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Remote-Controlled Mine Detonating Vehicles

Discussion in 'The Tanks of World War 2' started by Zhukov_2005, Nov 5, 2005.

  1. Zhukov_2005

    Zhukov_2005 New Member

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    After looking at the photos Jen posted, I was wondering if any of the other powers in WWII designed/used a remote-controlled mine detonating vehicle like the Goliath?

    Also, did the Wehrmacht use these RCVs extensively or more on a piece meal "we got nothing better to do" basis?

    Thanks. :)
     
  2. Tom phpbb3

    Tom phpbb3 New Member

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    Yeah, they called them Penal Battalions.
     
  3. Canadian_Super_Patriot

    Canadian_Super_Patriot recruit

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    Heres a remote control mine detector the canadian army enginners are using.
     
  4. Roel

    Roel New Member

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    As far as I know the Goliath wasn't a mine-detonating vehicle, it was a remote-controlled demolition device. It was insuccesful and very few were ever made or used.
     
  5. David Lehmann

    David Lehmann New Member

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    Hello,

    Remote-controlled breaching vehicles
    The French army developed radio-guided or wire-guided vehicles transporting a destruction charge before the Germans had their Goliath, Springer or Borgward B.IV dedicated to that function.
    In 1937-1940 the French army developed :

    • The "véhicule P" (P for Pommellet, the captain who invented it) : constructed by Lorraine, 2000 ordered but only 11 constructed before the armistice

    • The "engin K" (K for Alphonse Kégresse, the constructor) : 12000 vehicles ordered (6000 in April 1940, 6000 in May 1940), precursor of the Goliath which was built later based on this French vehicle.

    • In April 1940, 300 FT-17 tanks are also destined to be transformed in guided demolition tanks (guided from a ground post or from a R-35 command tank, like later the Borgward and the StuG(Fkl) for example)

    The very first prototypes, remote-controlled breaching vehicles for cutting wire obstacles were developed in Germany and France during World War I. The Germans were the first to produce and deploy remote-controlled minefield breaching vehicles by using both an expendable charge-carrying vehicle (the "Goliath") and a nonexpendable vehicle (the B-IV) that was intended to drop its charge and withdraw before the charge detonated. Although these vehicles were used with some success at Sevastopol in 1942 and Kursk in 1943, they were generally considered failures.


    Mine Plows, Rakes, and Detectors
    In 1918, the French developed the first plow-equipped tank, which was based on a Renault FT-17 tank. In 1939 and February/March 1940, the French army tested also various plows and other advanced mine-clearing system on the Renault R35 but they were only few at the testing level and they saw no operational use. The Germans and the British armies later used these prototypes. After WW2, the former mine-clearing systems were tested again on a B1bis tank. However, plow tanks were not really used in combat until D-Day in 1944, when the British 79th Armored Division employed a "Bullshorn" plow on a Churchill tank at Sword Beach.
    The Germans, French, Russians, and Italians entered WWII with metallic mine detectors, but information on the details of their origin is lacking. During the interwar years, the French seem to have developed the first vehicle-mounted electronic mine detector on an Renault R35 tank.

    Regards,

    David
     
  6. Zhukov_2005

    Zhukov_2005 New Member

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    Thank you very much David! :D
     
  7. tom!

    tom! recruit

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    Hi.

    Again you left out Japan. :D

    In 1929 a Mayor named Nagayama rebuilt some Fordson tracked tractors for remote control by radio waves. The "Nagayama tank" was made for mine clearing as well as for battlefield supply, mine laying and recon. The tests in late 1929 were very succesful and so in the early 1930th some type 94 tk armourdes tractors were reworked and tested. As the vehicles were needed urgently for frontline service the tests were stopped.

    At this time another research group started the development of a small remote-controlled explosives carrier. First design studies showed a vehicle pulling a TNT-filled trailer, motorised by an electrical engine. The command signals were given through a cable and the vehicle was to be controoled from inside a command tank. The time fuze allowed command tank and tractor to get off the blast radius.

    In spring 1933 the first vehicles named I-go were ready for trials. The tests showed many problemswhich could only be solved partly. A new concept was necessary and the development team tried to archive some type 89 medium tanks in order to test a conversion of these vehicles as charge layers. As tanks were rare in this time the decision was made to begin a totally new concept.

    In mid 1934 the research team fielded a very modern vehicle named "Musen Soju Sencha" or I-Go Ko. The small tracked vehicle (1425X635X460 mm) used two electric motors with 1 HP each driving the tracks independently. With a weight of 200 kg and 600 V a maximum speed of 18 kmp on roads an 4 kph cross-country was possible. The vehicle was not armoured.

    [​IMG]

    The charge of only 35 kg was found too small and so in spring 1935 a enlarged version with a warhead of 210kg was tested. Even if the vehicle was larger (1980X1170X560 mm) and heavier (400 kg) the two 2 HP motors were able to deliver same performance as before. This version named I-Go Otsu was also not armoured but provisions for 5 mm armour plates were added. The vehicle was steered with four cables. One provides the power supply, the second the commands, the third the speed regulations and the fourth cable the warhead.

    In mid 1935 both versions were officially introduced as type 97 Sho- Sagyoki (miniature engineering vehicle) Ko and Otsu. The designation I-Go or Yi-Go was also used.
    Due to small funds serial production started in 1937 after a short battle at Lake Khasan.

    Until 1940 the vehicles were improved especially for longer ranges. In 1937 the operatinal range was 250 m crosscountry and 500 m on paved roads. Until 1940 the range was increased to 800 m/1000 m and 1000 m/1500 m in the final stage. The steering was also improved reducing the operation crew from two soldiers to one.

    In the late 1930th a third version armed with bangalore torpedos (Hakaito)for obstacle clearing was introduced. An armour plate of 1ß mm could be added on the final versions.

    For nighttime operations the vehicle had to be silenced by adding rubber bands and using special metal for the road wheels. Track links were also made of rubber.

    The vehicles were operated from trenches or command tanks, mainly modified type 98 So-Da armoured carriers.

    [​IMG]

    For recon duties an observer was placed behind the armour plate on the vehicle. He used a telescope to view at the battlefield. A field telephone, later a wireless communication device was used to speak with the vehicles operator.


    The I-Go were operated in pairs by engineer squads of twelfe men. A total of 1100 were produced.

    Yours

    tom! ;)
     

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