| Slot: |
Combat 1 |
| Item: |
Combat 1 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4257557002
|
Owner Comments
F+ 6.5
2nd highest graded
During the battle of the Denmark strait, HMS Hood and HMS Prince of Wales engaged the German battleship Bismarck and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen. The Hood was destroyed with heavy loss of life (only 3 crewmen survived) and the Prince of Wales was seriously damaged. The Prince of Wales scored several hits on Bismarck, causing enough damage for her to need to return to port for repairs. Outraged by the Hood’s destruction, Churchill made the sinking of the Bismarck a priority. Pursued by a large number of British ships, Bismarck was attacked by Swordfish torpedo bombers launched by the carrier HMS Ark Royal. One torpedo crippled Bismarck’s rudder, ending her ability to maneuver. Four British warships converged on Bismarck and fired 2800 shells at her, scoring 400 hits. However Bismarck would not sink and was eventually scuttled by the crew. Out of 2200 on board, only 114 survived.
In spite of her reputation as a mighty warship, the Bismarck was sent to the bottom on her first offensive mission.
The Prince of Wales was sunk on December 10, 1941, along with HMS Repulse, by land based Japanese dive bombers and torpedo planes while on a mission to Singapore. The Prinz Eugen survived the war and was surrendered to the British in May of 1945. She was then given to the US Navy as a war prize.
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| Slot: |
Combat 8 (7-9/63) |
| Item: |
Combat 8 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4296062003
|
Owner Comments
VF/NM 9.0
2nd highest graded
The battle for Monte Cassino raged from January thru May 1944 and consisted of four battles leading to the breaking of the German line in Italy and the capture of Rome. The hard fought victory came at a steep price. While Axis casualties were around 20,000, the Allies lost nearly 55,000. The unfortunate loss of the centuries old abbey was caused by the mistaken belief that the Germans were using it as an observation post. The reality was that they were dug into the slopes in front. Although Italy had surrendered in September 1943, German forces occupying the country had not. German forces in Italy did not surrender until May 1945.
|
| Slot: |
Combat 8 (4-6/63) |
| Item: |
Combat 8 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4296062002
|
Owner Comments
VF- 7.5
2nd highest graded
The New Guinea campaign lasted from January 1942 to the end of the war in May 1945. It was jungle warfare fought mainly by Australian forces. The Allies successfully cut off Japanese troops from receiving medical and food supplies for much of the duration. Because of this, 97 percent of the more than 202,000 Japanese deaths were caused by disease and starvation. The Allies lost 42,000, including 7,000 Australians killed along with nearly 4,700 Americans.
|
| Slot: |
Combat 10 |
| Item: |
Combat 10 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4208023001
|
Owner Comments
NM- 9.2
Called one of the most decisive naval battles in all of history, the U.S. engaged Japan’s fleet off the island of Midway. After deciphering Japanese communications, the Americans set an ambush for Japan’s fleet. Three U.S. carriers surprised a larger fleet with 4 carriers. Enterprise, Hornet and Yorktown (the Japanese believed that she was sunk at Coral Sea), dealt a devastating blow from which the Empire’s navy never recovered. All 4 Japanese carriers were sunk and nearly 250 of their aircraft were lost. The Yorktown was severely damaged and while efforts to save her were underway, the submarine I-168 put two torpedoes into her and sunk the USS Hammann, which was supplying power for the Yorktown’s repairs. Yorktown sank the following day.
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| Slot: |
Combat 11 |
| Item: |
Combat 11 Qualified |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4208023002
|
Owner Comments
NM- 9.2
Flawed but still highest graded
Operation Overlord (D-Day) involved more than 7000 ships and 156,000 soldiers. At least 4,400 allied servicemen were killed. If you have watched Band of Brothers or Saving Private Ryan, you get how brutal the invasion was. Prior to the invasion the Allies utilized all manners of deception to throw off the Germans. Fake paratroopers, inflatable tanks and false information fed to double agents contributed to Allied success.
|
| Slot: |
Combat 12 |
| Item: |
Combat 12 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4208023003
|
Owner Comments
NM- 9.2
Highest universal copy graded. There is a qualified 9.4.
Located in the Solomons Islands, Guadalcanal was the first major ground offensive conducted by the Allied forces against the Japanese army. It lasted around 6 months from August 1942 until February 1943. Allied losses included 7000 killed and another 7000 wounded. 60,000 mostly American soldiers attacked a force of 36,000 Imperial Japanese soldiers. Nearly 20,000 Japanese soldiers perished while some 10,600 were evacuated. Others were captured. The Guadalcanal campaign also included several naval engagements. The Allies lost 29 ships while the Japanese lost 38. Both sides lost more than 600 aircraft each.
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| Slot: |
Combat 13 |
| Item: |
Combat 13 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4208023004
|
Owner Comments
NM 9.4
Highest graded
The Battle of The Hedgerows, July 7-19, 1944. A month after the D-Day invasion, St. Lo was determined to be a strategic crossroads, needed by the Allies to continue their advance. St. Lo had been under German occupation since June 1940. The Americans began the bombardment of St. Lo on July 6 and continued through July 7. Up to 95 % of the city was destroyed. The Americans dropped flyers warning the residents of the upcoming bombardment a day prior to the attack, however, it was reported that high winds blew many of the warnings away. The US suffered 11,000 casualties including 3,000 killed.
