My friends and I watch a movie every week, and World War II films (Bridge on the River Kwai, The Dam Busters, Fury, Twelve O’Clock High, etc.) are a regular staple. One recurring topic of discussion is “I wonder how many of [particular model of tank/plane/etc.] are still running/flying?”
The two videos below cover not only World War II tanks and planes that are still running, but which are still in active military service.
First tanks and armored cars, of which there’s considerable variety still in service:
It’s not a big surprise that T-34s ended up serving a long time in various Soviet satellite states, and North Korea is still using not only T-34s, but also ISU-152 self-propelled artillery, SU-100 tank destroyers and BA-64 armored cars. But M-3 Stuart light tanks are still serving in Paraguay, and Senegal and Peru are still using U.S. M3 Half-Tracks. And watch for the new lanyard-fired T-34 variant. (Paraguay was also using M-4 Sherman tanks for training as late as 2016.)
As for World War II aircraft, only one type is evidently in common military service: The Douglas C-47 Skytrain, the military versions of the DC-3, still being used around the world in a variety of roles, including as an aerial gunship (“Puff the Magic Dragon”).
Did you know that there’s an Internet Movie Plane database? And also an Internet Movie Firearms Database and an Internet Movie Cars Database.
Tags: aircraft, Douglas C-47 Skytrain, ISU-152, M-3 Stuart, Military, North Korea, Paraguay, Peru, Senegal, Sherman tank, SU-100, T-34, tanks, video, World War II
I doubt any military still uses WWII-era radios, but radio amateurs sometimes do. To see them in action, check out this YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/user/LA6NCA
My old boat, USS Tusk SS426, commissioned in 1945, was still in service with the republic of Taiwan (and considered combat capable) in 2018. It is now the Hai-Po (Seal) SS792.
Note that users of such ancient military heavy equipment generally anticipate never confronting anyone with a more modern collection; or, indeed, any. Half-tracks – for instance – will do to deliver soldiers and provide them with cover fire against a peer or guerilla force, or a riot.
Totally forgot to link this the other day, if you’ve not seen it before.
https://wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/
Does what it says on the tin.