B
The Babitonga was a Brazilian Cannon class destroyer. Formerly known as the USS Algers, it was built by the Dravo Corporation in the United States before being transferred to Brazil. She was commissioned on March 10, 1945 with a displacement of 1,200 tons. She was stricken from record and scrapped in 1964.
Baependi
The Baependi was a Brazilian Cannon class destroyer. Formerly known as the USS Cannon, it was built by the Dravo Corporation in the United States before being transferred to Brazil. She was commissioned on December 19, 1944 with a displacement of 1,200 tons. Post-war, she served Brazil until she was decomissioned and scrapped in 1973.
Bahia
The Bahia was a Brazilian Bahia class light cruiser. She was built by Armstrong Whitworth in Great Britain for Brazil in 1907. Commissioned May 21, 1910, she had a displacement of 3,100 tons. On July 4, 1945 she was done in by her own guns; during anti-aircraft practice, one of her guns, aimed to low, struck the depth charges stored on the ship. The result was a massive explosion that sunk her in minutes.
Baltimore (CA-68), USS
The Baltimore was an United States Baltimore class heavey cruiser. She was built by Bethlehem Steel Company in the United States. Commissioned on April 15, 1943, she had a displacement of 13,500 tons. Post-war, she was overhauled and served in the U.S. Navy until she was scrapped in 1972 at Portland.
Barham (1914), HMS
The Barham was a British Queen Elizabeth class battleship built by John Brown & Company in England. Commissioned on August 19, 1915, she had a displacement of 31,00 tons. She was sunk on November 25, 1941 by the German submarine U-331 while providing cover for Italian convoys.
Bari
The Bari was an Italian light cruiser. Formerly known as the SMS Pillau, she was built by Schichau in Germany. After the First World War, she was ceded by Germany to Italy on July 20, 1920. Commissioned in Italy in 192,5 she had a displacement of 3,300 tons. On June 28, 1943, awaiting to be converted into an anti-aircraft ship, she was bombed and sunk in Livorno.
Barnes (CVE-20), USS
The Barnes was a United States Bogue class escort aircraft carrier buily by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding in the United States. Commissioned on Febuaury 20 1943, she had a displacement of 11,500 tons. Eventually redesigned as a helicopter escort carrier in 1955, she was sold and scrapped on March 1, 1959.
Bartolomeo Colleoni
The Bartolomeo Colleoni was an Italian Giussano class light cruiser. Commissioned on February 10, 1932, she had a displacement of 5,200 tons. On July 19, 1940, she was sunk by the Australian cruiser HMAS Sydney during the Battle of Cape Spada near Greece.
Basilisk (H11), HMS
The Basilisk was a British B class destroyer built by John Brown & Company in Great Britain. Commissioned on March 4, 1931, she had a displacement of 1,300 tons. She was sunk on June 1, 1940 by German Stuka dive bombers off the coast of Dunkirk during Operation Dynamo.
Bataan (D191), HMAS
The Bataan was an Australian Tribal class destroyer that was built by Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Company in Australia. Commisioned May 5 1945, she had a displacement of 2,000 tons. Post-war, she was to be converted into an anti-submarine vessel, but conversion was cancelled and she was sold for scrap in 1958.
Bazooka
This rocket launcher was a successful anti-tank weapon that originated in the United States. It was first used against German tanks in North Africa in 1942. It was a weapon that consisted of a basic tube, electrical wiring, pistol grip and shoulder rest. The 60mm rocket was fired using basic ignition wiring at the rear of the tube. Although heavy at 6.00 kg (13 ¼ lbs), its lethalness made it a must during any anti-tank campaign.
Beechcraft Model 18 (aka “Twin Beech”)
The Model 18 was a trainer and utility aircraft manufactured by Beech Aircraft Corporation in the United States. Primarily used by the United States Army, United States Navy and the Royal Air Force. Introduced in 1937. Approximately 9,000 built.
