Search found 371 matches

by Darrin
Thu Jun 22, 2006 12:27 am
Forum: Campaigns and Battles
Topic: If Japan invaded Russia instead of attacking Pearl Harbor...
Replies: 55
Views: 19139

Hi von noobie, There would be absolutely no point in the Japanese occupying the Hawaian Islands only to give them up again. Nobody in WWII put damaged captured enemy battleships back into service for themselves - it took too long and was of questionable value in a carrier-dominated erea. The only u...
by Darrin
Wed Jun 21, 2006 9:34 pm
Forum: Campaigns and Battles
Topic: If Japan invaded Russia instead of attacking Pearl Harbor...
Replies: 55
Views: 19139

The japs after the oil embargo needed oil. Somthing the east end of rus did not have. The oil could be found in the dutch east indies and british pos in that area. The US had no important res jap could get so a fall/winter 41 att on the US had no use for the japs. Instead of invading and garrisoning...
by Darrin
Tue Feb 07, 2006 8:30 am
Forum: General WWII German Military Discussion
Topic: How long was basic training?
Replies: 46
Views: 14077

In france in 1944 there was a ger panzer grend div that was bieng convverted into a panzer div. It had been in training for at least 6 months when normandy happened. At first it was decided the div was to badly trrained to be thrown into normandy. But after a few days it was ordered into the battle.
by Darrin
Tue Feb 07, 2006 8:17 am
Forum: General WWII German Military Discussion
Topic: How long was basic training?
Replies: 46
Views: 14077

I don't read ger. Nor have I read all the offical unit diaries. But I have read several ger generals mem translated into english. In all of them there is a general belief that the ger div increased in prof right up till barrabasso. The ger sup troops were also specifically priased as exceleeent at l...
by Darrin
Mon Jan 30, 2006 2:53 am
Forum: General WWII German Military Discussion
Topic: How long was basic training?
Replies: 46
Views: 14077

Hi Christoph, Yes, I was referring to the Dienstzeit. Like to ask another question if I may. My father for instance was called up in 1936 [according to his file, he was not amused]. It seems that he was drafted into 7./II./IR 21 from day one [again his records indicate this], or does his record mer...
by Darrin
Mon Jan 30, 2006 2:41 am
Forum: General WWII German Military Discussion
Topic: How long was basic training?
Replies: 46
Views: 14077

UK Lightgunner wrote:I`v never heard of Basic training only lasting 6 weeks,you`v learnt hardly anything in that time unless is it is contant weapon training perhaps and the only Army to call Basic training `Boot camp` is the Americans,no one in Europe`refers` it as so.


In canada it is nicknamed boot camp today.
by Darrin
Fri Jan 06, 2006 10:32 pm
Forum: The Allies in WWII
Topic: The real impact of the fighter bomber post D-day
Replies: 34
Views: 11369

One interesting average is 6 rkt firing sorties to achieve a 'rail cut'. Extremely efficient, though the result would likely be very temporary. Had the war continued longer, findings such as this would have helped the RAF view prevail over that of the Army. Regards, dduff The rokets were not all th...
by Darrin
Thu Jan 05, 2006 10:39 pm
Forum: The Allies in WWII
Topic: The real impact of the fighter bomber post D-day
Replies: 34
Views: 11369

Yeah but very few members of Panzer divisions, and support units, actually traveled in tanks. Even fewer in Tigers. 95% of cas happened in the inf bats and Panzer grenadiers. Even during normandy the rear area combat units and non-tanks were not mauled disportionatly. In fact amoung all types of ge...
by Darrin
Mon Jan 02, 2006 10:15 pm
Forum: The Allies in WWII
Topic: The Tommy Cooker
Replies: 5
Views: 2676

Re: The Tommy Cooker

The propensity of the M4 Sherman to burn on getting hit (apparently even by 20mm shells) is well known. Can anyone tell me the specific reasons why this happened? Imad It seems the sherman was not any worse at crew cas than any other CW tank. At least according to one study of CW unit diaries done ...
by Darrin
Mon Dec 19, 2005 10:48 pm
Forum: The Allies in WWII
Topic: The real impact of the fighter bomber post D-day
Replies: 34
Views: 11369

I think part of the reasons the Allies never developed a word for the German fighter bomber is because they rarely ever saw one. As you already point to, the German AA effort against strafing jabos deserve special mention. They had a few excellent guns available for such work, including a quad 20mm...
by Darrin
Wed Dec 14, 2005 11:42 pm
Forum: The Allies in WWII
Topic: The real impact of the fighter bomber post D-day
Replies: 34
Views: 11369

Jock There is a good piece in "Armour Battles of the W-SS" where Fritz Langanke talks of being strafed by an American Jabo while in a panther tank. Pretty daggone nerve racking - the .50 guns shot out all the periscopes and wrecked everything but did not penetrate. But damn - that must ru...
by Darrin
Sat Dec 10, 2005 12:36 am
Forum: Campaigns and Battles
Topic: Soviet Counter Artillery Prep at Kursk
Replies: 11
Views: 3959

Thanks Qvist and DDuff :D , Having looked out my copy of The Soviet General Staff Study on Kursk it seems I erred in my original post. It appears that in the north, Central Front's preparation was largely concerned with targeting German Artillery Formations in Counter battery fire and forming up ar...
by Darrin
Sat Dec 10, 2005 12:21 am
Forum: Campaigns and Battles
Topic: Soviet Counter Artillery Prep at Kursk
Replies: 11
Views: 3959

I recall offhand that Soviet sources claimed the bombardment of the assembly areas was assisted by a steady flow of deserters prior to the attack. Something similar happened at Anzio; results were definitely significant there as the German offensive was on a very narrow front given the Allies' prep...
by Darrin
Wed Aug 24, 2005 12:03 pm
Forum: The Allies in WWII
Topic: Marksmanship
Replies: 19
Views: 6201

The brits actually found out via range tests that the volume of fire was very important more so than accacery. As an example a person could shoot 20 times at 70% accercy and achieve 14 hits. A person who shoots 10 times with 90% accercy achives only 9 hits. In this example volume of fire was much mo...
by Darrin
Sun Aug 14, 2005 10:32 pm
Forum: The Allies in WWII
Topic: Marksmanship
Replies: 19
Views: 6201

One interseting slightly off topic was the Brits in the immed post war period had a problem with the infantry firing much slower then the required min. This was in the period when they still used the SSR
Engfield.