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The best weapon of WW2?

Discussion in 'Weapons & Technology in WWII' started by Onthefield, Sep 17, 2003.

  1. Gunney

    Gunney Member

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    Ausie F111's carry limited AtA abilities in there standard weapons pack so it had self defence, not sure if it has a gun but i know that the F117 does not have a gun at all
     
  2. USMCPrice

    USMCPrice Idiot at Large

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    You are right Poppy, I stand corrected. However, those two aircraft are the exception to the rule, and I do not know why the Air Force deviated from the normal designations.



    The F-18 F/A-18 is a Navy Marine Corps aircraft and I am not aware of any of their aircraft that have not conformed to the DoD designation standard.

    The designations are as follows (from Wikipedia):
    Primary Role

    A: Attack aircraft (for air-to-surface mission)
    B: Bomber
    C: Transport
    E: Special electronic installation
    F: Fighter
    K: Tanker (dropped between 1977 and 1985)
    L: Laser-Equipped
    O: Observation
    P: Maritime patrol
    R: Reconnaissance
    S: Anti-submarine warfare
    T: Trainer
    U: Utility
    X: Special Research

    Secondary/Modified Role

    A: Attack (i.e. air-to-surface)
    C: Transport
    D: Drone director
    E: Special electronic mission
    F: Fighter
    H: Search and rescue, MEDEVAC
    K: Tanker
    L: Equipped for cold weather operations
    M: Missile carrier (1962 - c.1972), Mine countermeasures (c.1973 - 1976), Multi-mission (1977 onwards)
    O: Observation
    P: Maritime patrol
    Q: Unmanned drone
    R: Reconnaissance
    S: Antisubmarine warfare
    T: Trainer
    U: Utility
    V: Staff transport
    W: Weather reconnaissance

    Additional designators are H-for helicopter, V for V/STOL aircraft and M-for aircraft that conduct combat or special operations while U-aircraft conduct combat support missions.

    Some examples of how this would be used are: AV-8 Harrier=Attack aircraft V/STOL: RF-4=F4 Phantom fighter modified for reconnaissance: EA-6B Prowler Attack Jet modified for electronics warefare: OV-10 Bronco reconnaissance aircraft with STOL capability: CH-53 Sea Stallion Helicopter, Transport: AH-1W SuperCobra Helicopter Attack: C-130 Hercules Transport aircraft:
     
  3. m kenny

    m kenny Member

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    Tanks, it would seem, are not the main enemy of a Stug.


    23 Stug. Brigade(Estern Front) kept a record of its ammo consumption and target type 1/12/43 to 31/5/44. That is 6 months.

    315,280 rounds fired.
    51,595 at tanks. Of the 51,595 rounds, 8.3% HE, 21.2% HC and 70.5% AP.

    88.1% (48,235)of targets were non AFV.
    11.9% (6,574) were AFV.

    These figures reflect the fact that tanks are a very small area of the Stug's remit and consequently a small part of its prey.

    In October 1944 it was noted that the L/48 Stug has reached the limit of its effectiveness and that Allied tanks were achieving kills at ranges where the Stug was ineffective. The situation was so bad that they started to organise Escort batteries to protect the Stug Brigades!

    See pages 206 & 217/218 Muller & Zimmermann, Strumgeschutz III Vol 1

    http://www.rzm.com/books/hf/hf001.cfm
     
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  4. lwd

    lwd Ace

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    I think the F111 was originally designed as a fighter. In the case of the F117 it may have been part of the disinformation campaign. Remember they were in service for what 10 years before it was acknowledged that they existed. This would add another level as once it was acknowledge the "bad guys" would prep to cunter a stealth fighter not a stealth attack plane.
     
  5. Biak

    Biak Boy from Illinois Staff Member

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    The BEST weapon of WW2? As it was said in the second post of this thread - the debate will continue. The best overall ? I know I'm going off-base a little (okay A Lot), but if one really looks at the various "weapons systems" here is a picture of what I'd say has to be in the Top 10. Each weapon or system that has been mentioned contributed to Victory but none as much as
    The Allied Soldier

    [​IMG] Darrel Powers

    Just one example of a few Million.
    Staff Sergeant Darrell C. "Shifty" Powers (March 13, 1923 – June 17, 2009)

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

    Memorial Day : May 30th
     
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  6. USMCPrice

    USMCPrice Idiot at Large

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    When you're right you're right Roger. The men operating the equipment were the most important part. Like a Timex watch "they took a lickin' " early on but never quit. They "kept on tickin' ", hung in there and slowly but surely fought their way back to victory.
     
  7. Biak

    Biak Boy from Illinois Staff Member

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    Just like today! OOH RAH !
     
  8. Jager

    Jager Member

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    Best Weapon of the war? I cant choose. Here is a list of ones I think are definite tops not inlcuding the a-bomb. Tiger tanks, B-17, Avro Lancaster, MG42, STG44, 8.8 cm. flak, M1 Garand, PPSh, Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Typhoon, P-47, and P-51.ME 262. My personal favorite of these is the MG42. It had an amazing rate of fire. was very mobile, easy to carry, and quick to deploy. Its barrel was reliable, easy and fast to change. It could carry drum to be used as an advance weapon or belt fed to be used as a defensive weapon. The only drawback was that the MG42 was not as easy to produce as the MG34. Every infantry unit feared running into an MG42.
     
  9. Chesehead121

    Chesehead121 Member

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    The atomic bomb for a very simple reason. In almost any context, when someone says the words, "the bomb", you know exactly what they mean. Nothing has had an imprint so distinct on our culture in the US and around the world in more ways than this, obviously, than the atom bomb. The political effects are pretty clear as well. If war is politics by other means, the atomic bomb must be one damn good politician.
     
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