.11.1936
Build Number: 538
Completed: 25.02.1937
First Launch: 29.10.1938
Handed over for Service: 17.12.1938
Field Post Number: 18837

B. Technical Specifications

A side view of the Type VIIB U-Boat. The torpedo tubes are indicated in red.

Displacement:

Washington 517 metric tons
Surfaced (dry) 704 metric tons
Surfaced (fuel and water tanks full) 753 metric tons
Submerged 857 metric tons
Submerged (fully crewed and loaded) 1040 tons

Length:

Casing 66.5m (218.2')
Pressure hull 48.8m (160.1')

Beam:

Casing 6.2m (20.3')
Pressure hull 4.7m (15.4')

Draught:

4.7m (15.4')

Height:

9.5m (31.6')

Engines:

Two Germaniawerft 6-cylinder 4-stroke F46 diesels with superchargers totalling 2800 - 3200bhp

Motors:

Two AEG GU 460/8-276 electric motors totalling 750shp

Batteries:

Two rooms with 62 lead-acid AFA 27 MAK 800 battery cells producing 7500 amp hours

Fuel oil:

Maximum 108.3 metric tons
Normal load 99.7 metric tons (57.3 tons within pressure hull)

Speed:

Surfaced 17.2-17.9 knots
Submerged 8.0 knots

Range (surfaced):

3850nm at 17.2 knots
6500nm at 12 knots
8700nm at 10 knots
combined diesel/electric drive range 9400nm

Range (submerged):

90nm at 4 knots

Diving depth:

Operational - 100m (328')
Crush - 200m (656')
Maximum sustainable depth - c. 220m (733.3')

Diving time

30 seconds

Periscopes:

Sky - Standserohr C/2 with fixed eyepiece
Attack and night - Binokulare Nacht-Luftziel-Seerohr(NLSR)

Hydrophones:

Gruppenhorchgerat (GHG) (fixed hydrophone array) - 11 hydrophones per side, above forward dive planes

UWT:

Two underwater telephone membranes fitted on either side, above GHG (one for transmission and one for receipt of sound waves)

Armament:
» more info

88mm deck gun
20mm Flak gun

Torpedo tubes:

Bow - 4 x 21" (53.3cm) tubes
Stern - 1 x 21" (53.3cm) tube

Torpedo types:
» more info

G7a compressed air torpedo
G7e wakeless torpedo

Torpedo numbers:

Forward tubes - 4
Forward torpedo compartment - 6
Aft tube - 1
Aft torpedo compartment - 1
Between pressure hull and forward deck casing - 1
Between pressure hull and aft deck casing - 1
Total - 14. NB. Space was allocated in the deck casing for two additional torpedoes - one in the forward deck casing and one in the aft deck casing.

Mines
» more info

26 x TMA or 39 x TMB

Boats

1 dinghy, stored under forward casing forward of the torpedo loading hatch

Crew

December 1938 - 39
October 1939 - 40
February 1941 - 44

Mitsubishi A6M Reisen (Zero)

2009-09-08T10:27:00.000+07:00

The notorious and fearsome A6M Reisen is better known in the annals of history, and in the minds of the pilots who faced it, as the Zero.
The A6M was a fighter conceived, “specs-first” by the Japanese Navy in 1937. The plane they wanted was to be a carrier- based, highly maneuverable, long range fighter that was capable of defeating heavier land-based fighters toe-to-toe.
Only Jiro Horoshiki of the Mitsubishi company was able to produce a plane that fit the specifications required, and in 1939 the first prototype was created. The A6M was a very clean and aerodynamic airframe even with its bulky radial engine. Its retractable landing gear was set widely for easier landings on carriers at sea. It was also well armed for its fighter role with two machine guns and two cannons. The prototype A6Ms were found to have exemplary turning and climbing ability and so the A6M was put into production in 1940. 1940 happened to be the Japanese year 5700 and so it was known as the Type 0 and thus the name Reisen or Zero.
A test-squadron of 30 Zeroes was sent to China in summer of 1940. The Zero bested all of its competition with ease. Next, the A6M was at the forefront on December 7th, 1941 during the attack on Pearl Harbour. Over the next 6 months the Zero confounded American pilots with its superior maneuverability and its highly trained pilots causing heavy losses to the Americans. After the Battle of Midway however, the Zero had lost its lustre of untouchability. American pilots refused to face the Zero head on and instead made high speed passes at them using their superior engines and armour and banking on the Zero’s tendency to catch fire.
New Zeroes were introduced with better armour and equipment but this added weight meant less of that famous aerobatic maneuverability. By 1945 many A6Ms were converted to kamikazes.
A total of 10,964 Zeroes were built.

Type	Fighter
Power Plant	1 x 1,130-horsepower Nakajima NK1F radial engine
Max speed:	565 km/h ( 351 mph)
Ceiling:	11,050 m (36,255 ft.)
Range:	1,920 km (1,193 mi.)
Weight (empty):	1,876 kg (4,136 lb.)
Weight (loaded):	2,952 kg (6,508 lb.)
Wingspan:	11 m ( 36 ft. 1 in.)
Length:	9.12 m ( 29 ft. 11 in.)
Height:	3.51 m ( 11ft. 6 in.)
Armament:	2 x 7.7mm machine guns; 2 x 20mm cannon
Service	1940-1945

Aichi D3A - Japanese carrier-based bomber of WW2

2009-09-08T10:24:00.000+07:00

Although not a particularly modern-looking aircraft, the Aichi D3A sank more allied shipping than any other Axis aircraft both in its dive-bomber role and its later refit as a kamikaze plane. In 1936 a contract opened up to replace the obsolete Aichi D1A – a biplane dive-bomber – with a more modern craft. Aichi’s D3A won the design contest and went into production shortly after. The D3A was the first all-metal bomber used by the Japanese. It was a low-wing monoplane employing the Mitsubishi Kinsei radial engine. The D3A’s landing gear was not retractable and so a longer dorsal fin was added to increase stability.

The Aichi was typically used as a carrier-based bomber. D3As accompanied the first waves that flew over Pearl Harbour, inflicting heavy damage. In the Indian Ocean, D3A squadrons were known to have sunk the British carrier Hermes along with the cruisers Dorsetshire and Cornwall.
D3As were tremendously accurate in their bombing role with four out of every five bombs striking its target. The D3A remained an integral part of the Japanese navy’s offense up until the 1942 battles of Coral Sea and Midway where many were lost. A year later an aerodynamically improved version of the D3A, the D3A2, entered service but neither model could keep pace with new and numerous American fighters.
Those D3As that were not shot down were put into service as kamikaze planes, a move that sadly may have increased their already impressive accuracy record. A total of 1,495 of these dive-bombers were built.

Type	Dive-Bomber
Power Plant	1 x 1,080-horsepower
Max speed:	389 km/h ( 242mph)
Ceiling:	9,159 m (30,050 ft.)
Range:	1,561 km (970 mi.)
Weight (empty):	2,409 kg (5,310 lb.)
Weight (loaded):	2,618 kg (5,772 lb.)
Wingspan:	14.38 m ( 47 ft. 2 in.)
Length:	10.24 m ( 33 ft. 7 in.)
Height:	3.32 m (10ft. 11 in.)
Armament:	3 x 7.7mm machine guns; 816 pounds of bombs
Service	1938 -1945

sumber:world-war-2-planes.com

P-38 Lightning

2009-09-01T10:20:00.001+07:00

Rugged, fast and versatile, the Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a potent combat aircraft and a superb fighter bomber, also flying as a night fighter, reconnaissance aircraft and torpedo-bomber. Powered by two liquid-cooled engines, the P-38 had a top speed of 414 miles per hour and carried a 20-mm cannon and four machine guns in its nose.

Designed in 1937 as a high-altitude "pursuit aircraft" (interceptor), the XP-38 was heavier than a Bristol Blenheim Mk. I, which at that time was the standard British medium bomber. Equipped with under wing droppable fuel tanks, the Lockheed P-38 was used extensively as a long-range escort fighter aircraft and saw action in practically every major combat area of the world. The Pacific theatre of operations produced the two highest scoring aces in American history - Major Richard Bong and Major Thomas McGuire, Jr. Both men flew P-38 Lightnings in the Southwest Pacific and each received the Medal of Honor in recognition of his courage and accomplishments.

Known for its exceptional range and the dependability of its two Allison engines, this legendary aircraft made up for any shortcomings with its exceptional set of guns and cannons in its nose, giving it more concentrated firepower than other US fighters, which usually had their guns mounted in their wings. Many different versions, including pathfinder and reconnaissance aircraft configurations, were produced.

After WW2, a number of Lockheed P-38s were used for aerial photography in the private sector. Almost 10,000 P-38s were built. Today, only a few are remaining.

Type:	Long range fighter and fighter bomber
Powerplant:	Two Allison V-1710-27/29
Max speed:	414 mph (666 km/hr)
Ceiling:	44,000 ft (13 400 m)
Range:	475 miles (765 km) on internal fuel
Weight (empty):	12,600 lbs (5806 kg)
Max. T/O:	21,600 lbs (9798 kg)
Wingspan:	52' 0" (15.85m)
Length:	37' 10" (11.53 m)
Height:	9' 10" (3 m)
Armament:	One 20mm cannon, four .50 machine guns, 2,000 lb of bombs, rockets

sumber: world-war-2-planes.com

Sherman Tank

2009-08-27T10:41:00.001+07:00

officially M4 GENERAL SHERMAN, main battle tank designed and built by the United States for the conduct of World War II. The M4 was the most widely used tank series in the war, being employed not only by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps but also by British, Canadian, and Free French forces. The M4 was employed in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and western Europe and throughout the Pacific Theatre. A total of 49,324 tanks was produced in 11 plants between 1942 and 1946.

When World War II began in 1939, the United States lagged far behind the major European states in the development of tank technology and armoured warfare doctrine. The fall of France in May 1940 awoke and alarmed the United States. The German army had defeated France in a matter of weeks through the use of a new operational doctrine based on fast-moving, massed armoured formations supported by air power. America's leaders became convinced that the U.S. Army needed a new main battle tank at least equal to that employed by the Germans and that it had to adopt German operational doctrine. To that end, in July 1940 the War Department authorized the development of a new medium tank, and it also authorized the organization of the first armoured divisions. By the time the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, the United States had five armoured divisions organizing and training for war in Europe.

