Picture of the day

[diopter]

"THE CHRIST OF THE TRENCHES
Upon entering the Chaptel room of the famous Monastery of Santa Maria da Vitória, located in Batalha (Portugal), the visitor is faced with a scene that arouses his curiosity: guarded by a guard of honor, an image of the crucified Christ – with the two severed legs, missing a hand and sporting a puncture in the center of the chest - presides over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The appearance of the image should not, however, scare us, as it is a beautiful proof of the faith of the Portuguese soldiers who fought in the First World War. Let's know your story.
On April 9, 1918, a Lusitanian infantry division was stationed near the French town of Neuve-Chapelle, close to the border with Belgium. In the middle of the immense Flemish plain, on the way to the village of La Couture, the Portuguese soldiers could contemplate a lofty cross with an image of our Redeemer on the Cross.
That day, intense artillery fire set fire and reduced everything on the plain to rubble, leaving it strewn with the corpses of combatants, including 7,500 Portuguese expeditionaries. In the region of the battlefield, completely devastated by the bombardment, only the image of the crucified Christ was left standing. She stood on two stumps of legs, with her arms open as a sign of the welcome given to those who entrusted themselves to Him at the last hour.
The image was taken from the battlefield by surviving soldiers, anxious that this monument of faith and hope be venerated in a dignified place. Years later it was taken to Portugal, thus giving rise to the devotion of Cristo das Trencheiras. '"

 

[diopter]

Saab J 35 FP Draken from Squadron 201 "Falcões", BA5 Monte Real 1988
Unable to acquire any F-5 in decent conditions, the FAP meanwhile studied the acquisition of other second-hand fighters such as the French Mirage III or the SAAB 35 Draken. Negotiations with France, even though it was the preferred partner and with the intention of also acquiring Mirage V fighter-bombers, came to nothing. Eventually a deal with Sweden could be struck in 1985 and the Saab 35 was chosen as the new FAP air superiority fighter.
FAP was interested in the J 35 F, as these aircraft were the most modern Draken variant at the time and the relatively new airframes promised a long service life. An initial batch of eight aircraft - six single-seaters plus a pair of two-seater trainers - was leased by Portugal and delivered in 1986. These were effectively refurbished, former Swedish Saab J 35 F interceptors and Sk 35 C trainers. Draken versions for Portugal were designated Saab J or Sk 35 XP (“X” for export and “P” for Portugal), but this designation was not officially adopted.
For Portugal, the machines were stripped of specialist Swedish equipment and instead fitted with NATO-compliant avionics and other upgrades such as the Hawé I and II mods on the P/S-01/011 radar sets to improve their endurance. to the ECM. In contrast to the Swedish Saab J 35 F, the avionics needed to deploy the Rb 27 and Rb 28 missiles (Hughes AIM-4 Falcon with radar and IR guidance) were removed and the second gun reinstalled. The J 35 F's IR sensor under the nose has been retained and a French-made Sherloc radar warning system, as well as chaff/flare dispensers, have also been added.
In Portuguese service, the machines were named Saab 35 FP and TP and nicknamed “Dragõe”. The main armament of the fighters were, in addition to the internal 30 mm cannons, AIM-9 Sidewinders. Typically, a pair of these missiles were carried under the wings, along with a pair of 500 l tanks under the fuselage, as the Draken had no in-flight refueling capability and only a range of 1,120 km (696 mi) in clean configuration. . and only with internal fuel. The machines retained a secondary strike capability, though, with iron bombs up to 1,000 pounds in caliber, napalm tanks, and unguided missiles in pods. The trainers were unarmed but could carry a single optional 500 l tank on a ventral hardpoint.
The batch of leased aircraft arrived with a bare metal finish, but due to the country's proximity to the open sea, they quickly received a general coating with gray anti-corrosion varnish. They were assigned to the 201 "Falcões" Squadron at the Monte Real air base, where they replaced the last operational F-86Fs. They were officially allocated an interceptor role, but effectively were mainly used for conversion training, along with the T-38s, which had also been based at Monte Real since 1977.
With enough trained Draken crews on hand, a second batch of the old Swedish Draken (this time twelve single seaters plus two trainers) was purchased and delivered in 1987, the machines from the initial lease batch were also purchased. This small fleet was divided between Squadrons 201 and 103 (the latter at Beja Air Base), so that the FAP was able to field two interceptor squadrons in full operation. On arrival, the new machines were given a tactical camouflage with muted national and the initial batch J 35s were repainted accordingly. The ongoing modernization process of the Portuguese Air Force also included the launch of the SICCAP/PoACCS (Portugal Air Command and Control System) project, which pioneered the adoption of the new NATO ACCS architecture and concept, intended to replace the old anti-aircraft defense SDA of Portugal. Within the scope of these projects, the air surveillance and detection units were re-equipped, including the reception of new radars and the Monsanto air control center was reinforced. Saab 35 FPs became an integral part of this system, so that interceptors could be guided from the ground towards potential targets.
This scenario, however, did not last long: the end of the Cold War made the Portuguese Air Force accompany the change of focus of the Portuguese Armed Forces from a conventional war in Europe against the Warsaw Pact forces to the international missions of imposing the peace. The FAP began to participate in several missions alone or in support of missions commanded by the Army and Navy, but the Saab 35s did not get involved as they remained, due to their small number, dedicated to the patrol and defense of Portuguese airspace.
With the arrival of the first F-16 Fighting Falcon in 1994, the Saab 35s, as well as the FAP's A-7 Corsair IIs, were gradually retired and fully replaced by 1998.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dizzyfugu/49543500111

