world war two Archives - Page 4 of 36

A34 Comet Tank

Within the Tank Museum at Bovington is the A34 Comet Tank.

The Comet was was a British cruiser tank that first saw use near the end of the second world war. It was designed as an improvement on the earlier Cromwell tank, mounting the new 77 mm HV gun in a new lower profile and part-cast turret. This gun was effective against late-war German tanks, including the Panther at medium range, and the Tiger.

The Comet saw action in the closing stages of World War II and remained in British service until 1958, but was rapidly eclipsed by Centurion. In some cases, Comets sold to other countries continued to operate into the 1980s.

I do have some of the Flames of War plastic models, but they are still currently still in their boxes. I have been thinking of using them not only for Late War Flames of War games, but also 1950s Cold War games. The Comet remained in British service until 1958. Reading the Hot War books from Harry Turtledove has inspired me to think about gaming some scenarios from the books. British Comets and Centurions versus Russians T34-85 and T54 Soviet tanks with American M26 Pershing and M48 Patton tanks. In the book there are also Sherman manned by (West) German forces.

Why such a liking for this tank, well, as with other models, I suspect that it was because I bought and made the Matchbox Comet many, many years ago.

British BL 7.2 inch Howitzer on an US Long Tom gun carriage

British BL 7.2 inch Howitzer on an US Long Tom gun carriage in the Land War Exhibit at the Imperial War Museum Duxford.

The BL 7.2-inch howitzer was a heavy artillery piece used by the British Army throughout the Second World War.

The usual gun tractor for the 7.2-inch howitzer in the early war years was the Scammell Pioneer, although this was never available in sufficient numbers and from late 1943 the Pioneer was supplemented by the Albion CX22S.

M4A4 Sherman

This M4A4 Sherman tank was on display at the Imperial War Museum in London.

Service history unknow. However, when the object was stripped back for repainting on acquisition by the Imperial War Museum, it was found to be carrying markings commensurate with a tank operating with the Guards Armoured Division in North West Europe, 1944-45.

The M4 Sherman, officially Medium Tank, M4, was the most widely used medium tank by the United States and Western Allies in World War II.

The M4A4 was the most common lend lease Sherman type used by the British Army.

I have posted a few photographs on the blog of Simon’s 15mm British Sherman tanks he has painted for Flames of War.

Supermarine Spitfire Mk IA

Famous Battle of Britain fighter, preserved in its original wartime OTU livery.

Suspended by cables from ceiling.

AEC Matador and 5.5″ Gun

I have written before about the influence of Matchbox and Airfix and the impact it has on the models I buy for gaming.

When I was young, before I started this wargaming lark, I use to make up plastic kits. In the main these were the pocket money kits I could buy from my local model shop and these were manufactured by Airfix and Matchbox. I recall preferring the Matchbox kits as they came with a piece of scenery.

…I have started to realise how much my knowledge of World War Two vehicles and armour has been skewed by making those plastic kits all those years ago. They have also influenced what models I am buying and which ones I like.

A similar thing can be said when it comes to looking around Museums and seeing vehicles and aircraft. So it’s no surprise when I saw the AEC Matador and 5.5″ Howtizer at the Land Warfare Exhibit at the Imperial War Museum Duxford, the first thing that came to mind, was the classic Airfix kit.

The Airfix model scene is from Europe, however the actual truck on display at Duxford is painted in desert colours.

The AEC Matador was a heavy 4×4 truck and medium artillery tractor built by the Associated Equipment Company for British and Commonwealth forces during the Second World War.

This truck served on Malta with the Royal Malta Artillery during World War Two.

The BL 5.5 inch Gun was a British artillery gun introduced during the middle of the Second World War to equip medium batteries.

This example, a Mark III, served with 25 Field Artillery Battery, RA (V), Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Yeomanry, being withdrawn in 1977 after the barrel had fired over 1500 rounds.

