World War 2 In Review No. 44

By Merriam Press

Merriam Press World War 2 In Review Series. The following articles on World War II are in this issue: (1) Anti-tank Guns Part 2: Belgian, Czech, French (2) A Long Voyage Home: Rene Malevergne and the Invasion of North Africa (3) Battle of the Eastern Solomons: Interrogation of Commanders H. Sekino and Masatake Okumiya, IJN (4) Duxford Airfield (5) French Loire 70 Flying Boat (6) Soviet Ilyushin DB-3 Bomber (7) Italian Fiat M11/39 Medium Tank (8) Attack on Hill 593 by the Polish II Corps: Cassino, Italy, May 18-24, 1944 (9) Wojtek, the Polish Soldier Bear (10) Royal Indian Army Service Corps (11) Soviet Radio-Electronic Combat in World War II (12) You Can Still be a Gentleman… Even Though You Served in the Pacific (13) “The World Will Hold its Breath…”: 22 June 1941, The First Day of Operation Barbarossa (14) Why France Fell. 424 B&W/color photos/illustrations.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Apr 27, 2018
• ISBN: 9781387745821

Book preview

World War 2 In Review No. 44

World War 2 In Review No. 44

F:\Working Data\Merriam Press Logo CS.jpg

Hoosick Falls, New York

2018

First eBook Edition

Copyright © 2018 by Merriam Press

Additional material copyright of named contributors.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

The views expressed are solely those of the author.

ISBN 9781387745821

This work was designed, produced, and published in the United States of America by the Merriam Press, 489 South Street, Hoosick Falls NY 12090.

Notice

The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

Mission Statement

This series presents articles and pictorials on topics covering many aspects of World War 2. In addition to new articles and pictorials on topics not previously covered, future volumes may include additional material on the subjects covered in this volume. The volumes in this series will comprise a single source for innumerable articles and tens of thousands of images of interest to anyone interested in the history and study of World War 2. While no doubt some of these images and other materials could be found online, countless hours could be spent searching thousands of web sites to find at least some of this material.

The Images

These photos are seventy-plus years old, were taken under less than ideal conditions, and some were taken by individuals who were neither professional photographers nor using professional equipment. Thus, the quality of the original image may be less than perfect. While Merriam Press tries to obtain the best quality images possible, the quality of the images in this publication will no doubt vary greatly.

This series of publications utilizes the editor’s collection of tens of thousands of photographs and other illustrative material acquired since 1968. Hundreds of sources over the years have been searched for material on every subject.

Photographs Needed

Merriam Press welcomes any contributions of photographs

of this or any subject for future volumes in this series.

How to Use This Publication

To get the best viewing experience, the use of the Adobe Digital program is highly recommended. This free program is available from Adobe.

This publication was designed to allow for larger images than most eReaders will accommodate. When the publication was created, the images were inserted in a fixed size (6.2 inches wide and up to 8 inches high) and cannot be resized in the program. The text, of course, can be enlarged and reduced as desired.

Viewing on a computer or other device with a large enough screen will allow viewing of the photos and other illustrations in their entirety. Viewing this publication on most eReaders will result in the images not being shown in their entirety.

To view the images properly, adjust the program’s viewing window’s right-side edge accordingly. If the viewing window is too wide, images may overlap, and moving the right-side edge will fix this.

•

Welcome to No. 44 of the World War 2 In View Series

The following articles are in this issue of World War 2 In Review:

(1) Anti-tank Guns Part 2

Belgian Anti-tank Guns

47mm Model 1931 Anti-tank Gun

Czech Anti-tank Guns

3.7cm KPÚV vz. 34

4cm Kanón vz. 36

3.7cm KPÚV vz. 37

4.7cm KPÚV vz. 38

Škoda 6.6cm KPÚV 5/800 / 6.6cm PaK 44

French Anti-tank Guns

25mm Hotchkiss Anti-tank Gun

AC 37 Anti-tank Gun

AC 47 Anti-tank Gun

47mm APX Anti-tank Gun

(2) A Long Voyage Home: Rene Malevergne and the Invasion of North Africa

(3) Battle of the Eastern Solomons: Interrogation of Commanders H. Sekino and Masatake Okumiya, IJN

(4) Duxford Airfield

(5) French Loire 70 Flying Boat

(6) Soviet Ilyushin DB-3 Bomber

(7) Italian Fiat M11/39 Medium Tank

(8) Attack on Hill 593 by the Polish II Corps: Cassino, Italy, May 18-24, 1944

(9) Wojtek, the Polish Soldier Bear

(10) Royal Indian Army Service Corps

(11) Soviet Radio-Electronic Combat in World War II

(12) You Can Still be a Gentleman… Even Though You Served in the Pacific

(13) The World Will Hold its Breath…: 22 June 1941, The First Day of Operation Barbarossa

(14) Why France Fell

This issue features 424 B&W and color photographs and illustrations.

