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ORIGINAL: micheljq

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ORIGINAL: composer99

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A clue, it was a super-commando created in 1942 by the U.S. and Canadian armed forces. Any idea someone what was the name of this unit?

Devil's Brigade, I believe. What the actual unit name was I cannot recall (2nd something-or-other brigade...).

The Black Devils, this unit was a special secret force, even now I have difficulties finding something on them on the internet. They served in the Pacific then were recalled in Europe in 1944 for the Anzio landings. The germans called them "Schwartzen Teufels", hence Black Devils, because of their ability to pass unnoticed and the black they used to paint their faces. They were the first allied unit to enter Rome. They suffered a very high casuality rate.

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ORIGINAL: terje439

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ORIGINAL: warspite1

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ORIGINAL: terje439

5 inch RN cruiser...Hmm would be waaay easier if you asked for a class with 5.25 inch [:)]

Warspite1

Yes it would - but that was not the question [;)]. This was just one ship within a class

This Q has been bugging me all night, and I still have no answer [:@]
The 5 inch is not typical RN, more USN. And I know one of the RN cruisers took a hit at Malta (I believe it was Malta at least) and was repaired in the US. So I guess it is that cruiser that had her guns refitted as well, but her name?! #¤&%&!!!!

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ORIGINAL: Orm

This General was awararded his countries highest award for valor in the face of the enemy. He was shot in the face and lost an eye in Africa. Lost a hand in France. The General was shot through the head without any lasting injury. Had other injuries in his hip, ear, leg and ankle. Wounded in action no less than 8 times. Survived when his airtransport was shot by enemy fighters killing his aide. Was later taken prisoner after his airplane had crashed due to engine failure. Made 5 attempts to flee imprisonment including a 8 days attempt on the run.

1) What is the name of the General.

2) What campaign did he later descibe as the dullest campaign he had been in?


-Orm

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ORIGINAL: warspite1

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ORIGINAL: Orm

This General was awararded his countries highest award for valor in the face of the enemy. He was shot in the face and lost an eye in Africa. Lost a hand in France. The General was shot through the head without any lasting injury. Had other injuries in his hip, ear, leg and ankle. Wounded in action no less than 8 times. Survived when his airtransport was shot by enemy fighters killing his aide. Was later taken prisoner after his airplane had crashed due to engine failure. Made 5 attempts to flee imprisonment including a 8 days attempt on the run.

1) What is the name of the General.

2) What campaign did he later descibe as the dullest campaign he had been in?


-Orm

Warspite 1

Carton de Wiart was the General but I cannot for the life of me think what the campaign was.

Sorry - just read your later post - if he was in Mauriceforce, he must have been in Norway - one of the two prongs to supposedly take Trondheim.

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ORIGINAL: warspite1

Terje - many RN ships were repaired in US yards due to the limitations of British industry and the volume of ships getting smacked about by the Axis - mostly in the Mediterranean. To put you out of your misery it was HMS Delhi, a D or Danae-class cruiser. The idea between the wars was to re-build these ships as AA cruisers (like many of the C-class) but again owing to a lack of money and resources and with other priorities for the British shipbuilding industry with a war looming, this never happened for the D-class. As a result all the D-class began the war un-modernised. Instead, in 1941 HMS Delhi was sent to the US to be refitted as an AA cruiser using US 5-inch guns. When the US entered the war, they had better things to do with their 5-inch guns and so no further upgrades were carried out.

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ORIGINAL: Neilster

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ORIGINAL: warspite1

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ORIGINAL: Mike Dubost

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ORIGINAL: warspite1

Which Field Marshal was in charge during the worst single disaster suffered by the German Army?

I forget if the man in charge of 6th army in Stalingrad was Paulus or von Paulus, but I think he is the one you are looking for.

Warspite1

His name was Friedrich Paulus (no Von) - but Stalingrad - contrary to popular belief - was not the biggest disaster the German suffered.

Clue: It was on the Eastern Front.

The Collapse of Army Group Centre, beginning on June 22nd 1944. It was due to the Soviet Operation Bagration, which eventually petered out several months later after massive gains and vast encirclements of German forces. It was a strategic surprise and Hitler's meddling and "no retreat" orders didn't help.

I think Busch was in charge at the beginning but from in memory he was replaced pretty early on by Model. I read a book on this operation a couple of years ago. Some of the stories are completely amazing. Some bands of German soldiers managed to infiltrate back to their lines after epic marches, having evaded the Russians for many weeks.