The first American main battle tank employed in combat in World War II was the M3 General Grant. The British fought with this tank in North Africa as early as 1941. The M3 was the result of a crisis atmosphere that was prevalent immediately following the fall of France. It is likely that no tank in history ever went from design to production faster than the General Grant. Its major defect was its gun mount: the 75-millimetre gun was carried in a sponson in the right front of the hull and could traverse only 15 degrees to each side--a major disadvantage in tank battles. However, the M3 was only an interim measure. Production ceased in late 1942, when the M4 went into full production.

The M4 prototype debuted in 1941 and was accepted for production that October. Its designers consciously emphasized speed and mobility, limiting the thickness of the armour and the size of the main gun, thereby compromising on firepower and survivability. The M4's main armament was a short-barreled, low-velocity 75-millimetre gun, and its armour thickness was a maximum of 75 millimetres and a minimum of 12 millimetres (3 inches and 0.5 inch, respectively). The tank had a maximum speed of 24 to 29 miles (38 to 46 kilometres) per hour and a range of 100 to 150 miles, depending on the series (M4 to M4A3E2). The M4 carried a crew of five--commander, gunner, loader, driver, and codriver/hull gunner. The vehicle weighed around 33 tons, depending on the series. A typical power plant was a 425-horsepower gasoline engine.

The M4 entered active service with the British in North Africa in October 1942. It was roughly in the same class as the German Panzerkampfwagen IV (Pz. IV), which at that time weighed 26 tons, had a road speed of 20 miles per hour, and mounted a 60-millimetre gun. Later model German tanks were much improved, so that, by the time of the Normandy Invasion in June 1944, the M4 was outclassed by superior tanks such as the Pz. V Panther and the Pz. VI Tiger. The American penchant for mass production tended to stymie innovations in technology, and American doctrinal thinking tended to remain stuck in the pre-war period, when the tank was seen as primarily an infantry support weapon. As a result, the M4 was not up-gunned until late in the war, and American, British, and Canadian tank crews consistently faced better German tanks. The M4 had a faster rate of fire and greater speed, but both the Panther and Tiger had significantly greater range and accuracy. The German tanks were also more survivable. Consequently, it took superior numbers for Anglo-American forces to defeat German armoured formations. The most notable effort to break the Germans' qualitative advantage was the "Firefly," a Sherman equipped with a 76.2-millimetre (or "17-pounder") long-barreled gun.

For the Normandy Invasion and subsequent campaigns on the European continent, the M4 was retrofitted with special-purpose devices by both the Americans and the British. The British added flails (a system of rotors and chains) to clear paths through minefields, and American servicemen added jury-rigged plows for breaking through hedgerows in the bocage country of Normandy. Perhaps the most famous variation was the "Duplex Drive," or DD, tank, a Sherman equipped with extendable and collapsible skirts that made it buoyant enough to be launched from a landing craft and make its way to shore under propeller power. The M4 also was transformed into the M32 Tank Recovery vehicle and the M4 Mobile Assault Bridge carrier. Numerous devices of all sorts were fitted onto the Sherman's versatile, reliable chassis, making it the workhorse of the Anglo-American armies of World War II.

sumber:ww2incolor.com

Me 262

2009-08-26T10:30:00.006+07:00

The Me 262 was literally years ahead of fighters of other nations. That’s what the Allied engineers concluded after the war, when Me 264 units captured in Germany were brought back in their home countries. Studying the airframe and engines of this one-of-a-kind aircraft, the American, Russian and British experts developed more advanced jet engines and airframes, so that pilots could finally break the sound barrier over the ensuing years.
Hitler wanted this military aircraft to be a bomber, so it first went to combat as such. With limited load capacity, the Messerschmitt 262 had little impact on the advancing Allied divisions. Had it been used properly from the start (i.e. as a fighter), it might well have swept Allied bombers from the skies. The Me 262 really gave the German pilots and edge over the Allied since there was no equal airplane for them to fly.
From March 1944 to April 1945 (fall of the Third Reich), 1,433 Me 262 were produced.

Type:	Fighter and bomber
Engine:	2 Junkers Jumo 004B jet engines
Max speed:	870 Km/h (540 mph)
Rate of climb:	1 200 m/min (3940 ft./min.)
Ceiling:	11 450 m (37,500 ft.)
Range:	1 050 Km (650 mi.) at 9 000 m (30,000 ft.)
Weight (empty):	3 800 Kg (8,738 lb.)
Weight (loaded):	6 400 Kg (14,110 lb.)
Wingspan:	12,5 m (40 ft. 11 in.)
Length:	10,6 m (34 ft. 9 in.)
Height:	3,83 m (12 ft. 7in.)
Armament:	Four 30-mm Rheinmetall-Borsig MK 108 cannon mounted in nose; twelve R4M air-to-air rockets; two 226-kg (500-lb.) bombs or one 452-kg (1,000-lb) bomb

sumber:world-war-2-planes.com

Bf 109

2009-08-26T09:36:00.007+07:00

As much as the Spitfire, the Bf 109 is one of the emblematic airplanes of World War 2 military aviation. This aircraft was the most common fighter of the Luftwaffe during the conflict. Light, fast and tough, this airplane will be remembered as one of the greatest prop interceptor ever built.

The Bf 109 prototype took off in September, 1935. It was the first airplane used in combat during the Civil War in Spain in 1937, with German pilots enrolled in the Condor legion. This allowed the German to test the aircraft possibilities, and so they were well prepared in 1939 at the outbreak of the Second World War.
In 1940, during the Battle of Britain, Bf 109s were used to escort German bombers. The German airplane was more agile than the British Hurricane but less than the Spitfire; this explains why in the end the British aviation prevailed.
Almost 35,000 units of the Bf 109 different versions were built, in Germany or other countries.

Type:	Fighter
Engine:	Daimler-Benz 604 A1 dev. 1 475 hp
Max speed:	553 Km/h (342 mph)
Ceiling:	10 500 m (34,450 ft.)
Range:	660 Km (410 mi.)
Weight (empty):	2 600 kg (5,900 lb.)
Weight (loaded):	3 400 Kg (7,500 lb.)
Wingspan:	9,86 m (32'4")
Length:	8,64 m (28'4")
Height:	2,50 m (8’3”)
Armament:	One engine mounted 20-mm cannon and four 7,7-mm machine guns.

sumber: world-war-2-planes.com

P-51 Mustang

2009-08-15T10:19:00.007+07:00

The North American P-51 Mustang is a legendary plane, as much as the Spitfire or the Bf-109. No other combat aircraft of the war could go as far and fly as high as the Mustang. No wonder it was used to escort bombers over Germany and clear the skies of Luftwaffe airplanes.

Germany was far, too far for the Allied interceptors that had to go back too early, leaving the bombers to the Luftwaffe aircrafts. In 1944, the introduction
of the P-51 was a huge relief for the crews of Allied bombers. Very fast, with excellent handling and armament, the Mustang outclassed most German and Japanese airplanes, except the Focke-Wulf Fw-190D as a fighter interceptor (with its jet engines, the Messerschmidt 262 was a technical marvel ahead of its time, but still needed to be tested – many of them were shot down by P-51 Mustang pilots).

With the B-29 and the F4U Corsair, the P-51 is certainly one of the greatest United States' technical achievements of the Second World War and one of the best piston engine figther aircraft ever designed. It will be remembered as the airplane that allowed the Allied Forces to penetrate deep into Germany skies without being overwhelmed by enemy fighter aircrafts.

Type:	Fighter
Powerplant:	Rolls Royce (Packard) Merlin V-1650
Max speed:	437 mph (703 km/hr)
Ceiling:	41900 ft (12770 m)
Range:	1000 miles (1610 km)
Weight (empty):	7000 lbs (3175 kg)
Max. T/O:	12100 lbs (5487 kg)
Wingspan:	37' (11.30 m)
Length:	32' 3" (9.80 m)
Height:	13' 8" (4.17 m)
Armament:	Six .50-cal. machine guns

sumber:world-war-2-planes.com

Fw-190

2009-08-14T13:24:00.009+07:00

Admittedly, the Fw 190 is the best World War 2 German fighter plane. It was intended to replace the Messerschmitt Bf 109. When it first entered battle, during the summer of 1941, it would outclass the British Spitfire Mk.V. The threat was countered with the introduction of the Spitfire Mk.IX and the Typhoon.

The early versions of the Fw 190 would use the BMW 801as a powerplant. This was the first German radial engine to be used in a fighter. The engine showed a tendency to overheating – the cockpit temperature would sometimes exceed 50 °C. But the plane was the fastest and could turn on a dime, making it the most dangerous fighter when it appeared.

The design of this military aircraft also made it a good fit for ground attack, and it was used as such on the East front and in North Africa. From 1942 on, it also was the most extensively used fighter plane to intercept allied bombers flying over Germany and occupied european countries.

In 1943, the radial engines were replaced with piston engines that were more powerful. This made the fuselage longer, hence the nickname "Long Nose" given to the new Fw 190s by the Allies. These new engines rendered the aircraft even more performing. This version’s cockpit was pressurized.

The latest versions of the Fw 190 could reach 755 Km/h (472 mph).

Type:	Single-seat fighter / interceptor
Engine:	1,600hp BMW 801C-1, 14-cylinder air-cooled radial or 1,700hp Junkers Jumo 213A-1, V12 liquid-cooled
Max speed:	684 km/h (425 mph)
Ceiling:	10 300 m (33,800 ft.)
Range:	800 km (500 mi.)
Weight (empty):	3 470 kg (7,650 lb.)
Weight(loaded):	4 900 kg (10,800 lb.)
Wingspan:	8,96 m (29 ft. 5 in.)
Lenght:	9,12 m (29 ft. 11 in.)
Height:	3,96 m (13 ft.)
Armament:	Four 7.92mm machine guns or two 20 mm cannon + two 7.92 mm machine guns; up to 500 kg (1000 lb.) of bom

sumber: world-war-2-planes.com

THE BIG BROTHER

2009-08-06T15:21:00.001+07:00

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

3,895 planes produced, entered service 1944.

B-29 specs: top speed 365 MPH, 12 machine guns, max. bomb load 20,000 lbs.

What was the most expensive military project of World War Two? ... It wasn't the atom bomb (the Manhattan Project). It was the Boeing B-29 Superfortress. Cost? $3 billion, the most expensive weapon of World War II. Only used in the Pacific, to rain both conventional and atomic destruction on Japan's cities, the B-29 surely justified the cost of its development.

