Also: Japan stole some from Singapore, and reverse engineered it... Sorry for my missunderstanding... (thought they produced them legaly...)
HoI4 Countdown - it's D-Day, H-Hour minus....
- Thread starter Axe99
- Start date
-
We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
Also: Japan stole some from Singapore, and reverse engineered it... Sorry for my missunderstanding... (thought they produced them legaly...)
The 7.5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 40 would be my contribution. Designed early in the war, while the PaK 38 was actually still performing well, the PaK 40 became the mainstay of German anti-tank guns in the second half of the war, as it was lethal to all but the heaviest of allied (well, Soviet) tanks. It was also adapted for use as a tank gun, in two versions; KwK 40 L/43 and KwK 40 L/48, slightly shorter and longer than the PaK 40 (L/46) respectively. Rheinmetall built over 20,000 of these guns, matching the production of the famous 8.8cm FlaK and dwarfing production of the unrelated 8.8cm PaK 43. The PaK 40 was one of the few guns available early on that could be used effectively against the T-34, and with tungsten rounds could even take on heavy tanks like the KV-1.
I liked that crazy Soviet submachine gun array on a bomber posted earlier, but the Germans came up with their share of crazy designs. They actually put a lightweight auto-loading version of the PaK 40 into a Henschel-129 ground attack aircraft. That's a 75mm anti-tank gun in a barely even medium-sized WWII aircraft! The Americans were the only others to experiment with a 75mm gun in a plane during WWII, but that was a shorter, weaker gun in the much bigger B-25.
I liked that crazy Soviet submachine gun array on a bomber posted earlier, but the Germans came up with their share of crazy designs. They actually put a lightweight auto-loading version of the PaK 40 into a Henschel-129 ground attack aircraft. That's a 75mm anti-tank gun in a barely even medium-sized WWII aircraft! The Americans were the only others to experiment with a 75mm gun in a plane during WWII, but that was a shorter, weaker gun in the much bigger B-25.
- 3
- 1
Some excellent 40s, thanks for sharing all 
. But once again, time marches ever forward (which, if it didn't, we'd be waiting for HoI4 perpetually, which I don't think we'd be that keen on!) and we're no just 39 days away . There are a stack of options for 39 (can anyone think of anything WW2-related that happened in 1939? ), but for mine I'm going with the number of days in combat the US 7th Armoured Division spent in Holland during Operation Market-Garden. While Market-Garden is often thought of primarily as a British and Canadian operation, there are a number of US formations operating in support (albeit as part of British Corps), of which the 7th saw the most combat, protecting the east flank of the allied advance through the Netherlands.
Of course, Market-Garden was no walk in the park, and the 7th were initially engaged in fierce fighting reminiscent of WW1 around Overloon, before taking up a defensive position around Meijel just in time for a German counter-offensive which, with the support of British forces, they repelled.
So, while 39 days may seem like a long time (although it's sooooo much closer than 79, when the thread started), at least we won't be spending it in combat with a battle-hardened Wehrmacht looking to stop us invading their heartland . Well, at least I hope none of us will be .
Here are pics of memorials to the 7ths work at Overloon:
The Brits didn't finish the prototype until after hostilities had ceased, but they did manage (at least according to Wikipedia, but I'm fairly sure I've seen it elsewhere) to cram a 96mm gun into a Mosquito, must have been something in the air over Europe....
. But once again, time marches ever forward (which, if it didn't, we'd be waiting for HoI4 perpetually, which I don't think we'd be that keen on!) and we're no just 39 days away . There are a stack of options for 39 (can anyone think of anything WW2-related that happened in 1939? ), but for mine I'm going with the number of days in combat the US 7th Armoured Division spent in Holland during Operation Market-Garden. While Market-Garden is often thought of primarily as a British and Canadian operation, there are a number of US formations operating in support (albeit as part of British Corps), of which the 7th saw the most combat, protecting the east flank of the allied advance through the Netherlands.Of course, Market-Garden was no walk in the park, and the 7th were initially engaged in fierce fighting reminiscent of WW1 around Overloon, before taking up a defensive position around Meijel just in time for a German counter-offensive which, with the support of British forces, they repelled.
