Originally Posted by Hangarshuffle
Russians didn't like either the Hurricane or the tanks (Churchill, Valentine and US Sherman) we sent them and found them markedly inferior to their own T34 or KV1 and varients. Its sometimes hard to find reference to any of the war material we despatched via the North Cape IMHO.
Did it all work as well as the propaganda makes out?
Was it all really that useful to the Russians?
I believe the Russians weren't too enamoured with the Spitfire either. I seem to remember from a Bill Gunston book that they were big fans of the P-39 Airacobra and P-63 Kingcobra, due to their toughness and the large-caliber cannon.
If I remember correctly too, Gunston also recounted the story of meeting some senior officers from the Russian Airforce post-war and they told him they wouldn't let anyone over 35 fly the aircraft. Asked why, the Russian officer replied (straight-faced) "balls get caught in prop-shaft"
Anyway, it was an excellent documentary. JC seems to have a knack for getting the 'tone' of these right.