Development

As early as 1934, Boeing began working on several prototypes (Model 322, 333A, 333B, 334A, and 341) with features that ultimately came together in the B-29, among them: a pressurized cabin, tricycle landing gear, long range under heavy bomb loads, etc.. As the war in Europe boiled, the Army issued a specification for the Very Long Range (VLR) "superbomber" in January 1940. It called for a speed of 400 MPH, a 5333 mile range, and a bomb load of 2000 pounds delivered at 2666 miles. With the work it had been doing, Boeing was at an advantage over the other competitors: Consolidated, Douglas, and Lockheed.
Even before the prototype was built, the Army ordered a second one, and then in the wake of Pearl Harbor, ordered a thousand more. Boeing dedicated its Renton factory to the B-29; the Glenn Martin Company started production in Omaha.

Model 345

To meet the specs of the VLR bomber noted above, Boeing designed the Model 345 - a four engine bomber with tricycle landing gear (folding into the huge engine nacelles), five gun turrets, and weighing almost 100,000 pounds. Submitted in May, 1940, the Model 345 won an Army to develop it into the XB-29 prototype. . By August, Douglas and Lockheed had dropped out, and the Army issued a contract to Consolidated for the XB-32, as a backup to Boeing's favored XB-29.
During 1941, the Army increased its order, from three prototypes, to fourteen, then 250, and then (after Pearl Harbor) 1500. All before the first prototype had flown! With the country on a wartime footing, three other factories were drawn into B-29 production (in addition to Boeing's own Wichita, Kansas plant): Bell Aircraft's factory in Marietta, Georgia; Glenn Martin in Omaha; Boeing-Renton, and GM's Fisher Body plant in Cleveland.

XB-29 Prototype

The XB-29 had wings that were as small as possible, with large radial engines outside them. While crew space fore and aft had to be pressurized, the bomb bays (with their huge doors) could not be. To deal with this problem, Boeing linked the front and rear pressurized sections with a sealed tunnel. The relatively small wings meant low drag but also very high wing-loading, double the desirable limit of 1940. Four Wright Cyclone 3350 engines with two turbosuperchargers each were able to handle the challenge. Problems like preventing guns and propeller mechanisms from freezing at high altitudes abounded.
A very strong ring section connected the two wings and separated the two bomb bays.
At altitudes of 30,000 feet, manned gun turrets were impractical and Sperry developed retractable, periscopically directed, electrically powered turrets for the B-29. The normal crew of twelve included a pilot, co-pilot, bombardier, navigator, flight engineer, radio operator, radar operator, and five gunners. The first seven guys occupied the forward pressurized cabin. Four gunners were in the rear cabin, and the poor tail gunner was trapped in his own little pressurized pocket in the tail for the duration of the flight.
Boeing test pilot Edmund T. "Eddie" Allen made the first XB-29 flight in September, 1942. In the next few months, the engines' tendency to catch fire severely limited test flight time. In 23 test flights, they went through 16 engines, in only 27 hours of flight time. Under the urgent demands of war, a second prototype rolled out in December, 1942, and the project moved forward, unslowed even by the death of Eddie Allen and 30 others in a February crash.

YB-29

By mid-1943, the Wichita plant started to deliver the fourteen YB-29 service test aircraft to the 58th Bomb Wing. In the YB-29's, Sperry's turrets were replaced by non-retractable GE types, operated with computerized gunsights. The GE turrets could be operated with on eless gunner, but their demands for electrical power increased the weight of the aircraft to 105,000 pounds.

B-29

Two-thirds of the Superfortresses built were B-29's, with no letter suffix, just B-29. 2,513 of this variant were built: 1620 by Boeing-Wichita, 536 by Martin-Omaha, and 357 by Bell-Marietta.
Powered by four 2200 hp Wright R-3350-23 radial engines driving 16-foot, 7-inch four-bladed propellers, the B-29 could cruise at 342 MPH at 30,000 feet. Over long distances, its economical cruising speed was 220 MPH at 25,000 feet. In September, 1943, the first B-29's rolled off the assembly line at Wichita, followed by deliveries from the other plants over the next several months. A few early B-29's were camouflage painted; the rest were left in natural metal finish. Thirty fuel tanks (in the wings and the bomb bay) carried over 9400 gallons of gasoline. Radar-assisted navigation and bombing sets helped the Superforts get to their targets and drop their bombs accurately.
Like most other bombers, the B-29's development was marked by an increase in defensive firepower, particularly from frontal attacks. In the B-29's case, the forward dorsal turret machine guns were increased from two to four. However, in the tail, the original 20mm cannon was removed, because its shells' trajectory was so different from the 50 caliber machine guns' that it made aiming difficult.

Bombing Japan

After the Casablanca Conference in early 1943, President Roosevelt committed the United States to a heavy bombing campaign against Japan, at the earliest possible date. The B-29 was the only bomber with the range and payload needed; thus Roosevelt constantly hammered General Hap Arnold to deliver the big bomber. As plans for Operation Matterhorn took shape, they envisaged basing the B-29's in eastern India, flying them over "the Hump," staging/refueling at Chengtu in central China, and then bombing Japanese cities.
But the bombers weren't ready, not in January, 1994 as Roosevelt had hoped. Training the crews in the complex new aircraft proved to be a major challenge. By the beginning of 1944, only 73 pilots had qualified for the B-29, and although 97 B-29s had been produced, only 16 were combat ready. Engine fires continued to be a problem and the radar equipment proved to be very touchy. While the USAAF had set up the XX Bomber Command to take over the B-29 program, by early, 1944 it was still a shambles, with most planes stuck at the modification centers. In March, Major General B.E. Meyer was appointed to head up the modification program, and thus commenced "the Battle of Kansas." Mobilizing the vast industrial resources of the United States, workers were brought in to work round the clock, outdoors in the freezing Kansas winter weather if necessary, to get some B-29's delivered. By mid April, they had turned over 150.
In April, 1944, B-29's began arriving at their bases in Bengal, India: Kharagpur, Chakulia, Piardoba, and Dudkhundi. At the same time, the 20th Air Force, an independent command, was established, largely to prevent local commanders like Stilwell and Chennault from diverting the B-29's away from their primary mission - bombing Japan. Engines continued to overheat and catch fire, a tendency exacerbated by the 115 degree heat of India. The engineers designed new baffles and cowl flaps to direct cooling air onto the overheated rear cylinders. In early April, the B-29's were blooded when six Ki-43 Hayabusa fighters jumped some that were flying fuel into Chengtu. By May, 130 Superfortresses had reached India and the staging bases near Chengtu, China were usable, if barely so. But forwarding the needed fuel and bombs to Chengtu over "the Hump" was hazardous and inefficient.

The Yawata Mission

On June 5, the Superforts made their first bombing attack, against the rail yards at Bangkok. Balky engines and bad weather conspired to cripple the mission. Only eighteen bombs hit the target. Not a good start.
Washington continued to pressure General Wolfe, CO of XX Bomber Command, to attack Japan itself by the middle of the month. On the night of June 14-15, ninety-two B-29's took off from staging bases in China, to strike at the Imperial Iron and Steel Works at Yawata on Kyushu - a vital target that turned out a quarter of Japan's rolled steel. The diminishing number of bombers at each stage of the mission illustrates the problems inherent in Operation Matterhorn:

92 bombers left India.
79 reached the staging bases in China.
75 took off from the bases.
68 left China, the others aborted after take-off.
47 reached the target at Yawata.
15 bombed visually; 32 bombed by radar due to the weather.
One bomb hit the target!

Despite the failure of the raid in material damage, the press hailed it as a great victory; it was the first American bombing raid to hit Japan since the Doolittle Raid in April, 1942.
The Matterhorn raids continued. Eighteen bombers hit Japanes cities on July 7. Two days later, 72 Superforts were launched against a steel plant in Manchuria. More ineffective raids were staged in August.
General Curtis LeMay, only 38 years old, arrived on August 29, to head up XX Bomber Command. A cigar-chomping tough guy, LeMay shook things up. He increased training and mission frequency; he re-organized the flights into 12-plane boxes; he introduced the 'lead bomber' concept; and he re-organized the Bomb Groups. Raids continued through the fall, hampered by supply problems and more effective Japanese air defenses. By the end of 1944, 147 Superfortresses had been lost to enemy guns and to accidents. Operation Matterhorn wasn't working and it was phased out.

From the Marianas

U.S. military planners had realized quite early that the Marianas (Saipan, Tinian, and Guam), located about 1500 south of Tokyo would be useful bases from which to launch B-29 attacks against Japan. In the summer of 1944, the Marianas were secured and airfields were quickly built. XXI Bomber Command was organized for the Marianas B-29 operations. After the planes were brought in, the crews trained, and some preliminary raids, 111 Superforts bombed the Nakajima Aircraft Company's Musashi engine plant near Tokyo on November 20, 1944. Largely ineffective raids continued against the Musashi plant and the Mitsubishi engine plant at Nagoya through the end of the year.

Once again the Joint Chiefs called in Curtis LeMay to take over. He had analyzed the Japanese economy and focused on its dependence on small cottage industries spread throughout the large cities. Since the previous afforts at high-level precision, daylight bombing of specific targets had failed, LeMay instead proposed to burn out the Japanese cities entirely, destroying the critical industries (and the civilian population) in the process. (Not exactly the way we wage war now, where every errant bomb that hits an Afghan camel must be accounted for.)
LeMay developed a radically different approach. First, the bombers would carry incendiary, rather than high explosive, bombs. To save fuel and maximize the bomb load, the guns were stripped out, the Superforts would fly at 5,000 (instead of 30,000) feet, and each plane would fly directly to the target (no more circling and joining up in formation). These allowed each Superfort to carry about seven tons of M69 incendiary bombs. Lastly, they would go at night, since precision was no longer required and because Japanese night fighter forces were not very good.
The results were devastating. On the night of March 9-10, 279 B-29's bombed Tokyo. A huge firestorm resulted, sixteen square miles of Tokyo were reduced to ashes and 84,000 Japanese were killed. In the next week, similar, but less destructive, results were obtained in Nagoya, Osaka, and Kobe. Only twenty B-29s were lost. XXI Bomber Command exhausted its supply of incendiaries for a while, but when resupplied in April continued the terrible raids with awesome fury. The industrial areas of Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Kawasaki, Kobe, and Yokohama were reduced to ashes. The aircraft engine factories (or their general areas) were hit again with incendiary bombing. By mid-April, Japanese aircraft engine manufacturing capability had been wiped out. The incendiary raids continued through June, reducing Japans' six largest cities to ashes. Kobe was so thoroughly gutted that it was removed from the target list. B-29 Hunters of the JAAF (Osprey Aviation Elite 5) by Koji Takaki, Henry Sakaida
More B-29's arrived in the Marianas, including those from the former XX Bomber Command and some B-29B's, specifically lightened for nighttime pathfinding. The Superfortress missions expanded to include mining the Inland Sea and firebombing 58 smaller cities. The Japanese fighter forces had been routed. Almost unopposed, the B-29's began dropping leaflets three days in advance of their incendiary raids, advising inhabitants of their city's impending destruction.

