War Movie Buffs

[Jim Rockford]

Edit : I forgot Catch 22, terrific film and book.

Couldn't agree more! I love both so much I named my dog Yossarian.

 

[Matua]

Couldn't agree more! I love both so much I named my dog Yossarian.

I have never seen the movie because I absolutely hate the book, hate it. It's just not for me.

I only read it all the way through because my girlfriend at the time loved it.We split not long after ....

Anyway, has Guns of Navarrone been mentioned on the thread? Used to watch that with my Dad on video when I was a kid, so it brings back good memories.

 

[Captain Apollo]

Interesting to hear the bomb depicted was inaccurate. I always found that to be the most fascinating part of the movie. I'll have to go and do some research on it now.

It was not completely inaccurate. It was skipped. However it was more cylindrical in shape than ball like, as depicted in the movie. This is what it looked like -

 

[Parra]

I have never seen the movie because I absolutely hate the book, hate it. It's just not for me.

I only read it all the way through because my girlfriend at the time loved it.We split not long after ....

Anyway, has Guns of Navarrone been mentioned on the thread? Used to watch that with my Dad on video when I was a kid, so it brings back good memories.

With you in this. I find the book very funny and spot on satirical and I never bother to finish reading it. Unusual for me, usually I will plow through.

 

[soc123_au]

I have never seen the movie because I absolutely hate the book, hate it. It's just not for me.

I only read it all the way through because my girlfriend at the time loved it.We split not long after ....

Anyway, has Guns of Navarrone been mentioned on the thread? Used to watch that with my Dad on video when I was a kid, so it brings back good memories.

Guns of Navarone is one of those movies that is good no matter how many times you have seen it. I like the scene in the boat where Gregory Pecks cigarette keeps changing. lol.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Guns of Navarone
The Great Escape
The Big Red 1
Battle of the Bulge
The Longest Day
Battle of Britain
A Bridge Too Far

 

[Captain Apollo]

It was not completely inaccurate. It was skipped. However it was more cylindrical in shape than ball like, as depicted in the movie. This is what it looked like -

Actually I did some further research. The picture in my above post was one of the test stores that was used and not the "finished" weapon they used. Below is a picture of what the final weapon, known as "Upkeep" looked like -

 

[Jim Rockford]

Thanks for that Cap, very interesting!

 

[Mark B]

I remember way back when the Osborne’s had their reality show on. Sharon was whinging that all Ozzie did was sit around and watch docos on WW2. These days I absolutely enjoy watching these same type of docos and broadening my knowledge of how clever the scientists on both sides of the lines were during the war. Thanks for sharing CA.

 

[Captain Apollo]

I remember way back when the Osborne’s had their reality show on. Sharon was whinging that all Ozzie did was sit around and watch docos on WW2. These days I absolutely enjoy watching these same type of docos and broadening my knowledge of how clever the scientists on both sides of the lines were during the war. Thanks for sharing CA.

Barnes Wallis' original ideas for destroying the dams was an "earthquake bomb" but he could not iron out the kinks in his theories so he went with the bouncing mine which became known as Upkeep.

After Operation Chastise, Wallis was able to perfect his earthquake bomb theories into actual design and production which became known as "Tallboy" (which was a 6,000 lb bomb) and "Grand Slam" (which was 10 tonnes). Those two bombs, which were deep penetration earthquake bombs, were used against V2 launch sites, submarine pens and other large civil structures like bridges.

It was also used against the battleship Tirpitz (which was one of the targets that what became Upkeep was designed to attack - the naval version was known as "Highball" and was supposed to be dropped from a Mosquito but Wallis nor the Navy could get Highball to work). The Navy was Wallis' biggest supporter in developing the bouncing mine, even when parts of the RAF were not, the Navy kept the project going.

 

[Mark B]

Barnes Wallis' original ideas for destroying the dams was an "earthquake bomb" but he could not iron out the kinks in his theories so he went with the bouncing mine which became known as Upkeep.

After Operation Chastise, Wallis was able to perfect his earthquake bomb theories into actual design and production which became known as "Tallboy" (which was a 6,000 lb bomb) and "Grand Slam" (which was 10 tonnes). Those two bombs, which were deep penetration earthquake bombs, were used against V2 launch sites, submarine pens and other large civil structures like bridges.

It was also used against the battleship Tirpitz (which was one of the targets that what became Upkeep was designed to attack - the naval version was known as "Highball" and was supposed to be dropped from a Mosquito but Wallis nor the Navy could get Highball to work). The Navy was Wallis' biggest supporter in developing the bouncing mine, even when parts of the RAF were not, the Navy kept the project going.

The amount of ideas and inventions that were accepted by one of the forces after being declined by another ie army v navy is a very interesting part of history. Then you had AH absolutely meddling in everything in Germany from tactics to weapons. The Germans came up with the MG44, the grandfather of all assault rifles. The story goes that Hitler did not want them to be issued to all his ground forces due to them not looking military and professional like the still very good but bolt action Mauser rifles. I can’t remember the name of the US general, may have been MacArthur who said that their M1 Garand the 30/30 semi auto rifle with a ten round stripper fed clip was one of their main weapons that won the war. Hitler had a better version with 30 round banana shaped mags and refused to mass issue them.

