There is a lot to be said about the benefits of competition. Before and during WW2 there were many companies competing, with many different approaches being tried.

Some companies (Curtis) got lucky early, and secured HUGE production contracts and produced a lot of aircraft. They only started to really innovate late in the war when their bread and butter aircraft (the P-40, some other types) were being left behind in the area of improved performance.

The basic airframe of the P-40 was actually adapted from an earlier radial engined fighter called the P-36, and simply didn't have room or structure in the 1930’s design to compete with late war P-51 fighter aircraft and other modern designs.

In today’s modern aircraft, we have relatively few manufacturers, and it seems like designs for new aircraft are subject to design by committees.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Friday, June 19, 2026 - 11:56 am: Edit

The United States Sailing Frigate U.S.S. Constitution commemorated the Battle of Bunker Hill on Wednesday by a cruise near the monument/battle field.

WCVB (an ABC affiliate) posted a clip on YouTube showing Old Ironsides underway.

Not a bad showing for what I believe is one of the oldest warships still afloat in the world.

(Yes, I know H.M.S. Victory is older, but it is my understanding that the victory is permanently established in a dry dock, and does not actually venture out.)

By Eric Snyder (Esnyder) on Saturday, June 20, 2026 - 12:24 am: Edit

I wonder what the minimum crew requirement would be if they could take the Victory out? Anyhow, that would be worth a plane ticket to see that!

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Saturday, June 20, 2026 - 09:23 am: Edit

Eric, the majority of the crew of H.M.S. Victory were needed to service the guns.

Google inquiry:

Quote:” H.M.S. Victory carries a total of 104 guns. The main armament consists of traditional long guns ranging from 6-pounders to 32-pounders. Additionally, the ship is fitted with massive 68-pounder carronades (short-range, high-damage cannons) on the upper decks.The distribution of the cannons across her decks at the time of the Battle of Trafalgar (1805) includes:Lower Gun Deck: Thirty 32-pounder long gunsMiddle Gun Deck: Twenty-eight 24-pounder long gunsUpper Gun Deck: Thirty 12-pounder long gunsQuarterdeck & Forecastle: Twelve 6-pounder long gunsForecastle & Upper Decks: Two 68-pounder carronades (known as "ship smashers")Historically, when first commissioned in 1765, the lowest deck housed even heavier 42-pounder guns, but they were eventually swapped out for 32-pounders in 1803 to reduce excessive weight in the hull.”

At a guess, just to handle the sails, for a short afternoon toodle around the harbor might require a fraction of the crew if all you want to do is set the main sails (no real need to set any of the other sails.)

Three masts, one sail each , plus the jib. Depending on the wind speed, it might be sufficient.

But I am not a sailor and just reflecting on material I have read over the years on sail handling.

Y.M.M.V.

Cheers!

By Eddie E Crutchfield (Librarian101) on Saturday, June 20, 2026 - 01:39 pm: Edit

Victory is totally land locked., she had a crew of about 850. during battle a majority ran the gunsm but generaaly there were about 80 topmen and marines in the sails, during various duties. I have been on her and the Constellation, but have never been able to be in Boston and the Constitution. There were replicas of Lawrences great lakes brigs that sailed in the great lakes at one time, was on them. dont know if they are still around or not. there are in Europe several other sailing warships that have been or are being restored.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Saturday, June 20, 2026 - 05:09 pm: Edit

Eddie, the Sailing brig Niagara, the official “Tall ship” of the State of Pennsylvania is undergoing a year long overhaul and refit in Booth bay, Maine. She participated in the Milwaukee, WI tall ships exhibit some years ago, and was open for tours to the public. She is scheduled to return to the lake erie ship museum in time for this year’s celebrations.

Well worth the time.

I also had the privilege to visit the U.S.S. Constitution near Boston twice over the years.

If you do manage to get there, do set aside some time to visit Battleship cove. The U.S.S. Massachusetts is also open to the public(check out the full tour, part of it is a visit to the place where a 15 inch armor piercing shell from the french battleship Jean Bart penetrated the ships armor belt during the amphibious assault of North Africa, 1942.)

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Monday, June 22, 2026 - 12:09 am: Edit

We have talked about the U.S. Navy and problems with ship production, and in particular about the cancellation of the constellation class frigates in favor of new production of the national Security cutter type ship…

Some people talk about history repeating, but there was a case back in the 1920’s and 1930’s where the mothball fleet was raided of destroyers to be transferred to the coast guard to deal with “rum runners” (people using small fast boats to bring in alcohol beverages to evade prohibition restrictions.)