The Atomic Bomb

Long before the incendiary raids began to devastate Japan, the United States had been developing the atomic bomb. The Manhattan Project, in highest secrecy during 1943 and 1944, built two such bombs, a plutonium bomb dubbed "Fat Man," and a uranium bomb, "Little Boy." The 509th Composite Group was charged with delivering the new bombs, in specially modified B-29's, each capable of carrying and releasing a 10,000 pound atomic bomb. Commanded by Colonel Paul W. Tibbets, Jr., the men of the 509th knew nothing of their proposed mission. Nonetheless, they trained for their secret mission at Wendover, Utah before shipping out to Tinian, where they endured a lot of ribbing from guys in other units, "Oh, yeah, the 509th is gonna win the war."
After the first successful test of an atomic bomb on July 16, 1945 at Alamogordo, New Mexico, planning accelerated, and the Allies were informed, although Soviet spies had already kept Stalin fully apprised of developments. On July 26th, the Potsdam Declaration, an ultimatum which promised prompt and utter destruction, was issued to the Japanese. Well aware of the huge casualties that the Allies would incur in an invasion of Japan and determined to shorten the war, President Truman gave General Carl Spaatz the go-ahead to drop the atomic bomb. "Fat Man" and "Little Boy" were delivered to Tinian by USS Indianapolis and by C-54 transport planes. On August 6, 1945, the Enola Gay dropped "Little Boy" on Hiroshima. 75,000 people died and almost 50,000 buildings were destroyed. (Read more about Tibbets, the Enola Gay, and this mission.)
The Allies had expected, or perhaps hoped, that Japan would surrender after suffering the effects of an atomic bomb. But the Japanese government could not commit itself to surrender so quickly. In part they did not understand what had happened; in Tokyo all that was immediately certain was that all communications with Hiroshima had stopped. While the Japanes cabinet debated, conventional B-29 raids continued, in ever increasing force. Three days later, with no response from the Japanese, we dropped "Fat Man" on Nagasaki. (Personally, I try to avoid second guessing, and I am convinced that dropping the atomic bomb was the right decision, and that it ultimately saved both American and Japanese lives. But I do wonder if we should have let a few more days pass before dropping that second one. I guess by August of 1945, we were tired of war.)
But it worked. That day the Soviets declared war on Japan and invaded Manchuria. The Emperor ordered the government to surrender. He broadcast word of the surrender to the Japanese people on August 15, and it was signed on the decks of the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945.
The B-29's last missions of the war consisted of mercy food drops to POW camps.

Soviet Tu-4

In late 1944, three B-29's had to land in Vladivostok. At the time the Soviet Union was not at war with Japan. The crews were briefly interned, and then permitted to "escape." But the B-29's stayed behind.
In 1947, at a parade in Moscow, the Tu-4 flew over; it was an exact replica of the B-29. In the early years of the Cold War, the Tu-4 gave the American military planners fits, because it was the first Soviet airplane with the capability to drop nuclear bombs on the Unied States.

The Korean War

Within days of North Korea's invasion of the south on June 25, 1950, Superfortresses were attacking Communist troops, tanks, trucks, and other tactical targets. By August, with the war going badly, they were okayed for raids against strategic targets in the north: bridges, rail yards, and factories. After the Inchon landings in September, the B-29's turned again to tactical missions, because UN forces controlled most of North Korea.
The massive Chinese intervention across the Yalu in November changed the war again. As they pushed the UN armies back below the 38th parallel, the B-29's again went after troop concentrations. And Chinese intervention also brought the MiG-15 jet fighter into the conflict; now the B-29's were confronted by an extremely capable interceptor. In early 1951, B-29 losses to the MiGs increased, despite F-80 and F-84 escorts and high altitudes. Eventually, the Superfortresss were limited to night bombing missions, which kept their losses down.
B-29 gunners were credited with downing 27 MiGs, making the aircraft the second-highest scoring aircraft, after the F-86 Sabre. One B-29, Command Decision, shot down five MiGs, making the aircraft an ace of sorts.

Surviving B-29 Aircraft

Relatively few B-29's survive today, in part because (unlike the B-17) they were not declared war surplus after WWII.
Serial number - comment
42-6376 - to storage at Davis Monthan 6/27/49
42-65281, Miss America '62 - at Travis AFB Museum, CA
42-27297, Bock's Car - the Nagasaki bomber, now on display at WPAFB Museum, OH
44-27343 - at Tinker AFB Air Park, OK
44-61975 - at New England Air Museum
44-69729 - on display at Seattle Museum of Flight, WA
44-69972 - stored on range at Naval Air Warfare Center, China Lake, CA, moved to United States Air Museum, Inyokern, CA and is under restoration
44-70016 - at Pima Air Museum, Tucson, AZ
44-70064 - on display at Castle AFB Museum, plane is actually made up of three derelict targets from China Lake
44-84076 - on display at SAC Museum, Offutt AFB, NE
44-86292, Enola Gay - dropped atomic bomb on Hiroshima
44-86408 - used to collect radioactive samples during postwar atomic tests, now on display at Hill AFB Museum
44-87779 - at South Dakota Air and Space Museum, Ellsworth AFB
45-21763, Kee Bird - abandoned after landing frozen lake in Greenland, during to recover, caught fire and burned May 21, 1995. Check out PBS Nova episode about the efforts to recover Kee Bird.
45-21787, Fertile Myrtle - used as carrier aircraft for D-558-II, registered as NACA 137, now with Weeks Air Museum, Miami, FL
45-21800 - used as "mothership" for X-1 trials
45-21801 - used by NACA between 1945 and 1955

DRAGON WORLD WAR 2 SOVIET 1/6 SCALE

2009-07-15T10:52:00.000+07:00

DRF70091"Pavel Nikolaievich Chernov" - Soviet Infantry Officer, 193rd Rifle Division,
Byelorussia, 1944 (Junior Lieutenant) $49.95
Uniform:
- M1940 Shapka-usanka Cap
- Soviet 1941-pattern Sheepskin Coat
- M1943 Gymnastiorka Tunic (Private)
- Sharovari Trousers - standard
- Officer Riding Boots
Equipment:
- M1943 Officer Equipment Belt
- Water Bottle Cover
- Binocular Case (Leather)
- Binoculars w/ cap
- Water Bottle
- Soviet Mapcase w/ Belt Loops
- Soviet M1895 Nagant Holster
Weapons:
- Nagant M1895 Revolver
Insignia:
- Soviet Red Star Cap Insignia
- M43 Shoulderboard - Junior Lieutenant
Others:
- NEO Male Body
- Men Hands with Gloves
- New character head
- Clear stand mount

12" ACTION FIGURES

DRA70548.1/6 "Lev Vassilievich Pavlov" - Soviet Naval Infantry Medical Aid Man,
Black Sea Fleet, Sevastopol, 1942 (Sanitarniy) $49.95
Uniform:
- Navy Cap w/ Black Sea Fleet Cap Tally New
- Navy Enlisted Pea Jacket New
- Navy Trousers New
- Navy Infantry "Telnyashka" Striped Pullover Shirt
- Soviet Sapogi Boots NP05
Equipment
- PPsh41 Drum Pouch (Cloth)
- Small Triangular Compressed White Bandage 1
- Small Triangular Compressed White Bandage 2
- Gauze Bandage
- Iodine Swabs
- Ammonia Aromatic Spirit
- Small First Aid Dressing
- Water Bottle Cover
- Water Bottle NP05
- Navy Belt New
- Medical Pouch New
Weapon
- PPsH-41 w/Drum Magazine
Insignia
- Soviet Red Star Cap Insignia
- Red Star for Pea Jacket lower sleeves New
Others
- NEO Male body
- Men Hands with Gloves
- New character head New Sculpture
- Clear stand mount

DRA70407."Ilya Romanovich Mironov" Soviet Anti-Tank Rifle NCO,
Red Army Rifles,Dnieper, Winter 1943 (Senior Sergeant). $49.95
Uniform
- Soviet M40 Helmet
- Winter Cloth Mittens
- Hooded Winter Oversmock
- M43 Gymnastiorka Tunic (Private)
- Sharovari Trousers
- Winter Overtrousers
- Soviet Sapogi Boots
Equipment
- PPSh 41 Stick Magazine Pouch
- PTRD Cartridge Pouch w/ Shoulder Strap
- Soviet EM Belt
- Water Bottle Cover
- Binoculars w/ Strap
- Water Bottle
Weapons
- PTRD-41 Anti-Tank Rifle
- PPSh 43
- PTRD-41 Anti-Tank Rifle Ammunition
- PTRD-41 Anti Tank Rifle Ammo (Metal)
Insignia
- Shoulder Tabs (Senior Sergeant)

DRA70420."Sergei Ivanovich Kozlov" Red Army DPM Gunner,
2nd Guards Infantry Division, Sevastopol, May 1944 (Corporal). $45.00
Uniform
SOV M40 Helmet
Cape-plasch palatka
M1943 Gymnastiorka Tunic
Sharovari Trousers
Soviet Sapogi Boots
Equipment
DP Magazine Pan Pouch
Soviet EM Belt, Leather
Gas Mask Bag
Water Bottle Cover
Water Bottle
Weapons
SOV F-1 "Egg" Grenade
DPM Light Machine Gun
DP28 Magazine Drum
Insignia
"Order of Glory" Medal with ribbon, 3rd class
M43 Shoulder boards (Infantry - Corporal)

DRA70285.VLADIMIR RED ARMY SCOUT, AUSTRIA SPRING 1945 (PRIVATE) $45.00
Uniform:
Pilotka Sidecap (NEW!!)
M43 Gymnastiorka Tunic
Sharovari Trousers (NEW!!)
Late-War Camouflage Coverall (Masksirovochyi Kombinezon) (NEW!!)
Equipment:
PPSh 41 Stick Magazine Pouch (NEW!!)
Red Army Belt
BN Gas Mask Bag
Bayonet for SVT-40 Rifle with Scabbar
Dispatch Case (NEW!!)
M1929 Water Bottle with Cover
Weapons:
PPSh 41 with Banana Type Magazine
Insignia:
Soviet Red Star Cap Insignia

