Comments for Obscure historical tidbits...

Obscure historical tidbits...

2007-02-18T14:29:23Z

I find this picture fascinating.

I'll let you figure out why.

Comment from afsister on 2007-02-19

2007-02-20T03:36:00Z

Thanks, JMH!

Comment from Casey Tompkins on 2007-02-18

2007-02-19T03:24:34Z

Reminds me of some of the aviation hand-me-downs for that region. IIRC, the Israelis copped some BF-109s (maybe from Spain, re-engined with the Hispano-Suiza) and B-17s. The Egyptians had Spitfires left over from WW2. So we had the surreal instance of Israeli Messerschmidts escorting Flying Fortresses, and being intercepted by Spits. Yoicks.

Comment from J.M. Heinrichs on 2007-02-18

2007-02-19T02:19:57Z

Afsis The track, er, broke. It appears to have been in close proximity to the impact by a heavy metallic object, travelling at a velocity of not less than a "speeding bullet", on the hull side. Such impacts can be, at minimum, disruptive, but trend generally toward traumatic. But not for the gunner who pressed the trigger. Sabot -> Hard Target = Gratification+++ Cheers

Comment from afsister on 2007-02-18

2007-02-18T23:30:59Z

wot in the helk is wrong with the tracks?

Comment from Murray on 2007-02-18

2007-02-18T23:05:49Z

That may well be part of the current KO status of the wagon.

Comment from Consul-At-Arms on 2007-02-18

2007-02-18T22:38:21Z

The "loose track" looks a little too much so, fubar in fact.

Comment from Murray on 2007-02-18

2007-02-18T20:58:11Z

Yay I guessed it right. Well I got the war and area right anyway. Clearly desert, clearly not DAK therefore post WWII and only an Arab would be dum enough to use them. I say let em have nukes, you know their going to screw up and set them off themselves soon enough. Ask Allenby.

Comment from Blackhawk on 2007-02-18

2007-02-18T19:57:06Z

AW1 Tim, I've got a Macksey book that references Israeli Centurions trading pot shots with a two Syrian MkIVs near Nukheila in Nov 60. The Centurions had 105s...not much of a contest. Israelis kept their Shermans for quite some time. I seem to recal that they still had Super Shermans in their inventory as late as 1982.

Comment from Gwedd on 2007-02-18

2007-02-18T19:54:57Z

Comrades, More images of this vehicle, and a nice discussion about the Syrian Pz IV's may be found here: http://www.fun-online.sk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1943&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=syria&start=0 Post-war purchases from Spain. Nice discussion about them, and they also got some Stuggs in the deal..... Respects,

Comment from John S. on 2007-02-18

2007-02-18T19:18:20Z

Crest on the skirt looks like the Afghan crest, same as used on the Afghan contract ZB30 light machine guns. Terrain certainly looks like the hospitable Afghan countryside.

Comment from Heartless Libertarian on 2007-02-18

2007-02-18T18:05:57Z

AW1 Tim, during the Balkan wars which attended the breakup of Yugoslavia, the Serbs (possibly the Croats and Bosnians as well) were still using T-34s. The Serbs also used US made tank destroyers of WWII vintage-I couldn't tell from the overheads if they were M18s (3" gun) or M36s (90mm). When you've got a tank-any tank-and the other guy doesn't, it's a huge advantage.

Comment from Neffi on 2007-02-18

2007-02-18T18:02:52Z

That looks like a cover on the muzzle brake; look closely and you can see a couple of straps holding it on. Poor buggers never got a shot off... I bet the carcass finished it's days on an Israeli tank gunnery range (unless it's still there, bulldozed to the side and forgotten)

Comment from BillT on 2007-02-18

2007-02-18T17:31:54Z

Looks like that bolt-on, anti-shaped charge armor took a hit from a solid AP shot.

Comment from Gwedd on 2007-02-18

2007-02-18T17:06:45Z

Comrades, The interesting part of the story is that it was knocked out on the Golan Hights, I believe, during the 6-day war. I'm going on deep core memory here, but IIRC, these were Syrian Mk-IV's. They had 4 or 6 of them up there, still in use more than 20 years after WWII ended. I personally think it was criminal of them to be using them in combat. Not because they were outclassed and a danger to their crews in combat, but because there are so damned few left. They OUGHT to have been in a museum somewhere, but alas..... Interesting, though, how so many years later, you have Israelies with Shermans, and Syrians with Panzer IV's..... talk about a surreal engagement. Respects,

Comment from Blackhawk on 2007-02-18

2007-02-18T16:58:29Z

Coffee hasn't kicked in yet. Meant the muzzle brake looks plugged (or covered?), not bore evacuator.

Comment from Blackhawk on 2007-02-18

2007-02-18T16:48:17Z

Later model MkIV (long 75 and bolt on armor on turret). Also the bore evacuator looks plugged. Did they stick their nose in the dirt?

Comment from Neffi on 2007-02-18

2007-02-18T16:38:58Z

A knocked-out MkIV... whats that crest on the turret skirt? I can't make it out.