Picture of the day
- Thread starter jwhc
- Start date
One of the most miserable winter warfare episodes was in North Korea up along the Chinese border following the Chinese intervention in late 1950. A bad combination of overwhelming numbers of Chinese, snow, minus 30 temps, limited mobility and ignorance of the enemy. The cruelest irony was MacArthur's towering arrogance, denial of intelligence and the old promise that the troops would be home for Christmas. The winter weather hasn't changed much up along the Yalu River. Airpower definitely saved the day and allowed the US forces to be extracted and evacuated by sea.
I once had the opportunity to walk the WW1 battlefield at Sarikamis in Eastern Turkey where the Russians, high mountains, poor equipment and extreme cold and snow combined to destroy a Turkish Army in the field.
We used to devote quite a bit of time to winter warfare training and winter exercises, but it was never possible to simulate anything remotely similar to combat. Operating in the winter is a survival exercise before anything else.
This reminds me of a true story of a army type RSM trying to give drill lessons to some airmen.
There was to be a change of command ceremony in Lahr Germany in the early 70’s and the RSM running the event requested a group of airmen from Baden Soellingen to join him and his troops. During the practice for the event he became very frustrated with the lack of drill discipline from the airmen and one guy in particular. He came up to the guy and pointed his swagger stick at the airmen and said “There’s a complete misfit at the end of this stick”. The airman promptly came to attention and stated “Not at this end, Sir” That didn’t go over too well, but I think it was the last time a group from the hanger line in Baden was invited to a change of command ceremony.
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Just a question. In this photo of a downed AM6 Zero why is there a Roman letter on the tailfin instead of a Japanese symbol? I think I have an answer but can't be sure. Ayone else want to guess?
https://imgur.com/a/gkj0Q
https://imgur.com/a/gkj0Q
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_military_aircraft_designation_systems
Short system[edit]
In the late 1920s a short designation scheme was adopted, which was strikingly similar to the 1922 United States Navy aircraft designation system. This scheme used a letter or two letters to designate a type of aircraft, a number to indicate the number in series of that type of aircraft, and finally a letter to designate the manufacturer. Unlike the US Navy system, the Japanese system did not have a different number series for each manufacturer, and did not omit the number "1".[4]
Thus, the Zero's type in this designation system was A6M, which meant the sixth type of carrier fighter under this designation system, and that it was built by Mitsubishi.
Variants were indicated by an additional number at the end; repurposing an aircraft was indicated by a dash and then the new type letter.[4]
Sometimes two aircraft were ordered from different manufacturers to the same specification at the same time, generally as insurance against the primary design not working out. In this case, the same series number was used for both.
Aircraft type letters[5]
Letter Type of Aircraft
A Carrier fighter
B Carrier attack bomber
C Reconnaissance
D Carrier dive bomber
E Reconnaissance seaplane
F Observation seaplane
G Attack bomber (land-based)
H Flying boat
J Fighter (land-based)
K Trainer
L Transport
M Special seaplane
N Fighter seaplane
P Bomber
Q Patrol
R Reconnaissance (land-based)
S Night fighter
Manufacturer Letters
Letter Manufacturer
A Aichi
North American Aviation
B Boeing
C Consolidated Aircraft
D Showa
Douglas Aircraft
F Grumman
G Hitachi Kokuki
Goodyear
H Hiro
Hawker
He Heinkel
J Nihon Kogata Hikoki
Junkers
K Kawanishi
Kinner
M Mitsubishi
Airspeed
N Nakajima
P Nihon
S Sasebo
Si Showa
V Vought-Sikorsky
W Watanabe
Kyushu
Y Yokosuka
Z Mizuno Guraida Seisakusho
Short system[edit]
In the late 1920s a short designation scheme was adopted, which was strikingly similar to the 1922 United States Navy aircraft designation system. This scheme used a letter or two letters to designate a type of aircraft, a number to indicate the number in series of that type of aircraft, and finally a letter to designate the manufacturer. Unlike the US Navy system, the Japanese system did not have a different number series for each manufacturer, and did not omit the number "1".[4]
Thus, the Zero's type in this designation system was A6M, which meant the sixth type of carrier fighter under this designation system, and that it was built by Mitsubishi.
Variants were indicated by an additional number at the end; repurposing an aircraft was indicated by a dash and then the new type letter.[4]
Sometimes two aircraft were ordered from different manufacturers to the same specification at the same time, generally as insurance against the primary design not working out. In this case, the same series number was used for both.
