Best Weapons of World War II (Somewhat Long)

[dzhou]

#1: there’s a book about this exact subject:

give it a shot, it’s a great read. makes some of the same conclusions as well.

#2: you say that the t-34 was the best thing since sliced bread but you don’t even mention the Yaks. (or do you, maybe i just skimmed it…) they were built on the same principles as the t-34, ie quantity over spit-polish, and over time evolved into something quite good.

#3: i have some seriously strong doubts about the japanese calling anything “whistling death.” sounds like absolute propaganda. if you were sitting in a trench somewhere in the pacific would you make up dramatic names for stuff that’s shooting at you? i’ll buy something like “night witches” since it’s an insult and “Van’usha” is what the russians called the german missile launchers as a play on Kat’usha but the whistling death sounds like something some guy in the publicity department came up with…

1. Have that book, read and enjoy it thank you very much!

2. As for the Yak, yes it’s a good fighter but IMO the P-51 beats it up just because of that range question. Performance wise, the FW-190, ME-109, Spitfire and even the Yak has its supporters and detractors. It all comes down, once again, to personal opinions.

3. The Corsair was called the Whistling Death. That’s because it makes a particular sound when diving. This is the end result of its two air intakes that’s in the wingroot near the fuselage. IF you look at a Corsair, you will see two large air intakes that’s in front of the "/" in the inverted gull wing of the aircraft. When diving, the air that strikes the vents of the air intake makes a particular and quite loud “Whistling” noise. The Japanese btw, who most of them believe in Shinto or Buddhisim, soon call the bird the “Whistling Death” because to them, the whistling sound is akin to a evil kami (spirit) coming to get them! This is just like the shark teeth painted on the P-40s flown by the Flying Tigers. If you read any books on the Corsair, you will understand this.

[Anonymous]

3. The Corsair was called the Whistling Death. That’s because it makes a particular sound when diving. This is the end result of its two air intakes that’s in the wingroot near the fuselage. IF you look at a Corsair, you will see two large air intakes that’s in front of the "/" in the inverted gull wing of the aircraft. When diving, the air that strikes the vents of the air intake makes a particular and quite loud “Whistling” noise. The Japanese btw, who most of them believe in Shinto or Buddhisim, soon call the bird the “Whistling Death” because to them, the whistling sound is akin to a evil kami (spirit) coming to get them! This is just like the shark teeth painted on the P-40s flown by the Flying Tigers. If you read any books on the Corsair, you will understand this.

ok, i think you completely missed the point of what i was saying. but thanks for the explanation and the patronizing tone. warms my heart, this stuff.

[tango35]

Dear dzhou,

only some addition :

1.) You said the M2 are still in use. you forgot to tell that the MG 42 ( nw called is still in service too ) the firingrate is today reduced from 2500 rounds to 1500 here in the Bundeswehr. in some garrisons you can find elder original frames. I had 2 yrs ago the luck to fire with such bitch - awesome.

2.) For aircraft i think that ot must be american patriotism, but other countries had also good or better ac´s. For example the Fw 190 D or the late war jets.

3. For Tanks : Did you saw images of hit shermans killed by german tigers, panthers or Mk IV F 2 ??

And like other said here, of course the T-34 simple but very dangerous .

thanks

T

[telsono]