DRA70419.1/6 "Fyodor Antonovich Nikitin" Soviet Naval Infantryman Red Banner,
Baltic Fleet, Eastern Front 1944 (Corporal) $45.00
Uniform
- Soviet Navy Fleet Cap (Black Sea Fleet)
- Pacific Fleet Cap Tally
- M1943 Gymnastiorka Tunic
- Sharovari Trousers - standard
- Navy Infantry "Telnyashka" striped Pullover Shirt
- Soviet Sapogi Boots
Equipment
- PPSh41 Drum Pouch (Cloth)
- Soviet EM Belt
- BN Gas Mask Bag
- SVT-40 Bayonet
- Water Bottle Cover
- Scabbard First Pattern
- Water Bottle
Weapons
- Rpg-43 Grenade
- PPsH-41
- PPSH41 Drum Magazine
Insignia
- "Order of Glory" Metal, 3rd class
- Medal for Distinguished Service in Battle
- Order of Patriotic War, 2nd class
- SOV M43 Shoulder Tab (Navy - Corporal)

DRA70210.Vassily Red Army Tank Commander (Sergeant) WWII Kursk 1943 $45.00

DRA70460."Vadim Antonovich Popov & Laika" Soviet Infantry Scout w/Dog,
Operation "Bagration" Belarus 1944. $54.95
Uniform
- Soviet M40 Helmet
- M1943 Gymnastiorka Tunic
- Amoeba MKK Smock
- Sharovari Trousers - standard
- Soviet Amoeba Over - trousers
- Soviet Sapogi Boots
Equipment
- M1891 Ammo Pouch
- Soviet EM Belt
- BN Gas Mask Bag
- Water Bottle
- Binoculars
- Water Bottle Cover
- Ammo clips for M1891/30 Mosin Nagant
Weapon
- M1891/30 Mosin Nagant rifle
Insignia
- Shoulder Tap (Infantry - Private)
Others
- NEO Male body
- Men Hands
- New character head
- Clear stand mount
- Special Dog "Laika" Resin

DRF70250."Alexei Petrovich Komarov" - Soviet NKVD Officer Internal Security
Berlin 1945 (Captain) $44.95
Uniform:
Officer Peaked Cap 1935 Pattern
Leather Jacket
M43 Gymnastiorka Tunic
Officer Service Breeches
Officer Riding Boots
Equipment:
M1943 Officer Equipment Belt (Leather)
Tokarev TT-30 Holster (Leather)
M1929 Water Bottle w/Fabric Cover
Dispatch Case (Leather)
Soviet Patriotic Song Book (Paper)
Weapons:
Tokarev TT-30 Pistol
PPsh 43 Sub-Machine Gun

sumber: www.tridentmilitary.com

Handley Page Hampden

2009-07-13T12:32:00.000+07:00

Specifications (Handley Page Hampden
Type: Four-Seat bomber (later torpedo bomber and minelayer).
Origin: Handley Page
Models: H.P. 52 Hampden I and H.P. 53 Hereford I
First Flight:
Prototype H.P. 52: June 31, 1936
Production Hampden I: May 1938
Production Hereford I: December 1939
Service Delivery: 1939
Production Halted: March 1942
Number Produced:
1,430 Hampdens (Handley Page 500, English Electric 770, Canadian Associated Aircraft 150)
100 Herefords were built by Short Brothers but failed to achieve operational status, many rebuilt as Hampdens.

Engine:
Hampden I

Model: Bristol Pegasus XVIII
Type: 9-Cylinder air cooled radial
Number: Two Horsepower: 1,000 hp

Hereford I

Model: Napier Dagger VIII
Type: 24-Cylinder air cooled H-type
Number: Two Horsepower: 1,000 hp

Dimensions:

Wing span: 69 ft. 2 in. (21.98m)
Length: 53 ft. 7 in. (16.33m)
Height: 14 ft. 4 in. (4.37m)
Wing Surface Area: N/A

Weights:
Empty:

Hampden: 11,780 lb. (5344 kg)
Hereford: 11,700 lb. (5308 kg)

Loaded:

Hampden: 18,756 lb. (8508 kg)
Hereford: 16,000 lb. (7257 kg)

Performance:
Maximum Speed:
Hampden: 254 mph (410 km/h)
Initial Climb: 980 ft/min (300 m/min)
Service Ceiling: 19,000 ft. (5790m)
Range (Fully loaded): 1,095 miles (1762 km)
Armament:
One .303 in. Vickers fixed forward.
One .303 in. Lewis manually aimed from nose by nav/bomb aimer.
One .303 in. Lewis manually aimed by wireless operator from upper rear position. One .303 in. Lewis manually aimed by lower rear gunner.
By January 1940 both rear positions refitted with twin Vickers and increased firing arcs.
Payload: 4,000 lb. (1814 kg.) of bombs internally

sumber: indoforum.org

"THE POWERFULL TANKS"

2009-07-03T10:48:00.000+07:00

REQUEST FROM DIKA

Tank pertama kali dibuat oleh seorang inggris bernama Sir Ernest Swinston tahun 1914.Tetapi,pada perang dunia 2 jermanlah yang memegang gelar "PANZER" karena begitu kuat dan hebatnya tank-tank jerman seperti 'tiger tank' , 'king tiger tank' , dan 'panzer tank'.Bahkan tank andalan Amerika yaitu 'sherman tank'pun tak mampu menghadapi kendaraan para kesatria Hitler tersebut.Hitler sebagai pemimpin partai NAZI pun selalu berkata "saya kuat di daratan,tapi saya pengecut di lautan" karena ia tahu betapa kuatnya tank-tank miliknya.
Namun,sekuat apapun tank,bila ada pemburu seperti "P-47D Thunderbolt" dan "Hawker Typhoon" alias "sipemburu tank" maka tidak ada apa-apanya tank-tank sekuat jerman

Galeri "German Tiger Tank"

	An early production model, spring 1943 in Kursk. Note the rather tall commander's cupola and the top opening hatches which were characteristics of the early production tanks. Spare track links were carried in the front of the tank's hull.

	Another frontal shot of an early production model. Smoke dischargers are also visible on the turret sides. The commander's cupola used bulletproof glass which severely limited visibility from within the fighting compartment.

	A unit being transported on rails. These war monsters needed two sets of tracks; one for transporation and one for combat. The combat tracks are rolled up in front during rail transportation and had to be outfitted again during unloading.

	This is a mid production tank #319. The commander's cupola has been shortened with the bulletproof glass now replaced with seven periscopes. The hatch now swivels to the side. The rubber rimmed wheels are still retained in the mid production, but the outer wheels are often removed. Smoke dischargers were also discontinued in the mid production series.

	Unit number 111 crossing a bridge in Tunisia, December 1943. The bridge was named after Major Loewe, the panzer commander of PzAbt.501 who was later killed in action.

	A battalion of Tigers being transported by rail. This is the early version model. Their combat tracks can be seen rolled up in front.

	A late production series. The rubber rimmed road wheels were replaced with steel wheels. The gun sight was also changed to a TZF9c monocular. Spare tracks were also carried on the turret sides from the mid-production onwards.


	Lenigrad, 1943. A member of sPzAbt 502 advances on a road through a russian village. Pictured behind a Schwimwagen, this particular unit still uses the TZF9b binocular gun sight, clearly visible with the two holes on the left of the gun mantlet.

	Tank number 131 of sPzAbt 101, Normandy, July 1944. A field applied camouflage of dark green and red brown over a base dark yellow was a common cammouflage pattern. In winter, some tanks carried a flat white wash brushed over the base color.

	Same photo as above, but with digital color rendering. The original photo is black and white.

	In this photo, German engineers change a Tiger's tracks from transport tracks to combat tracks. This was a tedious task frowned by the engineers. The tracks alone weighed 2.5 tons. You can see the wheels dismantled and lying on the ground.

	Normandy, late 1944. Zimmerit coating, an anti-magnetic mine paste was applied to the vertical surfaces of the hull and turret to prevent magnetic mines from sticking to the hull. This practice was later discontinued when there were reports that it ignited fires when hit by a shell.

	World War 2 leading tanker ace, SS-Hauptsturmführer (captain) Michael Wittman briefing his tank commanders, Normandy 1944. Decorated with the prestigious Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, Michael Wittman destroyed 138 allied tanks and 132 anti-tank guns during his career.

	A unit of the 101st SS Schwere-Panzer Abteilung (Heavy Panzer battalion), which Michael Wittman was part of. The 101st saw action in Russia and Normandy.

	An excellent shot of the typical dark green/red brown camouflage which was very common in Normandy. In the background is a SdKfz rocket launcher, in support of the battallion. If I remember correctly, this was taken shortly before Operation Zitadelle.

	Feifel air cleaners located on the back of the hull above the engine compartment were fitted for units operating in tropical environments like in Africa. These air filters were not fitted for units destined for European destinations.

	A variation of the Tiger 1, the Bergetiger was converted as a recovery vehicle used to tow distressed tanks from the battlefield. It is equipped with a crane instead of a gun.

	Tunisia, North Africa. This picture shows the first unit, an early production model captured by allied forces. To their dismay, the allies discovered that it was an excellent gun platform, superior to any allied tank currently fielded. It now resides in Aberdeen Proving grounds museum.

	Das Reich Tiger defending Kharkov from the impending Russian onslaught, February 1943.

	Tiger 223 and 224 marches on a road during the Normandy assault. This is a late Tiger with the zimmerit coating, steel wheels and the typical green/brown Normandy camouflage.

	This famed monument known as the Vimoutiers Tiger, sits facing west, close to the town of Vimoutiers, France. It was blown up by their own crew after they had ran out of fuel, shortly after the allied advance in Normandy.

	This was taken in Bovington museum. Disabled by a round from a Sherman, the shell hit exactly in the ridge below the gun mantlet and the upper hull, thereby jamming the turret. The crew bailed out and it was subsequently captured. The dent right under the gun mantlet is still visible and can be seen when zoomed in.

Galeri "German Panzer Tank"

Panzer II - Panzerkampfwagen II
9 photos
Panzer II was designed as a stopgap while other tanks were developed, it played an important role in the early years of World War II, beginning with ...

Panzer III - Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf. M (SdKfz 141/1)
75 photos
Panzer III was developed in the 1930s by Nazi Germany and had design on two basic types: the light and medium tank was used extensively in World War II.

Panzer IV - Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. G (SdKfz 161/1)
130 photos
Panzer IV was the most common German tank of World War II and was used as the base for many other fighting vehicles, such as ...

