The FReeper Foxhole's TreadHead Tuesday - The 7TP/7-Tonowy Polski Light Tank - June 1st, 2004

achtungpanzer.com ^

[SAMWolf]

Lord,

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Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.

...................................................................................... ...........................................

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7TP / 7-Tonowy Polski Light Tank

In 1928, British Vickers-Armstrong designed the 6ton Tank Mark E and of which in 1931, Poland purchased 50 examples. 6ton Mark E was not accepted by the British Army but Vickers sold it along with a licence (in some cases) to Bolivia, Bulgaria, China, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Japan, Portugal, Romania, Russia (T-26 series) and Thailand (Siam). Two types Mark A and Mark B were purchased along with the licence. 16 Model A and 22 B were delived in 1932 and 1933, while the rest remained as payment for the licence or were delivered as spare parts. The twin turret Mark A was armed with two 7.92mm Hotchkiss wz.25 and in late 1930s rearmed with 7.92mm Browning wz.30 machine guns. Single turret Mark B was armed with 47mm Vickers-Armstrong gun and 7.92mm wz.30 machine gun. The main problem with 6ton Vickers was its Siddeley engine, which easily overheated. After examination in Poland, it was decided to modify Mark E and start the development of their own light tank by improving Mark E. New tank development program was designated as VAU-33 (Vickers-Armstrong-Ursus 33), either jw (single turret) or dw (twin turret).


7TPdw-1938.jpg

Polish designers attempted to modify original Vickers tanks as late as 1936, including various armament configurations in twin turret models. Polish designers also worked on replacing original Armstrong-Siddeley engine with licensed built Swiss Sauer diesel engine as well as on improving its armor protection. Experience gained during the work was used in the development of new Polish tank and Vickers tanks remained in service to the outbreak of war without major modifications (e.g. cooling system was improved). In 1934, the development of domestic light tank designated 7TP (PZInz.220) based on Vickers Mark E started.



In Spring of 1935, it was accepted for production and production of first 7TPdw with two small turrets, each armed with 7.92mm Browning wz.30 machine gun started. Other alternate armament was 13.2mm Browning wz.30 heavy machine gun mounted in one turret and 7.92mm Browning wz.30 machine gun in the other. Also considered was configuration with 37mm Puteaux SA 1918 gun in one of the turrets. 7TPdw was considered to be the temporary solution and only some 24 were produced, while the rest was finished as 7TPjw tanks. Early 7TPdw were mounted with turrets removed from 22 Vickers tanks in 1934, which were converted to single turret model.


7TP Light Tank, 1939

Next variant was to be armed with a single turret armed with a heavier gun. Various designs and prototypes were presented and armaments included: 20mm, 40mm, 47mm and 55mm guns. In late 1936, second variant 7TPjw was ready and entered production in late 1937. It mounted a single turret manufactured by Swedish Bofors, armed with 37mm Bofors anti-tank gun and one 7.92mm Browning machine gun. Vehicles produced from late 1938, were fitted with turret mounted storage bins to mount 2N/C radio equipment. Original 7TPdw were slowly being converted to jw variant and by September of 1939, only 16-24 were in service. All 16-24 were at the training centre near Warsaw and in September of 1939, took part in the defence of the city. In 1938/39, work on new 7TP started and two designs were made for new tank designated as 9TP Both variants were to have modified 7TPjw's turret, a new engine (Saurer CT1D / PZInz.155 diesel engine), strengthened suspension and wider tracks along with improved armor protection. First variant was to be uparmormed (up to 40mm) version of 7TP, while second had more angled front armor. Outbreak of war stopped any futher development of 7TP and 9TP.



In January 1937, Sweden became interested in purchasing or renting of single 7TPjw for testing purposes along with a purchase of 20 to 60 unarmed tanks and C7P tractors, but Polish side was not interested. In April of 1937, Bulgaria and Estonia were interested in purchasing 7TPjw tanks. Estonia wanted to buy 4 tanks, but Poland was willing to sell only 7TPdw tanks and it was planned to create a hybrid of 7TPjw hull mounted with Vickers turret armed with cannon. In November of 1937, Holand was interested in 7TP, but also no transaction took place. In 1938, technical documentation for 7TPjw was send to Turkey in preparation for the transaction, which never took place. At the same time, Poland considered exporting 36 7TPjw tanks and Yugoslavia and Greece were both interested, but the transaction never took place.


