iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Rivets and Pins @rivetsandpins.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

No, they were used from the start of the war. Eg there's a tank from a tank regiment HQ in Poland Sept. 1939 with tactical number R03. (My phone is playing up for some odd reason. I'll post the photo later).

220 0

Rivets and Pins @rivetsandpins.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

That's a nice clear shot. It's a PzKw 38(t) Ausf. E belonging to a signals unit of a tank regiment. Tanks belonging to such units mostly used the prefix B in their tactical number to differentiate them from normal gun tanks. So B03 would be the third tank in that particular signals platoon.

150 0

Rivets and Pins @rivetsandpins.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Ooh, this looks interesting. And only 20 quid too 👌

020 0

Rivets and Pins @rivetsandpins.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

One of my favourite photos, full of detail. Interesting to see how the wind & sand have worn away most of the tank's paint.

090 0

Reposted by Rivets and Pins

Jonny Briggs @jonnybriggs.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The famous 'dapple' camouflage pattern used only by the Royal Scots Greys. Discussed in Tanks in Unexpected Places.

0121 0

Reposted by Rivets and Pins

Ian Kikuchi @curatorian.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Today in 1940, an unnamed German airman takes a photograph as he flies over London. His image captures a Heinkel bomber in flight over the British capital. I've always found it a fascinating image, and often find details in it that I'd not noticed before. 🧵

1221955 0

Reposted by Rivets and Pins

Pete Blanchard @peteblanchard.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Peter Caddick-Adams seemingly still turning the knife in Jason Arday's back even though the poor bloke's only just passed away. Stay classy, Caddick-Adams, stay classy... #JasonArday

A screenshot of a tweet on X by the historian Peter Caddick-Adams. The tweet says:

"This is all very sad. Jason Arday found dead this afternoon. We all (me too) hounded him over his large than life claims, but it seems the inner man was too fragile to cope with the persona he had created".

Two tweets from X. One by someone called Blockhouses of the ABW says "The last selfish act of a narcissist, avoiding accountability and the consequences of his actions. It is a real tragedy that someone feels they have to take thier (sic) life as it impacts far too many and those left behind. It also maybe in his las (sic) selfish act seeks to transfer blame".

The reply by Peter Caddick-Adams is: "Indeed. Selfish when you consider he leaves a wife & family behind".

13406 0

Rivets and Pins @rivetsandpins.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Back to the correct Bluesky account... 🙄 This is what I was thinking about. While looking for this shot, I see what you mean about the armour. There seem to have been several different versions or attempts at applying various types of armour plate!

A small German SdKfz 10 half-tracked vehicle pointing to our left. It's in dark grey and has a 5.0cm Pak38 anti-tank gun mounted on it, pointing forwards.

110 0

Rivets and Pins @rivetsandpins.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Great mini-thread. You're dead right about the devil being in the detail! The SdKfz 10 was a neat-looking vehicle. My favourite? The version carrying the 5.0 PaK 38.

121 0

Reposted by Rivets and Pins

Graham 🏳️‍🌈 - UKTM @uk-tank-markings.co.uk · 19/07/2026

On another push to try and shift these last few games through Vinted. Please share and repost if you can. www.vinted.co.uk/member/31283...

A table covered in boardgames: Steam Time, Funfair, Artificium, 20th Century, Madame Ching, Venn, Galaxy Trucker, Castles of Tuscany, Sun Tzu, Steam Rollers, and Forbidden Desert.

01213 0

Rivets and Pins @rivetsandpins.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Thanks for the feedback <muy agradecido 👍). Personally, from an AFV perspective, I find the early half of WW2 much more interesting than the latter half. Expect more from this period in future!

020 0

Reposted by Rivets and Pins

RG Poulussen @rgpoulussen.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

I used the diary of this lady in Little Sense Of Urgency, the *most comprehensive Market Garden account* to date. Full of verifiable facts and maps, instead of stories. Please visit my website and purchase my book. A retweet would help me very much!

