Aviation and Military History
In the period after World War II, the USSR rapidly emerged as the only power on Earth capable of challenging the USA militarily, and as wartime relations cooled toward the ‘Cold War’ situation which dominated global affairs between 1947 and 1989, the USA came to rely on nuclear (and later thermonuclear bombing) as its primary …
Continue reading “Fighters which did not make the cut: The McDonnell F-85 Goblin”
Another example of the penchant of the Nazi hierarchy for the desirability of the massive, the Panzerkampfwagen E-100 (Gerät 383) was a super-heavy tank design which was conceived and developed in the second half of World War II. The concept behind this and other massive weapon types of the same period due to the belief …
Continue reading “The super-heavy tank – the German PzKpfw E-100”
A history of the German Panzerkampfwagen VIII Maus which was a prototype heavy tank designed during WWII – with details of its massive protection as well as limitations because of weight.
A history of the British TOG which was a prototype tank developed during World War II. It was never never put into service as the conditions of war had changed from the 1914-1918 situations.
A history of the US T28 super heavy tank which was a prototype of heavily armoured tank destroyer designed during WWII. This super heavy tank could not use any of the portable bridges then in service and proved unsuitable for service.
More details on the history of the Frenchy heavy tank, Char 2C, and the political and military infighting around its development. Includes specification for the Char 2C bis.
A history of the Caudron C.714, a French lightweight fighter of wooden construction which was beset by many problems in the period immediately before WWII; some of planes were flown by Polish pilots who had escaped to France during WWII.
A history of the Bloch MB.700, a French warplane designed with non-strategic materials to help to maintain France’s supply of steel and light alloys in the period leading to WWII.
At the time of the Munich Crisis in September 1938, when the start of World War II was less than one year distant, it was unclear to the British authorities, in the government, the services and industry, whether or not production of the Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire fighters could be accelerated sufficiently to allow …
Continue reading “Wooden fighters of World War II – the Miles M.20”
A history of the Bell Model 32 (XP-77) which was a lightweight fighter aircraft designed using non-strategic materials; its development was beset by problems and terminated in December 1944.