The Soviet Tupolev Tu-4 strategic bomber was an unlicensed, reverse-engineered copy of the US WWII Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bomber. The Soviets used it in their first air dropped Atomic bomb tests and for launching anti-shipping missiles. It led the Soviets to produce more advanced aircraft including the Tupolev Tu-16 jet bomber and the Tupolev … Continue reading Soviet Tupolev Tu-4 Bomber
Mike’s Research Posting Hiatus – Ended
On Monday, March 27, I am going into the hospital for hip replacement surgery and afterwards is recovery for an unknown period of time. During this period, Mike’s Research website will still be available but comments will not be monitored or approved. Hi all, I am back posting today - Mike.
Centurion Tanks in Vietnam
The announcement that a squadron of Centurion tanks was to reinforce the Australian forces in South Vietnam was greeted by skepticism in some quarters. Critics claimed that the mobility of the heavy tanks would be so curtailed by the rice paddies and jungle that they would eventually become static pillboxes defending the perimeter of bases. … Continue reading Centurion Tanks in Vietnam
Pilot Aces in Two Wars (WWII and Korea)
There were seven US and seven Soviet combat pilots who achieved ace status in two different wars. These men developed and honed their dog fighting skills while flying piston engine fighters during WWII and then later they advanced to the next level while flying faster jet fighters over Korea. Francis S. Gabreski Francis Stanley "Gabby" … Continue reading Pilot Aces in Two Wars (WWII and Korea)
Sherman Firefly Tank 1944-45
The Sherman Firefly tank was used by the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Poland and South Africa armour units in WWII. It was based on the US Lend Lease M4 Sherman variants, but the British fitted their more powerful 3-inch (76.2 mm) caliber 17-pounder anti-tank gun as its main weapon. Originally conceived as a stopgap … Continue reading Sherman Firefly Tank 1944-45
South Korean Air Force 1950-53
The South Korean Air Force was formed in 1949 with no combat aircraft available. Soon after the Korean War broke out on 25 June 1950, the South Koreans received their first 10 F-51 Mustang fighter planes and were forced to train and become effective combat pilots while under fire. The fledgling tiny air force fought … Continue reading South Korean Air Force 1950-53
M551 Sheridan in combat 1969-91
The M551 Sheridan Armored Reconnaissance/Airborne Assault Vehicle (AR/AAV) was a US light tank designed to be dropped by parachute, swim across rivers and was the last light tank employed by the US Army. It was armed with the technically advanced but problematic 152mm gun/launcher, which fired both conventional ammunition and the MGM-51 Shillelagh guided anti-tank … Continue reading M551 Sheridan in combat 1969-91
Captured Allied Planes 1940-45
The Allies strategic bombing campaign main goal was the destruction of the German industrial base and the dislocation of the civilian population. Heavy industry, aircraft production, oil and petrochemical facilities were the main targets. The Allies paid a high price where many bombers and fighters were lost to flak, enemy fighters and other circumstances. The … Continue reading Captured Allied Planes 1940-45
French FCM Char 2C Tank 1921-40
The French Char 2C tank was designed during the last years of WWI and was originally planned to be a super heavy "breakthrough" tank for the big offensive of 1919 which never materialized. After the war, only ten Char 2C tanks were built during the early 1920s and it was the only super-heavy tank ever … Continue reading French FCM Char 2C Tank 1921-40
Allied Jet Killers 1944-45
In mid 1944, the Germans introduced jet and rocket propelled aircraft against the Allied bomber forces flying over the Germany. The allies first operational jet fighter, the British Gloster Meteor saw limited action but never encountered the German jets in aerial combat. The Allies propeller driven fighters escorting the bombers began encountering these fast bogies … Continue reading Allied Jet Killers 1944-45
Tigers in Italy 1944-45
The 508th and 504th Heavy Panzer Battalions (German: "schwere Panzerabteilung" or "s.Pz.Abt.") were two German independent battalion-sized armor units during WWII, equipped with the Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger I (Sd.Kfz. 181) armed with a 88mm L/56 gun. They fought against the US and Commonwealth forces in the Italian Campaign. The 508th first fought against the Anzio … Continue reading Tigers in Italy 1944-45
