The U.S Weapons:
M1911 "Semi-Auto Pistol":
This was the standard side-arm for the American troops during WW2.
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: USA.
-Designer: John Moses Browning.
-Entered Service in: 1924.
-Weight: 1.1 kg.
-Cartridge: .45 ACP.
-Caliber: .45 in (11.43 mm).
-Action: Recoil-Operated, Closed Bolt.
-Rate of Fire: Semi-Automatic.
-Muzzle Velocity: 800 ft/s (244 m/s).
-Effective Range: 75 yd (62 m).
-Feed System: 7 Rounds (standard-capacity magazine), plus 1 round in chamber.
M1A1 Carbine "Semi-Automatic Rifle":
This was a standard weapon used by the U.S Paratroopers during WW2. It's a 30.caliber rifle (Carbine).
It's effective range was better than any pistol in WW2.
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: USA.
-Designer: David M. "Carbine" Williams.
-Entered Service in: 1942.
-Weight: 5.2 lb (2.36 kg) Empty.
-Cartridge: .30 Carbine.
-Caliber: 7.62 x 33 mm (.30 in).
-Action: Gas-Operated, Rotating Bolt.
-Rate of fire: Semi-Automatic.
-Muzzle Velocity: 1970 ft/s (600 m/s).
-Effective Range: 200–300 yd (175–275 m).
-Feed System: 15 Round, Detachable Box Magazine.
M1 Garand "Semi-Automatic Rifle":
This was the standard US Infantry Rifle. It was praised by General. Patton, for being the best battle implement ever. It used an 8 round "en-bloc" clip. When the last bullet was fired, the "en bloc" clip popped out of the rifle, ** a distinctive "Pling" sound that was a negative thing in close quarter combat, because smart and experienced enemies knew that the rifleman had to reload his M1 rifle.
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: USA.
-Designer: John C. Garand.
-Entered Service in: 1936.
-Weight: 9.5–10.2 lb (4.2–4.6 kg).
-Cartridge: .30-06 Springfield.
-Caliber: 7.62 × 63 mm.
-Action: Gas-Operated, Rotating Bolt.
-Rate of Fire: 16–24 rounds/min.
-Muzzle Velocity: 865 m/s (2837 ft/s).
-Effective Range: 600 yd (550 m).
-Feed System: 8-round "en bloc" clip (.30-06), Internal Magazine.
M1903A4 Springfield "Bolt-Action Rifle":
This bolt-action rifle was used by the U.S in WW1 and WW2. It was replaced by the M1 Garand in 1936, but the M1903 became an Sniper Rifle instead.
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: USA.
-Designer: Springfield Armory.
-Entered Service in: 1903.
-Weight: 3.95 kg.
-Cartridge: .30-06 Springfield.
-Caliber: 7.62 × 63 mm.
-Action: Bolt-Action.
-Rate of Fire: Approx. 15 rounds/min.
-Muzzle Velocity: 2700 ft/s (820 m/s).
-Effective Range: 500 yd (457 m). 800 meters with Scope attached.
-Feed System: 5 round Stripper Clip or feed 5 indvidual rounds.
M1A1 Thompson "Submachine Gun":
This weapon was an extreme deadly close quarter weapon. It was primarly used by Non Commisoned Officers. (NCO's: Sergeants)
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: USA.
-Designer: John T. Thompson.
-Entered Service in: 1942.
-Weight: 4.8 kg (Empty).
-Cartridge:.45 ACP.
-Caliber: 11.43 × 23 mm.
-Action: Blowback-Operated.
-Rate of Fire: Fully-Automatic 600-800 rounds/m, depending upon model.
-Muzzle Velocity: 920 ft/s.
-Effective Range: 50 meters.
-Feed System: 20 or 30 round detachable box.
M3A1 Greasegun "Submachine Gun":
This SMG was almost alike the Thompson M1A1, but it was more compact. It was primarly used by Tank/Truck crews.
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: USA.
-Designer: General Motors?
-Entered Service in: 1942.
-Weight: 8.16 lb (3.7 kg).
-Cartridge: .45 ACP.
-Caliber: 11.43 × 23 mm.
-Action: Blowback-Operated.
-Rate of Fire: 400–450 rounds/min.
-Muzzle Velocity: 280 m/s (920 ft/s).
-Effective Range: 50 m (54.7 yd).
-Feed System: 30-round detachable box magazine.
M1918A2 Browning "Automatic Rifle":
This weapon was a 30. caliber light machine gun. It was a very powerful weapon. You could fire it from the shoulder or the hip. You didn't had too deploy it on a bipod.
It used the same ammuniton as the M1 Garand. This weapon is praised as one of the best weapons used by the US Army/Marines.
The only drawback was the "limited" 20 round magazine.
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: USA.
-Designer: John Browning.
-Entered Service in: 1942 (The 1918A2 version.)
-Weight: 16–19 lb (7.2–8.8 kg) Empty.
-Cartridge: .30-06 Springfield.
-Caliber: 7.62 x 63 mm (30. Caliber).
-Action: Gas-operated, Open Bolt.
-Rate of Fire: 300–650 rounds/min.
-Muzzle Velocity: 805 m/s (2640 ft/s).
-Effective Range: 548 m (600 yd).
-Feed System: 20-round detachable box magazine.
