Tetrarch tanks were flown over on D-Day, 6th June, 1944, for the invasion of France during WW2. Find out more with David Fletcher.
Originally adopted by the British Army as a light tank it became the first British airborne tank.
Many thanks to Vitaly Kuzmin for providing the image of the Tetrarch at Kubinka https://www.vitalykuzmin.net
David Fletcher on the last in the Stuart series. Known unofficially as “Honeys”, the M5A1 Stuart was an improved version of the American’s M3 light tank. They were used by British armoured regiments and by most other Allied armies during WW2. They were fast, reliable and popular with their crews, but outclassed by the German tanks of 1944.
After World War One, the French military set up a program to modernize all of its weaponry, and that included a replacement for the Mle 1916 light infantry cannon. An anti-tank gun had not been necessary during the Great War, as Germany never fielded tanks in substantial numbers — but as a pioneer of the modern tank, the French recognized the need for a good AT gun. Taking a lesson from World War One, they wanted a light gun that was flexible and mobile, easily moved around the battlefield and easily concealed from enemy fire. A 25mm cartridge was specified, and both the Hotchkiss company and the Puteaux arsenal created guns to use it. Both were adopted into service, with the Hotchkiss Mle 1934 being a bit heavier and the Puteaux Mle 1937 being a bit lighter, at only about 600 pounds. The Puteaux gun was quite small, easily moved by a horse or virtually any motorized vehicle. It had a long barrel and the 25mm AP projectile had a muzzle velocity of about 3150 fps, making it quite effective on the light and medium tanks of the 1930s. It was also remarkably accurate, and the long barrel and flash hider gave it a very small firing signature. Aiming was done with either a 4x magnified optic or a set of backup iron sights.
A total of 1285 of these guns were made before the armistice of June 1940, and they served ably in the Battle of France. A few were also used by the British before Dunkirk, and after the armistice they were used by German forces in limited numbers, and also supplied to Spain and Finland as military aid (this particular one has a Finnish property tag on it).
Thanks to DriveTanks.com in Uvalde Texas for giving me access to film this Puteaux cannon for you!
Contact:
Forgotten Weapons
6281 N. Oracle #36270
Tucson, AZ 85740
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In the night of 17 May 1940, confusing reports were reaching French High Command. They spoke of what was thought impossible: The German Army had broken through the Maginot Line in the north. Scattered and panicked soldiers spoke of a “Division Fantôme” – a Ghost Division! It was Generalmajor Erwin Rommel’s 7th Panzer Division that was wreaking havoc in the French rear. In an unauthorized push, Rommel had seized the opportunity to rush the French fortress garrisons by a surprise armor attack straight from the move. Now in open space and with the night sky illuminated by burning French tanks and trucks, it was crucial for the Ghost Division to exploit its tactical victory. Alone and cut off like an island in a sea of enemies, this was easier said than done.
Hosted by: Indy Neidell
Written by: Markus Linke and Indy Neidell
Directed by: Astrid Deinhard and Wieke Kapteijns
Produced by: Pär Sundström, Astrid Deinhard and Spartacus Olsson
Creative Producer: Joram Appel
Community Manager: Maria Kyhle
Executive Producers: Pär Sundström, Joakim Broden, Tomas Sunmo, Indy Neidell, Astrid Deinhard, and Spartacus Olsson
Post-Production Director: Wieke Kapteijns
Edited by: Iryna Dulka
Sound Editing by: Marek Kaminski
Maps by: Eastory – https://www.youtube.com/c/eastory
The Lahti L39 was the Finnish answer to the need for an anti-tank rifle, developed just before the Winter War. The rifle was created by noted Finnish designed Aimo Lahti, who had pressed for it to use a 13.2mm cartridge. However, arguments for using a 20x138B cartridge won out, based on hopes to use that cartridge in both antitank and antiaircraft roles, as well as testing that showed the 20mm projectile to have greater terminal effect.