Watch for future issues of this series with more articles and images of the history of World War II.

Anti-tank Guns Part 2

This continues the series on the anti-tank guns of World War 2. See World War 2 In Review Number 43 for American and British anti-tank guns; Number 45 for German anti-tank guns; Number 46 for Italian, Japanese and Romanian anti-tank guns; Number 47 for Russian and Swedish anti-tank guns.

Belgian Anti-tank Guns

47mm Model 1931 Anti-tank Gun

F:\Working Data\WW2 In Review\WR Published\WR - 044 - Mixed - WORKING\WR044_LE1_files\image004.jpg

In service with Belgian Army.

The Royal Cannon Foundry 47mm anti-tank gun Model 1931 (French: Canon anti-char de 47mm Fonderie Royale de Canons Modèle 1931, abbreviated to C.47 F.R.C. Mod.31) was an artillery piece developed in 1931 for the Belgian army which saw widespread service in the Battle of Belgium in 1940. It was colloquially known as the ‘Quat’sept, after its 47 millimeters (1.9 in) caliber, by the Belgian soldiers that used it.

It was developed by the firm F.R.C., the Herstal-based Fonderie Royale de Canons, not to be confused with the French F.R.C.

Both infantry and light troops (cavalry units, cyclist units) versions of the gun were produced with minor variations: the light troops version had pneumatic tires for greater road mobility, while the infantry versions had heavier but more durable full-rubber tires. The gun was also able to be incorporated into fixed defenses and bunkers, including the Belgian fortifications at the Albert Canal. They were also fixed to the T-13 tank destroyer and the ‘Canon antichar automoteur Vickers-Carden-Loyd Mk.VI.’

Regarding its time of development, the ‘47’ had an impressive performance, especially in comparison to contemporary German or French designs – respectively the 3.7 cm PaK 36 and 25 mm Hotchkiss anti-tank gun. In medium range armor penetration, it even outperformed the British Ordnance QF 2-pounder: armor-piercing rounds could penetrate 47 millimeters (1.9 in) of armored steel at a range of 300 meters (980 ft). This was largely due to the heavy caliber with a shell weight of 1.52 kilograms (3.4 lb) for the armor-piercing rounds. However, this performance came at a price: with a total weight of 515 kilograms (1,135 lb), not including ammo or equipment, the 47 mm was a lot heavier than the German PaK 36 (at 327 kilograms (721 lb)) although, with a compact design, the 47 mm was easier to conceal. Repositioning was aided by Vickers Utility B armored tractors in infantry divisions or the Ford Marmon Herrington armored tractor in cavalry units.

Over 750 47 mm guns were in service in the Belgian army at the time of the German invasion in 1940. All active and first reserve infantry units, cavalry units and units of the border guards were equipped with the gun, while the second reserve units had to make do with older anti-tank rifles. Every infantry regiment consisted of 3 battalions of rifle infantry and a single heavy arms battalion. This in turn consisted of three heavy weapon companies, one of which was equipped with 12 47 mm guns. Given its good armor penetrating capabilities, the 47 mm could penetrate the armor of the German Panzer III and Panzer IV tanks from a range of over 500 meters (1,600 ft). Reports of panzers knocked out by the 47 mm during the Battle of Belgium do exist, but in general the bulk of the Belgian army was deployed in the north of the country, on the flat terrain of Flanders, and not in the hilly terrain of the Ardennes in the south, which was regarded as impenetrable but nonetheless served as the primary route of invasion for about 2,500 German panzers.

The German designation for captured guns was the 4.7 cm PaK 185(b). A few were installed in Atlantic Wall defenses in Belgium and the Channel Islands.

Several hundred 47 mm guns were captured by the Germans after the battle of Belgium and donated to the Hungarians in 1940-1, to make up for their lack in anti-tank guns during Operation Barbarossa. Their use was limited however due to a lack of spare parts, while the armor penetrating capabilities of these guns had also been surpassed by the Soviet advances in tank construction. Most were relegated to training duties.