M1919A4 Browning "Light Machine Gun":
The M1919A4 30.caliber LMG was a tripod mounted weapon. It used a air cooled barrel and operates on a recoil system to chamber rounds between firing.
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: USA.
-Designer: John M. Browning.
-Entered Service in: 1942 (1919A4 model.)
-Weight: 31 lb (14 kg).
-Cartridge: .30-06 Springfield.
-Caliber: 7.62 x 63 mm. (30.caliber).
-Action: Recoil-operated.
-Rate of Fire: 400–600 rounds/min.
-Effective range: 1500 yd (1370 m).
-Feed system: 250-round belt.
M2 Browning "Heavy Machine Gun":
The M2 50.caliber is a HMG. It is nicknamed Ma Deuce by the US troops or simply called "fifty-cal" in reference to its caliber. It is primarly a stationary weapon because of its weight and size.
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: USA.
-Designer: John M. Browning.
-Entered Service in: 1932.
-Weight: 38 kg (58 kg w/ tripod).
-Cartridge: .50 BMG.
-Caliber: .50 in (12.7 mm).
-Action: Recoil-operated, short recoil.
-Rate of Fire: 550 rounds/min.
-Muzzle Velocity: 3050 ft/s (930 m/s).
-Effective Range: 2000 m (2200 yards).
-Feed System: Belt-fed.
M9A1 Bazooka "Anti Tank Weapon":
The bazooka was a man-portable anti-tank rocket launcher made famous during World War II where it was one of the United States Armed Forces principle infantry anti-tank weapons. It was one of the first weapons based on the High Explosive Anti-tank (HEAT) shell to enter service. It was nicknamed "bazooka" from a vague resemblance to the musical instrument of the same name.
It was primarly used against fortified positions, light armor & "soft" targets. To knock out a Medium/Heavy Tank, you really have to hit a serious weakpoint. (Exhaust Engine compartment or similar).
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: USA.
-Designer: U.S. Army Signal Corps.
-Entered Service in: 1942.
-Weight: 15.9 lb.
-Caliber: 60 mm (2.36 in).
-Warhead: M6A3/C shaped charge (3.5 lb).
-Effective Range: 120 yards. Max: 400–500 yards (350–450 m).
-Feed System: The Warhead is loaded in the rear of the Bazooka.
Mark II A1 "Fragmentation Grenade":
More commonly known as the "Pineapple" the Mk II series was the most common US fragmentation grenade of WW2. The Mk II featured a serrated body designed to be better turned into fragments by the detonation of the TNT filler.
Specs:
-First time in Service: 1940?
-Effective Range (Kill Radius): 15-30 feet.
M18 Smoke "Smoke Grenade":
Smoke grenades are canister-type grenades used as ground-to-ground or ground-to-air signaling devices, target or landing zone marking devices, or a screening devices for unit movements. Smoke grenades are normally considered non lethal, although incorrect use may cause injury or fatality. The body consists of a sheet steel cylinder with a few emission holes on top and at the bottom to allow smoke release when the grenade is ignited. The filler consists of 250 to 350 grams of colored (red, green, yellow or violet) smoke mixture (mostly potassium chlorate, lactose and a dye).
TNT "Explosives":
Used too destroy large objects. The blast is big so take cover..
__________________________________________________ _______________
The German Weapons:
Walther P38 "Semi-Automatic Pistol":
The Walther P38 was a 9 mm pistol that was developed by Walther as the service pistol of the Wehrmacht at the beginning of World War II. It was intended to replace the costly Luger P08, the production of which was scheduled to end in 1942.
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: Germany.
-Designer: Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen (Whalter)?
-Entered Service in: 1942.
-Weight: 0.8 kg (Empty).
-Cartridge: 9 x 19 mm.
-Caliber: 9 mm Parabellum.
-Action: Double action.
-Rate of Fire: One Shot per trigger pull.
-Muzzle Velocity: 1150ft/s (350 m/s)
-Effective Range: 50m.
-Feed system: 8 round detachable magazine.
Mauser K98k "Bolt-Action Rifle":
The Karabiner 98k (often abbreviated Kar98k or K98k) was a bolt-action rifle adopted as the standard infantry rifle in 1935 by the Wehrmacht, and was one of the final developments in the long line of Mauser military rifles.
It was also used with a telescopic sight as a sniper rifle, which extended the effective range to about 800 m when used by a skilled marksman.
This was actually Hitler's favourite weapon.
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: Germany.
-Designer: Mauser.
-Entered Service in: 1935.
-Weight: 3.7 -4.1 kg.
-Cartridge: 7.92 x 57 mm (8 mm Mauser).
-Caliber: 8 mm.
-Action: Bolt-Action.
-Rate of fire: Approx. 15 rounds/min.
-Muzzle Velocity: 745 m/s.
-Effective Range: 500 m.
-Feed System: 5-round stripper clip, internal magazine or feed 5 indvidual rounds.
MP40 "Submachine Gun":
The MP40 (Maschinenpistole 40) is a submachine gun developed for and used extensively by Germany during World War II. While it didn't look impressive from an aesthetic point of view, the MP40 was a very well made weapon. American soldiers often switched their Thompsons and Grease Guns for MP40's. Since the rate of fire was low, the recoil of the weapon was more manageable, ** it more accurate.
