Coastal Command was formed in 1936, taking over from the Coastal Area organization which
Coastal Command was formed in 1936, taking over from the Coastal Area organization which existed from 1919 to 1936.To begin with other arms of the RAF had priority and Coastal Command had to make do with obsolete planes and weapons. Their main weapon was a small bomb that had to hit the submarine. Early operational results were very poor. In 1941 experiments began on a modified depth charge to be dropped from the air. After a successful series of tests, the bomb was replaced with the depth charges. Also in 1941 Coastal Command received better planes from bomber command as they introduced new aircraft which allowed their older bomber designs to be sent to Coastal Command. The introduction of the Leigh light in 1942 made accurate night attacks on U-boats possible denying them the freedom to recharge their batteries at night. One of the most effective short-range aircraft used by Coastal Command was the Beaufighter operating with rockets and depth charges against German U-boats they were also used in attacks on other German shipping. More important to Coastal Command were the long range aircraft such as the Short Sunderland, catalina, liberator and B17 flying fortress which finally allowed Coastal Command to cover all the North Atlantic in the middle of 1942. By 1943 the improvement in aircraft, tactics and the introduction of electronic aids such as radar improved the effectiveness of Coastal Command and as the number of shipping losses decreased the U-Boat kill-rate rose. It was not just the losses of UBoats that helped save the convoys it was also the constant harassment by the planes as submarines were unable to approach the convoys in daylight or run in on the surface at night to attack. It wasn't just Coastal Command who won the battle against the U Boat of course a large part was also due to the new tactics and equipment of the convoy escorts and anti-submarine hunting groups as well as the Canadian and American navy's, air forces's.
During the war Coastal Command flew over 240,000 operations, sunk 212 U-boats and destroyed 478,000 tons of shipping. 1,777 aircraft were lost, with 5,866 personnel killed in action. Coastal Command itself ceased to exist on the 28 November 1969.
For anybody that's interested in 20th century military and home front collecting have a look at my web site to see my collection.There are also more videos plus speeches and news broadcasts of the 20th century. And veteran recording. Plus don't miss the veterans section look for the poppy.
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Added: 1 week ago
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In 1942 things were not going well for the British and Commonwealth forces in north Afric
In 1942 things were not going well for the British and Commonwealth forces in north Africa. In early August Winston Churchill replaced General Auchinleck as C-in-C Middle East with General Sir Harold Alexander. Lieutenant-General Gott was to take command of Eighth Army but was killed soon after being chosen, when the transport plane he was travelling in was shot down so Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery became Eighth Army commander. At the end of August Rommel attacked the El Alamein defensive line and was stopped at Alam el Halfa ridge. After six weeks of building up his forces in which the 8th army received 300 Sherman tanks Montgomery attacked with 220,000 men and 1100 tanks against 115,000 men and 559 tanks of Rommel's forces. A number of these tanks were poor Italian tanks which could not match the new Sherman's. The battle started on October 23with over 800 artillery guns firing at the German and Italian lines. by November 2nd 1942, Rommel knew that he was beaten. Hitler ordered the Afrika Korps to fight to the last but Rommel refused to carry out this order. On November 4th, Rommel started his retreat. 25,000 Germans and Italians had been killed or wounded in the battle and 13,000 Allied troops in the Eighth Army.
For anybody that's interested in 20th century military and home front collecting have a look at my web site to see my collection.There are also more videos plus speeches and news broadcasts of the 20th century. Plus veteran recording. And don't miss the veterans section look for the poppy.
