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By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on November 24th, 2011%
Organization of the WWII German Luftwaffe from the U.S. War Department’s Handbook for Combat Air Intelligence Officers, Army Air Forces Air Intelligence School, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, March 1944.
2. ORGANIZATION.
a. General.
(1) The German Air Force (Luftwaffe) is one of three branches of the German Armed Forces (Wehrmacht) and is organized and administered independently of the Army and the Navy.
(2) The Luftwaffe itself is divided into three parts: air, air signal, and antiaircraft artillery. Included in the Luftwaffe are parachute and airborne troops, air engineers, air medical corps, air police, and certain special air divisions used as regular fighting troops.
(3) Organized on a territorial rather than a functional basis and with operational and administrative commands separated, the GAF achieved a mobility and flexibility which was largely responsible for its initial success. (Organization of the GAF is shown on Chart B.)
Continue reading Organization of the Luftwaffe
By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on April 5th, 2011%
Organization of the WWII Japanese Army Air Service and Naval Air Service from the U.S. War Department’s Handbook for Combat Air Intelligence Officers, Army Air Forces Air Intelligence School, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, March 1944.
3. ORGANIZATION.
a. General.
(1) Owing to the excellence of Japanese counterintelligence during the years in which they were building their air strength, and owing to the difficulty of the Japanese language, Allied information about the organization of the Japanese Air Services is scanty and possibly inaccurate. (Charts C and D give the latest information available about the organization of both the Army and Naval Air Services.)
Continue reading Organization of the Japanese Air Force
By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on January 22nd, 2011%
From Japanese Electronics, OPNAV-16-VP101, Photographic Intelligence Report 1, Air Intelligence Group, Division of Naval Intelligence, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, January 1945:
German Radar Summary
Examples of German Radar are included here to cover the possibility that the Japanese may have access to German equipment and technicians.
The Germans employ several types of land based installations covering the functions of Air Search, Fire Control, and Coast Watching.
These types are quite well standardized and are much more efficient than those the Japanese are known to have.
There is now some photographic evidence of German Radar equipment in use by the Japanese. Also, it is knowrn that many other types of German electronics equipment are being used.
The following table represents the latest list of German Radar types with salient information concerning each.
GERMAN LAND BASED RADAR| Name | Size of Screen* | Top of Screen Above Ground | Frequency | Range in Nautical Miles | Use | | LIMBER FREYA | 20′x 16′
IFF – 16¼ x 3½’ | 26¾’
30′ with IFF | 116-146 MCS. | 75 | A.S. | | POLE FREYA | 20′x 16′
IFF – 16¼ x 3½’ or 20′ x 8′ | 32′, 35′ or 40′ with IFF | 116-146 MCS. | 100 | A.S. | | GIRDER CHIMNEY | 19½’ x 97½ | 115′ | 120-130 MCS. | 110 | A.S. | | CYLINDRICAL CHIMNEY | 60′ x 97½
IFF .22′ High | 110½’ | 120-130 MCS. | 160 | A.S. | | GEMA COASTWATCHER | 20′ x 8′ | 25′ | 370-390 MCS. | Depends on elevation (ASL) of site | C.W. |
| LARGE COASTWATCHER | 35′ x 34′ | 40′ | 70-90 MCS. | 60-75 | C.W. | | SMALL HOARDING | 63¾’ x 44¾’ | 50′ | | | C.W. | | LARGE HOARDING | 98′ x 36½’ | 50′ | 120-130 MCS. | 100-115 | C.W. | | SMALL WURZBURG | 10′ Diameter | 12½’ in Vertical Position | 550-580 MCS. | 25 | F.C. | | GIANT WURZBURG | 24′ Diameter | 27′ in Vertical Position | 470-580 MCS. | 40 | G.C.I., A.S. & C.W. |
* – Width (Horizontal Dimension) Given First
A.S. – Air Search
F.C. – A/A Fire Control
C.W. – Coast Watching
G.C.I. – Ground Control Intercept
Drawings of all of the basic German Radar types are included on this page. Best known popular names are used for the designation of each type. It will be noted that these designs are quite well standardized for each particular use, and identification is easier because of this fact.
In most cases, this German equipment is superior to that now in use by the Japanese. A constant watch for German type designs of Radar in Japanese held territory is therefore in order.