Polish - VickersE-Twin

Overall from 1935 to 1939, 7TP was built by Panstwowe Zaklady Inzynierii (National Engineering Works) at Ursus near Warsaw, in only two main variants - jw (single turret) and dw (twin turret). Polish designers also developed light (artillery) tractor / troop carrier based on 7TP's chassis designated C7P. Production started in 1935 and first units received tractors in the same year. In 1937, plans were also made to produce self-propelled anti-aircraft tank based on 7TP armed with two 20mm FK-A wz.38 L/73.5 automatic cannons (used to rearm TKS tankettes). The entire project was cancelled in 1938 and all efforts were concentrated on production and modernization of Polish armored fighting vehicles. Also few special rail transport cars were made especially for 7TP tanks (similar to those made for Polish Renault FT-17 light tanks) to allow them to travel as part of armored trains.


First prototype of 7TP - VAU-33-2

In September of 1939, Polish Army had only 136 7TPs (24 dw, 97 jw and 11 jw produced in September of 1939 along with 4 prototypes made of regular plate), which equipped two Polish light tank battalions (each with 49 tanks) and other units. During Polish Campaign, 7TP proved to be a match for any German Panzer. Some captured 7TPs were painted in Panzergrau with German markings and were presented during the victory parade in Warsaw on October 8, 1939. Later on captured 7TPs were used for internal policing duties and later on as artillery tractors. Number of captured 7TP tanks, especially jw variants was tested by the Soviets at Kubinka in 1939/40. Today, parts of 7TPjw light tank can seen in the Museum of Polish Armored Forces in Warsaw, Poland.

[SAMWolf]

The 7TP, VAU33dw, VAU33jw, 7TPdw, 7TPjw

All the names above have been seen in western writings as a designator for the Polish production of the Vickers 6-ton tank. All are correct, and misleading. Every designator is correct if used within the right context. Only the prototypes used the designator "VAU33-dw or VAU33-Jw". The VAU33-dw was the dual turret model while the VAU33-jw was the single turret type. 7TP tanks were produced with two designations; the 7TPjw and the 7TPdw. The 7TPdw was the dual turret design. Most writings simply state "the 7TP" and that designation is used most often to refer to the single turret (7TPjw) model. The single turret model was the tank that Poland was the most proud of and was their most modern production design. By the start of WW2, the 7TPdw was no longer in production and was considered slightly out of date. Some writings refer to the designators VAU33jw and VAU33dw. This designation is used in some Western sources for Polish Vickers Mk.E tanks. It's especially used by some model manufacturers, but this is an ERROR in fact. VAU is a short of "Vickers-Armstrong-Ursus", sometimes they supplement it with "wz.33". The Ursus factory had nothing to do with Vickers-Armstrong tanks. Polish researcher J. Magnuski wrote, that "VAU" was an initial designation for Polish Vickers development project, which led to 7TP tank. Some sources state that the VAU-33 was a prototype of 7TP and was a modification of the Vickers Mark E with a Swiss diesel engine Saurer VBLDb.

Unlike many nations, Poland did not simply produce (or even buy) more clone Vickers 6 ton tanks, but actually improved on the already excellent basic design. Poland's 7TP was the first step in an uncompleted process (interrupted by WW2) of gaining engineering and industrial ability needed to produce a truly Polish Tank.


A back-door view of a prototype 7TP turret interior (serial turrets had no back door). From the left, visible are: periscopic sight, pistol grip of 7.92mm wz.30 TMG, telescopic sight, 37mm wz.37 gun's breech guard and a pipe for case ejecting, and commander's periscope. An interior of serial turrets was similar.