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: Germany.
-Designer: Heinrich Vollmer.
-Entered Service in: 1939.
-Weight: 3.97 kg.
-Cartridge: 9 x 19 mm.
-Caliber: 9 mm.
-Action: Open Bolt, blowback.
-Rate of Fire: 500 rounds/min.
-Muzzle Velocity: 380 m/s (1247 ft/s).
-Effective Range: 100 m.
-Feed System: 32 round detachable box magazine.
MP44 "Assault Rifle":
The rifle was chambered for the 7.92x33mm Kurz cartridge, also known as 7.92 mm Kurz (German for "short"). This shorter version of the German standard (7.92x57mm Mauser) rifle round, in combination with the weapon's selective-fire design, provided a compromise between the controllable firepower of a submachine gun at close quarters with the accuracy and power of a Karabiner 98k bolt action rifle at intermediate ranges.
To its credit, it was the first weapon of its class, and the concept had a major impact on modern infantry small arms development. By all accounts, the StG44 fulfilled its role admirably, particularly on the Eastern Front, offering a greatly increased volume of fire compared to standard infantry rifles. In the end, it came too late to have a significant effect on the tide of the war.
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: Germany.
-Designer: ?
-Entered Service in: 1944.
-Weight: 11.5 lb (5.22 kg).
-Cartridge: 7.92 x 33 mm (7.92 mm Kurz).
-Caliber: 8 mm (.31 in).
-Action: Gas-Operated, tilting bolt.
-Rate of Fire: 500-600 rounds/min.
-Muzzle Velocity:685 m/s (2247 ft/s).
-Effective Range: 700 meters.
-Feed System: 30-round detachable box magazine.
FG42 "Automatic Rifle":
The Fallschirmjägergewehr 42 (FG42) was an automatic rifle produced in Nazi Germany during World War II. The weapon was developed specifically for the use by paratroopers, who wanted a suitable gun after their experiences in the Invasion of Crete. As a result, the FG-42 was developed. It could fire single shots semi-automatically, but also serve as a light support weapon. Its development was authorized by Hermann Göring.
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: Germany.
-Designer: Louis Stange.
-Entered Service in: 1942-1943.
-Weight: 11.2 lb (4.9 kg).
-Cartridge: 7.92 x 57 mm.
-Caliber: 8 mm Mauser.
-Rate of fire: 600 rounds/min.
-Muzzle Velocity: 2500 f/s (761 m/s).
-Effective Range: 500 m.
-Feed System: 20-round detachable box magazine.
MG42 "Machine Gun":
The MG42 (shortened from German: Maschinengewehr 42, or "Machine rifle 42") was a machine gun that was developed for and entered service with Nazi Germany in 1942, during WW2. The 7.92 mm rifle caliber weapon was developed from, and was intended to supplant the MG34 machine gun, though both would continue to be used and manufactured until the end of that war. The Allied troops was very afraid of the MG-42, because it's extreme high rate of fire. It made a "Tore up clothing" sound while it was being fired.
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: Germany
-Designer: Edward Stecke?
-Entered Service in: 1942.
-Weight: 25.5 lb (11.57 kg).
-Cartridge: 7.92 x 57 mm Mauser (8 mm Mauser)
-Caliber: 8 mm.
-Action: Recoil-Operated, Roller-locked bolt.
-Rate of Fire: 1100–1200 rounds/min.
-Muzzle Velocity: 2475 ft/s (755 m/s).
-Effective Range: 1100 yd (1000 m).
-Feed System: 50 or 250-Round belt. Or barrel?
Panserfaust 60 "Armored Fist" (Anti Tank Weapon):
This was the most common version, and production started in 1944. It had a much more practical range of 60 meters, although with a muzzle velocity of only 45 meters per second it would take one and a third of a second for the warhead to reach a tank at this range. To achieve the higher velocity, the tube diameter was increased to 5 cm and 134 g of propellant used. It also had an improved sight and trigger mechanism. The weapon now weighed 6.1 kg.
The weapon itself could destroy any Allied Tank (T-34s, Shermans) by one well placed shot. The most effective range from a tank was 30 meters. So its was very risky to engage tanks without being noticed.
Stielehandgranate 24 "High Explosive Grenade":
The Stick Grenade or "Steil Granaten" was used by the Nazis during WWII. The stick Grenade gets its name by the long wooden handle. The wooden handle eased the throw so that you could throw it further. Although the Stick Grenade had a short fuse it was a very effective weapon. The stick Grenade earned a nickname (like many other things) by the allied soldiers. They called it a "patato masher". The Stick Grenade was 12 inches long. A screw cap at the bottom was unscrewed then pulled to be ignited. The top of the grenade could be unscrewed to insert the detonator. The design was very easy, it was a stick with a metal can on top with explosives inside.
__________________________________________________ _______________
The U.S Tanks & Vechiles:
M5A1 Stuart Tank "Light Tank":
General info:
The M5A1 was an American light tank of World War II in use with British and Commonwealth forces prior to the entry of the USA into the European theatre. The name General/Stuart given by the British comes from the Civil War General Jeb Stuart and was used for both the M3 and M5 Light Tank, it also had the unofficial nickname of Honey.
