bigjarofwasps

John, I think the guy might kinda need them? But the ring went for ?60!!!! Gordon.

Hi Guys, Can anyone tell me what a Challange Coin is for? BJOW

Hi Guys, I`m hoping you`ll be able to help me out. I`m trying to get hold of modern uniforms, badges, etc, well anything really relating to the 2nd Btn of the 127th Infantry Regiment. Can you help me out, or suggest anywhere that might be able to help. Of greatest would be Op Iraqi Freedom period. Kind regards, Gordon.

Hello BJOW, If your recipient entered service in August 1944, he easily could have been trained and deployed in time for the Battle of the Bulge. Always nice to have a named decoration. Jack Hi Jack, I`m hoping that this could be the case. I have been able to find this information out about him, but thats all, so far. Robert L. Muckel (Army serial number: 33876554) enlisted on 7 Aug 1944. He was born in 1926 and was from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Hi Guys, I have a Bronze Star, named to a guy who joined the Army in August 1944. Can anyone tell me how long it would have taken to train him and deploy him to the front? BJOW.

This is the caption under the picture......... The Russian Chicks with a Tank! This great picture is a donation from Ivan Borisovich Karkotsky (aka Bill Gibbs) from the 193rd Streltskova Diviziya, RKKA. Comrades Sarah and Mia obviously like their T-34. [The picture of the reenactors was taken during a "Living History" event at the Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles. Thank you very much Bill!]

Hi Rick, Not sure which group this young lady is from, I happened across her picture on this website, http://www.jagdtiger.de/index2.htm whilst trying to find info out about the jadgtiger. I`d like to think that all the females in this group are little mixies, but fear that she is unique. But lets face it what better PR, to get the recruits in!!!!!

Saw this thought it might be of interest. *** Please note, not my fingers!!!****

Think I`d rather be carrying 20 or so of these!!!!!!!

Here is a e-mail sent to me by a medic in Iraq Chris, I wanted to share the below email with you and also something that happened the other day. I was sitting in the DFAC (dining hall) when a soldier walked up to me and asked if he could give me a hug. I said sure. He hugged me and told me that I had given his squad angels a few months ago and that ever since then no one had gotten hurt. He kissed me on the forehead saying "this is from me", kissed me again "this is from my wife" and kissed me one more time "this is from my kids". He was on his way to Kuwait and then home. Your angels have become a hot item over here and departing troops are handing them over to the new guys as they come in. We hand them out daily to civilians and military alike. I gave angels to some Iraqi National Guard guys and they were so excited. One of them gave me prayer beads in exchange, another handed me a knife and a third gave me a can of room deodorizer - not sure about that last one but it sure smells good! We are now known as the "Scania Angels" - it is pretty cool and worth every cent! Thanks - Mikii Carry a guardian angel pocket coin. Get your pocket guardian angel coins The same coin carried by US troops in Iraq. The pocket angel coin will protect around the clock.. Finished in genuine pewter. Makes a great give away item at a great price, hand out to family and friends. PROUDLY MADE IN USA. Measures 3/4"L x 3/4"W. Buy direct and $ave. Makes a great give away item at a great price, hand out to family and friends. Add $4.00 s/h unlimited

Now thats better isn`t it!!!!!!!!!

