Comments by "Kameraden" (@Alte.Kameraden) on "The Day the AXIS reached the Volga in 1942 - BATTLESTORM STALINGRAD E10" video.

  1. Hs129, I often call it the A-10A of WWII. But they were discontinued for a lot of good reasons tragically, including they didn't want to allocate engines to them. Which meant what ones were made were underpowered. They couldn't carry the bomb load of a Ju87, and because of this despite when they equipped 3cm MK103 and 3.7cm Flak 18 they proved effective tank hunters, the Ju87 pretty much took up the entire role as it was better for over all use, being they could use them for a variety of roles not just one. So tragically the Hs129 kind of hit a brick wall when it came to resources allocated to the program. Most Hs129s would eventually be given to the Romanians as German Squadrons that used them were given Fw190Fs and Ju87s instead. 3cm MK103 actually had very good armor penetration performance, and ironically because of the design of the T-34 it was very effective against it because the angle of attack often meant maximum effect as the angle often lined up flat with the sloped side armor of the T-34. The 3.7cm Flak replaced the 3cm MK103 mostly because of resource shortages. Being to get it's good penetration performance they needed Tungsten. Ironically, the Germans didn't want to use planes using the 3cm MK103 on the western front out of fear the Allies might get their hands on an example of that cannon and have the idea of using tungsten round cannons of their own on aircraft. You wouldn't see a lot of planes using something like the 3cm MK103. You will eventually see this again in a big way with the American GAU 30mm and 25mm Cannons for aircraft like the A-10A and Harrier. Which get their awesome penetration from using Tungsten and Uranium hardened ammunition. I often call the 3cm MK103 the grand daddy of the Gau 8 used on the A-10, it uses similar ammunition but used in a large vulcan. But the role is identical. Though I would say the time of these events in the video the Hs129, I'm not sure if Hs129's would have the 3cm MK101 or 103 yet. I know the 103 entered service some time in 1942. but.....
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