Ostketten - Winterketten

Discussions on the vehicles used by the Axis forces. Hosted by Christian Ankerstjerne
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RB
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Ostketten - Winterketten

#1

Post by RB » 16 Jun 2005, 16:45

Hi,

What is the difference between Ostketten and Winterketten? Could you show me some pictures, which make it obvious?
thx!

RB

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Ace31
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#2

Post by Ace31 » 16 Jun 2005, 20:35

From a previous discussion:
Wolfkin wrote: Winterketten

Winterketten were developed in 1942 for use in winter conditions on the Eastern Front. These were basically a normal track with track extensions that protruded from the ends of the tracks. These are recognizable by the long triangular extensions. These were usually found on the PzKpfw III, PzKpfw IV and StuG III but could also be seen on Hummel, Hornisse and other vehicles.

Ostketten

Ostketten were developed in 1944 for use in the muddy conditions in the Spring and Autumn on the Eastern Front, the Rasputitsa. These were basically a wider track than the usual track which was fitted. There were no triangular extensions, just a wider track. These were for use usually on the PzKpfw IV and StuG III but could also be found on other vehicles. When seen on the PzKpfw IV it looks like a PzKpfw V Panther track on a PzKpfw IV.

I hope this helps!

Cheers,

Wolfkin


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RB
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#3

Post by RB » 18 Jun 2005, 18:24

Could someone send a photo about the ostketten?
thx

RB

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Trommelfeuer
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#4

Post by Trommelfeuer » 18 Jun 2005, 20:49

Madder Cat has posted a nice source for free pdf-files of some militär magazines in another threat about the RSO, check this one out:

http://www.betah.co.il/book_catalog.asp ... 20Vehicles

Look for Panzers In The East - (2) Decline And Defeat 1943-1945 <-- very interesting, lots of great photos...including some of AFVs equipped with Ostketten (( ...although in this e-book, Winterketten are described as tracks for the winter and since 1944 "special wider tracks were developed in 1944 based on the experience acquired through the use of Ostketten in the two previous winters"...!? )), here are two examples from this e-book, a pair of Hummeln (EDIT: equipped wit Winterketten) and a Stug IV equipped with Ostketten:
Attachments
Hummel.jpg
Hummel.jpg (99.24 KiB) Viewed 42010 times
Stug IV.jpg
Stug IV.jpg (232.96 KiB) Viewed 41991 times
Last edited by Trommelfeuer on 19 Jun 2005, 01:12, edited 2 times in total.

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Ace31
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#5

Post by Ace31 » 18 Jun 2005, 22:00

No photo but clear...
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ostketten.jpg
ostketten.jpg (15.63 KiB) Viewed 41943 times

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bryson109
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#6

Post by bryson109 » 18 Jun 2005, 22:52

The hummel has Winterketten. But the StUg IV does in fact have Ostketten.

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MaisAlto
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#7

Post by MaisAlto » 18 Jun 2005, 23:13

Ostketten tracks
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Tracks.jpg
Tracks.jpg (55.44 KiB) Viewed 41922 times

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bryson109
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#8

Post by bryson109 » 18 Jun 2005, 23:35

MaisAlto wrote:Ostketten tracks
Thoses are Winterketten tracks.

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Trommelfeuer
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#9

Post by Trommelfeuer » 19 Jun 2005, 00:46

One more Winterketten-photo:

( source: http://www.panzer-modell.de/referenz/fo ... /album.htm <-- although in this source it's identified as Ostketten...)
Attachments
Panzer IV in Wintertarn mit Ostketten.jpg
Panzer IV in Wintertarn mit Ostketten.jpg (32.88 KiB) Viewed 41888 times

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RB
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#10

Post by RB » 19 Jun 2005, 09:50

Quite confusing...I do not really see too much difference between Ostketten & Winterketten...

RB

herrlabe sr1
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#11

Post by herrlabe sr1 » 19 Jun 2005, 16:57

The winterketten were bolted on and the ostketten were manufactured as wide tracks.

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bryson109
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#12

Post by bryson109 » 19 Jun 2005, 17:10

RB wrote:Quite confusing...I do not really see too much difference between Ostketten & Winterketten...

RB
Winterketten have extensions of the tracks, while Ostketten look like Panther and Tiger tank tracks.

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H.v.Holdt
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#13

Post by H.v.Holdt » 19 Jun 2005, 17:18

The winterketten were bolted on and the ostketten were manufactured as wide tracks.
I guess you mean the "blades" were bolted on?

Actually the "Winterketten" track links were one piece links. It was manufactured as an special "unilink", means same form for both sides.

Image

Image


Hartmut

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Sander D
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#14

Post by Sander D » 19 Jun 2005, 19:53

RB wrote :
Quite confusing...I do not really see too much difference between Ostketten & Winterketten...
Here you can see the differance between the winterkette and ostkette used on a stug.


So RB : The last picture is a panzer IV with, what for .........kette ost or winter,you get the point now


Cheers

Sander

pictures comes from expired ebay sale's
Attachments
Panzer IV mit  ostkette.jpg
Panzer IV mit ostkette.jpg (37.38 KiB) Viewed 41711 times
stug mit ostkette.jpg
stug mit ostkette.jpg (24.65 KiB) Viewed 41714 times
Winterkette on stug.jpg
Winterkette on stug.jpg (36.61 KiB) Viewed 41727 times

herrlabe sr1
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#15

Post by herrlabe sr1 » 20 Jun 2005, 13:58

I stand corrected . i allways though they were bolted on as extentions for witteren.
As i looked at photos it is clear to me the difference is in the casting of track . The gripping bar on the winterketten is normal track width but on the ostketten it is much wider , almost width of whole track . look at pictures closely

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