Posted on 03/21/2005 9:37:23 PM PST by SAMWolf
After a short artillery bombardment by I / KTR 21* and I / KTR 5** the attack began. The Finns encountered problems right from the start. Only 6 tanks managed to join the attackers, as 2 tanks suffered technical problems.
* = the 1st artillery battalion of the 21st artillery regiment
** = the 1st artillery battalion of the 5th artillery regiment
During the battle, the lack of radios was painfully realized (the tanks were purchased from the UK without guns, optics and radios, and some even without the driver's seat, in order to save money). As communications between the individual tanks was impossible, all tanks were acting with their own initiative, according to the original plan.
The command tank of 1st tank platoon, commanded by Lt.V.Mikkola, Vickers Nr. 648, advanced farthest, some 500 meters. While the exact number of Soviet tanks knocked out isn't known, some kills by individual tanks were recorded, e.g. the tank Nr. 670, led by 2nd Lt. J.Virniö, which managed to knock out one Soviet tank before it was damaged. Tank Nr. 667, led by Corporal E.Seppälä, kept fighting after being immobilized. It destroyed 2 Soviet tanks, but after the enemy scored a few more hits, the crew abandoned their vehicle. The attacking 3rd Jaeger battalion had also an AT-gun platoon as it's disposal, but no Soviet tanks were destroyed by it's guns in the attack.
The attack came slowly into a halt by 0900 hrs and on 1000 hrs, Capt. Kunnas received an order to abort the attack and withdraw. The first Finnish tank action, fought by inexperienced crews had been unsuccessful. The tank company lost one NCO killed, two officers were wounded and two NCO's and three privates were reported missing. Among the reasons for failure (in addition to the lack of experience of the crews and the lack of radios), the absolute superiority of numbers, that the enemy had, was definitely one of the main reasons, and one can say that the pre-attack reconnaissance was insufficient. But as the tankers, even while acknowledging these shortages, mounted their tanks and started the attacks, one can say that while the Finns lacked nearly everything, courage wasn't on short supply.
derela.republika.pl
heninen.net/ raatteentie/kuvia
www.shift.sk/military/ sifoner/mil
www.battlefield.ru
mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk/ tanks/finland
www.politicsforum.org
faw.hl2files.com
Finland bought the first tank Vickers Mk.E Type B for testing in 1933. It was in standard configuration - with the turret on the left, armed with 47mm gun. Following the tests, on 20 July 1936 the Finns decided to order a series of 32 tanks. Of this number, 26 tanks were delivered in 1938-39, while the remaining 6 were delivered only after the Winter War. Therefore, Finland had 33 tanks Vickers Mk. E. The newly acquired tanks had new 'Mark F' hulls and turets on the right, with a rear niche for a radio. However, the radios weren't bought in order to lower costs. The tanks were also bought without any armament, because the original 47mm gun was considered as not satisfactory. It was decided to arm these tanks with the Swedish semi-automatic anti-tank gun 37mm Bofors L/45, produced in Finland (a data of similar Polish variant). ![]() The Finnish Vickers Mk.E in a configuration from the Winter War, in Panssarimuseo Parola museum (photo courtesy of Jarkko Vihavainen) Finnish tanks were much rebuilt during their service. Since it took a time to complete the guns, the tanks were unarmed for the first period of their service. Only several tanks were temporarily fitted with one air-cooled MG in a turret. A few others were provisionally fitted with 37mm SA-18 Puteaux guns, but due to a weak mounting, they could fire blanks only, for exercise purpose. In the front armour of a combat compartment of all tanks, a pistol port for 9mm Suomi SMG was made, with a roof raised above the gunner's head. In the beginning of 1940, the tanks were finally fitted with 37mm Bofors guns and a coaxial MG, most likely a modified 7.62mm Maxim (despite the cover's look, the MG was air-cooled). The mounting of guns was probably designed by Bofors (it was very similar to the Bofors-designed gun mounting for the Polish 7TP tank). However, Finnish tanks had only simple colimator gun sights, because the Germans failed to deliver ordered special sights. ![]() In the Winter War, the Finns captured great number of Soviet T-26 tanks (developed from Vickers Mk.E), which were put into the Finnish service next. In order to make easier maintenance, the Finns decided to rearm Vickers Mk.E tanks with Soviet long-barrel 45mm 20K tank guns, used in T-26. Complete 45mm gun mountings, with MG's and sights, dismounted from destroyed T-26 tanks, were mounted in Vickers turrets, in a place of 37mm gun mountings. Also, some other parts were taken from T-26. The Finns designated rebuilt Vickers Mk.E tanks as: T-26E ("E" for 'English'). Combat use: The only Finnish Vickers unit formed during the Finnish-Soviet Winter War (30.11.1939 - 13.03.1940) was the 4th tank company (4./Pans.P), with 13 Vickers Mk.E tanks armed with 37mm Bofors guns. The company made a combat debute supporting infantry in an attack on Honkaniemi, 26 February 1940. Soviet units were supported by T-26 and T-28 tanks of the 112nd tank battalion of the 35th light tank brigade and AT-guns. The attack was a complete fail. 5 Finnish tanks didn't take part in combat at all due to bad fuel quality, another one was immobilized in a ditch. From the remaining 7 tanks, 5 were destroyed, and one damaged. Despite a lack of experience and a poor sights, the Finnish tankers hit at least 3 Soviet tanks. On 29 February the Finnish tanks were delaying Soviet advance, losing 1 Vickers tank, but destroying 4 enemy tanks. One more Vickers was destroyed by the crew on 6 March 1940, after being stuck on rocks. Total losses in the Winter War were 7 Vickers tanks lost and 1 damaged (not repaired). ![]() Vickers Mk.E tanks, which remained after the Winter War, were rebuilt to T-26E standard, and then used with captured T-26 tanks in the Continuation War against Soviets (1941-44). In 1945, Finland had 19 tanks T-26E left, which were used for training until 1959. |
Amen.
