Reiska
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Post by Reiska on Feb 16, 2007 3:52:17 GMT -5
When you are living in the country (as I do) which has never won any war , neither exported freedom to anyone rising the national flag is merely a provocation. After we had lost the international game against the Russians in 1944 (Finland got the 2th prize ) , even singing a national hymn was considered as a criminal act. This was not ordered by a winner but it was a common, silent agreement not to provoke anyone. That time we believed, that flags and banners belong only for those who are winners or at least believe in being better than others. Please read my outpouring "Happy childhood" but don't take it seriously. I have never been capable to be serious, embittered ...perhaps ;D. lauro.fi/practica.htm#mtl50
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Post by John Parry on Feb 16, 2007 10:37:45 GMT -5
Peter,
Your reminiscense (is that spelled right? - it doesn't look right!) reminded me of a story that's been going the rounds for a few years now. It concerns HMS Manxman - a Cruiser Minelayer. She was built to re-supply Malta during the war, and had to outrun blockading Motor Torpedo Boats. The story goes that she was at sea in her final years, when she was overhauled by an American destroyer. The US captain, proud of his new command, signalled "You have just been overtaken by the newest destroyer in the US Navy". Manxman's captain had her engineers flash up her other three boilers, and she rocketed past the destroyer at 42 knots. "You've just been overtaken by the oldest minelayer in the Royal Navy!".
A lovely story, but it has to be apocryphal. Before she became the oldest minelayer, she'd been re-fitted and had two boilers removed - which cut her speed down to 26 knots. Any destroyer in the world could have beaten that!
Reiska - I never understood why you got involved in that fixture. You did OK in the opening match, so why insist on a return? I've always thought that Finns must just like to live dangerously!
Regards - John
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Reiska
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Post by Reiska on Feb 16, 2007 12:14:13 GMT -5
John,
If I understand you right my "explanation" is, that I like to chop and change and I don't want to take not even serious things seriously. Perhaps our fists are in the pockets which is wise I believe. Anyway, it was exciting and dangerous time couple of decades ago. On the other hand my English vocabulary is so limited, that I don't always know what I am really writing.
I know, you will give me an advice: "quit writing and rowing man" ;D.
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Post by herron on Feb 16, 2007 14:42:54 GMT -5
I've been watching this thread and really had no thought to interject anything at all...when it occurred to me that this kind of dialogue is why I really like this forum. We're focused on cameras...of all types...but can go off on a tangent every now and again that lets us understand our world, and ourselves, a little bit better. I've never thought about Empire Day or the Queen's birthday at all before. Nor was I very attuned to things that happened in Finland, or anywhere else for that matter, decades ago...unless they somehow directly affected me. It has always been my loss to be that way. I'm glad we can share things like this...as well as our interests in various cameras...I learn something from the rest of you, just about every day...... ....that's all I had to say, I guess.............
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Post by Just Plain Curt on Feb 16, 2007 15:02:08 GMT -5
I'd have to agree there Ron. Cameras and photography are the glue that binds our group together but family, friends (even those we've only made on the net) and loved ones are really the most important thing. I'm just glad that as a group, I can come here to learn British commonwealth history from John and Peter, lighting from Rick, Macro and creative ideas from several of you, Soviet camera info from others, travel info from my roots areas from Oivind, Reijo, Peter and others plus B+W info, old cars/trains/vehicles from others, and many of my other interest areas all without anyone losing their tempers or flaming or ridicule. Heck, we can even talk Minolta if we have to, LOL. Sorry Randy I couldn't help myself. Anyway, keep up the good work everyone and I promise next time I'll stick closer to cameras.
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Post by kiev4a on Feb 16, 2007 16:46:09 GMT -5
The Wide World Web may eventually do more for peace and understanding that all the world's politicians. People from all over the globe get together because they have a common interest--like cameras--and eventually realize they have a lot more in common--people are pretty much the same everywhere.
When I started collecting cameras a Ukranian seller mentioned he had been a tanker in the Soviet Army back in the late '60s and early '70s. I mentioned I was in an armored unit at the same time. I confessed that whenever solders in our unit studied tactics, the idea of trying to stop Soviet tanks coming through Fulda Gap scared the hell out of us given the equipment we had. He said the idea of trying to come through Fulda Gap had scared the hell out of him, too, because of the equipment THEY had. We both agreed we were happy we never had to find out who had the worst equipment.
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Post by John Parry on Feb 16, 2007 18:31:13 GMT -5
Wayne - I read an analysis on that very subject in, of all things, a South West African equivalent of Time magazine. Their conclusion was that although the Warsaw Pact had a massive advantage in numbers of tanks, their main battle tank was the the T55. Turns out that the T55's gun had an alarming habit of loading an essential part of the gun loader's anatomy up the spout along with the shell.....
In consequence, they couldn't get the crew to fire the guns at all. Turns out you had nothing to worry about!
Regards - John
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Post by kiev4a on Feb 16, 2007 18:50:14 GMT -5
Our MBT at that time, the M60, was way too tall and the armor wasn't that good. The model we used had a gas engine (some were diesel). I suspect the gas models would have gone up in flames quickly. The Soviet T-55 had a lower silhouette but I read somewhere that you had to be 5-6 or less to fit. Today's U.S. MBT--the M1--is the first tank we did right--an awesome piece of equipment.
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Post by John Parry on Feb 16, 2007 21:09:42 GMT -5
Ha! The M1s ran out of fuel before they got to Baghdad! That's why they recalled the Challengers (first Gulf War) and then they had to do it all over again.....
Sorry Wayne - it's just my black sense of humour. A lot of Brits think the Challengers could have kept going when the M1s stopped - probably for diplomatic reasons (UN resolutions?)
Regards - John
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PeterW
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Post by PeterW on Feb 16, 2007 21:15:16 GMT -5
John, I see we'll have to rename you the Thief of Badgags. ;D ;D.
PeterW
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Post by John Parry on Feb 16, 2007 21:29:23 GMT -5
You leave an opening, and in steps your friend Peter!
OK. I'll bite. Was that one of yours? (sounds like the Marx Brothers to me!)
Regards - John
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PeterW
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Post by PeterW on Feb 16, 2007 21:31:37 GMT -5
OOOH, you are sharp! It was Groucho!
PeterW
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Post by camerastoomany on Jun 8, 2007 5:01:42 GMT -5
One of the things that attracted me to this forum is the fact that I so often found myself laughing aloud whilst reading through past posts. Keep it coming, gentlemen. Geoff
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Post by grenouille on Dec 23, 2011 5:53:09 GMT -5
Apart from the Empire, there was also countries known as "British Protectorate", in which I think the British was in charge of all external affairs. You're right Peter, all this came to an end on the shores of the state of Kelantan, North Eastern Malaya on the South China Sea side, when the Japanese Imperial Army landed in 1941. Singapore situated on the Southern tip of Malaya was the last to go.
Hye
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Dec 24, 2011 6:46:11 GMT -5
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