Infantryman - US ARMY

The U.S. joined World War II after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. On the European front, U.S. Army troops formed a significant portion of the forces that captured North Africa and Sicily. On D-Day and in the subsequent liberation of Europe and defeat of Germany, millions of U.S. Army troops played a central role. In the Pacific, Army soldiers participated alongside U.S. Marines in the "island hopping" campaign that wrested the Pacific Islands from Japanese control. Following the Axis surrenders in May (Germany) and September (Japan) of 1945, Army troops were deployed to Japan and Germany to occupy the two defeated nations.

M9 "Bazooka"

Bazooka is the nickname for a man-portable rocket launcher fielded by the US Army during WWII. The innovative Bazooka was amongst the first-generation of rocket propelled anti-tank weapons utilized in infantry combat. Featuring a solid rocket motor, it allowed for high explosive (HE) and high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warheads to be delivered against armored vehicles, machine gun nests and fortified bunkers at ranges beyond that of a standard thrown grenade or mine. The universally-applied nickname arose from the M9 variant's vague resemblance to the tubular musical instrument of the same name invented and popularized in the 1930s by US comedian Bob Burns.

M2 Flame Thrower

The M2 flamethrower was a man-portable backpack flamethrower that was used in World War II. Although its actual "burn time" was around 7 seconds and the flame was only effective out to around 33 meters, it was still a functional weapon that had many uses in the war. However, with the later arrival of tanks and, especially, flamethrower tanks, the need for infantrymen to expose themselves to fire became unnecessary as tanks offered greater protection while still delivering the effective damage.

M1903 Springfield

The M1903 Springfield, formally the United States Rifle, Caliber .30, Model 1903, is a magazine-fed, bolt-action rifle used primarily during the first half of the 20th century. It was officially adopted as a US military service rifle on June 19 1903, and saw service in World War I. It was officially replaced as the standard infantry rifle by the faster-firing, semi-automatic M1 Garand, starting in 1936. However, the M1903 Springfield remained in service as a sniper rifle and as a standard issue infantry rifle during WWII, solely as sniper rifle during the Korean War, and the early stages of the Vietnam War. It remains in use as a civilian firearm and as a military drill rifle.

M4 Sherman

The M4 Sherman was the primary tank used by the United States during World War II. It was also distributed to the Allies via lend lease. Production of the M4 medium tank exceeded 50,000 units and its chassis served as the basis for numerous other armored vehicles such as tank destroyers, tank retrievers, and self-propelled artillery. In the United Kingdom the M4 was given the name Sherman after Union General William Tecumseh Sherman, following the British practice of naming their American-built tanks after famous American Civil War generals.

M10 Tank Killer

The M10 tank destroyer was a United States tank destroyer of WWII. Tank destroyer units were to be held as a reserve at the Corps or Army level, and were to move quickly to the site of any enemy tank breakthrough, maneuvering aggressively to destroy enemy tanks. This led to a requirement for very fast, well-armed vehicles. Though equipped with turrets (unlike most tank destroyers of the day), the typical American design was more heavily gunned, but more lightly armored, and thus more maneuverable, than a tank. The idea was to use speed and agility as a defense, rather than thick armor, to bring a powerful self-propelled gun into action against enemy tanks.

GMC 2.5 Ton Truck

The M35 family of trucks is a long-lived vehicle initially deployed by the United States Army, and subsequently utilized by many nations around the world. A truck in the 2 1/2 ton weight class, it was one of many vehicles in US military service to have been referred to as the "deuce and a half." While the basic M35 cargo truck can legally carry 5000 pounds across country or 10,000 pounds over roads, they have been known to haul twice as much as rated. The M35 would quickly become the dominant truck in its class in the US military, serving with all the services in various capacities.

M3A1 Halftrack

The M3 was the larger counterpart to the M2 Half Track Car. Ten seats were arranged down either side of the vehicle, with three in the cab. Racks under the seats were used for ammunition and rations; additional racks behind the seat backs held the squad's rifles and other stowage. The later M3A1 adopted a raised, armored 'pulpit mount' for the .50 caliber, and .30 caliber machine guns could be used from mounts along the sides of the passenger compartment. Many M3s were later modified to the M3A1 standard. The body was armoured all around with an adjustable armoured shutter for the engine's radiator and a bullet proof windscreen.

40mm Bofors Anti-Air Gun

The Bofors 40 mm gun was designed by the Swedish firm of Bofors. It was one of the most popular medium-weight anti-aircraft systems during World War II, used by most of the western Allies. It is often referred to simply as the Bofors gun. In order to supply both the Army and Navy with much greater numbers of the guns, Chrysler was brought in to be a major producer. In U.S. Army service, the Bofors was known as the 40 mm Automatic Gun M1. The U.S. version of the gun fired three variants of the British Mk. II high-explosive shell as well as the M18A1 armor-piercing round, which was capable of penetrating some 50 mm of homogeneous armor plate at a range of 500 yards.

155mm M114 Howitzer

The M114 155 mm howitzer was a towed howitzer used by the United States Army. It was first produced in 1942 as a medium artillery piece under the designation of 155 mm Howitzer M1.The gun fired separate loading, bagged charge ammunition, with seven different propelling charges, from 1 (the smallest) to 7 (the largest).

