Yes! Now we're drawing land vehicles too!
After the fall of France, Germany captured many French vehicles that were dubbed as Beutenpanzer (meaning, literally "trohpy tanks"). More than 5000 of those vehicles were repaired or refitted to serve with the Wehrmacht.
One of those captured tanks, was the Char B1bis that, as many of them, were abandoned by their crew after running out of fuel or ammo as the French Army's supply system was very deficient back in 1940 and therefore very few of those heavy tanks were destroyed in combat.
They received the German name of Panzerkampfwagen B2 740(f) with the letter "f" meaning that it was an ex-French tank. In May 1941 sixteen of these tanks were ordered to be converted into self-propelled artillery guns to support the Flammenwerfer auf Pz.Kpfw.B2(f) flamethrower tanks in their actions of the eastern front.
Given the lack of equipment, spare parts, vehicles and guns, it took longer than expected to convert them into the SPG guns, and so it wasn't until June 1941 that these SP guns saw action for the first time.
As the Flammenwerfer auf Pz.Kpfw.B2(f) were a disappointment for the Germans, the Panzer-Abteilung (Flamm).103, where these vehicles served, was disbanded in July 1941 because they were unreliable and you couldn't trust them to assault enemy strongpoints.
Sources:
1. http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/nazi_germany/10-5cm-lefh-183-sf-auf-geschuetzwagen-b2f/
2. Salamander Books - The Illustrated encyclopedia of the world's tanks and AFVs.
A blog dedicated to draw historical, ahistorical and fictional warplanes and other military vehicles in 1/34 scale. Disclaimer: We just draw for the fun of doing it. If you want you can display the drawings of this blog in your website or forum as long as you credit the source. To properly view the drawings, click on them.
Friday, 24 March 2017
Thursday, 23 March 2017
Macchi C.205N Orione
During the course of 1941, the chief engineer Mario Castaldi, who designed all Macchi C.200, C.202 and C.205, among many others, came up with a proposal for a fighter powered by the DB605A engine, in order to comply with a requirement of the Ministerio dell'Aeronautica (Air Ministry).
Castoldi's design featured a new redesigned wing with longer span ,aspect ratio and taking the centre, aft and tail sections from the C.202. This new fighter was designated as the C.205N where the N stands for nuovo (meaning "new" in Italian) and was nicknamed as Orione ("Orion).
The first prototype, the Macchi C.205N1 was flown for the first time on 1st November 1942 and was armed with four 12.7mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns mounted in the fuselage plus one 20mm cannon bulge-fitted in the side of the fuselage. One thousand two hundred of them were ordered with additional 600 of them to be license-built by Breda.
Shortly later, a second prototype, the C.205N2 flew for the first time on 19th May 1943 with modified weaponry arrangement, as it had just two 12,7mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns and two 20mm cannons, this time placed in the wings. As the war progressed, it was clear that the mass production of the Orione wasn't viable and therefore the orders were cancelled.
Sources:
1. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchi_C.205
Castoldi's design featured a new redesigned wing with longer span ,aspect ratio and taking the centre, aft and tail sections from the C.202. This new fighter was designated as the C.205N where the N stands for nuovo (meaning "new" in Italian) and was nicknamed as Orione ("Orion).
The first prototype, the Macchi C.205N1 was flown for the first time on 1st November 1942 and was armed with four 12.7mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns mounted in the fuselage plus one 20mm cannon bulge-fitted in the side of the fuselage. One thousand two hundred of them were ordered with additional 600 of them to be license-built by Breda.
Shortly later, a second prototype, the C.205N2 flew for the first time on 19th May 1943 with modified weaponry arrangement, as it had just two 12,7mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns and two 20mm cannons, this time placed in the wings. As the war progressed, it was clear that the mass production of the Orione wasn't viable and therefore the orders were cancelled.
Sources:
1. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchi_C.205
Wednesday, 22 March 2017
Macchi C.205 - Royal Italian Users
The Macchi C.205 is regarded as maybe the best Italian fighter of the World War 2, title disputed with the Fiat G.55 or the Reggiane Re.2005.
As it was a development of the previous Macchi C.202 Folgore, it flew for the first time in April 1942 but, due to technical reasons, it wasn't operative until February 1943, very late for Italy.
