Military Despatches July 2017

Stranger than fiction Facts, figures and trivia about World War II

One man’s war For Lt Hiroo Onoda the war didn’t end in 1945

Head-to-Head We examine some of the iconic tanks of World War II

Forged in Battle The legendary AK-47

Strike from above One of the most devastating offensives in the history of warfare

For the military enthusiast Military Despatches July 2017 What’s in this month’s edition

Feature Articles Page 6 6 World War II - facts, figures & trivia Click on any video below to view A few facts, figures and trivia about World War II. It’s sad to think that there are not a lot of people still around How much do you know that fought in that conflict. about movie theme songs? Take our quiz 14 They said it People have said some strange things during wars and and find out. about wars. Here are a few of them. 18 Dad’s Army Hipe’s Wouter de The old South African During World War II the British Home Guard were Goede interviews former Defence Force used known as ‘Dad’s Army’. Would you have qualified to 28’s gang boss David a mixture of English, become a member? Williams. Afrikaans, slang and 20 One man’s war techno-speak that few World War II ended on August 14, 1945. Yet not for outside the military Second Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda. He would continue could hope to under- to fight the war for another 29 years. stand. Some of the terms were humorous, some Page 20 were clever, while others Head-to-Head 22 Tanks of World War II were downright crude. We look at some of the iconic British, German, Rus- sian, American and Japanese tanks that saw battle dur- Part of Hipe’s “On the ing World War II. couch” series, this is an interview with one of Famous Figures author Herman Charles 32 Karl Dönitz Bosman’s most famous Senior submarine officer in the Kriegsmarine, Com- characters, Oom Schalk mander-in-Chief of the Navy, the man that replaced Page 22 A taxi driver was shot Lourens. Hipe spent time in Adolf Hitler as fuhrer of Germany - Karl Dönitz was dead in an ongoing Hanover Park, an area all this and more. war between rival taxi plagued with gang Cover Photograph organisations. violence, to view first- The American Los Angeles class nuclear submarine hand how Project USS San Juan is escorted around Cape Point by two Ceasefire is dealing with South African Navy submarines. They are heading to- the situation. wards the SA Navy base at Simon’s Town. SAS Queen Modjadji I (front), USS San Juan (centre) and SAS Hipe TV brings you videos ranging from actuality to humour and every- Charlotte Maxeke (back). thing in between. Interviews, mini-documentaries and much more. Check out Hipe TV and remember to like, comment, share and subscribe. 00 3 Forged in Battle 36 The AK-47 Each month “Forged in Battle” looks at weapons, equipment or units that have been tried and tested on the battlefield. This month we look at the legendary AK-47.