To the United States Army the tanks were officially known only as Light Tank M3 & M5.
Performance in Combat:
In US Army service, the M3 first saw combat in the Philippines. A small number fought in the Bataan peninsula campaign. When the U.S Army joined the North African Campaign in late 1942, Stuart units still formed a large part of its armor strength. After the disastrous Battle of the Kasserine Pass, where M3s and M5s met German Panzer IVs and heavy Tigers, the US quickly followed the "British route", disbanding most of their light tank battalions and attaching companies of Stuarts to medium tank battalions, to act as scouting and screening units. For the rest of the war, most US tank battalions had three companies of medium tanks (normally the M4 Sherman) and one company of M3s or M5/M5A1s.
In the European theatre, the light tanks had to be given secondary roles such as scout missions and giving cover for small infantry battles since they could not survive against most enemy AFVs.
The only place where the Stuart was still adequate was in the Pacific Theater, as Japanese tanks were both relatively rare and when met, were weakly armored and armed. Japanese infantry were poorly equipped with anti-tank weapons and tended to attack tanks using close-assault tactics. In this environment the Stuart was only moderately more vulnerable than medium tanks.
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: USA.
-Crew: 4 (Commander, gunner, driver & co-driver)
-Weight: 12.3 tonnes.
-Armour: 51 mm
-Main Armament: 37 mm M6 gun.
-Secondary armament: 3 x .30 (7.62 mm) Browning MG's.
-Power plant: air-cooled Continental-Wright radial petrol
250 hp (186 kW).
-Suspension: Vertical Volute.
-Road speed:58 km/h.
-Power/weight: hp/tonne.
-Range: 120 km.
M4A1 Sherman Tank "Medium Tank":
General info:
The Medium Tank M4 was the main tank designed and built by the United States for allied forces in World War II, totaling roughly 50,000 tanks plus thousands more derivative vehicles under different model numbers with different abilities.
In the United Kingdom lend-lease M4's were dubbed Sherman after Union General William Tecumseh Sherman, continuing a practice of naming American tanks after famous Generals. The British name became popular in the US and the two names are often combined into M4 Sherman or shortened to Sherman.
Performance in Combat:
Armament:
The US Army artillery branch chose the 75 mm gun primarily for its high-explosive capability rather than for its anti-tank capability. Nevertheless, when the Sherman first saw combat in 1942, its 75 mm gun, inherited from the M3 Lee, could kill the German tanks it faced in North Africa at normal combat ranges. In 1943, the 75 mm gun was ineffective against the front of the new medium Panther and heavy Tiger I tanks but the Americans encountered few Panthers or Tigers before D-Day. In 1944-45, Shermans with 105 mm howitzers provided even more powerful high-explosive armament.
In the relatively few Pacific tank battles, even the 75 mm gun Shermans outclassed the Japanese in every engagement. The use of HE (High Explosive) ammunition was preferred because anti-tank rounds punched cleanly through the thin armor of the Japanese tanks (light tanks of 1930s era design) without necessarily stopping them. Although the high-velocity guns of the tank destroyers were useful for penetrating fortifications, Shermans armed with flamethrowers also destroyed Japanese fortifications. There was a variety of types of flamethrowers, differing primarily in the type and location of launcher.
Armor:
Sherman armor was more evenly distributed and thicker at the side than the Panzer IV medium tank; the top armor was equal to that of the Tiger heavy tank, which had a thin top compared to other heavy tanks. The Sherman's frontal armor was designed to withstand a 37mm gun, which was a common German anti-tank gun and tank gun on the Panzer III medium tank in early WWII. The original Sherman armor was not intended to defeat direct hits from larger guns, although most German medium tanks had larger guns by the time the Sherman first entered combat in late 1942.
For crew survivability, the M4 had an escape hatch on the hull bottom and, in the Pacific, Marines used this Sherman feature in reverse to recover wounded infantry under fire.
Mobilty:
The Sherman had good speed both on and off-road for the era. Off-road performance varied. In the desert, the Sherman's rubber tracks performed well. In the confined, hilly terrain of Italy, the Sherman could often cross terrain, the German tanks could not. However U.S crews found that on soft ground such as mud or snow, the narrow tracks gave poor floatation compared to wide-tracked second-generation German tanks such as the Panther.
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: USA & UK.
-Entered Service in: 1942 (M4A1 model).
-Crew: 5.
-Weight: 28.4 tonnes.
-Armour: 2 inches (50 mm) (front upper hull glacis).
-Main Armament: 75 mm M3 Gun.
-Secondary Armament: 1 x .50 (12.7 mm) Browning M2 Machinegun.
2×.30 (7.62 mm) Browning M1919 Machineguns.
-Power Plant: Continental R975 C1 gasoline
400 hp (298 kW) gross @ 2400 rpm
350 hp (253 kW) net @ 2400 rpm.
-Suspension Vertical: Volute Spring Suspension (VVSS)
-Road Speed: 24 mph (38.5 km/h) brief level.
-Power/weight: 14 hp / tonne.
-Range: 120 miles @ 175 US gal (145 imp. gal) / 80 octane
193 km @ 660 l / 80 octane.
M10 Wolverine "Tank-Destroyer":
General info:
The 3in Gun Motor Carriage M10, was a United States TD (Tank Destroyer) of WW2.
