About

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90 thoughts on “About”

  1. Hi, Please contact me. I seek permission to use a picture from your site for my book on the USM1917 Enfield bayonets. Included is use of the .303 and .30-06 models, the former having been used in the Israeli War of Independence. You have a picture of the rifle used by the Haganah in 1947. Is it available for me to use? As I am within about 6 weeks of committing to print the book, I would especially appreciate if I can impose for a early reply? Thank you, Dan

    BTW – I would be happy tomcat your site in any way as the source.

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    • Hi Dan, I am a bit confused, the rifle in the pic is a German Karabiner 98k, and the British SMLE above it has no bayonet?

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      • Hello i am doing a project for the hudson river valley review and would love to know if i could have access to your sourced on the mothball fleet articles.

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      • Unfortunately I wrote that years ago and one hard drive ago, so I dont have all that anymore. Two things I remember using were a book called Warship Boneyards by Kit Bonner, and the Historic Naval Ships Association website which had a lot of the preservation manuals. Many of the pictures came from the navsource website. Wish I could be of more help, good luck with your project!

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      • Hello, I want to ask for your permission to use some pictures from your website. They are the Turkish Fw 190 ones. I want to use them for a book. Of course I would put your website as the source. Let me know.
        Regards.

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  3. Hello. Please note that Italy used SRCM hand grenades (“Red Devils”) of pre-WWII design at least up to the 1990s.
    And please would you add a page on the 1969 “Football War”?? Thanks

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  4. Hi, I’m a huge fan of your blog, and WWI history in general! I am also a WordPress dev, and I would like to talk to you, both about the page and about some WWII weapons and equipment I would love to see you delve into in future installments. Can you email me?

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  5. The most interesting blog I’ve seen in quite a while. Great research and well written articles.
    Since you mentioned Militaryphotos.net in some comments, what was your nick there? And are you on TheMess.net, its (spiritual) successor?

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    • I was cornfieldnavy on Militaryphotos; I am a member of TheMess too but it is not as interesting as it’s predecessor.

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      • I read your recent post on the difficulties you’re having with WordPress. I’m a WordPress developer, and I’d love to help you migrate this to a self-hosted site. Domain registration and hosting shouldn’t cost you more than about $50-75 USD a year, and you could keep this site and redirect it to the new one.

        You’d have total control and no problems with ads or any of that other stuff.

        I would be willing to do all this work pro Bono, as reading your work has given me a lot of enjoyment over the years. Email me if you’re interested.

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  6. That’s sad, but of course the photo content of the old forum isn’t there in the new one.

    Re your blog, I had an idea for an article recently:
    “Axis warships in postwar service”
    Could be split up in German, Italian and Japanese ships of course.

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  8. Hi, I’m interested in starting a blog/facebook page in a similar format as yours concerning modern African military history as I feel it is an underappreciated topic. Can you recommend any sort of strategies and sources for research, promotion and avoiding copyright issues?

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    • Hi there, that is an excellent idea. I also am interested in African militaries and agree that it’s very under-published. As far as copyright issues, the biggest thing is (obviously) avoiding direct plagarazation, and photos. For photos, I am careful to always attribute them if I know the source. I try to use public domain when possible. Under federal law, any photo, book, manual, drawing, blueprint, etc done by the government (including the military) is instantly public domain, so there is a wealth of it available. Images are not hard for their copyright owners to guard; there are computer programs which scan the web looking for matches to copyrighted photos so they will find them. As far as defensive copyright, you’d have to clearly state in a header page, etc that your work belongs to you, with your name. I decided not to because I knew people would steal my writing anyways, and sure enough I’ve already found parts of WWII After WWII copied onto wikipedia. Anyways for researching African military history, I know of a book series called Africa At War by Helion & Company publishing that covers the whole post-WWII period up into the collapse of Zaire at the end of the 1990s. There’s at least two dozen volumes and they are inexpensive. They are not exhaustively in-depth, but always a good start. Another resource I use is the SIPRI Arms Transfer Database which is online, free, and public-domain. You enter in a selected country, a selected time frame, and it lists all the weapons exports to that country in a spreadsheet. If you get your project up and running let me know, I’d like to subscribe.

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  9. Dear friend, great site you have here !
    A French friend publishing in CIBLES would like to contact you. His name is Julien (julienleveque78@yahoo.fr) about the Jungle carbine … would you mind contacting him directly ?
    Thanks
    Gus Gintz
    Mariginiup WA 6078
    Western Australia

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  10. I stumbled across this site while doing some online research and have been quietly going through the magazine quality articles since (about two days, now). Wonderful little site/project you’ve got going here. Part of the research I was doing, relating to a small alt-history monograph I’m putting together, was to find info on what happened to all the StuG IV (c. 1139 produced) and Jagdpanzer IV (c. 2000 produced) that must have survived the war. I realize that most would have ended up behind the Iron Curtain but a good number were also use against Allied forces in the European Theatre and should have been captured in Italy, France, the Low Countries and (West) Germany – for instance, some 135 JgPz IV/70’s took part in the 1944 Ardennes Offensive along side the much less numerous Jagdpanther, which also seems to have quickly disappeared. Any light you might be able to shed on the matter, or hint as to where I might find such info, would be appreciated.

