Taz

Sergey, Absolutley no offence taken whatsoever I also found it interesting to watch, and I have always been interested in tanks I thought that you would find the other little clips interesting too. The one in Russian that I linked seems to compare the two tanks but I can't understand what they are saying. Best regards Eddie.

Interesting Sergey, Did you see this one? T-90 vs "Abrams" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9L0SPYJNhII...feature=related No idea what he's saying though, maybe you could give a rough idea And the "Beast" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcMVpY4SoO8 I wonder if you can guess which one I would rather crew? BTW this should really be in the Armour sub-forum. Regards Eddie.

Enzo, Glad to help, Here is a little more info from the article: Villiers-en-Couche 1794 A British force was sent to the Low Countries to defend Holland against the French Revolutionary army. It was commanded by the Duke of York and included 14 cavalry regiments of which the 15th was one. On 24th April 1794, they, with a regiment of Austrian hussars charged a large body of French Cavalry. It turned out to be a trick and when the cavalry moved to one side a battery of artillery was revealed. But the French guns misfired and there were few casualties - at first. They charged into French Infantry who were dispersed. However, it was a hard fight and the regiment suffered many wounded but surprisingly few killed. The French had the most casualties; one farrier of the 15th was said to have killed 21 of the enemy that day. The spelling of the name of this battle has changed over the years. The battle honour was granted in 1818 as VILLIERS-EN-COUCHE. Officers sabretaches from 1830-1902 have the honour embroidered as VILLIERS EN COUCHIE. In 1911 the spelling changed to VILLERS-EN-CAUCHIE (note, Villers with only one i). One outcome of the battle was a lasting connection with Austria. The Emperor Francis II gave a gold medal to each of the officers of the regiment and later presented them with the Order of Maria Theresa. The officers were: Major William Aylett Captain Pocklington Captain Ryan Lieutenant Calcraft Lieutenant Keir Cornet Blunt Cornet Butler Cornet Wilson Also the gold lace worn on officer's uniforms and horse furniture was, in future, woven in the Austrian Wave pattern. Regards Eddie.