Beretta Model 38/42
This sub-machine gun was manufactured by Beretta Firearms in Italy. With performance not necessarily being an issue, this gun was deemed to be both expensive and impractical in a wartime environment. Although it was used on various fronts by Italian, German, and Romanian troops, it used a 9mm parabellum cartridge which was different than standard rifle ammunition, making it viewed as impractical and expensive because it needed separate ammunition. It had the capability to fire 550 rounds per minute with a weight of 3.3 kg.
Blackburn Roc
The B-25 was a carrier-based fighter manufactured by Boulton Paul Aircraft in Great Britain. Primarily used by the Fleet Air Arm. Introduced in 1939. Approximately 140 built.
Blohm and Voss BV 246 Hagelkorn (aka “Hailstone”)
The BV 246 was a guideable glide bomb built for specific targets (bridges, ships, etc.), manufactured by Blohm and Voss in Germany. It was typically attached underneath a bomber and released at a high altitide at a distance from its target. When released from a height of 10,500 meters (7 miles), it could travel 210 kilometers (130 miles). It contained 435 kilograms (959 pounds) of explosives.
Boeing Peashooter
The P-26 fighter was manufactured by Bowing in the United States. Primarily used by the United States Army Air Corps. Approximately 150 built.
Boulton Paul Defiant
The P-82 two seat fighter, night fighter, trainer and target tug was manufactured by Boulton Paul Aircraft in Great Britain. Primarily used by the Royal Airforce, the Royal Australian Airforce, Royal Canadian Airforce and the Polish Airforce. Introduced in 1939. Approximately 1,050 built.
Bradley, Omar Nelson(1893-1981)
Led the largest field command under the U.S. flag into battle – approximately 1 million men, in more than 40 combat divisions. His troops fought alongside British and Canadian troops, sweeping through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia following the 1944 Normandy invasion.
Brewster Buffalo
The F-2A carrier-based fighter was built by Brewster Aeronautical Corporation in the United States. Primarily used by the United States Navy and the Royal Airforce. Produced from 1938 – 1941. Approximately 500 built.
Bristol Beaufighter (aka “The Beau”)
The type 156 heavy fighter was built by Bristol Aeroplane Company in Great Britain. Primarily used by the Royal Airforce and the Royal Australian Airforce. Produced from 1940 – 1946. Approximately 6,000 built.
Bristol Blenheim
Types 142M, 149 and 160 were light fighter/bombers manufactured by Bristol Aeroplance Company in Great Britain. Primarily used by the Royal Airforce, Royal Canadian Airforce, Finnish Airforce and the Royal Yugoslav Airforce. Entered service in 1937. Approximately 4,400 built.
Browning M1917 (Model 1917)
This heavy, water cooled machine gun was manufactured by Remington Arms and Colt Patent Firearms in the United States. The recoil-operated automatic weapon fired .30-06 Springfield rounds at a rate of 600 rounds a minute. It had an empty weight of 47kg (104 lbs.). Produced between 1917 through 1945, there were many variants of the gun produced and operated by several countries. Used primarily by the U.S. army in WW II.
Browning M1918 BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle)
This light machine gun was produced by Colt Firearms, Winchester and Marlin Rockwell in the United States. It has a gas operated piston and cylinder that fired .30-06 Springfield rounds at the rate of 500 rounds a minute. Its empty weight was 7.25 kg (16 lbs.). There were several other variants of the M1918 that were used by several other countries, but it was used primarily by the U.S. Army in WW II.
Browning M1919A4
This heavy machine gun was produced by many manufacturers in the United States and was used by the U.S. Army during WW II. It was a gas operated, air cooled weapon that fired 30-60 Springfield or 50 BMG. It fired 400 rounds per minute and had an empty weight of 14.05 (31 lbs.).
Burke, Arleigh Albert (1901-1996)
Admiral Arleigh Burke gained recognition as an American naval officer during 1943 and 1944 for his proficient handling of destroyers in the South Pacific. He was given the nickname “31-knot Burke”. His Destroyer Squadron 23, known as the “Little Beavers”, covered the landings on Bougainville and fought in 23 separate engagements against the Japanese.