^^^^ BTW: April fools is highly entrenched in many European countries.

Instability

Draken performing a kort parad

Due to a lack of knowledge regarding the then historically unproven design of the J 35's tailless double delta wing configuration, the plane encountered multiple problems at the start of its service life. The unstable design of the double delta wing made it difficult to land early versions of the J 35 as they had to be manually stabilized during landing.[24] The design also allowed the plane to enter a "super stalls"; which can be described as an uncontrollable stall affecting aircraft with specific wing configurations when experiencing high alpha numbers.[24] Due to this, J 35 pilots were trained to prevent super stalls, and this training led to the development of the cobra maneuver. The cobra is performed by entering into a controlled super stall state, gaining high alpha and then quickly negating the angle of attack to counter the stall.[8] This forces the airframe to act as an air brake for a few seconds, which rapidly reduces the speed.

The Swedish Air Force is the first air force to have discovered and developed the cobra maneuver. The Swedish named it kort parad, meaning ‘short parry’. Initially it was used during training to teach pilots how to counter super stalls, however it also saw secondary use as a combat maneuver which would cause a pursuing enemy fighter overshoot, allowing the pilot to riposte.[8][9][10]

 

[diopter]

Paras of the 1st CCP of BCP21, in Quipedro, Angola in August 1961, building the improvised runway during the Nema operation.
Me: these three will not pee into the commanders' beer again!

BA9 11/8/1961 preparation for launch in operation (Nema) in Quipedro.

 

[diopter]

This speedboat was on its way
from Vila Nova da Armada on the CUITO River,
in the District of Cuando Cubango,
after coming from Luanda
always on roads or trails,
as is the case where the photo was taken.

¶ It was for the Marines stationed there.

It was in one of these that most of the 42 am Company 2506, one car at a time,
crossed the Cuito River,
when they returned to Luanda
after 10 months at Coutada do Mucusso,
South of Angola.

Lands at the end of the world. will have traveled around

 

[diopter]

PANHARD EBR'S

Panhard 28 ETT troop transporter EBR-ETT (Engin Transporteur de Troupes)


and also Dragoons.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

What's up with the steel wheel on the vehicle ?

Grizz

 

[shredder]

What's up with the steel wheel on the vehicle ?

Grizz

Five will get you ten that was a "field replacement".

