5A NG TSZ YIN

A Brief History of Hong Kong’s Franchised Bus Services

November 7, 2024 5A NG TSZ YIN Comments 1 comment

Bus services are important for most Hongkongers nowadays. But do you know the history of bus services?

I. Beginning

In the 1920s, buses appeared in Hong Kong. At that time, some of the companies were:

Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB)
China Motor Bus (CMB)
Hong Kong Tramways

In 1933, bus services were franchised. From then on, only two companies provided franchised bus services—KMB in Kowloon and the New Territories, and CMB on Hong Kong Island.

II. WW2 Era & Post-War

Eight years after franchised bus services appeared, the Battle of Hong Kong broke out. On December 25, 1941, the Hong Kong Government surrendered to Japan. Most buses were expropriated by the Japanese armed forces, causing bus services to be limited.

After the liberation of Hong Kong, the restoration of public transportation services became a high priority for the Hong Kong government. At that time, even trucks were modified into buses due to the shortage of buses in Hong Kong.

III. Late 1940s to 1950s

Due to the civil war in mainland China, starting in the late 1940s, many people fled to Hong Kong from the Mainland. As a result, Hong Kong’s population skyrocketed to 1,860,000 in 1949 compared to around 1,000,000 before WW2. Trucks were no longer suitable as “buses.” Consequently, KMB received some Daimler CVG double-decker buses in 1949, which became the main fleet of KMB until the mid-1980s.

Meanwhile, on Hong Kong Island (HKI), CMB continued to use single-decker buses, primarily the Guy Arab series. The main reason for this was that the engines of double-decker buses were not powerful enough to handle HKI’s hilly terrain.

IV. 1960s

In the 1960s, Hong Kong’s population continued to grow, and bus companies needed larger buses. KMB purchased the AEC Regent V to improve bus services.

KMB was the only user of the AEC Regent V

Meanwhile, CMB decided to buy the double-decker version of the Guy Arab, providing more efficient bus services on HKI.

IV(a): 1967

During the 1967 Hong Kong riots, many buses were damaged in Kowloon, forcing KMB to provide limited services. As a result, minibus services began to replace some bus routes.

V. 1970s

In the 1970s, the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) began operations. This significantly affected bus services, as most passengers preferred the more stable and comfortable MTR (which had air conditioning). Meanwhile, the Cross Harbour Tunnel (CHT) opened in 1972, and bus companies promptly launched services between Kowloon and HKI.

Route 101 is one of the earliest CHT bus routes

VI. Light Rail Versus Buses

In 1988, light rail services began in Tuen Mun and Yuen Long. The government implemented strict rules for bus services in these districts, such as prohibiting buses from having three consecutive stops overlapping with the Light Rail Transit (LRT). Additionally, these districts’ bus services could only operate as MTR Bus services. Due to these policies, bus services were highly restricted.

LRT service remains the main competitor of bus services in Tuen Mun and Yuen Long

VII. Air-Conditioned Buses: Late 1980s

Bus companies realized they needed an air-conditioned (A/C) bus fleet to compete with MTR services. After testing a few A/C buses modified from non-A/C ones in 1988, the first A/C bus, the A/C version of the Leyland Olympian, started service. A few years later, the A/C version of the Dennis Dragon also began operating.

AL1/DX2437, the first A/C Leyland Olympian in Hong Kong

VIII. 1997 & 1998: Low-Floor Buses & End of CMB

In 1997, the first low-floor bus, the Dennis Trident, entered service, allowing even wheelchairs to board the bus. This marked a significant change in bus services.

Meanwhile, in 1998, CMB ended its service on HKI due to poor service quality. CityBus (CTB) and New World First Bus (NWFB) replaced its routes.

IX. 1998: Hong Kong International Airport

After Kai Tak Airport closed in 1998, Chek Lap Kok Airport began operations. New bus services were introduced for the airport, leading to the creation of the Long Win Bus Company and CityBus’s Cityflyer, which provided services between the airport and urban areas.

LWB provides bus services to the airport from the New Territories

Cityflyer provides bus services to the airport from Kowloon and Hong Kong Island

X. 2010s

Several significant events occurred in Hong Kong’s bus services during the 2010s. In May 2012, the last non-A/C buses retired after 24 years of A/C bus services. These were:

Volvo Olympian:

S3V26 GL258
S3V27 GL390

Dennis Dragon:

S3N347 GA1252
S3N351 GA1614
S3N355 GA4943)
S3N358 GA5505
S3N370 GD605

One of the last non-A/C buses (S3N370/GD605)

After 2012, only A/C buses remained in service. The low-floor buses became the main fleet for KMB. The last high-floor buses, including the A/C Volvo Olympians and the A/C Dennis Dragons, retired in 2016 and 2017. The Dennis Dragon was the last high-floor bus in service, retiring on July 6, 2017. After that, only CityBus operated non-franchised A/C Volvo Olympians.