According to google, some 31 destroyers we transferred:

Quote:” Between 1924 and 1933, the U.S. Navy loaned 31 destroyers to the United States Coast Guard for Prohibition enforcement. These ships originated from six different classes and three distinct groups:

Thirteen "Flivvers" (Small, raised-forecastle destroyers)
Twelve "Thousand-Tonners"
Six "Flush-Deckers"

The Specific Ship ClassesThe 31 destroyers were drawn from the following naval classes:

1. "Flivvers" (Raised-Forecastle Destroyers):

Paulding-class destroyerCassin-class destroyer

2. "Thousand-Tonners" & Flush-Deckers:

Tucker-class destroyer
o’brien-class destroyer
macDougall -class destroyer
Clemson-class destroyer

A Quick Breakdown by Year1924: The Navy transferred 20 destroyers (mostly older WWI-era ships).

1926: Five more vessels were transferred to reinforce the "Rum Patrol".

1930–1932: Six of the oldest and smallest ships were returned to the Navy and replaced by six newer Clemson-class flush-deckers.All of these destroyers had their torpedo tubes removed and were successfully crewed by the Coast Guard for law enforcement operations, with all of them eventually being returned to the Navy by 1934.”

Kinda reverse of history.

By MarkSHoyle (Bolo) on Sunday, July 05, 2026 - 10:20 pm: Edit

On 4 July 2026, an Aero Group flew an operational P-40 Warhawk in a live fire strafing run....
A video of aiming the guns, then a behind the target POV of the run was posted.....

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Sunday, July 05, 2026 - 10:35 pm: Edit

I heard references being made about a “Five Sisters” race of four of the five sailing ships from boston to new york this week end.

Out of curiosity, I found this item…

Google:

Quote” The "Five Sisters" race in 1976 was a historic sailing event for the United States Bicentennial. It featured five identical training tall ships built in the 1930s racing from Bermuda to Newport, Rhode Island.

The German ship Gorch Fock won the race and took home the Tiffany-made Five Sisters trophy.

These identical, three-masted barques were built in Germany for naval training. They are called "sister ships" because they share the same blueprints.The original fleet included:

Eagle (United States)
Sagres (Portugal)Mircea (Romania)
Gorch Fock (Germany)
Tovarishch (Soviet Union / originally named Gorch Fock I, now a museum ship)

Because the ships have the same layout and weight, it was a test of pure sailing skill without handicaps”

I don’t know which ship won this years race.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, July 07, 2026 - 04:41 pm: Edit

ZULU
Probably one of the best two or three war movies ever filmed, this is available on YouTube.

Some things the movie got wrong or never mentioned.

1. The British troops started with 20,000 rounds of ammo. When they counted the next morning, they had 900. That is why Adendorf said "We're all dead."

2. Adendorf was a lieutenant in the Natal Native Contingent and had fought at Isandlwana. He escaped rather than running away.

3. Bromhead was a veteran of previous combat, but nothing as intense as Roark's Drift. Bromhead died in 1891 as a major who had served in India and Burma.

4. There was a major in command, but he left to go look for reinforcements, putting Chard in command.

5. Hook was a model soldier who, being religious, had never been drunk in his entire life. He retired from the Army after 20 years service, was a footman in the household of a rich doctor, and spent his last years working at the British Museum where he was in charge of holding visitors' umbrellas during their visits, like a coat check clerk.

6. Color Sergeant Bourne got the second highest British medal for valor (Distinguished Conduct Medal) and retired a lieutenant colonel the day after the Germans surrendered in WWII at age 90 as the last living veteran of the battle. He served in England and Ireland during WWI and WWII running training units. He was 27 during the battle and was the youngest colour sergeant in the British Army, not a middle age veteran.

7. Most of the regiment was not Welsh.

8. Dalton was a lieutenant in the supply branch of the British Army. He was a regular officer who had seen combat before.

9. The cavalry who refused to stay and fight during the movie actually did as Chard asked and formed a screen to one flank, fought for over an hour, and were driven from the field by superior numbers and the lack of any field fortifications. They did not run away as cowards. One could argue it would have been better if they sent their horses away and fought in the station as infantry.

10. Chard was not there to build a bridge but to repair the pontoons used as a ferry crossing. Chard retired a colonel and died of cancer in 1897.

