Bloodhound Mk2

The Bloodhound Mk2 was a surface-to-air missile, which was developed from the Mk1 by British Aerospace Dynamics Group for the Royal Air Force. Entering service in mid 1961, it would be standard home defense missile during the Cold War years. It had more powerful Thor ramjets and boosters than its predecessor. To detect, tract, and hit the enemy intruder, it was fitted with a continuous wave (CW) radar guidance, with the missile being equipped with semi-active radar homing system using Ferranti Firelight.

The Bloodhound Mk 2 was also capable of destroying fast targets at height below 300 m (1,000 feet). It was transported by cargo planes. It was also used to reinforce the air defenses of overseas commands. As a matter of fact, the missile was once deployed by the RAF in Malaysia from the Autumn of 1964. When the RAF troops left the area, these weapons were taken over by the Singapore Air Command.

Technical Description

The Bloodhound Mk2 had a cilyndral metal body, with pointed ogival nose cone. It was fitted with pivoted mid-set wings indexed in line with fixed horizontal tail surfaces. It was powered by ramjet engines carried on pylons above and below rear part of the body was well  as by equi-spaced wrap-around boosters, each with a large stabilizing fin. Twist and steer control was carried out by means of wings, which could pivot both independently from the other or together in unison.

Specifications

Type: surface-to-air home defense missile.

Warhead: High Explosive with proximity fuse.

Length: 8.46 m (27 feet, 9 inches)

Body Diameter: 0.55 m (1 feet, 9 inches)

Wing Span: 2.83 m (9 feet, 3.5 inches)

Range: 90 km (56 miles)

Guidance: Semi-active radar homing.

Power Plant: two Rolls Royce Bristol Thor ramjet engines. Four jettisonable Bristol aerojet solid propellant boosters.

Below, two Bloodhound Mk2s on their launching platforms at a military base in England.

The surface-to-air missile lifting off into the sky during military exercises.

AIM-4 Falcon

The AIM-4 Falcon was an air-to-air missile used by the US Air Force and NATO countries during the Cold War. It was developed and manufactured by Hughes Aircraft Company. It was the first guided air-to-air missile and it was fired in anger for the first time during the Vietnam War from a McDonnell F-101 Voodoo fighter aircraft. It was also the main armament of the Convair F-102 Delta Dagger and F-106 Delta Dart interceptors. However, it would be replaced by the AIM-9 Sidewinders.

The development of the AIM-4 Falcon had begun in 1947, when works on an air-to-air semi-active radar homing missile was set in motion by Hughes. This early prototype was known as the GAR-1. It would be improved after many tests and a first batch of 12,000 GAR-1D missiles were ordered. The GAR-1D would be redesignated AIM-4 Falcon, from which several versions would be produced, with the AIM-4D being the most massively built. It also had infrared homing guidance system.

Under a 1969 US Air Force's contract, Hughes developed the AIM-4H, which featured a new warhead, incorporating an active optical target detection device (AOTDD). A solid-state laser device built in in the AOTDD detonated the warhead without requiring a direct hit. Thus, the AIM-4H would become better suited for close air combat.

Technical Characteristics

The AIM-4 Falcon had a cylindrical body, with a tapered and rounded glass-tipped nose. Aft of the nose, it had a set of four cruciform vanes, which was indexed in line with the long chord cruciform delta wings. On the rear portion of body, it had four cruciform tail wings, which were fitted with mobile control surfaces that worked in the manner of an aircraft tail fin rudder. The missile was powered by on Thiokol M58-E4 solid-fuel rocket motor.

Specifications (AIM-4D)

Type: guided air-to-air missile

Warhead: High Explosive

Length: 2.02 m (6 feet, 7 inches)

Body Diameter: 16.3 cm (6.4 inches)

Wing Span: 51 cm (1 foot, 8 inches)

Launch Weight: 61 kg (134 lb)

Maximum Speed: Mach 4

Range: 9 km (6 miles)

Guidance System: Semi active radar homing; infrared Homing.

Power Plant: solid propellant rocket motor.

Below, two AIM-4D, with US Air Force pilots in the 1960s.

NATO countries howitzers in Ukraine

The NATO countries howitzers used in Ukraine are varied and modern. Different types and calibers of artillery pieces have been shipped over to Ukraine, so that the Ukrainian Army troops as well as Ukrainian paramilitary units could fight against the advancing Russian Ground Forces.

Aside from main battle tanks and other armored vehicles, the United States, France, Germany, Italy, and Poland sent dozens of towed heavy field howitzers as well as armored, self-propelled guns of all kinds. Nevertheless, many of these guns were either destroyed by Russian missiles or ended up in the hands of the Russian forces due to rampant corruption among the Ukrainian Army officers, who sold all kind of NATO's weapons to the Russians.

