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It Never Snows in September

Discussion in 'Information Requests' started by airborne medic, Apr 8, 2008.

  1. airborne medic

    airborne medic Member

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    There are two photos on pages 106 and 107 of this book, neither of which gives a source.....does anyone has any thoughts as to their history? They both state they were taken on the Dreijenseweg in northern Oosterbeek but cross checking them with the After the Battle Arnhem book volume 2 there is no trace of them in it.....so were the INSIS photos not taken in Oosterbeek? Any thoughts anyone?
    Can someone assist with the vehicle on page 106 am I right in saying it is a Sd Kf3 10/2 with a 20mm AA gun......?
    Does someone have some technical details on the gun? Rate of fire, weight of shell etc etc.....
     
  2. Tomcat

    Tomcat The One From Down Under

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    Can you scan the photo's in and post them here, we may be more help if we can see them:)

    Google is always great for information, much however must be verified.:)
     
  3. airborne medic

    airborne medic Member

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    Regret I don't have a scanner......
     
  4. TheRedBaron

    TheRedBaron Ace

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    Will have a look for you...
     
  5. Martin Bull

    Martin Bull Acting Wg. Cdr

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    The half-track looks like a SdKfz 10/4 mounting a standard 2cm Flak 30. This weapon had a practical rate-of-fire of 120rpm and was replaced by the Flak 38 which was broadly similar but had a much increased rate ( to 220 rpm ). Vehicle and gun were both well obsolete by the time of Arnhem but of course, all sorts of weird and wonderful things were pressed into service to meet the airborne threat.

    I can't find a projectile weight ( even though I have a deact 2cm Flak round right here next to me...:eek: )

    The photos aren't credited, but looking at the shot of the half-track I get a distinct feeling that I've seen it somewhere in a newsreel - could it be a 'still'.....? :confused:
     
  6. uksubs

    uksubs Member

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    I think your right MB it is from a newsreel
     
  7. airborne medic

    airborne medic Member

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    Thanks guys...Martin I trust your round was fired at Arnhem......I'm concerned and will try and explain why about the caption. For those that have 'German Armored Units at Arnhem' Marcel states the 9th SS Div flak battalion only had one Sdkzx 10/4....this was pictured on the 19th in the Museum area of Arnhem page 16....around the same time when the 156 were attacking towards the Dreijenseweg......then it appears this vehicle was destroyed in the railway bridge area when attacking 'Thompson Force' on the 20th......
    I've emailed Marcel with asking if he feels another 10/4 was in the area but am awaiting his reply....I'll keep the forum informed.
    By the way I shall be talking with John Waddy on the 19th April (B Company commander of the 156 in September 1944) on the Dreijenseweg when I am helping with a battlefield tour...I suspect he will just say we got stopped by amongst other things 20mm AA shells......
     
  8. Martin Bull

    Martin Bull Acting Wg. Cdr

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    I'd forgotten to check out Marcel Zwarts' book....it's interesting that he mentions 'Saving Private Ryan' ; the scene in that movie where a 2cm Flak is used against infantry seems to give a good indication of what I've always thought the weapon could do in those circumstances. It's a high-velocity gun firing a relatively large h/e projectile - no fun at all if you were at the receiving end, I should think.

    ( BTW I always keep saying 'I should think' and 'What I imagine' because I'm very mindful of the fact that I've never heard so much as an air-rifle fired in anger....:eek: )
     
  9. airborne medic

    airborne medic Member

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    Bloody right about not being on the receiving end.....used by the Argies at Goose Green in a anti-infantry role......
     
  10. airborne medic

    airborne medic Member

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    Found this on the internet on an Arnhem site again without a source....as said before I ahve my doubts it was taken on the Dreijenseweg but nevertheless a ground based 20 mm would be a fearsome opponent.....
     

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  11. Martin Bull

    Martin Bull Acting Wg. Cdr

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    The weight of a German 2cm Flak H/E shell, depending on type, was between 290 - 300gm.
     
  12. uksubs

    uksubs Member

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    The Collectors Showcase have made this for there Arnhem range [​IMG]
     
  13. airborne medic

    airborne medic Member

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    Marcel Zwarts has been in contact and says there is very little chance of him doing a reprint of German Armored Units at Arnhem with the original publisher. However he told me that much new information has come to light and there is enough for a new book.....he said it is now known that there was much more German armour present than was thought 8 years ago when the book came out.....so it is possible there was another 10/2 or 10/4 in the area rather than the one pictured in Arnhem.....
    Marcel plans to start work on a revised edition in 2009 and will perhaps self publish.....
     

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