Simons Military Stuff

Vintage footage in colour of a squadron of Avro Lancasters

The M4 Sherman, one of the most widely used Allied tanks during World War II, stands at the center of a historical debate regarding its effectiveness. On one hand, the Sherman was lauded for its mechanical reliability, ease of production, and versatility, which allowed it to be deployed in large numbers across various theaters of war. Its adaptability to different combat roles and conditions made it a backbone of Allied armored forces. However, the Sherman faced criticism for its less formidable armor and firepower, especially when compared to German tanks like the Tiger and Panther. Critics argue that these shortcomings led to higher vulnerability in tank engagements, a point often highlighted in accounts of battles where Shermans faced superior German armor. Despite this, the Sherman’s contribution to the Allied war effort, owing to its sheer numbers and operational flexibility, remains a significant aspect of its legacy, making it a subject of enduring debate among historians and military enthusiasts regarding its status as a "good" tank. #M4Sherman #WWIIHistory #TankWarfare #MilitaryVehicles #ArmoredWarfare #AlliedForces #ShermanTank #WorldWar2Tanks #HistoryBuff #WarMachines

Operation Carthage, conducted on 21 March 1945, was a British air raid targeting the Gestapo headquarters in Copenhagen, aimed at disrupting Nazi operations and aiding the Danish resistance. Despite meticulous planning, the operation led to significant unintended civilian casualties, notably at a nearby school, resulting in the tragic loss of 125 lives including 86 schoolchildren. While achieving its primary objective of debilitating Gestapo operations, the raid left a stark reminder of the high human cost of warfare, even with precision targeting. The contrasting outcomes of Operation Carthage reflect the complex and often painful calculus involved in military operations during wartime. #OperationCarthage #WorldWarII #BritishAirRaid #GestapoHeadquarters #CopenhagenRaid #CollateralDamage #MilitaryHistory #DanishResistance #RAF #HistoricMissions

The P-38 Lightning, designed by Lockheed's engineering team led by Hall Hibbard and Clarence "Kelly" Johnson, was an iconic American fighter aircraft of World War II. It was a radical departure from traditional fighter design, featuring a unique twin-boom structure and utilizing two Allison V-1710 engines that delivered 1,000 horsepower each. While it faced numerous challenges in its early service years, including engine failures and issues related to aerodynamic compressibility, it became one of the most formidable fighter planes of the era. Its technical difficulties were largely addressed through design modifications and the introduction of dive flaps. Despite being less effective in the cold climates of Europe, the P-38 excelled in the Pacific theater, proving its worth in various combat roles. Though its introduction was fraught with challenges, it ultimately became a versatile and highly effective weapon, securing its place in aviation history. #P38Lightning #WWIIAircraft #Lockheed #TwinBoom #AeroHistory #CombatReady #PacificTheater #AviationInnovation #AircraftDesign #Warbird #militaryaviationhistory #aviationhistory #worldwar2 #militaryaviation

The HMS Furious, initially conceived as a modified Courageous-class battlecruiser, underwent significant transformations to become an instrumental aircraft carrier for the Royal Navy during the early 20th century. Commissioned amidst the tumult of World War I, its design evolved to accommodate a full-length flight deck, marking a shift in naval warfare strategies. Perhaps most notably, on 19 July 1918, HMS Furious spearheaded a historic air raid—launching seven Sopwith Camels that successfully targeted and destroyed German Zeppelins and their sheds at Tondern. This operation heralded the era of carrier-based airstrikes. Post World War I, in the 1920s, HMS Furious further contributed to naval aviation advancements, facilitating the first carrier night-landing in 1926. As World War II unfurled, HMS Furious transitioned to various roles, from hunting German raiders in the North Atlantic to supporting operations during the Norwegian Campaign and later ferrying aircraft. Its service culminated in 1945, post which it was decommissioned and eventually scrapped in 1948, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and adaptability in naval aviation. #HMSFurious #RoyalNavy #NavalAviation #AircraftCarrier #WorldWarI #WorldWarII #TondernRaid #SopwithCamels #CarrierBasedAirStrike #NavalHistory #MilitaryInnovation #CarrierEvolution

The Martin B-26 Marauder gained a reputation for the death of young inexperienced pilots. The USAAF commissioned this video as part of a wider propaganda push. Lean more here: https://youtu.be/_frO1IeLmlM #B-26 #B26 #B26maruader #marauder #aircraft #militaryaviationhistory #aviationhistory

The B-26's nicknames included the “Widow Maker”, the “Baltimore Whore”, the "Flying Coffin", the "B-Dash-Crash", and the “Flying Prostitute”, so named because it had no visible means of support. Its high speed, highly strung nature killed young inexperienced pilots, the USAAF and Martins initial reaction was to smother the problem via propaganda. Link to USAAF video: https://youtu.be/wTq2y2BO6bI #B-26 #B-26Marauder #militaryaviationhistory #aviationhistory #aviation #worldwar2 #militaryaviation #aircraft

The Owen Gun was the BEST SMG built. Enough said. TimeStamp: Intro 0:00 Performance 1:13 Engineering 2:27 Wrap up 6:01 #owen #owengun #ww2 #military #smg #9mm #gun #guns #militaryhistory #bestsmg

#9mm #9mmparabellumbullet #parabellum

Spend 3 minutes learning about Cyril "Papa" Uwins, backbone of the Bristol Aircraft Company. A true unsung hero of two wars. #militaryaviationhistory #aviation #bristol #aviationhistory #worldwar2 #worldwar1 #hero #unsungheroes

The Avro manchester was an awful aircraft, yet somehow it managed to carve out a truly legendary space in the history of world war 2. #worldwar2 #avromanchester #militaryaviationhistory #aviation #aviationhistory #militaryaviation

The Vought F4U Corsair was an American fighter aircraft that played a pivotal role in World War II and the Korean War. Developed in the late 1930s and primarily used by the United States Navy and Marine Corps, the aircraft was also utilized by other Allied nations. Including the British Royal Navy, who tamed the beast for use on their aircraft carriers. #F4UCorsair #WorldWarII #royalnavy #KoreanWar #USNavy #USMarineCorps #PrattWhitneyR2800 #DoubleWaspEngine #CombatAircraft #InvertedGullWings #CarrierBased #MultiroleFighter #HistoricAircraft #militaryaviation #militaryaviationhistory

The Douglas A-26 Invader, which was initially designed as a dual-role aircraft capable of both bombing and ground-attack missions, was produced in the 1940s for service during World War II. However, it was not without shortcomings that led to regret within the United States Air Force (USAF). #DouglasA26Invader #WWIIBombers #MilitaryAviationHistory #aviation #aviationhistory #worldwar2 #airforce #aircraft