Good morning, it's raining and looks like it will do so most of the day here.
Good morning, snippy...good morning, Sam...MUD
Good morning, Snippy and everyone at the Foxhole.
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
Who can understand such a God-the God who wrote the 3-billion-letter software code in the DNA molecule of every human cell? Who can fully comprehend the God who knows everything, even our inner thoughts? Yet many Old Testament saints knew and loved this God. They experienced the joy of His grace and forgiveness, even though they didn't completely understand how a holy God could forgive their sins. As Christians, we too stand in awe before the majesty and mystery of an incomprehensible God. But we have a great advantage because we see Him revealed in Jesus, who said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). And when Jesus hung on the cross, He revealed God's compassion and love, for He died there for us. A mystery? Yes. But how wonderful that we can know the love of this incomprehensible God! -Herb Vander Lugt
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes, Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, Almighty, victorious-Thy great name we praise. -Smith To understand God is impossible-to worship Him is imperative.
How Can I Know There Is A God? God Our Father |
On This Day In History
Birthdates which occurred on March 22:
1459 Maximilian I of Habsburg German Emperor/archduke of Austria
1599 Sir Anthony Van Dyck Flemish painter (Charles I of England)
1609 John II Casimir Vasa cardinal/king of Poland (1648-68)
1797 Kaiser Wilhelm I German emperor (1871-88)
1799 F W A Argelander Memel E Prussia, cataloguer of 324,188 stars
1813 Gabriel Rene Paul Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1886
1817 Braxton Bragg General (Confederate Army), died in 1876
1819 William Wirt Adams Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1888
1822 Seth Williams Brevet Major General (Union Army), died in 1866
1824 William Henry Chase Whiting Major General (Confederate Army)
1834 Francis Asbury Shoup Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1896
1857 Arnold Sauwen Flemish poet (Along the Meuse)
1857 Paul Doumer Governor-General of Indo-China/13th President of France (1931-32)
1868 Robert A Millikan US physicist (photoelectric effect; Nobel 1923)
1887 Chico [Leonard] Marx New York NY, comedian (Marx Brothers)
1903 James S Russell US pilot/Admiral (WWII Pacific Ocean)
1907 James Gavin US, 82nd Airborne Division General (Sicily/Normandy)
1908 Louis D L'Amour Jamestown ND, author (Hondo, Jubal Sackett)
1913 Karl Malden Chicago IL, actor (Mike-Streets of San Francisco, American Express)
1917 Virginia Grey Los Angeles CA, actress (Another Thin Man, Idiot's Delight, Idaho)
1920 Ross Martin Grodek Poland, actor (Mr Lucky, Wild Wild West)
1923 Marcel Marceau Strasbourg France, mime (Barbarella, Silent Movie)
1924 Al Neuharth newspaper founder (USA Today)
1930 Pat Robertson televangelist (700 club, Presidential candidate-Republican-1989)
1930 Stephen Sondheim New York NY, lyricist/composer (Sweeney Todd, Into The Woods, West Side Story, A Little Night Music)
1931 William Shatner Montréal Canada, actor (Star Trek, T J Hooker, Boston Legal DENNY CRANE)
1934 Orrin G Hatch (Senator-Republican-UT, 1977- )
1935 M[ichael] Emmet Walsh Ogdensburg NY, actor (Wildcats, War Party)
1936 Roger Whittaker Nairobi Kenya, country singer (Durham Town)
1936 Ron Carey union president (Teamsters)
1943 George Benson Pittsburgh PA, singer/guitarist (Greatest Love of All)
1944 Jeremy Clyde Buckinghamshire England, rocker (Chad & Jeremy-Yesterday's Gone)
1948 Andrew Lloyd Webber London England, composer (Evita, Starlight Express, Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar)
1951 Howard Reitzes Southgate CA, rocker (Iron Butterfly)
1951 Musa Khiramanovich Manarov USSR, cosmonaut (Soyuz TM-4, TM-11)
1952 Bob Costas Queens NY, sportscaster/talk show host (Later)
1970 Reggie White NFL nose tackle (New England Patriots)
1974 Kim Yun-Jung Miss Korea-Universe (1996)
1979 Mariah Leanne Bergmann Miss Kansas Teen-USA (1997)
Morning Feather!
Morning Snippy.
Gonna try and finish putting up the fence today. I hurt just thinking about it. ;-)
Morning AZamericonnie.
Thanks for the prayer.
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