2008 Normandy Landing

On this day, seven years ago, in 2008, at 22.00 hours, the Americans landed in Normandy, starting a campaign that will last until September 2009.
Over 500 soldier from both sides (U.S. and Germany), fought for four days for the control of Normandy, suffering heavy casualties. The landing started at 22.59, after a preliminary air strike and a naval bombardment, with two American Divisions landing on a beach about 4 feet wide. The process of bringing troops to the beach was split in three waves, as there were only six landing crafts available at the time. The units landed in the first two waves suffered heavy casualties, as the beach was well fortified and defended by the elite 3rd Panzer Division.
Of the two american Divisions sent into combat during the landing, the 1st Armored was extremely well equipped and trained, and had the experience of the Anzio landing, while the 8th Infantry, although not as experienced as the 1st, was also involved in a series of battles against the Russians and the Germans.
Of the 185 American soldiers landed (100 of the 1st and 85 of the 8th), 57 were wounded and 54 killed, bringing the two units to less than 40 percent available for combat.
The Germans had three Divisions in Normandy, of which the 7th SS Panzer was the best equipped, having six heavy M48's, while the 3rd Panzer had only light Centurion tanks. Both Armored Divisions were involved in the African campaign against the Americans. The 6th Infantry was a newly formed unit, having no combat experience.
The Germans lost 35 killed and wounded of the 218 soldiers deployed in Normandy.
The battle will rage for three more days, with the 6th U.S. Infantry landing during the second day.
The total losses of the campaign rose to 143 killed or wounded (U.S.) and 139 killed, wounded or captured (Germany). Plus more than 6 planes, 10 vehicles (mostly tanks) and dozens of weapons destroyed on both sides.

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Fortele militare - Armata terestra - Vehicule - Merkava Mk. I

Blindate

 Merkava Mk. 1

 

 Merkava Mk. 2

 

 

Nume : Merkava Mk. 1/2

Tip : Tanc mediu multirol
Serviciu activ : 24 Nov 2012

Dimensiuni :
Lungime : 9.1 cm (10.0 cm, cu teava orientata in fata)
Latime : 4.3 cm
Inaltime : 3.3. cm

Viteza maxima : 0.13 m/s
Autonomie : 25 m

Armament :
___Armament principal :
______Tun : 2.5 mm (Mk. 1)/3.0 mm (Mk. 2), teava lunga, lisa
______Raza de actiune : 1.5 m
_________Tipuri munitie : HE Shell
_________Raza exploziei : 0.03 m
_________Raza raspandire srapnel : 0.04 m
______________________AP Shell
_________Distruge : Blindaj usor sau mediu, la distante de 1.0 m sau mai mici. Poate distruge si blindaj greu, de la distante mai mici de 0.5 m.
___Armament secundar : -


Blindaj : Mediu, cu sisteme de blindaj reactiv lateral si frontal (Mk. 1),  penetrabil de un obuz AT de 3 mm de la 0.7 m

Capacitate transport : 2-3 soldati (pe capota motorului)

Vehicule similare : M1 Abrams MT

Tancul Merkava si, in special, modelul Mk. 1, reprezinta coloana vertebrala a sistemului international de blindate medii. Desi prezent in numar mult mai mic decat contracandidatul sau, Abrams, Merkava are toate calitatile veritabile ale unui tanc mediu: tunul de calibru mare il face eficient la distante mari si impotriva blindajelor corespondente iar blindajul reactiv al variantei Mk. 1 il face mult mai rezistent la obuzele cinetice de calibre medii si mari.

Diferentele intre cele doua modele sunt reprezentate fizic de existenta blindajului reactiv pe Mk. 1 si o carena diferita, sensibil mai mare, la Mk. 2. De asemenea, turela este pozitionata ceva mai in fata la Mk. 2.

Niciunul dintre modele nu are roti, profilul scazand, astfel, considerabil, in inaltime. Turela, de asemenea, este extrem de putin inalta iar blindajul frontal, la ambele modele, este inclinat. Aceste specificatii il fac capabil sa infrunte frontal tinte net superioare, de la distante la care tunul de 2.5 mm este extrem de eficient. Calibrul superior al modelului Mk. 2 il fac mult mai potrivit pentru rolurile antitanc, pe cand Mk. 1 este mai eficient in utilizarea anti-infanterie si impotriva blindatelor usoare.

Modelul Mk. 1 este reprezentat, in general, in camuflaj verde, cu pete galbene, iar modelul Mk. 2, in camuflaj de desert, cu pete maro.

Numarul disponibil al tancurilor Merkava se incadreaza undeva in jurul sumei de 30 de bucati din ambele modele, modelul Mk. 1 fiind dominant. Cea mai mare parte a lotului este rezervata Rusiei, fiind tancul de baza dupa care aceasta isi formeaza doctrina si marile unitati de lupta.

Serviciul activ:

Burma

Tancul a intrat in servicul activ la sfarsitul anului 2012, cand Armata Rusiei a achizitionat patru vehicule de la TSD, cu scopul de a ajuta China in luptele din Burma. Cele patru tancuri (Brigada 1 Blindate) au fost oferite cu titlu de imprumut Chinei, impreuna cu o escadrila de MiG-uri 21 (4 aparate). Desi 2 tancuri au fost detasate la baza chineza din Burma, Natmaw, acestea nu au participat efectiv la lupte.

Grecia

Prima confruntare in care au fost folosite aceste tancuri a fost in Grecia, la data de 25 iulie 2014, cand, in momentul interventiei americane din Zagora, fortele paramilitare grecesti au folosit un Merkava Mk. 1 si un Panzer 4 HT ITA impotriva blindatelor americane M1 Abrams MT si M1A1 Abrams HT. Tancurile insurgentilor, desi in inferioritate numerica, reusesc sa distruga doua tancuri medii americane, fara a pierde niciunul. Unul dintre Abrams-urile medii a fost, cel mai probabil, scos din lupta de catre Merkava-ul grec. Americanii se adapteaza la conditiile frontului si, la data de 6 august, 3 Panzere 6, apartinand Batalionului 3 Blindate grele, ataca, sprijinite de infanterie si blindate usoare, principala baza a trupelor paramilitare. Intr-o confruntare scurta cu cele doua tancuri detinute de greci, in Katouna, Panzerele americane obtin victoria, eliminand cele doua blindate adverse, fara a pierde niciun Panzer. Aceasta batalie a scos in evidenta importanta superioritatii tehnice pe campul de lupta, precum si lipsa de experienta a trupelor paramilitare grecesti.

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