Tanks, Tanks, and More Tanks!

I'm just a guy who likes tanks and is bad at drawing! I'll try and post a small doodle every few days along with a lil blurb about the tank in question.

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Inktober day 23! Prompt: Muddy

The T-34-85 was the most successful Soviet tank of world war 2, and remains one of the most produced tanks in history. Its rugged design, simple mechanisms and reliable chassis made it the backbone of the Red Army tank brigades.

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INKTOBER DAY 31! Prompt: Slice An American swept-wing fighter, the North American F-86F “Sabre”!  The Sabre was the evolution of jet aircraft, designed in the late 1940s as America’s premier jet fighter. Incorporating swept wings, a powerful engine, and advanced hydraulically powered control surfaces, the Sabre was a top of the line fighter. It first saw combat over Korea, deployed to fight against the similarly designed MiG-15 which had given the North Koreans air superiority.

The Sabre incorporated every lesson learned in aircraft design since WW2–swept wings for more efficient high speed maneuvering, a low drag cross section, and fully nose-mounted armament. With a top speed of over 1000km/h, 6x 0.50 calibre M3 Browning heavy machine guns, and exceptional maneuverability, the Sabre was a very effective fighter. During the Korean War official US statistics boasted a 10:1 kill ratio, however the actual statistics show that it was closer to 2:1. Over 9000 were produced, and even after its retirement as an air superiority fighter in 1960, the F-86 was used as a ground attack aircraft for many years afterward. I just want to thank all of you who enjoy my drawings! I’ve had a great time drawing this past month but I definitely need a break. I’ll be back to more sporadic posting, but it’s been a great learning experience!

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Inktober Day 30! Prompt: Jolt The J2M Raiden was a Japanese land-based high altitude interceptor, designed around the powerful Mitsubishi Kasei radial engine. Its short and stubby design was deceptively diminuitive, and after various teething issues were resolved the J2M was a fairly capable aircraft. Capable of an extreme rate of climb, the Raiden could reach its service ceiling in about 8 minutes. As well, armed with 4 20mm Type-99 cannons, the Raiden was fairly heavily armed for its size. Overall, while it did not see too much combat due to arriving late in the war, the Raiden was an interesting and dangerous aircraft. 

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Inktober day 29! Prompt: Double In 1944, German commanders realized the desperate need for an anti-aircraft vehicle in order to combat increasing Allied air superiority and curb their losses from close-air support aircraft like the P-47 & Typhoon. They decided to use damaged or outdated Panzer IV chassis and modify them with anti-aircraft firepower--creating the Flakpanzer IV tank. The first Flakpanzer IV, the Möbelwagen (”Moving Van”), was little more than a 3.7cm Flak 43 gun with some armor plates welded around it.

 The Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind, or “Whirlwind”, mounted a Flakvierling 38 with quad 2cm cannons, capable of sustained fire at 800 rounds per minute. With an armored, open-top turret, the Wirbelwind proved fairly effective at engaging both air targets and lighter ground targets. The reliable armored Panzer IV frame meant that it would take an anti-tank weapon to destroy it, making it more effective than the easily-disabled Möbelwagen. 

However, the 20mm cannons aboard the Wirbelwind were not nearly effective enough against the armored Allied attack aircraft, and thus, the Ostwind (”East Wind”) was developed in late 1944. With a similar turret design to the Wirbelwind, the Ostwind mounted a single 3.7cm Flak 43, similar to the  Möbelwagen. However, its enclosed turret gave it greater protection, and it also proved somewhat effective in its anti-air and an anti-ground role. In total, about 400 Flakpanzers of all models were built, and they were not effective enough in stemming Allied air supremacy. 

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Inktober Day 28! Prompt: Gift Under the lend-lease program in WW2, thousands of tanks,half tracks, trucks, support vehicles and weapons were sent from the US to its various allies, including the Soviet Union. American transports proved invaluable to the Soviet war effort--as domestic production of trucks and jeeps was simply not enough. Reliable American equipment allowed the Soviets to reinforce and resupply their troops with maximum efficiency, and tanks like the M4A2 Sherman were well liked by Soviet tank crews thanks to their comfortable seats, heating systems, and smoother suspensions. 

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Inktober day 27! Prompt: Thunder The Republic F-105 “Thunderchief”, commonly referred to by the “Thud” by its pilots was a Mach 2+ capable USAF fighter-bomber with a massive payload used extensively during the Vietnam war. 

Designed in 1955 to replace the older F-84H “Thunderstreak”, the F-105 was a massive aircraft. Originally, it was intended as a fast nuclear-payload delivery system, but its large size and powerful J-75 turbojet engine made it perfect for a fighter-bomber role. With the ability to carry up to 14,000 pounds of ordnance, this single-engined jet bomber could mount almost as many weapons as 2 WW2 B-17s. 

