martylee

Other guns. Marty

The big guns, 280 mm. The view form the guns. Marty

The Colonel himself. After the war evil tunges argued that the fort was surrendered too early, but with the intense bombing and the ill-prepared state of the national defense the fault lay with others. Unfortunately we see that a lot of those did infact put up a good fight was critiseized during and after the war. General Fleischer who indeed did a good job in the early weeks of the war in the northern part of Norway also received rather bad treatment. The enemy. The monuments. Marty

During a meeting with the management of our company I had the opportunity to visit the fortress at Oscarborg. This is where colonel Birger Eriksen saved the king and goverment, by sinking the Blücher. As part of the german plan Weserübung Norway was invaded on April 9th. Although the first minor battle took place in the late hours of the 8th. Norwegian guard ship Pol III was sunk after taking up battle with the german fleet. Signals where sent to Oscarsborg where they could prepare their totally fresh and untrained crew. The decicion to fire upon the ships where taken when they cruised into the narrow Oslo fjord with all lanterns dark. The brave Colonel Eriksen without contact with the high command, had to check their standing orders in case of such events. It said "to open fire". They fired batteries both on the island where the fort is situated and from the shoreline around. Among these guns were 280 mm guns. Of these there were 3 guns but only crew enough to man two of them. The crew manning these guns had just arrived at the fort and had little training. The Blücher caught fire from the guns firing. On the island there were also a torpedo battery uknown to the germans. It was torpedos from this battery that finally sank the Blûcher. The fort surrendered after heavy bombardment and air attacks on april 10th. Then the fort had been bombed for 9 straight hours. The inner fort. Inside the inner fort. Marty

YouTube links: Stoewr & Blitz, part I http://www.youtube.com/user/solangun73#p/a/u/1/A-xXRIOBdQ8 Stoewr & Blitz, part II Not mine, but from friends. Marty

Now, that's my kind of garden! :-) Marty

I remember once seeing a Lego WC51 that looked really good! The Indy Lego series has a truck that kind of looks like a wc51 if you place the spare wheel a little differently than planned. Marty

It's a nice place to live! This meeting it's also one of the best. First of all it's 3 times a year, located central and you can drive as much as you want to. Marty

A few more vehicles of intrest. A really nice GMC Austin? First time I've seen this one. A nice WC54 Marty

They are "leichte geländegängige EinheitsPersonenkraftwagen" (Le.gl.E.Pkw) made by Stoewer. BMW and Hanomag also made these. The one on the left is a four wheel steer version. I do belive it's a 1939. The one on the right side is regular two wheel steer and a later model. There's also an Hanomag produced vehicle in my neighbourhood. These were usually equipped for radio and line tasks. The truck is of course the 1,5t Opel Blitz. Marty

More than 100 vehicles turned out this time for the event. What makes this event a bit more exciting than other is that it's actually possible to drive the vehicles in the armys own training course. You can camp at a small field or do like some others, simply hide in the forest nearby. Some army bases are located nearby, as well as the Gardermoen airport. This year it was a lot of the three classic US vehicles Jeep, Dodge and GMC. But also a few german gems. I've posted several thread from these events earlier and will now try to avoid posting the same photos of the same people in the same vehicles. So here are my german friends! Marty

Yeah right! :-) Then how do you explain the bottle next to it and the lack of transporters insight??? I do believe this is a typical russian accident that involves vodka! :-) Marty

I have no problem understanding the owner the Jeep, who wants to display his collection of ww2 equipment. Plenty of intresting stuff there! But perhaps he ought to consider buying a Dodge? :-) Nice photos! Looks like a nice 40's weekend. Marty

Weird! I thought I answered this last night!??? The dinner was great! Vodka marinated Entrecote with potatoes and ruccula salad and there was some wine, but not that much. And the alcohol from the vodka dissapeares during cooking... Well, anyway here we go again. They say this GAZ appeared in the early/middle 2000s. Might have come with norwegian forces serving somewhere else. These were in plenty in the middle east. The auction and complete list: http://www.auksjon.no/ForsvaretAuksjonsListe.aspx Marty

I really liked that one. I even think my girlfriend liked it too! She didn't have much choice since it wasn't much to watch at the cabin during the easter holiday. Marty

I've read a lot of history and figured out that you probably didn't were allowed because all Australians are deported british criminals. You wouldn't like any criminals running around in your museum, would you? :-) Glad you finally got in! And great photos! Wish I could name more of them! Marty

A couple of years ago I posted some photos of a GAZ I stumbled upon at a norwegian military base. Now it's for sale at auction may 19th! http://www.auksjon.no/ForsvaretVisBilder.aspx?UID=519 Marty

I made another visit at the Hovemoen today. The first I found was air drop containers, unfortunately not ww2, but modern type. But what I did find was the earlier mentioned shell dressing bags with the original red cross. Dated 1943 I also picked up a few more field dressings. I guess these will be the last ww2 items sold from the army. Marty

Since no wc62/63 owners have made their voice heard I guess we can call out the wc51/52 as the winner! I will stick to my 4 wheel Dodge! I thought that perhaps the 62/63 would offer a little more than just more room. There's a couple for sale in Norway at the moment, but I won't be buying. Marty

It would be really nice to have this sort of tea while camping with the Dodge. :-) Marty

Is there a kind soul here that would be willing to send me a couple of NAAFI teas boxes? I will of course pay for the service! Marty

I've bought a few sets og US stamped webbing there. I haven't seen them lately though. What's too bad about the bags is that have had a red cross, but due to regulations they have to be painted over. I think they were about 2 euroes. I think I'm going back there on wedensday. I'll see if I pick up a few more of these. Marty

I have a wc51, but is somehow attracted to the 6 wheel wc 62. Is bigger better? Of course it's more expensive, takes more room and is harder to find. Buthow does it behave in cross country driving compared to the wc51? Is it better? It has another two driving wheels, but it's also heavier. Anyone that'd like to comment this? Marty

I guess that headline made you have a look here! Sorry no vehicles! And it's also true. Last week I went to the depot where the army gets rid of their unwanted commodity. There I like many times before found "first field dressing" dated from march 1944 to february 1945, London, Arthur Berton. I also found shell dressing bags dated 1944-45. And the price is almost free! It's not something you really need, but still a intresting find that many years later. Marty

I don't care! I just know I'm buying Leibherr next time I'm in the market for a digger. :-) Marty