PUBLISHER Hipe Media Battlefield Page 36 EDITOR 40 Air Strike - The Six Day War Matt Tennyson On 5 June 1967 the Israelis launched one of the most devastating offensives in the history of warfare. CONTRIBUTORS Raymond Fletcher, Ryan Mur- his is something I’ve If I had to concentrate on a phy, Matt O’Brien, Matt Ten- Quiz been threatening to do particular topic it would prob- nyson. 43 Firearm Identification Tfor a number of years - a ably be wars fought in Africa, We show you a firearm, you tell us what it is. military magazine. especially the South African Military Despatches is pub- Ten years ago I started Hipe Border War. lished on-line every month. Magazine, an online digital Yet I wanted to do something The articles used in Military Reviews Page 40 magazine that comes out on the as broad as possible. I wanted Despatches are copyrighted Movie Review - Enemy at the Gates first of each month. It was origi- to cover a broad a range of mil- 44 nally started while I was lectur- itary history and military sub- and may not be used without prior This film revolves around the Battle of Stalingrad ing journalism and I wanted to jects as possible. permission from the editor. and in particular about Russian sniper Vasily Zaytsev. use it as a platform for young To this end the magazine The views stated in this mag- writers, a place where they looks at general articles rele- azine do not necessary reflect 45 Book Review could be published. vant to the military - from any the views of Hipe!, the editor, This month we look at two books. Cuito Cuanavale: It’s grown a lot since then and era. There are also specific reg- the staff, or Hipe Media. Frontline Accounts by Soviet Soldiers and Echoes of an so has the readership. Yet I’ve ular sections such as Head-to- African War by Chas Lotter. always been keen on the idea of Head which will compare units Hipe! doing a monthly military maga- or weapons from a specific con- P.O. Box 31216, Tokai, 7966 46 Game Review - Company of Heroes 2 zine. I spent a number of years flict. Famous figures in military South Africa. This real time strategy game lets you fight as the Page 43 as a soldier and an even longer history will look at a famous, Russians, Germans, Americans or British during time as a conflict journalist. I or infamous, person in military email World War II. also have a passion for history, history. Forged in battle will [email protected] Page 45 especially military history. cover weapons, equipment or Compiling a magazine like units. Battlefield will look at a this is not as easy as it sounds. battle or campaign from history. The Lighter Side What exactly was the content There will also be a monthly 48 Bless you my son going to be? Many historians movie review, a book review, Religion and the military all to often have gone and enthusiasts will concentrate and a game review. And yes, hand-in-hand. Countless wars have been fought in on a particular aspect of mili- there are some brilliant military the name of religion. Yet sometimes it does have a tary history. Some may concen- simulation games out there. Fi- lighter side. trate on a specific era or time nally there will be an article on period such as warfare in the the lighter side of the military. 20th century. Others may look I trust you will enjoy this as at a particular war such as the much as we’ve enjoyed putting Vietnam War or the American it together. Civil War. Some may concen- trate on a topic such as modern fighter aircraft or submarines. Matt 4 5 8. Steuben (Germany) - 3,000 to those that were shared with World War II - facts, figures & trivia 9. Thielbeck (Germany) - others, the number of fighters 2,750 involved and the extent of each A few facts, figures and trivia about World War II. It’s sad to think that there are not a lot of 10. Yamato (Japan) - 2,498 pilot’s participation determin- people still around that fought in that conflict. ing the proportion allocated to very year on November The smallest European armed of the 5.8 million who were tak- While many ship losses re- him. 11 we remember those forces was that of Denmark, en prisoner, as many as 3.3 mil- sulted from sea battles, some Ivan Kozhedub was the top that made the ultimate with a maximum strength of lion who died in captivity. of the highest death tolls were Soviet ace with 62 kills and E caused by the bombing or tor- Richard I. Bong was the top sacrifice during the two World 15 000, just 13 of whom were It should also be borne in mind Wars and other wars. killed during the one-day Ger- that these were military losses: pedoing of vessels carrying ref- American with 40 kills. Yet just how much do we re- man invasion on 9 April 1940. to these should be added many ugees and other civilians. Tetsuzo Iwamoto of the Japa- ally know about those conflicts? Several South American untold millions of civilian war The German liner Wilhelm nese Imperial Air Force was the Hopefully this article will give countries did not declare war deaths, while recent estimates Gustloff, laden with civilian top Japanese ace with 87 kills. you a slightly better knowledge until the closing stages, in order have suggested an additional refugees and wounded German A total of 104 German Luft- of World War II. to become eligible to join the figure of up to 25 million civil- soldiers and sailors, was torpe- waffe (Air Force) pilots claimed TOP GUN: German Luftwaffe fledgling United Nations. ian deaths as a result of Stalinist doed off the coast of Poland by over 100 kills. The top German ace Erich Hartmann was the Largest armed forces of World Great strategy. “You say the purges, which began just before a Soviet submarine, S-13, on 30 ace, and top ace of the war, was top ace of World War II with War II war is ending tomorrow. Who’s the outbreak of war. January 1945. Although impre- Erich “Bubi” Hartmann with a 352 kills. 1. USSR - 12,500,000 losing? Okay, let’s declare war cise, some sources even sug- remarkable 352, most of them 2. USA - 12,364,000 on them. Let’s start printing Greatest civilian losses of World gest a figure as high a 9,400, the over the Eastern Front. was the practice of loading a 3. Germany - 10,000,000 victory medals for our brave War II probable death toll being some string of tracers at the end of 4. Japan - 6,095,000 troops.” 1. China - 8,000,000 five times as great as that of the World War II Trivia the belt to tell you that you 5. France - 5,700,000 2. USSR - 6,500,000 Titanic. • The first German service- were out of ammo. That was 6. UK - 4,683,000 Greatest military losses of World 3. Poland - 5,300,000 man killed in the war was definitely not something 7. Italy - 4,500,000 War II 4. Germany - 2,350,000 Top British and Commonwealth killed by the Japanese (Chi- you wanted to tell the en- 8. China - 3,800,000 1. USSR - 13,600,000 5. Yugoslavia - 1,500,000 Air Aces of World War II na, 1937). emy. Units that stopped us- 9. India - 2,150,000 2. Germany - 3,300,000 6. France - 470,000 1. Sqd Ldr Marmaduke Thom- • The first American service- ing tracers saw their success 10. Poland - 1,000,000 3. China - 1,324,516 7. Greece - 415,000 as St John Prattle (South Af- man killed was killed by the rate nearly double and their 4. Japan - 1,140,429 8. Japan - 393,400 rican) - 40+ Russians (Finland 1940). loss rate go down. Allowing for deaths and ca- 5. British Empire - 357,116 9. Romania - 340,000 2. Gp Captain James Edgar • At the time of Pearl Har- • German Me-264 bombers sualties, the total forces mo- 6. Romania - 350,000 10. Hungary - 300,000 ‘Johnny’ Johnson (British) - bor, the top US Navy com- were capable of bombing bilised during the course of the 7. Poland - 320,000 33.91 mand was called CINCUS New York City but it wasn’t war is, of course, greater than 8. Yugoslavia - 305,000 During World War II, many 3. Wing Cdr Brendan ‘Paddy’ (pronounced “sink us”), the worth the effort. the peak strength figures: that 9. USA - 292,131 deaths among civilians, espe- Finucane (Irish) - 32 shoulder patch of the US • The Russians destroyed over of the USSR, for example, has 10. Italy - 279,800 cially in China and the USSR, 4. Flt Lt George Frederick Army’s 45th Infantry divi- 500 German aircraft by ram- been put as high as 20 000 000, resulted from famine and inter- Beurling (Canadian) - 31.33 sion was the swastika, and ming them in midair (they the USA 16,354,000, Germany The actual numbers killed nal purges. In fact Stalin killed 5. Wing Cdr John Randall Hitler’s private train was also sometimes cleared 17,900,000, Japan 9,100,000 in World War II have been the more of his own people than the Daniel Braham (British) - 29 named “Amerika”. All three minefields by marching over and the UK 5,896,000. subject of intense argument for Germans did. 6. Gp Capt Adolf Gysbert were soon changed for PR them). “It takes a brave man the past 70 years. ‘Sailor’ Malan (South Af- purposes. not to be a hero in the Red Smallest armed forces of World The immense level of the Worst military ship losses of rica) - 28.66 • It was a common practice Army”. - Joseph Stalin. War II military casualty rate of the World War II 7. Wing Cdr Clive Robert on fighter planes to load ev- • When the US Army landed 1. Costa Rica - 400 USSR, in particular, is hard to 1. Wilhelm Gustloff (Germa- Caldwell (Australian) - 28.5 ery fifth round with a tracer in North Africa, among the 2. Liberia - 1,000 comprehend. Most authorities ny) - 7,800 lives lost 8. Sqd Ldr James Harry ‘Gin- round to aid in aiming. That equipment brought ashore 3. El Salvador - 3,000, now reckon that of the 30 mil- 2. Goya (Germany) - 6,202 ger’ Lacey (British) - 28 was a mistake. The tracers were three complete Coca Honduras - 3,000 lion Soviets who bore arms, 3. Cap Arcona (Germany) - 9. Sqd Ldr Neville Frederick had different ballistics so (at Cola bottling plants. Nicaragua - 3,000 there were 13.6 million military 6,000 Duke (British - 27.83 long range) if your tracers • Among the first “Germans” 6. Haiti - 3,500 deaths. 4. Junyo Maru (Japan) - 5,620 10. Wing Cdr Colin F. Gray were hitting the target, 80% captured at Normandy were 7. Dominican Rep. - 4,000 This includes a battlefield 5. Toyama Maru (Japan) - (New Zealander) - 27.7 of your rounds were miss- several Koreans. They had 8. Guatemala - 5,000 death toll of approximately 7.8 5,400 ing. Worse yet, the tracers been forced to fight for the 9. Bolivia - 8,000 million, plus up to 2.5 million 6. Arcona (Germany) - 5,000 Uniquely to Western air forc- instantly told your enemy Japanese Army until they Paraguay - 8,000 who died later of wounds re- 7. Lancastria (Great Britian) - es in World War II, kills that he was under fire and from were captured by the Rus- Uruguay - 8,000 ceived in battle and disease and, 3,050 are expressed as fractions refer which direction. Worst of all sians and forced to fight 6 7 marck. His job was to catch discovered his real age. closed to shore by day, even- U-boat towing lifeboats and mice. A few hours after the • Total casualties for World tually escaping to Australia. flying the Red Cross flag was Bismarck had been torpedoed War II were between 50 and • American pilot Owen J. attacked by a US bomber. and sunk the cat was found 70 million people, 80% of Baggett became legendary • During WWII the Allies dis- clutching driftwood. He was who came from only four as the only person to shoot covered that the Germans taken aboard the British de- countries — Russia, China, down a Japanese aircraft were using the Leaning Tow- stroyer HMS Cossack and Germany, and Poland. Over with a .45 calibre M1911 pis- er of Pisa as an observation given the name Sam. Later 50% of the casualties were tol. Baggett had bailed out post. A U.S Army Sergeant that year the HMS Cossack civilians, with the majority of of his aircraft and was para- that was sent to the tower to was also torpedoed and sunk. those being women and chil- chuting when a Japanese air- confirm the presence of Ger- Once again the cat survived dren. craft headed straight at him. man troops was impressed by and was given the nickname • Prior to the Allied invasion He fired three shots with his its beauty and decided to not Unsinkable Sam. He was of Sicily they came up with pistol and one of them hit the order an artillery strike on it. transferred to the aircraft car- a number of deception plans Japanese pilot in the head, • During the Invasion of Nor- rier HMS Ark Royal which, to convince the Germans that killing him instantly. mandy, Scottish Bagpiper, less than a month later, was the landings would take place • We’ve all heard the stories Bill Millin, contrary to Brit- also torpedoed and sunk. elsewhere. One of these plans about how ruthless German ish Command, in the thick of Once more Sam was found was named Operation Mince- U-boats would surface and battle, marched up and down HIGH PRICE TO PAY: Only 20% of the males born in the clinging to a floating plank, meat. It involved releasing machine gun survivors of the beach playing his Pipes. Soviet Union in 1923 survived the war. apparently “angry but quite the body of a person dressed ships they had torpedoed. When his unit captured Ger- unharmed”. Sam was eventu- as a Royal Marine Major off Yet until late 1942, man snipers, they asked for the Russian Army until more than 40 years later she ally retired later that year to the coast of Spain. The body it was common why Millin wasn’t they were captured by the was torpedoed and sunk by a domestic home in Belfast, contained documents reveal- for German U- shot. They said they Germans and forced to fight the British submarine Con- where he lived until dying of ing that the Allies were plan- boats to provide didn’t shoot him for the German Army until queror in the South Atlantic. natural causes in 1955. ning on invading Greece. The torpedoed survi- because he was they were capture by the US The Phoenix, at the time of • Two weeks after Adolf Hit- Spanish returned the body, vors with food, clearly insane. Army. her demise, was of course ler’s suicide, Allied and Axis and the documents, to the water, and the • In the Western des- • Most members of the Waffen known then as the General forces fought together in the British Embassy. But not be- direction of the ert the German SS were not German. Belgrano. only record of such an event fore they were copied by the nearest landmass. Luftwaffe built a • The only nation that Germa- • Although many people refer happening during the six year Germans. The Germans fell This ended when a fake airfield near ny declared war on was the to the Allied D-Day landings war. The battle took place at for the deception hook, line USA. in Normandy as “Operation Castle Itter in Austria, where and sinker. The person that • Nuclear physicist Niels Overlord”, the operation several high profile prison- dreamt up the plan was a Brit- Bohr was rescued in the was actually called “Opera- ers were being detained, such ish Naval Intelligence officer nick of time from German tion Neptune”. The landings as former French presidents, by the name of Ian Fleming. occupied Denmark. While were originally known as prime ministers and even Yes, the same man that would Danish resistance fighters Overlord, but in Septem- sports celebrities. 14 Ameri- later bring us James Bond. provided covering fire he ber 1943 the codename was can soldiers teamed up with • In 1935, British engineer ran out the back door of his changed to Neptune, and around 20 German Weh- Robert Watson-Watt was home stopping momentarily Overlord from then on was rmacht troops to defend the working on a “death ray” that to grab a beer bottle full of used to refer to the general castle from an onslaught by would destroy enemy aircraft precious “heavy water”. He Allied strategy in northwest- an SS squadron. They held using radio waves. His “death finally reached England still ern Europe. out until help arrived in the ray” instead evolved into ra- clutching the bottle, which • Despite what you might see form of the American 103rd dar—or “radio detection and contained beer. Perhaps in the movies, the regular Infantry Division. ranging. some German drank the German Army (Wehrmacht) • The youngest person to serve • During World War II a Dutch heavy water. did not usually use the Nazi in the US Military during minesweeper evaded the Jap- • One of the American light salute. Only after the July World War II was Calvin Gra- anese for eight days disguised cruisers anchored at Pearl 1944 attempt on Hitler’s life ham. He was only 12 years as an island. The crew cov- Harbour during the Japanese were they forced to use the old. He lied about his age and ered the decks in cut trees and attack of December 1941 Nazi salute as standard. was later wounded in action painted exposed surfaces to was the Phoenix. The Phoe- • German sailors brought a and awarded the Purple Heart look like rocks. They moved nix survived the attack vir- black and white patched cat medal (age 14) before they only at night and anchored Commander Ian Fleming tually unscathed, however, on board the battleship Bis- 8 9 one of their heavily cam- Hiroshima that killed 78,000 1941 Von Werra took off in Stanisława Leszczyńska de- ouflaged airfields. This was people instantly but by the Bf 109F-4 on a practice flight. livered 3,000 babies at the so that the Royal Air Force end of 1945 the death total He suffered engine failure Auschwitz concentration would be tricked into bomb- had reached 140,000. and crashed into the sea north camp during the Holocaust in ing it. The buildings, vehicles • While on the subject of Hiro- of Vlissingen and was killed. occupied Poland. and aircraft at the airfield were shima you have to take pity His body was never found. • In World War II, British sol- all made of wood. Shortly af- on the elderly Japanese man • Japanese military leader Tojo diers got a ration of three ter it was completed the RAF that managed to survive the Hideki was put on trial as a sheets of toilet paper a day. attacked the airfield, dropping bombing of Hiroshima. He war criminal at the end of Americans troops got 22. wooden bombs on it. About decided that it was pointless World War II. While in prison • Four of every five German half an hour later the real air- to stay on in the ruined city he attempted suicide. It took soldiers killed in the war died field was attacked. This time and that he would go and stay the Americans a great deal on the Eastern Front. with real bombs. with a relative in another city. of time, effort and money to • Only one out of every four • The idea that eating carrots He took a train and arrived resuscitate him and get him men serving on U-boats sur- helps you see in the dark was in Nagasaki shortly before back to health. After which vived. a lie invented by the British it was struck by the second they hanged him. • The Siege of Stalingrad re- Royal Air Force in WWII, in atomic bomb. Remarkably • The last prisoner of war from sulted in more Russian deaths PACKING A PUNCH: The most powerful artillery gun created order to explain how British he survived the second explo- (military and civilian) than by any nation and used in WWII was named Karl by its designer the US and Britain sustained General Karl Becker. Used mostly against the Russians, the (combined) in all of World huge gun could shoot a 2.5 ton shell over three miles. The shells War II. were almost 61 cm wide and could go through three metres of • Adolf Hitler’s nephew, Wil- concrete. liam Hitler, served in the US Navy during World War II. was the Battle of the Atlantic, picnic in Oregon. • To avoid using the German which lasted from 1939-1945. • The Japanese Kamikaze (“di- sounding name ‘hamburger’ • Approximately 600,000 Jews vine wind”) tactic was sug- during World War II, Ameri- served in the United States gested on October 19, 1944, cans used the name ‘Liberty armed forces during WWII. by Vice-Admiral Onishi in an Steak.’ More than 35,000 were killed, attempt to balance the techno- • Most kamikaze died in vain. wounded, captured, or miss- logical advantage of invading Only one in nine kamikaze ing. Approximately 8,000 American forces. Though the HIGH ATTRITION RATE: Only one out of every four men serving on U-boats survived the war. pilots hit their targets during died in combat. However, numbers are disputed, ap- WWII. air raids were so successful in sion as well. World War II to be repatriated only two Jewish soldiers were proximately 2,800 kamikaze • Queen Elizabeth II served as awarded the Medal of Honor pilots died. They sunk 34 U.S. the dark without tipping the • Joan Pujul Garcia was a Span- was a Hungarian soldier who a mechanic and driver during Germans off on the existence iard that worked for German was taken prisoner by the Red in WWII. ships, damaged 368, killed WWII. • The Battle of the Bulge is the 4,900 sailors, and wounded of radar. intelligence as an agent. He Army in 1944, then discov- • During World War II, Ger- • 25 Russian soldiers under the was, however, a double agent ered living in a Russian psy- largest and deadliest battle for 4,800. man prisoners of war in Can- U.S. troops to date, with more • Many historians believe that command of Yakov Pavlov and was actually working for chiatric hospital in 2000. ada were treated so nicely defended a building during the British. Ironically he was • In WWII a woman-only So- than 80,000 American casual- the Battle at Stalingrad (1942- that they didn’t want to leave ties. 1943) is not only arguably the Battle of Stalingrad so the only person to be awarded viet bomber regiment were Canada when released after well that it never fell. Vas- both the Iron Cross from the nicknamed the “Night Witch- • During WWII, the Japa- the bloodiest battle in his- the war ended. nese launched 9,000 “wind tory (800,000-1,600,000 ca- ily Chuikov, general of the Germans and an MBE from es” by German soldiers. For a • The first bomb dropped on Soviet forces in Stalingrad, the British. successful bombing run, the ship weapons” of paper and sualties), but also the turning Berlin by the Allies killed the rubberized-silk balloons that point of WWII in Europe. later joked that the Germans • Franz Von Werra, a German Witches would cut the engine only elephant in the Berlin lost more men trying to take POW who was transferred of their archaic and noisy air- carried incendiary and anti- • From 1940-1945, the U.S. de- Zoo. personnel bombs to the U.S. fense budget increased from “Pavlov’s house” than they to Canada to deter his mul- craft. Gliding in, they would • Max Heiliger was the ficti- did taking Paris. tiple escapes and recaptures, release their bombs before the More than 1,000 balloons hit $1.9 billion to $59.8 billion. tious name the SS used to their targets and they reached • The Air Force was part of the • The American pilot who escaped again in less than a enemy even knew they were establish a bank account in dropped the first atomic bomb month, traveling through the there. as far east as Michigan. The Army in WWII and didn’t be- which they deposited money, only deaths resulting from a come a separate branch of the died aged 92 – with no re- US, Mexico, Brazil, Spain • Over 100,000 Allied bomber gold, and jewels taken from grets. He said he never lost a and Italy to become the only crewmen were killed over balloon bomb were six Amer- military until after the war. European Jews. icans (including five children • German U-boats sunk 2,000 single nights sleep. Pilot Paul Western held POW to return Europe. • The longest battle of WWII Tibbets dropped the bomb on to combat. On 25 October • Polish Catholic midwife and a pregnant woman) on a Allied ships at a cost of 781 10 11 U-boats destroyed. WWII movies; however, due ouflage print for U.S. service • The Germans used the first to a football injury, he never uniforms in WWII. jet fighters in World War II, actually served in the war. • The greatest tank battle in among them the Messer- • On January 31, 1945, Private history occurred between the schmitt ME-262. However, Eddie Slovik was shot for de- Germans and Russians at the they were developed too late sertion, the first American ex- Kursk salient in Russia from to change the course of the ecuted for the crime since the July 4-22, 1943. More than war. Civil War and the only one to 3,600 tanks were involved. • At the time of the Pearl Har- suffer this punishment during • The largest Japanese spy ring bor attack, there were 96 WWII. during WWII was not in the ships anchored. During the • Although Japan fought on U.S. but in Mexico, where attack, 18 were sunk or seri- the side of Britain, France, it spied on the U.S. Atlantic ously damaged, including and the U.S. during WWI, it Fleet. eight battleships. There were felt cheated by its failure to • Prisoners of war in Russian gain much territory when the camps experienced an 85% peace treaty was composed. mortality rate. Additionally, in the 1920s, • Germany had a total of 3,363 its government came under STALIN ORGAN: On July 14, 1941, the Soviets introduced a new weapon, the Katyusha, which could control of fanatical national- fire 320 rockets in 25 seconds. More than 50 years later, the Katyusha remains an effective weapon. ists and allied with the army, which eventually prompted • Because the Norway leader wartime activities in his novel II. 85 of them were award- Vidkun Quisling (1887-1945) Spy, Counterspy (1974). ed posthumously. Captain actively collaborated with • From 1942, U.S. Marines in Charles Upham, a New Zea- Germany after its occupation, the Pacific used the Navajo lander, was the only person his name has entered the Nor- language as their secret code. during World War II to be wegian language as a word The language didn’t have the awarded the VC twice. Five for “traitor.” vocabulary for existing WWII South Africans were awarded • Japan and Russia never for- technology, so existing words the VC during World War II. BOCK’S CAR: The Enola Gay became well known for dropping the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, mally ended hostilities af- had to be given new mean- George Gristock was a com- but few people know the name of the B-29 that bombed Nagasaki. It was Bock’s Car, named after the ter WWII. Plans for them to ings. For example, the word pany sergeant major with the plane’s usual commander, Frederick Bock. sign an official peace treaty for “hummingbird” (da-he- Royal Norfolk Regiment. in 2000 failed because Japan ti-hi) became code for fighter John Nettleton was a squad- 2,402 American men killed Japan to side with Germany. generals during the war while wanted Russia to return four plane. Around 400 Navajo ron leader with the Royal Air and 1,280 injured. Three hun- • The most decorated unit ever the U.S. had just over 1,500. offshore islands it had taken Indians (Code Talkers) were Force (RAF). Gerhard Nor- dred and fifty aircraft were in U.S. history is the 442nd • If it became necessary to drop after the war. trained to use the code, and ton served with the Hamp- destroyed or damaged. regimental Combat Team, a third atom bomb on Japan, • Author Ian Fleming based the Japanese never cracked it. shire Regiment. Quentin • The Nazis pirated the Harvard whose motto was “Go for the city that would have been his character “007” on the • During an attack on an Ital- Smythe was a sergeant with “fight song” to compose their Broke.” It consisted of Jap- the target was Tokyo. Yugoslavian-born spy Dusko ian position in North Africa the Royal Natal Carabineers. Sieg Heil march. anese-American volunteers. • In the 1928 elections, less Popov (1912-1980). Popov the South African Infantry And Edwin Swales was a • Several famous actors were Together they won 4,667 ma- than 3% of Germans voted spoke at least five languages launched a bayonet charge. member of the South African decorated during WWII. For jor medals, awards, and cita- for the Nazi party. In 1938, and came up with his own One of the attacking South Air Force and later of the elite example, Henry Fonda won tions, including 560 Silver Hitler was Time magazine’s formula for invisible ink. He Africans fell into a shell hole, RAF Pathfinder Force. Both a Bronze Star in the Pacific, Stars (28 of which had oak- man of the year. was the first spy to use mi- hitting his head and rendering Gristock and Swales won the Walter Matthau was awarded leaf clusters), 4,000 Bronze • Large, inflatable barrage bal- crodots, or photos shrunk him unconscious. When he re- award posthumously. six battle stars while serving Stars, 52 Distinguished Ser- loons were used to protect ma- down to the size of dots. He gained consciousness a min- • The most important medical on a B-17, and David Niven vice Crosses, and one Med- jor towns and cities in Britain obtained information that the ute or two later he found six advance that saved soldiers’ was awarded the U.S. Legion al of Honor, plus 54 other from air raids. The balloons Japanese were planning an air Italians sitting in the hole with lives during WWII was the of Merit. Christopher Lee decorations. It also held the were launched before a raid strike on Pearl Harbor, but the him. They had their hands in blood transfusion. was a pilot in the Royal Air distinction of never having a and trailed a network of steel FBI did not act on his warn- the air and were waiting to Force and also won a number case of desertion. cables beneath them. Bomb- ing. Popov later lived in the surrender to him. I trust you found this interest- of awards. • Norvell Gillespie, the garden ers had to fly high to avoid be- U.S. in a penthouse and cre- • The Victoria Cross was ing. • John Wayne (Marion Rob- editor of Better Homes and coming tangled in the cables, ated a reputation as a playboy. awarded 182 times to 181 ert Morrison) starred in 14 Gardens, designed the cam- thus reducing their accuracy. He wrote an account of his recipients during World War 12 13 Intelligence is the world’s Cluster bombing from second-oldest profession. It dif- B-52s is very, very accurate. fers from the oldest profession The bombs always hit the in that it is more immoral and ground. They said it more commonly practiced by Anon amateurs. eople say some weird and “The political object is the call 2nd Lieutenants “sir” on Anon “People sometimes ask me, wonderful things about goal, war is the means of reach- occasion.” how I can bring myself to jump war and during wars. ing it, and the means can never Douglas E. Berry Faith and purity are inade- from a perfectly good airplane? P quate substitutes for Kevlar and I tell them every airplane I’ve Here is but a small collection be considered in isolation from of some of the best and worst their purposes.” “Victory in war does not de- good cover. ever jumped from belonged to quotes made by or about the Karl von Clausewitz, pend entirely on numbers or Anon the United Air Force, so that’s military. 19th Century courage; only skill and disci- not a consideration.” Prussian General pline will ensure it.” “What are officer good for? Christopher Thrash “In the long run luck is given Flavius Vegetius, AD 378 Locating machine gun posts only to the efficient.” “...an imperfect plan imple- by leaping up and shouting “One of the serious problems General George S. Patton mented immediately and vio- “The quality of the kite (air- “Charge!” of course. They’re in planning against American Helmuth von Moltke, “In war there is no second lently will always succeed bet- craft) matters little. Success de- also useful as diversions for doctrine is that the Americans founder, German Imperial prize for the runner-up.” ter than a perfect plan.” pends upon the man who sits in snipers, and as cheap entertain- do not read their manuals nor Army General Omar Bradley 1950 Gen. George S. Patton it.” ment for sergeants. The odd do they feel any obligations to Baron Manfred rare and exceptional specimen follow their doctrine.” “The concentration of troops “May God have mercy on my When in doubt, empty your Von Richthofen, is sometimes even useful for From a Russian can be done fast and easy, on enemies, because I won’t.” magazine. the famed Red Baron leading troops and formulating military document paper.” General George S. Patton Field Marshal Radomir Murphy’s Rules of battle plans.” Combat Operations “Most armies are in fact run Rupert Boleyn “To lead uninstructed people Putnik “We’re paratroopers. We’re by their sergeants - the officers to war is to throw them away.” supposed to be surrounded.” All warfare is based on de- are there just to give things a The pen is mightier then the Confucius 480 B.C. “On the Tobruk front a large Lt. Richard “Dick” Winters, ception. bit of tone and prevent warfare sword but the bayonet gets the force of Italians attacked one Easy Company, Battle Sun Tzu becoming a mere lower-class point across. “The reason that the America enemy cyclist, causing him to of the Bulge dismount. After heavy and pro- brawl.” Anon army does so well in wartime is “Nothing concentrates the Terry Pratchett that war is chaos and the Amer- longed fighting they were able “The essence of war is vio- military mind so much as the “Asking fighter pilots any- ican army practices chaos on a to puncture his tires. The front lence. Moderation in war is im- discovery that you have walked “SNAFU, SOMFU & FU- thing is pretty useless... it’s ei- daily basis.” wheel was destroyed, while becility.” into an ambush.” BAR...The three sons of Mur- ther classified, or they lie like German General Officer destruction of the rear wheel Admiral Sir John A. Fisher must also be considered prob- Thomas Packenham phy...” thieves.” Anon Doug Berry “The Marines I have seen able. The handle bars are in our “Killing the enemy’s courage “Humanize war? You might around the world have the hands, but possession of the is as vital as killing his troops.” as talk about humanizing hell!” “I’m not worried about the “We figured out that getting cleanest bodies, the filthi- frame is still contested.” Carl von Clausewitz German satire of an British Admiral Jacky Fisher bullet with my name on it. I’m shot at really wasn’t that bad. est minds, the highest morale, worried about the million that It was the getting shot part that and the lowest morals of any Italian war communiqué, “I fear all I have done is awak- “In my experience, the most say “to whom it may concern.” sucked.” group of animals I have ever reportedly captured by ened a sleeping giant and filled useful command that can ever Anon US Army Staff Sgt. seen. Thank God for the United British troops in Libya him with a terrible resolve.” be given by a junior officer is Jamie Viiafane States Marine Corps.” Admiral Yamamoto after the “Carry on Sergeant” His troops would follow him on being wounded Eleanor Roosevelt, 1945 The best tank terrain is that bombing of Pearl Harbour without anti-tank weapons. Andrew Moffatt-Vallance, anywhere, but only out of curi- 2nd Lieutenant. osity. What part of “This side to- “For those who have fought Russian Military Doctrine “The difference between a re- Anon wards enemy” did you not un- for it, freedom has a flavour the public and an empire is the loy- “Sergeant Majors are ter- derstand? protected will never know.” “Superior firepower is an in- alty of one’s army” rifying forces of nature. They “I would rather have a Ger- Anon Unknown valuable tool when entering ne- Julius Caesar gotiations.” really run the Army, although man division in front of me General George S. Patton they let the officers pretend that than a French one behind me.” “A bad peace is even worse “We make war that we may they have something to do with General George S. Patton than war.” live in peace.” it. Very tolerant ones will even Tacitus Aristotle 325 B.C. 14 15 “The art of war teaches us to there, eighty are just targets, do not pack the gear to serve rely not on the likelihood of the nine are the real fighters, and in my beloved Corps! Do you enemy’s not coming, but on our we are lucky to have them, for maggots understand that?” own readiness to receive him; they make the battle. Ah, but Gunnery Sergeant Harman not on the chance of his not at- the one, one is a warrior, and he Full Metal Jacket tacking, but rather on the fact will bring the others back.” that we have made our position Heraclitus “It doesn’t take a hero to or- unassailable.” der men into battle. It takes Sun Tzu, “Theirs not to reason why, a hero to be one of those men The Art of War Theirs but to do and die” who goes into battle.” Alfred Tennyson General H. Norman A veteran is someone, who Schwarzkopf at one point in their life, wrote “Lead me, follow me, or get a blank check payable to the the hell out of my way.” “In a man-to-man fight, the United States of America for General George S. Patton winner is he who has one more an amount up to, and including, round in his magazine.” Admiral Yamamoto their life. That is beyond hon- “The day the soldiers stop Erwin Rommel our, and there are way too many bringing you their problems Field Marshall Erwin Rommel “Never interrupt your enemy people in this country who no is the day you stopped lead- “Aim towards enemy.” when he is making a mistake.” longer remember that fact. ing them. They have either lost Instructions on man’s character, give him pow- nothing which is more im- Napoleon Bonaparte Anon confidence that you can help U.S. rocket launcher er.” portant than his own personal them or concluded that you do Abraham Lincoln safety, is a miserable creature “Do you know what a soldier “In times of peace, prepare not care. Either case is a failure “War is too important to be and has no chance of being free is...? He’s the chap who makes for war. In times of war, prepare of leadership.” left to the generals” “I must study politics and unless made and kept so by the it possible for civilized folk to for peace.” Colin Powell Georges Clémenceau war, that my sons may have exertions of better men than despise war.” Sun Tzu, the liberty to study mathemat- himself.” Allan Massie, The Art of War “The military don’t start wars. “War makes extremely heavy ics and philosophy…in order to John Stuart Mills Scottish journalist/novelist Politicians start wars.” demands on the soldier’s give their children the right to “I don’t know what effect William C. Westmoreland strength and nerves. For this study painting, poetry, and mu- “It is easier to find men who “The worst enemy of the Brit- these men will have upon the reason, make heavy demands sic.” will volunteer to die, than to ish Armed Forces is the British enemy, but, by God, they ter- “Don’t fire until you see the on your men in peacetime ex- John Adams find those who are willing to politician.” rify me.” whites of their eyes.” ercises.” endure pain with patience.” Leslie Bates The Duke of Wellington William Prescott Field Marshall “The Nation that makes a Julius Caesar Battle of Bunker Hill Erwin Rommel great distinction between its “You win battles by knowing “We sleep safely at night be- scholars and its warriors will “The most important thing I the enemy’s timing, and using cause rough men stand ready “I hear a lot of crap about “It is well that war is so ter- have its thinking done by cow- learned is that soldiers watch a timing which the enemy does to visit violence on those who what a glorious thing it is to die rible, else we should grow too ards and its fighting done by what their leaders do. You can not expect.” would harm us.” for your country. It isn’t glori- fond of it.” fools.” give them classes and lecture Miyamoto Musashi Winston Churchill ous - it’s stupid! You don’t go General Robert E. Lee Thucydides them forever, but it is your per- into battle to die for your coun- sonal example they will fol- “The gates of Auschwitz were “Whoever said the pen is try. You go into battle to make “In every battle there comes a “Tell them of us and say, For low.” not opened with peace talks. mightier than the sword obvi- the other bastard die for his time when both sides consider their tomorrow, We gave our to- General Colin Powell Holland was not liberated by ously never encountered auto- country.” themselves beaten; then he who day.” peacekeepers and fascism was matic weapons.” General George S. Patton continues the attack wins.” The Kohima Epitaph “When you become a leader not defeated with a deft pen.” Douglas MacArthur General Ulysses S. Grant you give up the right to think Rick Mercer “Because I am hard, you will “War is an ugly thing, but about yourself.” “My centre is giving way, my not like me. But the more you “In the absence of orders, go not the ugliest of things. The Gerald Brooks “The patriot volunteer, fight- right is in retreat, situation ex- hate me, the more you will find something and kill it.” decayed and degraded state ing for country and his rights, cellent. I attack.” learn. I am hard, but I am fair! Field Marshall of moral and patriotic feel- “If your actions inspire oth- makes the most reliable soldier Ferdinand Foch There is no racial bigotry here! Erwin Rommel ing which thinks that nothing ers to dream more, learn more, on earth.” … Here you are all equally is worth war is much worse. do more and become more, you Stonewall Jackson “Out of every one hundred worthless! And my orders are to “Nearly all men can stand ad- The person who has nothing are a leader.” men, ten shouldn’t even be weed out all non-hackers who versity, but if you want to test a for which he is willing to fight, John Quincy Adams 16 17 Dad’s Army Would you have qualified to become a member of Dad’s Army?