Panther Tank - Panzerkampfwagen V Panther Ausf. A (SdKfz 267)
100 photos
The Panther Tank served in World War II from mid-1943 to the end of the European war in 1945. With the unexpected design of the Soviet T-34, all existing German ...

King Tiger Tank - Panzerkampfwagen VI Konigstiger
141 photos
The German King Tiger Tank was introduced in early 1944 and was the most powerful tank during world war 2. With its powerful 88mm gun and an almost impenetrable front armor ...


	Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) 6 photos The Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) was a conventional pre-World War II tank design, with riveted armor and rear engine. It was a Czechoslovakian tank used by Germany during World War II.

	Jagdpanzer IV - Panzerjager 39 18 photos The Jagdpanzer IV was a tank destroyer based on the Panzer IV chassis built in three main variants. The Jagdpanzer IV kept the basis chassis of the ...

	Jagdpanzer IV (with Zimmerit) 28 photos Jagdpanzer IV was a great defensive weapon but was produced too late and in small quantity to have greater impact on the war situation ...

	Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer 19 photos The Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer was a German tank destroyer of the World War II based on a modified pre-war Czechoslovakian Panzer 38(t) chassis. The Jagdpanzer 38(t) was ...

	Jagdpanther - Hunting Panther 24 photos The Jagdpanther were produced in 1944 and 1945. They were equipped with heavy antitank battalions and served mainly on the Eastern Front, although significant numbers were ...

	Sturmpanzer IV Brummbar (SdKfz 166) 27 photos The Sturmpanzer IV Brummbär was a development of the Panzer IV chassis to provide direct infantry fire support by using ...

	Stug III 40 - Sturmgeschutz 40 Ausf. G 22 photos The StuG III 40 was most produced armoured fighting vehicle to be used in support of the infantry during World War II. It was built based on ...

	Sturmmorser Tiger - Sturmtiger 38cm RW61 L/5.4 27 photos The Sturmtiger or Sturmpanzer VI, was a World War II German assault gun built on the Panzer VI Tiger I chassis armed with a large naval mortar, the ...

	Hummel - Geschutzwagen III/IV Hummel 18 photos The Hummel was introduced in 1943 to provide heavy self-propelled artillery for the Panzer divisions. This vehicle was based on ...

	Wespe - Panzer II Wespe (SdKfz 124) 25 photos The Wespe was a light self-propelled gun armed with 105mm light field howitzer and gun-shield. It was design by ...

	Goliath - Leichter Sprengladungstrager Goliath 13 photos The Goliath tracked mine is a caterpillar-tracked vehicle, approximately four feet long, two wide, and one tall. It carried 75-100 kgs of ...

	German Half Track Transport - Medium Contamination Truck 6 photos Half-tracks were used extensively in World War II but was then replaced by fully-tracked or fully-wheeled vehicles. Half-track is a ...

	German Hanomag - Ausf. D (Sdkfz 251/7) 20 photos The German Hanomag (SdKfz 251/7) half-track was an armored fighting vehicle designed and first built by Nazi Germany's Hanomag company during ...

	German Hanomag Stummel - Ausf. D (Sdkfz 251/9) 17 photos The German Hanomag Stummel (SdKfz 251/9) first two models were produced in small numbers. The C variant had a larger production run, but was ...

	Assault Tank A7V - Sturmpanzer-Kraftwagen 4 photos The A7V was first used in combat on March 21, 1918. It was deployed north of the St.Quentin Canal. The A7Vs helped stop a minor British breakthrough ...

	3.7 cm Antitank Gun - Pak. 35/36 L/45 8 photos The 3.7 cm Antitank Gun - Pak. 35/36 was a German anti-tank gun that fired a 3.7cm calibre shell. It was developed in 1936 by ...

	5 cm Antitank Gun - Pak. 38 L/60 5 photos The 5 cm Antitank Gun - Pak. 38 L/60 was a German anti-tank gun that fired a 5 cm calibre shell. It was developed in 1938 by Rheinmetall. It was a successor ...

	7.5 cm Antitank Gun - Pak. 40 L/46 15 photos The 7.5 cm Pak. 40 Antitank Gun was the workhorse of the German antitank artillery force. It could knock out almost every Allied tank except the Soviet IS-2 and the...

	7.5 cm Antitank Gun Pak. 40/4 L/46 on Tracked Chassis 10 photos The 7.5 cm Pak. 40 Antitank Gun was the workhorse of the German antitank artillery force. It could knock out almost every Allied tank except the Soviet IS-2 and the...

	T-34/76 Tank (Russian) 14 photos The T-34 was a Soviet medium tank produced from 1941 to 1958. It is widely regarded to have been the world's best tank when the Soviet Union entered ...

	Flak 88mm 37 L/56 Antitank Gun 8 photos The Flak 88mm 37 L/56 Antitank Gun is an anti-aircraft artillery piece from World War II. The Flak 88mm 37 has a widespread use and capabilities ...

	Sherman M4 Tank (USA) 21 photos The Medium Tank M4 was the primary tank produced by the United States for its own use and the use of its Allies during World War II. Production of the M4 Medium tank ...

Galeri "German King Tiger Tank"

	Porsche King Tigers enroute to Normandy. Although only fifty were produced, it was the Porsche KingTigers that created a reputation when it wreaked the most havoc during the Ardennes offensive.

	Another snapshot of an early version fitted with Porsche turret.

	An excellent snapshot of a Porsche turret. Notice the curved gun mantlet which acted as a shot trap by deflecting incoming shots downwards towards the roof. Also in view is the gunner's sight, a TZF 9b, binocular which was later changed to TZF 9d, monocular. The hole on the right side of the main gun is a co-axially mounted MG34.

	A Tiger 2 tank of the schwere Panzer Abteilung 503 (Heavy Tank Battallion) in Budapest, Hungary October 1944.

	From the 2.Kompanie/schwere Panzer Abteilung 506 captured by American troops. 15 December 1944.

	Henschel or production turret from schwere Panzer Abteilung 503, Feldherrnhalle in Budapest, 1945. The gunner's sight is a single monocular above the driver. Zimmerit coating is clearly visible.

	Tank 502 captured by Russian troops on the eastern front. "Glory to Korobov" is inscribed on the barrel.


	Tank number 104. The powerful 88mm made the King Tiger particularly suited to open terrain. However, this also made them very vulnerable to allied aircraft.

	King Tigers of the Schwere Panzer Abteilung 503. This photo shows the battalion at full strength.

	Panzers tanks from the KampfGruppe Peiper during the Ardennes offensive. In the background are American POWs.

	A Porsche turreted version taking cover from allied planes in Normandy. Allied fighter planes were a major threat to the German Panzers since the Luftwaffe were practically wiped out.

	Porsche Tiger 2 tanks enroute to Normandy. Many Tigers 1 and 2 were lost during the battle at Normandy, particularly by Allied aircraft.

	Zimmerit coating was applied at the Henschel factory from August to November 1944. However, this was discontinued in late November due to reports that it caused fires when hit by an armor piercing projectile. This was later found to be false but news never reached the frontlines and many late models were without zimmerit coating.

	Porsche version tank number 114.

	Many German panzers were lost during the Ardennes offensive due to mechanical breakdowns or abandoned as they had run out of gas rather than destroyed by allied forces.

	A Tiger 2 tank leaving its ambush position. Many were used as static defense roles as Germany was constantly on the retreat. This helped conserve fuel and minimized breakdowns on the overtaxed drive trains.

	A frontal photo of the 150mm thick glacis plate of the Tiger 2. There is no evidence that the front armor has ever been penetrated during the war.

	A photograph with its crew of five. The early tank crew uniform were black in color. The crew uniform was later changed to a green camouflage pattern towards the end of the war.

	Crews applying field camouflage. A pattern of red brown and dark green over a yellow base was common. Beginning in February 1944, camouflage was done at the factory, and by November 1944, it was altered to a base dark green with red brown and dark yellow pattern.

	Porsche King Tiger tanks during firing trials.

	Henschel King Tiger. The armored track guard appears to be removed.

	Russian soldiers examining the captured King Tiger 502, August 1944.

	King Tiger of s.PzAbt. 507, taken in March 1945.

	Considered by many to be the world's first modern general purpose machine gun, the Machinengewehr 34 or MG34 was the primary tank and aircraft defensive weapon. Fitted on the King Tiger tanks, it had a rate of fire between 800 to 900 rpm.

	The Panzerfaust was the world's first expendable anti-tank weapon. There were three variants, 30, 60, and 100 indicating the maximum effective range in meters. The oversized warhead fitted to the front could penetrate up to 170 mm of armor.

	Panzerschreck or "tank terror" was copied from the American bazooka, but made considerably more effective to deal with future Russian tanks. It used a rocket tank rifle round and could penetrate over 200mm of armor, capable of dealing with any tank during the war.