So, while 39 days may seem like a long time (although it's sooooo much closer than 79, when the thread started
), at least we won't be spending it in combat with a battle-hardened Wehrmacht looking to stop us invading their heartland . Well, at least I hope none of us will be .Here are pics of memorials to the 7ths work at Overloon:
The Brits didn't finish the prototype until after hostilities had ceased, but they did manage (at least according to Wikipedia, but I'm fairly sure I've seen it elsewhere) to cram a 96mm gun into a Mosquito, must have been something in the air over Europe....
- 1
U-39 was a Type IXA. She holds the ignoble distinction for being the first U-boat to be destroyed in the war, sunk September 14, 1939, with all of her crew successfully escaping.
- 2
This is a rifle. It is a BIG rifle. The intended target for this rifle, however, is not enemy infantry, but TANKS.
Meet the Panzerbüche 39. An impressive piece of machinery, this baby fired a small 7.92mm bullet with a muzzle-velocity of over 1200m/s, capable of piercing through 25mm of armor at 300 meters - enough to pierce at least the side armor of most tanks faced in 1940.
While that calibre may seem small, take a look at the size of the cartrige:
Later in the war when tanks became more heavily armoured they were mostly employed against armoured cars and other light vehicles until they were withdrawn completely by 1944. But the rifle and its derivates remained the only man-portable ranged anti-tank weapon in use until the introduction of the Panzerfaust in 1943.
- 1
- 1
39th Battalion (Australia)
The 39th Battalion was an infantry unit of the Australian Army. It was originally raised in February 1916 for service during World War I as part of First Australian Imperial Force.
During World War II the battalion was sent to New Guinea in 1942 and between July and August of that year the unit was heavily engaged in the defence of the Kokoda Trail during which time they fought several desperate actions against the Japanese as they attempted to hold out until further reinforcements could be brought up from Port Moresby.
At the end of the battalion's involvement in the fighting in New Guinea, 1,666 men had served in its ranks. The battalion suffered 403 combat casualties, which consisted of 118 killed in action, 13 died of wounds, five died other causes, and 266 wounded in action. Illness and disease also took a heavy toll and as a result, after six months of combat the 39th Battalion's muster roll was only seven officers and 25 other ranks.
Such was their involvement in the battle the unit was disbanded in early July 1943.
For their service during World War II members of the 39th Battalion received the following decorations: two MBEs, one DSO, four DCMs, seven MCs, 10 MMs, one US Distinguished Service Cross and 11 MIDs. The 39th received eight battle honours for the war in 1961; it was the only Australian unit to receive the "Kokoda Trail" battle honour.
The 39th Battalion was an infantry unit of the Australian Army. It was originally raised in February 1916 for service during World War I as part of First Australian Imperial Force.
During World War II the battalion was sent to New Guinea in 1942 and between July and August of that year the unit was heavily engaged in the defence of the Kokoda Trail during which time they fought several desperate actions against the Japanese as they attempted to hold out until further reinforcements could be brought up from Port Moresby.
At the end of the battalion's involvement in the fighting in New Guinea, 1,666 men had served in its ranks. The battalion suffered 403 combat casualties, which consisted of 118 killed in action, 13 died of wounds, five died other causes, and 266 wounded in action. Illness and disease also took a heavy toll and as a result, after six months of combat the 39th Battalion's muster roll was only seven officers and 25 other ranks.
Such was their involvement in the battle the unit was disbanded in early July 1943.
For their service during World War II members of the 39th Battalion received the following decorations: two MBEs, one DSO, four DCMs, seven MCs, 10 MMs, one US Distinguished Service Cross and 11 MIDs. The 39th received eight battle honours for the war in 1961; it was the only Australian unit to receive the "Kokoda Trail" battle honour.
- 1
USS ARIZONA (BB-39)
The Pennsylvania class Battleship USS Arizona was commissioned into the US Navy in 1916. In the 1920s she was transferred to the US Pacific Fleet. She underwent a comprehensive modernization in 1929-1931. In April of 1940, as part of the Pacific fleet, she was transferred to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii as a deterrent to Japanese imperial expansion in the Pacific.
