Ju 87 D (Dora) is another version of this popular dive bomber. Despite the weak armor and less sufficient performance, the Stukas were still produced due to the lack of a successor. However, the plane underwent some modifications that allowed it to be used for a variety of tasks. Ju 87 D had a more efficient water and oil cooling system, a more aerodynamic fuselage and modified crew cabin that was more spacious and better thought out. Dora was driven by one of the two Junkers’ engines: Jumo 211 J-1 with 1420 hp or Jumo 211 P with 1500 hp. Fuel tanks were increased up to the capacity of 1370 l, which allowed to achieve an average flight length of 2 hours and 15 minutes. In the case of using external drop-tanks, the flight time increased to 4 hours. In relation to the Ju 87 B version D could carry much bigger load of bombs. It was a jump from 500 to about 1200 kg of bombs, and with minimum amount of fuel and for short-distance missions, the aircraft could carry up as much as 1800 kg of bombs. Individual variants – from D-1 to D-4 – differed in the used armor and equipment: D-2 – was planned for tropical operations, D-3 – was planned for night (D-3 N) or tropical missions (D-3/trop), D-4 – torpedo-bomber version.

Messerschmitt Bf 109 F (Friedrich) is one of the most important versions of this famous fighter. It was powered by the same engine (DB 601E) as the preceding Bf 109 E (Emil), but the airframe design differed significantly compared to its predecessor. The plane gained a more aerodynamic profile due to the new engine cowling (the engine had its own starter, which resulted in the extension of the unit), a new, rounder propeller hub and rounded wing tips. In addition, supports were removed under horizontal stabilizers. Bf 109 F had its first flight on January 26, 1939. Two prototypes were built. Two machines in version Bf 109 D were also rebuilt for testing the new engine installations. Friedrich had new under-wing radiators, which were twice as wide and lower than those used in the previous version of the aircraft. They were equipped with a two-part flap regulating the air supply. The prolonged tests and new requirements on the fighter’s armament delayed the implementation of Bf 109 F for series production. The Messerschmitt company had signed a contract with the Reich Ministry of Aviation, which specified the requirements for two variants of the fighter’s weaponry: a light variant with MG151/15 in the fuselage and a heavy variant with MG FF/M in the fuselage.

Junkers Ju 88 was one of the most universal aircrafts taking part in the Second World War. It was designed as a fast bomber and it worked perfectly well in this role, especially during low-level airstrikes and shallow diving attacks. It could also be the night fighter, torpedo bomber and reconnaissance aircraft. The heavy fighter and fighter-bomber version of the Ju 88 was marked as variant C. The aircraft was designed to have strong offensive armament and be able to carry a certain bomb load, as in version A. The Ju 88 C had a solid nose which was adapted for the installation of machine guns and cannons. Usually the weaponry consisted of one MG FF cal. 20 mm cannon and three MG 17 machine guns cal. 7.92 mm. The characteristic gondola under the nasal section of the fuselage was originally kept, but in some units it was dismounted to reduce the airframe’s weight and air resistance, thus increasing the aircraft’s performance. Eventually the Ju 88 C evolved to the night fighter and gained the most popularity in this role.

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was without doubts one of the most important airplanes in the history of aviation and since the beginning its history was linked to Spain. Only a few months since the maiden flight, three prototypes were sent to Spain to be tested during the Spanish Civil War and shortly after Spain bought E and F series. When Spain acquired the manufacturing under license of the Bf 109 G-2 began the history of the Messerschmitt Bf 109s made in Spain, which gave rise to two aircraft such as the HA-1109 and the HA-1112, with several subtypes. These aircraft manufactured in Spain enlarged the Bf 109 life about 20 years since the end of World War 2 because continued in active service until 1965 coexisting with the 2nd and the 3rd generation jet. Fortunately even today some of the HA-1112s fly majestic as worthy descendants of the great aircraft that was and always will be the Messerschmitt Bf 109. In this text we will remember the amazing history of these made in Spain aircraft.