List of NATO Countries' Howitzers in Ukraine

France: this nation shipped the Caesar over to Ukraine; it is a 155-mm, L/52, self-propelled howitzer, which is mounted on a truck and it has a self-loading system. Six of the ten pieces sent the Eastern European country ended up in Russian hands and they were disassembled by Russian engineers to study it.

USA: This country sent the M109, a 155-mm, L/39, self-propelled howitzer. And the M777, which is a towed, split-trail, field howitzer, which fires 155-mm shells.

Below, the USA-made M109 self-propelled howitzer.

Italy: This Mediterranean country sent the FH70, which is a 155-mm, towed field howitzer.

The Italian FH70 artillery piece.

Poland: This nation sent the CRAB, which is a 155-mm, self-propelled howitzer, which is mounted on a tank chassis.

Caesar Self-Propelled Howitzer

The Caesar Self-Propelled Howitzer is a 155-mm artillery piece developed by former GIAT Industries for the French Army. Today, it is manufactured by Nexter Systems and exported to NATO countries, which include Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, and Czech Republic. The French Army has 109 Caesar howitzers in its arsenal but sent about 20 of them over to Ukraine.

It has been in service since 2004 and it saw combat action for the first time in Afghanistan. It has also been deployed in Mali, during Operation Serval, Iraq, and Lebanon. In Iraq, the French forces used this mobile artillery piece in support of the Iraqi Army to recapture Mosul from ISIS in 2017. In Ukraine, it has been used intensely and six of them have been destroyed by Russian drones.

Below, the French mobile artillery piece in Mali.

Technical Description

The Caesar self-propelled howitzer is basically the French TRF1 towed-artillery mounted on a modified chassis of a 6x6 Renault TRM-10000 truck. It has an automatic shell-loading mechanism and an integrated fire control system, which can be connected to any C4I. Being mounted on a truck chassis makes it possible to quickly escape from the enemy counter-battery.

Fitted with inertial navigation system and a ballistic computer, it is extremely effective at providing fire support to front line infantry units. It has a high rate of fire, with six rounds per minute and first round on target. It can fire Base Bleed ERFB ammunition to a distance of 45 km. It can immediately be set up for action in less than one minute.

Specifications

Type: self-propelled howitzer

Combat Weight: 17.7 tons

Length: 10 m

Width: 2.55 m

Height: 3.7 m

Power Plant:  one 264-HP, Renault 9.8-liter diesel engine.

Speed: 100 km/h on road

Range: 600 km

Howitzer Caliber: 155-mm

Howitzer Barrel Length: 7 m (L/52)

Elevation:  -6 to +66 degrees.

Below, two side views of the Caesar in different places.

M43 Howitzer Motor Carriage

The M43 Howitzer Motor Carriage was a self-propelled artillery piece, which was used by the US Army during the Korean War. It was an M115 203-mm (8-in) howitzer mounted on the chassis of the M4 Sherman tank. The M115 was a towed weapon which had extensively been deployed in World War II. In Korea, the M43 provided excellent fire support to infantry units during vicious attrition battles, when the American soldiers tried to take the Chinese-held hills.

The M43 Howitzer Motor Carriage fired 200-lb (90.7-kg) shells to a maximum range of 16.8 km (18,373 yards). It used separate-loading type ammunition (one projectile + one charge bag). It had a muzzle velocity of 587 m/s (1,926 feet/s). The vehicle was powered by one Continental R-975-C4 gasoline engine, which delivered 400 horsepower. In order to make the heavy artillery piece fit, the chassis of the M4A3 Sherman tank had to be lengthened and widened.

Specifications

Type: self-propelled howitzer

Weight: 38 tons

Length: 7.3 m (289 inches)

Width: 3.1 m (124 inches)

Height: 3.3 m (129 inches)

Howitzer Barrel Length: 5.1 m (16 feet, 9 inches)

Elevation: -2 to +65 degrees

Traverse: 30 degrees

Recoil: hydro-pneumatic

Breech: interrupted screw

Power Plant: one 400-HP, Continental R-975-C4 gasoline engine.

Maximum Speed: 39 km/h (24 mph)

Range: 172 km (107 miles)

Below, two black and white pics of M43 howitzer motor carriage. The first one was taken in Korea. The second one in a firing range.

M40 Gun Motor Carriage

The M40 gun motor carriage was a self-propelled artillery piece used by the US Army at the end of World War II and during the Korean War. Technically, it was the M1 155-mm gun, the Long Tom, mounted on the chassis of the M4 Sherman tank. Although it arrived late in the European Theater, in late January 1945, it would become one of the best self-propelled artillery piece as it went on to a long postwar career.

