HoI4 Countdown - it's D-Day, H-Hour minus....

[Axe99]

Some great 57s there . Tell you waht @Harada.Taro, U-57 did alright for a type IIC, knocking over 56K tons of shipping, in less than a year of the war!

But blink and you miss it - we're down to 56 days . I found it a little trickier finding something for 56, so I'm afraid went with something naval ( ). The vessel you see below is a PCE, or "Eagle Boat", and this post is specifically about PCE-56. It was part of a class of 60 anti-submarine patrol craft built by the Ford Motor Company in WW1, and they weren't particularly good sea-boats. However, the US had a shortage of escorts at the start of WW2, so PCE-56 (as well as seven other surviving Eagle Boats) went back into action (despite being quite unpopular, due to poor sea-handling).

It patrolled off the East Coast of the US from 1942 through to April 1945, when it exploded amidships and broke into two. The official Naval Inquiring into the sinking decided it was a boiler explosion, but (unlike the 110ft WW1 US sub-chasers, which had an unfortunate habit of exploding) no other Eagle Boats had similar issues, the Destroyer that came to pick up survivors got a clear sonar contact, 5 of the 13 survivors claim to have seen a submarine (and accurately described the logo on the submarine) during the sinking and at least one U-boat was known to be in the area. The finding of the inquiring was so bad that in 2001 it was overturned, the only official Naval inquiry to have been done so (at least as at 2007, according to the Wiki), and purple hearts were awarded to three surviving survivors, and next of kin of the rest of the crew.

I found the full story an interesting read as well, for any interested in more detail: http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=6892

 

[Harada.Taro]

It would be a bit easy for me to claim

U 56 a type II-C commissioned 26/11/1938 sunk / scuttled on 28/04/1945 at Kiel harbor after a somewhat peaceful war only 29600 tons sunk in 12 patrols.

So I claim Focke Wolf 56 single engine, high wing monoplane which flew first in 1933 and was built at nearly 1000 exemplary massively exported to german allies/partners. Powered by a 235HP inverted V8 engine water cooled made by Argus. Max speed around 280 km/H armement 2 MG17 7.62mm and up to two 30kg bombs.

 

[Wyrm]

Helmut Wick was the leading German fighter-ace before he was shot down on Nov 28th, 1940. He was reported missing, presumed dead. At the time he had 56 confirmed aerial victories under his belt.

 

[Axe99]

A bit crook today, so a shorter post, but at 55 days from HoI4, how about the Fiat G.55 . Arguably Italy's best fighter of the war, it sadly didn't see a lot of action as Italy surrendered before it had received widespread use, and after the surrender there were difficulties producing it in numbers (not least due to Allied bombing), but it did see some action with the air force of the Northern Italian fascist state, and the Luftwaffe. It apparently gave a good account of tself when up against Spitfires and Mustangs, and fared well in trials with respect to the Fw190 A5 and Bf109 G4, with good performance at low and high altitudes.

Here's the second prototype .

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_G.55#Operational_history

 

[GermanPower]

http://www.tigerdivision.com/55aeb.html

These were the men who destroyed various bridges to stop the German advanced during the battle of the bulge!

 

[Harada.Taro]

German 5.5 cm/77 (2.17") Gerät 58 (55 mm gun)

A designed replacement gun for the old twin 37mm anti air gun in 1944. It might have served in the Kriegsmarine and Heer. It was a very potent AA gun with a rate of fire of 120/150 shells per minute and an effective range of 4 km. One other interesting point was that it was made of non alloy steel, an important fact when Germany came short in alloy steel in the last years of war. Only two prototypes were built, as many other prototypes it never reached assembly line due to Germany's fall.

 

[Harada.Taro]

A bit crook today, so a shorter post, but at 55 days from HoI4, how about the Fiat G.55 . Arguably Italy's best fighter of the war, it sadly didn't see a lot of action as Italy surrendered before it had received widespread use, and after the surrender there were difficulties producing it in numbers (not least due to Allied bombing), but it did see some action with the air force of the Northern Italian fascist state, and the Luftwaffe. It apparently gave a good account of tself when up against Spitfires and Mustangs, and fared well in trials with respect to the Fw190 A5 and Bf109 G4, with good performance at low and high altitudes.

Here's the second prototype .

Trouble with italian planes was that italy's industry was unable to provide greater than 800hp engine.... They had to purchase BMW motors otherwise they were able to make highly manoeuvrable planes with good firepower (often 3x 20mm and 2x 7.7mm) and their pilot were skilled. Once again Italian's aeronotica was plagued by bad politic decisions and poor leadership...

 

[Axe99]

We're now only 54 days out from HoI4 now, and if you can last that long, then you can lost longer than the Commonwealth forces were able to defend Malaya . In 54 days, a heavily outnumbered Japanese force pushed into Malaya, facing a range of Commonwealth units, and repeatedly outflanked and outfought them to reach the causeway that led to Singapore proper. While the Japanese were aided by overwhelming superiority in aircraft (more and better) and tanks, and the AA of Prince of Wales and Repulse not functioning well when they needed it most (Prince of Wales and Repulse were sunk by Japanese land-based aircraft, as they attempted to intercept Japanese landing forces), they were also very well lead and it was the earliest, clearest demonstration* to the Allies that Japan was anything but a second-rate force.

Here's a pic of allied gunners defending against a Japanese attack:

And a pic of Japanese troops advancing through a Jotor Bahru

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayan_Campaign

* Given that they'd clearly been paying no attention to Japanese performance in China.