US troops also called them "TD's" (a nickname for any tank destroyer), and Wolverine, a name adapted from the official designation given by the British to their lend lease 3in GMC M10's.
The M10 used an Medium Tank M4A2 chassis (M10A1s used M4A3 chassis') with a special open-topped turret that carried an M7 3-inch gun.
Approximately 54 M10s were supplied to the USSR though their usage in Red Army service is largely unrecorded. The M10 also equipped units of the Free French Army; one M10 named "Sirocco", crewed by a regiment composed of French sailors, famously knocked out a German Panther tank on the Place de la Concorde in Paris.
Performance in Combat:
Armament:
M10 was successful as its M7 3-inch gun could penetrate most German tanks at long range. The heavy chassis did not conform to the tank destroyer doctrine of employing very light, high-speed vehicles, though it began to be supplemented by the 76mm Gun Motor Carriage M18 early in 1944. Later in the Battle of Normandy the M10's gun proved to be ineffective against the frontal armor of the numerous German Panther tanks encountered.
By the fall of 1944 the improved 90mm Gun Motor Carriage M36 was beginning to replace it, though it remained in service until the end of the war. In the Pacific, U.S Army M10's were used for traditional infantry-support missions and were unpopular due to their open topped turrets. The Japanese tactic of very close-in infantry attacks against US AFVs made the M10 much more vulnerable than a fully-enclosed tank.
The gun fired the AP M79 armour-piercing shell that could go through 3 inches of armour at 1000 yards, 54 rounds of 3in ammunition were carried aboard. The back of the turret carried a large counterweight which gave it a distinctive shape.
For local defence a heavy .50 cal M2 machine gun was mounted on rear of the turret, 300 rounds of .50cal ammunition was carried. The crew were also equipped with their personal weapons, for self protection.
Armor:
It had the similar Sherman chassis that could resist anti-tank fire (37mm-50mm rounds).
The turret though was open, so the crew was very unprotected against small arms fire.
Mobility:
The M10's mobility were just as suberb as the Sherman's mobility.
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: USA.
-Entered Service in: 1942.
-Crew: 5 (Commander, 3x gun crew, driver).
-Weight: 30 tonnes.
-Armour: -Hull, up to 51 mm -Turret, up to 57 mm,
-Main Armament: M7 3-inch "76.2 mm" Gun.
-Secondary Armament: .50 inch M2 Machine Gun.
-Power plant: General Motors Twin Diesel 6-71
375 hp (276 kW) .
-Suspension: vertical volute spring.
-Road Speed: 51 km/h.
-Power/weight: 12.5 hp/tonne.
-Range: 300 km.
Willys MB "U.S Army Jeep":
General info:
The Willys MB US Army Jeep was manufactured from 1941 to 1945.
Willys' car's designation was then changed to "MA" for Military model A. By July 1941, the War Department decided to select one manufacturer to supply them, to standardize. Willys won the contract mostly due to its more powerful engine (the Willys Go Devil engine) which the soldiers raved about, and its lower cost and lower silhouette. Whatever better design features the Bantam and Ford entries had were then incorporated into the Willys car, moving it from an "A" designation to "B", thus the "MB" nomenclature. For example, if the gasoline tank was directly beneath the driver's seat, combining the two main target areas into one, it would lessen the chance of a catastrophic hit.
By October 1941, it became apparent that Willys-Overland could not keep up with production demand and Ford was contracted to produce them as well. The Ford car was then designated as "GPW" with the "W" referencing the Willys company.
Armament:
This vechile could be armed with either a M1919A4 30.Caliber Machine Gun or a M2 50.Caliber Machine Gun.
Mobility:
This vechile could drive in rough terrain in 30-100 km/h regarding too where it drove. (Mud, in a forrest, road etc.)
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: USA.
-Entered Service in: 1941.
-Crew: 3. (Driver, gunner and passenger.)
-Weight: Not sure, but roughly 800 kg -1000 kg.
-Main Armament: 1 x 30 or 50.caliber MG.
-Road speed: 100 km/h.
__________________________________________________ _______________The German Tanks, Halftracks & Vechiles:
Sturmgeschütz III Ausf E & Ausf G "Tank Destroyer":
General info:
The Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III) assault gun was Germany's most produced armoured fighting vehicle during World War II. It was built on the chassis of the Panzer III tank. Initially intended as a mobile, armoured light gun for infantry support, the StuG was continually modified until by 1942 it was widely employed as a tank destroyer.
The Sturmgeschütz series is probably best known for its excellent price-to-performance ratio. By the end of the war, over 10,500 had been built.
The Sturmgeschütz III originated from an initial proposal that Colonel Erich von Manstein submitted to General Beck in 1935 in which he suggested that Sturmartillerie (Assault Artillery) units should be used in a direct-fire support role for infantry divisions. On June 15, 1936 Daimler-Benz AG received an order to develop an armoured infantry support vehicle capable of mounting a 75 mm (3 in) artillery piece. The gun was to have a limited traverse of a minimum of 25 degrees and be mounted in an enclosed superstructure that provided overhead protection for the crew. The height of the vehicle was not to exceed that of the average man.