It was a single seat fighter with escort, interceptor and ground attack capabilities. It was powered by a Fiat RA 1050 RC58 Tifone engine (a copy of the German DB605), that delivered 1475hp of power, the main fuel tank was placed between the engine and the cockpit. Radiator was located beneath the cockpit and both radio equipment ,the oxygen cylinder and the reserve fuel tank with 80L were placed at the rear part of the fuselage. The wings were made out of alluminium and steel and had two extra fuel tanks. It had self-sealing fuel tanks, an armoured seat and armoured windscreen too.
It was tipically armed with two 12,7mm Breda machine guns placed in the cowling, plus other two 20mm MG 151/20 placed in the wings, making it, probably the best armed Italian fighter of the war. It had also capability to carry either two 100L fuel tanks or up to 160kg of bombs in underwing hardpoints.
It saw limited service with the Italian 6th, 17th, 18th, 20th squadrons ("Gruppo" in Italian) and the 88th Autonomous Flight, very few units because, as we said earlier, it was developed late and the armistice of 1943 finished its development.
Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchi_C.205
2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters
As it was a development of the previous Macchi C.202 Folgore, it flew for the first time in April 1942 but, due to technical reasons, it wasn't operative until February 1943, very late for Italy.
It was a single seat fighter with escort, interceptor and ground attack capabilities. It was powered by a Fiat RA 1050 RC58 Tifone engine (a copy of the German DB605), that delivered 1475hp of power, the main fuel tank was placed between the engine and the cockpit. Radiator was located beneath the cockpit and both radio equipment ,the oxygen cylinder and the reserve fuel tank with 80L were placed at the rear part of the fuselage. The wings were made out of alluminium and steel and had two extra fuel tanks. It had self-sealing fuel tanks, an armoured seat and armoured windscreen too.
It was tipically armed with two 12,7mm Breda machine guns placed in the cowling, plus other two 20mm MG 151/20 placed in the wings, making it, probably the best armed Italian fighter of the war. It had also capability to carry either two 100L fuel tanks or up to 160kg of bombs in underwing hardpoints.
It saw limited service with the Italian 6th, 17th, 18th, 20th squadrons ("Gruppo" in Italian) and the 88th Autonomous Flight, very few units because, as we said earlier, it was developed late and the armistice of 1943 finished its development.
Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchi_C.205
2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters
Tuesday, 21 March 2017
Macchi C.205 Veltro - Italian Co-Belligerent Users
After the armistice of 8th September, there were just 50 Veltros in the south, plus other six of them flying from the centre of Italy to the south. All those 56 of them would be the backbone of the early Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force serving mainly in the 51º Stormo (51st Air Regiment).
Some of them were originally unfinished Macchi C.202 that were finished as Veltros with the available engines at the factories.
Approximately 20 of them were converted following this technique, however, it's not clear if all of them received the 20mm cannons in the wings.
During 1944 eighteen Veltros of the Serie III replaced their cowling machine guns with an additional fuel tank and received the name of Macchi C.205S.
Sources:
1. https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchi_M.C.205
2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters
Some of them were originally unfinished Macchi C.202 that were finished as Veltros with the available engines at the factories.
Approximately 20 of them were converted following this technique, however, it's not clear if all of them received the 20mm cannons in the wings.
During 1944 eighteen Veltros of the Serie III replaced their cowling machine guns with an additional fuel tank and received the name of Macchi C.205S.
Sources:
1. https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchi_M.C.205
2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters
Monday, 20 March 2017
Macchi C.205 - Italian Social Republican Users
The Veltro was also used by the fascist Italian Social Republic which dominated mainly the northern part of the country.
In total twenty nine Veltros made it to the northern airfields when the armistice was declared and Macchi themselves finished the third series with 72 airplanes more before the production was cut down in May 1944 due to allied bombing as the factory was bombed.
The first action with the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana was on 3rd January 1944 when a formation of Veltros, that had still German markings, attacked a formation of Boeing B-17 with their escort of P-38 Lightining. Later, on 24th January, they were transferred to Friulia and on 28th they shot down their first American four engined B-24 Liberator bomber.
They served mainly with the 1º Gruppo (first squadron) and the 3º Gruppo (third squadron) received also some of them. They were scattered through smaller units.
