The battle of Kursk

In early 1943 ,the Russians captured the city of Kursk from the Germans and drove a large ``bulge```into the German line,witch would become the staging ground for one of the biggest battles in history.Unknown to the Russians,the Germans were secretly planning to destroy the Kursk ``bulge``.



On July 5 1943 these plans went into effect when the German 9th attacked in the north while the 4th Panzer(tank)army attacked to the south with the objective of retaking kursk. However, by July 12 the attack had been compley halted and it was called off on the 14th.Despite this there was fighting there until mid August.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kursk

The battle of the bulge

The battle of the bulge started on December 16 1944 when a massive German counterattack roared through the ardennes forest in southern Belgium.The Germans had begun that with luck would cut the allied army in two.The Germans  encircled the American held city of bastonge and pushed a 60 mile "bulge"into the allied line in just a few days.

However,by December 25 the German assault had been stopped and the allies were regrouping to destroy "the bulge".The main allied objective was to relieve bastonge.The link up was made at the beginning of January but German resistance in "the bulge" didn't end until the beginning of febuary.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Bulge



That's all for now!


Tigerkingdriver

The Bismark

The German  battleship Bismark is one of the most well known ships ever.When completed in early 1941, Bismark was the largest battleship in the Atlantic.She was immediately sent out with the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen to attack convoys in the Atlantic.However,despite her size and heavy armour,her first mission would also be her last.


Early on in the mission they were spotted by a British scout plane, a couple days later two British battleships(the Hood and the Prince of Wales)intercepted them.In the action that followed she sank Hood and damaged Prince of Wales.However,the Bismark was also damaged and with the help of a few torpedo bombers the rest of the British fleet caught up.On the morning of may 26 British battleships and cruisers shelled and torpedoed her until she sank.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_battleship_Bismarck


that's all for now!

Tigerkingdriver

King george V class battleships

The King George V class were originally planned to have 12 14inch guns. However,during building this was reduced to 10.When she was completed,The first of the class(named King George V of course)was  one of  the most powerful battleships in the world.These battleships were made to clash with other battleships,which is exactly what they did.


In may 1941 two King George V class battleships (King George V and Prince of Wales) were part of the force that sank the German battleship Bismark,and in December 1943 The King George V class battleship Duke of York sank the German battlecruiser Scharnhorst.Despite this only one(the Prince of Wales)was ever sunk.She was in the the pacific ocean when She and the battlecruiser Repulse were found and sunk by Japanese Bombers.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_George_V_class_battleship_(1939)


That's it for now

Tigerkingdriver

Uss franklin

USS Franklin was an Essex class carrier(see previous entry).She was completed in January 1944 and immediately joined the U.S. fleet in the attack on the southern Japanese controlled islands.She took part in the attack on the Marianas and Philippines.During the latter she was hit by kamikazes and(along with sister carrier USS Belleau wood)had to return to the U.S. for repaires.


Her repaires were not completed until February 1945.When they were, she was sent to the rest of the fleet for the attack on Okinawa.On march 19,she was just 50 miles off the japanese coast(closer than any other carrier)when she was hit by two bombs from a japanese bomber.The resulting fires caused a chain reaction of explosions(from bombs and torpedeos)that killed 724 men and wounded 265.only through superb damage control did they keep her afloat and get her into port for repaires.Even so her repaires were not completed before the war ended.She was scrapped(taken apart) in 1966.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Franklin_(CV-13)

Essex class carrier

The Essex were laid down in 1941 along with the Iowa class battleships (see entry)as part of a buildup of the us fleet.The Essex herself was laid down(started building) in late April 1941 and completed on new years eve of 1942,a record for a ship of that size(872 feet).She came out at a time when the tide of war was turning in the allies favour.


The Essex class fought in the battles of the Philippine sea,sibuyan sea,Cape eugano and Okinawa,as well as many smaller actions.Despite more a-a(anti-aircraft)guns and better damage control systems than the previous class,several Essex class were badly damaged,particularily in the leyte gulf actions(The sibuyan sea and Cape eugano)and off Okinawa.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Leyte_Gulf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Okinawa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essex_class_aircraft_carrier

That's all for now

Tiger kingdriver

USS Enterprise

USS Enterprise is probably the most decorated ship in the US navy. Completed in early 1939,Enterprise was due in at Pearl harbour on the night of December 6 but was saved by a storm. She fought in the battles of Midway,Eastern Solomons,Santa Cruz,Philippine sea,Cape Eugano and  many more!!!

During the battle of Okinawa,she was hit by a single kamikaze zero.The resulting explosion threw her forward elevator 400 feet into the air!!!!!She was still being repaired when japan surrendered. She was not in the Korean war(unlike many other carriers)and plans to preserve her as a memorial failed.But she is still preserved in history for how many battles she fought in and how many medals she won.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Enterprise_(CV-6)




(P.S there is a show on YouTube called  battle 360 and it is all about Enterprise!!)

That's all for now

Tigerkingdriver

Taiho

IJN Taiho was laid down in mid 1941 as part of a massive buildup of the Japanese navy. She was launched in 1943 and commissioned in early-mid 1944. She took part in the battle of the Philippine sea. Despite her many anti-aircraft guns,her first battle would also be her last.

 During the Battle,a couple of
American submarines found and attacked her force,torpedoing her and one other carrier.She was only hit by a single torpedo and her officers thought there was little damage. Several hours later,her fuel tanks exploded,causing her to be abadoned and sunk.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_aircraft_carrier_Taih%C5%8D
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Philippine_Sea


Until next time

Tigerkingdriver

Maus tiger

 The Maus (meaning mouse) tiger was first suggested to Hitler in mid 1942. Hitler planned the order for 150 Maus tigers to be fitted with the 128mm and 75mm gun,as well as a couple of machine guns. Later,Hitler "up-gunned" them,proposing that they should have a 150mm main gun instead of a 128mm.


As the war turned in favor of the allies,two prototypes (named V1 and V2) were completed. V1 had a metal hull and a wooden turret,while V2 had a real turret but a wooden hull!! Both were captured in late April 1945 as the soviets invaded Germany. They combined the V1 hull with the V2 turret and transferred it to Russia for completion. It is on display in the Kublinka Tank Museum in Russia.







http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panzer_VIII_Maus


Until next time

Tigerkingdriver

Shinano

IJN (Imperial Japanese Navy) Shinano was originally laid down as a Yamato class Battleship.During construction the navy lost four aircraft carriers at the battle of Midway.After this,her builders made plans for the huge ship to be converted into an aircraft carrier and given an armored hangar.


While still being built the Japanese lost almost their entire carrier fleet in the battles of the Philippine sea and Cape Eugano.On completion it was planned that she would transport the new Ohka flying bomb. Just ten days after being completed and still on trials, she was hit by six torpedoes from the U.S. submarine Archerfish.


She could have been beached, for the coast was only a few miles away, but her captain stayed on course and she sank. Despite this,she did not sink for six hours!! She was the largest carrier until 1961 and certainly has one of the shortest active services (for a ship) ever.



This is the only picture ever taken of Shinano.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_aircraft_carrier_Shinano



Until next time!

Tigerkingdriver