ne of my favourite tele- itary will find the series funny, about their age and they were vision series is Dad’s mainly because you will recog- eighty years old. No wonder OArmy. It’s a sitcom that nise characters that you came they were given the nickname ran for nine seasons and re- across. ‘Dad’s Army’. volves around the men of the While the series is a scream, The men in Dad’s Army were fictitious Walmington-on-Sea the real Dad’s Army was not keen. It was great that they were Home Guard Unit. that funny. In Britain in 1940 doing something to help, but The Home Guard consisted of the people were worried about sometimes they were a little too local volunteers otherwise ineli- a German invasion from the sea keen - and clumsy. Then they be- gible for military service, either and from the air. They started to came Dad’s Disasters. because of age (hence the nick- arm themselves with shotguns name “Dad’s Army”) or by be- and any weapons they could lay Horrible Home Guard Facts ing in professions exempt from their hands on. 1. Home Guard soldiers were conscription. The government decided it worried about how to spot a The unit is led by Captain would be better to organise them German. They were warned DAD’S ARMY: From left to right - Sergeant Wilson, Private Pike, Private Fraser, Lance Corporal Mainwaring, the pompous, if es- into a proper army. In 1939 that enemy paratroopers Jones, Chief Air Raid Warden Hodges, Captain Mainwaring, Private Godfrey and Private sentially brave and unerringly Winston Churchill had wanted might be disguised as a nun, a Walker. patriotic local bank manager, a Home Guard formed - when vicar or even a woman carry- Mainwaring appointed himself he became Prime Minister in ing a baby. The dumbest idea children while cleaning their German spy. ing Home Guard members. leader of his town’s contingent May 1940 he got it. Churchill for uncovering a spy was to rifles at home. 6. School children weren’t safe. The inspector tried to show of Local Defence Volunteers. had hoped for 500,000. He got shout “Heil Hitler!” and no 4. Early in the war Home Guard Alan Chadwick enjoyed go- his identity papers but he was His second-in-command is 250,000 on the first day and German would be able to soldiers seemed to believe ing down to the local aircraft also shot. During the Second Sergeant Arthur Wilson, a diffi- 1,500,000 by June. They were stop himself from raising his that anyone landing by para- factory to watch new planes World War 50 innocent Brits dent, upper-class bank employee first known as the Local Defence arm, clicking his heels and chute must be a German. An being tested. As Alan cycled died at the hands of the Home who is very laid back. Volunteers - the LDV. replying, “Heil Hitler.” RAF pilot, James Nicolson, near the fence a Home Guard Guard. Lance Corporal Jack Jones, At first these untrained men 2. Home Guards were in more was hit by cannon fire from a ordered him to stop. When 9. It was probably even worse the local butcher, is the oldest were a bit of a joke. They weren’t danger from their own weap- German fighter. His foot was he didn’t the Home Guard being a member of the Ger- member of the platoon and saw given proper weapons, they just ons than from the enemy who smashed and he was on fire. fired a shot into the road. It man Home Guard, the action in the Boer War. One of armed themselves with anything never arrived. They were giv- Yet he still managed to shoot bounced up and hit Alan in Volkssturm. Karl Weiglein, a his most heard expressions is that could kill. One boy said: en sticky bombs - a bit like down the enemy plane be- the back and killed him. Why 59 year old farmer called up “Don’t panic”, normally said “We were set to defend a factory explosive toffee apples on a fore bailing out. As he drift- hadn’t Alan stopped? Be- to serve, complained when while he is panicking. with broom handles. I pinched stick. The idea was that they ed down, wounded and still cause he was deaf. the local bridge was blown Other members of the platoon a knife from my mum’s kitchen would run up to an enemy on fire, some Home Guard 7. Some Home Guard soldiers up. “The people who did include Private Fraser (a dour and tied it to the top.” tank and slap the bomb onto began blasting away at him saw themselves as a wartime this are idiots and ought to Scotsman who is the local un- One 14 year old boy took along the side. But many tried to with shotguns. Somehow he police force. They set up road be hanged.” But it was Karl dertaker), Private Walker (who a boy and arrow. That would throw the bombs, the sticks survived but was more in- blocks to stop and question that was hanged. His com- runs the local black market), have worried some German tank came loose and the bombs jured by his Home Guard everyone who came that way. mander, the local school Private Godfrey (the platoon’s commander if the Germans re- fell at their feet. 768 Home colleagues than by the enemy One man complained that he teacher, heard what he had medic. Although a conscientious ally had invaded. Others took Guard members managed to attack. Nicholson would go was stopped twenty times on said. Karl was hanged from objector during World War I he along a nice heavy golf club. kill themselves in this man- on to become the only Sec- an eight mile journey. his own pear tree outside his served as a medic and won the The government said Home ner and nearly 6,000 were ond World War fighter pilot 8. A government inspector was own front door while his wife Military Medal for bravery), and Guard soldiers had to be aged injured. to be awarded the Victoria measuring a field one day watched from the window. Private Pike (the youngest of the between 17 and 65. But boys as 3. And their families were not Cross. when local villagers accused The body was left hanging platoon, who Mainwaring refers young as 14 joined. safe either. More than one of 5. Home Guards saw spies ev- him of being a German spy. for three days as an example to as “You stupid boy.”). Some old soldiers from the them managed to shoot ei- erywhere. If you had a Hitler An old farm worker tried to to anyone else who wanted to Anyone that served in the mil- First World War and before lied ther their wife or one of their moustache you were imme- protect the inspector and was complain. diately suspected of being a shot and killed by a panick- 18 19 fibre and gunpowder from old anese soldier. Suzuki asked me 1. In accordance with the bullets. why I would not come out Imperial command, the Friends, relatives and old Onoda and Suzuki became Fourteenth Area Army has One Man’s War comrades visited the island friends, but Onoda still refused ceased all combat activity. to tell him that the war was to surrender, saying that he was 2. In accordance with mili- World War II ended on August 14, 1945. Yet not for Second Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda. He would over, and often he saw them waiting for orders from a supe- tary Headquarters Com- continue to fight the war for another 29 years. and heard them calling to him rior officer. Suzuki returned to mand No. A-2003, the through loudspeakers. Japan with photographs of him- Special Squadron of n August 14, 1945, Ja- once again grew prosperous, From his high ground he self and Onoda as proof of their Staff’s Headquarters is pan surrendered, bring- now a staunch ally of its former could see twinkling lights of encounter, and the Japanese relieved of all military du- ing World War II to enemy, the United States. the towns below. And he spot- government located Onoda’s ties. O ted luxury liners ablaze with commanding officer, Major Yo- 3. Units and individuals un- an end. Two weeks earlier an But Onoda continued with his atomic bomb had been explod- lonely war, carefully conserv- lights out to sea. But he never shimi Taniguchi, who had since der the command of Spe- ed over Hiroshima, destroying ing his dwindling ammunition. once doubted that the war was become a bookseller. cial Squadron are to cease three-quarters of the city and He lived on bananas and coco- still going on. He flew to Lubang where on military activities and op- killing nearly 80 000 people. nuts, with the occasional snared On February 20, 1974, Onoda March 9, 1974, he finally met erations immediately and Four days later, on August 10, jungle birds or stolen cow as a met a Japanese man, Norio Su- with Onoda. place themselves under a second atomic bomb was welcome luxury. zuki, who was traveling around As soon as the tattered fig- the command of the near- dropped on Nagasaki. During his first few years in the world, looking for “Lieu- ure recognised Taniguchi, he est superior officer. When The war had been long and the jungle, Onoda was in touch tenant Onoda, a panda, and the snapped to attention and shout- no officer can be found, costly and soldiers of all nations with other isolated Japanese Abominable Snowman, in that ed: “Lieutenant Onoda report- they are to communicate just wanted to return home and guerrillas. But, one by one, his order”. Suzuki found Onoda af- ing for duty, sir!” with the American or Phil- be with their families. comrades ‘surrendered’ or died, ter four days of searching. On- Taniguchi fulfilled the prom- ippine forces and follow Yet all over the Pacific, on some of them by committing oda described this moment in ise made in 1944, “Whatever their directives. tiny remote islands, pockets of suicide. Finally, he was alone - a 2010 interview: “This hippie happens, we’ll come back for So, at 15h00 on March 10, Japanese soldiers fought on, un- one man surrounded by illusory boy Suzuki came to the island you,” by issuing him the fol- 1974, Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda aware that the war had ended. enemies whom he attempted to to listen to the feelings of a Jap- lowing orders: at last stopped fighting World One of these soldiers was 23 shoot on sight. War II. It was his 52nd yea old second lieutenant Hiroo He kept switching hideouts to birthday. Onoda. In 1944 he had been avoid detection, sniping at is- Onoda was pardoned for sent to Lubang Island, about landers, stealing cattle, burning his misdeeds in the Philip- 130 km south of the Philippines crops. Police and search parties pines by President Marcos. capital of Manila. sent from Japan to try to make He went home and saw His orders were to carry out him surrender were met with again his aged parents, who guerrilla warfare and conduct bullets. showed him the tombstone intelligence duties. He was told Onoda made sandals from they had ordered for him at to carry on fighting even if his woven straw and bits of old a time when they believed unit was destroyed. And young tyres held together with string he had died in the jungle. Lt Onoda did just that. He car- and wooden pegs. When his Onoda was greeted as a ried on fighting World War II clothes rotted, he patched them hero, and became famous for the next 29 years. with tent canvas, using a piece around the world. But he After the war’s end, leaflets of wire as a needle and plant fi- could not stand the adu- were dropped by plane an- bre as thread. He built shelters lation. The man who had nouncing Japan’s surrender. of branches, bamboo, vines and fought on alone for Japan They were signed by Onoda’s leaves, but never dared stay for decided to emigrate to chief of staff. The lieutenant too long in one place. Brazil. picked up several of them, but Hunger was a permanent part After half a lifetime of dismissed them as American of his life, and he was plagued war, he just wanted to find propaganda. by giant tropical ants, bees, cen- some peace. Over the years the world tipedes, scorpions and snakes. Hiroo Onoda died of changed drastically. The Iron To make fire he rubbed together heart failure in Tokyo on Curtain split Europe in two. two pieces of split bamboo pre- 16 January, 2014. Man walked on the moon. Japan pared with a mixture of coconut 20 21 Head to Head Cruiser Mk V Crusader The Crusader was classified It carried a crew of five - V-12 petrol engine and had an as a cruiser or heavy tank and Commander, loader, gunner, operational range of 322 km on Tanks of World War II it saw service between 1941- driver and hull MG gunner. road and 235 km off road. 1945. It had a maximum of 51 mm It could reach a top speed of irst used during the Bat- vides protection for the crew, male or female. A male tank It made an important contri- of armour and was armed with 42 km/h on road and 24 km/h tle of the Somme in Sep- the vehicle’s weapons and its was armed with both cannon bution to the British victories in a OQF 2-pounder gun with 110 off road. Ftember 1916 the tank has propulsion system. Steel ar- and machine guns while a fe- North Africa. rounds of ammunition. This As a result of several factors become a mainstay of modern mour plate was the earliest type male tank carried only machine It weighed 20 tonnes, had was later upgraded to a OQF the Crusader suffered from se- ground forces and a key part of of armour but later develop- guns. a length of 5.97 m, a width of 6-pounder with 65 rounds. It rious reliability problems in the combined arms combat. ments would see Chobham ar- During World War II tanks 2.77m, and a height of 2.24 m. also had one or two BESA ma- desert. The tank has become a ver- mour and reactive armour be- were classified as light, -medi chine guns Tanks arriving in North Afri- satile and often deadly weapon ing used. um or heavy. This was based on with 4,950 ca were missing essential tools system platform. They usually The use of tracks rather than both their armour and weapon rounds. and service manuals needed to mount a large-calibre cannon in wheels allows the tank to move system. The Cru- maintain operation. A lack of a rotating gun turret and this is over rugged terrain. Tanks are In this article we will take a sader was spare parts meant that tanks re- supplemented by mounted ma- used in both the offensive and closer look at some of the tanks powered by a turning to base workshops were chine guns or other weapons. defensive roles. used by the British, German, Nuffield Lib- serviced with parts recovered All of this is combined with During World War I tanks Russian, Japanese and Ameri- erty 27-litre from other tanks. heavy vehicle armour that pro- were classified as being either cans during World War II. British Tanks While Britain relied on its navy to defend its interests, it also had Cruiser, Mk VIII, Cromwell (A27M) modern and effective aircraft and a small army. Its armored forces The Cromwell was a heavy The Cromwell had four ad- Division, 7th Armoured Divi- were not at all numerically equal to France or Nazi Germany. tank that first saw action in the vantages - its low profile, its sion, 11th Armoured Division, Early British tanks were armed with the Ordnance QF (Quick Battle of Normandy in 1944. It speed, its maneuverability, and Guards Armoured Division, Firing) 2-pounder (40 mm) gun. This was not very effective remained in service from 1944 its reliability. and 1st (Polish) Armoured Di- against Axis armour and the British later upgraded to a 6-pounder (57 mm) gun and the highly ef- until 1955. The 75 mm cannon had the vision. The tank was also used fective 17-pounder (76.2 mm) gun. It weighed 28 tonnes, had advantage of being able to fire by the 1st (Czechoslovakian) a length of 6.35 m, a width both AP (armour piercing) and Independent Armoured Brigade of 2.908 m, and a height of HE (high explosive) rounds. Group as part of the First Cana- Cruiser Mk II (A10) 2.49 m. One major disadvantage was dian Army in Dunkirk. The Cruiser was classified as a AEC Type A179 6-Cylinder was poor but they were used It carried a crew of five - that it was unable to knock out After the war, the Cromwell a heavy tank and saw service Petrol 150 hp engine and had with reasonable success in Commander, gunner, loader/ra- heavy German tanks, such as remained in British service, and from 1940-1941. an operational range of 160 km North Africa. dio operator, driver, front gun- the Tiger tank, from the front - saw service in the Korean War It weighed 14.3 tonnes, had when travelling via road. Over 90% of Mark IIs were ner. even at point blank range. with the 7th Royal Tank Regi- a length of 5.56 m, a width of It could reach a top speed lost due to mechanical failure It had a maximum armour of The Cromwell saw extensive ment and the 8th King’s Royal 2.54 m and a height of 2.64 m. of 26 km/h on the road and 13 as opposed to enemy actions. 