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Added: 1 month ago
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The war often called the "Boer War" is the Second Boer War. The first Boer war 1880--1881,
The war often called the "Boer War" is the Second Boer War. The first Boer war 1880--1881, was a relatively brief and small-scale conflict. This video is about the second Boer war 1899-1902 which was the first major international conflict of the twentieth century. It was fought between the British empire and the two independent Boer republics of the orange free state and the south African Republic (Transvaal Republic). After a hard-fought war, the two independent republics lost and were absorbed into the British Empire. The first year of the war was mainly a conventional war unfortunately as always seems to be the case the British army was fighting with the last wars tactics. But this time they were up against an enemy with the best weapons that money could buy, better tactics and they were excellent shots. Were as the British army was still relying on mass manoeuvring, frontal assaults and volley fire with disastrous results. Eventually they changed they tactics and won the conventional war then came a long period of guerrilla warfare which the British finally won through the use of "scorched earth" tactics, including the use of concentration camps, however these were not places of forced labour, systematic abuse and mass murder as they would become under the Nazis although conditions in the British run camps were severely criticized. The deaths in the camps were mainly coursed by disease through the unsanitary conditions due to the incompetence and stupidity of the people running them rather than malice. Unfortunately the army did not treat its troops any better of the 22,000 British soldiers who died 7,792 were battle casualties, the rest were through disease. For anybody that's interested in 20th century military and home front collecting have a look at my web site to see my collection.There are also more videos plus speeches and news broadcasts of the 20th century. Plus veteran recording. And don't miss the veterans section look for the poppy.
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Added: 2 months ago
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My tribute to the Harrier. I have used a mixture of footage from air shows and war time. T
My tribute to the Harrier. I have used a mixture of footage from air shows and war time. The Harrier's beginning's were with the Hawker p.1127 . Design began in 1957 by Sir Sydney Camm , Ralph Hooper and Sir Stanley Hooker of the Bristol engine company. The first vertical take-off was on 21 October 1960. The P.1127 developed into the Hawker Siddeley Kestrel FGA.1. The Kestrel was strictly an evaluation aircraft, and only nine were produced, the first flying on march 7 1964. At the time of the development of the P.1127, Hawker had started on a design for a supersonic version, the Hawker p1154. After this was cancelled in 1965, the RAF began looking at a simple upgrade of the Kestrel as the P.1127(RAF). In mid-1966, the P.1127(RAF) was ordered by the RAF as the Harrier GR.1, with the first preproduction aircraft flying the following year.The Harrier GR.3 featured improved sensors countermeasures and a further upgraded Pegasus Mk 103. This model saw a lot service in the Falklands war mainly for ground attack. Also the BAE Sea Harrier FRS.1 which was mainly for fleet air defence. The Sea Harrier, developed from the GR.3, was important to the naval activities. Twenty Sea Harriers were operated from the carriers HMS Hermes and Invincible . Although they destroyed 21 argentine aircraft in air combat with no loss there were not enough of them to establish complete air superiority and prevent Argentine attacks and daily flights of C-130 Hercules transports to the islands. The the countries that use the Harrier are Britain, America, Spain and Thailand. For anybody that's interested in 20th century military and home front collecting have a look at my web site to see my collection.There are also more videos plus speeches and news broadcasts of the 20th century. Plus veteran recording. And don't miss the veterans section look for the poppy. http://server.microlite16.com/josephs-militaria-and-homefron t-collection.co.uk/
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Added: 3 months ago
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I have used a mixture of old and new footage with lots of gun camera action. The Hurrica
I have used a mixture of old and new footage with lots of gun camera action. The Hurricane was designed by Sir Sydney Camm. It was made with a braced steel tube construction, with wooden frames and fabric covering. It was not as good as the best fighters of the times but it could take a lot of punishment and was reliable and easy to produce in quantity. The RAF placed it's first orders in 1936, so it was largely in place for the beginning of WWII. This was the main reason why it bore the brunt of the fighting in the Battle of Britain from Aug-Oct., 1940. Due to the differences in abilities between it and the Spitfire, the Hurricane was given the task of attacking German bombers, while the Spitfires went after the Bf109s and 110s. Three major variants were made during the war including naval varieties. It fought in all of the theatres. It performed well as an interceptor, fighter-bomber, night fighter and ground attack craft. A total of 14,233 were built.