The introduction into British army service of the Challenger2 Main Battle Tank (MBT) was originally intended to take a mere eighteen months from design to production, but in the event, it took something closer to ten years. Why this was so is an important part of the Challenger 2 story, and although on the face of it this might seem to be a clear failure, it actually produced the most thoroughly tested and reliable tank ever to enter service with the Royal Armoured Corps (RAC). The tank has now been in service for twenty years and can be expected to form part of the British army’s inventory – albeit in low numbers – until around 2035, which would make it the longestserving frontline battle tank ever used by the UK.

Although built in fewer numbers than the PZL P.11, the PZL P.24 was for a period during the 1930’s the fastest and most heavily armed single-seat fighter in the world. Having acquired early notoriety at the Paris Salon with their innovative wing design, the P.24 represented the ultimate development of the family of fighter planes designed by Zygmunt Pulawski and saw service in the air forces of four countries: Bulgaria, Greece, Romania and Turkey.

HMS Rodney and HMS Nelson were the only battleships of the Nelson class. HMS Rodney was built at Birkenhead Shipyards. She was launched on 28 December 1922, took the sea on 17 December 1925 and was commissioned in November 1927, three months behind Nelson. Her name was received in honor of Admiral Sir George Brydges Rodney. She fought her entire career under the motto of “Non generant aquilae columbas” (“Eagles do not breed doves”).The engineers found the perfect balance between size, armoring and armament, paying attention to achievable speeds. Her design was particular because the ship housed all the main armament towers at the bow, instead of having them distributed in the bow and stern, as it was then in use.They had a displacement that did not exceed 35,000 tons, respecting the Washington Treaty of 1922, Rodney and Nelson were two of the most powerful battleships then existing, until the new generation of all big gun ships was launched in 1936. HMS Rodney and HMS Nelson were the only British battleships to have trimmed towers, the only ones to carry 406 mm (16 inch) guns, and the liquid-loaded bulkheads under the waterline.

The Gloster Gladiator was the very last biplane fighter to enter service with the RAF. Yet, despite being one of the fastest biplanes ever built, it was already obsolete upon its introduction to service in January 1937. Nonetheless, in the first eighteen months of WW2, it garnered many combat plaudits in the skies over the frozen Arctic, the sun-kissed Mediterranean, and the arid deserts of Africa. In Britain, it provided crucial defense of the RN Fleet anchored at Scapa Flow, and was among the first aircraft sent to France to aid the BEF. Adopted early-on by the FAA and renamed Sea Gladiator, for a time this navalized version represented the nearest thing the service had to a modern fighter as it struggled toward parity with its Axis opponents.This book tells the complete story. The text covers not only the type’s remarkable operational history, but also that of Gloster’s journey to its production. Also examined are the Gladiator’s design and construction, and its subsequent technical development. Second-line duties and service with foreign air forces are also briefly covered. Supporting lavish artwork and 3-D exploded views vividly bring the aircraft to life, making it an ideal reference work for the modeler.

Petropavlovsk was part of the seven-ship unit of the Nikolaev type (project 1134B Berkut), which was a gas-turbine alternative design to the units of the project 1134A. They were classified as large ASW (anti-submarine warfare), although they matched cruisers in size. The primary task of these ships was to search and destroy nuclear submarines in the oceanic zone, in particular, strategic missile submarines. Due to the requirement of high autonomy and long cruising range, the ships were equipped with a new type of engine in the COGOG (Combined gas or gas) system. It was comprised of two gas turbine units driving two separate shaft lines. Each of the two units consisted of two peak power turbines (20 000 HP each) with a one-speed reduction gear and one sustained turbine (5000 HP) with a two-speed reduction gear. The advantage of the gas turbine was its shorter activation time and greater acceleration. It was also assumed that it would be smaller and more economical than the traditional steam turbine. In fact, it turned out to be a complicated and expensive construction, and, more importantly, quite unreliable.