100 mm and was armed with action with the British Army, Irish Hussars. It carried a crew of five - km/h off-road. Mainly because of their tenden- the QF 75 mm gun with 64 forming part of the 6th Airborne Commander, loader, gunner, A number of Mark IIs were cy to lose tracks. rounds. It also carried two 7.92 driver and hull MG gunner. sent to France as part of the Brit- mm BESA machine guns with Its armour ranged between 6 ish Expedi- 4,950 rounds. and 30 mm and it was armed tionary Force The Cromwell was powered with a OQF 2-pounder gun with (BEF) in the by a Rolls-Royce Meteor V12 100 rounds of ammunition. early stages petrol engine and had an opera- There were also two Vickers of World War tional range of 270 km on road machine guns which were later II. and 130 km off road. replaced by the BESA machine The cross It could reach a top speed of gun with 4,050 rounds. country per- 64 km/h on road and nearly 40 The Cruiser was powered by f o r m a n c e km/h off road. 22 23 Matilda II Tank, Infantry, Mk IV (A22) Churchill The Infantry Tank Mark II, With its heavy armour, the BEF evacuated France. The Churchill, named after 3.25 m and a height of 2.49 m. It was powered by a Bedford best known as the Matilda, was Matilda II was an excellent in- In the war in North Africa the British Prime Minister Win- It carried a crew of five - Com- 12-cylinder, 4 stroke, water- the only British tank to serve fantry support tank, but if suf- Matilda proved highly effec- ston Churchill, was one of the mander, gunner, loader/radio cooled, horizontally opposed, from the start of the war to its fered due to its limited speed tive against Italian and German heaviest Allied tanks of the war. operator, driver, co-driver/hull L-head petrol engine. It had an end, although it is particularly and poor armament. tanks, although it was vulner- It was best known for its heavy gunner. operational range of 90 km and associated with the North Afri- The Matilda was first used in able to the larger calibre and armour and ability to climb Armour ranged from 102 a top speed of 24 km/h. can Campaign. combat in France in 1940. Due medium calibre anti-tank guns. steep slopes. It was also used mm in front to 76 mm at the The Churchill first saw -ser It weighed 25 tonnes, had to the thickness of its armour it As the Germans received new ass the basis of many specialist rear. It was armed with the QF vice in 1941 and remained in a length of 4.9 m, a width of was largely immune to the guns tanks with more powerful guns, vehicles. 6-pounder (57 mm) gun and service until 1952. 2.6 m, and a height of 2.5 m. It of the German tanks and anti- as well as more powerful anti- It weighed 40.1 tonnes, had two 7.92 mm BESA machine The Churchill first saw com- carried a crew of 4 - Command- tank guns in France. tank guns and ammunition, the a length of 7.44 m, a width of guns. bat on 19 August 1942, in the er, gunner, loader and driver. The Germans found the 88 Matilda proved less and less ef- Dieppe Raid in France. It Its armour ranged from 20 to mm anit-aircraft guns were the fective. also saw limited action in the 78 mm and it was armed with only effective counter-measure North African Campaign. In a QF 2-pounder gun with 93 against the Matilda. one encounter on 21 April rounds. It also had a 7.92 mm All vehi- 1943, during the start of the BESA machine gun with 2,925 cles surviv- Battle of Longstop Hill a rounds. ing the bat- Churchill tank of the 48th It was powered by two 6-cyl- tles around Royal Tank Regiment got the inder diesel engines and had an D u n k i r k better of a German Tiger I operational range of 257 km. It were aban- heavy tank. had a top speed of 26 km/h on d o n e d road and 14 km/h off road. when the German Tanks The Germans were the first to appreciate and make full use of Tank, Infantry, Mk III, Valentine armoured warfare. By May 1945 the had built around 90,000 ar- The Valentine Mk III was a four - Commander, gunner, advantage was its low profile. moured vehicles. British infantry tank that saw driver and loader. Yet the common complaint was They were the first to use Blitzkrieg (Lighting War), the concept service from 1940 to 1960. It The armour on the Valentine the small interior of the turret of armoured formations supported by mechanized infantry and ar- was named the Valentine be- varied between 8-65 mm. It was and cramped interior. tillery to break through an enemy line. cause the design was presented armed with the QF 6-pounder The Valentine was extensive- to the War Office on St. Valen- (57 mm) gun and a 7.92 mm ly used in the North African Panzerkampfwagen IV (PzKpfw IV) tine’s Day, 14 February 1940, BESA machine gun. Campaign, earning a reputation Commonly known as the driver, radio operator/bow ma- an operational range of 200 km. It although some sources say It was powered by the AEC as a reliable and well-protect- Panzer IV, it was the most wide- chine-gunner. could reach a top speed of around that the design was submitted A190 diesel engine, had an ed vehicle, which replaced the ly manufactured German tank of Its armour ranged from 80 mm 38 km/h. on Valentine’s Day 1938 or 10 operational range of 140 km Matilda Tank. the Second World War, with some in front to 20 mm at the rear. It The Panzer IV was the work- February 1938. on roads and a top speed of 24 By 1944, the Valentine had 8,500 built. The Panzer IV saw was armed with a 75 mm KwK horse of the Panzer Korps and It weighed 17 tonnes, was km/h on road. been almost replaced in front- service in all combat theaters in- 40 L/48 main gun with 87 rounds. saw action on every front where 5.41 m in length, had a width While the Mk III had a four- line units of the European the- volving Germany and was the The side armament consisted of the Germans were involved. of 2.629 m and a height of man crew, earlier versions only atre by the A22, Infantry Tank only German tank to remain in two 7.92 mm MG 34 machine 2.273 m. It carried a crew of had a three-man crew - Com- Mark IV (Churchill tank) and continuous production through- guns with m a n d e r , the US-made Sherman tank. A out the war. Upgrades and design 3,150 rounds. gunner and few were used for special pur- modifications, intended to counter It was driver. The poses or as command vehicles new threats, extended its service powered by commander for units equipped with the Ar- life. a Maybach would also cher self-propelled gun. It weighed 24.6 tonnes, was HL 120 TRM have to act as 5.92 m in length, 2.88 m wide and 12-cylinder the loader. 2.68 m high. It carried a crew of gasoline en- It’s main five - Commander, gunner, loader, gine and had 24 25 Panzerkampfwagen V Panther Russian Tanks The Panther was a medium rounds and two 7.92 mm MG pump or carburettor, as well as In 1939, the USSR had the biggest armored force in the world, tank deployed on both the East- 34 machine guns with 5,100 motor oil leaks from gaskets, numerically superior to all western powers combined. Before ern and Western Fronts in Eu- rounds. produced fires in the engine 1936, the Red Army displayed brilliant and innovative armored rope from mid-1943 to its end It was powered by a V-12 pet- compartment. tactics, well trained crews and experienced officers. But, starting in 1945. rol Maybach HL230 P30 engine During the battle of the Bulge, in 1936, Stalin ordered a series of “great purges”, out of fear of a The Panther was intended to and had an operational range of around 400 Panthers were list- military coup. New officers were also always chosen on loyalty over skill. counter the Soviet T-34 and to 200 km. It was a fast tank with ed in the units participating in replace the Panzer III and Pan- a top speed of 55 km/h on road. the offensive, while 471 were zer IV. It is considered one of In open country and at long listed in all for all the Western Kliment Voroshilov (KV-1) the best tanks of World War II range the Panther was excel- front. They were not at their ad- for its excellent firepower and lent. vantage in the forest, but once The Kliment Voroshilov was howitzer-like, short barreled 75 KV-1 was invulnerable to al- protection; although its reliabil- The first production Panther again proved deadly on open a Soviet heavy tank that saw mm KwK 37 guns mounted, re- most any German weapon ex- ity was not as impressive. tanks were plagued with me- ground. service from 1939 to 1945. spectively, on the early Panzer cept the 88 mm Flak gun. It weighed 44.1 tonnes had a c h a n i c a l The KV series were known III and Panzer IV tanks fielded The KV-1 weighed 45 tonnes, length of 6.87 mm, a width of problems. for their heavy armour protec- by the invading German forces. was 6.75 m in length, 63.32 m 3.27 m and a height of 2.99 m. The engine tion and were practically im- Until more effective guns were wide and 2.71 m high. It carried It carried a crew of five - Com- was dan- mune to the 37 mm KwK 36 and developed by the Germans, the a crew of five. mander, driver, radio-operator/ g e r o u s l y Its armour was 90 mm in hull machine gunner, gunner, prone to front, 75 mm on the side andd loader. overheat- 70 mm in the rear. It was armed It had sloped armour of up ing. Petrol with a 76.2 mm L-11 gun and 2, to 80 mm. It was armed with a leaks from 3, or 4 DT machine guns. 75 mm KwK 42 L/70 with 79 the fuel It was powered by a Model V-2 V12 diesel engine and had an operational range of 335 km. Its top speed was 35 km/h. Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf. E The Panzerkampfwagen VI It carried a crew of five - Com- bach HL230 P45 V-12 and had Tiger Ausf. E, often shortened mander, gunner, loader, driver, an operational range of 195 km T-34 and T34-85 to Tiger, was a heavy German assistant driver. on road and a top road speed of The Soviet T-34 medium tank 7.62 mm DT machine guns. during the harsh Russian winter. tank. The Tiger I gave the Weh- The Tiger’s armour ranged 45.4 km/h. has often been credited as the Both were powered by the The combat statistics for 1941 rmacht its first armoured fight- from 25 to 120 mm. It was The Tiger was feared by Al- most effective, efficient and in- Model V-2-34 38.8 L V12 die- show that the Soviets lost an av- ing vehicle that mounted the armed with an 88 mm KwK lies on both the Eastern and fluential tank design of WW2. sel engine and both had a top erage of over seven tanks for ev- 88 mm KwK 36 gun (not to be 36 L/56 with 92 AP and HE Western Fronts. While only a It provided an unprecedented speed of 53 km/h. The T-34 had ery German tank lost. This was confused with the 88 mm Flak rounds. Its secondary armament small number of Tigers were combination of firepower, mo- an operational range of 400 km mainly due to poorly trained 36). consisted of two 7.92 mm MG produced (only 1,347) the psy- bility, protection and rugged- and the T-34-85 and operational crews and the fact that the Sovi- It weighed 57 tonnes, had a 34 machine guns with 4,800 chological impact they had was ness. It served from 1940 to the range of 240 km. ets at first used a four man crew length of 6.616 m, a width of rounds. impressive. late 1960s. The T-34’s wide tracks gave with the tank commander also 6.56 m, and a height of 3.0 m. It was powered by the May- he Tiger gave fame to a few It weighed 26.1 tonnes, had a it the ability to move over deep WWII tank aces, like acting as the loader. length of 6.68 m, a width of 3.0 mud or snow and this was vital Kurt Knispel, Mi- m and a height of 2.45 m. The chael Wittmann and T-34 carried a crew of four while Otto Carius, some- the later T-34-85 had a crew of thing rarely heard of five. before, since the life It’s frontal armour was 47 mm expectancy of a tank thick while the rear armour was crew was always 45 mm. The 7-34 had a 76.2 quite shorter than mm F-34 gun while the T-34- that of fighter pilots 85 had a 85 mm ZiS-S-53 gun. Both with also armed with two 26 27 32. Shock absorber 40. MG Ammo pouch PzKpfw VI Tiger (SdKfz 181) Ausf E 33. Torsion bar suspension 41. Zimmerit anti mine protection, 34. Overlapping bogie wheels 200 kg over whole tank 1. 88 mm L/56 gun 20. 88 mm bins 35. Commanders cupola 2. 7.92 mm MG34 21. Hydraulic traverse foot pedal 36. Fan drive clutch lever 3. 7.92 mm MG34 22. Hydraulic traverse control 37. Air intake valve control 4. MG34 Ammo pouch 23. Disc brake drum 38. Petrol primer 5. Smoke dischargers 24. Steering unit 39. Petrol tap 6. Escape hatch 25. Steering wheel 7. Commanders seat 26. Gearbox 8. Traverse handwheel 27. Drivers seat 9. Pistol port 28. Handbrake 10. Traverse gearbox 29. Accelerator 11. Commanders shield 30. Foot brake 12. Gunners traverse handwheel 31. Clutch 35 13. Gunners elevating handwheel 14. Gunners seat 15. MG Firing pedal 16. Binocular telescope 17. Air cleaning system 5 6 18. Maybach engine 4 19. Fug 5 radio 2 7 17 9 16 11 8 10 12 1 41 18 38 4 14 36 40 13 37 19 20 39 3 20 4 22 15 21 23 24 25 27 26 32 28 33