Shortly after 8:00am local time December 7th 1941, the Arizona was attacked by 10 Nakajima B5N "Kate" bombers, 5 each from the carriers Kaga and Hiryu, carrying 16" naval artillery shells modified into armor piercing bombs. The aircraft scored 4 hits. One ricocheted off the face of turret IV and penetrated the deck into the captain's pantry. Another hit near the port edge of the ship, abreast the mainmast and detonated in the area of the anti-torpedo bulkhead. A third struck near the port 5-inch AA gun.
The last bomb hit at 8:06am near turret II, penetrating the deck near the forward ammunition magazine. Seven seconds after the hit, the forward magazine detonated in a massive explosion, destroying much of the interior structure of the forward section of the ship. This caused the forward turrets and conning tower to drop 25-30 feet and the foremast and funnel to collapse forward. The explosion killed 1,177 of the ship's 1,512 crew.
After the attack several sailors received medals for their conduct and actions under fire. Lieutenant Commander Samuel G. Fuqua, the damage control officer, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his cool-headedness while putting out fires and getting survivors off the ship. Posthumous Medals of Honor were awarded to Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd, the first flag officer killed in the war, and Captain Franklin Van Valkenburgh who reached the bridge and was attempting to defend his ship when the bomb hit the ammunition magazines. The ship herself was awarded 1 battle star for her service in WWII.
The Pennsylvania class Battleship USS Arizona was commissioned into the US Navy in 1916. In the 1920s she was transferred to the US Pacific Fleet. She underwent a comprehensive modernization in 1929-1931. In April of 1940, as part of the Pacific fleet, she was transferred to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii as a deterrent to Japanese imperial expansion in the Pacific.
Shortly after 8:00am local time December 7th 1941, the Arizona was attacked by 10 Nakajima B5N "Kate" bombers, 5 each from the carriers Kaga and Hiryu, carrying 16" naval artillery shells modified into armor piercing bombs. The aircraft scored 4 hits. One ricocheted off the face of turret IV and penetrated the deck into the captain's pantry. Another hit near the port edge of the ship, abreast the mainmast and detonated in the area of the anti-torpedo bulkhead. A third struck near the port 5-inch AA gun.
The last bomb hit at 8:06am near turret II, penetrating the deck near the forward ammunition magazine. Seven seconds after the hit, the forward magazine detonated in a massive explosion, destroying much of the interior structure of the forward section of the ship. This caused the forward turrets and conning tower to drop 25-30 feet and the foremast and funnel to collapse forward. The explosion killed 1,177 of the ship's 1,512 crew.
After the attack several sailors received medals for their conduct and actions under fire. Lieutenant Commander Samuel G. Fuqua, the damage control officer, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his cool-headedness while putting out fires and getting survivors off the ship. Posthumous Medals of Honor were awarded to Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd, the first flag officer killed in the war, and Captain Franklin Van Valkenburgh who reached the bridge and was attempting to defend his ship when the bomb hit the ammunition magazines. The ship herself was awarded 1 battle star for her service in WWII.
- 3
The Bell-P-39 Airacobra was one on the main US fighter aircraft in service when America entered the war and was used widely by the Allies especially by the Soviet Union where it scored the highest number of kills attributed to any US Fighter used by the Soviets, it was also used by the RAF, Free French and Italian Air Force after the Italian armistice. It saw heavy use in the Pacific, Mediterranean and Russian theatres and performed well against the Japanese and the 99th Fighter Squadron, also known as the Tuskegee Airmen used the P-39 in Italy but the P-39 shined most in Russia where the 10 highest scoring Soviet aces used the P-39 to score the majority of their kills, the P-39 was so widely used the nearly half of all the P-39s produced served in the Soviet Air Force and the P-39 was still in service with the Soviets as late as 1949.
- 2
I know I'm jumping the gun, but please forgive me. I wanted to be sure that I secured for myself my all-time favorite aircraft of World War II:
Lockheed P-38 Lightning
Can I just say how beautiful I find this aircraft? Four M2 .50cal machine guns, one 20mm cannon; long range, high altitude, great speed, and, yeah, a tendency that it could get the closest of any World War II era fighter to the sound barrier (called "Compressability" back in the day).