The last KMB high-floor bus, ADS235/JD4215 (Dennis Dragon)

Non-franchised Volvo Olympian of CTB (965/HR3878)

XI. 2020s

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for bus services dropped significantly. As a result, many old buses were retired, and numerous bus routes temporarily stopped operating.

Route B1 stopped its service during the COVID-19 pandemic

In July 2023, another significant event occurred: New World First Bus, which had a 25-year history, was consolidated with CityBus, marking the end of its service. After the consolidation, CityBus became the only franchised company providing bus services on HKI, while KMB continued to operate cross-harbour routes.

A few months before the consolidation, NWFB repainted some of its buses in the livery they used in 1998, when they started services.

XII. Conclusion

Thanks to its long history, Hong Kong’s bus services have become a unique aspect of the city’s landscape. They are now indispensable to daily life. In conclusion, Hong Kong’s bus services represent the city’s development and should not be forgotten.

Evolution of Tanks: Germany (From WW1 to WW2)

November 2, 2024 5A NG TSZ YIN Comments 1 comment

Background

During World War I, the British and French successively launched their tanks starting in 1916. The most popular ones were the British Mark series and the French Renault FT and Saint-Chamond. These tanks caused significant trouble for the German Empire, prompting the Germans to start developing their own tanks.

I. World War I

In 1918, after a few years of development, Germany finally rolled out their new tank, the A7V. Although the German Army ordered 200 of these tanks, only 17 were in service before the end of the war. Most were scrapped after Germany surrendered.

II. Interwar Era & Early Stage of World War II

After World War I, the Treaty of Versailles banned Germany from developing tanks. However, in 1922, Soviet Russia and the Weimar Republic (Germany) signed the Treaty of Rapallo, allowing Germany to secretly send soldiers to Soviet Russia for training. In 1929, the Kama Tank School in Kazan, Russia, was founded, allowing Germany to test its tanks. During this period, Germany tested tanks like the Leichttraktor (meaning “light tractor”) and the Großtraktor (meaning “large tractor”), marking the start of modern German tank development.

In the 1930s, after the Nazi Party came to power, Germany began mass-producing tanks. The Panzer I, initially designed as a training vehicle, later participated in the Spanish Civil War and World War II.

The ***Panzer I Ausf A*** – In German, “panzer” means tank.

Since the Panzer I was underpowered (it only had machine guns as weapons), the German government called for a new design. In 1935, the Panzer II was produced, featuring better armor and a 20mm cannon. It played an important role in the Battle of Poland and the Battle of France.

In 1937, one of Germany’s most important tanks, the Panzer III, entered service. Throughout the war, the Panzer III saw numerous models (A to N), with its armament evolving from a 37mm cannon (1930s) to a 75mm cannon (1940s). Meanwhile, in 1939, the famous Panzer IV entered service, featuring a 75mm cannon that made it a formidable tank throughout the war.

In conclusion, the Panzer II, III, and IV played crucial roles in the early stages of World War II. But what happened next?

III. Mid-Stage of World War II

In 1939, World War II broke out. Using the Blitzkrieg tactic, which relied on the combined power of tanks and planes, Germany swiftly defeated most European countries. Even France, which had the strongest army at the time, was defeated. In 1941, Germany began its invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa). Initially, the Germans pushed the Soviet Army back to Moscow. However, in December 1941, Germany lost the Battle of Moscow, marking the start of the 4-year Russo-German War.

Initially, the tanks produced in the 1930s were still powerful enough to contend with Soviet tanks. However, once the Soviet Union began mass production of the formidable KV series and T-34 series, the situation changed. Germany needed a more powerful tank to compete.

In 1942, the most famous heavy tank in history, the Tiger I (or Panzer VI), entered service. With its powerful 88mm cannon, the threat posed by Soviet tanks diminished, and the Allies feared the Tiger I so much that they often called for air support whenever they encountered one.

In 1943, the Soviet Union started producing the well-known T-34-85 tank to counter Germany’s Tiger I. In response, Germany realized the Tiger I’s mobility was insufficient. Thus, in 1943, the Panther tank was introduced. It boasted better mobility and firepower. Its longer 75mm cannon was even more powerful than the Tiger I’s 88mm cannon. The Panther first appeared during the Battle of Kursk and soon evolved into many models (Panther A to Panther G), becoming one of the best tanks Germany ever produced.

IV. The Final Fantasy of the Empire

In 1944, the Allies landed in Normandy, France, signaling the beginning of the collapse of the Nazi Empire. However, Adolf Hitler still believed Germany could win the war. As a result, many ambitious and often impractical tank designs emerged between 1944 and 1945.

In 1944, the Tiger II (or King Tiger) entered service to compete with the American Pershing tanks and Soviet IS-2 tanks. Weighing 70 tonnes, it was one of the heaviest tanks ever produced. Unfortunately, it had a high failure rate and had little impact on the war.

