NEW THIS WEEK – MONDAY 8 FEBRUARY 2010
Hi everyone and welcome to what was new new week on Miliblog, as we catch up
Very busy at work this week and so we only managed to add 30 more photos to the Eastern Front Collection, of which 5 samples are shown below. But not to worry my fellow military enthusiasts, as we’ve also been working on lots of new photos to appear on Miliblog over the next few weeks. Our website designer is also working hard on new things for the website and we hope to have a new section for you all very soon. We have received many emails from people either seraching for a particular vehicle or spare part for sale asking for help. Others have emailed us to see if we know of anyone wanting a part they have for sale, for example, an engine for a Stuart tank. So our new clasifieds section will be of use to all of you in the search for that elusive part for your vehicle restoration.
So a short description of our 5 samples and then back to work ! First we have a knocked out Soviet KV-1 Heavy Tank followed by a nice German Stoewer 40 4×4 Field Car. We have a photo of a preserved similar Stoewer 40 on Miliblog but it’s the 40 Kfz 2.40 Radio Car and can be found under Gallery of Photo Collection, Military Vehicles, Germany, Preserved German WW2. Next photo shows a nice column of German vehicles and the Zundapp 750 motorcycle and sidecar combination at the front shows an unusual cover over the sidecar seating area, which would make a simple conversion for any model makers just starting. Now we have a couple of photos for our aircraft enthusiasts, starting with a 2 seat trainer Polikarpov I-16. Just look how small it is ! Next, is a shot down Illyushin IL-2 Sturmovik ground attack aircraft.
So whatever your interest, whether it be military vehicles, modelling, re-enactment, wargaming or just history in general, I hope you find something on Miliblog that makes you want to come back and have another look !
Cheerio !
Simon
Eastern Front Collection No 871
Eastern Front Collection No 875
Eastern Front Collection No 883
Eastern Front Collection No 885
Eastern Front Collection No 897
This is Volume 5 showing the next batch of 250 photographs from a collection of photos taken by many servicemen on the Eastern Front, also known as the Russian Front. Starting in 1941 with the German invasion of Russia with the sunshine and the dust, then going on through the hard winter months that the German forces were unprepared for. The Russians forces were well used to the cold climate and so were better placed for winter warfare. Then the advance turned into a long retreat with bitter fighting and heavy casualties leading to the Fall of Berlin in May 1945.
The collection features uniforms and vehicles from both sides of the conflict and many of the photos illustrate the harsh conditions and the reality of warfare, which must have been a horrific experience whichever side your were on. Again, we have to say that Miliblog is NOT a political website at all. There are many enthusiasts across the world interested in the equipment and uniforms of the Second World War. Many are serious model makers and may even find an idea for a model diorama or even for painting of model figures. The aim of Miliblog here is to bring together photographs for these students of history.
NEW THIS WEEK – MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2010
Hi there once again and welcome to what was new this week on Miliblog. Well we have some more additions to the Normandy 1944 and the Eastern Front Collections. So without hesitation, we’ll launch into our eleven samples this week, starting off in Normandy.
A nice photo of a GMC 6×6 loaded with GI’s being thrown some flowers by a liberated family. Next is a nice row of Pak 40 75mm anti-tank guns, which would be worth a fortune now. Following on we have a group of GI’s standing round a knocked-out Panther tank. Our next image features GI’s from the 2nd Armored Division, and since they look like infantry, maybe even from the 41st Armored Infantry Regiment. Next is a group of Canadian infantrymen relaxing around a piano-accordion and a nice motorcycle. The last Normandy photo is a very rare one taken of a GI in camouflage uniform, again probably from the 2nd Armored Division. A small number of armoured infantry units were issued with these camouflage uniforms particularly in the Bocage area of Normandy in June/July 1944. However after a number of tragic ‘friendly-fire’ incidents, they were quickly withdrawn since they looked too close to the uniforms worn by the opposing German forces, so quite a rare photo indeed.
Now we move onto the Eastern Front and our first photo shows a nice Tiger 1 tank in snow camouflage. Next is what remains of a Soviet T34 tank after being knocked-out. Following photo again illustrates that much of the German Army transport was horse-drawn, but this photo shows the type of lightweight bridge that was built by the German Army engineers, which is useful for our modelling friends. Next is a knocked-out Soviet BA-3 Armoured Car being inspected by German troops. And finally is a nice photo showing a river crossing with a German 8 wheeled armoured car being driven across a bridge.
So I hope you have a great week and we will be back soon with more updates and more news.
Cheerio !
Simon
Normandy 1944 Collection No 591
Normandy 1944 Collection No 609
Normandy 1944 Collection No 617
Normandy 1944 Collection No 629
Normandy 1944 Collection No 675
Normandy 1944 Collection No 677
Eastern Front Collection No 751
Eastern Front Collection No 770
Eastern Front Collection No 843
Eastern Front Collection No 844
Eastern Front Collection No 856
1st Queen’s Dragoon Guards Museum, Cardiff (02920-781213)
9th/12th Royal Lancers & Derbyshire Yeomanry Museum, Derby (01332-716656)
Ashdown Camp, Eveham. LINK TO WEBSITE
A fanatstic website featuring the Area’s HQ of the South Midlands MVT at Ashdown Camp. Set in 40 Acres in the Vale of Evesham, the camp has amongst other items 7 wartime Nissen Huts, including one set up as a barracks with beds etc that is very popular with the re-enactors. A guardhut and a number of air-raid shelters are also on the site. Look out for the Show there on June 26/27, 2010, where last year 250 vehicles attended.
NEW THIS WEEK – MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2010
Hi there and welcome to what’s new on Miliblog this week.
