Petlyakov's Pe-2 was the most numerous Soviet twin-engined bomber of World War 2; the aircraft being used as a dive-bomber; ground attack platform and dedicated reconnaissance type. The first examples entered service in August 1940; and by the time production came to end in late 1945; no fewer than 10;547 examples had been built. These equipped more than 80 bomber air regiments; and of the latter; two were accorded Guards Air Corps status; as were six air regiments. Amongst the former was the 2nd Guards Bomber Air Corps; which was commanded by the legendary General Polbin; who was twice made a Hero of the Soviet Union. Pe-2 bomber and reconnaissance versions (the latter in service with four Guards reconnaissance air regiments of the Air Force and one regiment of Naval Aviation) were extensively used from the frozen Arctic north to the balmy Crimea front. A number of Pe-2 also saw brief combat against Japan in the final weeks of World War 2.
#75476 in Books US Naval Institute Press 2016-09-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.10 x 1.10 x 6.10l; 1.09 #File Name: 1682471020248 pagesUS Naval Institute Press
Review
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Great Book for the Army Professional.By Thomas M. MageeThis was a very interesting book. I hope everyone reads this. It will be a must read for any defense professional. The book is a listing of various ideas from MG Bob Scales. These ideas were very eye opening. They will get the neurons firing for any reader. MG Scales does a good job of pointing out American historical shortfalls. Those shortfalls were in the area of infantry. The historical step children of the US Army. He then goes and explains how warfare has changed over the last 20 years. Our investment in the billion and trillion dollar weapon systems might not be the best tool to meet these threats. He does talk about how some new weapon systems like in the artillery to meet these threats were shelved due to political correctness. The answer to meeting the new threats is people; and specifically people in the infantry. I liked his ideas on training. I am not sure how workable it is for today's intense tempo army but they are great.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Grunts are expendable; apparently.By Charles A. KrohnScales is angry. I'm angrier.Why the infantry (Marine and Army) get to suck hind tit for the dubious privilege of fighting in the mud and slime while DoD focuses on super-expensive toys that add little or nothing the battlefield where the close fight takes place is beyond me.Winning wars should be more than luck and bravado. But that's how we've elected fight lately; right?Message to infantry soldiers; Marines and Spec Ops guys: Get him before he guts you. Public opinion be damned; the world's a very dangerous place; especially in the close fight.14 of 16 people found the following review helpful. poor narrative controlBy Robert HannahScales presents a realistic picture of where our ground forces stand today. Riddled with depleting resources; poor narrative control; a shrinking budget; and Reagan era equipment our ground forces no longer have the best equipment and training they need to succeed on tomorrows battlefield. Scales holds nothing back in this book when ridiculing past and present leadership for continuously ignoring the evident needs of the Army. He does however find time to praise some noteworthy leaders who have made positive impacts on the military institution. He makes it quite clear and delivers one of the best arguments for a resurgence of ground force investment. A he repeatedly marks on throughout the middle chapters of the book is the low numbers in which our air force and navy personnel die in combat and yet those are the branches continue to receive most of the funding and most of the updated and new equipment! Our ground forces and close quarter warriors are at a drastic disadvantage when it comes to chances of death in war. For a country so averse to dead Soldiers you'd think our military would allocate more funding to keeping them alive. Better rifles; drones; communication equipment; leadership; body armor; armored vehicles; platoon and squad level transportation vehicles are all things he touches on in this book. While only a cadet set to commission this Spring; I find myself hoping that by the time I take to the field our leadership will have already begun financing better means in which to keep our future soldiers alive.
