Osprey Latest Poll.

I was pleasantly surprised to see Osprey Publishing is looking to re-release or create fresh titles for their New Vanguard Series of vehicles covered in the past. Their list on the poll was I thought vanilla. We had the standards for modern tanks the T72, M1, and the Challenger 2. For IFV (battle taxis) there is the BMP and to round out the list was the late WWII stalwart the Churchill.

For me it was a moment of one of these things is not like the others. When 80% of your list is modern and you are going to offer a WWII vehicle the Churchill does not normally come to mind. But think again, I had a co-worker who was British and he had served in the Army post war (national service?) He was assigned to an engineer unit and they had Churchills. While I am not sure of the variant I want to lean towards the Kangaroo as he talked of it more as a taxi/truck than a specialized piece of engineering equipment.

As of today the vote is close with the M-1 @ 25% followed by BMP (24%), Churchill (19%), T-72 (18%), and the Challenger 2 @14%. Take the time to let Osprey know what you want to see next by go to their home page. Remember those WWII gems severed on for a long time afterwards and have a place in many a Cold War army.

Nieuport 11/16 Bébé vs Fokker Eindecker

In his latest release, Jon Guttman has written another impressive story and one little told in the history of aviation. His Nieuport 11/16 Bébé vs Fokker Eindecker looks at two very important aircraft at the earliest stages of fighter combat. While many other works look at the Eindecker as the Scourge and an earlier period, Guttman looks at its latter history when it was to be eclipsed by more modern fighters.



This work is similar to other Osprey Duel titles as it reviews the development of these weapons. It looks at the strengths and weaknesses of the aircraft and the tactics used. While both aircraft were designed based on earlier models, we find the Eindecker was unable to improve significantly over the faults in the earlier models. These included underpowered engines and the use of wing-warping.



A good book for the modeler, wargamer or just aircraft enthusiast.  I purchased a hard copy of this book, but it is available as an ePub through both Amazon and Osprey Publishing. My purchase was done in part to help support a hobby shop that I found while on vacation in Arizona.

Operation Raviv

My most recent addition to my library is Osprey's Israeli A-4 Skyhawk Units in Combat by Sholomo Aloni. This work covers the history of the aircraft as part of the IDF. With my recent interest in operation Raviv I was pleased to see this paragraph.

From page 22 we have,
“The IDF/IA launched its campaign on 9 September 1969, and that same day the Skyhawk community suffered its second combat loss. No 109 Sqn was tasked with supporting a mechanized assault across the Gulf of Suez, and two four-ship formations duly departed Ramat David that morning. The first was tasked with suppressing an SA-2 battery and the second to fly close air support (CAS) for Israeli troops. Although the SAM site was successfully attacked, the CAS Skyhawks (each loaded with six 500-lb bombs and two rocket pods) were forced to loiter over the designated sector waiting to be allocated a target. With the assault proceeding to plan and their patrol time coming to an end, the pilots decided to target a radar station instead. During this attack the four-ship leader Hagai Ronen became separated from the formation. He was last seen hanging beneath the canopy of his parachute over the Gulf of Suez.”

The Arab Victory Forum (I will not vouch for their facts)has his A-4 being shot down by Egyptian AAA 7,000ft from a position at Zafarana. There was no report of any Egyptian fighter in the area and no reports given to the Egyptian command of the raid until after they let the area. It would appear that the best reason for the loss was from a S-60 or a ZSU.

This will mean the invasion force has a dedicated CAS of at least four A-4s. It is looking even more difficult for the Egyptians. So far the Egyptian Army has three T-55s and a ZSU-1 base coated. Looks like they need more assistance from the Soviet Union.

A-4 painted by Mark

My Work Bench 10/29/2010

There is a new addition to my workbench. Yesterday my QRF Charioteer arrived. Been cleaned up and based. The gun barrel was also strengthened as it was bent back on itself.

This is a great tank for Lebanon. Twenty-four were sold to Jordan in 1954. When Jordan upgraded to the Centurion they were sold to Lebanon. With the start of the Civil War different factions including the PLO, Tigers Militia under Chamoun, and the Lebanese Forces under Gemayel claimed them. The 20 pounder will be a great equalizer in any battle, I am less certain how mobile they were.

I first learned of this gem of a tank in an Osprey. Was only a drawing and a paragraph but it got me interested. Not that it has not happened to anyone else reading this.

 

Also on the bench shown here are three Centurions needing to be base coated and a T34/85 that needs to be washed. The Germans in the back are for a long delayed VBCW faction.