Captured Russian equipment in the West.
Captured Russian equipment in the West.
There are plenty of pics of captured Russian equipment being used by the Germans in the east but how much of it was transferred west with units redeployed there. I know of some trucks and I think a topless T34 in Italy but there seems to be scant evidence of heavier equipment making the transition. Knowing the German's passion for logistic complexity there would seem little logistic reason then for leaving them behind plus the soldier's universal compulsion to hang on to whatever they have acquired.
Regards,
Famo
Regards,
Famo
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Re: Captured Russian equipment in the West.
There was a great deal of Soviet artillery used by the Germans in Normandy both as divisional artillery and as the equipment of fortifications in the Atlantic Wall. there doesn't seem to have been very much in the way of transport as the divisions which were brought back from the east to rebuild tended to leave all of their equipment behind.
Alan
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Re: Captured Russian equipment in the West.
Hi guys,
Thanks for the prompt reply. Good point about the artillery though I was thinking more along the lines of recovery vehicles and ammunition carriers.
Thanks for the prompt reply. Good point about the artillery though I was thinking more along the lines of recovery vehicles and ammunition carriers.
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Re: Captured Russian equipment in the West.
T-34 with pressed turret in France.
source: Wheels & Tracks 60
source: Wheels & Tracks 60
Re: Captured Russian equipment in the West.
There were good reasons for not finding captured Red Army material Kit in the West.
#1 A Lot of Red Army kit may not have been declared officially, but held and used locally. This is fine for tanks and small arms where a modest amount of ammunition might be useful. Less so for field artillery where the equipment is of little value without a resupply chain leading to a munitions factory,
#2 Soviet tanks were not particularly reliable and needed soviet replacement parts, which were easier to obtain on the East Front. The ex French equipment built by Major Becker was used in "West onl" formations such as the rebuilt 21st Panzer Division.
#1 A Lot of Red Army kit may not have been declared officially, but held and used locally. This is fine for tanks and small arms where a modest amount of ammunition might be useful. Less so for field artillery where the equipment is of little value without a resupply chain leading to a munitions factory,
#2 Soviet tanks were not particularly reliable and needed soviet replacement parts, which were easier to obtain on the East Front. The ex French equipment built by Major Becker was used in "West onl" formations such as the rebuilt 21st Panzer Division.
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Re: Captured Russian equipment in the West.
Found another T-34 in France. Posted here.
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Re: Captured Russian equipment in the West.
Thank you for the responses.