Burkey tells me that these are "transport wheels" bolted on to make it easier to get the tank to where it's going to muster, then the wheels are removed
http://anyskin.tumblr.com/post/148941503112/sdkfz254-with-t-26-turret#notes
http://anyskin.tumblr.com/post/146375452972/1930s-spain-bt-5#notes
http://anyskin.tumblr.com/image/165055242747
There are also pictures with T-38 turret and one with Panzer I or II turret. Very poor quality I'm afraid.
ReplyDeleteDas spaniard has blown a track, where as the german unit has 'transport' wheels. They unbolt from the hubs once you're where you want to be.
ReplyDeleteAnd this little number under construction even has duallies on the rear.
http://anyskin.tumblr.com/image/165055242747
Transport wheels.. .. huh! Never seen that before, thanks!
DeleteOk,... so I got that one kinda wrong...ish.
DeleteWhat I was thinking, aint this one.
It turns out the Sd kfz 254 scout car thing, actually has axles that swing up and down, yet were ditched due to their complexity in favour of the half track.
Probably should have checked that first.
Damn Bundaberg Rum.
http://anyskin.tumblr.com/post/144698279547/1930s-ussr-bt-5-tank-towing-skiers
ReplyDeleteThanks, I learned something new with these photos. The Sd kfz. 254 is as Burkey said, has wheels that can be lowered or raised at will. It was used very early in the war as a scout/recon vehicle. The second picture is of a Russian BT-5 with its ubiquitous 'Christie' suspension. The notion behind the Christie suspension is that it could be run on a paved road without the tracks, which is a great idea unless you're the guy who has to take the tracks off and put them back on. With the track on, however the Christie suspension was brilliant, providing excellent off road mobility and speed. So... of course the US Army rejected it. The Russians however made good use if it for a long long time, as well as the British, who modified it and put it to use on their Cruiser Tank. The last photo is the one I learned a bit on, this is incorrectly labeled an ADMK "Mulu" on its Tumblr page. It is a Czechoslovakian 'Kolohousenka' (wheel and track) KH-60 vehicle with the superstructure removed. This is likely an artillery tractor, rather than a tank. The KH-60 was driven up on a wooden ramp and had the wheels put on by hand, the ramp then was strapped to the side of the tank till the time to take the wheels off. To the left of the tracked vehicle is a Skoda SOA vz.27, armored car designated "PA-III" by the Czech Army. To the right there appears to be a couple of Tatra OA vz.30 armored cars. I was not aware that in the late 1930's Czechoslovakia was the second largest exporter of tanks in the world. http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2017/01/czechoslovakian-tank-building-first.html
ReplyDelete