I'll actually split the difference of "39", and say that the United States' highest scoring ace was Richard Bong, with 40 kills, all in P-38s. With 38 kills, Thomas McGuire also scored all of his kills in a P-38 before being killed in action. Number seven on the all time kill list was Charles MacDonald, with 27 kills in his P-38. That is three of the top ten aces in the US all flew P-38s.
P-38s were so loved that there is a poem about them:
Oh, Hedy Lamar is a beautiful gal
Madeline Carroll is too
But you’ll find if you query a much different theory
Amongst any bomber crew
That the loveliest thing of which one can sing
This side of the heavenly gates
Is no blonde or brunette of the Hollywood set
But an escort of P-38s
In all the days past when the tables were massed
With glasses of scotch and champagne
It’s quite true that that sight was a thing to delight us
Intent on feeling no pain
But no longer the same nowadays in this game
As we sail onto the missing state
Take your sparkling wine but always make mine
An escort of P-38s
Byron, Shelley and Keats ran each other dead heats
Describing the views from the hills
Of the valleys in May where the winds gently sway
An army of bright daffodils
Take your daffodils Byron, the wild flowers Shelley
Yours is the myrtle, friend Keats
Just preserve me those cuties
All American beauties
An escort of P-38s
Sure we’re braver than hell on the ground all is well
In the air it’s a much different story
As we sweat out our track through the fighters and flak
We’re willing to split up the glory
Well, they wouldn’t reject us so heaven protect us
Until all this shootin’ abates
Give us courage to fight ‘em and another small item
An escort of P-38s
Lockheed P-38 Lightning
Can I just say how beautiful I find this aircraft? Four M2 .50cal machine guns, one 20mm cannon; long range, high altitude, great speed, and, yeah, a tendency that it could get the closest of any World War II era fighter to the sound barrier (called "Compressability" back in the day).
I'll actually split the difference of "39", and say that the United States' highest scoring ace was Richard Bong, with 40 kills, all in P-38s. With 38 kills, Thomas McGuire also scored all of his kills in a P-38 before being killed in action. Number seven on the all time kill list was Charles MacDonald, with 27 kills in his P-38. That is three of the top ten aces in the US all flew P-38s.
P-38s were so loved that there is a poem about them:
Oh, Hedy Lamar is a beautiful gal
Madeline Carroll is too
But you’ll find if you query a much different theory
Amongst any bomber crew
That the loveliest thing of which one can sing
This side of the heavenly gates
Is no blonde or brunette of the Hollywood set
But an escort of P-38s
In all the days past when the tables were massed
With glasses of scotch and champagne
It’s quite true that that sight was a thing to delight us
Intent on feeling no pain
But no longer the same nowadays in this game
As we sail onto the missing state
Take your sparkling wine but always make mine
An escort of P-38s
Byron, Shelley and Keats ran each other dead heats
Describing the views from the hills
Of the valleys in May where the winds gently sway
An army of bright daffodils
Take your daffodils Byron, the wild flowers Shelley
Yours is the myrtle, friend Keats
Just preserve me those cuties
All American beauties
An escort of P-38s
Sure we’re braver than hell on the ground all is well
In the air it’s a much different story
As we sweat out our track through the fighters and flak
We’re willing to split up the glory
Well, they wouldn’t reject us so heaven protect us
Until all this shootin’ abates
Give us courage to fight ‘em and another small item
An escort of P-38s
- 3
- 1
I spent a LOT of hours flying that aircraft (and ofcourse P47s) in the old flight-sim European Airwar. I even have sort of an AAR written from those days
I know I'm jumping the gun, but please forgive me. I wanted to be sure that I secured for myself my all-time favorite aircraft of World War II:
Lockheed P-38 Lightning
Can I just say how beautiful I find this aircraft? Four M2 .50cal machine guns, one 20mm cannon; long range, high altitude, great speed, and, yeah, a tendency that it could get the closest of any World War II era fighter to the sound barrier (called "Compressability" back in the day).