US Liaison Planes WWII
Liaison planes are small lightweight, usually unarmed aircraft used for artillery observation or transporting commanders and messages. The concept was developed before WWII and also included battlefield reconnaissance, aerial ambulance, command and control, light cargo transport and other duties. With short takeoff and landing capabilities, these planes were able to operate from small, unimproved fields … Continue reading US Liaison Planes WWII
Großdeutschland Panzers 1942-45
The Panzergrenadier Division Großdeutschland was an élite German Army (Heer) combat unit which fought on the Russian front during WWII. Originally a ceremonial unit, it first became an infanterie regiment and over the course of the war expanded to become an "over sized" panzergrenadier division with its own organic panzer regiment which included Tigers and … Continue reading Großdeutschland Panzers 1942-45
Air Battle Over Morocco 1942
Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of northwestern Africa in November 1942 is now considered a small footnote in the comprehensive history of WWII. The extraordinary battle pitted old allies, the US and Britain against France. The senseless air battle over Morocco was fought by the US Navy against Vichy French Naval and Air Force squadrons … Continue reading Air Battle Over Morocco 1942
Mount Vesuvius Italy 1944
During WWII, the Allies had endured mother nature in many forms such as hot arid deserts, fog, rain, hurricanes, floods, deep mud, cold temperatures, ice, sleet and deep snow. In March 1944 Italy, the bombers of an USAAF Medium Bomber Group were either damaged or destroyed on the ground, not by the enemy but by … Continue reading Mount Vesuvius Italy 1944
British Armour 1991 Gulf War
Operation Granby, commonly abbreviated Op Granby, was the code name for the British military operations during the first Gulf War in 1991. During the ground phase, the British 1st Armoured Division took part in outflanking Iraqi forces. It participated in the Battle of Norfolk where British Challenger tanks destroyed approximately 300 Iraqi tanks and other … Continue reading British Armour 1991 Gulf War
Centurion Tanks in Korea
The Centurion was the primary British Army main battle tank of the post-WWII period. Introduced in 1945, it is widely considered to be one of the most successful post-war tank designs. The Centurion Mk. III had a powerful main gun with a gun stabilizer, which was very effective over rough terrain. Its combat debut was … Continue reading Centurion Tanks in Korea
Dieppe France 1942
Operation Jubilee or the Dieppe Raid was an Allied amphibious assault on the German-occupied port of Dieppe in northern France which was launched on 19 August 1942. Over 6,050 infantry, predominantly Canadian, supported by a Canadian Armour regiment, landed ashore from a naval force operating under protection of the Royal Air Force (RAF). The port … Continue reading Dieppe France 1942
Gun Trucks in Vietnam
During the Vietnam War, the mission of the US Army Transportation Corps was to ferry supplies from the coastal ports of Qui Nhon and Cam Ranh Bay to inland bases located at Bong Son, An Khê, Pleiku, Da Lat, and Buon Ma Thuot. The logistical requirements of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) were huge, … Continue reading Gun Trucks in Vietnam
Anzio Link-up Italy 1944
During the Allies breakout of the Anzio beachhead on 23 May 1944, two small task forces participated in the link-up between the US VI Corps (at Anzio) and the US II Corps along the Adolf Hitler line southwest of Cassino. For four long months, the Anzio beachhead had been isolated being supplied by sea and … Continue reading Anzio Link-up Italy 1944
Kasserine Pass 1943
The Battle of Kasserine Pass was a series of battles that took place in February 1943 around and in Kasserine Pass, a 2 mile (3.2 km) wide gap in the Grand Dorsal chain of the Atlas Mountains in west central Tunisia. The inexperienced US forces took heavy losses which made these engagements the last Axis … Continue reading Kasserine Pass 1943
Mortain 1944
Unternehmen Lüttich (Operation Liège} was the codename given to a German counter-attack during the Battle of Normandy, which took place against US positions near Mortain, France from 7 to 13 August 1944. Lüttich is the German name for the city of Liège in Belgium, where the Germans had won a victory in the early days … Continue reading Mortain 1944