The Vickers tank was well within the capacity of the Polish industrial technology, and the design offered some potential for further development. The PZI design bureau was tasked with the study of making a homemade copy. PZI produced the 7-TP, a 9-ton twin turreted tank that was to be a considerable step forward in design over the Vickers original. At first the original engine of the Vickers was installed, but this was replaced by a license-built Saurer 6-cylinder diesel engine which developed 110hp. This made the Polish 7-TP the world's first diesel-powered tank to reach production status. The 7-TP's armor was also 4mm thicker than the Vickers originals. The first 7-TP to be built by PZI left the works in 1934. While the production of the modified twin turret model 7-TP was proceeding, it was decided to introduce a single version carrying a Bofors gun. This variant appeared in 1937, but the production was slowed by the difficulties of making armor plates and procuring the turrets from Sweden.


Dismounted co-axial mounting of wz.37 gun and wz.30 TMG of 7TP tank.

In 1939, after some minor arguments unsuitable armor thickness, PZI got involved to evolve a heavier variant with an improved engine, welded armor thickened up to 40mm in front, a strengthened suspension, wider tracks and a turret with a rear overhang which could accommodate both transmitter and receiver radio sets. The new up-armored 7-TP, which now weighed 11-tons, did not have time to go beyond the pre-production stage before the events of 1939. During the nineteen thirties and during the development of the 7-TP, the question of designing tanks in Poland had become a very controversial matter. Two schools of thought were in contention: the first one defended the launching of domestic design and production programs, the second one (represented by the Chief of the Armored Force himself), considered this as a waste of time and money which could be better spent in purchasing well-proven foreign tanks. Nothing came of these debates except friction and the slowing of progress. A total of 169 7TPs saw service.

[SAMWolf]

Based on a Vickers Armstrong 6 ton design, a popular product world wide, the 7TP was produced in Poland starting from 1931. Poland purchased 38 Vickers E tanks (22 twin turret and 16 single turret) for the Polish Army along with the license allowing Poland to produce them in Poland. The 7TP was considered a light tank by standards at the time. Some early models had 2 turrets, each mounted a machine gun. Later models had a single turret with a 37 mm cannon as shown above. The 7TP (with the 37 mm cannon) was more than a match for German Panzer 1 and 2, and an equal of Panzer 3's except in armor protection*. The German army was so impressed with this design they incorporated as many 7TP tanks as possible into their service.


Captured 7TP tanks in German service

*Late models had 40 mm of frontal armor. This made the tank stronger than the Panzer 3 of that period. In fact, the Germans lost a great deal of armor in the Polish campaign. That was one of the reasons for the "phony war" on the western front. Germany needed time to rebuild/repair their armor.


Warsaw September 1939 by David Pentland
Polish 7TP (Twin Turret) light tank of Captain F. Michalowski's training company breaks out from the street barricade to counter attack German reconnaissance elements.

Though Poland had limited industrial capacity, there was real interest in tank warfare and design. Sadly (and lucky for the Russians and Germany), the best designs had not reached production level prior to September 1939. The Polish army was equipped with less than 950 tanks in an odd mixture of imports, tankettes, and light tanks. This force had to face a German Panzerwaffe of over 3000. Soviet tank numbers are unknown.




The Poles were far ahead of many nations in tank development. Using the Sauer engine made the 7TP the worlds first diesel powered tank. The 7TP was the Polish version of the Vickers 6 ton (twin turrets) but with thicker armor (17 mm). This actually made the tank a 9.5 ton machine. In 1937 the unit was redesigned to a single turret with a 37 mm cannon. The final model of the 7TP had a larger turret and up to 40 mm of armor (welded). The model also included better suspension and wider tracks.

