Grenada 1983: American Resurgence Toward the End of the Cold War

By Matthew A Frakes

Illustrated by Johnny Shumate

 

art of a helicopter

RANGERS RESCUE THE STUDENTS AT GRAND ANSE, 1630HRS, OCTOBER 26, 1983

Seeking a rapid way to reach the students at Grand Anse on  October 26, Maj. Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf and Vice Adm. Joseph Metcalf, aboard the flagship USS Guam offshore, devised a plan  for Rangers at Point Salines to fly on Marine helicopters directly to Grand Anse Beach to evacuate the students from the seaward direction. After an artillery and air bombardment of suspected Grenadian positions in the area, nine CH-46 Sea Knights in waves of three deployed 150 Rangers from the 2nd Battalion, but one helicopter became disabled when its rotors tangled with a palm tree lining the narrow beach. While Lt Col. Ralph Hagler of the Rangers and Lt Col. Granville Amos of HMM-261 circled in their command helicopter offshore, five CH-53 Sea Stallions landed successively on the beach to ferry the students to safety. The Rangers maintained defensive positions around the campus and landing zone while others guided the students from a dormitory building across the beach and into the helicopters waiting in the surf. 

Art requested by Karl Dietrich.

 

 

Panzer I vs T-26: Spanish Civil War 1936–39

By Jacek Zabielski

Illustrated by Richard Chasemore

Art of three tanks. You can see mountains in the background.

In March 1938, the ‘March to the Sea’ began, becoming the most successful National operation conducted by mechanized forces during the entire war. On 27 March, Nationalist forces reached the Cruz de Masatrigos and were forced to repel a strong counter-attack supported by Soviet tanks, four of which were captured. The Republican tanks claimed four Nationalist tanks destroyed and one abandoned. Here, a T-26 involved in the Republican counter-attack engages two PzKpfw Is at close range, reflecting the German tanks’ limited capabilities at greater ranges.

Art requested by Conor Kearns O'Brien.

 

Kriegsmarine Southern Command 1941–45: The Adriatic, Aegean and Black Sea naval wars

By Lawrence Paterson

Illustrated by Edouard A. Groult

Art of a ship

ARTILLERIEFÄHRPRÄHME TRADE FIRE WITH SOVIET SHORE BATTERIES ON THE TAMAN PENINSULA: OPERATION BLÜCHER, SEPTEMBER 1942

In Germany, it was Vizeadmiral Friedrich Ruge who proposed the conversion of existing MFPs into dedicated Artilerieträger, reckoning the rectangular hull shape would require minimal conversion to carry heavy weapons, while providing ample space for crew and ammunition. Their shallow draught, even with the extra weight, would also render them safer from torpedo attacks than a conventional hull. By June 1942, SKL had agreed to begin construction of the first version. Longitudinal strength was improved by filling bulkhead gaps with concrete, increasing the weight-bearing ability and providing extra splinter protection for the gun crews. Additional armour and a sound-proofed radio room were also installed. The main armament was two 88m flak guns with additional 20mm flak weapons, fore and aft. However, initial tests within the English Channel demonstrated that the Artilleriefährprähme Type AC (AF-AC1) was only capable of operating in a maximum sea state of 3 and provided a less than stable gun platform.