Generally, they served well with the RSI as most of the units were homogeneusly equipped and were guided by German radars. Even if they weren't many, they achieved managed to inflict a respectable amount of losses to Allied bombers and fighters.
Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchi_C.205
2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters
In total twenty nine Veltros made it to the northern airfields when the armistice was declared and Macchi themselves finished the third series with 72 airplanes more before the production was cut down in May 1944 due to allied bombing as the factory was bombed.
The first action with the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana was on 3rd January 1944 when a formation of Veltros, that had still German markings, attacked a formation of Boeing B-17 with their escort of P-38 Lightining. Later, on 24th January, they were transferred to Friulia and on 28th they shot down their first American four engined B-24 Liberator bomber.
They served mainly with the 1º Gruppo (first squadron) and the 3º Gruppo (third squadron) received also some of them. They were scattered through smaller units.
Generally, they served well with the RSI as most of the units were homogeneusly equipped and were guided by German radars. Even if they weren't many, they achieved managed to inflict a respectable amount of losses to Allied bombers and fighters.
Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchi_C.205
2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters
Saturday, 18 March 2017
Macchi C.205 - Foreign users
The Macchi C.205 Veltro (Greyhound) was an Italian fighter of the World War 2 that it's considered as the best Italian one in that conflict. It was used by many foreign users.
- Australia: The No.3 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force captured one Macchi C.205 in Italy during the summer of 1943. It was flown by Brian Eaton, commander of the Squadron who praised the airplane for its maneouvrability and speed.
- Egypt: During the postwar, the Royal Egyptian Air Force bought 62 Veltros, being 41 of them conversions from the Macchi C.202. However due to delivery problems, only 15 of them saw brief combat during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War when some of them, equipped with underwing bomb racks, where used to attack Israeli positions. In January 1949 an Egyptian pilot claimed an Israeli P-51D Mustang in exchange of three Veltros claimed by the Israeli Air Force.
- Germany: The German Luftwaffe equipped the II.Gruppe of the JG.77 for two months, from October until December 1943. They weren't really impressed by the Veltro and they were replaced by the Bf.109.
- Croatia: A small number of Veltros managed to serve with the Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia durin 1944 but they were quickly overwhelmed by the Allied fighters.
Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchi_C.205
2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters
Thursday, 16 March 2017
Avro Manchester - British users
In November 1940, the Manchester entered officially in service with the reformed No.207 Squadron where at least 80 of them were in active by December 1940. Its first mission was an air raid agains the French por of Brest in February 1941but, by April all of them were grounded due to engine troubles and switched back to the obsolete Handley Page Hampden, however in August the operations were resumed even with the initial problems.
While the modifications to correct al those troubles were being conducted, an air raid against Berlin was carried out in November 1941 where of 400 bombers, only 15 of them were Manchester, and when, on 3rd March 1942 a force of 200 bomber attacked the Renault factory, close to Paris, only 25 of them were Manchester.
They took part in the raid on Cologne of 30th May 1942 when 1047 bombers were sent to bomb the city, among them 35 Manchester. In that raid the Victoria Cross was posthumously awarded to the Flying Officer Leslie Manser while piloting a Manchester during the raid.
The last raid of the Manchester was against Bremen, on 25th June 1942 and shortly after, all of them were retired from the active duty. It persisted in second line duties, mainly training and some experimental ones (with the RAF Coastal Command) until 1943 when it was completely retired.
Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Manchester
2. https://defenceoftherealm.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/forgotten-aircraft-avro-manchester/
While the modifications to correct al those troubles were being conducted, an air raid against Berlin was carried out in November 1941 where of 400 bombers, only 15 of them were Manchester, and when, on 3rd March 1942 a force of 200 bomber attacked the Renault factory, close to Paris, only 25 of them were Manchester.
They took part in the raid on Cologne of 30th May 1942 when 1047 bombers were sent to bomb the city, among them 35 Manchester. In that raid the Victoria Cross was posthumously awarded to the Flying Officer Leslie Manser while piloting a Manchester during the raid.
The last raid of the Manchester was against Bremen, on 25th June 1942 and shortly after, all of them were retired from the active duty. It persisted in second line duties, mainly training and some experimental ones (with the RAF Coastal Command) until 1943 when it was completely retired.
Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Manchester
2. https://defenceoftherealm.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/forgotten-aircraft-avro-manchester/
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