dzhou,

On the B-26 you are using early comments on the aircraft to base your decision so here is some more history on that valiant aircraft. The early versions were called the “Widow Maker” or “Flying Prostitute” as the short wings (later versions had longer wings) seem to give it “no visible means of support”. But contrary to that once the crews learned how to use it, it was a very effective and beloved aircraft. Early training problems was a source of it, especially when the instructors didn’t have enough time for themselves to learn to master the aircraft. Primarily since it was still a new aircraft in the inventory. Also it was considered a “hotrod” compared to the B-25. It was quoted as “One a day into Tampa Bay” during this early training period, but that was changed by the intervention of the USAAC’s top pilot, Jimmy Doolittle. Doolittle came down to Tampa Bay from the Pentagon and wanted to see what the problem was. He had never flown this aricraft before. He had selected the B-25 for the Tokyo raid based on technical specifications. The B-26 required a longer runway than the B-25 normally and could never take off from a carrier. This reason also limited its use to Europe after the initial deployment in the Pacific (it was used from Midway, making at least one torpedo run on the Japanese) as the Pacific airfields were usually shorter in nature. Doolittle was assigned an aircraft, the runway was lined by students and instructors trying to watch what this “Pilot’s pilot” could do with the B-26. After learning the instrument placement from his co-pilot he took her off, at 500 feet he feathered one engine, performed a complete roll on one engine then made a perfect landing on one-engine. The whole base was in awe as nobody had ever seen the full acrobatic ability of the aircraft used. Doolittle was a great pilot not just by ability, but also knowledge. He was at NACA on extended leave from the USAAC (the Army didn’t have the monies to keep him on active duty!) first blind instrument flying with Sperry-Rand instruments. At MIT he earned one of the first PhD’s in Aeronautical Engineering as well as being the only pilot able to tame the GeeBee racers. He championed the aircraft fuel standard octane level while a VP at Shell Oil which helped give uniformity to American built aircraft.

The later versions of the B-26 were used with great success in Europe. Check the list of individual aircraft with the most missions flown and there are alot of B-26’s there, a testimony to their toughness. “Flak Bait” is the record holder with over 200 missions, I believe the number two aircraft on the list was a B-26 as well. The only aircraft in the 200+ mission club. Medium bombers like the B-26’s usually flew at lower altitudes then the heavies therefore running into tougher flak concentrations. The B-26 like the P-38 were aircraft with longer learning curves. Most of our top aces (USA) flew P-38’s but it had its share of distractors. If you knew how to fly it, it could out turn a BF 109. Novice pilots had diffilculties with it just like the B-26.

[dzhou]

3. The Corsair was called the Whistling Death. That’s because it makes a particular sound when diving. This is the end result of its two air intakes that’s in the wingroot near the fuselage. IF you look at a Corsair, you will see two large air intakes that’s in front of the "/" in the inverted gull wing of the aircraft. When diving, the air that strikes the vents of the air intake makes a particular and quite loud “Whistling” noise. The Japanese btw, who most of them believe in Shinto or Buddhisim, soon call the bird the “Whistling Death” because to them, the whistling sound is akin to a evil kami (spirit) coming to get them! This is just like the shark teeth painted on the P-40s flown by the Flying Tigers. If you read any books on the Corsair, you will understand this.

ok, i think you completely missed the point of what i was saying. but thanks for the explanation and the patronizing tone. warms my heart, this stuff.

Stay Calm! Stay Calm! I’m sorry if I misunderstood your original post but no need to get angry about it!

[dzhou]

Dear dzhou,

only some addition :

1.) You said the M2 are still in use. you forgot to tell that the MG 42 ( nw called is still in service too ) the firingrate is today reduced from 2500 rounds to 1500 here in the Bundeswehr. in some garrisons you can find elder original frames. I had 2 yrs ago the luck to fire with such bitch - awesome.

2.) For aircraft i think that ot must be american patriotism, but other countries had also good or better ac´s. For example the Fw 190 D or the late war jets.

3. For Tanks : Did you saw images of hit shermans killed by german tigers, panthers or Mk IV F 2 ??

And like other said here, of course the T-34 simple but very dangerous .

thanks

T

1. As I’ve said, a rose by any other name, the MG-3 is basically a MG-42 designed to fire NATO standard .30 rounds. This just goes to show how well the original design was.

