Engineer Panzers? Snow Plows?
-
- Member
- Posts: 78
- Joined: 06 Sep 2005, 16:57
- Location: Europe
Engineer Panzers? Snow Plows?
I have been reading some American AARs from winter 1944-1945 and I notice how they used bulldozer tanks to plow roads and even create roads of their own. This made me think how I have seen only one or two pictures of German engineer tanks. Did Germans use engineer panzers (bulldozers, mine-clearers, bridge-layers) in any wider scale? How did they keep roads open during winter?
-AF
-AF
-
- Member
- Posts: 46
- Joined: 16 Feb 2006, 13:53
- Location: Alkmaar the Netherlands
Re: Engineer Panzers? Snow Plows?
They had there engineer panzers also( think of the Bergepanzer 38, BergePanther and BergeTiger, bridge layers based on panzer I, III and Hanomag 251/i think it was version 8).arctic fox wrote:I have been reading some American AARs from winter 1944-1945 and I notice how they used bulldozer tanks to plow roads and even create roads of their own. This made me think how I have seen only one or two pictures of German engineer tanks. Did Germans use engineer panzers (bulldozers, mine-clearers, bridge-layers) in any wider scale? How did they keep roads open during winter?
-AF
I have never seen one with snowplough but the ancor they used for towing could also be used as a plough with maybe a small adjustment?
-
- Member
- Posts: 78
- Joined: 06 Sep 2005, 16:57
- Location: Europe
-
- Member
- Posts: 78
- Joined: 06 Sep 2005, 16:57
- Location: Europe
Here's a list of different types of German engineer vehicles that I could find. Are there any errors? Is something missing? I didn't find any bulldozer or plow type vehicles.
Bergepanzer - Recovery panzer with a winch or crane.
Pionierkampfwagen - Carrier for combat engineers.
Pionierpanzerwagen - Carries combat engineers, their equipment and two light bridges.
Brückenleger - A bridge layer for heavier bridge parts.
Minenräumpanzer - Mine clearing panzer.
Minenräumwagen - Mine clearing vehicle.
Ladungsleger - Explosives carrier?
-AF
Bergepanzer - Recovery panzer with a winch or crane.
Pionierkampfwagen - Carrier for combat engineers.
Pionierpanzerwagen - Carries combat engineers, their equipment and two light bridges.
Brückenleger - A bridge layer for heavier bridge parts.
Minenräumpanzer - Mine clearing panzer.
Minenräumwagen - Mine clearing vehicle.
Ladungsleger - Explosives carrier?
-AF
-
- Member
- Posts: 78
- Joined: 06 Sep 2005, 16:57
- Location: Europe
There was Schneeschaufel auf Bren (e): captured Bren Carriers with snow plows.
Image source: http://beute.narod.ru
There must have been other snow plow vehicles, perhaps trucks. Does anyone know?
-AF
Image source: http://beute.narod.ru
There must have been other snow plow vehicles, perhaps trucks. Does anyone know?
-AF
-
- Member
- Posts: 78
- Joined: 06 Sep 2005, 16:57
- Location: Europe
Thanks!
Halftrack would make a great snow plough and apparently it did.
There was a version of Büssing-NAG truck with snow plough:
Source: http://www.autogallery.org.ru/m/buessnag.htm
Some sites tell that there was a snow plough for RSO caterpillar. I also found some individual references for Pz.IV and VI with snow plough.
-AF
Halftrack would make a great snow plough and apparently it did.
There was a version of Büssing-NAG truck with snow plough:
Source: http://www.autogallery.org.ru/m/buessnag.htm
Some sites tell that there was a snow plough for RSO caterpillar. I also found some individual references for Pz.IV and VI with snow plough.