37mm Pak 36

Of all the anti-tank guns used during the Second World War, the 37mm Pak 36 was the most widely encountered. This one is displayed in the Land Warfare Exhibit at Duxford.

Developed in 1933 and issued to the German army in 1936, with 9,120 being available by the beginning of the war in September 1939 and a further 5,339 produced during the war.

A Pak 36 in Northern France, 1944 – Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-299-1831-26 / Hähle, Johannes / CC-BY-SA 3.0

I remember having a 1:76th version (20mm) because I had the Matchbox Krupp Kfz 69.

Ford GPW 4X4 Jeep

Red Cross Ford GPW 4X4 Jeep on display at the Imperial War Museum London.

Donated to the Red Cross Home for Officers in Sorrento, Italy in Autumn 1943 on the orders of General Mark Clark (who had been struck by the Homes lack of transport during an official visit.) Later the Jeep was used by the Red Cross Homes in La Selva and Cuvia, Italy and Klagenfurt, Austria. It was also used for delivering supplies to Casualty Clearing Stations in this theatre. At the end of the war the Jeep was written off and The Red Cross were told they could keep it. In 1946 the Jeep and trailer were driven to England by the donor. The Red Cross showed no interest in keeping the vehicle so it passed into the possession of its former driver, Joan Whittington, who had driven it back from Austria.

Morris CS8 Compressor Truck 4X2

Morris CS8 Compressor Truck 4X2 on display at the Imperial War Museum Duxford in their Land Warfare exhibition. British WW2 4×2, 15-cwt truck, powered by Morris 6-cylinder petrol engine, fitted with an air compressor for operating air tools.

Vickers Mk VIA Light Tank and Polish 3.7cm Bofors Anti-Tank Gun

The Vickers Mk VIA Light Tank was a British WW2 light tank, crew of 3, powered by Meadows 6-cylinder petrol engine, armed with two machine guns.

This one is on display at the Imperial War Museum Duxford. It was one of 11 sent to Australia in 1941 for training purposes Standard British light tank till 1941.

The Mk VI Light Tank was the sixth in the line of light tanks built by Vickers-Armstrongs for the British Army during the interwar period. The company had achieved a degree of standardization with their previous five models, and the Mark VI was identical in all but a few respects. The turret, which had been expanded in the Mk V to allow a three-man crew to operate the tank, was further expanded to give room in its rear for a wireless set.

The British Army lost 331 Mark VI light tanks in the Battle of France of 1940.

The Mk VIB was also used in the North African campaign against the Italians late in 1940 with the 7th Armoured Division.

Here are some 15mm Flames of War Light Tank VIs and a metal 15mm one of mine, which is badly painted.

In front of the tank is a Polish manufactured 3.7cm Bofors Anti-Tank Gun.

The 3.7 cm Bofors Cannon M/36P anti-rtank gun was a Swedish design that was developed in the mid-1930s, and was also manufacured in Finland. During the Second World war, it was used by Polish, Danish, and Finnish armies as well as the British. Captured examples were also used by the German Army, who designated it the 3.7 Panzerabwehrkanone 36(p) oder 157(d).

Behind the tank is a 1912 Italian – Fiat 15 ter 1.5 ton Light Truck.

Mitsubishi Zero A6M3

At the Imperial War Museum there is a Mitsubishi Zero A6M3 in a very decayed state.

The Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” was a long-range fighter aircraft operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1940 to 1945. The A6M was designated as the Mitsubishi Navy Type 0 carrier fighter. The A6M was usually referred to by its pilots as the Reisen (zero fighter), “0” being the last digit of the imperial year 2600 (1940) when it entered service with the Imperial Navy. The official Allied reporting name was “Zeke”, although the use of the name “Zero” was used colloquially by the Allies as well. The Mitsubishi Zero A6M3 was introduced in 1941.

The Zero is considered to have been the most capable carrier-based fighter in the world when it was introduced early in World War II, combining excellent manoeuvrability and very long range.