Another excellent translation from Esteban who has been a great help, thanks very much!! The Medal now has a decent sounding name MEDAL FOR THE DEFENSE OF MOTHERLAND AND NEIGHBORHOOD UNITY LAW DECREE N? 240 SINCE: The National Direction of Revolution Defense Commitees has proposed to the State Council the creation of a medal to be bestowed upon cuban and foreign citizens who gain enough merits when executing relevant actions, or when assuming attitudes that prove their loyalty to the revolutionary cause. SINCE: because of the expressed motifs in the latter Since, the modification of Law Decree N? 30, of December 10th, 1979 and Regulations of Law N? 17, of June 28th, 1978 is required, as they have been modified and are currently governing. SINCE: The State Council, making use of the given attributions expressed in paragraph c), of Article 90 of the Constitution of the Republic, decides to pronounce the following LAW DECREE, N? 240. ARTICLE 1. A new 42nd section is added to Article 6 of Law Decree N? 30, of December 10th, 1979, saying the following: 42. Medal "For the Defense of the Motherland and Neighborhood Unity", awarded to cuban and foreign citizens who gain enough merits when executing relevant actions, or when assuming attitudes that prove their loyalty to the revolutionary cause. ARTICLE 2. The requirements for their awarding, the description of the representative badge of the medal to which the latter article refers and other particular information related to its organization, are determined in the annex-approved Regulations to this Law Decree, and provisions of Law N? 17, of June 28, 1978, will be applied to it. ARTICLE 3. Article 10, paragraph ch) (NOTE: in spanish alphabet, "ch" is considered a letter, placed after C), of Law Decree N? 30, placing after the Medal "50th Anniversary of Revolutionary Armed Forces" the Medal "For Defense of Motherland and Neighborhood Unity". FINAL PROVISION. UNIQUE: All legal or regulation provisions opposing the stated in this Law Decree will be derogated, which will govern after its publication in the Oficcial Gazzette of the Republic. GIVETH, in the Palace of the Revolution, Havana city, June 27, 2006. Fidel Castro Ruz President of the State Council ANNEX REGULATIONS OF THE MEDAL "FOR THE DEFENSE OF MOTHERLAND AND NEIGHBORHOOD UNITY" ARTICLE 1. The Medal "FOR THE DEFENSE OF MOTHERLAND AND NEIGHBORHOOD UNITY" is awarded to cuban and foreign citizens who gain enough merits when executing relevant actions, or when assuming attitudes that prove their loyalty to the revolutionary cause. ARTICLE 2. The Medal "FOR THE DEFENSE OF MOTHERLAND AND NEIGHBORHOOD UNITY" is made of gilt metal. ARTICLE 3. The Medal "FOR THE DEFENSE OF MOTHERLAND AND NEIGHBORHOOD UNITY" is awarded upon the following merits: a) Showing courage and unselfishness during actions on behalf and defense of our Socialist Revolution; b) Keeping an uninterrupted labor in support and function of the Revolution Defense Committees? duties, and being previously awarded the distinction "September 28th"; c) To sistematically confront and fight antisocial and counter-revolutionary riots, or to accomplish special tasks where these kind of actions take place. ARTICLE 4. The Medal "FOR THE DEFENSE OF MOTHERLAND AND NEIGHBORHOOD UNITY" has the following general specifications: It?s round shaped, measures 30 mm wide and it?s 3 mm thick. The obverse shows an 1 mm border; the center shows an engraved group of houses and buildings, as well as the Revolution Square. In the upper part of these buildings, located just aside of the Jos? Mart? Memorial Tower, the organization logo, and in the roof,"CDR" can be seen. To its right, there is a Cuban flag waving. In the upper side of the medal it is written in a semicircle shape, "FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE MOTHERLAND"; in the lower part of it, also in semicircle, "AND NEIGHBORHOOD UNITY" The reverse shows a 1 mm wide plain border; the center shows an engraved Coat of Arms of the Republic of Cuba; the upper part shows a semicircle writing saying "STATE COUNCIL"; in the lower part, also in semicircle, "REPUBLIC OF CUBA". The badge hangs, with a link, of a pentagonal shaped, 25 mm moar? ribbon with royal blue, olive green, white and red color stripes, divided from right to left as: Red 5mm, olive green 2mm, white 7mm, olive green 2mm and royal blue 9mm. The reverse of the ribbon has a safety pin. The ribbon bar is rectangular and convex shaped, measures 25mm long and 15mm high, covered by a moar? ribbon with the same stripes and colors that the medal suspension has. The reverse of the ribbon bar has a safety pin. ARTICLE 5. The National Secretariate of the Revolution Defense Committees has the power to propose to the State Council the awarding of this medal. ARTICLE 6. The Medal "FOR THE DEFENSE OF MOTHERLAND AND NEIGHBORHOOD UNITY" recipients have the following duties: a)To keep an exemplary attitude, matching the revolutionary principles; b) To obey, in all their provisions, the established in these Regulations, in Law N? 17, and its Regulations. ARTICLE 7. The recipients can have their use revoked, when any of the following occur: a) To be sanctioned for a crime that ruins public image; b) Disobeying any of the duties established in these Regulations, in Law N? 17 and its Regulations. ARTICLE 8. The wearing of this medal and its ribbon bar is regulated as the following says: a)Members of Rev. Armed Forces and Interior Ministry, according to their dress regulations, according to the stated in Law N? 17; b) Civilians, according to the stated in Law N? 17. ARTICLE 9. The Medal "FOR THE DEFENSE OF MOTHERLAND AND NEIGHBORHOOD UNITY" will not be posthumously awarded. ARTICLE 10. Upon the death of the recipient, the medal and its documents can be kept as a memento, but not allowing its use, of the following relatives: a) The widow; b) Children over 16 years old; c) The mother or father; d) OR any other person that due to affective or family bond deserves to keep such medal and documents. Nevertheless the stated in the latter, upon the non-existance or death of these relatives, the State Council can dispose the medal and documents to have another destination, for storage and conservation purposes.

