Universal Carrier

What was the most produced Armored Fighting Vehicle in history?

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If you said “T-34” or “Sherman” you’re wrong!  The answer is the British designed Universal Carrier; sometimes known as the “Bren Gun Carrier” for its most commonly mounted weapon.  After the jump, a look at a prolific and barely armored vehicle. Continue reading

Posted in Armor, Britain | Tagged , | 7 Comments

North American Mustang Mk IV

The British Commonwealth provided the first Mustang orders to North American, and they continued to use the type to the end of the war.  But we normally see the late model Mustangs in US Markings.

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After the jump, a brief look at a late model Commonwealth Mustang. Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Britain, Fighter, USA | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

Macchi C.202 Folgore

The C.202 was a capable, yet not so well known fighter.  It was the most important fighter of the Regia Aeronautica, the Italian Air Force, from 1942-43.

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After the jump, we’ll look at a less known, but still successful weapon. Continue reading

Posted in Fighter, Italy | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

T-34/76

One of the most important weapons to come out of the war was the Soviet T-34 tank.  It revolutionized tank design and shocked the Germans.

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After the jump, a brief look at one of the best all around designs of the war. Continue reading

Posted in Armor, Soviet Union | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

North American B-25J Mitchell

The United States produced a couple of excellent medium Bombers in World War II.  The B-25 Mitchell is perhaps the best known of those.

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After the jump, a look at a late war example. Continue reading

Posted in Bomber - Tactical, USA | Tagged , , | 21 Comments

Junkers Ju 87B-1 Stuka

I fear I’ve overused the word “iconic” since I started this site, but I can think of no more fitting adjective for this airplane.

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Join me for a look at Germany’s much feared dive bomber after the jump. Continue reading

Posted in Bomber - Tactical, Germany | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Brewster Buffalo, Part II

The Buffalo is one of those airplanes with a split personality.  Its performance and combat record against the Japanese is almost universally bad.  Yet a small number of planes, against the massive VVS (Soviet Air Force) had as completely opposite an experience as we can imagine.

After the jump, and with the help of one of this site’s readers, an interesting look at a whole different performance. Continue reading

Posted in Fighter, Finland, USA | Tagged , , , | 28 Comments

Brewster F2A-2 Buffalo

Perhaps no aircraft is more symbolic of America’s unpreparedness for war in 1941 than Brewster’s much maligned Buffalo.

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Of course the story only gets more interesting the deeper we look.  So after the jump, a brief look at one of the great enigmas of aviation history. Continue reading

Posted in Fighter, USA | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Gloster Gladiator Mk I (J8)

The Winter War

World War II started on September 1, 1939 when Germany attacked Poland.  Yet there were other wars, even involving combatants in the world war, that seem to fall through the cracks in most histories.  One such, was when the Soviet Union invaded Finland on November 30, 1939.

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Join me for a brief look at a lesser known conflict, its impact on the world at war, and one weapon of that war. Continue reading

Posted in Britain, Fighter, Finland, Sweden | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

What’s in a Name – United States

Aircraft Naming and Designations

For the second post in this series let’s take a look at the designating and naming systems used by the United States.  I know this sounds dry, but I find it fascinating and I hope you readers aren’t completely bored by this!

Like Japan, The Army Air Force and Navy (and Marine Corps) used completely different systems. Continue reading

Posted in Dave's Essays, USA | Tagged | 24 Comments