Oil and its products in all shapes and forms including aviation, motor, and diesel fuels were a German strategic weakness. Allied strategic bombing targeted the oil refineries in Ploesti, Romania. Germany's 1942 summer campaign, Case Blue, aimed to capture the oil fields of the Caucasus both providing themselves needed oil and denying the Soviet Union oil. The above graph … [Read more...] about German Aviation, Motor, and Diesel Fuels Availability
Production
Aircraft Available In Europe; Germany, UK, US, USSR
The Allies in June 1942 had a 3.1 to 1 ratio aircraft advantage in Europe. That was their low point, and it would grow to 8.6 to 1 in June 1944. All three Allied nations would individually outproduce Germany over the course of the war. The American and British relied heavily on bombers to take the war against Germany. Germany would transfer much of their air force to fight off … [Read more...] about Aircraft Available In Europe; Germany, UK, US, USSR
Soviet Radio Sets Availability 1941-45
Soviet radio communications between military units, tanks, frontlines, headquarters, aircraft, etc. had been around for over a solid decade but its implementation was a mishmash. Aircraft radio set availability was commonplace whereas at the beginning of the war Soviet tanks may have had or may not have had radio communications capability. Note 1: Availability does not … [Read more...] about Soviet Radio Sets Availability 1941-45
Soviet Motor Vehicle Availability 1941-45
Soviet motor vehicle availability depended on two sources those that were produced internally and those delivered via Lend-Lease from the US, UK or Canada. The Soviet Union had a combination of internally produced trucks such as the ZIS-5 (Russian: ЗИС-5) and its many variants; ZIS-6, ZIS-8, ZIS-10, and the GAZ-AA and its variants. Additionally other motor vehicles such as … [Read more...] about Soviet Motor Vehicle Availability 1941-45
Soviet Naval Vessel Availability 1941-45
Although the Soviet Union had the fourth largest coastline in the world (approximately 37,000 kilometers or 23,000 miles) they were not an open sea faring nation. Most of their coastline bordered the Arctic Ocean which was land locked a major portion of the year limiting Soviet naval operations. Therefore, the Soviets developed a submarine and littoral navy with emphasis on the … [Read more...] about Soviet Naval Vessel Availability 1941-45
Soviet Artillery Availability 1941-45
The 76-millimeter field gun was the Soviet artillery piece to go to from start to finish in World War II. On average Soviet forces had 24,700 76-millimeter field guns available for use at any one time. But that is an overall average, the yearly availability of the 76-millimeter field gun ranged from 9,500 in 1942 to 41,100 in 1944. The 76-millimeter gun was renowned for its … [Read more...] about Soviet Artillery Availability 1941-45
Availability of Soviet Tanks 1941-45
In 1941 light tanks made up 93.8% of Soviet tanks, medium tanks 4.0%, and heavy tanks 2.2%. This would transition in 1945 to; 32.7% light tanks, 48.8% medium tanks, and 18.5% heavy tanks. Not only were the percentages changing but the overall quantities of medium and heavy tanks were rising as well. Total quantity of available tanks in 1941 was 22,600 and due to tremendous … [Read more...] about Availability of Soviet Tanks 1941-45
Soviet Light Arms Availability 1941-45
In 1941 rifles made up 96.6% of Soviet light arms, submachine guns 1.2%, and light machine guns 2.1%. This would transition in 1945 to 29.7% of Soviet light arms being submachine guns and light machine guns 3.5%. Submachine guns were becoming more of the standard issue. Not only were the percentages changing but the overall quantities were rising as well. Total quantity of … [Read more...] about Soviet Light Arms Availability 1941-45
US WW2 Production – Combat and Motor Vehicles
Tanks received the headlines and general-public fascination, but it was in non-combat motor vehicles, trucks, that the United States' industry produced in huge volumes, 2,455,964 units. Logistics was a core US and Allied WWII strategy, and trucks were at the forefront when it came to supplying the ground-based troops. Through Lend-Lease the US supplied the Soviet Union with … [Read more...] about US WW2 Production – Combat and Motor Vehicles
US Production WWII: Ships, Planes, and Tanks
Naval vessels and aircraft dominated US production inS Production WWII with regards to expenditures. The Allied nations were unique in the production of landing craft with the US producing 84,198. Landing craft aren't foremost in discussions of WWII naval warfare but they were core to their strategies of island hopping in the Pacific and invasion forces in Western Europe and … [Read more...] about US Production WWII: Ships, Planes, and Tanks
