#history
The development of Japanese armoured vehicles began like many other industrial nations, inspired by the pioneering tanks of World War I. Domestic production started in the late 1920s, with Japan's tanks battle-tested during the Sino-Japanese conflict and the early Pacific campaigns of the 1930s. However, stagnation set in due to budget cuts and turmoil in tactics, leaving Japan's tank forces outdated by World War II. Development in the 1940s was largely defensive, and the tanks on the frontlines were from the 1930s, giving a false impression of Japan’s capabilities. After the war, Japan relied on U.S. equipment until regaining sovereignty, when development resumed. Since the 1950s, Japanese tanks have embraced NATO principles while incorporating unique innovations, focusing on advanced, defence-oriented designs to maintain a robust self-defence force.
The Saab 39 Gripen, often called the JAS 39 Gripen, is a highly capable multirole fighter aircraft renowned for its exceptional maneuverability, advanced avionics, and cost-efficient operation. Since its first flight in 1988 and subsequent introduction into service in 1996, Gripen has become the cornerstone of the Swedish Air Force and has since been adopted by several other nations around the world.
The A-5C (Q-5III/强-5III), NATO reporting name: Fantan, is the export version of the Nanchang Q-5 during the early days of China’s paid military sales in the 1980s. China was in desperate need of funding after economic reforms, and since previous aircraft exports were essentially given as aid rather than sales, military factories were also searching for a means to generate funds for their new projects.
The LT vz.38 was a light tank originally from Czechoslovakia and built by Škoda and ČKD. A total of at least 6,919 examples were built, including pre-war and licensed models in every imaginable configuration. Following the German occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939, the German Reich captured plans, production equipment, and some examples of the LT vz.38 that had not yet been deployed in the Czech army and renamed them the Pz. 38(t). Later, a licensed version, along with some examples, was sold to Sweden, who renamed it the Stridsvagn m/41 and slightly modified it. The Pz. 38(t) was used by Germany throughout World War II and also influenced several other tank designs, including the German E-series.
The ZTZ96 is China’s most advanced second generation main battle tank (MBT). But its history actually extends well before the ZTZ96 actually appeared and its development history is extremely messy (not that any tank development project is ever neat), filled with several weird prototypes and secretive vehicles. So, let’s take a look at the history of this tank’s development, its main variants, and all of those weird 1-off prototypes that never made it to production.
Kamikaze (神風 “divine wind”) was a military tactic used in the later stages of the Second World War, used by pilots of the Imperial Japanese Air Force and Naval Air Service. The tactic consisted of an aircraft loaded with explosives; the pilot would then attempt to deliberately ram the aircraft into enemy ships to inflict damage.
The story of the Mosquito begins with the founding of Geoffrey de Havilland’s aircraft company which bore his namesake, de Havilland. Around 1908, de Havilland designed his first aeronautical engine, which he then used to power his first aircraft — a small biplane. In 1920, when the aircraft company he worked for — Airco — shut down, he was able to create his own company, de Havilland Aircraft Company Limited, more commonly known as de Havilland.
The Archer was one of the most unusual tanks of World War II, developed and produced by Britain. It was based on the chassis of the Valentine infantry tank and armed with the 17-pounder anti-tank gun. What made the Archer unique was that its gun faced the rear of the vehicle, meaning the tank often had to be reversed into firing position. Approximately 665 units were built.
