This first of which is of course neither an S-boat nor armored vehicle, but an Omaha-class CL (other than the famed Marblehead, as far as I can identify), appearing just before some S-boats (below) - on the 3rd DVD, Vol. 20: "Return of the Allies", about 2 minutes in - concurrent with the narration: "Cavite, on Manilla Bay - headquarters of the United States' Asiatic Fleet. The false calm that shrouded Pearl Harbor lulls Cavite."
I realize the narration on these over-50-year-old "documentaries" is hopelessly corny - even sappy, and often jingoist/propagandist, if not historically revisionist (i.e., lying). However, whenever they also show a picture appearing to be authentic to the actual time- and place being discribed, as above, the effect becomes (IMHO) profoundly compelling: a snapshot window directly back to that time - including how our fathers and grandfathers, and "the folks at home" (insights as well as ignorances, prejudices and all) were thinking, feeling and acting. (My opinion - anyway, I think it's cool! )
And what's also cool - also for modelling, particularly my S-37 build - are the pics which came next:
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In any case, for modelling the main thing we get from the above is apparent confirmation, once again, that the PI S-boats began WWII still in their '30s fit, and painted uniform, all-black (presumably, "chocolatey"!). Which overall-black paint job is again seen on an S-boat early (at about Minute = 5:00) into Vol.21: "Full Fathom Five", also on the 3rd Victory at Sea DVD:
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And - going back to "Return of the Allies" (Vol. 20) on the same (3rd) disk - a few more memorable shots of armor:
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Similarly, at right a clip gives some very good views of the front of a Stuart light tank - parading through possibly even the same village - with its crew hanging out of all its hatches, showing just how small a vehicle it was.
And lastly, two great pictures of the packing of various armor onto- and into LSTs:
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FULL RES
At bottom, a rare pic shows the interior-packing of an LST - where all the heaviest, tracked vehicles were stowed. Foremost are a trio of half-tracks, behind which are, to port a pair of Stuart light tanks, and to starboard something with the same hull/chassis but a different type of turret, followed by a solid row of Shermans - with only inches to spare, between them: obviously the design criterion for the beam of an LST. Ahead of those appear to be (at least) another Sherman, to starboard, and possibly something(s) smaller, like a self-propelled gun to port, and/or further forward, to starboard. Note how much the LST bow tapers inward, towards the narrow and heavily-treaded loading ramp: clearly, each piece of armor had to maneuver carefully to make it out (and even more when loading in(!)) without bashing against the ship, or its deckmates.
So, those are some pretty cool pics (IMHO) - you can see why I wanted to document them - and there are yet more, which I'll post shortly.
Cheers,
-Matty
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