 

[Captain Apollo]

The amount of ideas and inventions that were accepted by one of the forces after being declined by another ie army v navy is a very interesting part of history. Then you had AH absolutely meddling in everything in Germany from tactics to weapons. The Germans came up with the MG44, the grandfather of all assault rifles. The story goes that Hitler did not want them to be issued to all his ground forces due to them not looking military and professional like the still very good but bolt action Mauser rifles. I can’t remember the name of the US general, may have been MacArthur who said that their M1 Garand the 30/30 semi auto rifle with a ten round stripper fed clip was one of their main weapons that won the war. Hitler had a better version with 30 round banana shaped mags and refused to mass issue them.

The Germans invented jet planes during WW2 but Hitler only wanted them as bombers, so he would not press jet fighter planes into production.

 

[Jim Rockford]

The Germans invented jet planes during WW2 but Hitler only wanted them as bombers, so he would not press jet fighter planes into production.

You have to wonder if it wasn't for Hitlers hubris how the war may well have had a different outcome.

 

[Mark B]

You have to wonder if it wasn't for Hitlers hubris how the war may well have had a different outcome.

Absolutely Jim. Luckily he was out of his league when it came to the crunch. Not to mention was both an opioid and amphetamine addict towards the end!

 

[soc123_au]

The amount of ideas and inventions that were accepted by one of the forces after being declined by another ie army v navy is a very interesting part of history. Then you had AH absolutely meddling in everything in Germany from tactics to weapons. The Germans came up with the MG44, the grandfather of all assault rifles. The story goes that Hitler did not want them to be issued to all his ground forces due to them not looking military and professional like the still very good but bolt action Mauser rifles. I can’t remember the name of the US general, may have been MacArthur who said that their M1 Garand the 30/30 semi auto rifle with a ten round stripper fed clip was one of their main weapons that won the war. Hitler had a better version with 30 round banana shaped mags and refused to mass issue them.

The MG44 is a thing of beauty. You can see where Kalashnikov got his inspiration. The M1 was a toy in comparison. I'd love to get my hands on one for an hour or so, it's one of the few well known 20th century assault rifles I've never gotten to fire.

 

[soc123_au]

The Germans invented jet planes during WW2 but Hitler only wanted them as bombers, so he would not press jet fighter planes into production.

The ME262 was a formidable fighter. It was a fighter bomber, but as a pure fighter it was streets ahead of anything we had to throw against it. If they had of been able to mass produce it & have the pilots to fly it we would have been in some serious shit.

 

[Matua]

The ME262 was a formidable fighter. It was a fighter bomber, but as a pure fighter it was streets ahead of anything we had to throw against it. If they had of been able to mass produce it & have the pilots to fly it we would have been in some serious shit.

Not sure if that is strictly true, lots were getting shot down when they attacked bomber formations, and if the war had continued the Allies would have pumped out more Meteors which were slower but more reliable.

But like with anything though the Nazis were hopeless at mass production.

 

[Mark B]

The MG44 is a thing of beauty. You can see where Kalashnikov got his inspiration. The M1 was a toy in comparison. I'd love to get my hands on one for an hour or so, it's one of the few well known 20th century assault rifles I've never gotten to fire.

Have done a few trips to Vegas over the years. Last time was 2019 before the world got poisoned by the CCP. Have never betted a dime gambling but have shot many an assault rifle/ machine gun when there. In 2019 went about 50 mile out of Vegas to an out door range. Chose the usual, M4, SAW and the Barrett 50 cal along with a few others. Prior to that had used the indoor ranges there. Pretty sure they offer the MG44 at most of the ranges, but it’s not the real deal from WW 2 due to them being rare and expensive, just reproductions. Funny thing is that a few have been turning up in old stock piles in the current troubles in the Middle East. Whether they are German versions or copies made under license well after WW 2 is unknown. Best machine gun by miles I have shot is the MP5. Old by today’s standards, but a smooth and accurate firearm to fire. The Germans can make a firearm!

 

[Mark B]

Not sure if that is strictly true, lots were getting shot down when they attacked bomber formations, and if the war had continued the Allies would have pumped out more Meteors which were slower but more reliable.

But like with anything though the Nazis were hopeless at mass production.

Always think of the Sherman Tank. The Tigers were better but over complicated and not easy to put together. The Shermans just churned off the production line by the thousands just like the Soviets T34.

 

[soc123_au]

Have done a few trips to Vegas over the years. Last time was 2019 before the world got poisoned by the CCP. Have never betted a dime gambling but have shot many an assault rifle/ machine gun when there. In 2019 went about 50 mile out of Vegas to an out door range. Chose the usual, M4, SAW and the Barrett 50 cal along with a few others. Prior to that had used the indoor ranges there. Pretty sure they offer the MG44 at most of the ranges, but it’s not the real deal from WW 2 due to them being rare and expensive, just reproductions. Funny thing is that a few have been turning up in old stock piles in the current troubles in the Middle East. Whether they are German versions or copies made under license well after WW 2 is unknown. Best machine gun by miles I have shot is the MP5. Old by today’s standards, but a smooth and accurate firearm to fire. The Germans can make a firearm!

I've never been to the US, but I can imagine it's a wet dream for weapon enthusiasts. Most of my experience with assault rifles is from my time as a soldier. I also had a few pre Strathfield massacre, M1, M14 (piece of shit), SKK among others. They are long gone now and as pissed as I was when the laws changed I now think it was Howards finest hour. As fun as they are in sensible hands, in the wrong hands they are devastating. I shudder to think what the outcome of some of the massacres that happened in US could have been if they were carried out by someone with some decent training and half a brain.

What did you think of the 50? A bit like viagra? ha ha.