Tank Tuning Why did Americans put spikes on tanks, fill them with cement, attach planks, etc. (3 photos)

Tank Tuning. Why Americans Put Spikes on Tanks, Filled Tanks with Cement, Attached Planks, etc.





Hello, dear readers! At the end of the war, to counteract Panzerfausts, our tanks were fitted with special screens made of mesh or thin sheet metal. It's often believed that they didn't help, although there were some positive reviews of this solution, and perhaps each case has its own nuances, as always. American tank crews feared the Panzerfaust at least as much as our own, and they had their own methods for countering it, as well as cannon shells. Especially in Normandy in 1944, American tanks were inferior to German ones and lacked vehicles like our IS-2, ISU series self-propelled guns, and T-34-85, so in the field, they tried to increase the survivability of the M4 Sherman main battle tank. The simplest method was to cover the tank with sandbags. Sometimes, special trusses were welded on for this purpose. And yes, in some cases, this was a saving grace; the shaped-charge jet could change direction, going obliquely, without penetrating the armor. The Americans also filled their tanks with concrete.



But this armor had a major drawback: it overloaded the tank's already loaded suspension, which seriously reduced its service life. General Patton, for example, opposed such modifications. Moreover, sand could increase the tank's weight by a couple of tons. Road wheels and tracks were also attached to the armor, and additional armor plates from previously disabled vehicles were welded on. These solutions were used by everyone, including the Red Army. The Pacific front also had its own life hacks.



So, wooden planks were added to the usual sand and concrete, which was supposed to protect against Japanese magnetic mines, which could attract nimble samurai as they emerged from the dense jungle. The fanatical Japanese could also use hand-held shaped-charge mines, which had pins at the base that detonated when pressed. For this purpose, the Americans welded spikes onto the tank's armor, especially on the most vulnerable areas, such as hatches, turning the vehicle into a menacing hedgehog. In war, as the saying goes, all means are good, especially when you see losses firsthand. The Germans, in turn, applied Zimmerit to the armor of those vehicles with the ribbed hulls. It's useless, but maybe someone made some money. That's all for me. Thank you for your attention. Goodbye!