    J.G. Shea
    Edmonton, Cda

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    • Almost all of the German tracked vehicles that survived the war were scrapped. Small batches were operated by Romania and Czechoslovakia for a short while (3-4 years) and France operated a unit called the Besnier squadron for a year or two.

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      • I suppose that the ready availability of all that surplus American equipment, either privately or through MAP, would make even the best German stuff, most of it well used, somewhat redundant. Seems odd that more Panthers and King Tigers didn’t end up in circulation but the only nations using ex-Wehrmacht equipment were those barred from acquiring US surplus – except for Turkey and France. Spain and Finland had bought new directly from the source while the Balkan states either had leftovers or, like Syria, were provided war-booty from the Soviets – though Spain, France and Czechoslovakia did produce their versions of some German aircraft.

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  11. Hey man! I’ve always been impressed with your site, extremely well done.
    I wanted to get in touch with you over your article about Western and Winfield Arms as a broker for the CIA in post WW2. I’d like to blog about it for The Firearm Blog, quote/link to you directly, in addition, use some of the photographs you have up. Our readers would really find your article fascinating!

    Please let me and I hope to be in touch!

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  12. Hi, I noticed you covered the field gear of the Bundeswehr and the Bundesgrenzschutz very thoroughly, or at least for the most part because I don’t know too much myself to criticize.

    One article I want to see would be WWII field gear worn by US and South Vietnamese troops in Vietnam, because a lot of iconic items from WW2 actually saw service throughout the entire war. This could be a very long, very thorough article and I’d be willing to help with at least what I know. I love your blog and it’s a lot of good reading.

    Ones that immediately come to mind (aside from weapons) would be Plywood Packboards, USMC Frogskin ponchos, M1941 Field Gear, M1944 Headnets and Camouflaged Frogskin Mosquito net helmet covers, BAR Belts, M1945 Suspenders, Canteen covers, Shovels, KA-BAR knives, Okinawa Jungle boots.. There’s certain time periods where items were phased out pretty early but some things just stuck around.

    Perhaps it could be broken up between Army, Marines, and ARVN forces because they did have distinctions.

    Let me know! I can hunt for pictures and sources!

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  13. I have some additional photos of WW2 artillery pieces in Afghanistan in 2009 plus a few other items (a 1942 Soviet mortar sight, etc.). Please send me an email and I’ll send them your way.

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  15. Dear Sir/Madam,

    We MW King Embroidery are manufacturing and exporting reproduction of WWI & WWII Militaria products, German & Nazi & All World Militaria, including Insignias, flags & banners, Metal made Insignias, & Leather-Canvas made combat equipment. We are also supplying our products to our clients for their Film and Reenactment purposes, our all business partner are very much satisfied from our economic prices, quality & timely scheduled deliveries of their respective orders.
    For further details and products review, you are requested to please visit our web page http://www.mwkingembroidery.com and see a lot of your interested products.

    Looking forward for a long term business partnership with your company.

    Waiting for your soonest reply.

    Profound Regards!
    Miss Rabia Busri (Export Director)

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    Tel. +92 52 4564707-3 / Fax. +92 52 4564704 / Mobil. +92-300-9629270
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    E. info@mwkingembroidery.com | info@kingsupersports.com
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    Skype: mwkingembroidery
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    LOGO

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  17. Hi, in the beginning, I have to thank you for those articles, you do such a grat job. I would like to use some informations from your article about Bearn, for master thesis about french aircraft carrier program, that Im writing. Please contact me. Best regards

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  18. Sir,

    I just wanted to say this is a fantastic blog; I’ve recommended it to as many of my military history friends as I possible can. I’ve learned a lot from the in-depth articles here. If you ever get the inkling to write a book, please post up about it, I’ll have my wallet out as fast as I can manage!

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  19. I am doing research on the Mukden Arsenal. Could you please provide a list of sources for your article? Especially interested in the small arms. Thanks for any assistance.

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    • Hi Robert. I wrote that a few years ago and don’t have my list of sources any longer. Nambu World had some information I recall, and Shotgun News (or, Firearms News as its known today now) also.