For anybody that's interested in 20th century military and home front collecting have a look at my web site to see my collection.There are also more videos plus speeches and news broadcasts of the 20th century. Plus veteran recording. And don't miss the veterans section look for the poppy.
http://server.microlite16.com/josephs-militaria-and-homefron t-collection.co.uk/
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Added: 3 months ago
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My tribute to the Lancaster. I have used a mixture of old and new footage and of course I
My tribute to the Lancaster. I have used a mixture of old and new footage and of course I could not do a video about Lancaster's without showing 617 squadron the dam busters. The Lancaster originated from the twin-engined Manchester it was plagued by instability and problems with its complex, 24 cylinder Rolls Royce Vulture engines. Of the 202 Manchester's built more were lost to engine failure than enemy action. The aircraft's designer, Roy Chadwick, realized that the aircraft had serious shortcomings and made plans for its modification. He added twelve feet to the wingspan and replaced the two troublesome Vulture engines with four of the proven Rolls Royce Merlin's V-12's and the result was the Lancaster which made its maiden flight in January, 1941 and it first flew operationally in March 1942 and was well liked by its crews.
The Rolls Royce Merlin engines were much in demand for many types of aircraft. For this reason a version of the aircraft was produced which made use of Bristol Hercules radial engines. During World War II the Lancaster was the most successful bomber used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force.The Lanc had speed, ceiling, and lifting power that no other aircraft of the day could match. Weighing 36,900 pounds empty, the Lancaster was capable of taking off with an additional 33,100 pounds of fuel and bombs; in other words it could almost carry its own weight again.The Lanc's massive bomb bay stretched for 33 feet and, unlike other bombers, was one continuous uninterrupted space. Partly for this reason, the Lanc had the versatility to undertake raids with large, specialized weapons. The "Grand Slam", a 22,000 pound special purpose bomb designed to penetrate concrete and explode below the surface to create an earthquake effect, could only be delivered by the Lancaster and the Lancaster was thus chosen for special operations such as the "Dambusters" raid and the attack which sunk the German Battleship Tirpitz. Of the total of 7377 Lancaster's built (430 of them in Canada), 3932 were lost in action. During the war Lancaster's flew a total of 156 308 sorties and dropped 608,612 tons of bombs, and placed over 12,000 mines in enemy waters. The RAF continued to use the aircraft in various roles including photographic and maritime duties until October 1956. The Royal Canadian Air Force, continued to use the aircraft in photographic and maritime reconnaissance roles until the early 1960's. The last three RCAF Lancaster's were retired at a ceremony on April 1, 1964.
Marshall of the Royal Air Force Sir Arthur T. Harris,wartime chief of Bomber Command wrote his own tribute to the aircraft.
"The finest bomber of the war! Its efficiency was almost incredible, both in performance
And in the way it could be saddled with ever-increasing loads without breaking the camel's back.
The Lancaster far surpassed all the other types of heavy bombers.
Not only could it take heavier bomb loads, not only was it easier to handle,
And not only were there fewer accidents than with other types,
The casualty rate was also consistently below those of other types."
"The Lancaster took the major part in winning the war with its attacks on Germany.
On land it forced the Germans to retrieve from their armies half their sorely needed
Anti-tank guns for use by over a million soldiers who would otherwise have been serving in the field.
The Lancaster won the naval war by destroying over one-third of the German submarines in their ports,
Together with hundreds of small naval craft and six of their largest warships.
Above all, the Lancaster won the air war by taking the major part in forcing Germany to concentrate
On building and using fighters to defend the Fatherland, thereby depriving their armies of
Essential air and particularly bomber support."
It excelled in many other roles including daylight precision bombing, and gained worldwide renown as the "Dam Buster" used in the 1943 Operation Chastise raids on Germany's Ruhr Valley dams.
For anybody that's interested in 20th century military and home front collecting have a look at my web site to see my collection.There are also more videos plus speeches and news broadcasts of the 20th century. Plus veteran recording. And don't miss the veterans section look for the poppy.