sumber: worldwar2aces.com

de Havilland Mosquito

2009-07-03T09:22:00.000+07:00

Specifications (de Havilland D.H.98 Mosquito FB.Mk VI)
Type: Two Seat Fighter Bomber, Reconnaissance & Night Fighter
Design: de Havilland Design Team
Manufacturer: The de Havilland Aircraft Company, Hatfield and Leavesden, also built by Airspeed, Percival Aircraft and Standard Motors (Canley). Built by de Havilland Aircraft Pty, in Australia and de Havilland Aircraft of Canada.
Powerplant: (Mks II, III, IV and early Vs) Two 1,230 hp (918 kW) Rolls-Royce Merlin 21 engines. (Late FB.Mk VI) Two 1,635 hp (1219 kW) Rolls-Royce Merlin 25 engines. (Mk IX) Two 1,680 hp (1253 kW) Rolls-Royce Merlin 72 engines. (Mk XVI) Two 1,680 hp (1253 kW) Rolls-Royce Merlin 72 or 1,710 hp (1276 kW) Rolls-Royce Merlin 73/77 engines. (Mk 30) Two 1,710 hp (1276 kW) Rolls-Royce Merlin 76 engines. (Mk 33) Two 1,635 hp (1219 kW) Rolls-Royce Merlin 25 engines. (Mk 34/35/36) Two 1,690 hp (1260 kW) Rolls-Royce Merlin 113/114 engines. Many other variants had corresponding Merlins made by Packard.
Performance: Maximum speed 362 mph (583 km/h) at 5,500 ft (1675 m); maximum cruising speed 325 mph (523 km/h) at 15,000 ft (4570 m); service ceiling 33,000 ft (10060 m); initial climb rate of 1,870 ft per minute with a climb to 15,000 ft in 9 minutes 30 seconds.
Fuel: 453 Imp gal (544 US gal) plus provision for a 66.5 Imp gal (79.9 US gal) fuselage tank. (Externally) Up to 200 Imp gal (240 US gal) in 2 × 100 or 50 Imp gal (120 or 60 US gal) underwing droptanks.
Range: 1,650 miles (2655 km) with internal bombload.
Weight: Empty 14,300 lbs (6486 kg) with a loaded take-off weight of 22,300 lbs (10115 kg).
Dimensions: Span 54 ft 2 in (16.51 m); length 40 ft 10 3/4 in (12.47 m); height 15 ft 3 in (4.65 m); wing area 454 sq ft (42.18 sq m).
Armament: Four 20 mm Hispano Mk II cannon with 150 rounds per gun in the lower nose and four 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Browning Mk II machine-guns in the upper nose plus 2,000 lbs (907 kg) of bombs or 1,000 lbs (454 kg) of bombs and eight 60 lbs rocket projectiles.
History: First flight (prototype Mk I) 25 November 1940; first flight (NF.Mk II) 15 May 1941; first flight (T.Mk III) January 1942; first delivery (B.Mk IV) 105 Squadron at Swanton Morley in November 1941.
Operators: Austraila, Belguim, Canada (RCAF), China, Czechoslavakia, France, Yugoslavia, New Zealand, Norway, Soviet Union, Turkey, United Kingdom (RAF, RN, BOAC), United States (AAF).
Number Built: 7,781
Number Still Airworthy: One (Previously airworthy, but has not flown for the last few years.)
Nicknames: Mossie; Balsa Bomber; Wooden Wonder; Freeman's Folly (early nickname referring to Air Council member Sir Wilfred Freeman); Tsetse (Mk XVIII anti-shipping variant).

sumber: indoforum.org

STEALTH AIRCRAFT

2009-07-02T15:45:00.000+07:00

REQUEST DARI BEBERAPA PEMBACA

B-2 Spirit stealth bomber

Pesawat siluman (bahasa Inggris: stealth aircraft) atau disebut pesawat amat senyap^[1] adalah pesawat yang dirancang untuk menyerap dan membelokkan radar menggunakan teknologi siluman, membuatnya lebih sulit untuk dideteksi. Pada umumnya tujuannya adalah melancarkan serangan selagi dia masih berada di luar pendeteksian musuh. F-117 Nighthawk adalah salah satu jenis pesawat siluman yang digunakan angkatan udara Amerika Serikat dalam Perang Teluk.

Pesawat siluman memiliki kemampuan untuk menghindari pendeteksian, baik deteksi secara visual, audio, sensor panas, maupun gelombang radio (radar). Secara visual, pesawat lebih sulit untuk terlihat bila mempunyai warna yang sama dengan warna latar belakangnya (kamuflase). Secara audio, tentunya berusaha untuk membuat pesawat semakin tenang. Secara sensor panas, pesawat biasanya dideteksi dari panas yang timbul dari badannya atau dari temperatur udara di sekelilingnya. Bagian paling panas dari pesawat biasanya adalah saluran buangan udara mesin atau exhaust dan leading edge (bagian pesawat yang pertama membelah udara). Panas dari exhaust bisa dikurangi dengan cara mencampur semburan mesin dengan udara dingin dari luar badan pesawat sebelum dihembuskan keluar pesawat dan memperpanjang pipa exhaust (seperti A-4 Skyhawk Indonesia yang mempunyai exhaust lebih panjang dibanding versi standarnya). Bagian exhaust ini biasanya dikejar oleh rudal anti-pesawat dengan sensor inframerah. Akan tetapi rudal pencari panas modern kini juga memiliki kemampuan untuk mendeteksi dan mengejar panas yang dihasilkan akibat pergesekan permukaan badan pesawat dengan udara.

Deteksi secara gelombang radio adalah dengan cara mencegah gelombang radio dari radar tidak terpantul dari badan pesawat dan kembali ke radar. Gelombang radio tersebut bisa diserap jika badan pesawat dilapisi RAM (Radar Absorbent Material), dipantulkan ke arah lain, atau sedemikian sehingga gelombang tersebut menjadi hilang atau saling meniadakan (hal inilah yang mendasari bentuk pesawat siluman yang mempunyai bentuk yang lain dari pesawat biasa atau agak aneh).

Pesawat siluman biasanya tidak 100% tidak terdeteksi radar. Tetapi karena memiliki RCS (Radar Cross Section) yang kecil maka di layar radar hanya tampak sebesar gerombolan burung, bukan pesawat.

sumber: wikipedia.org

Gloster Gladiator

2009-07-02T10:00:00.000+07:00

Specifications (Gloster Gladiator Mk II)
Type: Single Seat Biplane Fighter
Design: H.P. Folland
Manufacturer: Gloster Aircraft Company
Powerplant: (SS.37) One 645 hp (481 kW) Bristol Mercury VIS radial engine. (Mk I) One 840 hp (626 kW) Bristol Mercury IX or IXS 9-cylinder radial engine. (Mk II) One 830 hp (619 kW) Briston Mercury VIIIA 9-cylinder radial engine.
Performance: Maximum speed 253mph (407km/h); initial climb rate 2,300 ft (700 m) per minute; service ceiling 33,000 ft (10060 m).
Range: (Mk I and II) 440 miles (708 km); (Sea Gladiator) 425 miles (684 km).
Weight: (Mk I and II) Empty 3,450 lbs (1565 kg) with a maximum take-off weight of 4,750 lbs (2155 kg). (Sea Gladiator) Empty 3,745 lbs (1699 kg) with a maximum take-off weight of 5,420 lbs (2459 kg).
Dimensions: (Mk I and II) Span 32 ft 3 in (9.85 m); length 27 ft 5 in (8.38 m); height 10 ft 4 in (3.17 m).
Armament: First 71 aircraft, two 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Vickers machine guns in the fuselage, one 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Lewis machine gun under each lower wing; subsequent aircraft had four 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Browning machine guns in same locations. Fuselage guns had 600 rounds per gun and wing guns had 400 rounds per gun.
Variants: Gloster SS.37 (prototype), Gloster Gladiator, Gloster Gladiator Mk I, Gloster Gladiator Mk II, Gloster Sea Gladiator.
Avionics: None.
History: First flight (SS.37) September 1934; (Gladiator 1) June 1936; (Sea Gladiator) 1938; service delivery March 1 937; final delivery April 1 940.
Operators: Belgium, China, Egypt. Finland, Greece, Iraq, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Sweden, UK (RAF, RN).

sumber:indoforum.org

Fairey Firefly

2009-07-02T09:57:00.000+07:00

Specifications (Fairey Firefly AS.Mk 5)
Type: Two Seat Naval Reconnaissance Fighter / Anti Submarine Strike Aircraft
Design: Fairey Aviation Design Team
Manufacturer: The Fairey Aviation Company
Powerplant: (AS.Mk 5) One 2,250 hp (1678 kW) Rolls-Royce Griffon 74 12-cylinder Vee piston engine. (Mk I up to No 470) One 1,730 hp (1290 kW) Rolls-Royce Griffon IIB 12-cylinder Vee liquid-cooled; (from No 471) 1,990 hp (1485 kW) Griffon XII. (Mks 4-7) One 2,250 hp (1678 kW) Griffon 74 12-cylinder Vee piston engine.
Performance: (AS.Mk 5) Maximum speed 386 mph (618 km/h) at 14,000 ft (4265 m); cruising speed 220 mph (354 km/h); service ceiling 28,000 ft (8534 m). (Mk I) Maximum speed 316 mph (509km/h); initial climb rate 1,700 ft (518m) per minute; service ceiling 28,000 ft (8534 m). (Mk 4) Maximum speed 386 mph (618 km/h); initial climb rate 2,050 ft (625 m) per minute; service ceiling 31,000 ft (9450 m).
Range: (AS.Mk 5) 1300 miles (2092 km) on internal fuel. (Mk I) 580 miles (933 km) on internal fuel. (Mk 4) 760 miles (1223 km) on internal fuel.
Weight: (AS.Mk 5) Empty 9,674 lbs (4388 kg) with a maximum take-off weight of 16,096 lbs (7301 kg). (Mk I) Empty 9,750 lbs (4422 kg) with a maximum take-off weight of 14,020 lbs (6359 kg). (Mk 7) Empty 11,016 lbs (4997 kg) with a maximum take-off weight of 13,970 lbs (6337 kg).
Dimensions: (Mk 4 - 6) Span 41 ft 2 in (12.55 m); length 37 ft 11 in (8.51 m); height 14 ft 4 in (4.37 m); wing area 330.0 sq ft (30.66 sq m). (Mk I - III) Span 44 ft 6 in (13.55m); length 37 ft 7 in (11.4 m); height 13 ft 7 in (4.15 m).
Armament: (Mk I) Four fixed 20 mm Hispano cannon in wings and underwing racks for up to two 1,000 lbs (454 kg) of bombs or sixteen 60 lbs (27 kg) rocket projectiles. (Mk 4 and 5) usually similar to 1 in most sub-types. (Mk 6) no guns, but underwing load increased to 3,000 lbs (1362 kg) and varied. (Mk 7) no guns, but underwing load remained at 3,000 lbs (1362 kg) and equipment changed.
Variants: Firefly F.Mk 1, Firefly FR.Mk 1, Firefly F.Mk IA, Firefly NF.Mk 11, Firefly NF.Mk I, Firefly T.Mk 1, Firefly T.Mk 2, Firefly T.Mk 3, Firefly F.Mk III, Firefly F.Mk IV, Firefly FR.Mk 4, Firefly TT.Mk 4, Firefly Mk 5, Firefly Mk 6, Firefly FR.Mk 5, Firefly NF.Mk 5, Firefly AS.Mk 5, Firefly AS.Mk 6, Firefly TT.Mk 5, Firefly TT.Mk 6, Firefly, AS.Mk 7, Firefly T.Mk 7 ASW, Firefly U.Mk 8, Firefly U.Mk 9.
Avionics: AI Mk X radar, ASH Scanner, sonobuoys.
History: First flight 22 December 1941; first production F.1 26 August 1942; production FR.4. 25 May 1945; final delivery of new aircraft May 1955.
Operators:United Kingdom (RN), Canada (RCN), Australia.
Number Built: ~1533