 During the Vietnam war, high loss rates of the F-105 eventually forced it out of a direct bomber role, and its usage shifted to a “Wild Weasel” aircraft. In air combat, “Wild Weasel” planes conduct a mission called “Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses”, or “SEAD”. Essentially, a small flight of SEAD planes fly in before the main striking force, finding and destroying surface-to-air missile sites with  high-powered interference and radar-seeking weaponry. The F-105 was the first aircraft that was specially modified for the SEAD role, and those models were given the designation of “EF-105″. Equipped with advanced radar-detecting equipment, AGM-54 “Shrike” anti-radiation missiles, and more conventional weapons, the EF-105 proved particularly effective as a SEAD aircraft. 

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Inktober Day 26! Prompt: Stretch An American supply helicopter, the Boeing CH-47F “Chinook”! The CH-47 is a distinctive twin-engine, tandem rotor, transport & support helicopter designed for use by the U.S. Military. Developed from the smaller CH-46 “Sea Knight” used by the USN & USMC, the “Chinook” was built to be able to handle heavier loads than its marine counterpart. Capable of carrying over 24,000 pounds of load, or up to 55 troops, and mounting up to 3 weapons in flexible mounts, the Chinook is one of the most reliable ways to deliver men and materiel to the front lines. As well, the CH-47 is capable of 200mph thanks to its twin T55-GA turboshaft engines, making it one of the fastest rotary-wing transports in the world.  The CH-47′s tandem rotor design allows for additional lift and control--as all of the shaft power produced by the engines goes into upwards thrust, instead of a portion being lost to counteract the torque of the main rotor in more traditional designs. All helicopters need some way to counteract the torque of the main rotor, traditionally,this is done by having a vertically-mounted rotor acting opposite to the direction of torque. Some other helicopter designs, like the Russian Ka-50 Akula, use a co-axial rotor design. But, having two non-coaxial rotors also means the Chinook is less sensitive to changes in its center of gravity, something vitally important when loading & unloading large amounts of cargo. 

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Inktober Day 25! Only 1 week left! Prompt: Prickly The Cactus Air Force was the colloquial name for the divisions of Marine and Navy aircraft that defended Guadalcanal from Japanese airpower and assisted in Operation Watchtower. Operating from Henderson Field, a muddy, dusty, hot makeshift airfield, the aviators fought bravely from 1942 until the end of the war. The airfield was close to the front lines, and Japanese attacks from the ground, air and sea were a regularity. Despite the harsh conditions, the aviators were able to sink 17 Japanese warships and defend the Marine & Army units on Guadalcanal from Japanese air attacks. 

The Grumman F4F Wildcat was the primary fighter aircraft of the US Navy and Marine Corps from 1940 until 1943, and was in many ways, inferior to the Japanese A6M2 Zero. The Wildcat was slower, less maneuverable, and only armed with 4 0.50 calibre machine guns. Comparatively, the Zero had longer range, better firepower, speed, and maneuverability. The Wildcat’s biggest advantage was its superior durability and dive speed, as it featured self-sealing fuel tanks, reinforced wings, and armor plating. Through coordination and communication, skilled Wildcat pilots could combat the superior Zeroes. By the end of the war, the more powerful F6F Hellcat and F4U Corsair had largely replaced the Wildcat, but it was still used as an anti-submarine and close air support plane. 

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Inktober Day 24! Prompt: Chop

An American SBD-5 Dauntless and a Japanese A6M2 Zero!

The SBD-5 Dauntless was the main dive bomber used by the United States Navy during WW2. Designed & manufactured by the Douglass aircraft corporation, the Dauntless had reinforced wings, specially made “swiss-cheese” dive brakes, a reliable Wright R-1820 radial engine, and 4 machine guns, two mounted in a flexible rear turret. Altogether, the Dauntless was the most effective dive bomber of World War 2, notably sinking the powerful Imperial Japanese Naval carriers Hiryu, Soryu, Akagi, and Kaga during the decisive Battle of Midway. Although it was replaced by the heavier and more powerful SB2C Helldiver beginning in 1944, pilots still enjoyed flying the Dauntless more due to its better handling characteristics. 