The most extreme tank Germany ever built was the Panzer VIII “Maus” (meaning “mouse”). It had a powerful 12.8 cm cannon and a 75mm cannon. Weighing a staggering 188 tonnes, it remains the heaviest tank ever built. However, it never entered mass production. Originally, two prototypes were built, but they were destroyed in 1944. Fortunately, the Soviet Union combined the turret and hull of the prototypes, rebuilding it for display at the Kubinka Tank Museum in Russia.

V. Conclusion

From 1918 to 1945, Germany produced many different kinds of tanks, with most being highly successful. As a result, many of these tanks have appeared in modern pop culture. The designs of German tanks have also inspired many modern MBTs (Main Battle Tanks). There is no doubt that Germany had a significant impact on the history of tank development.

The Battle of the Denmark Strait

October 26, 2024 5A NG TSZ YIN Comments 1 comment

The Situation of the Germans

It was roughly a year after Nazi Germany had defeated nearly all countries in Europe, including France, Poland, Yugoslavia, etc. Although Germany achieved huge success on land, the situation at sea was in great trouble. The Royal Navy had blockaded the Kriegsmarine and continued to send resources to Great Britain from the Americas. The Kriegsmarine needed to stop the Allied freighters and disrupt their shipping lanes.

In May 1941, the German Navy High Command Chief, Erich Johann Albert Raeder, initiated Operation Rheinübung. The major forces of this operation were the Kriegsmarine’s two newest ships: the battleship Bismarck and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, commanded by Johann Günther Lütjens. With the help of U-boats beneath the Atlantic Ocean, Raeder hoped to put pressure on the Royal Navy.

Prinz Eugen (Admiral Hipper-class) – Heavy cruiser

Preparation of the British

On 18 May 1941, the German fleet left port, heading toward the Denmark Strait. On 20 May, Swedish aircraft and ships spotted the fleet and reported it to the Royal Navy. The Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet, John Tovey, sent two heavy cruisers, HMS Norfolk and HMS Suffolk, to patrol the strait and prevent the German fleet from entering the Atlantic Ocean.

The Encounter Between the British and the Germans

On 21 May, the Royal Navy sent two more ships to the Denmark Strait to join the cruisers: HMS Hood (the largest battlecruiser at that time) and HMS Prince of Wales (the newest battleship of the Royal Navy). Vice-Admiral Lancelot Ernest Holland was the commander of these two ships. On 23 May, the British fleet encountered the German fleet at the entrance to the strait. Bismarck fired at the cruisers but missed all five volleys, and its radar was damaged during the shots. HMS Suffolk continued tracking Bismarck while waiting for support from other ships. Unfortunately, it lost contact with the German fleet from 00:20 until 03:00 the next day.

Vice-Admiral Lancelot Ernest Holland (1887-1941)

The Battle

At around 05:35 on 24 May 1941, the German fleet was finally spotted by HMS Prince of Wales (the cruisers were at a distance). At the same time, Lütjens also spotted the British fleet. At 05:52, Vice-Admiral Holland gave the order to fire at the German ship, which he mistakenly believed was Bismarck (it was actually Prinz Eugen). He soon corrected the order, but it still caused confusion on the British ships.

At 05:55, Bismarck and Prinz Eugen were positioned in front of the British battleships, forming a T shape. The German fleet began firing at HMS Hood, setting it ablaze. Holland quickly ordered the two British ships to turn their hulls to bring all their cannons into action. At 06:00, while HMS Hood was still turning, it was hit again by Bismarck. This time, the ship’s ammunition magazine exploded, breaking the Hood into two parts and sinking it in a matter of minutes. Of the 1,419 crew members, including Holland, only three survived.

HMS Hood (51) – Admiral-class battlecruiser

After HMS Hood sank, the Germans immediately switched their focus to HMS Prince of Wales, hitting the ship around eight times. Most of the crew in the bridge and radar control room were killed. Additionally, many of the ship’s cannons malfunctioned and could not fire. At 06:04, Captain John Leach ordered a retreat from the battlefield. By 06:10, the fighting had ceased, and Lütjens did not order the pursuit of the damaged battleship.

HMS Prince of Wales (53) – King George V-class battleship

The Aftermath of the Battle

When news of HMS Hood‘s sinking reached Britain, the entire British Empire was in shock. The largest battlecruiser in the world, the pride of the Royal Navy, had been destroyed by the Germans. The Royal Navy quickly launched an operation to avenge Hood and sink Bismarck, which they achieved near France on 27 May 1941.

For Germany, although the battle in the Denmark Strait was a significant victory, the loss of Bismarck soon afterwards marked a major defeat. This failure directly hindered the Kriegsmarine’s efforts to destroy Allied freighters and disrupt shipping lanes.

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