Saipan 1944
The invasion of Saipan in the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO) had been referred to as the "Pacific D-Day" because the invasion fleet departed Hawaii on 5 June 1944 (the day before Operation Overlord in Europe) and the invasion was launched 9 days later. The invasion became the most daring, and disturbing, operation in the … Continue reading Saipan 1944
Soviet Stalinets S-60/S-65 Tractors
The Soviet Union built the Stalinets S-60/S-65 tractors in the 1930s mainly for agricultural work. In June 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union and the Soviets took heavy losses in troops and material. To replace their losses, the Soviet were forced to take desperate measures. Large numbers of these farm tractors were taken directly from … Continue reading Soviet Stalinets S-60/S-65 Tractors
Philippines 1941-42
Soon after the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, the Japanese attacked the Philippine Islands. During the five month long invasion, the American and Filipino forces fought a long and heroic delaying action to allow time for the United States to gear up for war. This was the first time where American manned … Continue reading Philippines 1941-42
Italian Marble Arch in Libya
The Marble Arch, also Arch of the Philaeni (Italian: Arco dei Fileni), was a monument erected on the Via Balbia, the coastal road in Libya between the provinces of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica which celebrated the early Italian colonization of Libya. During WWII, the Arch became a navigational landmark and both the Axis and Allied forces … Continue reading Italian Marble Arch in Libya
Arras France 1940
Encircled by the Germans in northwest France, the battle of Arras on 21 May 1940, was a successful Allied counter-attack which delayed the German advance allowing more Allied troops to be evacuated at Dunkirk. It was the first armor attack by the British in WWII and was first combat engagement for the Matilda tank. The … Continue reading Arras France 1940
Americans at Gazala Libya 1942
In June 1942, a small American tank detachment arrived in Libya and joined the British Eighth Army during the battle of Gazala to get experience in desert warfare under actual battlefield conditions. In combat, they destroyed a number of panzers. Time Magazine recorded this unit as being the first Americans to engage German ground forces … Continue reading Americans at Gazala Libya 1942
Gloster Meteor Jet in WWII/Korea
The twin engine, straight winged, Gloster Meteor jet was the Allies first operational jet fighter of WWII. During the war, it saw limited combat but never got the chance to engage any of the German jets in aerial combat. Six years later in the skies over Korea, the Meteor fought against the MiG-15 jet fighter … Continue reading Gloster Meteor Jet in WWII/Korea
Patton Tanks in Vietnam
Patton tanks and its variants were the main armor used throughout the war in Vietnam. The variants included the M48A3, M48A2C, M48/M60 AVLB, M67A2 Flame tank, M88 ARV, and the M728 CEV. M48A3 Patton (Late Model) Specifications Crew: 4One 90mm Gun M41 on M87A1 mount in turret, 62 roundsOne .50 Caliber MG HB M2 in … Continue reading Patton Tanks in Vietnam
M24 Chaffee in combat
The M24 Chaffee was a US light tank which came into service during the last months of WWII. It was also used in a number of post–WWII conflicts including the Korean War and by the French in the First Indochina War. M24s were then used in limited combat by South Vietnam and its last major … Continue reading M24 Chaffee in combat
Czechoslovakia 1945 and 1968
During the 20th century, Czechoslovakia experienced two invasions by the Soviet Union. The first was in the spring of 1945 when the Soviet Union liberated Czechoslovakia from fascist Germany. The second was 23 years later in August 1968 when the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact countries "liberated" Czechoslovakia to stop the democratization of the … Continue reading Czechoslovakia 1945 and 1968
Israeli Super Shermans
Hundreds of Sherman tanks have seen service with the Israeli Armoured Corps since its inception in 1948 and most of them underwent intensive modifications to keep them in pace with more modern adversaries. Some of them were in active service with the Israelis over thirty years after they came off the assembly lines in the … Continue reading Israeli Super Shermans
