#history

The iconic F-14 Tomcat made its mark in naval aviation for its cultural significance and popularity. However, the defining weapon that sets the Tomcat apart from its peers is the long-range AIM-54 Phoenix missile. This weapon, intended to strike Soviet bombers from a long distance before they could fire deadly anti-ship cruise missiles, allowed the F-14 to perform its "Fleet Defense" role. Thus we will dive into the development behind this fascinating missile, the improvements it had, and how it would not be America writing the tomes on the AIM-54's combat usage, but instead Iran.

This guide is about the history to the 10,5 cm StuH 42 L/28. These guns were the mainstay of the German Army, from prewar till the very end. With performance upgrades along its life, it was effectively used in a multitude of roles such as direct support/assault artillery fire and counter artillery. The close up field support was effective against structures, infantry and tanks using a wide array of ammo types. It was only late in the war to be replaced by longer barreled variants such as L/30 and L/35. Being a formidable gun both in-game as well as IRL. It was used on all fronts, upgraded over time and used by multiple nations.

The Fireflash is the first attempt the United Kingdom made at a guided air-to-air missile. Designed in 1949, it entered service in 1957 where it only remained for a year. Found on the British Swift F.7, it is the only beam-riding (SACLOS) AAM in-game, meaning it goes where your airplane's nose is pointing.

The F9F family was an extensive series of American Navy jet aircraft made up of many variants. These aircraft were well praised during their service, in total flying 78,000 sorties. They also were the first jet fighter aircraft to see air-to-air combat with the US Navy and played a big part in the war over Korea. After their service they would even be seen flying with the Blue Angels.

While the tech trees of minor nations are often overlooked, they contain some real gems—one of which is Arras, a French aviso designed to integrate into merchant convoys, resemble an ordinary merchant ship, and surprise the enemy with its armament and speed. She is known for being a highly survivable and well-armed vessel, capable of taking out small boats with a single shot from her 138.6 mm guns. However, she remains vulnerable to torpedoes and bombers.

The Mitsubishi A5M4 is an early monoplane fighter from the interwar period found in the Japanese aviation tech tree. Known as the world’s first low-wing carrier-based fighter to enter service and the predecessor of the famous Mitsubishi A6M Reisen, the A5M4 features a respectable maximum speed and great agility. This fighter can pose a serious threat to biplanes and even other early monoplanes if you know how to utilize it to its full potential. A variant of this fighter, Hagiri’s A5M4, flown by the Japanese pilot Matsuo Hagiri, is found in the premium part of the tech tree.

Neutral Switzerland’s airspace was violated at least 6,501 times during the war, and her main cities were bombed numerous times by the Allies during their bombing campaign on Germany from 1942. This collateral, accidental and sometimes purposeful violation of Swiss neutrality meant that Switzerland needed fast, modern and effective fighters to defend her airspace, and the German ME 109 series proved to be just that.

The Belgian Armed Forces—known as Defensie (NL), La Défense (FR), and Belgische Streitkräfte (DE)—serve as the national military of the Kingdom of Belgium. The monarch, the King or Queen of the Belgians, acts as the commander-in-chief. Belgium operates a professional military force, as conscription was officially suspended on February 5, 1995.

The Rafale, developed by Dassault Aviation, is the centerpiece of the French Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace (Air and Space Force), and is arguably one of the best multirole aircraft in service today. However, developing such an advanced machine was no easy task. France chose to create a combat aircraft that could replace a wide array of legacy platforms, from reconnaissance and nuclear deterrence to air superiority and naval operations. The Rafale embodies the concept of, as Dassault calls it, an “omnirôle” aircraft, designed to excel in every mission, performing multiple roles in a single flight, and doing so without requiring major modifications to the aircraft itself. In this article, I will explore the history of its development, from the prototypes to the pre-production models.

This article will summarize the history of the German Panzerkampfwagen IV medium tank and its variants, including their development, production, and service history. The Pz.Kpfw. IV was one of the most produced fully tracked German armoured vehicles of the Second World War, second only to the Sturmgeschütz III assault gun. In addition to its original role as a medium tank, the chassis of the Pz.Kpfw. IV served as a versatile platform for many self-propelled weapon designs.