28142 0

Reposted by Rivets and Pins

Dr Philip W Blood MBA @philipwblood.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

On the anniversary of Operation Epsom, one of the pivotal British offensives of the Normandy campaign, we are pleased to announce the launch of Just Armour—a new collaborative publication exploring the history, technology, doctrine, and people of armoured warfare. open.substack.com/pub/justarmo...

open.substack.com

Just Armour

The Inauguration of the Armoured Warfare Group

22910 0

Reposted by Rivets and Pins

Nick Le Huray @nickleh.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

I will be on WW2TV at 19:00 BST Tuesday 23rd June. I will be talking about escapes from the Channel Islands during the German occupation of the Channel Islands. Do join us if you can. My book “Tides of Defiance” is published by Barnthorn Publishing Limited www.youtube.com/live/5QTHEIa...

youtube.com

Tides of Defiance: Channel Islanders who risked everything to escape from the German Occupation

YouTube video by WW2TV

0115 0

Reposted by Rivets and Pins

Graham 🏳️‍🌈 - UKTM @uk-tank-markings.co.uk · 04/12/2025

Hello! I run two little online shops: - one for WW2 anoraks, selling mugs and stickers with tank insignia on them: uktankmarkings.redbubble.com - one for LGBTQ+ nerdy people, selling mugs and stickers with gaming-themed pride flags on them: growsler.redbubble.com

A mockup of a white ceramic mug decorated with the camouflage and markings of the 7th Armoured Division

A mockup of a white ceramic mug decorated with the camouflage and markings of British Airborne forces.

A mockup of a white ceramic mug decorated with a Progress Pride flag made up of meeples.

A mockup of a white ceramic mug decorated with a Pride flag made up of dice.

06936 0

Reposted by Rivets and Pins

David Benedict @eggsbened.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Nightmare for a friend of mine in London. Please share.

8311545 0

Reposted by Rivets and Pins

Sean @seanboy.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

This is an excellent article from Tim. Well worth your time. #WW2 #Normandy44

171 0

Rivets and Pins @rivetsandpins.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Thanks RG - this is a useful start 👍 I'll take a deeper dive on this subject this evening.

030 0

Reposted by Rivets and Pins

Graham 🏳️‍🌈 - UKTM @uk-tank-markings.co.uk · 13/05/2026

Pride season is coming. If someone could buy some of my mugs that'd be grand. Cheers. www.redbubble.com/people/Grows...

A mug printed with Meeples forming the disability Pride flag

A mug printed with scribbles forming the progress Pride flag

A mug printed with Meeples forming the progress Pride flag

A mug printed with dice forming the Pride flag

22214 0

Rivets and Pins @rivetsandpins.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

I wonder if anyone has ever compared the failure & withdrawal from service of the Boys weapon with the success of the Soviet anti-tank rifles.

160 0

Reposted by Rivets and Pins

Dr Philip W Blood MBA @philipwblood.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

@jonnybriggs.bsky.social - A new history book on #armouredwarfare An excellent PhD and now a book, which makes an important contribution to British military history.

2104 0

Rivets and Pins @rivetsandpins.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

This weekend's reading just arrived.

The front page of volume 15 of the soft-cover book, Nuts & Bolts. It is grass green with a photo of various German Marder III tank hunters.

192 0

Reposted by Rivets and Pins

Nick Le Huray @nickleh.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

If you are looking for something to do on Sunday 24th May I am leading a walking tour around St Peter Port as part of the Spring Walking Festival. It looks like the weather will be good for an easy stroll around town to learn about defiance, danger and liberation.

065 0

Rivets and Pins @rivetsandpins.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Having done a couple of extensive tours with @seanboy.bsky.social too, I second RG's recommendation 🔥

0131 0

Reposted by Rivets and Pins

Jonny Briggs @jonnybriggs.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Out today.

2308 0

Reposted by Rivets and Pins

Jonny Briggs @jonnybriggs.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Out next week.

2193 0

Reposted by Rivets and Pins

Jonny Briggs @jonnybriggs.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

Out in May.

