Why did US Marines put wood planking on sherman tanks during the Island Hopping Campaigns in the Pacific Theater of WWII? Just wondering.
Same reason why Germans used the zimmerit paste, to prevent magnetic mines from being attached by fanatical infantrymen.
i didn’t think it was because of magnetic mines; i thought it was jap suicide attackers packed with explosives throwing themselves on top of the bogies, just underneath the upper hull.
confirmation anyone?
regards,[:)]
nick
Sorry Nick, Major Rob is correct.
thanks claymore,[:)]
yet another reference book to trash i guess[V][V][V] (osprey’s “modelling the sherman” book…)oh well.
thanks for the correction.
Rob Gronovius [bow][bow][bow][(-D]
regards,
nick
Nick - don’t throw the book away yet. I believe there is still an element of truth to what you are referring to. I believe Major Rob is refering to the planks that were attached to the sides of the hull, but in some cases there was planking extended to cover a large portion of the running gear. This may be what the author is speaking of.
Side-plankin’ was the spaced armor of the day…Japanese ‘ve used some antitank mines…A conical shaped hollow charge encased in steel container with " legs " to provide proper stand-off distance…The wooden planks were used to " break " it to annihilate the hollow charge effects !
Cement was sometime poured between the hull and the plankin’…
Ewww! The thought of wedging one’s self into the bogies of a tank! Hope that explosive has a short, short fuse! Crunch, mangle, pain.
Although neglibible, I’d imagine that the thick lumber also helped slow some AP rounds from the smaller AT weapons before they hit the plating. Notice, I said Negligible. Yes, the Major is correct.
Ron
I started my reply before class and finished it after, some good replies from Robert there also!
Ron.
I knew about robs way, but I never thought about it being used as skirt armor… whoda thunk. I guess it makes sense though. thanks for the info all.
I was referring to the planking bolted to the hull and I forgot that planking was used for skirts (I’ve seen a pic), sorry for any confusion.
yes sherm, that is what the author was referring to: [:)]
‘osprey modelling manual:m4 sherman’ by rodrigo hernandez cabos and john prigent
p27…
“5th marine tank battalion…during the iwo jima campaign suffered a number of suicide attacks…the japanese now began throwing themselves between the wheels holding grenade belts and explosives. crews that survived these immediately started to cover the sides of their tanks with planks attached to the three suspension bogies…”
apologies to all when i didn’t express myself more clearly earlier.
regards,
nick
Cool i didn’t think that the japs had magnetic mines but o
also would it add enough protection to stop maybe a anti tank round app like the british 3 lb er???/ from mama cat i am over at a friend s house
[X-)]
Golly, now I know. Magnetic mines and suicide bombers. I wonder who got picked for those jobs. Was it the fastest runners, the ones who loved the Emperor the most, or the guys that nobody liked?
Thank you all for your insight,
Chris
My understanding is that there was never a shortage of volunteers for the suicide attacks in the Japanese military.
It makes you wonder.
…doz dudes were throwin themselfs btw the boogies with tnt…jeez…thats why i like 1/72…they’ll never fit…jeffl
LOL Jeffl…that’s nuts!
Dan