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Formerly Babra

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Posts posted by Formerly Babra

  1. Lucasta, when to France your man

    Returns his fourth time, hating war,

    Yet laughs as calmly as he can

    And flings an oath, but says no more,

    That is not courage, that’s not fear—

    Lucasta he’s a Fusilier,

    And his pride sends him here.

    Robert Graves.

  2. Actually, considering when it was made, The Tanks are coming has a credible mock-up of a Panther. It looks a little bit foolish, but at least they made the effort.

    I do recall seeing an East European film on the foreign language TV channel many years ago. I didn't understand a word of it, but the German armour in it was definitely real, including a Tiger! It was a very old film. Perhaps it was the one mentioned above in this thread. Of course I watched it anyway... smile.gif

  3. I believe "A" indicates a series (or variant), while "E" indicates an experimental rather than an unofficial modification.

    Thus we have say, an M4A3E8

    M4 (4th generation of tank)

    A3 (3rd variant)

    E8 (8th modification, in this case a horizontal volute spring suspension)

    Note that after official acceptance, the E designation is dropped and the vehicle becomes the M4A3-76(W)HVSS. It is the identical vehicle to the M4A3E8, but the former has been approved while the latter is still technically under test.

    76, of course, being the armament and W indicating wet ammo stowage.

    I'm curious, too, why vehicles such as the T26 Pershing (later the M26) were introduced into field service before officially being accepted.

    None of this, of course, answers the question of why there is an M60 machine gun and an M60 Tank...

  4. A "T" prefix indicates equipment submitted for government testing and approval.

    An "M" prefix indicates equipment accepted for government use.

    Why the numbers are so often similar (M1 Mortar, M1 Garand, &c) is a mystery to me, but I suspect that a new number series was commenced for each category of equipment.

    ------------------

    When I die I want to go peacefully, like my grandfather, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car

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