"About Tanks Extra Protection" Topic

"The tendency to increase armour protection was one of the most notable features of the German tank building school. No nation in the world increased protection without a radical change to the chassis. For instance, the Pz.Kpfw.III more than tripled the thickness of its front armour compared to its initial form. The Pz.Kpfw.IV set a record, quadrupling the thickness of the front hull compared to that of the B.W. This wasn't it, as the Germans still worked on improving protection of tanks that were already build. This article will cover those methods…"

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Armand

Interesting article, Armand!

Grelber

Yes good.

Although not a tread head I found the article quite interesting.

A votre service mes amis…

Armand

Very informative!

Great article. I was amazed to learn that the USSR did not use magnetic A/T mines, making Zimmerit unnecessary (or perhaps that was why the soviets did not use them).

Further, the repeated message that the bolts of spaced armour sheered off after three hits. If it protected me from the first three hits I would be Grateful, not Dead

I was amazed to learn that the USSR did not use magnetic A/T mines, making Zimmerit unnecessary (or perhaps that was why the soviets did not use them).

I doubt there is a better example of a pointless solution looking for a problem in WW2. I have never seen any coherent explanation of how it came to be rolled out to the extent that it was. Perhaps it is a little less surprising as more and more evidence is brought to light of how utterly chaotic just about every aspect of the Nazi war economy actually was…

I guess we must allow that the Germans did develop various anti tank magnetic "mines", but how much they were used I have no idea. It took guts to apply one!

But I still am amazed to learn that the whole project of Zimmerit proved pointless and I doubt its application prevented adoption of the weapon by the Allies.

The use of Zimmermet may have kept the Russians from using anti-tank magnetic mines. I have not found any evidence of Russian magnetic mines.

Wolfhag

I guess we must allow that the Germans did develop various anti tank magnetic "mines", but how much they were used I have no idea.

They were used by Panzerknacker squads in Russia. The tactics were well developed. A quick fun game is Dave Popplewell's PanzerKnacker rules. It covers the tactics and weapons used and how they changed with the introduction of the Panzerschreck and Panzerfaust. Makes for a good participation game too, with the GM running the Russian tanks while the players take a squad of PanzerKnackers each.

Gimme a choice between hiding behind a hedge with a summat faust or instead running up to a tank, jumping onto it, attaching a magnetic "mine" and then running back to cover, unnoticed by the tanks behind and the infantry escort, to get home to Germany. "Knacker" my butt, gimme a "faust" or a "shreck", or let me wave my Irish passport as a neutral. I would want to grow old and see my great grandkids, not perish in Russia

Many thanks…

Armand

Gimme a choice between hiding behind a hedge with a summat faust or instead running up to a tank, jumping onto it, attaching a magnetic "mine" and then running back to cover,

You don't need to jump on the tank. Worked perfectly fine on any slope of armour. So on the side over the ammo stowage would be a good choice. As for the other tanks and infantry that was what the rest of the guys in the squad with MG42's and smoke grenades were for.

"During your approach, the covering troops divert the crew from you. They distract their view and prevent the hatches and pistol ports being opened for defence. To this end shoot everything down to the last pistol and flare gun and everything close by, against the slits and optics of the tank. When a hatch is being opened the covering troops make such a racket, that it quickly closes shut again. Of course your comrades will protect you from threats from outside.

If you have to approach right up to the tank, then the threat from outside is at its greatest while you're knocking out the tank. For this your comrades are there. They have to watch like hawks. No enemy may move a finger. There can be no doubts in the communication with all your comrades in the area. Otherwise you'll get close to the tank only to be chased away by your own side's fire. When you ignite your explosives, scream: "It's lit!"

WORK TOGETHER LIKE A SOCCER TEAM!"

From p15 of German army pamphlet 77/3, "Panzerknacker – INSTRUCTIONS FOR CLOSE COMBAT WITH TANKS", my translation.

Thanks also…

Armand

Failed Modernization of the KV-1S

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Armand