Check out this beast.......... Specification Crew : 6 Engine power : 600 hp Combat weight :70,000 kg (154,350 lb) Max speed : road 37 km/h (22.98 mph) Length : 10.65 m (34.94 ft) Range : 170 km (105.57 miles) Width : 3.63 M (11.91 ft) Main gun : 128 mm(5.04 in) Height : 2.95 m (9.68 ft) Armour : 40 mm (1.58 in) to 250 mm (9.85 in) The Jagdtiger was based on the Tiger II which already had a powerful 88 mm(3.47 in)gun. But the Jagdtiger went one better it was armed with a 128 mm(5.04 in)gun 55 calibre long by far the most powerful anti-tank weapon used in action during World War II.It could destroy any Allied tank it hit from far beyond the effective range of most Allied guns. The Jagdtiger was a massive 70 tonne(77.1 US tons)vehicle with its limited-traverse gun mounted in a large fixed turret were sloping plates manufactured in one piece with the sides of the hull.Retaining the Tiger II engine it was underpowered but it was to prove a superb defensive weapon platform.Despite the top priority given to the Jagdtiger production it suffered from the same difficulties as the Tiger II - Allied bombing and raw material shortages. Production began in July 1944 but by the time the War ended only 77 Jagdtigers had been delivered just sufficient to equip two special Panzer battalions.One battalion was used during the Ardennes offensive and later saw combat in Holland.The other fought in the East taking part in the desperate defence of Budapest in 1945.Few Jagdtiger survived the war for many were destroyed by their own crews to prevent them being captured intact.One of the few surviving examples is on display at Bovington tank museum.

DOH!!!!!!!!!!! Tony, Good point, well presented!!!!! Slighty off topic, but I suppose worthy of pointing out. Have you seen the film Enemy at the Gates? Theres a scene in it where hero gets it on with a female sniper. Pretty as she is I can`t help but think they`ve both been living in the field for weeks, enough said!!

I seem to have answered my own question? What a cracking bit of kit!!!!! Specification Crew : 6 Engine power : 600 hp Combat weight :70,000 kg (154,350 lb) Max speed : road 37 km/h (22.98 mph) Length : 10.65 m (34.94 ft) Range : 170 km (105.57 miles) Width : 3.63 M (11.91 ft) Main gun : 128 mm(5.04 in) Height : 2.95 m (9.68 ft) Armour : 40 mm (1.58 in) to 250 mm (9.85 in) The Jagdtiger was based on the Tiger II which already had a powerful 88 mm(3.47 in)gun.But the Jagdtiger went one better it was armed with a 128 mm(5.04 in)gun 55 calibre long by far the most powerful anti-tank weapon used in action during World War II.It could destroy any Allied tank it hit from far beyond the effective range of most Allied guns. The Jagdtiger was a massive 70 tonne(77.1 US tons)vehicle with its limited-traverse gun mounted in a large fixed turret were sloping plates manufactured in one piece with the sides of the hull.Retaining the Tiger II engine it was underpowered but it was to prove a superb defensive weapon platform.Despite the top priority given to the Jagdtiger production it suffered from the same difficulties as the Tiger II - Allied bombing and raw material shortages. Production began in July 1944 but by the time the War ended only 77 Jagdtigers had been delivered just sufficient to equip two special Panzer battalions.One battalion was used during the Ardennes offensive and later saw combat in Holland.The other fought in the East taking part in the desperate defence of Budapest in 1945.Few Jagdtiger survived the war for many were destroyed by their own crews to prevent them being captured intact.One of the few surviving examples is on display at Bovington tank museum.

Hi Guys, Never had girls like the one on the right when I was in the Army!!!!!! Maybe I joined 60 years to late, and the wrong Army???

Hi Guys, Can anyone tell me what the difference is between a Jagertiger and a Jagerpanther? Did the Jagertiger ever see active service?

Have been told this.......... The "gnome" was actually a Springender Teufel - springing (or jumping) devil. The symbol was adopted by the Das Reich Tiger Company in the early summer of 1943, and painted on their tanks for the Kursk offensive. It was based on a Russian metal devil figurine.

