Delta tank 6

To all, I have a friend that is trying to sell a Stg-44. A question has come up about its condition and authenticity, he is the third owner of this firearm and has done nothing to it but fire and clean it. The bluing doesn’t match all the parts, is that because the parts were made in different locations and then assembled? And this specific question from the owner: “Here is the question for you to.post: On ww2 german full auto weapons in general and the stg44 specifically were the numbers on the bolts stamped or etched with a vibratory pencil ? Does an etched number indicate a field armorers fitting as opposed to factory work? Is it possible to be an indication of metallurgy issues in full auto bolts?” thanks in advance! Any information would help. I also posted this on Axis History Forum. Mike

Yep, the problem is that Arnhem in some ways is simply another Dutch cul-de-sac. Head south or east to "outflank" the Ruhr" Cross the Ijessel and more miles of polder. Head north to Apeldoorn and Meppel? Sure, flat wooded, a bit more solid ground, but you just keep extending the corridor north and British Second Army simply doesn't have the combat power in September and October to do that...logistics, remember? So, okay, west to Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Looks like 60 miles of hell to me, which could have been circumvented if Montgomery had kept his eyes on the prize around 9-11 September. Sounds like fun. Aside from access to NARA about the only thing I miss moving to the PNW is the eastern battlefields and especially my ancestral home of Gettysburg. Who was your historian? I hope he did not ascribe to the late Paddy Griffiths' idea that Lee only needed a good European-style cuirassier division to win the war on 3 July 1863... Jeffry D. Wert Mike

To All, Let us assume that MG is successful and the British Army gets up to the Zuiderzee on 25 September. Then what? I always get the answer we would envelope the Ruhr from the north. My question is envelope the Ruhr from the north with what? Weather? Clear western Holland first then envelope the Ruhr? Timeline? Logistics? Could this in fact be done? A short story, on a guided tour of Gettysburg with a well known Civil War historian, we just finished “Pickett’s Charge” and I asked this question. Let’s assume this attack is a success, then what? The response was Lee retreats back to Virginia, he had shot his bolt, does not have the resources to exploit this victory. So, with that in mind. Mike

As anyone who has put together an I&I can tell you, shepherding a group of enthusiasts around a tour like that is surprisingly hard work. Yes, that is why BillB will get paid money!! I did not suggest this tour would be for free!! I will pay!! Gladly pay!! And drag some friends along, who will also pay! ”Money talks, Bullshit walks!” a U.S. Army saying, don’t know if it translates!! Mike

BillB, Have you ever thought about leading a “Staff Ride” for this battle? I drove from “Joe’s Bridge” to Arnhem several years ago, but it was difficult trying to drive and looking at the terrain. The traffic was really heavy, and I think ever person living in Holland was riding their bicycle that day. We then stayed in Arnhem for two days walking about, but I would of gladly paid for a “Battlefield Guide”. I think you should give this some thought, if you haven’t already! mike

Just ordered it from Amazon! Mike

Here is a comical video comparing military rations of several nations! ​ ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GxRBblqbYg ​ ​Mike

Since spelling has been a tangent on this thread, Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid is spelled with a k not a c. ​ ​I read about 5 pages of this thread and nobody blamed MacArthur for this debacle off Samar. That is refreshing! ​ ​Mike

IMO, the order in the Pacific to victory was Marshalls, Marianas, Iwo Jima, Okinawa. Iwo Jima should have been taken off the hop even before the Marianas was secured - letting the IJA fortify it for 8 months afterwards cost nothing but Marine lives when the invasion was finally made. Okinawa also should have been done as quickly as possible in 1944. Everything else - including the Philippines/Luzon - was politics. Politics dictating operations was not a military strategy, it was FDR treating WW2 grand strategy like an election campaign. https://history.army.mil/books/70-7_21.htm Mike

Off the top of my head the US Army units that landed on 6 June 1994 had the following combat experience: 1st Infantry Division, 82d ABN had combat experience. 4th ID none, 29th ID none, 101st ABN none, 7 June, 2d ID none, 90th ID none. Mike

Ken, Why would the US Navy change the cause from heavy caliber shell to mine?? Mike

Please remember that guns very much like the 155mm French guns, that is 155 mm GPF mle 1917, had very recently been used by the US on the Panama mount. A range of 21,000yds combined with decent SAP rounds and effective range finding and directors would have made those guns a risk to destroyers, monitors (British, not US) and cruisers, if not to battleships. Six 155mm guns at Point du Hoc basically being as effective as three 6" cruisers. How does one calculate that six 155mm ground mounted guns is the equivalent to three 6” cruisers (18-45 guns depending on class)? I have always read that it was the other way, something like one light cruiser is the equivalent to 3 battalions of 155mm guns or some such. But, is there a mathematical formula dealing with all this? Mike

To all, Slightly off topic. The power to suspend Habeas Corpus is given to Congress. Lincoln acted on his own and IIRC Congress backed him up later when they were in session. The Constitution is not a suicide pact. “Article One, Section 9, clause 2, which demands that "The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it." Mike

How many airfields did the Japanese have on Taiwan? 20-30?? How are 36 B-17s going to bomb airfields whose location is unknown to the aircrews, in the fog, unescorted? This is fantasy!! Just think if 36 B-17s could destroy the 500 Japanese planes on Taiwan in one strike, what could we have done with 50 B-17s!! Wow!!! Mike

To all, Without digging out a book, IIRC the bombers also took off that morning. The bombing of Taiwan, bomb what? Bomb where? Did the Air Corps have target folders or whatever they are called showing exactly where and what to bomb? So, 36 B-17s carrying 2 tons of bombs were to fly unescorted to Taiwan and end the war in a single strike!!?? That last line is the happy horseshit that gets posted on some “history” forums. Mike