I'll actually split the difference of "39", and say that the United States' highest scoring ace was Richard Bong, with 40 kills, all in P-38s. With 38 kills, Thomas McGuire also scored all of his kills in a P-38 before being killed in action. Number seven on the all time kill list was Charles MacDonald, with 27 kills in his P-38. That is three of the top ten aces in the USA.
You are very correct ... the P-38 is indeed a beautiful aircraft. Here's a little more info should anyone be interested. http://acepilots.com/planes/p38_lightning.html
Can't be 38 days without the Walther P38 Pistol!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walther_P38
I believe it was a coveted war prize among allied troops. At least that what my experience watching band of Brother has taught me
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walther_P38
I believe it was a coveted war prize among allied troops. At least that what my experience watching band of Brother has taught me
- 2
People are so anxious for the game that they start posting ahead... Sorry guys, but time will not care about that, no matter how much we want it to
- 2
People are so anxious for the game that they start posting ahead... Sorry guys, but time will not care about that, no matter how much we want it to
I just wanted to be assured of getting the P-38, but I can't assume responsibility for the lack of attention by others...
Well now it's really 38, so let's get a real 38. Maybe a real nice girl, like the Soviet Dashka?
Or more accurately, the DShK 1938. Basically the Soviet analogue of the M2 Browning, except introduced a couple decades later. Various mounts were available, including a 2-wheel trolley for infantry support use, which could also unfold to an AA tripod. You'd think a 12.7mm machine gun would eventually become obsolete for AA fire, but one of these guns in the hands of the IRA actually downed a British Lynx helicopter in the 80s. While not quite as widespread as the AK-47 family or RPG-7, it's still proliferated across the world and remains in use today.
Here are some Germans with a captured Dashka on an AA tripod:
Or more accurately, the DShK 1938. Basically the Soviet analogue of the M2 Browning, except introduced a couple decades later. Various mounts were available, including a 2-wheel trolley for infantry support use, which could also unfold to an AA tripod. You'd think a 12.7mm machine gun would eventually become obsolete for AA fire, but one of these guns in the hands of the IRA actually downed a British Lynx helicopter in the 80s. While not quite as widespread as the AK-47 family or RPG-7, it's still proliferated across the world and remains in use today.
Here are some Germans with a captured Dashka on an AA tripod:
- 2
People are so anxious for the game that they start posting ahead... Sorry guys, but time will not care about that, no matter how much we want it to
Haha, if only we were able to trick the HoI4 team into releasing early..... Hey everyone, only 5 days to June 6
.Back in the real world, it's now definitely 38 days to June 6, 2016, and we've already had a couple of classy 38s (and some poetry
). For my 38, I'll go with the number of u-boats (38) involved in the largest convoy battle in history, that of convoys HX 229 and SC 122. These two convoys sailed right into three patrol lines of u-boats who, with the benefit of Germn decryption, had a fair idea where to wait. This, coupled with a temporary Ultra being temporarily blinded by changes to German codes, the Allies were unable to divert HX 229 around the danger area (and SC 122, while diverted due to intercepting a u-boat radio transmission, was sported by the edge of the u-boat patrol lines), setting up a running battle between the u-boats and the escort vessels of both convoys from the 16th of March 1943 to the 19th of March, when air support and further escorts brought in to assist the convoys lead to the u-boats backing off.In those three days, the u-boats sank 22 merchant ships for the loss of 1 u-boat, and had the Royal Navy concerned about whether convoys would still prove effective. It's worth remembering as late as March 1943, the Allies were concerned the Germans could possibly win the Battle of the Atlantic.
U-190, one of the u-boats involved in the attack:
From the other side, here's HMS Buttercup, a Flower-class Corvette at the time manned by Free Belgian servicemen, that was part of SC-122's escort group:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convoys_HX_229/SC_122
- 2
I cannot let 38 go by without posting this AFV:
JAGDPANZER 38(t) "HETZER"
Built on a modified version of the Panzer 38(t) chasis and mounting the 7.5cm PaK 39 L/48 gun, the Jadgpanzer 38(t) was intended as a more cost effective alternative to the Jadgpanzer IV and Jadgpanther models. 2,827 were built and it is the most abundant German tank destroyer remaining today.
