THE TRUTH prints ... the truth?

Further to its recent article about self-propelled artillery that uses the FT-17 chassis, THE TRUTH (the official newspaper of the Soviet Peoples' United Republic) has printed the following photographs.

The first photograph shows a vehicle where the 75mm gun is mounted in a fixed position low down in the hull front. Whilst this would make it very easy to use the gun where the range is short and the crew needed to be protected by armour, it is difficult to understand how it could be used to provide traditional artillery support.

The second vehicle has obviously been designed to use the tracks and lower hull of the FT-17 to provide a means of moving a 75mm gun over difficult terrain. However, the fact that the gun faces towards the rear of the hull seems to show that it could not be used offensively as it could not engage targets as it advanced.

The third vehicle seems to combine the best aspects of both of the previous prototypes. Its gun faces forward, which means that it can be used offensively, whilst the crew platform at the rear provides some shelter to the crew on a fire-swept battlefield.

THE TRUTH did not provide any further information about these prototypes, and their country or countries of origin are unknown. Only time will tell if these prototypes are the progenitors of a whole new breed of self-propelled artillery.

Self-propelled Artillery prototypes

The latest issue of THE TRUTH, the official newspaper of the Soviet Peoples' United Republic, has published an as yet unsubstantiated report that they have obtained pictures of several self-propelled artillery prototypes based on existing FT-17 tank chassis.

The article does not give any indication where these photographs were obtained nor which country has built these prototypes. One can only hope that they will publish these photographs and further information as soon as possible.

Rippov dead!

Today's issue of THE TRUTH, the Soviet Peoples' United Republic's official government newspaper, reports that the famous aircraft designer General Rippov died some days ago as a result of a freak accident.

General Rippov was cleaning his personal sidearm when it went off accidentally, shooting him three times in the back of the neck. The police officer investigating the incident – Major Alexei Nikasov of the People’s Security Bureau (PSB) – stated that 'It is incredible that such an experienced officer would clean a loaded gun, and that he would think it safe to wave it about in the way he must have done in order to inflict the injuries he suffered.'

Major Nikasov made no comment about a rumour that the gun must have been loaded with very unusual bullets as it is thought that three different calibre rounds were recovered during the autopsy.

Aviation News: Rippov-1 crashes during World Air Speed Record attempt

Today's issue of THE TRUTH, the Soviet Peoples' United Republic's official government newspaper, reports that the prototype Rippov-1 fighter crashed last week during an attempt to break the current World Air Speed Record.

The report states that during the turn at the end of the first high-speed flight along the specially laid out course, both wings appeared to fold back upon themselves and the 'plane ploughed into the ground, killing the pilot instantly.

An official enquiry into the accident has determined that the crash was a result of poor workmanship on the part of some of the engineers and workers at the Rippov Aircraft Factory, and they and their families have now been reassigned to work in other industrial sectors where their lack of care and attention to detail will have a less disastrous impact on output.

Aviation News: More information about the Rippov-1 released.

The following side and plan views of the new Rippov-1 fighter were released today.

Side view of the Rippov-1 fighter. Plan view of the Rippov-1 fighter.Technical details:

• Span: 26ft (7.77m)
• Length: 15ft (4.60m)
• Height: 7ft (2.13m)
• Wing Area: 75ft² (6.97m²)
• Empty Weight: 1,400lbs (635.04kg)
• Gross Weight: 2,280lbs (1034.21kg)
• Maximum Speed: 270mph (434.43km/h)
• Cruising Speed: 230mph (370.07km/h)
• Range: 1,000 miles (1609.00km)
• Armament: 2 x 7.62mm Machine Guns

Aviation News: New fighter design announced!

Marshal Rogov, head of the Air Force of the Soviet Peoples' United Republic, announced at a press conference today that the Main Design Bureau had developed a new monoplane fighter, the R-1 (or Rippov-1). It is about to begin a series of test flights very soon, and will enter production within the next six months.

An artist's impression of the new R-1 fighter.
In response to comments from members of the Western press that the design looked very similar to the Gee Bee Model Z that was designed and built by Granville Brothers Aircraft, the designer of the new fighter, General Rippov, stated that this was 'a typical bourgeois slur on the creativeness of the Proletariat.' He further stated that it would be more correct to say that the Gee Bee Model Z resembled the new Rippov-1 and not the other way around.

Mr Foxton Light, editor of the influential Military Aircraft Monthly magazine was heard to comment that 'the R-1 and Gee Bee Model Z are different; they are painted in different colour schemes!'

On a separate note, the disappearance of the third prototype of the Gee Bee Model Z some months ago still remains unexplained. The aircraft was on a test flight from Springfield Airport, Massachusetts when it disappeared. Both the aircraft and its pilot have not been seen since.

An artist's impression of the Gee Bee Model Z.