 

[bogusiii]

Five will get you ten that was a "field replacement".

No, the front and rear wheels were for driving on roads. The middle steel wheels were for dealing with off road soft ground.

 

[bearhunter]

No, the front and rear wheels were for driving on roads. The middle steel wheels were for dealing with off road soft ground.

Yup or at least eliminating the issue such a long vehicle would have with high centering under field conditions.

I watched one of those taking on a T34 and was amazed at the agility of the vehicle at the hands of a competent crew. Neither vehicle was destroyed but they both sustained some damage before they disengaged.

They had to stop the Panhard /EBR/ Salido armored car to use the main gun, which may have been harder on the crew than the enemy, from what I saw.

The frames on those vehicles are very flexible and their armor is thin, meant for small arms fire protection from unsustained firing.

I'm thinking the middle wheels served two purposes, the elimination of high centering is obvious but when they fired that heavy main gun, the mid wheels also supported the frame.

The Portuguese bought those vehicles in very well used and poorly maintained condition from the French.

Their mechanics were miracle workers.

They scrounged parts, made up parts or just eliminated non functional parts that just got in the way.

Great reconnoitering vehicles and very tough/rugged but prone to breakdowns if they weren't properly maintained. They quite literally drank fuel and their range wasn't very spectacular but they were a definite force to be reckoned with in the right hands.

The Portuguese crews really liked them and referred to them with a lot of affection, almost like a loved pet.

 

[diopter]

^ Very true. Rally racing is very popular in Portugal and gives off-road mechanical experience.

More info:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panhard_EBR

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

Erwin's lads letting a few go outside Tobruk:

Those angular plates still look futuristic.

 

[XRCD011]

Erwin's lads letting a few go outside Tobruk:

Those angular plates still look futuristic.

I alwys like the looks of the Sd.Kfz.222 and as others have noted it would not look out of place on the battlefield today.

http://the.shadock.free.fr/Surviving_German_Armoured_Vehicles.pdf

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

It is late, and the Italian Starfighter creates a nest for itself by burrowing into the earth. This one, an immature male, is inexperienced, and has attempted burrowing at too low a speed. Soon it will attempt it again, likely successfully.

 

[bush1]

Vimy Ridge 9 Apr 1917



For the first time, all four Canadian divisions were to be assembled to operate in combat as a corps. The Canadian divisions were joined by the British 5th Infantry Division, and reinforced by artillery, engineer and labour units.[6] The Canadian Corps was supported to the north by the 24th British Division of I Corps which advanced north of the Souchez river and by the advancing XVII Corps to the south.[7] The attack began at 5:30 a.m. on Easter Monday, 9 April 1917, whereupon every artillery piece at the disposal of the Canadian Corps began firing. Light field guns laid down a barrage which advanced in predetermined increments, often 100 yards (91 m) every three minutes, while medium and heavy howitzers established a series of standing barrages further ahead, against known defensive systems.[8]

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Canadian Divisions reported reaching and capturing their first objective, the Black Line, by 6:25 a.m.[9] The 4th Canadian Division encountered a great deal of trouble during its advance and was unable to complete its first objective until some hours later.[9] After a planned pause, during which positions were consolidated, the advance resumed. Shortly after 7:00 a.m., the 1st Canadian Division had taken half of its second objective, the Red Line, and moved a brigade forward to mount an attack on the remainder.[10] The 2nd Canadian Division reported reaching the Red Line and capturing the town of Les Tilleuls at approximately the same time.[11] Units at the 3rd Canadian Division reached their section of the Red Line at around 7:30 a.m.[12] However, due to an exposed left flank caused by the failure of the 4th Canadian Division to capture the top of the ridge, the 3rd Canadian Division was forced to stop and establish a divisional defensive flank to its north.[13] It was not until 11:00 a.m. that the defending German 79th Reserve Division mounted a counterattack, by which time only the 4th Canadian Division had not reached its objective.[14]