Type: Anti-tank gun

Place of origin: Belgium

In service: Second World War

Used by:

Belgium

Nazi Germany

Kingdom of Hungary

Designed: 1931

Manufacturer: Fonderie Royale de Canons

Number built: 750+

Weight: 515 kg (1,135 lb)

Barrel length: 1.6 m (5 ft 3 in) L/33.6

Shell: Fixed QF 47 x 280mm R

Shell weight: 1.5 kg (3 lb 5 oz)

Caliber: 47 mm (1.9 in)

Carriage: Split-trail

Elevation: -3° to +20°

Traverse: 40° (Towed variant)

Muzzle velocity:

720 m/s (2,400 ft/s) (AP)

450 m/s (1,500 ft/s) (HE)

Effective firing range: 1 km (3,300 ft)

Maximum firing range: 2 km (6,600 ft)

F:\Working Data\WW2 In Review\WR Published\WR - 044 - Mixed - WORKING\WR044_LE1_files\image006.jpg

In service with Belgian Army.

F:\Working Data\WW2 In Review\WR Published\WR - 044 - Mixed - WORKING\WR044_LE1_files\image008.jpg

Belgian Loyd artillery tractor pulling 47mm anti-tank gun.

F:\Working Data\WW2 In Review\WR Published\WR - 044 - Mixed - WORKING\WR044_LE1_files\image010.jpg

In German service as 4.7cm Pak 185 (b).

F:\Working Data\WW2 In Review\WR Published\WR - 044 - Mixed - WORKING\WR044_LE1_files\image012.jpg

In German service as 4.7cm Pak 185 (b).

F:\Working Data\WW2 In Review\WR Published\WR - 044 - Mixed - WORKING\WR044_LE1_files\image014.jpg

In German service as 4.7cm Pak 185 (b).

F:\Working Data\WW2 In Review\WR Published\WR - 044 - Mixed - WORKING\WR044_LE1_files\image016.jpg

In German service as 4.7cm Pak 185 (b).

Czech Anti-tank Guns

3.7cm KPÚV vz. 34

F:\Working Data\WW2 In Review\WR Published\WR - 044 - Mixed - WORKING\WR044_LE1_files\image018.jpg

The 3,7 cm KPÚV vz. 34 (Czech: kanón proti útočné vozbě) (designated 3,7 cm PaK 34(t) in German service) was an anti-tank gun produced by the Škoda Works in Czechoslovakia. Škoda’s own designation for it was A3. It is not known if guns seized by German after the occupation of Bohemia-Moravia saw service in World War II. Slovakia acquired 113 when it declared independence from Czechoslovakia in March 1939.

It was designed to a Czech Army requirement to penetrate 30 mm (1.2 in) of armor at 1,000 m (1,100 yd) in 1934. It also fired a HE shell out to a maximum range of 4,000 m (4,400 yd). The gun had a small shield and wooden-spoked wheels, although some were fitted with pneumatic wheels.

Type: Anti-tank gun

Place of origin: Czechoslovakia

In service: 1934–1944

Used by:

Czechoslovakia

Slovakia

Nazi Germany

Wars: World War II

Designer: Škoda Works

Designed: 1934

Manufacturer: Škoda Works

Produced: 1934–1939

Variants: ÚV vz. 34 tank gun

Barrel length: 1.48 m (4 ft 10 in) L/40

Shell: Fixed QF 37 x 268 mm R

Shell weight: .815 kg (1 lb 12.7 oz)

Caliber: 37.2 mm (1.46 in)

Breech: Semi-automatic

Carriage: Split-trail

Rate of fire: 12 rounds per minute

Muzzle velocity: 675 m/s (2,210 ft/s)

Effective firing range: 1,000 m (1,100 yd)

Maximum firing range: 4,000 m (4,400 yd)

4cm Kanón vz. 36

F:\Working Data\WW2 In Review\WR Published\WR - 044 - Mixed - WORKING\WR044_LE1_files\image022.jpg

4cm Kanón vz. 36 in MO-S 19 infantry casemate.

The 4cm kanón vz. 36 (i.e., 4 cm Cannon Model 36) was an anti-tank gun produced by the Škoda Works in 1930s. The gun was used in Czechoslovak border fortifications and after German occupation of Czechoslovakia it saw service in Atlantic Wall fortifications under the designation 4,7 cm PaK K 36(t).

Type: Anti-tank gun

Place of origin: Czechoslovakia

Used by:

Czechoslovakia

Nazi Germany

Wars: World War II

Designed: 1935

Manufacturer: Škoda Works

Produced: 1935–1939

Weight: 1,250 kg

Barrel length: 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) L/43

Crew: 3

Caliber: 47 mm (1.85 in)

Elevation: -15° to +12°

Traverse: 45°

Muzzle velocity: 775 m/s (2,542 ft/s)

Maximum firing range: 5,800 m

3.7cm KPÚV vz. 37

F:\Working Data\WW2 In Review\WR Published\WR - 044 - Mixed - WORKING\WR044_LE1_files\image024.jpg

The 3,7 cm KPÚV vz. 37 (Czech: kanón proti útočné