US M3 Stuart North Africa 1942
Officially M3 Light Tank was a WWII US tank that was supplied to Russia, Britain and other Commonwealth armies under lend-lease prior to the US entry into the war. The US combat debut of the M3 Stuart tank in the ETO was during the Allies Invasion of North Africa where it engaged the Vichy French, … Continue reading US M3 Stuart North Africa 1942
Grumman F9F Panther Jet
The Grumman F9F Panther was one of the US Navy's first successful carrier-based jet fighter and Grumman’s first jet fighter. It was a single-engine, straight-winged day fighter armed with four 20mm (0.79 in) cannons and could carry rockets and bombs. The Panther was used by the US Navy and US Marine Corps in the Korean … Continue reading Grumman F9F Panther Jet
Ferdinands/Elefants on the Eastern Front
The Ferdinand Sd.Kfz.184 was a 70 ton panzerjäger (tank hunter) armed with a 88mm Pak 43/2 L/71 main gun and used by the Germans during WWII. Its combat debut was during Operation Citadel (German: Unternehmen Zitadelle, AKA the Battle of Kursk) in July 1943 where it was misused as a direct assault weapon and suffered … Continue reading Ferdinands/Elefants on the Eastern Front
Wojtek, FWD HAR-1 Truck
During World War II, many soldiers, sailors and pilots of all nations had pets and mascots in the combat zone. Probably the most unique was a Syrian brown bear which belonged to the Polish 22nd Artillery Supply Company of the Polish II Corps who became a war hero and a legend. … Continue reading Wojtek, FWD HAR-1 Truck
Bologna 1945
During the winter of 1944-45, the Italian campaign was a stalemate due to the winter weather. The country was sodden from winter rains and the mud made armored operations impossible. The Allies spent the winter in highly inhospitable conditions. Bologna is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy and is … Continue reading Bologna 1945
Bouncing Bombs, Dam Busters
Since the outbreak of WWII, hydro-electric dams were considered one of the many important strategic bombing targets in Germany. By 1942, they were heavily protected by flak guns and torpedo nets and the Allies Air Forces had no effective means of destroying them. The existing bombs and bombing methods at the time would had little … Continue reading Bouncing Bombs, Dam Busters
US M7 Tank
The US M7 Medium Tank was originally designed as an up-gunned replacement for the M3/M5 Stuart Light Tank. But requested changes pushed the design too far increasing its weight to the point where it was reclassified as a medium tank. As a medium tank, its performance and armor protection was inferior to the battle tested … Continue reading US M7 Tank
Malmédy 1944
On 16 December 1944, the Germans launched Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein ("Operation Watch on the Rhine") AKA the "Battle of the Bulge". The town of Malmédy was located on the northern edge of the bulge and was associated with the infamous massacre of US soldiers by SS Panzer troops. During the offensive, Panzerbrigade 150 equipped … Continue reading Malmédy 1944
US 1st Marine Tank Battalion Korea 1950
Soon after the outbreak of the Korean War, the US 1st Marine Tank Battalion was one of the armored units ordered to prepare for a rapid deployment to Korea. Upon arrival, elements of the battalion disembarked at the port of Pusan and immediately went into combat where it was the first unit to engage and … Continue reading US 1st Marine Tank Battalion Korea 1950
Panthers at Kursk 1943
The Panzerkampfwagen (Pz.Kpfw.) V Sd.Kfz 171 Panther armed with a 75mm KwK 42 L/70 gun was considered one of the best German medium tanks of WWII. The Germans (Hilter) made the mistake of rushing the new Panther in service before numerous teething problems were resolved and the crews were properly prepared. Its combat debut during … Continue reading Panthers at Kursk 1943
US 767 Tank Battalion Pacific 1944
In 1944, the 767th Tank Battalion supported the US 7th Infantry Division during two campaigns in the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO). This battalion was the first unit to employ the M10 Tank Destroyer in combat in the PTO on Kwajalein Island and later participated in the Leyte invasion landing on the most southern beaches … Continue reading US 767 Tank Battalion Pacific 1944