The work on the 155-mm M40 gun motor carriage had begun in 1943 as the US Army looked for an alternative to replace the M12 self-propelled gun, which was based on the M3 medium tank chassis. Since its development took longer than expected, the first batch of M40 guns rolled out of the factory on January 2, 1945. The chassis of the M4 Sherman had to be widened and lengthened in order to accommodate the Long Tom. In Europe, it took part in the bombing of Köln and the short military campaign that ensued. From 1950, it would be used extensively in the Korean War.

Below, the M40 during a military tracked vehicle exhibition in the USA.

This 15-mm self-propelled gun was powered by one Continental radial piston engine, which produced 400 horsepower. It had a crew of eight and provision for their weapons and kit. However, it had no protection for the crew as the gun had been designed to be used far behind the front line. Thus, protection was not necessary as it was out of reach of the enemy artillery and infantry. The same carriage was employed to mount the 203-mm howitzer; this version was designated the M43 Howitzer Motor Carriage.

Specifications

Type: Self-propelled Gun

Weight: 37.2 tons

Length of Chassis: 6.65 m (21 feet, 10 inches)

Length of Whole Piece: 9 m (29 feet, 8 inches)

Width: 3.15 m (10 feet, 4 inches)

Height: 2.84 m (9 feet, 4 inches)

Power Plant: One 400-HP Continental R-975, air-cooled, radial piston engine.

Maximum Speed: 38.6 km/h (24 mph)

Range: 161 km (100 miles)

Armament: on 155-mm gun

Length of Gun Barrel: 6.97 m (22 feet, 10 inches); L/45.

Gun Elevation: -5 to +52 degrees

Traverse: 18 degrees to the right, and 16 degrees to the left.

Breech: Asbury Type Mechanism

M18 Hellcat

The M18 Hellcat was a gun motor carriage used by the US Army in WW2 and the Korean War. To fulfill the anti-tank role, it was fitted with a 76.2-mm (3-in) M1A1 gun, which had been developed for the M10 vehicle. Its main attribute was its speed, as it could run in excess of 55 mph sustained speed. It was possible due to its light weight of 18 tons and its powerful Continental R-975 C-4 engine, which delivered 460 horsepower, making it the fastest tank destroyer and armored vehicle fielded in World War II.

Being introduced into service in 1943, the M18 Hellcat first saw combat action during the Battle of Anzio, in Italy in January 1944. It also took part in the Battle of Normandy in June and July 1944. It played an important role in the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, as part of the US Army's 10th Armored Division. This tank destroyer was also employed in the Pacific Theater of Operation, providing the US Army units with fire support on Okinawa Island and in the Philippines. During this armed conflict, it proved to be very effective, capable of tackling all types of German, Italians, and Japanese tanks, except for the Panzer VI Tiger and Panzer V Panther.

Technical Description

The M18 Hellcat was entirely designed from the outset to carry out the mission of tank hunting. Its hull was made of individual armor plates welded together. The driver's compartment was in the front and it had two seats, with the driver on the left and his assistant on the right. The fighting compartment was located in the center of vehicle, while the engine was in the rear compartment. The turret was a welded unit, mounting the 76-mm gun. It was also armed with a .50-caliber (12.7-mm) Browning machine gun, which was mounted on a ring which was built into the turret itself.

The Continental R-975 C-4 that drove the M18 was a radial engine. It was literally a round engine, which ran on gasoline. It was air cooled by a fan attached to the fly-wheel, clutch, and pressure plate. A shroud surrounded the finned cylinders and heads. The starter, magneto, and carburetor were in the center of the engine. A transfer case was employed to direct the power down and forward through a driveshaft to the differential in front. A second transfer case directed the power up to the Torqmatic transmission in the front.

Specifications

Type: tank destroyer
Armament: one 76.2-mm (3 inches) anti-tank gun; one .50-caliber machine gun.
Weight: 18 tons
Length of Hull: 5.44 m (17 feet, 10 inches)
Length Overall: 6.65 m (21 feet, 10 inches)
Width: 2.87 m (9 feet, 5 inches)
Height: 2.58 m (8 feet, 5.5 inches)
Power Plant: one 460-HP, Continental R-975 C-4 gasoline engine.
Maximum Speed: 55+ mph (88 km/h) on road
Range: 105 miles (169 km)
Gradient: 60 per cent.

Below, the M18 Hellcat in a military museum in Virginia.

The side and rear view of the tank destroyer.

A M18 Hellcat of the 4th Armor Division, crossing the Moselle River, in northeastern France in September 1944.