As the StuG III was intended to fill an anti-infantry close support combat role, early models were fitted with a low-velocity 75 mm StuK 37 L/24 gun, firing high explosive shells. After the Germans encountered the Soviet T-34, the StuG III were armed with the high-velocity 75 mm StuK 40 L/43 (Spring 1942) or 75 mm L/48 (Autumn 1942) anti-tank gun.
Later models of the StuG III had a 7.92mm MG34 mounted on the hull for added anti-infantry protection.
Performance in Combat:
Overall, Sturmgeschütz series proved to be very successful and served on all fronts as assault guns and tank destroyers. Although Tigers and Panthers are more famous, assault guns killed many tanks. Because of their low silhouette, Sturmgeschütz III's were easy to camouflage and a difficult target. Most German assault guns carried a high-velocity 75mm gun by 1944. Sturmgeschütz crews were considered to be the elite of the artillery units. Sturmgeschütz units held a very impressive record of tank kills - some 20,000 enemy tanks by spring of 1944. As of April 10, 1945 there were 1053 Stug IIIs and 277 StuH IIIs in service. Approximately 9500 Sturmgeschütz IIIs of various types were produced until March of 1945 by Alkett and a small number by MIAG.
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: Germany.
-Entered Service in: 1941-1942.
-Crew: 4.
-Weight: 23.9 tonnes.
-Armour: 80 mm.
-Main Armament: 75mm StuK 40 L/48.
-Secondary Armament: 1 or 2 × 7.92mm MG34.
-Power plant: Maybach HL120TRM V-12 gasoline engine
300 hp (224 kW).
-Suspension: Torsion bar.
-Road speed: 40 km/h.
-Power/weight: 13 hp/tonne.
-Range: 155 km.
Stug III Ausf E:
Stug III Ausf G:
Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf F & Ausf G "Medium Tank":
General Info:
The Panzerkampfwagen IV (PzKpfw IV), more commonly called the Panzer IV, was a tank developed by Germany and used extensively in WW2. It was designed initially as an infantry-support medium tank to work in conjunction with the anti-tank Pzkpfw III.
Later in the war, it was up-gunned and up-armored, and took over the tank-fighting role while Panzer IIIs were either put into infantry support duties or converted into other vehicles.
The Panzer IV was the most common German tank of World War II, and was used as the base for many other fighting vehicles, such as tank destroyers and flak platforms. The Panzer IV has the distinction of being the only German tank to remain in continuous production throughout all of WWII, with over 9000 produced from 1939 to 1945.
The Panzer IV was the workhorse of the German tank corps, being produced and used in all theatres of combat throughout the war. The design was upgraded repeatedly to deal with the increasing threats from enemy forces.
Performance in Combat:
Armament:
As the Panzer IV was intended to fill an anti-infantry combat role, early models were fitted with a low-velocity 75 mm KwK 37 L/24 gun, firing high-explosive shells. After the Germans encountered the Soviet T-34, the Panzer IV F2 and G were armed with the high-velocity 75 mm KwK 40 L/43 anti-tank gun. Later IV G models, and all subsequent Panzer IVs, were armed with the longer 75 mm KwK 40 L/48 anti-tank gun. The gun could be manually elevated between -10° to +20°, with the turret, under hand or electrical power, have a full 360° traverse. The gunner aimed through an articulated telescope with a limited 25 ° view and 2.5x magnification. The German army considered the gun to be effective up to 1,000 m, expecting 70 % first-shot hits at this range and 100 % hits at 500 m. Firing at extreme range, 3,000 m, 4 % of shots were expected to hit (in controlled tests only 17 % of shots struck their target at 3,000 m as opposed to 99 % at 1,000 m)
Armor:
In practice, Panzer IVs would frequently face enemy tanks and anti-tank guns unsupported, and the armor was upgraded by 30 mm on the front hull in May 1942 by the expedient of welding face-hardened plates called Zusatzpanzer onto the existing structure. This upgrade program was completed by January 1943.
From June 1943 all new Panzer IVs, Ausf H and later, were produced with 80 mm of front armor rather than having additional plates added, with armor on the sides and rear being increased as well. Panzer IVs frequently had armor skirting (Schürzen) or additional layers of armor added in the field. From late 1943 until September 1944, Zimmerit anti-magnetic paste was also a common addition.
Mobility:
Top speed varied among models, depending on the transmission, armor and gun. Early models could reach up to 30 km/h on a road while later models reached around 40 km/h. The radius of action was 130 km cross-country and up to 230 km on roads. The Ausf J, with an additional fuel tank giving 680 litres total capacity, added 100 km to either of these ranges. The tank could cross a 2.3 m tranch and climb a 30° slope.
Like all of Germany's World War II tanks, the Panzer IV used gasoline (petrol).
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: Germany
-Entered service in: 1941 (Ausf F) 1943 (Ausf H).
-Crew: 5 (commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator/bow machine-gunner).
-Weight: 23 tonnes.
-Armour: 80 mm.
-Main Armament: 75 mm KwK 40 L/48 gun
-Secondary Armament: 2 × 7.92 mm machine guns.
-Power plant: 12-cylinder Maybach HL 120 TRM
300 hp (224 kW).
-Suspension: Leaf spring.
-Road Speed: 40 km/h.
-Power/Weight: 13.0 hp/t (9.7 kW/t).
-Range: 300 km.