Specifications

Crew	3
Engine	Armstrong Siddley Puma 91.5 hp air cooled, or Swiss Sauer VBLDb 110 to 115 hp water cooled. Using the Sauer made the 7TP the worlds first diesel powered production tank.
Weight (battle)	11+ U.S. tons, 9.9 metric tons
Speed	22.98 mph
Range	150km (road) 130km (cross country)
Communications	7TPjw came equipped with N2C
Armament	7TPdw had 2 x Browning 7.92mm MGs. 7TPjw had 1 x 37mm Bofors and 1 x Browning 7.92mm MG.
Height	6.61'
Width	7.55'
Length	14.96'
Armor	5 - 18mm. Up to 40 mm (late models).
Power to Weight	11.1 bhp/ton
Track Ground Pressure	0.6kg/cm2

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Additional Sources:

mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk/tanks/pol
derela.republika.pl
www.wargamer.com/articles/captured_tanks
www.military-art.com
www.wojmar.republika.pl

[SAMWolf]

When the Wehrmacht blasted into Poland in 1939, their main opposition was the TK-3, the 7TP, and about 50 French-built R35’s. The TK-3 was a tankette (better known as deathtrap) armed with only machineguns, and proved easy meat for the Panzers.




The 7TP was another matter: this light tank was armed with a 37mm gun and was capable of defeating the Panzer I and II’s that made up the bulk of German armor at the time. The tank had a 110 hp engine producing a speed of 22mph with a range of 93 miles. Armor was 5mm-17mm, with a weight of around 10 tons. There was a crew of three, and armament other than the 37mm consisted of two 7.92mm machineguns.



The Poles had two battalions equipped with the 7TP, and after the capitulation, the Germans used as many as they could salvage. They were initially used as tanks for policing in occupied territories but were later converted to artillery tractors. Thus started the practice of applying the Black Cross to a vanquished foe.

[SAMWolf]

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UPDATED THROUGH APRIL 2004



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It's TreadHead Tuesday!


Good Morning Everyone

If you would like added to our ping list let us know.

[SAMWolf]

Good Night Snippy.

[alfa6]

Night shift bump for Treadhead Tuesday

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[SAMWolf]

Open 24 hours. :-)

Thanks, alpha6

[Neil E. Wright]

hiya kids,

may I point everyone to this thread:

A Tribute to Heroes ... :)

Walk on Warrior! (Hand Salute!) Semper Fi!

±

"The Era of Osama lasted about an hour, from the time the first plane hit the tower to the moment the General Militia of Flight 93 reported for duty."
Toward FREEDOM

[alfa6]

Ah the joys of 12 hour shift work and only having one 'puter that I can get FR on.

Well it could be worse and I don't want to find out how :-)

Back to work as I my timer went off.

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks Neil.

[snippy_about_it]

Good Night Sam. Thanks for today. ;-)

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Tonk and all.

[Aeronaut]

Oops..., I meant: Good morning Snippy.

Durned cut lists.

[E.G.C.]

Good morning Snippy and everyone at the Freeper Foxhole.

[Tax-chick]

Good morning, all. Poles with tanks ... what'll they think of next?

[GailA]

Good morning

[The Mayor]

God . . . will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but . . . will also make the way of escape. —1 Corinthians 10:13

To withstand temptation, stand with Christ.

[manna]

Present!

[Professional Engineer]

Good morning ladies. Get yer firepower. Flag-o-gram.

[Valin]

On This Day In History


Birthdates which occurred on June 01:
1563 Robert Cecil Earl of Salisbury, English chief minister (1598-1625)
1801 Brigham Young religious leader (Mormon church)/polygamist
1814 Philip Kearney Civil War general (Union)
1825 John Hunt Morgan Brig General (Confederate cavalry commander)
1831 John Bell Hood confederate general (lost Atlanta)
1878 John Masefield England, 15th poet laureate (Salt-Water Ballads)
1907 Frank Whittle inventor (jet engine)
1921 Nelson Riddle Oradell NJ, musical conductor (Batman, Frank Sinatra)
1926 Andy Griffith Mount Airy NC, actor (Andy Griffith Show, Matlock)
1926 Marilyn Monroe [Norma Jean Baker], actress (Some Like It Hot)
1930 Edward Woodward England, actor (Breaker Morant, Wickerman)
1933 Alan (the Horse) Ameche Wisc, NFL fullback (Baltimore Colts)
1934 Pat Boone Florida, singer/actor (April Love, Cross & Switchblade)
1935 Reverend Ike SC, evangelist minister
1937 Morgan Freeman actor (Driving Mrs Daisy)
1939 Cleavon Little Chickasha Okla, actor (Blazing Saddles, Toy Soldiers)
1940 Ren‚ Auberjonois NYC, actor (Clayton-Benson, McCabe & Mrs Miller)
1946 Carol Neblett Modesto California, soprano (NYC Opera)
1947 Ron Wood rock guitarist (Faces, Jeff Beck Group, Rolling Stones)
1948 Tom Sneva US auto racer (Indianapolis 500-1983)
1965 India Allen Portsmouth Va, playmate of the year (Dec, 1987)

