Posted on 12/18/2014 4:24:50 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson
I’m not sure how many Royal Tigers were deployed in the Ardennes Offensive. I know Germany only built a total of about 700. One source says that only 100 were available for the Ardennes. But that may not mean 100 actually deployed on Dec. 16.
I'm only seeing two battalions, the 501st (First SS Panzer) and 506th (Sixth Panzer Army).
At full strength a battalion had 45 Tiger IIs, so we're looking at maybe 90 total, out of 1,800 total German tanks in the battle.
The balance were Panzer IVs, Panthers & Tiger Is.
FYI
Those things look pretty brutal. The Germans were always coming up with the most fearsome artillery. German engineering.
Crews Now Feel Safer -
——Another danger that has just about been licked is the problem gun-blister blowouts when the cabin is pressurized. Such blowouts have hurled the gunners off into space and usually to death. New methods of mounting the blisters has eliminated the possibility of blowouts.
A little more info here: http://www.aviation-history.com/boeing/b29.html
Some problems were solved other than technology. Cooling issues were a major part of lower bombing decision?
The major factor in creating an efficient bombing machine out of the Superfortress was an Air Forces Major General named Curtis E. LeMay. Nicknamed “Iron Ass”, LeMay was put in command of the Marianas based B-29s and was responsible for solving several of the Superfortress and operational problems in one stroke: He ordered the B-29 crews to remove the guns (the tail guns were replaced with broom sticks so the enemy fighter pilots, hopefully, wouldn’t become aware of the missing guns). Also the gunners and all the ammunition were to be removed. And he ordered the missions flown at 8,000 to 12,000 feet. Bombing accuracy had been miserable because of the high winds at the 28,000 to 34,000 foot level where previous mission had been flown. Aborts were common because of engines which overheated in the process of climbing to which altitude. With the new procedures, fuel could be saved, without the weight of guns, ammunition and gunners, more bombs could be carried, engines would run cooler and bombing would be done from below the fierce winds raging over Japan.4
on further thought, what good is a safety line at 31,000 feet? I suspect under combat situations, the line got in the way? If too long you would still get blown out?
http://www.aviation-history.com/boeing/b29.html
problems with the “fire control blisters” where gunners were stationed to aim the barbettes; the blisters sometimes blew out when the craft was pressurized and flying at high altitude. (Gunners were advised to wear a safety line in order to avoid being blown overboard if a blister popped).
The Stg.44 also couldbe fitted with a special curved barrel attachment (“Krummlauf”), which allowed the gun to be fired “around the corner” or from inside a tank,without exposing the shooter to the enemy fire. Several types of these attachments were developed, but only one type, the 30-degree “KrummlaufVorsatz J”, was apparently manufactured in any significant numbers.This device had a special mirror sighting adapter and reduced the bullet velocity down to mere 300 meters per second due to the highfriction in the curved barrel extension. This apparently did not bother the German Army, since these curved barrel adapters were intended for short-range encounters only.
http://world.guns.ru/assault/de/mp-43-mp-44-stg44-e.html
Harmon sets bomber limits.
............Tokyo cannot be destroyed by incendiary bombing, he said.
“No one gives the Jap credit for being a resourceful enemy except those who have to fight him,” the general added. “our photographs of Tokyo reveal that a large system of firebreaks has been built. These firebreaks are lanes fully a block wide where houses have been razed. They run for miles throughout Tokyo.
BEST OF CHRISTMAS GIVING
When the last item has been ticked off on the Christmas list of the shopper who has followed all the instructions to shop, wrap, and mail early, he is likely to feel a warm glow. But as the last days before the twenty-fifth come along, he may feel a bit let down. He’d rather like to share in the good-natured last -minute rush. So he searches his memory for someone he’s overlooked. Perhaps there’s a shut-in next door, or an old lady living alone, or a youngster left by himself a great deal, he adds gifts for them - for the best of his enjoyment in giving now is that none of them expected a gift from him.. And if some one of the Hundred Neediest has not figured on your your list, here is a good spot to include a postscript Christmas offering.
The Neediest are counting on your help, even though there is not direct obligation on your part to share with them. Just to read of their distress and discouragement at a time of year that we like to think of as happy, pleads for them. To help in bringing hope and a chance of happiness to the least of these is a Christmas-time opportunity — a chance to share in the best of Christmas giving and to say, “Be of good courage.”
Topics of The Times.
Regarding the Match “Shortage”
Paper matches and strike-on-the-box matches have, indeed, vanished from the market. The government has taken 35% of the first kind and all of the second kind for the armed forces.......
....There are still kitchen matches, the sturdy, reliable, strike-anywhere kind.......will be ample.
The kitchen match, though strange to most smokers has admirable qualities....
A valid criticism of the kitchen match is that it may leave a mark when struck upon the wallpaper, say, or the dinner table or the piano, But, observes our expert, don’t the American people, both men and women still wear shoes? And when as the user of the shoe sole for match -scratching been deemed indelicate?
Thanks for the info. Did some further checking and 501 Schwere Panzer Abt. was attached to Kampfgruppe Peiper, so half of the available Royal Tigers were effectively lost once Peiper was surrounded and cut off from resupply. In column Peiper liked to lead with a Panther as it was his favorite tank, instead of the Royal Tiger. Or he would also lead with a captured enemy vehicle. But Peiper valued the Panther’s maeuverability and higher rate of fire.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.