sumber: indoforum.org

Boulton Paul P.82 Defiant

2009-07-02T09:53:00.000+07:00

Specifications (Boulton Paul Defiant Mk II)
Type: Two Seat Night Fighter
Design: Boulton Paul Design Team
Manufacturer: Bolton Paul Aircraft, Wolverhampton.
Powerplant: (Mk II) One 1,280 hp (954 kW) Rolls-Royce Merlin XX inline piston engine. (Mk I) One 1,030 hp (768 kW) Rolls-Royce Merlin III Vee 12-cylinder piston engine.
Performance: Maximum speed 313 mph (504 km/h) at 19,000 ft (5790 m); cruising speed 260 mph (418 km/h); service ceiling 30,350 ft (9250 m); initial climb rate 1,900 ft (579 m) per minute.
Range: 465 miles (748 km) on internal fuel.
Weight:
(Mk II) Empty 6,282 lbs (2849 kg) with a maximum take-off weight of 8,424 lbs (3821 kg). (
Mk I) Empty 6,078 lbs (2757 kg) with a maximum take-off weight of 8,350 lbs (3787 kg).
Dimensions:
Span 39 ft 4 in (11.99 m);
length 35 ft 4 in (10.77 m);
height 11 ft 4 in (3.45 m);
wing area 250.0 sq ft (23.23 sq m).
Armament: Four 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Browning machine-guns in a hydraulically operated dorsal turret with 600 rounds per gun.
Variants: Boulton Paul P.82 Defiant (prototype),
Defiant F.Mk I, Defiant NF.Mk IA, Defiant Mk II, Defiant TT.MK I, Defiant TT.MK III.
Avionics: AI Mk IV or Mk VI radar, Mandrel jamming system.
History: First flight (prototype) 11 August 1937; (production Mk 1) 30 July 1939; first delivery December 1939.
Operators: RAF.

sumber: indoforum.org

BOMBER TERBAIK

2009-07-02T09:23:00.000+07:00

AVRO LANCASTER(INGGRIS)

Lancaster nggris adalah yang paling terkenal berat bomber dari Perang Dunia II. Mampu membawa bom yang memuat hingga 22.000 pound, Lancasters, terbang pada malam hari, di Jerman dan memghancurkan pabrik-pabrik.

Bomber Command sebagai favorit dari pesawat terbang, Lancaster yang telah banyak digunakan pada operasi khusus, seperti 1943-bendungan busting mogok dan Tirpitz tenggelamnya kapal raids. Tetapi keberhasilan Lancaster tak lepas dari pengorbanan yang besar, lebih dari 55.000 crewnya hilang dalam waktu yang berbeda dalam perang.

Specifications (Avro 683 Lancaster B.Mk I & III)
Type: Seven or Eight Seat Heavy Bomber
Design: Chief Designer Roy Chadwick and Managing Director Roy Dobson of A. V. Roe Aircraft Company Limited based on the Avro 679 Manchester design
Propellers: Hamilton-Standard or Rotol propellers. In later aircraft paddle-bladed Nash-Kelvinator propellers were used increasing the cruising speed by 8 mph (12.9 km/h) and the service ceiling by 1,500 ft (457 m). The airscrew shaft was a SBAC No. 5 type with a reduction gear ratio of 0.42:1.
Performance: (Early B.Mk I) Maximum speed 275 mph (443 km/h) at 15,000 ft (4572 m). (Late B.Mk I) Maximum speed 287 mph (462 km/h) at 11,500 ft (3505 m), 275 mph (443 km/h) at 15,000 ft (4572 m), 260 mph (419 km/h) at 19,400 ft (5913 m); cruising speed 234 mph (377 km/h) at 21,000 ft (6401 m), 200 mph (322 km/h) at 15,000 ft (4572 m); stalling speed (clean) 95 mph (153 km/h) at 60,000 lbs (27211 kg); normal service ceiling 23,000 ft (7010 m), nominal service ceiling 24,500 ft (7468 m); absolute service ceiling 24,671 ft (7500 m); climb to 20,000 ft (6096 m) in 41 minutes and 40 seconds; initial rate of climb 250 ft (76 m) per minute with full bombload. In a hard dive the prototype aircraft achieved speeds reaching almost 400 mph (644 km/h) with production aircraft (operational loadout) being limited to 360 mph (578 km/h).
Carburetion (Merlin): SU float carburettor, type AVT 40 / 241 / 216 / 224 / 227. American built Packard Merlins had the Bendix Stromberg pressure-injected type.

Ignition (Merlin): Two BTH C.5 SE12-S or Rotax NSE12-4 magnetos.

Fuel Capacity / Specification: A total of six fuel tanks consisting of two 580 Imperial gallon (703 US gallon or 2637 litre) inboard tanks, two 383 Imperial gallon (464 US gallon or 1740 litre) intermediate tanks and two 114 Imperial gallon (138 US gallon or 518 litre) outboard tanks giving the aircraft a total fuel capacity of 2,154 Imperial gallons (2,610.6 US gallons or 9790 litres). Provisions for one or two overload fuel tanks of 400 Imperial gallons (485 US gallons or 1818 litres) each could be carried in the bomb bay. Fuel specification 100 / 130 Grade DED 2475 (AN-F-28).
Defensive Armament: A total of ten 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Browning machine-guns in a nose, mid-upper, tail and ventral position.

2 × 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Browning Mk II trainable forward-firing machine-guns in the power-operated Frazer-Nash F.N.5A nose turret with 1,000 rounds per gun using a Barr & Stroud G Mk III reflector sight
2 × 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Browning Mk II trainable machine-guns in the power-operated Frazer-Nash F.N.50 (Boulton-Paul) dorsal turret with 1,000 rounds per gun using a Barr & Stroud G Mk IIIA reflector sight.
4 × 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Browning Mk II trainable rearward-firing machine-guns in the power-operated Frazer-Nash F.N.20A tail turret with 2,500 rounds per gun using a Barr & Stroud G Mk III reflector or Gyro Mk IIc sight.
2 x 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Browning Mk II trainable rearward firing machine-guns in a power-operated Frazer-Nash F.N.64 ventral turret with 500 rounds per gun using a periscopic sight. (This position did not have a dedicated gunner)

Variants: BT308 (first prototype), DG595 (second prototype), B.Mk I, B.Mk I Special (Grand Slam), B.Mk I FE (Far East), B.Mk II (Hercules engines), B.Mk III, B.Mk III Type 464 Special (Dambuster), B.Mk IV (renamed Lincoln Mk I), B.Mk V (renamed Lincoln Mk II), B.Mk VI, B.Mk VII, B.Mk VIII FE (Far East), B.Mk X (Canadian Built).

sumber: indoforum.com

"PEMBOM YANG GANAS"

2009-07-01T10:01:00.000+07:00

"Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress" adalah sebuah pesawat pengebom mlik Amerika Serikat,yang khusus dibuat untuk US Army Air Corps. Pesawat ini mulai mengangkasa pada tanggal 28 juli 1935,dan dipensiunkan pada tahun 1968. Sekitar 12.000 B-17 diproduksi yang digunakan sebagai pembom strategis pada perang dunia 2 melawan jerman(NAZI).Hampir 1/3 dari total bom yang dijatuhkan di jerman,adalah yang dijatuhkan oleh B-17.
B-17 mampu melesat dengan kecepatan maksimal 287 mph dan mampu membawa bom hingga 17.600 ponds.Versi terakhir yang dibuat adalah "boeing B-17G flying Fortress" yaitu dengan penambahan senapan mesin pada bagian pipi yang berguna untuk menambah daya tangkal terhadap luftwaffe.
B-17 terkenal dengan sebutan "sekumpulan badak" oleh pilot2 jerman karena B-17 adalah bomber yang paling sulit ditumbangkan daripada bomber lainnya seperti:Avro Lancaster(inggris),Short Sterling(inggris),Halifax(inggris),Consolidated B-24 Liberator(USA).
Specifications (B-17G):
Engines: Four 1,200-hp Wright R-1820-97 Cyclone turbocharged radial piston engines
Weight: Empty 36,135 lbs., Max Takeoff 65,500 lbs.
Wing Span: 103ft. 9in.
Length: 74ft. 4in.
Height: 19ft. 1in.
Performance:
Maximum Speed at 25,000 ft: 287 mph
Cruising Speed: 182 mph
Ceiling: 35,800 ft.
Range: 2,000 miles with 6,000 lb. bomb load
Armament:
13 12.7-mm (0.5-inch) machine guns
Up to 17,600 pounds of bombs

MESIN TERBANG SEKUTU (WW2)

2009-06-29T09:51:00.000+07:00

SEKUTU (AMERIKA SERIKAT,INGGRIS,RUSIA):

AMERIKA SERIKAT

Douglas A-1 Skyrider

Douglas A-26 Invader

Douglas SBD Dauntless

Grumman F4F Wildcat

Grumman F6F Hellcat

North American P-51D Mustang

P-38 Lightning

Grumman TBF Avenger

Grumman F8F Bearcat

Grumman F7F Tigercat

P-47 Thunderbolt

INGGRIS

Supermarine Spitfire

Hawker Sea Fury

Hawker Hurricane

Fairey Firefly

RUSIA

Yakovlev Yak-9

Yakovlev Yak-3

Polikarpov I-16

"SANG LEGENDARIS"

2009-06-26T16:37:00.000+07:00

Supermarine Spitfire adalah salah satu jenis pesawat tempur pemburu yang dimiliki Angkatan Udara Britania Raya (RAF) pada Perang Dunia II. Pesawat jenis ini menjadi terkenal setelah berhasil mengimbangi dan bahkan mengalahkan pesawat-pesawat milik Jerman yang saat itu diakui lebih maju teknologinya, dalam "Pertempuran Britania" (Battle of Britain).

Berikut adalah spesifikasi berbagai spitfire:

* Mk IB: Four 7.7-mm (0.303-inch) guns and two 20-mm cannon;
* Mk VA/B/C: More powerful Merlin engine, provisions for drop-tanks or bombs, wing and armament changes;
* Mk VII: High-altitude interceptor with pressurized cockpit and retractable tailwheel;
* Mk VIII: Pure fighter with un-pressurized cockpit;
* Mk IX: Two-stage Merlin engine mated to Mk V airframe;
* Mk XIV: Griffon 65/66 engine with five-bladed propeller, strengthened fuselage, broad tail, late models had bubble canopy;
* Mk XVI: Packard Merlin engine, many had bubble canopy;
* Seafire Mk IIC: Catapult hooks and strengthened landing gear, Merlin engine, 4-blade propeller;
* Seafire Mk III: Double folding wings and 1,585-hp Merlin 55 engine.