"1 casualty"d to death

[john g]

Originally posted by Brian_19K20:
Changing a track on any armored vehicle is NOT easy work. Especially if you'd be in the situation of having had a mine BLOW the track off.

AFV track is HEAVY. If it were light enough to be fixed by one person then chances are the mine would have shredded the track (and probably other stuff) beyond repair.

I recall reading about a British tank crew that took a hit on an idler wheel on one side that knocked the wheel off. They waited until the battle had moved on and then shortend and restrung the track around the remaining bogies. The tank pulled to one side once they started it back up but were able to get back it to their lines.

They didn't do this under fire but with just the crew of the tank, they were able to get the track both shortend and put on with one of the wheels missing.
thanks, John.

[Stukadawg]

I spoke to my friend about his grandfather.

Repairing the track and getting the wounded soldiers back to safety earned him an Iron Cross and a Driver's Badge (or medal, or something). He did all this while under fire.

Ray, my friend, recalls that he repaired the track with a crowbar (he doesn't remember if the track had been broken or not). Also he pointed out that the 251 halftrack's wheels were all powered (something unique to German halftracks). Sadly, Ray's father passed away a few years back and he is the source of the story (Ray's dad was a chief mechanic for TWA so I'd imagine his description being very accurate).

However I told Ray about Matrix, the game, and this forum and he liked the amount of detail and precision going into the research and the game.

When he gets a new computer, probably in a few weeks, he'll undoubtedly find this site to be like a second home.

Gotta go now, those Frenchmen aren't going to conquer themselves (or will they?).

Stukadawger@regwadakuts

P.S.: Next time he comes over I'll have him post the story himself. I've already forgotten half of what he told me just an hour ago.

[Gloo]

Originally posted by john g:
...Just how lethal were WWII era AT mines?

Against Tanks, it was VERY effective!
As stated in a report from the Schwere Panzerabteilung 503 made in 1943,between the 5th and 8th of July, from a total of 44 Tigers engaged, 34 were disabled (more than 8 hours to fix and repair damages).7 were hit; 16 damaged by mines; 9 had mechanical breakdowns (2 of them burned).

[Gloo]

Originally posted by Gloo:
Against Tanks, it was VERY effective!

Sorry, forgot to say that it was very effective not to kill tanks but to immobilize them... of course!

[ May 18, 2001: Message edited by: Gloo ]

[john g]

Originally posted by Gloo:


Sorry, forgot to say that it was very effective not to kill tanks but to immobilize them... of course!

[ May 18, 2001: Message edited by: Gloo ]

That is my point, movement points go to 0, that is fine by me. However, a 50% brew up rate more or less, depending on either tanks size or survival rating (don't know which I just know that small tanks tend to die more often) seems to be excessive for WWII era mines.
thanks, John.