11. Reverend Witt was not a drunk, did not encourage the garrison to stand down, and in fact left of his own volition to go to his home 20 miles away to be with his family. His daughter was never at Roark's Drift.

12. The term "Roark's Drift" refers to a ford over the river and a trail into the interior. Highway numbers hadn't been invented and it was named for the guy who build the trading post there which later become a mission station and a supply dump.

13. The Zulu brigade made several attacks, but never attacked with full strength as there just wasn't enough room to deploy all of the troops along the walls of the "fort".

By Chuck Strong (Raider) on Tuesday, July 07, 2026 - 05:18 pm: Edit

This begs the question…I’d be interested in knowing how you all would answer and rate the following question…

What are the your top five military movies/series that BEST depict historical events most correctly?

By Mike Curtis (Nashvillen) on Tuesday, July 07, 2026 - 05:26 pm: Edit

Kelly's Heros of course is the top for that list... (tongue firmly in cheek)

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Tuesday, July 07, 2026 - 09:13 pm: Edit

Perhaps the most accurate military film would be Come and See, a 1985 film about the German occupation of Byelorussia during World War II. It's also one that you likely won't want to see more than once, because of the unflinching accuracy.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, July 07, 2026 - 10:46 pm: Edit

I cannot think of a war movie that doesn't come with a list of things the producers got wrong.

As for 'best' war movies (entertaining/inspiring) I would say...

1. Zulu
2. Gettysburg
3. Hunt for Red October
4. Saving Private Ryan
4. Cross of Iron (tied)
5. Where Eagles Dare
5. Guns of Navarone (tied)

By the time others posts their lists I will probably change my list to add films I forgot.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Wednesday, July 08, 2026 - 02:31 am: Edit

Well, thats a tough question - like Jessica and SVC, I feel feems which open your eyes or is inspiring are important....


...and so JoJo Rabbit would be in my top 5.


Saving Private Ryan has issues - but perhaps gets in the Top 5.


All Quiet on the Western Front and 1917 are also good (for similar reasons - but probably bot both).

The other two>? Will need to think.... as work beckons!

By Chuck Strong (Raider) on Wednesday, July 08, 2026 - 03:20 am: Edit

...Band of Brothers?...

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Wednesday, July 08, 2026 - 07:42 am: Edit

I mean, if you want to get the feel of the sheer absurdity of life on the Western Front in World War I, you could do worse than Blackadder Goes Forth.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, July 08, 2026 - 08:05 am: Edit

Here here! I want to see Black Adder Takes the Fifth when he was Nixon's butler.

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Wednesday, July 08, 2026 - 10:03 am: Edit

That would be absolutely perfect.

By Carl-Magnus Carlsson (Hardcore) on Wednesday, July 08, 2026 - 10:21 am: Edit

Monty pythons Zulu war sketch was great. In a manner very accurate portrayal of the British officer corps.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Wednesday, July 08, 2026 - 11:46 am: Edit

Blackadded Goes Forth and the Final Episode - wierdly, how it came out, was partially a mistake/injury/budget issue.

The Film stage they used was only about 15 Feet of useable depth - and so long range shots they planned of running over No Mans Land was not going to be possible.

Rowan Atkinson injured his Ankle and 'fell over' after stepping out of the trench.

The budget and Rowans Injury stopped them from redoining the shot.... but it looked really really really bad.

Someone though had the idea of slowing the film and the music down..... and then fading it out and fading in the Field of Poppies and silence.

And it became perfect (IMHO).

It gets me every time.

And it does cover off every aspect.

Bravey (You don't want to face a Machine Gun without your Baton)
Stupidty
Simple get outs not taken (for Blackadder and the Splinter....)
Get in's enforced (Darling being sent to the front)
...and Comedy

What more do you want?

By Mike Grafton (Mike_Grafton) on Wednesday, July 08, 2026 - 11:57 am: Edit

The Brits I lived with in Baghdad used to say "Bloody Bloody Zulus" was the best line of the movie. I watched the movie and it never gets said...

By A David Merritt (Adm) on Wednesday, July 08, 2026 - 01:20 pm: Edit

Das Boot, Tora Tora Tora, 70's Midway, The Battle of Britain. Not all four they're too similar, they had some issues but got key issues generally right.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, July 08, 2026 - 02:18 pm: Edit

Okay, I'll add Das Boot to my list.

By Mike Curtis (Nashvillen) on Wednesday, July 08, 2026 - 02:43 pm: Edit

Das Boot is really good. Make sure you get the directors cut and the English subtitles with the original German spoken.