Here is a video of one that is still operatonal:
The "Hetzer" name comes from confusion in documentation at the Skoda factory with the E-10 concept prototype. This caused the first units equipped with the vehicle to use the designation until matters were corrected. There does exist a briefing paper from Heinz Guderian to Hitler claiming that the Hetzer name had been spontaneously coined in the field by the troops. Post-war historians referencing this popularized the name and it stuck, though the vehicle was never named as such in official documents.
Also it is one of the "cutest" tanks fielded in WWII (though beaten out by the Pzkpfw II Ausf L "Luchs", but that is a post for another day )
And again because I am an unapologetic Otaku and WWII nerd:
JAGDPANZER 38(t) "HETZER"
Built on a modified version of the Panzer 38(t) chasis and mounting the 7.5cm PaK 39 L/48 gun, the Jadgpanzer 38(t) was intended as a more cost effective alternative to the Jadgpanzer IV and Jadgpanther models. 2,827 were built and it is the most abundant German tank destroyer remaining today.
Here is a video of one that is still operatonal:
The "Hetzer" name comes from confusion in documentation at the Skoda factory with the E-10 concept prototype. This caused the first units equipped with the vehicle to use the designation until matters were corrected. There does exist a briefing paper from Heinz Guderian to Hitler claiming that the Hetzer name had been spontaneously coined in the field by the troops. Post-war historians referencing this popularized the name and it stuck, though the vehicle was never named as such in official documents.
Also it is one of the "cutest" tanks fielded in WWII (though beaten out by the Pzkpfw II Ausf L "Luchs", but that is a post for another day
)And again because I am an unapologetic Otaku and WWII nerd:
- 6
Although the "Hetzer" has already been posted, i feel we should honor its origin, the Pz. 38(t). Originally a Czech design (designated the LT-38), it was taken over when Germany absorbed the Czech state into their greater Reich.
The Pz. 38(t) and its lighter cousin the Pz. 35(t) were mainstays in the early war, both being far superior to the Pz. I and Pz. II. In the invasion of France, they equipped the main strike element of the 7th and 8th Panzer divisions (the 7th Panzer being commanded by one Erwin Rommel, and nicknamed "the Ghost Division").
The Pz. 38(t) and its lighter cousin the Pz. 35(t) were mainstays in the early war, both being far superior to the Pz. I and Pz. II. In the invasion of France, they equipped the main strike element of the 7th and 8th Panzer divisions (the 7th Panzer being commanded by one Erwin Rommel, and nicknamed "the Ghost Division").
- 6
This is the MAS 38 - an SMG just entering service of the French Army at the time of the war. It has a quite odd apearance where the barrel is angled downwards compared to the rest of the weapon. This, however, did not prevent the weapon from being a high-quality weapon. Unfortunatley, since France didn't fare that well in the war, this has become something of a "forgotten weapon". Not even 2000 were built before the surrender.
The Germans continued production of the weapon when the facilities were siezed and used them as substitute weapons (designation MP722(f)) and also supplied the Vichy French with the weapon. It is unknown how many were produced under the German occupation.
- 3
- 1
The Type 38 was a Japanese Bolt-Action rifle produced from 1905 till 1945 and was the standard issue rifle for the IJA until 1939 when the Type 99 was introduced. The Type 38 held the honour of being the longest rifle in the war at 50.4 inches long, it was even longer with a type 30 bayonet fixed which most Japanese soldiers had due to an emphasis on bayonet training which is why the rifle was so long in the first place, the average Japanese soldier being 5ft 3in. More than 3 million type 38s were produced for the IJA and as such the rifle was used by many nations after the war including China, both the KMT and PLA used them during the Japanese invasion and after during the Chinese Civil War, Burma, Indonesia, the Vietminh, Thailand and Malaysia. A US study of the rifle after the war found that the Type 38s receiver was the strongest bolt-action of any nation and was capable of handling more powerful cartridges than the 6.5x50mm Arasaka cartridge used.
- 2