The A6M Zero was the IJN’s premier air-to-air dogfighting aircraft. Light, maneuverable, fast, and with an exceptional range, the Zero or “Zeke” was feared by allied pilots. Until the introduction of the F6F Hellcat, no American carrier-borne aircraft could take on a Zero in a one-on-one dogfight. The Zero was armed with a pair of 0.30 calibre machine guns in the nose, and one powerful 20mm cannon in each wing, giving it more effective range than the 0.50 calibre heavy machine guns used by the USN. However, due to its light construction and large fuel tanks, the Zero was quite fragile, something that a skilled American pilot could exploit.  In 1942, during the battle of the Coral Sea, LTJG Stanley “Swede” Vejtasa was returning from a routine patrol in his SBD-5 Dauntless when he was jumped by 3 IJN Zeroes. Acting quickly, Vejtasa managed to take out two with the Dauntless’s 50 calibre machine guns, before going head-on with the final Zero and tearing through its wing with his own. The rugged Dauntless wing, reinforced for the high-G stress of dive bombing held firmly, but the enemy Zero’s wing tore apart like tissue paper. The final Zero spiraled out of control into the water, earning “Swede” his second Navy Cross and a promotion to the fighter squadrons. Vejtasa would go on to score 7 air-to-air kills in a single day during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, making him a “double ace”, and awarding him his third Navy Cross. Vejtasa is, to this day, the only USN pilot to earn a Navy Cross for bombing and fighter combat. He retired at the rank of Captain (O-6) in 1970, and died in 2013. 

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Inktober day 23! Prompt: Muddy

The T-34-85 was the most successful Soviet tank of world war 2, and remains one of the most produced tanks in history. Its rugged design, simple mechanisms and reliable chassis made it the backbone of the Red Army tank brigades.

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Inktober Day 22! Prompt: Expensive An expensive next-generation American multirole fighter, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II! The F-35 Lightning was designed as an STOVL (short-take off vertical landing) aircraft to replace the USMC’s AV-8B Harrier VTOL (vertical take-off/landing) in combat support roles. Designed originally to take off from the smaller decks of navy LHAs & LHDs, the F-35 was eventually split into 3 separate variants. The F-35A, with a conventional take-off and landing mechanism, the F-35B, capable of STOVL, and the F-35C, designed for carrier operations. 

The F-35 is the result of the Joint Strike Fighter design competition, a joint operation between many NATO members. Currently, about 20 NATO countries are already operating or plan on obtaining F-35s for their air forces. All F-35 variants have a 25mm GAU-22/A, as well as two internal weapons bays and 6 external hardpoints. As well, it is equipped with some of the most advanced avionics and sensor equipment ever mounted on an aircraft. Overall, the F-35 is a capable vehicle, able to take on multiple roles in combat.

However, all this has come at a cost, 1.508 trillion dollars to be exact. Over 55 billion was spent on RDT&E alone, and each aircraft costs around 100 million to produce. This program has drawn much controversy for its bloat and cost, and for good reason. 

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Inktober Day 21! Prompt: Drain A Soviet-era Alfa-class nuclear hunter-killer submarine!

The Alfa-class SSN was developed in 1957 and put into production in 1964, designed to outspeed every submarine in NATO or Soviet service. To this day, the Alfa is the fastest submarine ever created. Capable of a blistering 45 knots (52 mph), the Alfa was faster than many of the torpedoes used by NATO in the late 1960s & early 70s. Equipped with 6 torpedo tubes, powerful active sonar, and an innovative BM-40A reactor, the Alfa was exceptionally advanced for its time. 

The Alfa class utilized a low-drag, titanium alloy hull in order to maximize speed. This lead to a distinctive noise profile and some initial teething issues due to the Soviet navy’s inexperience with titanium. Reactor-wise, most nuclear submarines in service use a Pressurized Water Reactor(PWR), which is essentially a giant steam boiler that uses uranium for heating. Every single U.S. Navy submarine uses a PWR plant. However, the Alfa used a completely different design: The BM-40A lead-bismuth cooled liquid-metal fast reactor. 

Basically, the reactor replaces water with molten metal, which is able to more efficiently uptake the energy released by the nuclear reaction due to its high density and neutron-absorption capability. While allowing for faster thrust, greater power output, and quicker acceleration; the reactor must be either constantly run or kept heated via super-heated steam in order to keep the metal from solidifying. If the reactor coolant solidifies, the submarine would be forced to be decommissioned. Compared to the more reliable and less complex PWR designs used by the USN and other submarines, the liquid-metal fast reactor is more dangerous but more powerful. 

4 Alfa-class SSNs have been decommissioned due to solidifying coolant, as all the facilities capable of providing super-heated steam to maintain the reactor temperature have been shut down. Consequently, all the Alfa-class SSN reactors are kept running at all times, leading to constant maintenance and a higher accident rate than with a PWR design. All in all, the Alfa was a dangerous experimental submarine that forced the design of more advanced NATO weapons and submarines. 