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  21. Hello. Just like most above I have to say that you’re doing an amazing job. Articles are in-depth and very detailed. Could I use some of the information (regarding post war use of MP44) as translation on one of our national firearms forum? Thank you

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  24. Perhaps you could write about the now increasing hobby of World War Two historical reenacters and the companies which supply them. Perhaps talk to the company’s ownership about the goods and items manufacturing.
    Here is one example:
    https://www.atthefront.com/

    Also the round-about Israeli aquisition of Czech(?) contract built Messerschitt Bf109s just after world War two for the fledgling Israel Air Force is a wild story in itself that would be good at your blog.

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  25. Dear Sir, I wish to contact the author of Cleaning up after WW11,1 July, 18/ 2020.
    jwh75. Can I please ask if you can forward my request to him and hopefully his contact. Many thanks in advance.
    Yours Ken Wright.

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  26. Hello-

    I am reaching out because I am currently writing a novel and am in need of a Vietnam era weapon (rifle) that shoots a caliber that is very specific and rare in the current day US, or would be easily identifiable as coming from a weapon of that war. It can be a WWII gun that matriculated to Vietnam, etc, but I am thinking perhaps something that is picked up as a souvenir of war (like many lugers were in WWII) and brought home. I have roughly started with the 7.92×33 mm Kurz and the STG44. I realize this gun may have been very limited in use in Vietnam, but it seems like it was there at some point, but it may also have been too present in other wars to immediately link it back to Vietnam. Perhaps I am way off base here which is why I am hoping you may be willing to offer some other ideas. It would be greatly appreciated.

    Thank you!

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    • The Viet Cong made pistols chambered in 6.5mm Arisaka, as there were more rounds of that caliber left behind in 1945 than rifles to shoot them. Otherwise I dont really know any one caliber specific to the conflict; most of it was either WWII (.30-06 Springfield, 8mm Mauser, etc) or Cold War like 7.62 NATO. The StG was also used in the middle east (the Algerian War and more today, the Syrian Civil War) and the Ogaden War in Africa but those conflicts had nothing to do with Vietnam. The “rarest” (from an American perspective) might be 8x50mm(R) Lebel which was a prewar French rifle cartridge. The South Vietnamese army used Berthier rifles (or at least still had some in inventory) until 1969.

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      • Any idea about doing a post on the French army’s brief use of German Panthers after the war? This was a stop gap measure until they sourced new equipment from USA/NATO sources.

        There was also pictures I saw one time of a Panther hull used as the base for a dockside crane in either England or France or western Europe. Not sure if this unit was ever recovered by restoration enthusiasts.

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    • That was an error on my part, they used Shermans, Stuarts, and I believe Chaffees (might be wrong there) but not Pattons.

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  28. Hi,

    Currently looking for photographs or descriptions or maybe even cargo lists (just dreaming) for USAID sponsored railway rolling stock and locomotives that were brought into Vietnam (Saigon port & Cam Ranh port) from 1963-1971 on several (mostly) Seatrain voyages.

    All together about 200 railcars & 48 GE locomotives.

    Been checking on Card & Core and came across the Card’s morning after photo from May 2, 1964 in Saigon that looks very similar to a photo with a locomotive in front.

    It is assumed that the locomotive was a part of the inbound cargo from the ship behind.

    https://www.shipsnostalgia.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,onerror=redirect,width=1920,height=1920,fit=scale-down/https://www.shipsnostalgia.com/attachments/usns-card-or-core-jpg.688260/

    Could it be the same ship ? Photos are not fantastic, but looks pretty much the same.
    Unfortunately the opposite bank is hidden behind containers and the photo is taken from a lower angle.

    Have you maybe come across have any ships bringing into Vietnam railcars & locomotives ?

    Would appreciate your opinion.

    also on:
    https://www.shipsnostalgia.com/threads/seatrains-railway-rolling-stock-cargo-into-vietnam-in-1963-1971.303824/

    Janez

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    • I actually looked into this when I was writing the article; if memory serves me the railway in South Vietnam was a different gauge than US standard? I dont have any pictures sorry.

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  29. So, any plans for a new blog, “AfghanWarAftertheAfghabWar.”

    Just asking. Have followed your blog for several years and am in awe of the research you’ve done.

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  30. Very interesting website with lots of interesting topics and very good research. I find the articles about post-WW2 use of German equipment particularly interesting.

    However, if I were to give you some constructive feedback:
    1. You use ”it’s” a lot as the possessive pronoun instead of the correct ”its.” That makes the text a bit difficult to understand at times, not to mention it looks very odd.
    2. Use metric units instead of Imperial, to the vast majority of people feet, lbs, yards etc mean nothing but meters, kilometers and kilograms are natural.
    3. There is no such thing as an M113 Gavin… The M113 has never been, is not and will never be called Gavin by anyone. It’s an internet myth originating from, I believe, one guy.