By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on January 22nd, 2011%
The U.S. intelligence articles from Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 34, September 1943 have been added to the main Lone Sentry website:
By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on January 15th, 2011%
The following correspondent’s report from the UP (United Press) describes the fighting at Hunt’s Gap in Tunisia in February-March 1943. Compare this account of the battle to the German commander Oberst. Rudolf Lang’s account and British observer Howard Marshall’s account.
BRITISH BOMBER SCORES AGAINST 6 GERMAN TANKS
Northern Tunisia Fighters Receiving Allied Air Support
BY EDWARD W. BEATTIE
ON THE NORTHERN TUNISIAN FRONT, March 1.—(UP)—There were six enemy tanks—big boys, probably Mark VI’s—massed north of the Mateur-Beja road when a bomber went in and dropped two bombs squarely into the middle of them.
British soldiers threw their helmets into the air and cheered. And well they might, for troops in this area never before had such air support as they are now receiving.
The British bombers caught Rommel’s supply columns in a narrow valley above. Beja Sunday. There was a thick fog lying across the valley and it was not an ideal day for bombing.
But, starting at dawn, the Allied bombers made eight sorties low into the valley and when they got through, the hair-pin road along which the Axis transport was concentrated was pock-marked with bomb craters.
Enemy Immobilized
I talked to the returning pilots and they said most of the enemy vehicles were stationary and some of them immobilized by the fury of the Allied attack.
The Germans threw an attack against Allied lines above Beja Sunday, using about 10 Mark IV tanks. British Churchill tanks rolled out to oppose them and knocked out three and perhaps four of the Mark IV’s. A heavier enemy attack may come, however, because a force of about 30 German tanks was seen just off the Beja road.
Allied air power was thrown against the Germans as early as Saturday, and ground troops then reoccupied two important positions.
The British early Saturday morning took Fort McGregor—named after a young American lieutenant from Brooklyn—south of Medjez-El-Bab. The American garrison of Fort McGregor was withdrawn some time ago.
British Surprise
The Germans took it Friday. Crack German tank forces and other elements penetrated through a dry river bed to the south. The British surprised them with a counterattack, killed 40 and captured 60.
The British reoccupied Tally-Ho corner after the Germans withdrew into the hills east of the Medjez-El-Bab – El-Aroussa road during the night. When darkness came Saturday, the British were mopping up a few remnants halfway along the road.
The attack toward Beja made little progress Saturday, and was heavily bombed and shelled. The Germans sent forces of roughly a battalion (1,000 men) through the hills between the Beja-Mateur and Beja-Medjez-El-Bab road, intending to cut around the latter around over Zarga. By Saturday night, the battalion had not been in contact with the British, although artillery had shelled the Germans heavily.
Germans Use Planes
The Germans have been using their planes liberally to attack Allied positions and shoot up transport behind the front. They attacked Tally-Ho corner three times without much result.
Roughly, it was estimated the Germans threw 13 battalions (13,000 men), with supporting troops of two divisions (perhaps 30,000 men) into the action on the northern front, but paradoxically, fighting was more restricted Saturday than the day before.
Of an estimated 50 German and Italian tanks involved, It was estimated that at least 15 to 20 have been knocked out.
By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on December 26th, 2010%
The following report on the WW2 SO-7M truck-mounted surface search radar was published in the September 1944 issue of C.I.C. (Combat Information Center) published by the U.S. Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
What the SO-7M can do…
The SO-7M—a truck mounted surface search radar with PPI presentation—is being furnished to Marine Corps Units and Naval Surface Search units. A performance test of the set tinder typical conditions was conducted by the Pacific Fleet Radar Center.
 The SO is mobile. The SO-7M was sited on the shoreline with its antenna 20 feet above sea level. A 100 degree sector to seaward, with no line-of-sight obstacles, provided adequate area for the test. No difficulty was experienced in putting the equipment into operation. The time required for two men to do this was only about 15 minutes. The set appeared to be in excellent materiel condition.
Continue reading SO-7M Radar
By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on December 26th, 2010%
PBS’ American Experience presents The Bombing of Germany, an excellent documentary on the American and British bombing of Germany in WWII with extensive color footage and veteran interviews.
The documentary is also available on Hulu.
By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on December 24th, 2010%
Instructions for removing the inner bogie wheels on the M4 tank with horizontal-volute spring suspension (HVSS) from Army Motors, Vol. 5, No. 11, February 1945.
SPECIAL TOOLS FOR YOUR NEW H.S./M.F.T.
