"Field applied enhanced protection for armour" Topic
6 Posts
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 deadhead  | 06 Nov 2025 5:53 a.m. PST |
I thought this topic proved fascinating
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and I was prompted to post a further question about field applied armour additions. Wolfhag suggested starting a new topic, so here goes. We are well used to seeing tank crews trying to enhance their armour protection with everything from concrete to sandbags to logs, but especially with tank tracks applied over the glacis plate. I can see a role when facing kids with panzerfausts or suicidally inclined Imperial Japanese troops, but thinking just about the caterpillar tracks, did they really provide any advantage to compensate for the extra weight, when facing another AFV? |
 Extra Crispy  | 06 Nov 2025 7:23 a.m. PST |
In part the extra tracks were spare parts that had to go somewhere. So might as well use them as armor. I doubt any of these had any significant effect against AFVs. AT Rifles, fausts and the like, maybe. I'd guess it was more psychological than practical. |
| Korvessa | 06 Nov 2025 9:56 a.m. PST |
I always assumed the main reason for extra tracks on tanks was what Crispy said. |
| deadhead | 06 Nov 2025 11:05 a.m. PST |
True, but you do see Shermans carrying Churchill tracks, suggesting the crews thought of some use as protection. But psychological sounds right to me. I assume they could not prove to be shot traps? |
| TimePortal | 06 Nov 2025 1:02 p.m. PST |
As a platoon leader in 1976, I received a booklet at my new unit which had tips for additional armor etc. The one that perked my ears up was the use of ammo boxes. You would fill them with sand and hang on the sides. Some placed them around the coupla to give an early warning of a sniper. Their first shoot often hit the box |
| JMcCarroll | 06 Nov 2025 3:48 p.m. PST |
Some field units were attaching 1 or 2 inch plates to the front hull of Shermans. It was frowned upon by higher ups. |
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