At the Hitler Line, a single Panzerturm had systematically knocked out thirteen North Irish Horse tanks in minutes. Fighting defensively, and sited to take best advantage of the terrain, a Pantherturm had several advantages over tanks, artillery or standard bunkers. It’s low silhouette made it easy to conceal and, once located, difficult to target from […]…
Category: Know Your Weapons
Know Your Weapons: Carl Gustav m/45B (Swedish K)
I remember the first time I heard about this gun was when I read John Plaster’s outstanding book about MAC-V-SOG in Vietnam, Secret Commando’s: Behind Enemy Lines with the Elite Warriors of SOG. If you enjoy Military History, I highly recommend this book. Plaster is the real deal, having written one of the foremost books…
Know Your Weapons: An AK in 8x57mm – The Yugoslav M76 at the Range
Yesterday we looked at the history and mechanics of this Yugoslav M76; today we are taking it out to the range… via An AK in 8x57mm: The Yugoslav M76 at the Range — Forgotten Weapons
Know Your History: Was Hitler’s Ho 299 the First True Stealth Fighter?
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/was-hitlers-ho-299-first-true-stealth-fighter-152356 The Nazi invention wasn’t exactly a “stealth” fighter, but it did share a certain idea. by Sebastien Roblin Key point: The plane never took over. However, it did accidentally stumble upon how a certain shape can help reduce a plane’s radar signature. Northrop Grumman revealed this year it is developing a second flying wing […]…
Know Your WW2 History: 51st and 52nd Panzer Battalions
Panthers were supplied to form Panzer Abteilung 51 (Tank Battalion 51) on 9 January, and then Pz.Abt. 52 on 6 February 1943. The first production Panther tanks were plagued with mechanical problems. The engine was dangerously prone to overheating and suffered from connecting rod or bearing failures. Gasoline leaks from the fuel pump or carburetor, […]…
Know Your WW2 History: Jagdtiger SdKfz 186
The heaviest armored vehicle fielded by the Germans in World War II was the Panzerjäger Tiger Ausf B. This was built on a slightly lengthened Tiger II chassis topped with a fixed casemate and a 12.8 cm PaK 44 L/55 antitank gun. It weighed seventy-nine tons. A few early versions of the Jagdtiger had a […]…
Know Your Weapons: Soviet WWII Machine Guns
The Soviets were latecomers to machine-gun development generally. Prior to World War I, the czarist army bought machine guns from other countries and manufactured some under license. For this reason, Russian machine-gun development and production had to start virtually from scratch after the Russian Revolution. A top priority was the development of a light machine […]…
Know Your Weapons: Variations of the .455 Webley Fosbery Automatic Revolver
These are lots #558, 559, 1585, 1586, 3535, and 3536 in the upcoming RIA Premier Auction. It was scheduled for April, but has been postponed – check their web site for upcoming Online Only auctions every month, though! Today we are taking a look at the different variations in .455 caliber Webley-Fosbery automatic revolvers. The… via…
Know Your Weapons: Military Rifle Calibers & Three Confusions
Military Rifle Calibers & Three Confusions! Another short and sweet firearms history lesson by Mr. John Farnam, USMC.
Know Your Weapons: Manual Safeties
John Farnam over at DTI Sends. 24 Mar 20 Manual Safeties: Manually-operated “safety” levers and buttons were not found on military rifles of the 1800s and early 1900s. Since military doctrine of the era dictated that rifles were not to be fired, absent direct command, they were typically carried with an empty chamber and loaded…