Did this ever happen in real life?

[Wolfleader]

I was in the middle of a campaign battle set during the fall of 1941 playing as the Germans fighting a meeting engagement with Russian troops. One of my PzIII tanks fires its cannon at a T-27 and misses but hits the T-27's top armour with its MG34 MG's and knocks it out.

Now I can understand a 20mm or a 37mm round penetrating, but a 7.92mm round? I know that the T-27's where fairly lightly armoured but being knocked out by small arms fire? Are there any accounts of light tanks being knocked out in this manner in a real battle?

[Jeff Norton]

Never underestimate the random element...

Weird things happen in war. Kinda a 'rule', actually... (I've seen a few my self...);)

[Hades]

the t-27 is open topped or at least very lightly armored on the top. the mg probably didnt destroy the tank but killed all the crewmen

[Wolfleader]

Had the crew survived I could just imagine the humiliation on their face.

Russian Tank Commander 1: Got knocked out by a 75mm round this morning.

Russian Tank Commander 2: Pffft. That's nothing. Got nailed by a flak 88. Lucky I managed to get out in one piece. Hey what about you Peterov.

Peterov: *Hangs head low* Got knocked out by a 7.92 MG round.

[AbsntMndedProf]

I think they have a phrase to describe this phenomenon in the Air Force, 'The Golden Beebee'.

Eric Maietta

[fireball]

Originally posted by AbsntMndedProf
I think they have a phrase to describe this phenomenon in the Air Force, 'The Golden Beebee'.

Eric Maietta

Yep, bullets do strange things in real life.

fireball

[Griefbringer]

At least 12.7 mm bullets hitting early war tanks on top would be devastating. Apparently the T-27 had about 6mm armour on the top, so it shouldn't be impossible for a lucky MG shot to penetrate a weak spot, penetrate and bounce around inside killing the crew (especially if there was any AP-shot in the belt).

Even later in war, nasty things could happen if a tank was hit when it had a turret hatch open.

Griefbringer

[Irinami]

Don't forget vision slits. That's a Golden B-B function. ^_^

[Check Mate]

Originally posted by Wolfleader
I was in the middle of a campaign battle set during the fall of 1941 playing as the Germans fighting a meeting engagement with Russian troops. One of my PzIII tanks fires its cannon at a T-27 and misses but hits the T-27's top armour with its MG34 MG's and knocks it out.

Now I can understand a 20mm or a 37mm round penetrating, but a 7.92mm round? I know that the T-27's where fairly lightly armoured but being knocked out by small arms fire? Are there any accounts of light tanks being knocked out in this manner in a real battle?

Was your PzIII firing from the ground or from a Hill top?
If your tank was firing from the above its MMG could hit the T-27 on the top and seriously damage it