The decision to start the production of the Curtiss P-40 fighter was made primarily due to the relatively low airframe price and the possibility of launching it almost immediately (based on Curtiss P-36s ready fuselages). The P-40 did not have a turbocharger, but despite this the requirements were constantly increasing, especially when it comes to the maximum speed. It was requested to raise it by over 100 km/h (up to 580 km/h). It required a number of construction changes e.g. new exhaust pipes, new shape and size of the air intake to the carburetor at the top of the engine cover, moving forward the coolers under the nose. After the tests in the NACA wind tunnel it turned out that these changes were not enough. The plane underwent further aerodynamic refinements, using, among others, smooth riveting and retractable tail ring. In the end, the speed was 589 km/h at 4570 m, which gave the green light for serial production.

Publication for maritime enthusiasts. Each book is a set of articles particularly interesting for those who find warships fascinating. The book is amply illustrated with photos, coloured ship profiles and 3D visualisations. Additionally, each number contains a pair of 3D glasses, which allow a reader to admire stereoscopic anaglyphs of chosen vessels.The “Hollands” From Vancouver. Story of the AG type submarines in the Russian and Soviet NavyItalian Submarines In The Red Sea 1940–1941Super-destroyers Of The Sovremenny Type

Continuing with the study of the lesser known Air Forces that fought in the skies of Europe during World War II, in this book we want to remember the Spanish Air Force and how it defended the Spanish skies from several Air Forces that took part in the war. Besides we can read about the Blue Squadrons that fought against the Soviet Air Force in the Eastern Front in spite of the Spanish neutrality. We have written a text that will show us the bravery and courage of these men, in a difficult balance between the Allies and the Axis that allowed to General Franco continue in his position as chief of the Spanish state after the World War 2. We want to compile in a didactic way but without academic intention, the information about this topic from various main sources such as Juan Arráez Cerdá, José Luis González Serrano, Carlos Caballero, Francisco Martínez Canales or Jorge Fernández-Coppel, trying to focus on the Spanish Air Force actions during the world conflict defending the Spanish neutrality and in the Blue Squadrons actions against the USSR. Finally as is required we use this work to pay tribute to all the members of the Spanish Air Force that fought for their country during the difficult years of World War II.

HMS Badsworth (L03) was one of eighty-six British Hunt-class escort destroyers. The class would eventually comprise four separate types built between 1939 and 1943. Design work on the class began in 1938. The Admiralty wanted to create warships optimized for convoy escort duties and patrolling. Since there was a huge demand for such vessels in the fleet, their cost was to be the deciding factor. A decision was made to design ships which would be smaller and slower than an average destroyer. In conjunction with their overall simple design this was to allow for rapid mass-scale production. The design was based on the Black Swan-class sloop, but the new destroyers were to be faster and better armed.

Petlakov Pe-2 (Peshka) is the best-known twin-engine light bomber of Soviet aviation in World War II. The plane was susceptible to structural changes, which allowed it to be used as a heavy fighter (also night), a dive bomber or a long reconnaissance plane.Vladimir Petlakov constructed the Pe-2 in prison, where he got in 1937 for allegedly delaying the works on the ANT-42 Tupolev bomber. Petlakow, while serving the sentence, was appointed the head of the constructors' group, which was to create a fast and durable machine that could freely escort the ANT-42. That is how the VI-100 was made. It was a quite advanced plane for its time (the first flight took place on December 22, 1939). It was a fully metal construction. The machine was equipped with a pressurised cockpit, turbochargers and many advanced electronic systems.

A captivating story of German submarines that fled to Argentina on the eve of the Third Reich’s capitulation, unwilling to surrender to the Allies. The authors of the book discovered numerous unpublished documents in England, Argentina, Germany and the USA. They debunk myths and expose lies concerning the escapes of the German Nazis and the transportation of large amounts of treasure, mainly gold, as well as documentation of the most valuable military projects of the German Reich, which were supposed to turn the tide of the war. The book uses documents from interrogations of the U-Boot commanders who were sent to a special POW camp near Washington for prisoners of exceptional importance.