Tributes paid to British soldiers killed in Iraq By Simon Freeman and agencies Private Lee Ellis (MoD) Tributes were today paid to two British soldiers killed when a roadside bomb destroyed their armoured Land Rovers in southern Iraq. Private Lee Ellis, 23, and Captain Richard Holmes, 28, of the Second Battalion The Parachute Regimen were on a routine patrol in the town of Amarah, when an improvised device planted in an abandoned car exploded as they passed. Private Ellis, of Wythenshawe, Manchester, was described as "bright, enthusiastic and immensely popular". He leaves a fiancee Sarah and a daughter Courtney. Captain Holmes, of Winchester, Hampshire, leaves a wife Kate, who he married shortly before leaving for Iraq in October 2005. A third soldier was wounded and had to be rescued by reinforcements who came under attack from a mob of around 30 locals hurling bricks. He was taken by helicopter to the Shaibah field hospital where his injuries were described as non-life threatening. The deaths of the two men bring the total number of British personnel killed in Operation Telic, the British military campaign in Iraq, to 103. Private Ellis, was described by his commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel James Chiswell, as “an outstanding soldier”. He had been in Iraq since October 2005 with D Company and operated in Maysaan Province as part of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Battle Group. He joined the Army in September 2003 and had served with the regiment since April 2004 after completing his basic training at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick, North Yorkshire. Lieutenant Colonel Chiswell said: “Bright, enthusiastic and immensely popular, Private Ellis displayed all the qualities of a first class Paratrooper. His strength of character and dedication were reflected in his determination to overcome injury and to join his friends and comrades on operations in southern Iraq. “He was a natural team player who always looked out for others and who was always upbeat and focused. Above all else he was a total professional, dedicated to his task. He made a genuine difference in Iraq.” A Ministry of Defence spokesman said that Private Ellis had been a keen sportsman and had given up an apprenticeship with Wigan Athletic Football Club to join the Army. He was also a boxer and had been due to represent his company and battalion on its return to Colchester. The spokesman said: “Private Lee Ellis was not only a comrade but a close friend to many. He will be sorely missed by all those who were privileged to serve with and know him. Our thoughts are with his family and young daughter.” In a poignant final entry on the Friends Reunited website, Private Ellis said that he hoped to make it back from Iraq “in one piece”. The message, posted on the site on January 24, says: “Over in Iraq now and it’s very hot not much to say at the mo.” Relations between the Army and regional leaders in al-Amarah were strained by the release of film taken in 2004 showing members of the First Battalion of The Light Infantry beating local youths. Soldiers have since been targeted by an increasingly sophisticated terrorist campaign using high-tech bombs triggered by infra-red tripwires. Amarah lies on the River Tigris, close to the Iranian border. Video film taken afterwards showed locals hurling rocks at troops arriving on the scene. A blazing vehicle, thought to be that carrying the bomb, and two Land Rovers, one of which was badly damaged, were also visible. Private Lee Ellis

Thanks again Larry. Am I right in thinking that the 503 would have other types of Panzers within it, or would such tanks as the Panther, Jager Panther & Elefant be with other Regiments?

Cheers Laurence, thats great. Many thanks. 14 Kiger Tigers thats a hell of a fighting force!!!! And thats without the Tiger 1`s!!!!!

Am I right in thinking, that the Regiment would break down as follows....... Staff Company ???? Tanks 1st Company 4 Platoons each with 4 King Tigers (16 in Total) 2nd Company 4 Plattons each with 4 Tigers (16 in Total) Ditto 3rd Company

Many thanks Lawrence thats very interesting Have you any idea what the unit symbol was? Other than Tiger 1 & 2 `s did they have any other forms of armour? Did they have their own infantry support or would that come from elsewhere? Any idea, how many tanks in all would have formed the Regiment?

Rick, no idea? But I`ve found this........ The "gnome" emblem used by the 8th Company, was actually known as the "Springender Teufel" (Springing Demon). In Akira Kikuchi's article (AFV News Jan-Apr. 1994 Vol. 29, No.1) he provides some background to this strange emblem. Mr. Will Fey, a veteran of the 8th Tiger company, (and author of Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS) indicated to Mr. Kikuchi that "a tank man of 2.Pz.Regt.Das Reich found a strange metal figure in the streets of Kharkov after the battle in March 1943. He named it Springender Teufel. He was transfered to the Tiger Company, along with the figure, in April at which time the lucky emblem of the Springender Teufel was adopted by the Tiger company. "

SS Gnome, Whats all this about? Did they have King Tigers too?

I was all set to buy a copy of this book, which seemed to hold the key, until I saw the price that is!!!! Don`t even go there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!