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Deaths which occurred on June 01:
1823 Louis Nicholas Davout French field marshall, dies at 53
1864 Solomon George Washington Dill poor white ally of blacks, assassinated in his home by white terrorists in SC
1968 Helen Keller blind & deaf, dies at 87
1985 Richard Greene actor (Adv of Robin Hood), dies at 67
1987 Rashid Karami Lebanon, 10 time PM of Lebanon, dies at 65

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Reported: MISSING in ACTION

1965 CROSBY FREDERICK P.---ORLANDO FL.
[GROUND FIRE CRASH EXPLODE]
1966 BORLING JOHN L.---CHICAGO IL.
[02/12/73 RELEASED BY DRV, ALIVE IN 98]
1966 MYERS ARMAND J.---MEDFORD OR.
02/12/73 RELEASED BY DRV,ALIVE AND WELL 98]
1971 ANDRADE FATHER---FRANCE
[FRENCH PRIEST RELEASED]
1971 MAGERS PAUL G.---SIDNEY NE.
1971 WANN DONALD L.---SHAWNEE OK.
1975 MC DONALD HERMAN
[08/76 LEFT SAIGON]

POW / MIA Data & Bios supplied by
the P.O.W. NETWORK. Skidmore, MO. USA.

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On this day...
1495 1st written record of Scotch Whiskey appears in Exchequer Rolls of Scotland. Friar John Cor is the distiller
1638 1st earthquake recorded in US, at Plymouth, Mass
1774 British govt orders Port of Boston closed
1789 1st US congressional act becomes law (on administering oaths)
1792 Kentucky admitted as 15th US state
1796 Tennessee admitted as 16th US state
1808 1st US land-grant university founded-Ohio Univ, Athens, Ohio
1809 Allardyce Barclay begins a bet of walking 1 mile every hour for 1,000 hours. Each hour he walked a « mile round trip from his home
1813 Capt John Lawrence utters Navy motto "Don't give up the ship"
1843 It snows in Buffalo & Rochester NY & Cleveland Ohio
1843 Sojourner Truth leaves NY to begin her career as antislavery activist
1845 Homing pigeon completes 11,000 km trip (Namibia-London) in 55 days
1855 US adventurer Wm Walker conquers Nicaragua, reestablishes slavery
1861 1st skirmish in the Civil War, Fairfax Court House, Va
1861 US & Confederacy simultaneously stop mail interchange
1862 Gen Lee assumes command after Joe Johnston is injured at 7 Pines
1864 Battle of Cold Harbour, VA
1866 Renegade Irish Fenians invade Fort Erie Ontario from US
1868 Texas constitutional convention meets in Austin
1869 Voting Machine patented by Thomas Edison
1877 US troops authorized to pursue bandits into Mexico
1898 Trans-Mississippi International Exposition opens in Omaha
1905 Lewis & Clark Centennial Exposition opens in Portland, Oregon
1907 -27ø F (-33ø C), Sarmiento, Argentina (South American record)
1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition opens in Seattle
1911 1st US group insurance policy written, Passaic, NJ
1915 1st Zeppelin air raid over England
1921 Race riot in Tusla Okla (21 whites & 60 blacks killed)
1925 Lou Gehrig replaces Wally Pipp (1st of record 2130 consec games)
1933 Century of Progress world's fair opens in Chicago
1935 Yanks set solo HR record with 6 beat Boston 7-2
1938 Superman Comics launched
1939 1st televised heavyweight boxing match-Max Baer vs Lou Nova
1939 British sub "Thetis" sinks in Liverpool Bay with all 99 aboard
1941 31.98 cm (12.59") rainfall, Burlington, Kansas (state 24-hr record)
1941 Germany bans all Catholic publications
1945 WLB-AM in Minneapolis Minn changes call letters to KUOM
1946 Assault wins Belmont Stakes & Triple Crown
1949 1st magazine on microfilm offered to subscribers (Newsweek)
1951 1st self-contained titanium plant opened Henderson Nevada
1951 S Arend discovers asteroids #1592 Mathieu & #1593 Fagnes
1958 Charles de Gaulle becomes premier of France
1959 Constitution of Tunisia promulgated (National Day)
1962 Oscar 2 (ham radio satellite) launched into Earth orbit
1962 USAF Maj Robert M White takes X-15 to 40,420 m
1965 A Penzias & R Wilson detect 3ø K primordial background radiation
1966 2,400 persons attend White House Conference on Civil Rights
1967 Mayor-council form of government instituted for Washington, DC
1968 Simon & Garfunkel's "Mrs Robinson" hits #1
1969 Tobacco advertising is banned on Canadian radio & TV
1970 Soyuz 9 launched into Earth orbit for 18 days
1971 Ed Sullivan's final TV show
1971 Perth Observatory discovers asteroid #2167 Erin
1974 Bundy victim Brenda Ball disappears from Burien, Wash
1975 Ron Woods replaces Mick Taylor as Rolling Stone guitarist
1976 Great-Britain & Iceland terminate codfish war
1977 The Soviet Union formally charged Jewish human rights activist Anatoly Shcharansky with treason.
1980 Barbra Striesand appears at an ACLU Benefit in Calif
1980 Ted Turner's Cable News Network begins broadcasting
1984 Weightlifter Alexander Gunyashev of USSR snatches a record 211 kg
1990 The Cowboy Channel on cable TV begins transmitting
1991 Mount Pinatubo (Phillipines) erupts for 1st time in 600 years