P-51 Mustang

The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was a long-range single-seat fighter aircraft that entered service with Allied air forces in the middle years of World War II. As well as being economical to produce, the Mustang was a fast, well-made, and highly durable aircraft. The definitive version, the P-51D, was powered by the Packard V-1650, a two-stage two-speed supercharged version of the legendary Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, and was armed with six .50 in M2 Browning machine guns.

P-38 Lightning

The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament. Called "fork-tailed devil" by the Luftwaffe, this unique [4]aircraft was used in a number of different roles including dive bombing, level bombing, ground strafing, photo reconnaissance missions,[5] and extensively as a long-range escort fighter when equipped with drop tanks under its wings.

B-17 Flying Fortress

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a four-engine heavy bomber aircraft developed for the United States Army Air Corps, introduced in the 1930s.The B-17 was primarily employed in the daylight precision strategic bombing campaign of World War II against German industrial, civilian, and military targets. The USAAC touted the aircraft as a strategic weapon; it was a potent, high-flying, long-range bomber capable of unleashing great destruction, able to defend itself, and having the ability to return home despite extensive battle damage. It quickly took on mythic proportions. Stories and photos of B-17s surviving battle damage widely circulated, increasing its iconic status.

M2 Browning

The M2 Machine Gun, Browning .50 Caliber Machine Gun, or "Ma Deuce" is a heavy machine gun designed towards the end of World War I by John Browning. The M2 uses the .50 BMG cartridge, and is the source of its name (BMG standing for Browning Machine Gun). The M2 was nicknamed Ma Deuce by U.S. Military personnel or simply called "fifty-cal." in reference to its caliber. It is effective against infantry, unarmored or lightly-armored vehicles and boats, light fortifications, and low-flying aircraft.

Machine Gun Nest

Machine gun nests were used by all armies as a way of holding positions, covering paths of enemy advance, and providing friendly forces with suppressing fire. Typically they were not heavily fortified and relied on a combination of improvised cover, camouflage, and temporary, hand-made earthen embankments to protect the gun crews and conceal them.

Pillbox

A military bunker is a hardened shelter, often buried partly or fully underground, designed to protect the inhabitants from falling bombs or other attacks. Dug-in guard posts (with loopholes through which to fire weapons) made from concrete are also known as "pillboxes". The originally jocular name arose from their perceived similarity to the cylindrical boxes in which medical pills were once sold. They are in effect a trench firing step hardened to protect against small-arms fire and grenades and raised to improve the field of fire.

Medical Tent

Combat medics are trained military personnel who provide first aid and frontline trauma care on the battlefield. They are also provide continuing medical care in the absence of a readily available physician, including care for disease and battle injury. They are normally co-located with the combat troops they serve in order to easily move with the troops. In 1864, sixteen European states (referring to themselves as "High Contracting Parties"), adopted the First Geneva Convention to save lives, to alleviate the suffering of wounded and sick military personnel, and to protect trained medical personal as civilians, in the act of rendering aid.

Radio Tent

Communications became more reliable in WW2, as radio receivers, rather than telegraph wires, became more widely used. This allowed for a longer range of communications with scout planes, bombers, and distant units for coordinating mortar and howitzer attacks.

Airfield

WW2 saw the first wide use of aircraft in combat support roles. Airfields were often quickly erected in fields with support buildings made to help effect repairs and protect planes while they were on the ground, as well as provide a base from which scout patrols and air cover could be launched. Air superiority was essential to protect and support ground forces as they advanced.

Barbed wire

Wire obstacles are designed to disrupt, delay and generally slow down an attacking enemy. During the time that the attackers are slowed down by the wire obstacle they are easy to target with machinegun and artillery fire. Wire obstacles may range from a simple barbed wire fence in front of a defensive position, to elaborate patterns of fences, & concertinas hundreds of meters thick. One example is the "low wire entanglement", which consists of irregularly placed stakes that have been driven into the ground with only some 15 cm showing; the barbed wire is then wrapped and tightened on to these. An enemy combatant running through the barrier is apt to trip and get caught.

Dragon Teeth

Dragon's teeth (German: Drachenzähne, literally "Dragon Teeth") were square-pyramidal fortifications of reinforced concrete used during the Second World War to impede the movement of tanks. The idea was to slow down and channel tanks into "killing zones" where they could easily be disposed of by anti-tank weapons. In practice, however, the use of combat engineers and specialist clearance vehicles enabled them to be disposed of relatively quickly, and they proved far less of an obstacle than many had expected.

Hedgehog

The Czech hedgehog was a static anti-tank obstacle made of angled iron used during World War II by various combatants. The hedgehog is very effective in keeping tanks from getting through a line of defence. It maintains its function even when tipped over by a nearby explosion. Although it may provide some scant cover for infantry, infantry forces are generally much less effective against fortified defensive positions than mechanized units. The name refers to the place of origin. The hedgehogs were originally used on the Czech-German border by the Czechoslovak border fortifications - a massive but never-completed fortification system built on the eve of World War II by Czechoslovakia.

Minefield

A land mine is a target operated explosive. Their non-explosive predessors (caltrops, stakes and spikes) have been used on the battlefield since ancient times. Landmines were designed to be used to deter, channel, delay and kill an enemy. Land mines are force multiplier increasing the efficiency a defending force without requiring more personnel. The name originates from the practice of mining, where tunnels were dug under enemy fortifications or forces. These tunnels ("mines") were first collapsed to destroy fortifications above, and later filled with explosives and detonated.