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Inktober Day 20! Prompt: Breakable

The “Bob Semple” tank was a slightly misguided effort by the New Zealand Minister of Public Works, Bob Semple, to create a fully indigenous armored fighting vehicle to defend their island in case of invasion. Semple decided the most effective way to do so was to mount a bunch of corrugated metal sheets and other improvised sheets onto a Caterpillar D8 tractor chassis. It was equipped with a turret with one mounted 0.303 machine gun, along with 5 others mounted on the front, sides, and rear of the...”tank”. 

This project attracted much public ridicule, with many people stating that the vehicles would be essentially useless in the case of a real life invasion. Semple defended himself, saying “ I don’t see anyone else coming up with any better ideas. “ In practice, these vehicles were basically useless, with their thin armor being unable to stop anything but small arms fire and their slow speed and terrible stability making them ineffective weapon platforms. 

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Inktober Day 19! Prompt: Scorched The McDonnell Douglass F-4F Phantom II, a US Military fighter-bomber that has served with air forces across the world.

The F-4 Phantom II was originally designed as a carrier-based interceptor for the U.S. Navy, but eventually was adopted by the USAF and USMC as their primary fighter-bomber aircraft. With 9 external hardpoints for ordnance, it was capable of carrying advanced AIM-9 sidewinder missiles, rocket pods, bombs, and an integral 20mm cannon. For a fighter, the F-4 Phantom II was massive, with a loaded takeoff weight of over 60,000 lbs. Even so, its twin General Electric J79 turbojet engines were capable of propelling the plane at over Mach 2, with an exceptionally fast climbrate and takeoff speed. 

The F-4 Phantom proved itself in combat over Vietnam, with over 100 kills over the course of the war.  The F-4 Phantom was so successful that it was exported to over 10 countries, and is still in use today with the air forces of Japan, South Korea, Greece, Turkey, and Iran. 

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Inktober day 18! Prompt: Bottle An American Nuclear Submarine, the USS Alexandria (SSN-757)!

The Los Angeles Improved submarines (also known as the 688i-class) are a development on the Los Angeles-class of American nuclear fast attack submarines, designed in the late 1980s to replace the USN’s Sturgeon-class submarines. The 688s were built to be faster, quieter, and stealthier than the Sturgeons, and they succeeded in all respects. The modernized 688i submarines are also equipped with VLS tubes, capable of launching land-attack or anti-ship missiles. The 688s have an official top speed of 20 knots (~ 25mph), but they have been reported reaching speeds of up to 40 knots in combat. Equipped with 4 torpedo tubes for launching deadly Mark 48 ADCAP torpedoes, advanced surveillance and sonar technology, and a nuclear reactor, the Los Angeles-class submarines remain some of the deadliest in the ocean. 

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Inktober Day 17! Prompt: Swollen

The C-130 Hercules is the longest produced military aircraft in history, being in continuous production for over 60 years. Capable of hauling large amounts of cargo, short take offs & landings thanks to its quad-turboprop design, and long range reconnaissance patrols, the adaptable C-130 has been in use since 1954. 

One of the most famous modifications of the Hercules is turning it into a flying artillery platform--the AC-130 “Spectre” gunship. The Spectre forgoes cargo capacity for raw firepower, mounting a 105mm Howitzer, a 40mm Bofors gun, and a pair of 20mm Vulcan cannons. More modern versions are armed with 30mm cannons and provisions for guided missiles and bombs. 

The C-130 is a reliable, dependable workhorse aircraft, and will remain in service with military air forces across the world for years to come.

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Day 16! Prompt: Angular IT’S THE M1A2 ABRAMS BABY IT’S PURE FREEDOM

THIS GAS-GUZZLING, TURBINE DRIVEN, 70 TON, 9 MILLION DOLLAR WAR MACHINE IS THE PINNACLE OF AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY.

Being serious here, the M1A2 Abrams is an American, 3rd generation Main-Battle Tank developed in the late 1980s to replace the aging M60 Patton tanks with something more modern, mobile, and heavily armored. The XM1 Abrams was born out of the failed MBT-70 project, which was the first tank design to incorporate composite armor. The Abrams has proved itself in many conflicts, from the 1991 Gulf War to current anti-terrorism efforts in Afghanistan & Syria.  Armed with a 120mm smoothbore M256A1 cannon capable of firing a depleted-uranium sabot at ranges of over 4km, as well as up to 2 7.62 M240 LMGs & 1 0.50 calibre M2 Browning, the Abrams has some of the heaviest firepower of any modern tank. Its armor protection is a classified depleted-uranium composite mesh, capable of stopping even the strongest kinetic & chemical pentrating rounds. As well, the Abrams is equipped with advanced rangefinders, targeting systems, and optics, making it a threat at any range or time of day.