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Holidays
Note: Some Holidays are only applicable on a given "day of the week"

China PR, Mongolia : Children's Festival Day
Kentucky-1792, Tennessee-1796 : Statehood Day
Kenya : Madaraka Day, a day to enjoy freedom
Philadelphia : Elfreth's Alley Day-celebrates oldest US street
Samoa : Independence Day
Thailand : Visakha Puja
Tunisia : Victory Day/Constitution Day (1959)
Western Samoa : National Day
Massachusetts : Teachers' Day (Sunday)
Ireland : Bank Day (Monday)
Bahamas : Labour Day (Friday)
New Zealand : Queen's Birthday (Monday)
Western Australia : Foundation Day (1838) (Monday)
National Frozen Yogurt Week (Day 2)
Philadelphia : Elfreth's Alley Day-celebrates oldest US street
American Rivers Month

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Religious Observances
Birthday of the Virgin Mary - Coptic (Egyptian) and Abyssinian Churches.
Feast of St. Angela Merici, virgin.
Feast of St. Pamphilus, priest and martyr.
Eastern Orthodox : All Saint's Day
Moslem-Uganda : Supreme Council Day
RC : Commemoration of the BVM, Mediatrix of All Graces
Ang, Luth : Commemoration of Justin, martyr at Rome
Moslem : 'Id al-Adha (Dh–l-Hijjah 10, 1413 AH)

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Religious History
1793 Birth of Henry Francis Lyte, Scottish clergyman who wrote the hymns 'Abide with Me' and 'Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken.'
1922 Birth of Ray Knighton, who in 1954 founded the Medical Assistance Program (MAP International) in Chicago.
1930 Missionary-linguist Frank C. Laubach wrote in a letter: 'I must talk about God, or I cannot keep Him in my mind. I must give Him away in order to have Him.'
1953 The Christian Aid Mission (CIM) was chartered in Washington, DC by founder Bob Finley.
1978 The Evangelical Free Baptist Church was incorporated in DuPage County, Illinois, having withdrawn from the Southern Baptist Convention following a doctrinal dispute.