Panzer IV Ausf F:
Panzer IV Ausf G:
Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251 "SdKfz 251" (German Halftrack):
General info:
This was an armored fighting vehicle built by Germany during WW2.
They were produced throughout the war, and are likely some of the most well known half-tracks of all time.
The early production models of this vehicle were issued to the 1st Panzer Division in 1939. There were four main models (A - D), with many variants. The initial idea was for a vehicle that could be used to transport a squad of troops to the battlefield protected from enemy fire. The open top meant that the crew was still vulnerable, especially to high explosive rounds and shell fragments.
Armament:
The standard personal carrier version was equipped with a 7.92 mm MG34 or MG42 machine gun mounted at the front of the open compartment, above and behind the driver.
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: Germany.
-Entered Service in: 1939.
-Crew: 12 (including passengers).
-Weight: 7.81 tonnes.
-Armour: 6-12.5 mm.
-Main Armament: 1 x MG-42 or a MG-34 Machine Gun.
-Power Plant: One Maybach HL 42 6-cylinder petrol engine
100 hp (74.6 kW).
-Suspension: Half track.
-Road Speed: 52.5 km/h (32.5 mph)
-Power/weight: 12.8 hp/tonne.
-Range: 300 km.
Opel Blitz "Truck":
General info:
From 1939 onwards its 3-ton version was used frequently throughout WW2 by Germany. It transported both ammo and troops.
Volkswagen Kübelwagen "Car":
General Info:
The Volkswagen Kübelwagen (bucket/tub car) was a military vehicle designed by Ferdinand Porsche and built by Volkswagen prior to and during World War II for use by the German military.
__________________________________________________ _______________
The German Anti-Tank/Personell Guns:
The German eighty-eight "Anti Aircraft/Anti Tank Gun":
The German eighty-eight is probably the best known artillery piece of World War II. It was not one gun, but a series of anti-aircraft guns officially called the 8.8 cm Flak 18, 36 or 37.
The 88mm was used as a: Anti Aircraft Cannon, Anti Tank Cannon and Anti Personell Cannon.
The 88 was powerful enough to be able to penetrate over 150 mm of armour even at long ranges of 2 km or more. This meant that it was an unparalleled anti-tank weapon during the early war and still formidable against all but the heaviest tanks right up until 1945.
It was probably the most feared tank buster, exept from the Tiger Tanks.
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: Germany.
-Entered Service in: 1941.
-Crew: 5 (Gunner, loader, elevator, Spotter and a security soldier.)
-Caliber: 88 mm.
-Rate of Fire: 15 to 20 rounds a minute.
-Muzzle Velocity: ?
-Armor Penetration: 150 mm and more.
-Effective Range: Ideal- 2000 meters. Max- 10000 meters.
Panzerabwehrkanone 36 "Anti Tank Gun":
The PaK 36 (Panzerabwehrkanone 36) was a German anti-tank gun that fired a 3.7cm calibre shell. It was developed in 1936 by Rheinmetall, and first appeared in combat that year during the Spanish Civil War.
The PaK 36, being a small-calibre weapon, was outdated by the May 1940. The poor performance against heavy enemy armour resulted in the PaK 36 being dubbed the "Door Knocker".
In 1943, the introduction of the Stielgranate 41 shaped charge meant that the PaK 36 could now penetrate any armour, but only at a range of less than 300 meters. The PaK 36s, together with the new shaped charges, were issued to Fallschirmjäger and other light troops. The gun's light weight meant that it could be easily moved by hand, and this mobility made it ideal for their purpose.
Specs:
-Placer of Orgin: Germany.
-Entered Service in: 1936.
-Crew: 2 (Gunner, Reloader/Spotter).
-Caliber: 36 mm.
-Rate of Fire: 13 rounds per minute.
-Muzzle velocity: 762 m/s.
-Armor Penetration: at 500 m: 29 mm to 31 mm at 30 degrees, depending on shell type.
-Effective Range: Ideal- 300 to 600 meters, Max - 5484 meters.
German Mortar "Anti Personell/Light Vechile Gun":
The 50mm German Mortar is a smoothbore, muzzle loading, high angle of fire weapon for light infantry support.
__________________________________________________ _______________
The U.S Planes:
C-47 Skytrain Dakota "Transport Plane":
General info:
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota was a military transport that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner.
During World War II, the armed forces of many countries used the C-47 and modified DC-3s for the transport of troops, cargo and wounded. Over 10000 aircraft were produced in Long Beach and Santa Monica, California and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The C-47 was vital to the success of many Allied campaigns, in particular those at Guadalcanal and in the jungles of New Guinea and Burma where the C-47 (and its naval version, the R4D) alone made it possible for Allied troops to counter the mobility of the light-travelling Japanese army. The C-47 was also used in all of the Airborne drops in the european campaign. (Operation Overlord & Operation Market Garden.) Additionally, C-47's were used to airlift supplies to the embattled American forces during the Battle of Bastogne.
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: USA.
-Entered Service in: 1941.
-Crew: 3, plus 28 troops.
-Empty weight: 18135 lb (8225 kg).
-Loaded weight: 26000 lb (11800 kg).
-Max takeoff weight: 31000 lb (14000 kg)
-Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney R-1830-90C "Twin Wasp" 14-cylinder radial engines 1200 hp (895 kW) each.