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| Slot: |
Combat 14 |
| Item: |
Combat 14 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4208023005
|
Owner Comments
NM+ 9.6
Highest graded
Part of the Gilbert Islands, the battle for Tarawa lasted November 20 - 23 1943. The Allies landed 35,000 troops to combat almost 5000 Japanese soldiers and Korean workers. The Japanese were well prepared with tanks, artillery and naval guns. In the three days of fighting, Americans suffered more than 3,000 killed and wounded. The Japanese and Koreans fought to nearly the last man with only 146 surviving.
8600
|
| Slot: |
Combat 15 |
| Item: |
Combat 15 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4257557003
|
Owner Comments
NM 9.4
2nd highest graded
The battle for France began in May 1940 where 400,00 British and French forces engaged an 800,000 strong German force. After several engagements, the German army flanked the Allied forces and drove them to the French port of Dunkirk. With their backs against the sea, there was little hope against the Germans. However, the Germans stopped advancing for three days, fearing that the Allied armies might be able to break through. This allowed time for the Allies to arrange an evacuation plan. While 338,000 troops were evacuated, over 61,000 were killed, wounded or captured.
While a costly defeat, it could have been much worse. This occurred between May 26 - June 4 1940.
8900
|
| Slot: |
Combat 16 |
| Item: |
Combat 16 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4208023007
|
Owner Comments
VF/NM 9.0
2nd highest graded
The Japanese operation known as Ten-Go, was basically a suicide mission trying desperately to interfere with the invasion of Okinawa and took place on April 7, 1945. The Yamato (Japan’s premiere and the world’s largest battleship) and eight other Imperial warships were involved. The Yamato and five other ships were sunk and around 100 aircraft, mostly Kamikaze were lost. More than 4000 Japanese died. This was the last major engagement by the Imperial Japanese Navy.
|
| Slot: |
Combat 17 |
| Item: |
Combat 17 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4208023008
|
Owner Comments
NM+ 9.6
Russ Heath cover
2nd highest graded
July 10 - October 31 1940 This battle was the first air only conflict and Hitler’s first defeat of World War II. The Luftwaffe engaged in the bombing of military and civilian targets in an effort to destroy the RAF and force the Brits to surrender. However, the Nazis underestimated the courage and resolve of British forces who in turn destroyed nearly two thousand German aircraft and killed/wounded/captured over 4,000 German airmen. During the campaign, some 55,000 British civilians were killed and wounded.
8600
|
| Slot: |
Combat 18 |
| Item: |
Combat 18 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4208023009
|
Owner Comments
NM+ 9.6
Highest graded
After the attack at Pear Harbor, the Empire of Japan invaded Wake Island. Around 500 US military personnel, mostly marines, held out for two weeks while inflicting serious casualties on a vastly superior enemy force. American forces surrendered on December 23. The Japanese occupied the island for the duration of the war. The Japanese lost nearly 1000 men, 4 ships, 1 submarine and 31 aircraft taking the island.
8600
|
| Slot: |
Combat 21 |
| Item: |
Combat 21 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4412894003
|
Owner Comments
VF 8.0
Second highest graded.
Unlike most of the stories in this series, this one I believe is fiction, although it likely depicts some events that may have occurred somewhere during the course of the war. Just not to this submarine. The real Sea Dog, SS401, was not commissioned until 1944 and this tale takes place in 1943 aboard the Seadog.
|
| Slot: |
Combat 23 |
| Item: |
Combat 23 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4208023010
|
Owner Comments
VF/NM 9.0
A daring daytime raid on nine oil refineries in Romania that supplied roughly 30% of oil for the Axis. Named Operation Tidal Wave, 177 U.S. B-24 Liberators were launched from Libya. As one of the costliest missions, more than 50 planes were lost along with 600 airmen. The attack resulted in no significant curtailment of oil to the Axis powers. “Black Sunday” yielded 5 Medals of Honor and 56 Distinguished Service Crosses for heroism.
|
| Slot: |
Combat 24 |
| Item: |
Combat 24 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4208023011
|
Owner Comments
VF+ 8.5
2nd highest graded
The history channel made a documentary about a portion of this conflict, the battle off Samar, named the Last Stand Of The Tin Can Sailors. During America’s assault to retake the Philippines (The Battle of Leyte Gulf), the battle off the island of Samar was a pivotal moment. While Admiral Halsey’s third fleet was north and the seventh fleet was south, only a small group of ships were left to protect the 130,000 men of the U.S. 8th Army who were on the shore. The Japanese sought to attack and destroy the army on the beaches from the sea. That small number of US ships was task force 77.4.3, also known as Taffy 3. Taffy 3 consisted of 6 escort carriers, 3 destroyers and 4 destroyer escorts. The Japanese fleet severely outnumbered the Americans, possessing 4 battleships, 6 cruisers, 2 light cruisers and 11 destroyers. The Yamato, the largest battleship ever built was among their fleet. In spite of the lopsided numbers, without hesitation, the 3 destroyers and one destroyer escort formed a torpedo line and attacked the Japanese fleet head on. During the battle, Taffy 3 sunk 3 cruisers, damaged 3 other cruisers, 2 battleships and a destroyer. Taffy 3 suffered the loss of 2 destroyers, 2 escort carriers and 1 destroyer escort. The US lost almost 2,100 killed and wounded while the Japanese lost 2,700. Taffy 3’s fierce defense forced the Japanese fleet to retreat. One of the largest naval engagements in history was also described as one of the greatest last stands by historians. An impressive display of heroism and sacrifice by the greatest generation. Also I think the score on this one is a bit out of whack!
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