 

[AOW]

In addition to the Douglas C-54 transport plane I found another significant reference to "54" for WW2 ....

54 World War II combat correspondents killed in action.

"Fifty four were killed in action. That’s a huge slice from the 500 who were “accredited for service (meaning for rations and quarters) with US Forces in the field.” This website is their story related from the first death in May, 1940, to the last, Ernie Pyle, on 18 April 1945. "

From ... http://www.54warcorrespondents-kia-30-ww2.com/

Interesting reading about those brave men.

 

[Harada.Taro]

Here is our Tachikawa Ki 54

A japanese twin engine training plane, responding to a demand from the Imperial Japanese Army for a new training craft in late 30's It first flew on 1940 and entered service in 1941, remaining in use until 1952 with the last users being China. Around 1450 exemplaries have been built and widely used by Japan, its allies and some asian countries after war. France even flew some captured after the liberation of indochine.

It was powered by 2 hitachi radial engine nine cylinder of 510hp each and could reach 375km/h as top speed cruise was way lesser at 250km/h and an operation radius of a little more than 900km. One of its variant received 4x 7.7mm machine gun and another was able two carry a couple sea mines. According those who polited it was an highly manoeuvrable aircraft for its size but totaly underpowered.

Only three survivors are known to still exist two only as fuselages, wings lost... one complete actually in Japan for restoration and exposition.

 

[Imminentstorm]

USS Hermitage (AP-54) was a troop transport that served with the US Navy during WWII. She was the re-purposed Italian luxury Liner SS Conte Biancamano.

While serving with the Navy, the former luxury liner had sailed approximately 230,000 miles and transported 129,695 passengers.

 

[GermanPower]

Hitlers 54th birthday. The last one where any hope of Germany victory was in the minds of his
generals!

 

[Axe99]

Some excellent 54s, love your work all and thanks for sharing . But don't stop now - we're another day closer to HoI4 . In just 53 days we'll be (hopefully virtually!) smashing through the Ardennes, fighting on the beaches or similar .

My 53 is the number of B-24s lost on Operation Tidal Wave, on the 1st of August 1943. A USAAF operation to bomb oilfields in Romania, launched from airfields in Southern Italy and Libya, it suffered terrible casualties (the second largest loss on a single mission ever suffered by the USAAF) - of 177 B-24 Liberators, 53 were destroyed and 55 damaged. It was a daytime raid, in part because the USAAF had carried out an earlier raid on the Romanian oilfields and met minimal resistance. What they didn't know, however, was that in response to that raid the Axis had put in place an effective integrated air defence network, making their low-altitude approach (to avoid radar) far more dangerous than expected. When the Allied Bombers arrived in the target area, the Germans and Romanians were expecting them, and took a heavy toll. The US Airmen continued their attack despite the opposition, but while they did significant damage to the refinery, it was repaired within weeks, and as the refineries were not operating at full capacity at that time, had limited strategic impact. Their bravery was recognised, with five medals of honour awarded for the action, three posthumously.

Here's a pic of a B-24 in action during the raid.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Tidal_Wave

 

[Wyrm]

Here we have the Cushman Model 53 Airborne Scooter. A probably much overlooked utility vehicle of the war

In the game, I hope we can have a tank-destroyer variant with a 90mm gun strapped onto it

 

[uglyduckling81]

Here we have the Cushman Model 53 Airborne Scooter. A probably much overlooked utility vehicle of the war

In the game, I hope we can have a tank-destroyer variant with a 90mm gun strapped onto it

Paratroopers now need fuel supply as well.

 

[panzerzombie]

Here we have the Cushman Model 53 Airborne Scooter. A probably much overlooked utility vehicle of the war

In the game, I hope we can have a tank-destroyer variant with a 90mm gun strapped onto it

Like this french ACMA Troupes Aeról Portées Mle. 56 ?

post-war and "only" with a 75mm Recoilless gun

 

[Harada.Taro]

But who are they ?

Just a stafel of Kampfgeschwader 53 Legion Condor. A bomber unit formed in early 1939 and active to the end of the war on He 111

The list of their commandants

• Oberst Philipp Zoch, 1 May 1939 - 31 Jul 1939
• Oberst Erich Stahl, 1 Aug 1939 - Dec 1940
• Oberst Paul Weitkus, 15 Dec 1940 - 31 Oct 1942
• Obesrt Karl-Eduard Wilke, 1 Nov 1942 - 31 Mar 1943
• Obstlt Fritz O. Pockrandt, 14 Apr 1943 - Apr 1945

The designation on their aircraft was A1 as seen here. (real pic taken away due to a request about the svastika on the plane tail.... will be hard to find real pics of German planes without it....)

 

[uglyduckling81]

But who are they ?

Just a stafel of Kampfgeschwader 53 Legion Condor. A bomber unit formed in early 1939 and active to the end of the war on He 111

The list of their commandants

• Oberst Philipp Zoch, 1 May 1939 - 31 Jul 1939
• Oberst Erich Stahl, 1 Aug 1939 - Dec 1940
• Oberst Paul Weitkus, 15 Dec 1940 - 31 Oct 1942
• Obesrt Karl-Eduard Wilke, 1 Nov 1942 - 31 Mar 1943
• Obstlt Fritz O. Pockrandt, 14 Apr 1943 - Apr 1945

The designation on their aircraft was A1 as seen here.

Have to give it to the Germans, their uniforms looked amazing.

 

[Oddb@ll]

53 ey? Stalin died in 1953, if that counts for something!

 

[Bennyy]

Have to give it to the Germans, their uniforms looked amazing.

That's Hugo Boss for ya