8477 0

Reposted by Rivets and Pins

Chris Kolonko-Weet @ckolonko.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

What better way to start the weekend than recording a video looking at why the role of the Regular and Territorial Army have largely been forgotten? #SecondWorldWar #History #WW2 youtu.be/yztlRdOGKGw

youtu.be

Why don't we Remember The Regulars but Remember the Home Guard? A Critical Analysis

YouTube video by Remember the Regulars

082 0

Rivets and Pins @rivetsandpins.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Invasion of Crete 1941 isn't known for its armoured element, but yes, according to Wikipedia, the Germans apparently landed 2 PzKw II tanks & the Italians a company of L3/35 tankettes. British had 9 Matilda IIs & 16 Light Tank Mk. VIs, none of which were in good shape, it seems.

130 0

Rivets and Pins @rivetsandpins.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

The Panzerjäger battalions were certainly used offensively, but I take your point. Possibly guarding, but given the vehicle is sitting in the open & not in a defensive position, I'd say its unit is probably halted temporarily, awaiting orders to move off.

130 0

Rivets and Pins @rivetsandpins.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

The photo has a mixture of tanks & trucks. As we don't have any info on the units shown here, it's hard to say what's going on. The Panzerjäger I wasn't used by Panzer Divisions, so this seems to be a case of a tank unit bypassing one or more other units.

120 0

Rivets and Pins @rivetsandpins.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

I'm not sure I can add much commentary to this photo. It's a vehicle from the first series with a 5-side gun shield in Europe (France 1940 or USSR 1941). No unit markings are visible.

150 0

Reposted by Rivets and Pins

GD's Tales @tanktales.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

90 years ago today, on 2nd April 1936, General Jean Baptiste Eugène Estienne died in Paris aged 75. He was the father of French tanks. Want to know more? If so, why not get me to give my talk on French tanks in the Great War to your group.

071 0

Rivets and Pins @rivetsandpins.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

THEN & NOW On the way back from the Tank Museum in Dorset a couple of weeks ago, I happened to pass through the area where this 1941 photo was taken & took a modern photo of the same place. Many thanks to @m1ke-a.bsky.social for his research. Photo credits & full details in Alt text.

A black and white photo of a Matilda II parked at a road junction in the Sussex village of Findon. Behind the tank is a hotel whose walls are covered in ivy. To the left of the hotel is a road (School Hill) which inclines up and away from the centre of the village. Houses and tall bushes line either side of School Hill. A light truck is driving away from us up School Hill, followed by a motorbike. A light truck is driving down the same road with another parked up at the side of the road.

The tank is a Matilda IIA* (or Matilda II Mk. III) with a Besa turret machinegun. It has the early 'H' pattern tracks, track mudguard extensions, a two-tone camouflage paint scheme and has a rolled tarpaulin attached to the left-hand side of the turret. The only marking visible is the War Department number on the upper hull - "WD No. T10422". Its engine deck is raised for maintenance.

Two crewmen, one a sergeant, are leaning against the front of the tank, obscuring any bridge classification badge or arm of service markings which were usually painted there. Another tankman is walking past the tank looking at the camera. All three are wearing black RTR berets.

In front of the tank is a group of 5 small children in coats and hats standing next to the railings of a front garden. The boy at the front is pointing at the tank turret.

While the IWM photo doesn't identify the tank's unit, Mike Anton has researched this photo and has identified it as almost certainly belonging to B Squadron of 44 Royal Tank Regiment, which was based at nearby Castle Goring at the time of this photo (4th March 1941).

Photo: IWM H7680

A colour photo of the same scene as the black and white shot, taken on 8th March 2026. The only change is the railings have been replaced by a low wall. The ivy has been also cut away from the Village Hotel. Apart from that and a change in the manhole cover in the foreground, very little has changed in the intervening 85 years.

Photo: P. Blanchard

1140 0

Reposted by Rivets and Pins

GD's Tales @tanktales.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Have you signed up yet? This online conference has a really broad range of subjects and speakers (and me) and it’s a bargain. Sign up details are in the quoted post.

033 0

Rivets and Pins @rivetsandpins.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

An Otter Mk. I in North Africa, 1943.

A black and white photo of a Churchill Mk. I tank rumbles towards the camera over North African scrubland.

130 0