30 31 29 34

28 29 American Tanks Japanese Tanks US tank doctrine in WWII emphasized that American tanks Due to the war with China, Japan produced a large number of should avoid fighting enemy tanks. Killing enemy tanks would be tanks. Although initially the Japanese used tanks to good effect in left to anti-tank units, equipped with AT guns and purpose-built their campaigns, full-scale armored warfare did not occur in the tank destroyers. Pacific and Southeast Asian theaters as it did in Europe, and tank The M4 Sherman was to be used to support the infantry and to development was neglected in favor of naval activities. break holes in the enemy line and use their superior speed and maneuverability to outflank the en- The best Japanese designs were never used in combat as they were kept back in expectation of emy, cut off his supply lines, and hit vulnerable targets like artillery and supply dumps. defending the Japanese Home Islands. Type 89 medium tank I-Go (Chi-Ro) M3 Stuart The M3 Stuart, officially lend-lease prior to the entry a crew of four - Commander, The Type 89 medium tank 17 mm and it was armed with had an operational range of 170 Light Tank, M3, was an Ameri- of the U.S. into the war. The gunner, driver, assistant driver. I-Go was a medium tank used a 57 mm Type 90 gun with 100 km. It had a top speed of 26 can light tank of World War II. British nicknamed the tank the Its armour ranged from 9.5 by the Imperial Japanese Army rounds. Its secondary arma- km/h. It was supplied to British and “Honey Tank”. to 63.5 mm and it was armed from 1932 to 1942 in combat ment consisted of two 6.5 mm Commonwealth forces under Thereafter, it was used by with a 37 mm M6 gun with 147 operations of the Second Sino- Type 91 machine gun (hull, tur- U.S. and Al- rounds. It had three 7.62 mm Japanese War, at Khalkhin Gol ret rear). lied forces Browning M1919A4 machine against the Soviet Union, and in The Chi- until the end guns with 6,750 rounds. WWII. Ro was of the war. The Stuart was powered by It weighed 14.10 tonnes, had powered by It weighed twin Cadillac Series 42 220 hp. a length of 5.73 m, a width of a Mitsubishi 15.19 tonnes It had an operational range of 2.15 m and a height of 2.56 m. A 6 1 2 0 V D had a length 160 km and a top speed of 58 It carried a crew of four - Com- air-cooled of 4.84 m, km/h on road. mander/gunner, loader, driver inline 6-cyl- a width of and hull gunner. inder diesel 2.23 m and a Its armour ranged from 6 to engine and height of 2.26 m. It carried The Battle of Kursk was a Second World War engagement between German and Soviet forces on the Eastern Front near Kursk (450 kilometres or 280 miles south-west of Moscow) in the Sovi- M4 Sherman et Union during July and August 1943. The German offensive was code-named Operation Citadel (German: Unternehmen Zitadelle) and led to one of the largest armoured clashes in history, the The M4 Sherman was the assistant driver/bow gunner. had an operational range of 241 Battle of Prokhorovka. The German offensive was countered by two Soviet counter-offensives, most numerous battle medium The Sherman’s armour ranged km on road and a top speed of Operation Polkovodets Rumyantsev and Operation Kutuzov. For the Germans, the battle was the tank used by the United States from a minimum of 12.7 mm to 48 km/h. final strategic offensive that they were able to launch on the Eastern Front. Their extensive loss and some of the other Western 177.8 mm. It was armed with a After World War II, Sher- of men and tanks ensured that the victorious Soviet Red Army enjoyed the strategic initiative for Allies in WWII. 76 mm gun with 71 rounds. Its mans were supplied to some the remainder of the war. The M4 Sherman proved to secondary armament consist- NATO armies; Shermans were During the Battle of Kursk the Germans lost an estimated 760 be reliable, relatively cheap to ed of a .50 caliber Browning used by U.S. and allied forces tanks. The Russians lost 6,064 tanks and assault guns. produce and available in great M2HB machine gun (300–600 in the Korean War. numbers. Thousands were rounds) and two .30 caliber distributed through the Lend- Browning M1919A4 machine Lease program to the British guns (6,000– Commonwealth and Soviet 6 , 7 5 0 Union. It served in the US Mili- rounds). tary from 1942 to 1957 and was It was produced in numerous variants. powered by It weighed 33.4 tonnes, had a Chrysler a length of 5.84 m, a width of A57 30 cyl- 2.62 m and a height of 2.74 m. inder gaso- It carried a crew of five - Com- line engine; mander, gunner, loader, driver, 370 hp. It 30 31 ing Britain’s fleet of oil tankers tions to attack a target from would often send messages to Famous Figures in Military History would starve the Royal Navy over 3,000 metres away. Dönitz U-boats at sea with news from of supplies needed to run its had them fire at 300 metres. home. One man was informed ships, which would be just as The marked inferiority of the of the birth of a son with the Karl Dönitz effective as sinking them. He German surface fleet left sub- message “Arrived, one sailor. Senior submarine officer in the Kriegsmarine, Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, the man thought a German fleet of 300 marine warfare as Germany’s With periscope.” Radio wed- that replaced Adolf Hitler as fuhrer of Germany - Karl Dönitz was all this and more. of the newer Type VII U-boats only naval option once war dings were even performed at could knock Britain out of the broke out. sea, the captain officiated for war. On 28 January 1939, Dönitz the groom on board the U-boat Karl Dönitz (sometimes spelt On 10 January 1921, he be- Weimar Republic’s navy, the Dönitz revived the World War was promoted to Kommodore while in radio contact with the Doenitz) was born in Grünau came a Kapitänleutnant (lieu- Reichsmarine, was replaced I idea of grouping several sub- (Commodore) Führer der Un- bride and minister on shore. near Berlin on 16 September tenant) in the new German navy by the Nazi German navy, the marines together into a “wolf- terseeboote (Commander of Dönitz’ affection for his men 1891. (Vorläufige Reichsmarine). Kriegsmarine. pack” to overwhelm a merchant submarines). was returned in full measure by In 1940 he enlisted in the Dönitz commanded torpedo By November 1937, Dönitz convoy’s defensive escorts. On 1 October 1939, Dönitz the U-boat crews. The had great Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial boats, becoming a Korvetten- became convinced that a ma- Implementation of wolfpacks became a Konteradmiral (Rear confidence in their admiral, and Navy) and on 27 September kapitän (lieutenant-command- jor campaign against merchant had been difficult in World War Admiral) and “Commander of felt great respect for the lone- 1913 he was commissioned as er) on 1 November 1928. shipping was practicable and I owing to the limitations of the Submarines” (Befehlshaber ly figure who so often greeted a Leutnantzur See (acting sub- On 1 September 1933, he be- began pressing for the conver- available radios. In the interwar der Unterseeboote, BdU); on 1 them on their return from the lieutenant). came a Fregattenkapitän (com- sion of the German fleet al- years, Germany had developed September the following year, Atlantic. At the outset of World War mander) and, in 1934, most entirely to U- ultrahigh frequency transmit- he was made a Vizeadmiral The U-boat crews nicknamed I he served on the light cruiser was put in command boats. ters which it was hoped would (vice admiral). him “Uncle Karl”, and some- SMS Breslau in the Mediterra- of the cruiser Emden, He advocated make their radio communica- Although Dönitz was known times referred to his as “The Big nean Sea. Dönitz was promoted the ship on which ca- a strategy of at- tion unjammable, while the as a brilliant naval tactician, his Lion”. So closely tied were the to Oberleutnantzur See on 22 dets and midshipmen tacking only Enigma cipher machine was main contribution would even- personal loyalties of the U-boat March 1913 and was tempo- took a year-long world merchant ships, believed to have made commu- tually be as a leader. crews to the admiral that the rarily assigned as airfield com- cruise in preparation targets relatively nications secure. Under him the U-boat arm branch was jokingly referred mander of the Dardanelles. for a future officer’s safe to attack. Dönitz also adopted and would eventually achieve the to as “Friekorps Dönitz”. This From there, he requested a commission. He pointed out claimed credit for Wilhelm highest standards of combat loyalty was a key factor in the transfer to the submarine forc- On 1 September 1935, that destroy- Marschall’s 1922 idea of at- efficiency and seamanship. He U-boats continuing high morale es, which became effective in he was promoted to tacking convoys using surface enjoyed greeting a boat person- and unflagging efforts even in October 1916. He served as Kapitänzur See (na- or very-near-the-surface night ally when it returned from pa- the desperate closing months of watch officer on U-39, and from val captain). He attacks. This tactic had the add- trol and speaking frankly with the war. February 1918 onward as com- was placed in ed advantage of making a sub- its crew - officers and enlisted On 30 January 1943, Dönitz mander of UC-25. On 5 Sep- command of the marine undetectable by sonar. men alike, to draw the proper replaced Erich Raeder as Com- tember 1918, he became com- first U-boat flo- At the time the surface lessons from the patrol. mander-in-Chief of the Navy mander of UB-68, operating in tilla Weddigen, strength of the Kriegsmarine Dönitz minimized red tape in (Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegs- the Mediterranean. On 4 Oc- which included was much less than that of the order to present awards as soon marine) and Großadmiral tober, after suffering technical U-7, U-8 and British Royal Navy. Command- as a boat docked, or even while (Grand Admiral) of the Naval difficulties, this boat was sunk U-9. er-in-Chief on the Navy Admi- the boat was still at sea. High Command (Oberkom- by British forces and Dönitz D u r i n g ral Erich Raeder believed that With the fall of France he mando der Marine). His dep- was taken prisoner on the island 1935, the any war with Britain in the near moved his headquarters to uty, Eberhard Godt, took over of Malta. future was hopeless. He was Kernevel near Lorient to be the operational command of the It was while he was in a prison quoted as remarking that all the closer to his men. He made cer- U-boat force. camp ear Sheffield that he for- Germans could hope to do was tain the crews had high pay and In the final days of the war mulated what he called Rudel- die valiantly. the best rations. He even had Hitler had taken refuge in the taktik (“pack tactic”, commonly Dönitz, in contrast, was not a special express train place Fuhrerbunker beneath the called “wolfpack”). constrained by such fatalism, at his disposal to ferry U-boat Reich Chancellery garden in He was only released from the but set about intensely train- men on leave back to Germany Berlin. Reichsmarschall Her- British prisoner of war camp in ing his crews in the new tactics. - while Allied planes bombed mann Göring was considered July 1919, nearly eight months He trained his crews under the the French ports, U-boat crews the obvious successor to Hitler, after the war had ended. He re- most realistic conditions - in all relaxed in far-away resorts. followed by Reichsführer-SS turned to Germany in 1920 and weather at all times. Previously He also facilitated communi- Heinrich Himmler. continued his naval career. crews had been under instruc- cations to boost morale. BdU Both, however, managed to 32 33 Georg von Friedeburg, repre- the Nuremberg Trials on three senting Admiral Dönitz sur- Awards and Decorations counts: (1) conspiracy to com- rendered all German forces in • Iron Cross (1914) 2nd mit crimes against peace, war the Netherlands, Denmark, and class & 1st class (1916). crimes, and crimes against hu- northwestern Germany under • General Honour Deco- manity; (2) planning, initiating, Dönitz’s command to Field ration (Allgemeines Eh- and waging wars of aggression; Marshal Sir Bernard Law Mont- renzeichen). and (3) crimes against the laws of gomery at Lüneburg Heath just • Friedrich Cross, 1st war. Dönitz was found not guilty southeast of Hamburg, signal- class. on count (1) of the indictment, but ling the end of World War II in • Ottoman War Medal Or- guilty on counts two and three. northwestern Europe. der of the Medjidie, 4th Dönitz was, for nearly seven A day later, Dönitz sent Frie- class. decades, the only head of state deburg to U.S. General Dwight • Knight of the Royal to be convicted by an interna- D. Eisenhower’s headquarters House Order of Hohen- tional tribunal until the convic- in Rheims, France, to negotiate zollern with Swords. tion of Liberia’s Charles Taylor WELCOME BACK: When U-boats returned from patrol Karl a surrender to the Allies. The • Honour Cross of the in April 2012. Dönitz would often be waiting to personally welcome them Chief of Staff of OKW, Gen- World War 1914/1918. Dönitz was imprisoned for back. eraloberst (Colonel-General) • Sudetenland Medal. 10 years in Spandau Prison in Alfred Jodl, arrived a day later. • Clasp to the Iron Cross what was then West Berlin. infuriate Hitler. Göring had ra- On 1 May, Dönitz announced Dönitz had instructed them to (1939) 2nd class & 1st Dönitz was released on 1 Oc- dioed Hitler in Berlin asking that Hitler had fallen and had ap- draw out the negotiations for class (1939). tober 1956, and retired to the by Hitler, and is also noted to for permission to assume lead- pointed him as his successor. as long as possible so that Ger- • Military Order of Savoy small village of Aumühle in have declared, “In comparison ership of the Reich. Then Him- On 2 May, the new govern- man troops and refugees could Knight; Commander’s Schleswig-Holstein in northern to Hitler we are all pipsqueaks. mler had tried to seize power by ment of the Reich fled to Flens- surrender to the Western pow- Cross. West Germany. Anyone who believes he can do entering into negotiations with burg-Mürwik before the ap- ers, but when Eisenhower let it • Knight’s Cross of the There, he worked on two better than the Führer is stupid.” Count Bernadotte. On 28 April proaching British troops. That be known he would not tolerate Iron Cross with Oak books. His memoirs, Zehn Jahre, Dönitz lived out the rest of his 1945, the BBC reported Him- night, Dönitz made a nation- their stalling, Dönitz authorised Leaves. Zwanzig Tage (Memoirs: Ten life in relative obscurity in Au- mler had offered surrender to wide radio address in which he Jodl to sign the instrument of • Order of Michael the Years and Twenty Days), ap- mühle, occasionally correspond- the western Allies and that the announced Hitler’s death and unconditional surrender at 1:30 Brave, 2nd and 3rd class. peared in Germany in 1958 and ing with collectors of German offer had been declined. Hitler said the war would continue in on the morning of 7 May. Just • Order of the Rising Sun, became available in an English naval history, and died there of expelled both Göring and Him- the east “to save Germany from over an hour later, Jodl signed First Class. translation the following year. a heart attack on 24 December mler from the Nazi Party. destruction by the advancing the documents. The surrender • Order of Naval Merit in This book recounted Dönitz’s 1980. As the last German officer In his last will and testament, Bolshevik enemy”. However, documents included the phrase, white. experiences as U-boat com- with the rank of Großadmiral dated 29 April 1945, Hitler Dönitz knew Germany’s po- “All forces under German con- mander (10 years) and Presi- (grand admiral), he was hon- named Dönitz his successor sition was untenable and the trol to cease active operations dent of Germany (20 days). In oured by many former service- as Staatsoberhaupt (Head of Wehrmacht was no longer ca- at 23:01 hours Central Euro- the elder son, Klaus, was al- it, Dönitz explains the Nazi re- men and foreign naval officers State), with the titles of Reich- pable of offering meaningful pean Time on 8 May 1945.” At lowed to leave combat duty and gime as a product of its time, but who came to pay their respects spräsident (President) and resistance. During his brief pe- Stalin’s insistence, on 8 May, began studying to be a naval argues he was not a politician at his funeral on 6 January 1981. Supreme Commander of the riod in office, he devoted most shortly before midnight, Gener- doctor. Klaus was killed on 13 and thus not morally respon- He was buried in Waldfriedhof Armed Forces. The same docu- of his effort to ensuring the loy- alfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel May 1944 while taking part in sible for much of the regime’s Cemetery in Aumühle without ment named Propaganda Min- alty of the German armed forc- repeated the signing in Berlin an action contrary to standing crimes. He likewise criticizes military honours, and soldiers ister Joseph Goebbels as Head es and trying to ensure German at Marshal Georgiy Zhukov’s orders prohibiting his involve- dictatorship as a fundamentally were not allowed to wear uni- of Government with the title of troops would surrender to the headquarters, with General Carl ment in any combat role. He flawed form of government and forms to the funeral. Reichskanzler (Chancellor). British or Americans and not Spaatz of the USAAF present persuaded his friends to let him blames it for much of the Nazi However, a number of Ger- On 1 May, the day after Hitler’s the Soviets. He feared venge- as Eisenhower’s representative. go on the torpedo boat S-141 era’s failings. man naval officers disobeyed own suicide, Goebbels commit- ful Soviet reprisals, and hoped At the time specified, World for a raid on Selsey on his 24th Despite his postwar claims, this order and were joined by ted suicide. Dönitz thus became to strike a deal with the western War II in Europe ended. birthday. He was killed when Dönitz was seen as supportive members of the Royal Navy, the sole representative of the Allies.[17] In the end, Dönitz’s On a personal level the war the boat was sunk by the French of Nazism during the war. Sev- such as the senior chaplain the crumbling German Reich. He ap- tactics were moderately suc- had cost Dönitz both of his sons. destroyer La Combattante. eral naval officers described Rev Dr John Cameron, in full pointed Finance Minister Count cessful, enabling about 1.8 mil- The younger, Peter, was killed Following the war, Dönitz him as “closely tied to Hitler dress uniform. Also in atten- Ludwig Schwerin von Krosigk lion German soldiers to escape on 19 May 1943, when U-954 was held as a prisoner of war and Nazi ideology.” He refused dance were over 100 holders of as “Leading Minister” and they Soviet capture. was sunk in the North Atlantic by the Allies. He was indict- to help Albert Speer stop the the Knight’s Cross of the Iron attempted to form a government. On 4 May, Admiral Hans- with all hands. After this loss, ed as a major war criminal at scorched earth policy dictated Cross. 34 35 Forged in Battle AK-47 Assault Rifle Each month “Forged in Battle” looks at weapons, equipment or units that have been AK-47 tried and tested on the battlefield. This month we look at the legendary AK-47.

t’s probably the most recog- ple’s Commissariat of Arms of This is when he came up with nised firearm in the world. It the USSR. The Soviets were the idea of making a new rifle. Iis used in 115 countries and impressed with the weapon and His first submachine gun de- manufactured in 33 countries. immediately set about devel- sign was not accepted, but his Even after nearly seven decades oping an intermediate caliber talent as a designer was noted. mass production methods that chined into the underside of the lector lever down with consid- it remains the most popular and automatic rifle of their own, to From 1942 onwards Kalash- were state of the art in the Sovi- bolt carrier along with an ejec- erable force bypassing the full- widely used assault rifle in the replace the PPSh-41 subma- nikov was assigned to the Cen- et Union during the late 1940s. tor spur on the bolt carrier rail auto stage and setting the rifle world. It is simple to maintain, chine guns and outdated Mo- tral Scientific-developmental The AK-47 uses a long stroke guide, rotates the bolt approxi- to semi-auto. To set the AK-47 reliable under harsh conditions, sin–Nagant bolt-action rifles Firing Range for Rifle Firearms gas system that is generally as- mately 35° and unlocks it from to full-auto requires the delib- costs little to produce and, that armed most of the Soviet of the Chief Artillery Director- sociated with great reliability in the barrel extension via a cam- erate action of centering the se- above all, is easy to use. Army. ate of the Red Army. adverse conditions. The large ming pin on the bolt. lector lever. The weapon in question is, The calibre decided upon was In 1944 he designed a new gas piston, generous clearanc- The moving assembly has To operate the fire selector le- of course, the Avtomat Kalash- the new 7.62x39mm cartridge. gas-operated carbine for the es between moving parts, and about 5.5 mm of free travel, ver, right handed shooters have nikova - better known as the Naturally they would have to new 7.62x39mm cartridge. His tapered cartridge case design which creates a delay between to briefly remove their right AK-47 or just AK. design a new rifle for the new design lost out to the new Si- allow the gun to endure large the initial recoil impulse of the hand from the pistol grip, which The AK-47 has seen service cartridge. One of those that monov carbine which would amounts of foreign matter and piston and the bolt unlocking is ergonomically sub-optimal. with armed forces as well as ir- submitted a design for a new eventually be adopted as the fouling without failing to cycle. sequence, allowing gas pres- Some AK-type rifles also have regular forces worldwide, and submachine gun was tank ser- SKS. sures to drop to a safe level be- a more traditional selector lever was the basis for developing geant Mikhail Kalashnikov. In 1946 a competition was Operating Mechanism fore the seal between the cham- on the left side of the receiver many other types of individ- Born in 1919 Kalashnikov held to design the best assault To fire, the operator inserts ber and the bolt is broken. just above the pistol grip. ual and crew-served firearms. was attracted to all kinds of ma- rifle. Although Kalashnikov a loaded magazine, pulls back The AK-47 does not have a This lever is operated by the Of the estimated 500 million chinery from an early age. After was competing against more and releases the charging han- gas valve; excess gases are ven- shooter’s right thumb and has firearms worldwide, approxi- leaving school he found a job as experienced designers such as dle, and then pulls the trigger. tilated through a series of radial three settings: safe (forward), mately 100 million belong to a mechanic at a tractor factory Vasily Degtyaryob and Georgy In semi-automatic, the firearm ports in the gas cylinder. The full-auto (center), and semi-au- the Kalashnikov family, three- in Kurya. Shpagin, his design won. fires only once, requiring the Kalashnikov operating system to (backward). quarters of which are AK-47s. In 1939 Kalashnikov was His winning entry was called trigger to be released and de- offers no primary extraction conscripted into the Red Army. the Mikhtim and it became the pressed again for the next shot. upon bolt rotation, but uses an Magazines Origins and Development Because of his small size and blueprint for a family of pro- In full-automatic, the rifle extractor claw to eject the spent The standard magazine ca- During World War II, the his engineering skills he was totype rifles that culminated continues to fire automatically cartridge case. pacity is 30 rounds. There are Sturmgewehr 44 assault rifle assigned as a tank mechanic. in 1947 when he designed the cycling fresh rounds into the also 10, 20, and 40-round box used by German forces made a Later he was promoted to the Avtomat Kalashnikova model chamber, until the magazine Fire Selector magazines, as well as 75-round deep impression on their Soviet rank of sergeant and became a 1947 rifle or AK-47. is exhausted or pressure is re- The fire selector is a large le- drum magazines. counterparts. tank commander. In 1949 the AK-47 became leased from the trigger. ver located on the right side of The AK-47’s standard The select-fire rifle was He served on the T-34s of the standard issue assault rifle of After ignition of the cartridge the rifle, it acts as a dust-cover 30-round magazines have a chambered for a new interme- the 24th Tank Regiment, 108th the Soviet Army and was used primer and propellant, rapidly and prevents the charging han- pronounced curve that allows diate cartridge, the 7.92×33mm Tank Division station in Stryi. by the majority of the member expanding propellant gases are dle from being pulled fully to them to smoothly feed ammu- Kurz, and combined the fire- In October 1941 he was wound- states of the Warsaw Pact. diverted into the gas cylinder the rear when it is on safe. It is nition into the chamber. Their power of a submachine gun ed during the Battle of Bryansk above the barrel through a vent operated by the shooter’s right heavy steel construction com- with the range and accuracy of and spent six months recover- Design near the muzzle. fore-fingers and has three set- bined with “feed-lips” (the sur- a rifle. ing in hospital. The AK-47 was designed to The build-up of gases inside tings: safe (up), full-auto (cen- faces at the top of the magazine On 15 July 1943, an earlier It was while in hospital that be a simple, reliable automatic the gas cylinder drives the long- ter), and semi-auto (down). The that control the angle at which model of the Sturmgewehr was he heard fellow soldiers com- rifle that could be manufactured stroke piston and bolt carrier reason for this is that under the cartridge enters the cham- demonstrated before the Peo- plaining about the Soviet rifles. quickly and cheaply, using rearward and a cam guide ma- stress a soldier will push the se- ber) machined from a single