Cheers, Neilster

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ORIGINAL: terje439

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ORIGINAL: warspite1

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ORIGINAL: terje439

Some Qs I've been mailed, since they are good Qs indeed I'll post them here;

(Q1) What was the largest naval battle of the Spanish Civil War?

(Q2) Why should the Spanish Nationalist cruiser Baleares not be included in WiF after March 1938?

(Q3) What were Japanese Aircraft carriers and seaplane carriers mostly named after?

(Q4) If the IJN battleship Fuso's name means "Land of Divine Mulberry Trees" what is this also an old name for?

(Q5a) Who is the Peruvian cruiser Coronel B named after (no its not the football team or the collage)?

(Q5b) What is Coronel B's most famous saying?

Warspite1

Q3. Castles and Dragons - I can never remember which ships are which but I think of those carriers that took part in Pearl Harbor, there was Flying Dragon, Green Dragon, Red Castle and I`m sure I recall reading that Kaga means Increased Joy - or was I reading an edition of Asian Babes??

You have been given a point by tha author of these Qs

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ORIGINAL: Twotribes

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ORIGINAL: micheljq

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ORIGINAL: composer99

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A clue, it was a super-commando created in 1942 by the U.S. and Canadian armed forces. Any idea someone what was the name of this unit?

Devil's Brigade, I believe. What the actual unit name was I cannot recall (2nd something-or-other brigade...).

The Black Devils, this unit was a special secret force, even now I have difficulties finding something on them on the internet. They served in the Pacific then were recalled in Europe in 1944 for the Anzio landings. The germans called them "Schwartzen Teufels", hence Black Devils, because of their ability to pass unnoticed and the black they used to paint their faces. They were the first allied unit to enter Rome. They suffered a very high casuality rate.

1st special service force. They operated in Italy before Anzio and to my knowledge never operated in the Pacific. They used up one battalion taking a mountain , another was decimated on an Anzio break out attempt and the third I believe was used up in France.

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ORIGINAL: micheljq

The black devils are also in the old movie "Anzio". Peter Falk played one of them in the film. Darn I am quite sure I saw something about this unit serving in the Pacific before Itay, but cannot find the source anymore, or is it again my old brain with memory leaks.

My knowledge is limited when I compare to that of some people in this forum, but what the heck, I have time to spare, so here comes another question :

An important WW2 leader once called an action in an allied operation "a Stranded Whale". About what operation he spoke and who was that leader?

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ORIGINAL: composer99

I know it's OT for a WWII quiz, but who was the last soldier to die in WWI and when?

As for micheljq's last question, I would guess Rommel.

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ORIGINAL: paulderynck

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ORIGINAL: composer99

I know it's OT for a WWII quiz, but who was the last soldier to die in WWI and when?

As for micheljq's last question, I would guess Rommel.

If we are talking about prior to Nov. 11, 1918, I read somewhere or other or watched a documentary saying it was the unfortunate Private Price. However if WWI is not considered over until 1919 then we'd be talking about some poor soul who was killed in the Allied expedition to Northern Russia.

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ORIGINAL: paulderynck

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ORIGINAL: micheljq

The black devils are also in the old movie "Anzio". Peter Falk played one of them in the film. Darn I am quite sure I saw something about this unit serving in the Pacific before Itay, but cannot find the source anymore, or is it again my old brain with memory leaks.

My knowledge is limited when I compare to that of some people in this forum, but what the heck, I have time to spare, so here comes another question :

An important WW2 leader once called an action in an allied operation "a Stranded Whale". About what operation he spoke and who was that leader?

Well, the Aleutians do border on the Pacific.

My guess on your question is Montgomery talking about the Anzio beachead.

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ORIGINAL: composer99

It was Churchill talking about Anzio. He said he had hoped they were hurling a wildcat onto the shore, but it ended up being more like a stranded whale.

Or something to that effect.

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ORIGINAL: brian brian

I was reading a model airplane catalog that somehow came in the mail and came up with this question...what model of aircraft launched what one could possibly call the first cruise missile, during WWII?

I had never heard of this feat before.

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ORIGINAL: warspite1

Which two naval vessels - one Italian, one German were named after the same historical character? 

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ORIGINAL: terje439

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ORIGINAL: brian brian

I was reading a model airplane catalog that somehow came in the mail and came up with this question...what model of aircraft launched what one could possibly call the first cruise missile, during WWII?

I had never heard of this feat before.

Another mail from JGN in my inbox today, his reply is;
Heinkel He-111. Used to launch V1 missiles.

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What was the bizare plan that Louis Mountbatten had for constructing super-carriers?