-Maximum speed: 224 mph (195 knots, 360 km/h).
-Cruise speed: 160 mph (140 knots, 260 km/h).
-Range: 1600 mi (1400 nm, 2600 km).
CG-4 Waco "Glider Plane":
General info:
The CG-4 Hadrian (named CG-4A Waco in American use) was the most widely used United States troop/cargo military glider of World War II. Flight testing began in 1942 and eventually more than 12,000 CG-4As were procured.
The CG-4A was constructed of fabric-covered wood and metal and was crewed by a pilot and copilot. It could carry 13 troops and their equipment or either a jeep, a quarter-ton truck, or a 75mm howitzer loaded through the upward-hinged nose section. C-46's and C-47's were usually used as tow aircraft.
CG-4As went into operation in July 1943 during the Allied invasion of Sicily. They participated in the D-Day assault on France on June 6, 1944, and in other important airborne operations in Europe and in the China-Burma-India Theater.
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: USA.
-Crew: Two pilots.
-Capacity: 13 troops.
-Empty Weight: 7500 lb (3400 kg).
-Loaded weight: Not sure...
-Speed: Max 150 mph (240 km/h).
P-47 Thunderbolt "Fighter-Bomber":
General info:
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as "Jug", was the largest single-engined fighter of its day. It was one of the main United States Army Air Force (USAAF) fighters of World War II. The P-47 was effective in air combat but proved especially useful in the ground attack role. The Thunderbolt also served with a number of other Allied air forces.
By 1944 the Thunderbolt was in combat with the USAAF in all its operational theaters. With increases in fuel capacity as the type was refined, the range of escort missions over Europe steadily increased until the P-47 was able to accompany bombers in raids all the way into Germany. On the way back from the raids, pilots shot up ground targets of opportunity which led to the realization that the P-47 made an excellent fighter-bomber. Even with its complicated turbosupercharger system it could absorb a lot of damage, and its eight machine guns could inflict heavy damage on lightly armored targets. The P-47 gradually became the USAAF's best fighter-bomber, carrying the 500 pound (227 kg) bombs, the triple-tube M-8 4.5 inch (115 mm) rocket launchers, and eventually HVAR's. The P-47 destroyed thousands of tanks, locomotives, and parked aircraft and tens of thousands of trucks and other vehicles.
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: USA.
-Entered Service in: 1942.
-Crew: 1 pilot.
-Empty weight: 10000 lb (4535 kg).
-Loaded weight: ?
-Max takeoff weight: 17500 lb (7935 kg).
-Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 Twin-Row radial engine, 2535 hp (1890 kW).
-Armament: 8x 0.5 in (12.7 mm) Browning M2 MG's, up to 2000 lb (907 kg) of Bombs & 10 x 5 in (127 mm) Unguided rockets.
-Maximum speed: 426 mph at 30000 ft (685 km/h at 9145 m).
-Range: 800 miles combat, 1800 mi ferry (1290 km / 2900 km).
__________________________________________________ _______________
The German Planes:
Junkers Ju 87 "Fighter-Bomber":
General Info:
The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was the best known Sturzkampfflugzeug (German: dive bomber) in World War II, instantly recognisable by its inverted gull wings, fixed undercarriage and infamous wailing siren.
The Stuka's design featured some innovative features, including automatic pull-up dive brakes under both wings to ensure that the plane recovered from its attack dive even if the pilot blacked out from the high acceleration, and wind-powered sirens on the wheel covers that wailed during dives to frighten its victims. These were named "Trumpets of Jericho" by Junkers and were a form of psychological warfare. Its rugged fixed undercarriage allowed it to land and take-off from improvised airstrips close to the battlefront, giving close support to the advancing German forces.
More than 6,000 Ju 87 were built between 1936 and August 1944.
Although sturdy, accurate, and very effective, the Stuka suffered from low speed and maneuverabilty, with little defensive armament, ** it highly vulnerable to enemy fighters. The Germans learned during the Battle of Britain that air superiority must be obtained before ground attack aircraft could be effectively used. After the Battle of Britain, the Stuka was little used in western Europe, but it remained effective further south where Allied fighters were in short supply, perhaps most notably in the Battles of Crete and Malta. Perhaps the prime example of its vulnerability to fighters was the shooting down of five Stukas in the space of a few minutes, by the Australian ace Clive Caldwell in a P-40 Tomahawk on December 5, 1941, over Libya. Stukas were used in vast numbers on the Eastern Front, although the steady rise in Soviet airpower as the war progressed meant that Stuka squadrons suffered very heavy losses by the final stages of the war.
Specs:
-Place of Orgin: Germany.
-Entered service in: 1941 (Ju 87D Model).
-Crew: 1 or 2.
-Empty weight: 2810 kg.
-Maximum weight: 5720 kg.
-Powerplant: Junkers Jumo 211, 1410 horse power, 1037 kW.
-Armament: -Forward Guns: 2 × 7.92 mm MG 17. -Rear Gun:1×7.92 mm MG 81Z. -Bombs: Max weight Bombs: 1800 kg -Typical bombs: 1×500/1000 kg + 4×50 kg
-Speed: -Max: 354 km/h. -In Dive: 600 km/h.
-Range: 1165 km (With bombs)