Churchill’s Nellie I
In 1939, Winston Churchill feared that the French Maginot and the German Siegfried lines would develop into wasteful stalemate trench warfare as in WWI. He conceived and pursued the construction of a trench digging machine which would allow the Allies to assault the Siegfried line. His vision was that a fleet of these machines would … Continue reading Churchill’s Nellie I
Elefants in Italy 1944
The Elefant (German for "Elephant") Sd.Kfz.184 was a 70 ton panzerjäger (tank hunter) used by the Germans during WWII. It was armed with a 88mm Pak 43/2 L/71 main gun and a 7.92 mm MG 34 hull machine gun. On 21 May 1942, Henschel and Porsche submitted designs for a 45-ton … Continue reading Elefants in Italy 1944
Korean War US Navy only Ace
An "ace" is a military pilot credited with shooting down 5 enemy aircraft during aerial combat. During the Korean War (1950 to 1953), there were 39 US Air Force (including one US Marine on temporary duty) aces flying F-86 Sabres for the UN. On the Communist side, there were 52 Soviet "Volunteer" Mig-15 aces flying … Continue reading Korean War US Navy only Ace
DUKWs at Pointe du Hoc on D-Day
The DUKW (commonly known as the "Duck") was a six-wheel-drive amphibious version of the 2 1/2 ton CCKW truck used by US and Allied forces during WWII and the Korean War. The name DUKW comes from the General Motors Corporation (GMC) model nomenclature. D - Designed in 1942 U - Utility K - All-wheel drive … Continue reading DUKWs at Pointe du Hoc on D-Day
Churchill Tank BRITON
Somewhere northwest of Hill 112 (southwest of Caen) in mid-July 1944, Churchill Mk.VII tank named "BRITON" belonging to the 107th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) and its crew was photographed. This tank and its crew came into the limelight when these photographs were published in an issue of a popular magazine. These model kits … Continue reading Churchill Tank BRITON
Régiment Blindé de Fusiliers-Marins
The Régiment Blindé de Fusiliers-Marins (RBFM) was an unique French unit formed during WWII. A group of French sailors (whose ships were either immobilized or destroyed) interned in Britain volunteered and formed an infantry battalion fought the Axis forces along side the US troops in French North Africa. Later the battalion was transformed into a … Continue reading Régiment Blindé de Fusiliers-Marins
M41 Walker Bulldog in combat
The M41 Walker Bulldog was an American light tank developed for armed reconnaissance purposes and to replace the then aging World War II era M24 Chaffee tank. It was produced by Cadillac Motor Car Division of the General Motors Corporation (GMC) at a production facility in Cleveland, Ohio between 1951 and 1954 with a … Continue reading M41 Walker Bulldog in combat
Operation Ripper Korea 1951 *
Operation Ripper (6-31 March 1951) was a main UN offensive during the Korean war with the objective of liberating the South Korea capital Seoul and to force the communist forces back to the 38th Parallel. The Chinese did not have any tanks and the North Koreans lost most of their tanks during the fighting in … Continue reading Operation Ripper Korea 1951 *
M4A3E8 Sherman
The M4A3E8 was the last modification of the US Sherman tank series during WWII. This variant also known as M4A3(76)W HVSS featured a welded hull armed with a 76mm gun and had wet ammo storage ("W") where the ammo racks were surrounded by separate small containers of a mixture of water, ethylene glycol, and a … Continue reading M4A3E8 Sherman
Celles 1944
On 16 December 1944, the Germans launched Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein ("Operation Watch on the Rhine" AKA the Battle of the Bulge) with the objective to split the Allied armies in the Ardennes, cross the Meuse river and capture the port of Antwerp. This would have allowed the Germans to encircle and destroy the Allied … Continue reading Celles 1944
Chinese-American 1st Provisional Tank Group
The Chinese-American 1st Provisional Tank Group (1st PTG) was a joint US and Nationalist Chinese unit formed during WWII. This lesser known unit gain little recognition while fighting in the China-Burma-India theater (CBI). While the USAAC was flying critical supplies from India to China over the 'hump', the 1st PTG supported the allies effort to reopen … Continue reading Chinese-American 1st Provisional Tank Group
Matilda Operation Crusader 1941