Again we’ve been very busy on the scanner and so this is another catch up week ! Over 200 photos have been added to both our Normandy 1944 Collection and the Eastern Front Collection. We’ve added some samples below again to tempt you to have a look at these lovely galleries.
So straight into our samples, starting with Normandy. The first one shows a nice colour photo of a jeep and a Dodge Weapons Carrier driving through a liberated town, that appears to have almost returned to normal. Next we have a Stuart Light Tank driving through a village. Note the added sandbags on the front of the hull for extra protection against German Panzerfausts. Following on we have another Dodge Weapons Carrier that looks like a near miss from enemy action. A column of GMC 6×6 trucks are next showing how hot and dusty the Summer of 1944 was. If you own a VW Kubelwagen and found US Army Olive Drab paint when you renervated it, now you know why ! Now under new ownership, the photo should say.
We now move onto the Eastern Front and a staff car having it’s markings attached. Interesting to see it was done with a wooden ruler ! Next we see the fate of a British Matilda Tank that had been sent to the Soviets as Foreign Aid, well and truly flipped over on it’s back ! A Stug IV is next, with it’s hog’s head gun mantle shown driving at speed with support troops on board. Following on we can see the mud that both sides had to endure in this campaign. Here we see an SdKfz 250 Half Track trying to pull a Horch 1A Field Car out of the muck. Finally we have another, if not the same vehicle with the driver asking the photographer for a push out. Note all the horses in the background, which of course were used extensively by the German Army on the Eastern Front.
So I wish you all a very good week ahead and see you soon
Cheerio !
Simon
Normandy 1944 Collection No 515
Normandy 1944 Collection No 539
Normandy 1944 Collection No 560
Normandy 1944 Collection No 566
Normandy 1944 Collection No 567
Eastern Front Collection No 606
Eastern Front Collection No 625
Eastern Front Collection No 653
Eastern Front Collection No 678
Eastern Front Collection No 739
NEW THIS WEEK – MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2010
Hi again and welcome to this week’s look at what’s new on Miliblog this week.
Well after the excitement last week of more vehicles it’s been back to the scanning box and more for the Normandy 1944 Collection. This week sees an additional 140 photos bringing the total in the Collection to 500 ! I’ve included 10 samples below for you to see.
We have received an email this week from Peter in Stuttgart who has enjoyed the Eastern Front Collection and asks if there are any more photos to post on the website. Well for Peter, we have a added a further 90 photos this week.
So I won’t stop chatting this week but will get back to work in finding you some more interesting photos to see. Have a great week !
Cheerio !
Simon
Normandy 1944 Collection No 390
Normandy 1944 Collection No 391
Normandy 1944 Collection No 392
Normandy 1944 Collection No 412
Normandy 1944 Collection No 425
Normandy 1944 Collection No 454
Normandy 1944 Collection No 461
Normandy 1944 Collection No 488
Normandy 1944 Collection No 497
Normandy 1944 Collection No 498
NEW THIS WEEK – MONDAY 11 JANUARY 2010
Hi and welcome to another catch up of what was new on Miliblog this week !
Well we fancied a break from the Normandy and Eastern Front Collections, so I have added some more preserved vehicle photos at last ! As usual, I’ve shown some samples below to whet your appetite !
For the modellers amongst us, there’s a nice photo of an AEC Militant Mk3 Breakdown showing all the crane and equipment on the back of the vehicle. I believe Accurate Armour have a lovely model available of this Militant and this should help any of you that are building that kit. Next we have another British postwar heavy, in the form of a Scammell Constructor 20 Ton 6×6 Tractor in RAF colours and owned by a member of the Norfolk Military Vehicle Group.
Next we have a rare US Army 1941 Ford 2G8T 1.5 Ton 4×2 Cargo, which is even more unusual as it was taken here in the UK. Some years ago I worked for a catering company based in Stafford, and driving to work each morning I used to see many RAF vehicles driving away all loaded up from RAF Stafford. If only I had been able to stop and take some photos ! Amongst them were about 6 Leyland Daf 50-160 4×2 Trucks, one being 10 KL 44, which I have shown below. Often going home at night I would see them heading home to the camp to be loaded overnight for the next day’s journey.
Now something for our aircraft enthusiasts ! It’s a Vulcan V-Bomber, number XH-538 in fact. If you’ve ever seen and especially heard one of these beautiful aircraft, you are very lucky indeed. If you appreciate British engineering at it’s height -pardon the pun – and when good old Great Britain actually made something, then you cannot help looking in awe at this marvellous aircraft. Our V-Bomber collection is growing and if you have a look in the Aircraft/British Aircraft/Post war to 1970′s/V-Bomber photo gallery you can see some more examples.
Next to show that Miliblog doesn’t just start with World War 2, we have a nice WW1 Wolseley GS Lorry. It’s quite an old photo and looks like it’s taken in Brighton, probably after completing the London-Brighton Commercial Vehicle Run. Does anyone know if it is still around ?
Finally, I couldn’t resist of slipping in two more from the Normandy Collection. The first is of a Red Ball Express convoy of gasoline tankers with a watchful MP and the other is a camp of captured war booty in the form of German tanks. How much would they be worth now ? I’m sure Kevin Wheatcroft would be interested to add to his fantastic collection !!!
So my fellow enthusiasts, back to my trusty scanner and some more for your enjoyment !
Cheerio !
Simon
AEC 0870 Militant Mk3 10Ton Recovery (88 ET 04)
Scammell Constructor 20Ton 6x6 Tractor (PSJ 815)
Ford 2G8T 1.5Ton 4x2 Cargo (JKP 616)
Leyland Daf 50-160 4x2 Truck (10 KL 44)
Avro Vulcan Bomber (XH-538)
Wolseley WW1 General Service Truck (LE 5470)
Normandy 1944 Collection No 335
Normandy 1944 Collection No 336