The L39 was not available for use in the Winter War (having been adopted barely 2 months before the Russian attack), but was used extensively in the Continuation War. While improved tank armor quickly became thick enough to protect against the round, it was used for a variety of anti material roles, attacking machine gun positions, bunkers, light vehicles, and more. In 1944, an anti-aircraft version was also produced, firing in full auto and using 15-round magazines.
Today, ammunition is available from a few companies, typically using lathe-turned new cases and surplus 20mm Vulcan projectiles.
Director Richard Smith looks at Percy Hobart and the incredible weapon he was issued on joining the Home Guard at the start of WW2; a bayonet welded to a pole. Major General Percy Hobart commanded the 79th Armoured Division and gave the revolutionary, specialised tanks used on D-Day their nickname “Hobart’s Funnies”.
Lindybeige: a channel of archaeology, ancient and medieval warfare, rants, swing dance, travelogues, evolution, and whatever else occurs to me to make.
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lindybeige I may have some drivel to contribute to the Twittersphere, plus you get notice of uploads.
When the Nazi war machines tears through Poland, France, and the Soviet Union, people will call it Blitzkrieg. But what is Blitzkrieg and is it anything that unique?
Hosted by: Indy Neidell
Written by: Francis van Berkel
Director: Astrid Deinhard
Producers: Astrid Deinhard and Spartacus Olsson
Executive Producers: Astrid Deinhard, Indy Neidell, Spartacus Olsson, Bodo Rittenauer
Creative Producer: Joram Appel
Post-Production Director: Wieke Kapteijns
Research by: Adam Adkins
Edited by: Mikołaj Cackowski
Sound design: Marek Kamiński
Map animations: Eastory (https://www.youtube.com/c/eastory)
Sources:
Portrait of Basil Liddell-Hart, courtesy National Portrait Gallery
Portrait of Douglas McGarel Hogg, courtesy National Portrait Gallery
IWM H 20697, Q 6337, D 1966
Bundesarchiv
from the Noun Project: Target by RITASYA, documents by DinosoftLab, Tank by mbok sumirna, Armored Car by Martin, Plane by Graphic Enginer, transceiver by Eucalyp
Breaking A Wall Down (With A Hammer) by scampsie https://freesound.org/people/scampsie…
Soundtracks from the Epidemic Sound:
Johannes Bornlof – “Last Man Standing 3”
Reynard Seidel – “Deflection”
Fabien Tell – “Last Point of Safe Return”
Hakan Eriksson – “Epic Adventure Theme 4”
Johannes Bornlof – “The Inspector 4”
Johannes Bornlof – “Death And Glory”
Bonnie Grace – “The Dominion”
Bonnie Grace – “Imperious”
Written and Hosted by: Indy Neidell
Director: Astrid Deinhard
Producers: Astrid Deinhard and Spartacus Olsson
Executive Producers: Astrid Deinhard, Indy Neidell, Spartacus Olsson, Bodo Rittenauer
Creative Producer: Joram Appel
Post-Production Director: Wieke Kapteijns
Research by: Indy Neidell
Edited by: Mikołaj Cackowski
Sound design: Marek Kamiński
Map animations: Eastory (https://www.youtube.com/c/eastory)
Sources:
RIA Novosti archive, image #2567 / Samaryi Guraryi / CC-BY-SA 3.0
Picture of Soviet KV-1 tanks on parade at the Palace Square in Leningrad, Russia, 1 May 1942, courtesy Boris Kudoyarov, Russian International News Agency
IWM HU 81216
Bundesarchiv
Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe
RIA Novosti archive, image #669663
from the Noun Project: Shield by Nikita Kozin, Game by Ecem Afacan
Pz.Kpfw. 35(t) of 6th Panzer Division Russian front, courtesy ConnorMac12 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi…
Soundtracks from the Epidemic Sound:
Phoenix Tail – “At the Front”
Reynard Deidel – “Deflection”
Fabien Tell – “Last Point of Safe Return”
Philip Ayers – “Trapped in a Maze”
Johannes Bornlof – “The Inspector 4”
Rannar Sillard – “March Of The Brave 4”
Max Anson – “Ancient Saga”
Johannes Bornlof – “Deviation In Time”
A TimeGhost chronological documentary produced by OnLion Entertainment GmbH.