-AF
-
- Member
- Posts: 78
- Joined: 06 Sep 2005, 16:57
- Location: Europe
Jim provided me information (THANKS!) that lead me to this interesting page: http://www.panzermodellbau.com/index_at ... fel.html&1
This page contains a picture of Panther Ausf D mit Räumschaufel:
If I understand German language of that page correctly, these kind of bulldozer panzers were used as parts of fire brigades that cleared rubble created by Allied air raids. Does it mean that these kind of panzers were not usually part of combat units?
I have been reading THE TIGER TRIUMPHS - THE STORY OF THREE GREAT DIVISIONS IN ITALY and it contains this passage that stresses the importance of Allied engineer vehicles:
-AF
This page contains a picture of Panther Ausf D mit Räumschaufel:
If I understand German language of that page correctly, these kind of bulldozer panzers were used as parts of fire brigades that cleared rubble created by Allied air raids. Does it mean that these kind of panzers were not usually part of combat units?
I have been reading THE TIGER TRIUMPHS - THE STORY OF THREE GREAT DIVISIONS IN ITALY and it contains this passage that stresses the importance of Allied engineer vehicles:
Is anyone aware of German views on this subject? Did they recognize the efficiency of Allied bulldozers? Did Germans utilize bulldozer vehicles with same efficiency? Did German combat troops even have bulldozer vehicles?Among a thousand devices, two were of such paramount importance as to make the difference between defeat and victory. Bulldozers, long the envy of commanders in the desert, multiplied their functions to meet a hundred emergencies. These great scoops and their crews became integral elements of every battlefield. Whatever the malice of the enemy or the whim of nature, if earth and stone could repair the damage the bulldozers speedily would open the way. A brigade of artillery or a heavy concentration of bombers might wreak fantastic destruction on a vital target. Yet in a matter of hours a half-dozen grimy drivers with chugging caterpillars would mend and make workable. The bulldozer was surgeon-on-the-spot to all wounded terrain.
-AF
Day All
From the for what it's worth files.
Winter 43/44 Pic
As to having bulldozers I have seen one in german service albeit with the workers working on Festung Europa.
Also seen single bladed plows on truck fronts shifting snow.
Who makes these plows I don'nt know.
Bill
:roll:
http://www.members.shaw.ca/pzpflak/19.wmv until 25 May 2006 short clip(9sec675kb)
From the for what it's worth files.
Winter 43/44 Pic
As to having bulldozers I have seen one in german service albeit with the workers working on Festung Europa.
Also seen single bladed plows on truck fronts shifting snow.
Who makes these plows I don'nt know.
Bill
:roll:
http://www.members.shaw.ca/pzpflak/19.wmv until 25 May 2006 short clip(9sec675kb)
- Attachments
-
- Plow.jpg (44.97 KiB) Viewed 12065 times
- FRANCY RITTER
- Member
- Posts: 3031
- Joined: 02 Dec 2004, 19:12
- Location: PARMA City of European Food Safety Authority ITALY
the Panther with the plow was only used in clearing street in probably Nuremberg
it was somwhere speculated that this Panther D was converted by MAN during an overhaul because there's no gun
some other tanks (a few P III and P IV, not the VI, writing error in the german text of the picture)
were also used with a plow, mainly used by fire brigades
as far as I know it there was no usage of such tanks in combat units
but as always with the german Wehrmacht, You learn every day something new about it...
MadderCat
it was somwhere speculated that this Panther D was converted by MAN during an overhaul because there's no gun
some other tanks (a few P III and P IV, not the VI, writing error in the german text of the picture)
were also used with a plow, mainly used by fire brigades
as far as I know it there was no usage of such tanks in combat units
but as always with the german Wehrmacht, You learn every day something new about it...
MadderCat
Jentz book on the Tiger tank does have a picture of a Tiger prototype VK 45.01(H) V1 with Vorpanzer (spaced armour) on the front hull. When extended the Vorpaner does look like a snowplow blade. Could this be the oictuer you are referring to?john1761 wrote:The germans also made a snow plow blade that attached to the front of Tiger 1. Can't find apicture yet. I think in one of Jentz's book on the Tiger had a photo of it.
-Bryson