36 37 Replacement can be pur- In 1974, the Soviets began re- chased on the placing their AK-47 and AKM Black Market FOLDING BUTT: Used by rifles with a newer design, the “for as little as paratroopers and tank crews. AK-74, which uses 5.45×39mm $6, or traded ammunition. This new rifle and for a chicken cartridge had only started to be or a sack of manufactured in Eastern Euro- grain”. PRACTICAL: The AK bayonet ant explodes 0.5–1 metre above er Sight. The side rails allow for pean nations when the Soviet During the has a cutting edge, a serrated the ground. the removal and remounting of Union collapsed, drastically Cold War, the edge and can be used as wire The AK-47 can also mount a optical accessories without in- slowing production of the AK- Soviet Union cutters. (rarely used) cup-type grenade terfering with the zeroing of the 74 and other weapons of the and the Peo- ple’s Republic steel billet makes them high- launcher, the Kalashnikov gre- optic. However, the 100 series former Soviet bloc. of China, as ly resistant to damage. These nade launcher that fires stan- side folding stocks cannot be well as Unit- THE DESIGNER: A young Mikhail Kalash- magazines are so strong that dard RGD-5 Soviet hand-gre- folded with the optics mounted. Influence ed States and nikov, the man that designed the AK-47. “Soldiers have been known to nades. The maximum effective Throughout the world, the other NATO use their mags as hammers, and Further Development AK and its variants are com- In the pro-communist states, nations supplied arms and even bottle openers”. A redesigned version desig- monly used by governments, the AK-47 became a symbol technical knowledge to numer- This contributes to the AK-47 nated the AKM (M for “mod- revolutionaries, terrorists, of third-world revolution. Dur- ous countries and rebel forces magazine being more reliable, ernized” or “upgraded”; in Rus- criminals, and civilians alike. ing the 1980s, the Soviet Union around the world. During this but makes it heavier than U.S. sian: Avtomat Kalashnikova In some countries, such as So- became the principal arms time the Western countries used and NATO magazines. Modernizirovanniy was intro- malia, Rwanda, Mozambique, dealer to countries embargoed duced in 1959. This new mod- Congo and Tanzania, the prices relatively expensive automatic by Western nations, including Accessories el used a stamped sheet metal for Black Market AKs are be- rifles, such as the FN FAL, the Middle Eastern nations such as receiver and featured a slanted tween $30 and $125 per weap- HK G3, the M14, and the M16. Iran, Libya, and Syria, which All current model AKM rifles In contrast, the Russians and can mount under-barrel 40 mm muzzle brake on the end of the on and prices have fallen in the welcomed Soviet Union back- barrel to compensate for muzzle last few decades due to mass Chinese used the AK-47; its ing against Israel. grenade launchers such as the low production cost and ease GP-25 and its variants, which range is approximately 150 me- rise under recoil. In addition, a counterfeiting. After the fall of the Soviet hammer retarder was added to There are places around the of manufacture allow them to Union, AK-47s were sold both can fire up to 20 rounds per ters. This launcher can also be make AKs in vast numbers. minute and have an effective used to launch tear-gas and riot prevent the weapon from firing world where AK type weapons openly and on the black market range of up to 400 metres.[62] control grenades. out of battery (without the bolt to any group with cash, includ- being fully closed), during rap- The main grenade is the VOG- All current AKs (100 series) USED BY ALL: A rebel faction in Somalia practice on a make- ing drug cartels and dictatorial 25 (VOG-25M) fragmentation and some older models, have id or automatic fire. states, and more recently they This is also sometimes re- shift shooting range. The AK has seen action in nearly every grenade which has a 6 m (9 m) side rails for mounting a variety major conflict since the 1950s. have been seen in the hands of lethality radius. The VOG-25P/ of scopes and sighting devices, ferred to as a “cyclic rate reduc- Islamic groups such as Al-Qae- VOG-25PM (“jumping”) vari- such as the PSO-1 Optical Snip- er”, or simply “rate reducer”, as da, ISIL, and the Taliban in Af- it also has the effect of reducing ghanistan and Iraq, and FARC, SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: The AK-47 has a the number of rounds fired per Ejército de Liberación Nacio- straight muzzle while the AKM has a muzzle minute during automatic fire. nal guerrillas in Colombia. brake. It was also roughly one-third In Mexico, the AK-47 is lighter than the previous mode. known as “Cuerno de Chivo” (literally “Goat’s Horn”) be- cause of its curved magazine design. It is one of the weapons of choice of Mexican drug car- RARELY USED: An AKM fitted with the tels. It is sometimes mentioned Kalashnikov Grenade Launcher. in Mexican folk music lyrics. Mikhail Kalashnikov would go on to become a Lieutenant General in the Red Army. He died on 23 December 2013 at the age of 94.

38 39 ing the cutting edge of Egyptian Arab-Israeli Forces 1967 Battlefield air power. At the end of the first day’s operation about 300 Arab Country Men Tanks Aircraft aircraft had been destroyed Air Strike - The Six Day War with the Israelis losing only ten On 5 June 1967 the Israelis launched one of the most devastating offensives in the of their own. 264,000 800 350 As can be expected the Israeli Israel history of warfare. intelligence was spot on and the target identification by the pi- n it’s short history Israel the Strait of Tiran to Israeli main threat and the initial Is- lots was outstanding. Dummy 240,000 1,200 450 was no stranger to war. The shipping and the creation of a raeli air strike would be against installations and aircraft were IArab-Israeli War of 1948- unified Arab command posed eight Egyptian airfields in Sinai, ignored while the real targets Egypt 49 challenged the creation of a threat that the government of on the Suez Canal and around were destroyed. the state of Israel, and in 1956 Israel could not ignore. Cairo. That the Israelis were able to Israel had to fight a war against By occupying the Sinai, clos- The timing of the attack was keep waves of attacking aircraft 50,000 400 120 Egypt. Neither war, however, ing the straits, and forming a sheer genius. Military doctrine over the target was due to care- Syria led to any sort of peace or sta- unified command with Jordan dictates that the best time for ful calculation of flight times bility for the Arabs or the Jews and Syria the Egyptians had an attack is at first light. The Is- and an allowance of ten min- in the Middle East. backed Israel into a corner. raeli air strike was planned for utes time-over-target for each 50,000 200 40 Israel suffered from two ma- The Israelis immediately be- 08h45 Egyptian time. attacking wave before the next jor disadvantages. Firstly it was gan to call up its reservists and The relative lateness of the wave arrived to take over. Jordan surrounded by hostile coun- by 20 May it was completed. hour was chosen for a num- Once the eight original air- tries. Israel shared borders with With such limited manpower ber of reasons. First of all the fields had been dealt with the Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and financial resources Israel Egyptians would be hit when Israelis extended their opera- 70,000 400 200 Syria and Lebanon. All were could not afford to keep her cit- they least expected it. By that tions to cover a further nine Iraq Arab countries and regarded izen army mobilised for more time the early morning mist in Egyptian airfields. They then the mere existence of Israel an than two weeks. Any longer the Nile Delta had lifted. Most moved on to cover the Jorda- outrage. would cause severe damage to importantly, the Egyptian air nian, Iraqi and Syrian fronts. 50,000 100 20 The second disadvantage the economy. patrols and radar surveillance On the first day they annihi- was the fact that Israel enjoyed Israel was limited to two had been stood down with the lated the Jordanian Air Force Saudi Arabia no natural frontiers. At its nar- choices - go to war within two passing of the time for a clas- and inflicted such heavy loses rowest point it measured only weeks of 20 May or stand her sic dawn attack. More over the on the Syrian Air Force that it 21km. The entire country cov- forces down. change-over of watches within took virtually no active part in 60,000 100 100 ered only 36,360 square km. Egyptian President Abdel the Egyptian air command was the war. The fact of the matter Algeria It lacked the depth in which to Nasser did not expect an Israe- taking place. is that the Jordanian and Syrian manoeuvre and it also lacked li attack, but he was confident In another move that went Air Forces had been destroyed space in which to fight defen- that if one did develop his forc- against the norm, the Israelis within the space of 25 minutes. sively. es would win. He was wrong on chose not to make Arab radar Most of the damage from 5,000 24 9 By May 1967 tensions in the both counts. stations their first priority. To the Israeli aircraft was inflicted Kuwait area were once again at fever All Israeli intelligence reports achieve surprise in the strikes by cannon fire against aircraft pitch. Since the end of the war indicated that an attack by the against the airfields around caught on the ground. Some Arab Total 525,000 2,424 939 in 1956 a United Nations force Arabs was imminent. Israel felt Cairo the Israelis flew deep into had occupied the Sinai, acting she had no other choice but to the Mediterranean before they Turn-around procedure replace brake parachute as a buffer between Egypt and launch a preemptive strike. turned to attack the air fields change pilot Israel. As long as the UN force from the rear. It took a mere seven min- refill oxygen was there, Israel was safe, Then Plan of Attack And it wasn’t just a quick utes for the Israelis to get check avionics Egypt had demanded the with- Israel was outnumbered. The ‘hit-and-run’ strike either. The an aircraft back into the drawal of the UN force by 16 Arabs had more men, tanks and Israelis kept successive waves air. May. On 17 May seven Egyp- aircraft. They knew that for of attacking aircraft over the tian divisions, five infantry and their attack to have any chance major targets until resistance two armoured, had moved into of success it was vital that they was totally broken. For 80 min- the Sinai. achieve air superiority. utes the Israelis kept up a con- refuel load bombs The Egyptians then closed Egypt was regarded as the tinuous attack on airfields hous- reload with ammunition, missiles check flying surface and film for gun camera check tyres and hydraulics for battle damage 40 41 using them for themselves. In the end the war lasted only Quiz six days and became known as the Six Day War. A total of 418 Arab aircraft were destroyed for the loss of 27 Israeli aircraft. Firearm Identification While the war lasted for six his month’s quiz isn’t that difficult - if you know your firearms that is. Take a look at the im- days it was, for all intents and ages below then tell us what firearm it is. And as a clue we can tell you that eight of these purposes, over after three hours. Tfirearms date back to World War II. In that time the Israelis inflicted a huge defeat on the Arabs from which they could never hope to 2 recover. Once the Israelis had WATCHFUL EYE: Israeli Dassault Mirage III aircraft patrol over secured air superiority the out- the battlefield. With total air supremacy they were able to attack come of the war was never in 1 3 ground targets at will. doubt. In the history of air warfare Israeli pilots actually lowered runways unuseable. Some were no operation stands comparison their undercarriage to reduce set on long time delay fuses to with the Israeli Air Force attack speed and increase the accuracy discourage ground crews from on 5 June 1967 with regard to 4 5 6 of their fire. trying to repair the runways. In- the expertise in execution and Yet the Israelis did not rely on stallations and runways in Sinai significance for the outcome of cannon only. A variety of bombs were relatively lightly attacked a campaign. had been developed to make because the Israelis planned on Dassault Mirage III 9 Crew: 1 7 Length: 15.03 m Wingspan: 8.22 m 8 Maximum speed: 2,350 km/h Combat range: 1,200 km Guns: 2× 30 mm 552 cannon with 125 rounds per gun Missiles: 2× AIM-9 Sidewind- er Air to Air missiles (AAM) 11 12

10 Mig-21 (Fishbed) Crew: 1 Length: 14.7 m Wingspan: 7.154 m 15 Maximum speed: Mach 1.05 Combat range: 1,470 km Guns: 1 × internal 23 mm 13 14 Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23L autocannon with 200 rounds Various air-to-air and air-to- ground missiles