Source: William D. Blake. ALMANAC OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1987.

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Thought for the day :
"Conversation enriches the understanding, but solitude is the school of genius."

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Actual Newspaper Headlines...
Lansing Residents Can Drop Off Trees

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Why did the Chicken cross the Road...
Oliver Stone:
The question is not "Why did the chicken cross the road?" but is rather "Who was crossing the road at the same time whom we overlooked in our haste to observe the chicken crossing?"

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Dumb Laws...
Georgia:
Donkeys may not be kept in bathtubs.

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A Cowboy's Guide to Life...
It don't take a genius to spot a goat in a flock of sheep.

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning everyone.

[Soaring Feather]

ooooooooooops, I forgot again.

[Soaring Feather]

Now that's a Flag-o-gram PE! Thanks much.

[SAMWolf]

Morning Neil.

Thanks for the link.

[SAMWolf]

Ah the joys of 12 hour shift work and only having one 'puter that I can get FR on.

Isn't that "cruel and unusual"?

[SAMWolf]

LOL! Good morning aeronaut.

You fly over so many threads it's hard to remember where you are.;-)

[SAMWolf]

Good morning E.G.C. Beautiful sunny morning today. Managed to get through Memorial Day without rain but it was cloudy all day.

[SAMWolf]

LOL! And I bet you thought they only had Cavalry. :-)

[SAMWolf]

Morning GailA.

[SAMWolf]

Morning Mayor. it' feels like a Monday. I need coffee.

[SAMWolf]

Hi Manna!

[SAMWolf]

Morning PE. Now there's a tank!

[SAMWolf]

1915 1st Zeppelin air raid over England

The Zeppelin developed in 1914 could reach a maximum speed of 136 kph and reach a height of 4,250 metres. The Zeppelin had five machine-guns and could carry 2,000 kg (4,400 lbs) of bombs.

In January 1915, two Zeppelin navel airships 190 metres long, flew over the east coast of England and bombed great Yarmouth and King's Lynn. The first Zeppelin raid on London took place on 31st May 1915. The raid killed 28 people and injured 60 more. Many places suffered from Zeppelin raids included Gravesend, Sunderland, Edinburgh, the Midlands and the Home Counties. By the end of May 1916 at least 550 British civilians had been killed by German Zeppelin.

Zeppelins could deliver successful long-range bombing attacks, but were extremely vulnerable to attack and bad weather. British fighter pilots and anti-aircraft gunners became very good at bringing down Zeppelins. A total of 115 Zeppelins were used by the German military, of which, 77 were either destroyed or so damaged they could not be used again. In June 1917 the German military stopped used Zeppelins for bombing raids over Britain.

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning Feather

[The Mayor]

Yes I know, I'm doing Military Monday on Tuesday....

[Tax-chick]

I admire the Poles very much ... I'm not really surprised that they turned out a good tank.

[Samwise]

Can I get one of those for my shopping trips to the mall?

[SAMWolf]

The Poles weren't quite the "Walk over" in WWII for the Germans they've been portrayed as.

[Valin]

Just the thing for when the neighbors start acting up.

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning Samwise.

[Professional Engineer]

1962 Oscar 2 (ham radio satellite) launched into Earth orbit

Heh heh heh. You never know what those Ham Radio ops will do.

OSCAR = Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio

[Professional Engineer]

Now that's a Flag-o-gram PE!

It SURE is! LOL

[Professional Engineer]

Now there's a tank!

I've been saving it for today.

[Professional Engineer]

Only if I can have one too!

[SAMWolf]

Very appropriate for today. :-)

[snippy_about_it]

I have to wondered what they would have been able to complete if 1939 hadn't happened. Looks like they were on there way with a good tank.

Thanks Sam.

[snippy_about_it]

Ooops is right! LOL. Good morning uh, uh, oh yeah, Aeronaut.

[snippy_about_it]

Hey, who ate all the cinnabuns? They're gone and all that's left is a red x.

Good morning Gail.

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning Tax-chick.