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Added: 3 months ago
Views: 1,375
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The battle for Burma turned out to be the longest British and Commonwealth land Campaign
The battle for Burma turned out to be the longest British and Commonwealth land Campaign of World War Two. In August 1943 the Allies created South East Asia Command (SEAC) a new combined command responsible for the South-East Asian Theatre, under Admiral Louis Mountbatten. This video is mainly about the British Fourteenth Army under Lieutenant General William Slim and the Chindits under the command of Brigadier Orde Wingate trained to use guerilla tactics they infiltrated through the Japanese front lines and marched deep into Burma with the initial aim of cutting the main north-south railway in Burma, in an operation codenamed Operation Longcloth. Some 3,000 men entered Burma in many columns. They did cause damage to the communications of the Japanese in northern Burma cutting the railway for possibly two weeks, but they suffered heavy casualties. The Chindits proved that British and Indian soldiers could live, move and fight as effectively as the Japanese in the jungle. The second Chindits incursion was much larger and involved glider landings as well as marching columns unfortunately Brigadier Orde Wingate the creator of the Chindits was killed in a plane crash as the operation started. During the video you will see Brigadier Orde Wingate briefly wearing a pith helmet jut before the Chindits take off in there gliders. Also during the video you will hear Lieutenant General William Slim making a speech to the troops about the re capture of Mandalay. It was not just British, Commonwealth and empire troops involved in Burma I also must mention before I get any complaints the American and Chinese with a special mention for Merrill's Marauders which I recommend reading about.
For anybody that's interested in 20th century military and home front collecting have a look at my web site to see my collection.There are also more videos plus speeches and news broadcasts of the 20th century. Plus veteran recording. And don't miss the veterans section look for the poppy.
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Added: 4 months ago
Views: 1,354
Winston Churchill wrote that "the only thing that ever really frightened me during the war
Winston Churchill wrote that "the only thing that ever really frightened me during the war was the U-boat peril".
The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest and the most decisive battle of WW11. Starting on the first day of the war and finishing on the last day it was a battle at sea between Allied merchant ships and their escorts and mainly German U-boats but also surface raiders and aircraft. Christened the Battle of the Atlantic by Winston Churchill on 6 March 1941. To survive, Britain needed imports of food, fuel and raw materials from overseas.If the battle had been lost it would have been the end for Britain. There would have been no base for the western Allies to launch a strategic air offensive or a land invasion of the continent to defeat Germany and Hitler would have been free to concentrate all his resources against the Soviet Union. I was inspired to make this video by reading of the experience of Battle of the Atlantic veteran Dennis Russell he was a radio operator aboard HMS Tartar a Tribal Class Destroyer, part of the 10th Flotilla guarding the Atlantic convoys.
For anybody that's interested in military and home front collecting have a look at my web site to see my collection.There are also more videos plus speeches and news broadcasts of the 20th century. Plus veteran recording. And don't miss the veterans section look for the poppy were you can find out more about Dennis Russell and other veterans.
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Added: 4 months ago
Views: 2,035
My tribute to the Spitfire.the most beautiful plane ever. Designed by R.J. Mitchell workin
My tribute to the Spitfire.the most beautiful plane ever. Designed by R.J. Mitchell working for Supermarine. It first flew on march the 5th 1936 and full production commenced in June 1936 and ended on the 20th of February 1948 the total made was 20,351 Spitfires and 2408 Seafires. There were two engines used the Rolls-Royce Merlin and the Griffin in later modals. I have used a mixture of old and modern footage with some gun camera action.
For anybody that's interested in military and home front collecting have a look at my web site to see my collection.There are also more videos plus speeches and news broadcasts of the 20th century. Plus veteran recording. And don't miss the veterans section look for the poppy.
http://server.microlite16.com/josephs-militaria-and-homefron t-collection.co.uk/
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Added: 4 months ago
Views: 1,589
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