42 43 Movie Review Book Review Cuito Cuanavale - Frontline Accounts by Soviet Soldiers Enemy at the Gates ompiled and edited by successful Bush War which new insights into the conflict. Gennady Shubin, Igor provided personal, first-hand Having known quite a few nemy at the Gates is a to an intelligence unit away Cast Zhdarkin, Vyacheslav encounters of Soviet military people that took part in the bat- 2001 film loosely based from the battlefield. C Barabulya and Alexandra advisors to the Angolan Army. tle I’ve been lucky enough to Eon a true story. It is a With the Soviet snipers, and Jude Law – Vasily Zaytsev Kuznetsova-Timonova this This volume concentrates on listen to first-hand accounts. I fictionalized version of sniper Zaytsev in particular, taking an book is a follow-up to the very the climax of this conflict - the also read a number of books on Vasily Zaytsev, a Hero of the increasing toll on German of- Joseph Fiennes – Commisar 1987/8 Battle of Cuito Cua- the battle, mostly written from Soviet Union during World War ficers the director of the Weh- Danilov navale. the South African perspective. II. rmacht sniper school at Zossen, It was the largest battle on This book gives a fresh and In 1942 Zaytsev, a young Major Erwin König, is de- Rachel Weisz – Tania Chernova African soil since World War II. unique perspective in that it shepherd from the Ural Moun- ployed to Stalingrad to take out South Africa and Unita went up gives a glimpse of how the tains, finds himself on the front Zaytsev. When the Red Army Bob Hoskins – Nikita Khrushchev against Angolan FAPLA troops ‘other’ side saw the battle. lines during the Battle of Stal- command learns of König’s and their Cuban allies. It was a The book is well written and ingrad. mission, they dispatch König’s Ed Harris – Major Erwin König battle that to this day is hotly the accounts really are personal. After a failed attack on a former student Koulikov to debated with both sides claim- Anyone that served in combat German position Zaytsev uses help Zaytsev kill him. Ron Perlman – Koulikov ing victory. will find themselves nodding his impressive shooting skills, Sacha Filippova, a young So- The Soviet soldier’s experi- their heads and identifying with taught to him at a young age viet boy, volunteers to act as a Eva Mattes – Mother Filippova ence of the war and their views many of the stories. After all, by his grandfather, to save both double agent by passing König and assessment of their South no matter in which army you himself and a Russian Political false information about Zayt- Gabriel Marshall-Thomson – African enemies as well as their were, soldiers remain soldiers. Commissar, Danilov. sev’s whereabouts, thus giving Sasha Filippova Cuban and Angolan allies will Shortly afterwards Nikita Zaytsev a chance to ambush the fascinate South African read- Khrushchev arrives in Stalin- major. Matthias Habich – General ers. At the same time they offer grad to take over the defence of Zaytsev and Tania have fallen Friedrich Paulus the city. He demands ideas to in love and this causes a great Echoes of an African War improve the morale of the So- deal of jealousy from Danilov Click on the cover below to viet troops. who disparages Zaytsev in a watch the trailer of the movie. early every war, it world of barrack life. Chas Lotter is a member of the Danilov suggests that people letter to his superiors seems, produces at least It sketches the years, until English Academy of Southern need to have heroes to give What follows is a deadly one great poet. During 1973, when a low-intensity war Africa and his poetry has been them hope and that the army game of cat-and-mouse as the N the Rhodesian War Chas Lotter allowed a young man to explore published around the world. He newspaper needs to be publish- two snipers hunt each other in was that man. the African bush. The story lives in Pretoria, South Africa. ing stories about the exploits of the ruined city. As a field medic, Sergeant then bursts into the late 1970s these heroes. While Vasily Zaytsev was Lotter served for nine years when the conflict escalated into Khrushchev asks Danilov if a real person, the story of his with frontline units of the Rho- a vicious civil war. It covers he knows any heroes in Stalin- duel with König is fictional. No desian Army. It was these years the war’s end, in 1980, and the grad and he says that he knows sniper named König has ever of action, emotion and sav- subsequent readjustment to ci- of one. been identified in the German age experience that fuelled the vilian life before finishing, in The army newspaper paints records. poet’s fire in him. He started 1999, when, as a mature man, Zaytsev as a national hero and Enemy at the Gates is well writing poetry “on the backs of he looks back and remembers a propaganda icon. He is trans- worth watching. There are a cigarette boxes” in an attempt events that are now history. ferred to the sniper division and couple of really good scenes to deal with the realities of the Besides the many excel- he and Danilov become friends. such as when König sets a trap war. From such humble begin- lent poems, the book is also Both become romantically for Zaytsev in an old factory. nings emerged a series of vivid filled with photographs, maps, interested in Tania Chernova, a The film was based on the pictures of an African nation at sketches and documents from resident of Stalingrad who has book Enemy at the Gates: The war. the Rhodesian War. become a private in the local Battle for Stalingrad by Wil- Echoes of an African War If you enjoy poetry or are a militia. Seeing as how she stud- liam Craig and the movie runs follows the story of a young military enthusiast then this is ied German at Moscow Univer- for 131 minutes. army recruit who exchanged a must-have book for your col- sity Danilov has her transferred his home and his family for the lection. 44 45 Red Army as they can construct fighting positions and tank traps. US vehicles have vehicle crews that can disembark to carry out repairs or escape their Comrade Matt O’ Brien heads to the doomed vehicle. Eastern Front and Stalingrad. The Oberkommando faction is intended to represent Germa- ny’s military situation near the end of the Second World War. As a faction, they have access to cutting-edge military innova- tions, such as STG.44 Infrared eople will sometimes ask was one of the best WWII RTS you to recruit infantry. A sup- scopes and the Jagdtiger heavy me, “Matt, aren’t you a games around. Built around the port centre will allow you to FRONTAL ASSAULT: The American Forces launch an assault tank destroyer. Plittle old to be playing concepts of cover and direction- build or recruit better infantry, against German positions. Actual battlefield tactics plays a big The British Forces have an games.” It’s a question I can an- al fire, suppression and morale, anti-tank guns, artillery, mor- part in being successful at the game. emphasis on versatile and well swer with one word, “No.” you had to use actual battlefield tars and heavy machine guns. trained infantry, supported by While I really enjoy gaming strategies if you wanted to suc- The vehicle centre allows you bat engagements gain experi- that they do not have build- powerful artillery and highly they have to be games that in- ceed. to build light vehicles and ar- ence and can become veterans, ings. They have trucks that act durable but slow tanks. terest and challenge me. In fact In Company of Heroes 2 moured cars. Finally the tank giving them more benefits. as their headquarters, barracks, Company of Heroes 2 is one the vast majority of the games the action moves to the East- hall allows you to build armour Company of Heroes 2 re- support centre and tank hall. of the better RTS games around. I play have a military theme to ern Front. In the single player such as tanks and self propelled leased a number of add-ons for This means that they can be It’s not that difficult to learn to them. campaign you control the So- guns. the game. The good news is that packed up and then moved to a play the game and with skir- So the games that I will be re- viet Army from Operation Bar- There are many new innova- the game now comes complete new location. mish mode it will provide hours viewing for this magazine will barossa to the Battle of Berlin. tions in the game, such as the with all the add-ons. and hours of entertainment. obviously also have a military Where the game really comes cold weather that can kill your If you plan on being success- theme to them. into its own is in skirmish mode. troops and that you can cross The Western Front Armies ful in skirmishes you will have Games can broadly be divid- You can play multi-player, co- rivers that have frozen. Get This added the American to make the best use of your ed into a number of categories. op, or even go up against the AI caught in a blizzard and your forces to the game. It also add- faction’s strengths and use the You get first-person shooters (Artificial Intelligence). What’s troops will start dropping like ed Oberkommando Wes to the correct tactics. (FPS), real time strategy (RTS), also cool is that you can play as flies. Axis forces. The Oberkomman- The Soviet Union places em- role playing games (RPG) and the Russians or the Germans. You will need to build a tem- do faction is intended to repre- phasis on cheap yet effective simulations (Sims). Each side starts with a head- porary camp, or transport them sent Germany’s military situa- units, embodied by units such First-person shooters are of- quarters building which allows back to an existing one. Snow tion near the end of the Second as the T-34 Medium Tank and ten referred to as ‘running and you to recruit engineers. The can also change the geography World War. the expendable Conscript In- gunning’ games. You are armed map is divided up into a num- of the landscape. The new and This add-on also comes with fantry Squads. with various weapons and you ber of territories that you need more accurate line-of-sight sys- a new campaign, but once again Unlike the Soviets, the Ger- have goals to achieve. They are to capture to secure the area. tem also rewards clever place- it is skirmish mode where you man army relies on a well- normally not very realistic and I You also need to capture am- ment of units, and commanders will get the most enjoyment. trained versatile army. Their won’t be reviewing any of them munition and fuel points. These with the nerve to keep to their tanks are generally considered for this magazine. points are spent recruiting hiding places. Ardennes Assault superior to the Soviet tanks, but The type of games I will fo- new units, building structures Your engineers can repair ve- While this did not add any they are fewer in numbers. This cus on are real time strategy and vehicles, and developing hicles and structures and can new factions to the game it did applies for most German units. and simulation games. Think of new tactics. As you built new also be armed with demolition have a new campaign that was Fewer in squad size/more ex- these as chess on a much more structures, capture new terri- charges. You can build bunkers, set in Belgium. It is based on pensive, but superior compared Publisher - Relic complicated scale. tory and engage in combat you tank traps and observation tow- the Battle of the Bulge. to their Soviet counterpart. The first game I want to look are awarded command points. ers. They can also lay mines or The US faction emphasizes Genre - RTS at is Company of Heroes 2. This These allow you access to bet- barbed wire. Infantry can also The British Forces versatility and flexibility, de- Platform - PC is a real time strategy game set ter units, buildings, vehicles dig trenches for cover. The final add-on saw the in- signed to bend but not break un- during World War II. and equipment. Most vehicles and units can troduction of the British Forces. der enemy pressure. The USF Score - 8/10 When it was released back Your engineers can construct be upgraded with better equip- They operate slightly dif- is somewhat better at holding Price - R199 in 2006, Company of Heroes a barracks which then allows ment. Those that survive com- ferent to the other factions in territory points than the Soviet

46 47 On the lighter side Bless you my son Religion and the military all to often have gone hand-in-hand. Countless wars have been fought in the name of religion. Yet sometimes it does have a lighter side.

eligion played a very gevaar” (the red (Communist) served his national service in important role in the danger. the infantry in 1976. He was not Rold South African De- “He would continue through in the least amused with church fence Force and most functions his list until all of the churches parade. SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: Chaplains wore a purple beret (left) while members of the Parachute would be opened and closed and venues had been read. Cor- “Listen, I grew up in the Battalion wore a maroon beret (right). One confused troops couldn’t tell the difference. with prayer. Once a week a porals would then march the church. My dad was a lay church parade would be held. various groups off to their des- preacher in a Pentecostal church parade the sergeant ma- Who me? said in English. And he had During basic training the tinations. Most of the priests, church and from as far back as jor called out all the churches Barry was 18 when he did pointed his finger at his audi- SADF did try and cater for pastors, whatever you want to I can remember I was forced to and I just stood where I was. national service in 1980. He re- ence for effect. the religious needs of the call them, where from civvie go to church. And I’m not talk- This was it. This was the day I members a church parade that “My eyes were closed and I conscripts. The mainstream (civilian) churches in town. ing about just once a week. was going to make a stand. landed him in hot water. must confess that I had fallen churches were all represented “I was a Baptist but I only at- “Tuesday night was Bible “Eventually I was the only “We didn’t have individual asleep. The loud “yes you” in and these included the Dutch tended one Baptist service. The Study, Thursday night was person who had not fallen into church parades at my unit. We English must have penetrated Reformed, Methodist, Apos- Baptist minister was about 85 prayer meeting, and Friday a group and marched off. The had our own full time dominee my slumber. I was convinced tolic, Anglican, Roman Catho- years old and he was a bore. night was youth. On Saturday sergeant major came up to me (minister). His rank was equal that he had noticed me sleeping lic, Presbyterian, and Baptist. Every Wednesday morning I nights we had a coffee bar at the and asked me what church I be- to that of a colonel. and asked, “why are you sleep- A Rabbi was also available for would go to the Catholic ser- church and I had to attend that longed to. “Every Wednesday morning ing? Yes you!” those of the Jewish faith. vice. My dear old mom would as well. “I’m an atheist,” I told him. the entire unit would assemble “I immediately jumped to my have thrown a fit if she had “Sundays we would be in The sergeant major consulted in the hall and he would give the feet, shook my head, and said, Conversion known about it. But I really en- church for practically the whole his list for some time before re- service. Because he was from “No I’m not dominee.” Dale was 18 when he did his joyed the Catholic service be- day. At 9.00 in the morning I plying. the Dutch Reformed Church This poor dominee was stand- national service and recounts cause the priest was a scream. had to go to Sunday school. “No,” he said, very serious most of the service would be in ing there with his mouth hang- his memories of church parade. “He was from Ireland and Then at 10.45 it was time for about it. “We don’t have that Afrikaans. Every now and then ing open while I stood there “We used to have church pa- when he arrived on a the morning service. If you got on the list. I don’t think that the he would throw in an English looking like an idiot. rade every Wednesday morn- Wednesday morning at 9 out of there by 1 o’clock you atheist padre can make it on a sentence for the benefit of those “I heard the voice of our Regi- ing from 9.00 to 9.45 am. It o’clock he was something else. were lucky. Then it was back at Wednesday. Why don’t you fall of use that were English speak- mental Sergeant Major say, “Sit was compulsory and there was He would spend almost the 6.30 for the Evening Service. I in with the Anglicans? That’s ers. down. And then come and see no way that you could avoid entire service telling the most hated it, I really did. almost the same thing, isn’t it? “I was on leader group course me after the parade.” I ended up church parade. We used to form outrageous jokes. And he could “It’s not that I have anything I’m sure that the Anglicans at the time and we had to sit getting seven extra duties. up on the parade ground and the swear like a trooper. Half the against the church or against re- would have been thrilled to right in front of the hall. Now I company sergeant major would guys who used to attend were ligion. It’s just that I feel that it’s learn that they were now con- have a huge problem. If I have Well done sergeant major read out the list of available not Catholics. They used to go a personal thing and should be a sidered to be atheists. to sit and listen to anyone talk- John (19) tells an amusing choices. to hear this dear old Father car- matter of choice. I was forced “I didn’t even bother trying ing in a monotone voice I fall story from his basics about a “NG (Dutch Reformed) in die ry on. We really loved that old to go to church and I think that to explain to the sergeant ma- asleep. I just can’t help it. church parade he attended one grootsaal (in the big hall). Ro- geezer. Not that we received is the reason why I was so anti. jor what an atheist was. I sim- “This particular Wednesday Sunday morning. man Catholics in the small hall. that much spiritual guidance, “One of the first things I ply fell in with the Anglicans morning he was giving a ser- “There were quite a few of Baptist in Lecture Room 5. but hell we learnt some good thought when I was called up and attended their service every mon about how the youth were us that belonged to Pentecos- “It was funny because they jokes.” for national service was, “cool, Wednesday. It could have been the future of the country. At tal churches. In the army these would always refer to the Cath- now at least I won’t be forced worse. At least it only lasted 45 one stage he said, in Afrikaans were known as ‘Free Church- olics as “die Roms’gevaar” (the Not a believer to go to church.” What was the minutes and it was only once a of course, “You people are the es’. Roman danger). It was third be- Not everyone was as thrilled first thing the army did? Told week.” future of this country. Yes you! “Because we didn’t have any hind “die swaartgevaar” (the about church parade, though. me I had to go to church. The “yes you” part had been pastors that could come and black danger) and “die rooi- Lenny was also 18 and he “When we had our first 48 49 conduct a service at the camp Mistaken identity another of my troops came run- we would all be transported to Rivalry between the units ning up to me with a huge grin Take a different look at a career... one of the churches in town on was always fierce. Luckily most on his face. a Sunday morning. units were in separate towns “I got one corporal,” he “It was quite a big deal be- and there was little danger of proudly told me. He handed me cause it was the only time we major confrontations between the beret and I went ice cold. got out of the camp. And of units. The Parachute Battalion beret course there were always young Yet in a place like Tempe, is maroon. This beret was dark girls at church. Bloemfontein, there were three purple. “This one Sunday morning basic training units situated on “Where did you get this?” I our sergeant major decided that top of each other. 1 South Af- asked him. He told me that he he would attend as well. Just to rican Infantry Battalion, 1 Spe- had gone to the toilet and found make sure we were all well be- cial Services Battalion, and 1 a parabat all alone. haved. Parachute Battalion were prac- “According to him, the par- “When we arrived at the tically next to each other. All abat had smiled at him and church some of us were given three units carried out basic greeted him in a friendly man- the task of handing out hymn training and rivalry between the ner. My troop was having none books to the people as they ar- units was intense. of this and immediately decked rived. The sergeant major was Steve (19) recalls an incident the guy, knocking him onto his standing with us. One of the that happened towards the end bum and taking his beret. troops walked in and he still of one particular intake. “With a sense of forebod- had his beret on his head. This “I was a Drill and Musketry ing I turned the beret over. The was a huge no-no because you Instructor at 1 SAI, Bloemfon- badge on the front of the be- did not wear headgear when tein. There was a lot of rivalry ret confirmed my worst fears. you were in church. between 1 SAI, 1 SSB and One It was a cross surrounded by a Every month hundreds of new magazines and newspapers are going online and they all “Take your #$@&%*!ing laurel wreath. Parachute Battalion. need content. They need someone to write articles and many of them will pay you for it. hat off,” bellowed the sergeant “One of the highlights on “My stupid troop had beaten major at the top of his voice, the calendar was the Inter-unit the crap out of an army padre slapping the beret off the poor sports day that was held at the and stolen his beret. I threw the Hipe Magazine is offering a three-month online journalism course where we will show troop’s head. “Can’t you see local athletic stadium. I prom- beret down a drain, getting rid you how to write the type of articles that people want to read and magazines want to you in the #$@&%*!ing house ised the troops in my platoon of the evidence. buy. of the lord!” a weekend pass to anyone of “For about a month after- “I couldn’t believe it. The ser- them who could bring me a par- wards the military police were And best of all the course is 100% free. geant major had just dropped abat beret after the sports day. searching for the guy who had two huge f-bombs in church. “At the end of the day about assaulted the padre. By the way, The poor church people were four or five of my troops, look- my troop received his weekend shocked.” ing the worse for wear, present- pass, on condition that he kept ed me with a parabat beret. I was his mouth shut.” just about to dismiss them when

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