Three fresh brigades were moved up to the Red Line by 9:30 a.m., 10 April to support the advance whereupon they leapfrogged existing units occupying the Red line and advanced to the Blue Line.[15] By approximately 11:00 a.m., the Blue Line, including Hill 135 and the town of Thélus, had been captured.[16] The advance briefly halted, the artillery barrage remaining stationary for 90 minutes to give troops time to consolidate the Blue Line and bring supporting machine guns forward.[17] Shortly before 1 p.m., the advance recommenced with the Brown Line being secure around 2:00 p.m.[18] By this point only the northern half of Hill 145 and "the Pimple", a fortified highpoint outside of Givenchy-en-Gohelle, remained under German control. Fresh troops finally forced the remaining German troops from the northern half of Hill 145 at around 3:15 p.m and by nightfall of 10 April, the only objective not yet achieved was the capture of "the Pimple".[19] Supported by a significant amount of artillery and the 24th British Division of I Corps to the north, the 10th Canadian Brigade attacked the hastily entrenched German troops and captured "the Pimple" on 12 April, bringing an end to the battle.[20] By nightfall on 12 April 1917 the Canadian Corps was in firm control of the ridge.

The corps had suffered 10,602 casualties; 3,598 killed and 7,004 wounded.[21] The German Sixth Army suffered an unknown number of casualties with an approximate 4,000 men becoming prisoners of war.[22] Four Victoria Crosses, the highest military decoration awarded to British and Commonwealth forces for valour, were awarded to members of the Canadian Corps and at least two Orders Pour le Mérite, the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order, were awarded to German commanders.[23] The Germans did not attempt to recapture the ridge, including during the Spring Offensive, and it remained under British control until the end of the war.

 

[R005t3r]

You can't truly appreciate the monumental scale of the task to take that ridge until you are on it.

Vimy Ridge stands about 110 metres at its highest point and runs for approximately ten kilometers. The allied side was a long gradual slope, which made its way to the crest. A sharp drop fell into the expansive Douai Plain. The topography gave the Germans a clear and uninterrupted sight line of all enemy advances.

 

[bush1]

You can't truly appreciate the monumental scale of the task to take that ridge until you are on it.

Vimy Ridge stands about 110 metres at its highest point and runs for approximately ten kilometers. The allied side was a long gradual slope, which made its way to the crest. A sharp drop fell into the expansive Douai Plain. The topography gave the Germans a clear and uninterrupted sight line of all enemy advances.

Very true. A friend went for the 100th a few years back and he said the same thing. I wish I had have known he was going and I would have went with him. It’s just one of those things one should see.

 

[R005t3r]

Very true. A friend went for the 100th a few years back and he said the same thing. I wish I had have known he was going and I would have went with him. It’s just one of those things one should see.

The graves of the sixteen year old's are particularly painful.

 

[NAA]

You can't truly appreciate the monumental scale of the task to take that ridge until you are on it.

100%

I was there in spring 2009 while on a 3 week tour with a couple friends. A very, very humbling experience.

Every Canadian needs to go there, at least once in their lifetime.

---------
NAA.

 

[x westie]

Vimy Ridge Memorial was recaptured, undamaged in September 1944 by my dad’s battalion, 2nd Battalion, Welsh Guards, the armoured reconnaissance battalion of the Guards Armoured Division

 

[I Dont Care About You]

Vimy Ridge Memorial was recaptured, undamaged in September 1944 by my dad’s battalion, 2nd Battalion, Welsh Guards, the armoured reconnaissance battalion of the Guards Armoured Division

There are pics of Hitler visiting the Vimy memorial. Apparently he ordered the memorial to be guarded against vandalism.

100%

I was there in spring 2009 while on a 3 week tour with a couple friends. A very, very humbling experience.

Every Canadian needs to go there, at least once in their lifetime.

---------
NAA.

Yes. It is a profound and humbling experience. I've been twice and it never fails to be staggering.

You can't truly appreciate the monumental scale of the task to take that ridge until you are on it.

.

It is am amazing and beautiful memorial to see in person.