2. You have to remember I’m also judging weapons based on the influence they had during the war. If not, then it would be a dogfight, litterally between the FW-190, ME-109, Spitfire, Hurricane and the P-51. However, if judging based on performance alone, then yes, like the Sturmgewher 44, the ME-262 jet would probably win but again as I’ve said, one of the critiria is influence on the war and in this case the ME-262 effect on the war is minimum while the P-51 took the fight to the skys of Berlin and won and in the process, gained air superiority for the Allies. That kinda of influence and range put the P-51 at the top in my book!

3. We all discussed already what is wrong with German tanks so I won’t bother here. Again German Tigers and PAnthers are very good tanks and I would take them in a one on one fight but once again, if you are talking about a war winning weapon, a tank that you want to ride into battle and survive to live another day,t hen give me the T-34 any day of the week! It’s not that the German tank were bad. They aren’t in the end, there were never neough of them to go around, especially Tigers and PAnthers and the reliabilty issue of these tanks really held them back. The MArk IV is a good tank but by the end of the war, it’s pretty much obsolete. That’s what held it back.

[dzhou]

dzhou,

On the B-26 you are using early comments on the aircraft to base your decision so here is some more history on that valiant aircraft. The early versions were called the “Widow Maker” or “Flying Prostitute” as the short wings (later versions had longer wings) seem to give it “no visible means of support”. But contrary to that once the crews learned how to use it, it was a very effective and beloved aircraft. Early training problems was a source of it, especially when the instructors didn’t have enough time for themselves to learn to master the aircraft. Primarily since it was still a new aircraft in the inventory. Also it was considered a “hotrod” compared to the B-25. It was quoted as “One a day into Tampa Bay” during this early training period, but that was changed by the intervention of the USAAC’s top pilot, Jimmy Doolittle. Doolittle came down to Tampa Bay from the Pentagon and wanted to see what the problem was. He had never flown this aricraft before. He had selected the B-25 for the Tokyo raid based on technical specifications. The B-26 required a longer runway than the B-25 normally and could never take off from a carrier. This reason also limited its use to Europe after the initial deployment in the Pacific (it was used from Midway, making at least one torpedo run on the Japanese) as the Pacific airfields were usually shorter in nature. Doolittle was assigned an aircraft, the runway was lined by students and instructors trying to watch what this “Pilot’s pilot” could do with the B-26. After learning the instrument placement from his co-pilot he took her off, at 500 feet he feathered one engine, performed a complete roll on one engine then made a perfect landing on one-engine. The whole base was in awe as nobody had ever seen the full acrobatic ability of the aircraft used. Doolittle was a great pilot not just by ability, but also knowledge. He was at NACA on extended leave from the USAAC (the Army didn’t have the monies to keep him on active duty!) first blind instrument flying with Sperry-Rand instruments. At MIT he earned one of the first PhD’s in Aeronautical Engineering as well as being the only pilot able to tame the GeeBee racers. He championed the aircraft fuel standard octane level while a VP at Shell Oil which helped give uniformity to American built aircraft.

The later versions of the B-26 were used with great success in Europe. Check the list of individual aircraft with the most missions flown and there are alot of B-26’s there, a testimony to their toughness. “Flak Bait” is the record holder with over 200 missions, I believe the number two aircraft on the list was a B-26 as well. The only aircraft in the 200+ mission club. Medium bombers like the B-26’s usually flew at lower altitudes then the heavies therefore running into tougher flak concentrations. The B-26 like the P-38 were aircraft with longer learning curves. Most of our top aces (USA) flew P-38’s but it had its share of distractors. If you knew how to fly it, it could out turn a BF 109. Novice pilots had diffilculties with it just like the B-26.

I never said the B-26 were bad aircrafts. If they were then they wouldn’t have made it in my honorable list. However, earlier versions of the B-26 definatly had some problems. Yes, Jimmy Dolittle is a GREAT pilot. I would rank him alongside greats such as Chuck Yeager but the thing is, not everyone is like him and even later version had some of the problems of the earlier versions. A lot of B-26 came from inexperienced pilot who didn’t know all of the B-26 quirks. It’s still a great aircraft though despite the problems.