Flail tanks

Since we're off topic here...Anyone have much documentation of the German Goliath as a mine clearer?

 

this one has got 3 wheels.

 

Arneken, that's a model of the Alkett Schwere Minenraumer illustrated above, perhaps I should have included the rear shot too, really must go to Kubinka one day .

There's some more clear shots of it out there somewhere, I'll have a shufti.

Cheers,
Adam.

 

I will keep on searching

 

Goliath tracked mine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

is this what you search?

some references:

• Chamberlain, Peter, and Hilary Doyle (1999). Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, 2nd ed. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-214-6.
• Jaugitz, Markus (2001). Funklenkpanzer: A History of German Army Remote-and Radio-Controlled Armor Units, trans. David Johnston. Winnipeg, Manitoba: J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing, Inc. ISBN 0-921991-58-4.
• Jentz, Thomas L. Panzer Tracts, No. 14: Gepanzerte Pionier-Fahrzeuge (Armored Combat Engineer Vehicles, Goliath to Raeumer). S. Darlington, Maryland: Darlington Productions. ISBN 1-892848-00-7

 

Was there a specifically mine clearing variant of the Goliath? Can't see it being substantial enough to endure even an anti-personnel mine, or tow anything heavy enough to burst anti-tank ones.
Dropping the demo charge from one, or several, and hoping for some clearance by ground blast/pressure might work but would be very wasteful, and as British experiments found, explosives, though a reasonably reliable way of clearing the Teller-mine, were not ideal... not to mention that pumped explosive systems like Conger proved absolutely lethal to the crews servicing them too:


There's some intriguing shots of various AFVs from Matilda to Sherman carrying bangalore torpedo launching rails for mine clearance, their effectiveness is perhaps demonstrated by their rarity in service .

Cheers,
Adam.

 

Seems like a bit of a waste sending all that explosive after one mine. Or was the explosion powerful enough to set of others as well?

Cromwell CIRD (Canadian Indestructable Roller device)

 

I can't find any info on the net about it. just this pick. I don't think they were used for the use of letting mines explode.



nice movie:YouTube - WWII - German Goliath tank

 

During the NW European Campaign the tank used for carrying and placing bangalore torpedoes was the Churchill Snake, used by the 79th Armoured division (Holbarts Funnies)

 

It seems to have been a damned unwieldy thing though, pushing all that length of tubing seems to have always led to the tube veering off at a tangent.

Ploughs weren't much use in the period either it seems, often churning the mines back onto the path being cleared. It has to be reasonably safe to say that the flail was the most effective mechanical method used during the war, the ability to fight immediately the job was done being a major plus.
Probably also safe to say that the most effective mine-clearance system was (and still is?) the poor sod on foot.

Cheers,
Adam.

 

Another example of Germany taking everything to the extreme. How would they get this behemoth to the front? I wonder how it compares height and width to a Tiger.
The picture " Borgward 'ENTE'" that VonPoop posted looked simple enough.

 

Except for the fact it's an amphibious version of the 300, presumably with the same concrete superstructure ... Don't know how it was intended for use against mines (maybe sea-mines! ), or if it was seen as a more mobile demolition carrier, don't believe it passed prototype stage.

For an illustration of the Minenraumer's scale, consider that that's a Panzer I turret balanced on top, refound an excellent page on it with more pictures:
ALKETT VsKfz 617 MINENRÄUMER
Good stuff on other German anti-mine vehicles there too, including the other behemoth made by Krupp, which had slipped my mind, and a brief mention of Goliaths being used extensively during Kursk to attack minefields (?).

Cheers,
Adam.

 

what a behemouth!

 

Yeah, that Krupp Raumer S is the one I had the pic of (same pics too). Only one though. Looks like it may have worked (earlier on)(Kursk?) instead of driving Ferdinands into minefields.
A big thing with a swivel joint in the middle. Not a bad idea. Too little, too late again.

 

I don't know,Skunk. It seems to me that if you're going to build something so big, that it should clear a wide path instead of making the follow up tanks travel in the same tracks. Not to mention how to get that thing transported to the front.

 

You're right Framer, the best idea is to have it on the front of a real tank, (instead of an "only" vehicle). I think the skinny (but heavy) rollers/flail, stuff not really effected by the explosion of the mine(s) is best.
Nothing better than exploding the ones directly in front of where you're going. Don't really know about costs of, but the flail seems ingenious for cheapness/effective as well, not to mention weight, and you can shoot over it.
Even if it wasn't the best, I vote for the flail as well.
All-Hail, Hobart and his "funnies".