Meaning: Horizontal-Suspension M-Four Tank. If that is your brand, this SOP is your oyster.
If you’re an M4-series medium tankman. with a new-fangled horizontal-volute suspension to nurse, you’ve a break comin’ that’ll help with your chores. A new set of special tools just issued to the 2nd and higher echelons makes a couple of tough jobs a damn sight easier—to wit, removing the volute springs from the suspensions, and taking off an inner bogie-wheel.
As you know if you’ve seen them, these horizontal-volute suspensions come with two types of tracks—the T66 with all-steel track-shoes, and the T80 with rubber-shod track-shoes. If you’ve got a T66, you can use the riser block as originally designed, but if it’s a T80, be sure to use the modified riser block. Any or all volute springs can be removed while the center bogie-assembly is raised up on the jack. We posed the T66 for the revealing photos that follow.
When you go to remove an inner bogie-wheel, be sure to leave the hub-caps on throughout the job or you’ll have the wheel-bearings full of grime and grit before you know it—and we don’t have to remind you that spells woe. Another thing—if the outer bogie-tire is worn, you’ll be wise to change it before you start to change the inner bogie-wheel. Then you’ll have good clearance between the wheel and hull, and between the wheel and track on the inner wheel. Carry on.
Fig. 1—Here’s all the special tools you need to do either of these exercises: (A) Block, riser, bogie-wheel, Fed. Stock No. 41-B-1411-200 (before modification). (B) Block, riser, bogie-wheel, Fed. Stock No. 41-B-1411-200 (after modification). (C) Adapters, volute-spring removing, Fed. Stock No. 41-A-30-650. (D) Lock, riser-block, Ord. No. B-7080204. Any other tools you’ll use are OVM or common tools found on your M1 Heavy Wrecker.
Fig. 2—To remove the volute spring, first loosen one wheel-bolt on each wheel of the bogie assembly involved. Place riser blocks, one in front of each wheel of the center bogie-assembly, and hunch the tank forward until the bogie-wheels center on the blocks as you see them here.
Continue reading Removing Inner Bogie Wheels on Horizontal-Volute Suspension
By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on December 21st, 2010%
 The Military Vehicle Technology Foundation (MVTF), founded by Jacques Littlefield, is a large collection of tanks and military vehicles housed in Portola Valley, California. MVTF was established in 1998 to establish and preserve a collection of vehicles to serve the interests of researchers, authors, historians, modellers and the entertainment industry. The MVTF collection includes over 200 armored fighting vehicles from WWII and other eras.
Scott Espin has posted a series of high-resolution photos from the Jacques Littlefield Collection: Jacques Littlefield Collection Photo Set 1 and Jacques Littlefield Collection Photo Set 2 [via Armorama].
Silicon Valley Scale Modelers (SVSM) has also posted a large gallery of photos from the MVTF collection at the SVSM Armor Gallery.
By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on December 18th, 2010%
Squadron Signal Publications have just announced their newest “In Action” book on the F4U Corsair. This new volume on the F4U Corsair updates Squadron Signal’s previous books on the well-known aircraft.
 F4U Corsair in Action by Jim Sullivan. From the Squadron Signal Press Release: The Corsair is among the most formidable US fighters of WWII, and maintained a kill ratio of 11:1 according to the US Navy. It went on to serve in Korea, holding its own in the early years of the jet age. The Corsair was first conceived in as a high-speed, high-altitude fighter for the Navy in 1938 when Chance Vought’s design team drew up plans for a fighter with a 1,800 hp engine and a huge 13-foot propeller—the F4U’s famous inverted gull wing was introduced to allow prop clearance. Handling problems delayed the aircraft’s deployment aboard carriers, but Marine Corps pilots quickly took to the powerful, rugged fighter and produced the first Corsair air ace by the summer of 1943. A total of 12,571 Corsairs were built between 1940 and 1952, most by Vought, but hundreds by Goodyear and Brewster as those companies’ assembly lines had to be pressed into service to meet demand for the remarkable aircraft. Surveys the history of the Corsair from its first prototype to the restored war-birds that continue to fly the air show circuit to the present day. Illustrated with 169 photographs (53 in color) plus color profiles and detailed line drawings; 64 pages. $16.95 Retail Price.
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Modelling the F4U Corsair (Osprey Modelling)
Chance Vought F4U Corsair
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