Picture of the day

[AP]

I think you should talk them into mounting a radar controlled 20mm instead. That way you don't have to "wait to see the whites of their eyes."

Wouldnt hold my breath for a 'veterans' discount - they can get a couple of 20 YO's out of Syria with more 'trigger time' with an HMG than most Cdn vets - and those kids will be happy to scrub the decks at night as well for clean sheets and a couple of meals a day.

 

[RRCo.]

Today in History: Amelia Earhart landed in Ireland in 1932.5 years before that Charles A. Lindbergh paved the way.Both legends and incredible fliers.

Few short years later regular transatlantic flights started and become common yet still very dangerous trip for ferry pilots during WW2.

When he landed Lindbergh had the good taste to say: "Alcock & Brown showed me the way."

Compared to their flight across the Altantic in 1919, his flight in 1927 in a fully enclosed high wing monoplane was a cakewalk.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transatlantic_flight_of_Alcock_and_Brown

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

6 pounder anti tank gun sets up to protect road in Holland from Dutch granny on bike, 1944:

The 6 pr was the go-to gun for defence against the Dutch cyclists that slowed the advance so dramatically. Here, a crew covers a road preparatory to market day. Soon the road would be swarming with heavy single-speed bikes, each manned by an eager old Dutch lady. They would be ready.

Earlier in the war, the Q.F.O. 6 pr anti tank gun had proven its effectiveness against cyclists in the desert. So effective was it, that by the third week of the campaign, civilian cycling in and around Tobruk was reduced to zero.

After the war, with the civilian cycling menace temporarily remedied, the guns were collected and scrapped.

A decision many European motorists have come to lament.

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

Bonus pic: En route to counter attack during the Tour de France:

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

In all seriousness, here's the Q-Ship of the desert, the AEC Mk 1 Gun Carrier, or "Deacon":

This system answers the question "If I need anti-tank mobility and I don't have tanks that can haul about a 6 pr gun, but I do have a bunch of trucks, what can I do?" Answer - armoured micro-cab, pivoting mount in the back, and Bob's yer Uncle.

But what if you want to run a convoy of them and surprise the snot out of Ol' Erwin's boys?

Done and done. Bet that filled a couple Lederhosen.

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

And 'cause I'm on a roll and a sucker for large-format pics, here's the ultimate goose hunting rig:

 

[sail32]

Apparently the Germans first used the Tiger I tank at Leningrad and the Russians captured some of them.

They passed the technical information on the Tigers to Britain.

They information allowed the British to wait until the Tigers were with in 500 yards, allowing the to knock out the Tigers with their 6 pounder anti tank gun.

http://www.wwiiequipment.com/index....er-anti-tank-gun&catid=40:anti-tank&Itemid=58

http://www.wwiivehicles.com/great-britain/penetration-tables.asp

https://www.google.ca/search?q=tige...sAQINA&biw=1920&bih=971#imgrc=ompi8zcYWIuuCM:

" Tiger ", By Anderson, Thomas

" Ferdinand and Elefant Tank Destroyer ", By Anderson, Thomas

 

[fingers284]

And 'cause I'm on a roll and a sucker for large-format pics, here's the ultimate goose hunting rig:

I suggested loading my M.L. 6 pndr up with a "canister" round for a shot at a flock of geese to a F&W officer, he was in plain cloths at the time so I was unaware of his standing...didn't take him long to produce a badge and his reply was much in the "don't you dare" category in very descriptive language and tone.

 

[Sharps '74]

Posed PR pic? What Panzer commander would roll down that straightaway? An ambush beside that farm house looks like a better proposition.

6 pounder anti tank gun sets up to protect road in Holland from Dutch granny on bike, 1944:

The 6 pr was the go-to gun for defence against the Dutch cyclists that slowed the advance so dramatically. Here, a crew covers a road preparatory to market day. Soon the road would be swarming with heavy single-speed bikes, each manned by an eager old Dutch lady. They would be ready.

After the war, with the civilian cycling menace temporarily remedied, the guns were collected and scrapped.

 

[CV32]

When he landed Lindbergh had the good taste to say: "Alcock & Brown showed me the way." Compared to their flight across the Altantic in 1919, his flight in 1927 in a fully enclosed high wing monoplane was a cakewalk.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transatlantic_flight_of_Alcock_and_Brown

I regularly run my dog in the field where they took off.

And here's the Vickers Vimy repro that Steve Fossett and Mark Rebholz flew to recreate the crossing back in 2005:

 

[shredder]

And 'cause I'm on a roll and a sucker for large-format pics, here's the ultimate goose hunting rig:

There wouldn't be anything left of the goose to eat if it was hit by THAT rig!!!!

 

[diopter]

Proper way to place Antitank guns

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

Personally, I'd avoid any cruise ship where they are playing the theme from "Titanic" as background music.

I'm toying with a cruise right now from Dubai to various points in India, the Indian Ocean and Africa. I'm hoping for a veteran's discount if I offer to man a .50 cal to repel boarders off the coast of Africa, kind of a busman's holiday so to speak.

If he takes you up on the offer, caution that he not enter territorial waters with weapons on board. If found, chances are the hard men who stand out from the rest of the passengers and crew will be quizzed extra intently. A few Westerners are in cells in India on illegal weapons charges.

 

[Canadianbosco]

There wouldn't be anything left of the goose to eat if it was hit by THAT rig!!!!

Yes but the other geese around it would have heart attacks after seeing what happened to their friend.

 

[Ganderite]

That 6 pounder looks small. How effective was it on tanks?

 

[scott585]

That 6 pounder looks small. How effective was it on tanks?

it would out-penetrate the shermans 75mm, it was quite heavily loaded. I once saw a video of one firing, and the wheels jump off the ground while every nut and bolt on the carriage undoes it self and then does itself back up again.

 

[Old Albertan]

Proper way to place Antitank guns.

Maybe. But they still lost.

 

[bearhunter]

Maybe. But they still lost.

Only because they spread themselves to thin to fast. They should have taken a breather after France and Belgium. Reconsolodated and won over the hearts and minds of their populations. They were quite popular in several influential circles after the League of Nations screw ups etc. If they had gone after the UK instead of the Soviet Union I am willing to bet there would have been a different outcome. Still, they did lose.

 

[diopter]

And they pretty much wrote the book on modern warfare tactics and training. They learned a few lessons at Vimy on the receiving end and then set out to improve on them.

 

[AP]

Many of the lessons for modern warfare actually started with the American Civil war. We fancy that modern warfare developed the 'reverse slope defence'...which was a critical element for the Union success at Gettysburg. While the Germans had mastered some tactics that certainly exploited the advantages of armour. Armour is only of limited advantage in some situations...where the 'the poor bloody infantryman' has to take and hold ground. But ultimately the real lesson in war is that good logistics trumps everything. And for that - no one has ever improved on the US military ....and then of course there is the critical role that air power plays.

(I once observed a section of very keen young soldiers lie down on a firing point with 20 plus other soldiers to participate in a area wide small arms competition. When the order to fire was given their rifles went 'click'....when I asked what was going on...they sheepishly admitted that they had no breech blocks in their weapons because their QM hadnt showed up with the key to the stores where the breech blocks were stored ....so they were hoping no-one would notice!)