The British Matilda A12 tank was a 60,000 lbs. (27 tons) infantry tank armed with a QF 2 Pounder (40mm, 1.57 inch) gun and a coaxial Besa 7.92mm machine gun. One of the weaknesses of the Matilda II was the lack of a high-explosive round for its main gun. The Matilda's main strength was its heavy … Continue reading Matilda Operation Crusader 1941
M10 Achilles Chelsea
The Achilles was a British variant of the open turret US M10 tank destroyer up armed with the superior British Ordnance QF 17 pounder (76.2 mm) anti-tank gun which replaced the original US 3 inch Gun. The conversion involved installing a new gun mantle and a counterweight on the gun barrel. The Achilles was assigned … Continue reading M10 Achilles Chelsea
Panzer-Kompanie Mielke
On 17 September 1944, Operation Market Garden surprised the Germans when Allied airborne troops dropped behind the front lines around Eindhoven, Nijmegen and Arnhem. Although scattered elements of the SS 9th "Hohenstaufen" and SS 10th "Frundsberg" Panzer-Divisions were around Arnhem at the time, the Germans still had to rush all available armour units to counter … Continue reading Panzer-Kompanie Mielke
Sd.Kfz. 232 Armored Car
The schwerer Panzerspähwagen (Fu) Sd.Kfz. 232 (8-rad) (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 232) was produced from 1938 to 1943 and carried a Fu.Ger.11 SE 100 medium range and a Fu.Spr.Ger.A short range radio. It was armed with a 2 cm KwK 30 L/55 autocannon and a coaxial 7.92 mm MG 34 machine gun. It had 8 wheel drive, 8 … Continue reading Sd.Kfz. 232 Armored Car
Desert Shield/Storm 1990-91
This is a collection of photos taken during Desert Shield and later Storm (August 1990 to March 1991). Most of these photos are of the lesser known units of the XVIII Airborne Corps which fought in the western Iraqi desert and north of Kuwait. Also included are some Iraqi armor which were encountered, a controversial … Continue reading Desert Shield/Storm 1990-91
URAL 4320 Broom
A field modification made by Александр Михайлович Метла (Alexander Mikhailovich Metla, "Metla" is "broom" in Russian) for the Soviet VDV airborne forces in Afghanistan in 1987 to protect convoys moving through valleys and ravines which were exposed to attacks by Mujahideen rebels. The modification mounted a section of a BRDM-2 armored car with the turret mounting … Continue reading URAL 4320 Broom
141 RAC Regiment Crocodiles
The 141st Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) regiment was formed in 1941 by the conversion of the 7th battalion, Royal East Kent regiment which raised itself in 1940 and the "3rd Regiment of Foot" (created in 1572 in London). In November 1941, the regiment was assigned to the 31st Tank Brigade and in early 1944 was … Continue reading 141 RAC Regiment Crocodiles
Churchill Great Eastern
The Churchill Great Eastern was a WWII rocket operated ramp tank designed to overcome obstacles which cannot could be bridged by the then in service Churchill ARK. It was able to form a bridge 60 feet (18m) long and could climb over a wall 12 feet (3.7m) high and 5 feet (1.5m) wide. The ramp … Continue reading Churchill Great Eastern
F3D-2/EF-10B Skyknight
A carrier-capable Night fighter jet aircraft manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company in El Segundo, California was employed by the US Navy and Marines. The first flight of the XF3D-1 occurred on 23 March 1948. 28 F3D-1s were built and the F3D-2 was first ordered in August 1949 with a total of 237 F3D-2s built … Continue reading F3D-2/EF-10B Skyknight
US 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment 2003
The US 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR), the "Brave Rifles" was formed on 19 May 1846 and under different names fought in 11 major conflicts: Indian Wars, Mexican–American War, American Civil War, Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, World War I, World War II, Desert Shield/Storm, SFOR in Bosnia, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in … Continue reading US 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment 2003
About my blog
This blog is a collection of my research notes from my model building hobby. I am only trying to provide fellow modelers, war gamers and historians interesting photos and details/facts on subjects for models which I had built, currently building or going to build someday. Since I am not a professional author, my posts are … Continue reading About my blog
Mike's Research 