From the comments:
World War Two
23 minutes ago (edited)
This video is one of a number of specials we’re doing on the military context to Operation Barbarossa. You can check out Indy’s video about transport vehicles and logistics here: https://youtu.be/4lSCnOltYdY. If you want to help us make a complete documentary series on World War Two through more specials just like this one, you can join the TimeGhost Army on www.patreon.com/timeghosthistory or https://timeghost.tv.
Take care,
Joram
Comments Off on The Tanks of Operation Barbarossa – WW2 Special
As Australia and New Zealand mark ANZAC day this week, The Tank Museum presents a Tank Chat on the Australian Sentinel tank.
The AC1 Sentinel cruiser tank was designed by Australia during the Second World War. Only 65 of these tanks were produced during WW2, as the Australians were eventually supplied with Allied tanks.
Encircled by the Germans in North-West France, the Battle of Arras, 21st May 1940, was a successful Allied counter-attack which allowed French and British troops to be evacuated at Dunkirk. Curator David Willey, presents his talk on the WW2 Battle of Arras from home.
What good is your army if you can’t supply it? As the German army prepares to invade the massive lands of the Soviet Union, it faces hefty production, logistical and supply challenges.
Written and Hosted by: Indy Neidell
Director: Astrid Deinhard
Producers: Astrid Deinhard and Spartacus Olsson
Executive Producers: Astrid Deinhard, Indy Neidell, Spartacus Olsson, Bodo Rittenauer
Creative Producer: Joram Appel
Post-Production Director: Wieke Kapteijns
Research by: Indy Neidell
Edited by: Mikołaj Cackowski
Sound design: Marek Kamiński
Map animations: Eastory (https://www.youtube.com/c/eastory)
Sources:
IWM Q 7084, Q 9333, Q 7105, Q 5238
Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe
Bundesarchiv
from the Noun Project: Lorry by Andrew Cameron, Train by Cipto Nur Khoir, Train by priyanka, screws by Danil Polshin, screw by ibrandify, screw by DinosoftLab
18th German Panzer Division mark, courtesy Plbcr https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi…
Picture of the Achtung-Panzer! cover, courtesy courtesy Drrcs15 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi…
Soundtracks from the Epidemic Sound
Phoenix Tail – “At the Front”
Hakan Eriksson – “Epic Adventure Theme 3”
Rannar Sillard – “March Of The Brave 4”
Johannes Bornlof – “The Inspector 4”
Fabien Tell – “Last Point of Safe Return”
Johannes Bornlof – “Deviation In Time”
Reynard Seidel – “Deflection”
Philip Ayers – “Trapped in a Maze”
Rannar Sillard – “March Of The Brave 10”
A TimeGhost chronological documentary produced by OnLion Entertainment GmbH.
From the comments:
World War Two
3 hours ago
Many think of World War Two as this modern, mechanised, fast-paced, mobile Blitzkrieg war. But despite the flashy propaganda films of soldier-filled trucks and tanks charging through big open fields in Eastern Europe, the German and Soviet war effort heavily relied on horses. In fact, hundreds of thousands of horses were deployed in the German army on the forefront of Operation Barbarossa. Over 2.5 million horses would “serve” in the German army in the entirity of World War Two. Now, our entire channel relies on the hefty horsepower that our community we like to call the TimeGhost Army provides us with. Join the effort and support us on www.patreon.com/timeghosthistory or https://timeghost.tv!
Cheers, Joram
Comments Off on Operation Barbarossa Transport Vehicles and Logistics – WW2 Special
David Fletcher talks through the next Stuart in the series and explains the differences between the variants.
The Stuart is an Second World War American light tank and was supplied to Britain and other Commonwealth countries during WW2 under lend-lease.
