Central China
In March 1938, with the Japanese having consolidated their hold on Shanghai and Nanking, the advance into Central China slowed down. No plan existed for further operations, as the Japanese had expected the Chinese to […]
svg
The Soviet Volunteer Group In Action
In November 1937, with Shanghai secured, the Japanese turned their attention on Nanking. The old capital was devoid of any worthwhile defences so the Chinese decided not to fight for the city as they had […]
Operation Zet: Soviet Aid to China
As the fighting erupted in Shanghai in August 1937, the Chinese authorities began to look to the great powers of the west for assistance. The first to offer meaningful help was the Soviet Union, with […]
Polikarpov I-16
Whilst design work for the I-15 biplane fighter was underway, Nikolai Polikarpov also began to work on a revolutionary monoplane design with retractable undercarriage and a fully enclosed cockpit. This new design was accepted even […]
Polikarpov I-15
The Polikarpov I-15 was designed for the VVS (Soviet Air Force) in 1932. Nikolai Polikarpov had only recently been released from prison when he was handed the task, and the designer based his new fighter […]
Tupolev SB-2
The Tupolev SB-2 was designed in response to a 1933 requirement for a high speed bomber for the VVS (Soviet Air Force). Two prototype ANT-40s were produced with different engine equipment, with the Hispano-Suiza equipped […]