Hitler Inspects the Panzerjäger Ferdinand

 

On 18-19 March 1943 Hitler paid a visit to the city of Rügenwalde / Pommern (Germany) to see a demonstration of the latest Nazi war machines, mainly the largest cannon in the world at that time, the Eisenbahngeschütz "Dora", which had a caliber of 800mm and which was previously used in the bombing of the Soviet Naval Base at Sebastopol. This photo by Walter Frentz shows the Führer examining the Panzerjäger Tiger (P) "Ferdinand", a heavy tank hunter whose chassis was taken from the Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger. The name itself is taken from the name of the designer, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche. For the identification, from left to right: Adolf Hitler (Führer und Reichskanzler), SS-Oberführer Prof. Dr.-Ing. e.h. mult. Ferdinand Porsche (Vorsitzender der Panzerkommission), General der Artillerie Emil Leeb (Chef Heereswaffenamt im Oberkommando des Heeres), Generalleutnant Walter Buhle (Chef vom Heeresstab im Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), Generalmajor Hugo Beißwänger (General beim Chef der Heeresrüstung), Prof.Dr.-Ing.Albert Speer (back to the camera, Reichsminister für Rüstung und Kriegsproduktion), and General der Artillerie Alfred Jodl (Chef Wehrmacht-Führungsamt).

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2014/05/album-foto-berwarna-adolf-hitler.html

The USS Midway (CVB-41) Launching

The USS Midway (CVB-41) is launched on March 20, 1945, in Newport News, Virginia. Midway was laid down 27 October 1943 in Shipway 11 at Newport News Shipbuilding Co., Newport News, Virginia; launched 20 March 1945, sponsored by Mrs. Bradford William Ripley, Jr.; and commissioned on 10 September 1945 (eight days after the Surrender of Japan) with Captain Joseph F. Bolger in command. Midway was the largest ship in the world until 1955, as well as the first U.S. aircraft carrier too big to transit the Panama Canal. She operated for 47 years, during which time she saw action in the Vietnam War and served as the Persian Gulf flagship in 1991's Operation Desert Storm. Decommissioned in 1992, she is now a museum ship at the USS Midway Museum, in San Diego, California, and is the only remaining inactive U.S. aircraft carrier that is not an Essex-class aircraft carrier.

Source :
National Archives and Records Administration 80-G-K-3515
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
https://www.flickr.com/photos/airandspace/albums/72157715574200936

Finnish Soldiers Displaying a Map of the Soviet Union Captured at the Porlampi Motti

Finnish Soldiers displaying a map of the Soviet Union captured at the Porlampi motti, autumn of 1941. In the background is a T-37A amphibious tank. Here some 7,000 Soviet soldiers died and 9,000 was captured, including Major General Vladimir Kirpitsnikov. Almost 12,000 soldiers managed to escape before the encirclement was complete, but all the heavy equipment was behind. Finns captured 360 cannons, 246 mortars, 272 machineguns, 55 tanks, 673 cars and trucks, 300 tractors and some 4500 horses.

Source :

 Book "Finland at War: The Continuation and Lapland Wars 1941-45" by Vesa Nenye, Peter Munter, Toni Wirtanen and Chris Birks 

http://www.ww2incolor.com/finnish_forces/Porlammi-Sommee_encirclement_1941.html

Early Model Jagdpanzer IV at Aberdeen Ordinance Museum

Jagdpanzer (Hunting Tank) IV (Sd.Kfz.162) armed with a 75mm (3 inch) L/48 gun. Also designed as Sturmgeschütz (assault gun) neuer Art (new design) mit (with) 7.5cm PaK L/48 auf Fahrgestell (based on chassis) Panzerkampfwagen IV. This is an early production vehicle because it has four return rollers; later Jagdpanzer IVs only had three. This "short" version of the Jagdpanzer IV is missing its muzzle brake, which dampened recoil and gun rising during discharge. The muzzle brake was found to give away the Jagdpanzer IV's position, and many crews had already removed them in the field. In May 1944, Jagdpanzer IVs were made without a muzzle brake. An updated version of the Jagdpanzer IV mounted heavier armor and a longer L/70 gun. This example was either captured in Italy or Normandy and shipped to the Ordinance Museum for testing. It was scrapped as part of an unfortunate consolidation during the Korean War. Aberdeen has an L/70 version that survived the cutter's torch

Source:
http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii0070

Jagdpanther Tank Destroyer at Aberdeen Ordinance Museum

A Panzerjäger (tank destroyer) V Jagdpanther Sd.Kfz.173 at United States Army Ordinance Museum in Aberdeen, Maryland after World War II. This Jagdpanther, hull number 303018, was a late model manufactured by Maschinenfabrik-Niedersachsen-Hannover (MNH) in late November or early December 1944

Source:
http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii0067

Hummel at the United States Army Ordnance Museum

Panzerfeldhaubitze (Armored Field Howitzer) 18M auf Geschützwagen (Self-Propelled Artillery) III/IV (Sf) "Hummel" (Bumble Bee) Sd.Kfz.165 at the United States Army Ordnance Museum after World War II. This Hummel was one of 118 sent to France to oppose the Normandy landings. Note the armor plate covering the side exhaust grilles and the added forward armored compartment for the driver and radio operator; this indicates a late model Hummel from late 1944

Source:
http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii0064

Captured Panzerjäger Ferdinand Elephant at Aberdeen

Captured Panzerjäger (tank destroyer) Tiger (P) - Ferdinand Elephant (SdKfz 184) also known as Tiger-Sturmgeschütz mit 8.8cm PaK 43/2 seen postwar at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. Note the open hatch, which let water into the vehicle. 

Source:
http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii0059