Aircraft type letters[5]
Letter Type of Aircraft
A Carrier fighter
B Carrier attack bomber
C Reconnaissance
D Carrier dive bomber
E Reconnaissance seaplane
F Observation seaplane
G Attack bomber (land-based)
H Flying boat
J Fighter (land-based)
K Trainer
L Transport
M Special seaplane
N Fighter seaplane
P Bomber
Q Patrol
R Reconnaissance (land-based)
S Night fighter
Manufacturer Letters
Letter Manufacturer
A Aichi
North American Aviation
B Boeing
C Consolidated Aircraft
D Showa
Douglas Aircraft
F Grumman
G Hitachi Kokuki
Goodyear
H Hiro
Hawker
He Heinkel
J Nihon Kogata Hikoki
Junkers
K Kawanishi
Kinner
M Mitsubishi
Airspeed
N Nakajima
P Nihon
S Sasebo
Si Showa
V Vought-Sikorsky
W Watanabe
Kyushu
Y Yokosuka
Z Mizuno Guraida Seisakusho
This is a tail code, not an aircraft designation. This is an A6M2 from the Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carrier Akagi, shot down at Pearl Harbor. Here's how the tail code breaks down:
A = 1st carrier division
I = first carrier in the 1st carrier division, i.e. the carrier Akagi
1 = fighter (2 = bomber, 3 = torpedo bomber)
54 = the aircraft's individual number
There are some good documentaries on YouTube,about the US Marines were encircled and conducted a fighting fighting withdrawl from overwhelming numbers of Chinese troops at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir,North Korea in sub zero temperatures, where the Chinese suffered huge casualties from US firepower, plus the freezing cold, estimates of 29,000 battle casualties, 20,000 non battle casualties, US casualties were 17,843, killed, wounded, missing, and wounded, 7300 non battle casualties, this was in the short time frame of 27th Nov to 13th Dec 1950,
Finally in the spring of 1951, President Harry Truman, had enough of MacArthur's arrogance and insubordination , and relieved him of his command, replacing him with General Matthew "Iron Tits" Ridgway, called Iron Tits, on account of the hand grenade he wore on his webbing.
If you ever get to Washington take a run down to Triangle Virginia and visit the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Makes the Canadian War Museum look like a sad joke.
http://www.usmcmuseum.com/koreanwar.html
apparently the Juno Beach museum , in Normandy is a disappointment too, a victim of the the political correct crowd
Halger280HVMag
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- B.C. XMU Local .454
RSM: THAT MAN!...Rifle at high port...twice around the Parade Square....Double time....MARCH!
Yes.... the RSM had lined the men up alphabetically for pay parade...to make life easier for the Paymaster....as he strode down the line of men (somewhat pleased with himself)...he noticed Pte Philips standing quietly in line...unable to control himself his butt cheeks clenched involuntarily, his moustache twitched and his eye balls bulged the RSM screamed 'Philips! Philips! YOU SHOWER of SHXT!! WHAT the FXCKING HELL are you doing back here with the 'P's'!!!! GET the FXCK UP with the 'F's' where you belong!!!
This reminds me of a story a woman i talked to about 10 years ago, she was a Air force admin, posted to CFB Trenton , in the late 70's ,later her husband who was RCMP was posted to Chilliwack,, she got a posting at CFB Chilliwack, she told me she couldn't believe the change coming from a air force base, when the daily work was laid back and casual, then to a army base, saluting, standing at attention,shouted drill commands, she said when she reported for her first day of work, she made the error of not saluting the officer in charge , she shook hands with him..lol, she said there was a lot of funny looks, and shaking of heads..lol
Kayser Sose
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Van Isle
It does have a "Great War" feel to it, doesn't it? An awful lot of WW2 era kit in evidence there. if you'd told me the pic was from Tarawa or Iwo Jima, I would have had no reason to not believe you.
This looks like Invasion of the Bondage Freaks, but it's Korea.
If I was in charge of the PRK's propaganda wing, I'd make sure every home had a copy of this next to the place where the fridge would be if anyone had a fridge.
Holy crap thats ghastly haha
I dont think thats Korea. Two reasons: theres a TOW launcher mounted, on an M113 behind the horrorshow
I've been enduring the Mother of All Colds for the past week during a spell of -25/-30C temps. Bright, sunny, no wind, so it's bearable (barely). Pics of cold weather warfare have brought back unpleasant memories of playing soldier or working outside under such conditions.
One of the worst aspects was the prevalence of constipation, never an enjoyable experience at any time, much less so under survival conditions on the tundra. It was a problem brought on by the lack of fibre in the foods and one's reluctance to drop one's drawers in the cold. EXLAX was issued like candy. Anything you produced had to be collected and brought back to camp for disposal.
Rehydration was important so many hot drinks were sucked back and what goes in must come out. Condoms were issued so you could relieve yourself in the middle of the night in your sleeping bag. You used it and then CAREFULLY tied a knot in it, placing the condom aside for collection in the morning. You always knew who had an accident while tying the knot by the wails of anguish heard from the newly sodden.
We didn't have female soldiers then. I wonder what provisions they have made for them under arctic conditions. Anybody know?
One of the worst aspects was the prevalence of constipation, never an enjoyable experience at any time, much less so under survival conditions on the tundra. It was a problem brought on by the lack of fibre in the foods and one's reluctance to drop one's drawers in the cold. EXLAX was issued like candy. Anything you produced had to be collected and brought back to camp for disposal.
Rehydration was important so many hot drinks were sucked back and what goes in must come out. Condoms were issued so you could relieve yourself in the middle of the night in your sleeping bag. You used it and then CAREFULLY tied a knot in it, placing the condom aside for collection in the morning. You always knew who had an accident while tying the knot by the wails of anguish heard from the newly sodden.
We didn't have female soldiers then. I wonder what provisions they have made for them under arctic conditions. Anybody know?
The USMC runs one of the most successful public relations operations in history.
We could take some lessons from that.Its been said that the picture of the flag raising on Mount Suribachi ensured that there would be a Marine Corps for the next
1000 years and there's still magic in it. Some years ago I attended a commemoration of the flag raising run by a USMC reserve unit in Oregon. Mt Suribachi was a big gravel pile and the young troops were suited up in replica WW2 vintage uniforms and carrying M1 Garands, and the crowd really lapped it up. Good on them.
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