The NF-5A aircraft were acquired by the Netherlands in the late 1960s to replace the ageing F-84F Thunderstreaks that were still serving in the strike and close-support role within the Royal Netherlands Air Force (KLu). The Netherlands initially considered multiple fighter-bomber options, including the Mirage III, but ultimately selected the F-104G for interceptor duties. A second procurement program was then launched to find a more affordable tactical fighter to support ground forces, leading to the choice of a uniquely Dutch variant of the F-5 Freedom Fighter.
The F4D-1 is the only carrier-capable delta-winged fighter which was employed by the US Navy. The plane itself represents the era of early jet aviation when designers experimented with unusual solutions. In the game, the F4D-1 Skyray differs significantly from other jet fighters and aircraft with similar wings. Like the latter, it can turn sharply toward the enemy, and it carries good weapons. However, its low maximum speed is disappointing, and like other delta wings, it quickly loses energy. So, how do you play it?
A ten-meter long behemoth with five turrets and three cannons. A fever dream? Possibly. But also the Soviet T-35 heavy tank. While awe-inspiring for both enemies and allies alike, the thin armor and slow speed of this monster make its playstyle somewhat trickier than just holding W and occasionally clicking your left mouse button. This article thus seeks to provide some clarity on all aspects of this heavy tank, to make it easier to grasp for its new owners.
In the mid-1920s, Germany quietly abandoned the Versailles restrictions and began covertly rebuilding its armored forces. In 1933, the army tasked Rheinmetall, whose Grosstraktor was the only 1920s design with any combat value, with developing a new heavy tank. The brief called for a vehicle of about 20 t with three turrets, armed with 75-mm and 37-mm guns plus multiple machine guns. The paperwork labeled the program Panzerkampfwagen Neubaufahrzeug — literally “new-construction fighting vehicle”. The name stuck and was later shortened to Nb.Fz.
Hydropneumatic suspension, or controlled suspension, is a wheel suspension system that allows a vehicle’s ground clearance to be adjusted. With these types of systems, vibrations are dampened by specially designed hydropneumatic shock absorbers, while the compression force is transmitted by fluid to each shock absorber’s pneumatic receiver chamber.
The A13 series of tanks was a range of similar British cruiser tanks produced just before, and for the first few years of, the Second World War. They adhered almost single-mindedly to the doctrine of speed and mobility above all else, meaning they were quickly outclassed by newer designs on both sides. Despite this they had a strong impact on the development of British tanks for several years and were a mainstay of the British Army’s tank units in the opening years of the war.
After the defeat in World War 2, Japan was in no position to develop or acquire new military aircraft. After the end of the official Allied occupation of the islands, the country adopted a strict policy of non-involvement, vowing never to take part in foreign conflicts and banning all forms of military export. At the same time, given the reality of living in a world divided between two superpowers, Japan also started rebuilding its armed forces for self-defense purposes.
The Republic P-43 Lancer, introduced in 1940, was a transitional American fighter that bridged the gap between prewar designs and the more advanced aircraft of World War II. It offered respectable high-altitude performance for its time, along with decent armament, similar to its more popular successor, the P-47 Thunderbolt. The P-43 provided valuable experience in high-altitude operations and combat testing, with some serving in China under the American Volunteer Group and later the Chinese Air Force.
