F4F-3 Wildcat | French Protectorate Morocco 1942

F4F-3 Wildcat fighter, VF-9 US Navy Squadron, Operation Torch (French North Africa invasion), Nov. 1942

African Wildcat
US Navy F4F-3 "Wildcat" fighter of VF-9 Fighter Squadron engaged in first American European theater offensive Operation Torch : Nov. 1942 invasion of French North Africa.

1.48 1970s-era Monogram F4F model kit, painted upper navy grey and bottom gull sea grey.

Large yellow rings around US national insignia part of invasion marking for easy aerial recognition since majority of US servicemen were "green" and tended to shot at any aerial target before proper identification.

Success of Allied invasion fragmented pro-German Vichy French forces, some joined Allied cause, others remained loyal to Vichy France.

It also enabled Allies to pincer Axis forces into Tunisia - North Africa, with Americans advancing from west and British advancing from east. Axis forces collapsed and surrendered in-masse by Summer 1943.

« more info & photo »

http://uwemilitaria.org/3-Aerial/AfricanWildcat

Sturmpanzer IV Diorama | Anzio 1944

Sturmpanzer IV infantry assault gun, German 216th Sturmpanzerabteilung, Anzio - Italy 1944

Italia Stupa
Sturmpanzer IV (nicknamed Stupa) self-propelled infantry assault gun of German 26th Panzer Division during counter-offensive against Allied invasion force at Italian Anzio beachhead, Spring 1944.

1.35 1980s-era TAMIYA model kit, airbrushed in African Yellow base color with crisscrossing Forest Green lines. Also was first time I used modeling putty to create parallel Zimmerit lines on hull surface used to prevent attachment of enemy magnetic anti-tank mines.

With harsh lessons from 1942-1943 Stalingrad street battles in Soviet Union, Germans armed Stupa with low velocity 150mm howitzer designed for urban combat in destroying multi-storied buildings and city blocks.

Allied Anzio offensive was suppose to outflank and trap bulk of German forces in central Italy, but faulty execution and conservative ground leadership resulted in entire invasion force being trapped in narrow beachhead for 4 months as Germans launched multi-pronged counter-offensives, only Allied air power and offshore naval batteries prevented full military catastrophe.

« photo & info link below »

http://uwemilitaria.org/2-Track/Stupa

CVA-63 =The Battle Cat= | Japan 1960s

CVA-63 USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier, mid-1960s era with A-4, F-4, and A-3 jets

Battle Cat | Shitty Kitty | Chicken Hawk...
1960s-era USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) attack carrier with full complement of A-4 Skyhawk and F-4J Phantom fighters, along with A-3 Skywarrior ( USAF version was B-66 ) twin-engine bombers capable of carrying nuclear ordnances.

By 1970s with advancement of intercontinental and submariner ballistic missiles, attack carrier concept were phased out, and anti-submarine warfare capabilities incorporated, thus carrier designation changed to CV-63.

Being conventionally powered, it is the only forward deployed US carrier located in Yokosuka-Japan conforming to postwar Japan ban on transit or stationing of nuclear powered transports or weapons on her soil.

Nevertheless, with Japan vying for a permanent seat in United Nations Security Council since 1990s, she needs US sponsorship to advance this cause.

This desire probably influenced the signing of a new treaty in early 2000s whereby US nuclear-power carrier USS Independence will replace Kitty Hawk upon latter retirement by 2009.

« more info & photo »

http://uwemilitaria.org/5-Naval/KittyHawk