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  34. Hi. Love your blog. Do you ever write for other publications? I’m looking hard for both 1) places to guest post and 2) authors to write paid guest posts on my site. Hard to find people interested in this niche who can also write good content.
    http://www.milsurpia.com > Would love to hear from you. Sorry for blasting the comments, couldnt find an email.

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  35. Just want to say thank you for all your hard work on this blog. Some incredible generational knowledge here that I believe would otherwise eventually be lost. Well done!

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  36. Will you cover the four Kaibōkan that served in the Japan Coast Guard into the mid-1960? These were originally built late WWII to convoy escorts.

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  37. Why not do an article on the Football War or the P-51 Mustang in the Dominican Republic, A-26 Invader the Congo and Cuba Biafra or T-6 Texan post WII

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  39. Hi there! I am a Historical Researcher that is curretnly working on the M18s used in Yugoslavia after WW2. I saw that you have a very interesting article about that topic and I’d love to talk to you about them a bit more. To be specific: I have figured out it’s last location and parts of its history lost to time. If you could reply to this Comment or contact me at: herobudu.business@gmail.com , I’d be very happy to have a chat with you!

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  40. Hello! I am a law student and staff editor at the Journal of Business Law and Technology. I am writing an academic comment on the topic of lethal autonomous weapons. I am seeking any information regarding the friendly fire incident between the USS Jarrett and USS Missouri in 1991. I found your post on the Missouri in the Gulf very informative and was wondering if you have been able to locate any more documents about what precisely happened. I believe I have purported pictures of the damage that I found elsewhere.
    http://billgx.com/2019/10/autonomous-friendly-fire/

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    • Hi there, I wrote that some years ago so I dont still have a lot of the notes, I do recall some of it came from the US Navy’s official history of WWII and some from the USS Missouri veterans site. I have never seen those pictures before, that would be a remarkable find! Also as I side note my family had a Macintosh SE in the 1980s, its weird to see one in the battleship captain’s stateroom too. Sorry I couldnt be more help but that is a really interesting topic to explore. I cant think of any other live-combat use of the Phalanx off the top of my head.

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  41. Great blog, been reading it for a few years.

    Use of WWII weapons in Uruguay during operations against the urban terror campaign there in the 60’s-70’s might be of interest to some readers. Let me know if you’re interested I’d be happy to share images I’ve collected over the years

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  42. I’ve been reading your blog for years and share your fascination with long lived and unique uses of surviving WW2 equipment. Thank you for all these stories!

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  43. Do you have a Patreon or some way to fund your great research? Sorry but I’m new to WordPress and I can’t find anything. Thanks, Wm. 

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    • Thank you immensely but no I dont. I thought about it once and decided against it. I think that not everything should be money and also I would feel too tempted to “write to the market” instead of stuff that just is interesting to me. Thank you very much again though, much appreciated.

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  44. Hey dude, i am a historian from The Netherlands that’s currently researching Chinese firearms for my upcoming book ‘Collectors Guide to Chinese Firearms’

    I’ve found a few things that bring up some question marks when compared to your info (i.e. existance of 1950 dated Type-50 with a unique factory mark), Is there a way to contact you personally to discuss these findings?

    Thanks!
    K50m.copyright@gmail.com

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    • Hi there, I discarded all my notes on that topic last year (that topic has received 1000x more visits in the last 24 hours than since I wrote it) but I would suggest a book called Kangzhan, it covers from t he Sino-Japanese War through WWII and the civil war. The author is a former employee of Janes so he would know his stuff. Regarding that one particular Type 50, you would not believe how much time I wasted trying to research where it was made to no avail – so I hope you have better luck than me. In my state at gun shows there is a dealer who specilaizes in Chinese milsurp and he agreed that it is most likely a KDK assembled at a secondary production facility. He also added that he had seen a photo of that exact one (it was a Vietnam War bringback) before, but had seen none in person,

      I am sorry I couldnt be of more use, but I do wish you well and if there is any other specific question I will try my best to answer.

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      • As i am now writing my book, i noticed something. The 1950.10 type-50 you show in your article, its manufacturer marking looks to be an S with a Y through it. S Y.. ShenYang

        Could it be the Shenyang Dawn Arsenal mark? with the Star manufacturer mark possibly being a new Communist mark that was meant to replace the already existing Shenyang mark to differentiate themselves from previously made KMT firearms. So the star would be used up until Factory 626 was capable to produce their own parts which would be marked 626.

        This makes a lot of sense to me atleast, though i have no real evidence for it.

        It also seems the square wheel symbol, in which you find the SY, seems to be standard KMT logo. There is a different (yet unknown) manufacturer mark which has a bow and arrow in the same blocky wheel, this logo i’ve found on Type-24 Maxim’s and Type-24 Chiang Kai-Shek rifles.

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      • It is indeed Shenyand Dawn. When I wrote about Mukden Arsenal I put all the trademarks in that article.

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