Medal "For the Defense of the Motherland and Neighborhood Unity" Full translation to folow asp. LAW DECREE, N? 240. ARTICLE 1. A new 42nd section is added to Article 6 of Law Decree N? 30, of December 10th, 1979, saying the following: 42. Medal "For the Defense of the Motherland and Neighborhood Unity", awarded to cuban and foreign citizens who gain enough merits when executing relevant actions, or when assuming attitudes that prove their loyalty to the revolutionary cause.

Always glad to help Regards Eddie

You are welcome, always glad to help. Regards Eddie

These medals were given to the NCOs. Eleven were struck. It is silver gilt and 3.8 cm in diameter, weighing 1 oz. It was minted in England. awarded in recognition of the tremendous effort shown by the regiment at Villiers-en-Couche, on the recommendation of the commander of the 2nd Leopold Hussars, Baron Andrew Szentkerestzy. Regards Eddie.

And the reverse.

These are the gold medals given to the officers of the 15th Light Dragoons by the Austrian Emperor Francis II. It is 6 cm in diameter and weighs 4.35 oz. It was worn round the neck suspended from a large gold chain of the same weight. The Emperor Francis II gave a gold medal to each of the officers of the regiment and later presented them with the Order of Maria Theresa. The officers were: Major William Aylett Captain Pocklington Captain Ryan Lieutenant Calcraft Lieutenant Keir Cornet Blunt Cornet Butler Cornet Wilson Image CO British Empire

Hi usairforce, The Service Medal of the Order of St. John Regards Eddie

That is of course the big question. Sorry that I can't offer more information at the moment. Ages ago now, i'm fairly sure I saw a dark blue emamelled Cuban Academy badge. If this is the case, I'm certain the system would be based on the Soviet one. So possibly the above badge (seen in an earlier Cuban thread), a blue enamelled Junior Officer version and a white enamelled one for Military Academies, with the rank of Major and above? Remains to be seen, not really worth too much speculation at this realatively early stage of Cuban research. The badges in wear are too small to identify, I suspect they are Soviet academy Badges Regards Eddie.

Hendrik,Christophe, There are three main differences to the reverse on these medals. Henrik's has the newer style MVR Coat of Arms. The one on Igor's site is the older version Coat of Arms. There is also one without the MVR at the bottom, this was issued to Fire service members. After the 1969 merger between the Bulgarian Committee of State Security and the Ministry of Interior the MVR coat of Arms was probably altered. Just a little more info under George Dimitrov's image on the obverse is the date of the founding of the MVR Internal Ministry "10.IX.1944"

Hendrik, Christophe, Looks like the Bulgarian Medal for 10 Years of Irreproachable Service in the Ministry of Interior to me, on the correct ribbon. The reverse has 10 not 15 years service. The dark blue stripes indicate the following: 1st class 1 stripe, 20 years service 2nd class 2 stripes, 15 years service 3rd class 3 stripes, 10 years service Regards Eddie

Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) Academia de las FAR "General M?ximo G?mez" (General M?ximo G?mez Higher Academy of the Armed Forces) Founded on the 3rd July 1963 Director: General de Brigada Urbelino Betancourt Cruces. Colegio de Defensa Nacional (National Defense College) (with seat in the Academy of the General Officers' Club of Revolutionary Armed Forces Maximum Gomez, in the east of Havana) Director: General Reinaldo G?mez Cuevas. Academia Naval Granma (Granma Naval Academy) Incorporated 1977-1978 Escuela Interarmas de las FAR "General Antonio Maceo" (General Antonio Maceo Military Academy) Founded in February 1963 Instituto T?cnico Militar "Jos? Mart?" (Jos? Mart? Technical Military Institute) Existing until the course of 1975-1976 Escuela de Artilleria de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias "Comandante Camilo Cienfuegos" (Comandante Camilo Cienfuegos Armed Forces' Artillery School) Incorperated 1977-1978 Instituto Superior de Medicina Militar "Dr. Luis D?az Soto" (Dr. Luis D?az Soto Higher Institute of Military Medicine) Founded October 1980 Escuela Interarmas de las FAR "General Jos? Maceo" (General Jos? Maceo Military School) Founded on the 15th September1980 Escuela Militar Superior "Cdte. Arides Est?vez S?nchez" (Aristides Est?vez S?nchez Police Academy) Incorperated 1984-1985 Escuela Nacional de Tropas Especiales Baragu? (National School of Baragu? Special Troops) Incorperated in the 1980's Ministry of Interior (MININT) Instituto Superior del MININT "Hermanos Mart?nez Tamayo" (Hermanos Mart?nez Tamayo Higher Institute: Ministry of the Interior) Incorperated 1978-1979 Deactivated Escuela de Comunicaciones y Tropas Quimicas "General Carlos Roloff" ("General Carlos Roloff" School of Communications and Chemical Troops) (1982-1993) Escuela Militar de Pilotos de Aviacion "Ernesto Che Guevara" ("Ernesto Che Guevara" Air Force Pilots School) (1985-1993)

Well Rick, that is maybe the case. However I see the MTT as a Territorial Military force. The CDR is a network of committees across Cuba. The organizations are designed to put medical, educational or other campaigns into national effect, and to report "counter-revolutionary" activity, not really to enforce it. Other responsibilities include arranging festivals, administrating voluntary community projects and organizing mass rallies. So less of a Military role than the MTT. Regards Eddie.

MTT shoulder boards On the soldiers MTT boards you can see the small insignia as posted above. The other boards are for a Lieutenant Colonel.

Cuba has three militia organizations: The Territorial Militia Troops Milicias de Tropas Territoriales of about one million people (half women), the Youth Labour Army Ej?rcito Juvenil del Trabajo devoted to agricultural production, and a naval militia The Cuban "War of All the People" doctrine is a defensive strategy created to try and counter an overwhelming invasion force. This strategy includes an armed population willing to fight for the defense of the homeland. The Milicias de Tropas Territoriales (MTT) was formed in 1980 to increase the defense capability of the country. Fidel Castro stated that the MTT was necessitated in order to be "ready for combat operations not only using regular troops, but with the participation of the entire people." In general, the militia is a part-time force with only light arms which are issued to them only on occasion. They are not capable of sustained combat, but are effective for controlling and coercing the general public. In addition, some selected units of the militia are specially armed and trained and are, in effect, army units specially dedicated to Fidel Castro. The small badge on the left hand side shoulder patch is the MTT insignia

Not really much doubt that it is a modern fake, the majority of them are worthless reproductions, if the person and inscription has any resemblence to the original medal or order it may still help to identify the Warlord though. Any Chinese speakers around? Regards Eddie.

Here is a medal with a very similar central design. However no Id at the mo.

Here are a few details of the Gallantry awardings for the Vijay Operation. http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/i...0/ige10136.html

Another excellently made and painted model Snoopy Regards Eddie

Very nicely made Amazingly realistic photo of the FW 190. Regards Eddie

99.9% certain pre-Castro. Probably a commemorative, maybe even not official award. The modern version would have an SNT Trade Union logo on the reverse. Also the Medal ring is not suited for a pentagonal suspension devices. The obverse is almost exactly the same as the modern Distinction apart from the wording "Orden". Regards Eddie

I have to second that, looks like he's learnt a few tricks from his dad Regards Eddie.