tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post7521342203484409958..comments2024-03-28T14:35:30.147-04:00Comments on Tank Archives: Where Infantry Can't PassPeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-37356790726920198582018-05-01T08:19:29.058-04:002018-05-01T08:19:29.058-04:00Right, that's why I specified HVSS, not the ea...Right, that's why I specified HVSS, not the earlier VVSS which did not have center guides. So it sounds like we agree. Dat34https://www.blogger.com/profile/05191197983174208313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-61618411104649702002018-04-30T13:45:59.628-04:002018-04-30T13:45:59.628-04:00Actually our early war tanks didn't use center...Actually our early war tanks didn't use center guides. They used raise end connectors to run on the outside of the road wheels. Then when the E8 model of Sherman's came out you had split road wheels with detachable center guides to guide the track. This was great because if bullets knocked off end connectors the track would still work. At Ft Stewart we had a T-54 and 55 both of which had those simple Soviet tracks which resembled door hinges with a center guides.On several occasions the regular operators of those two tanks shed their tracks in our bases unusually soft sandy soil, I was brought in to get the tracks back in line. After that they just had me move the tanks so as to prevent future damage. My guess is those tracks must of slid on ice a lot as well. Though I notice the tracks in the article are not the door hinge type I was dealing with. Either way I bet tankers took one look at those tracks mentioned in the article with the large unsupported area and could tell right away that the tracks would bend, break and slide off the center guides.Sager ,William A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06830369127449299646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-55524331955429318232018-04-30T08:51:34.637-04:002018-04-30T08:51:34.637-04:00"Especially in late war models with the new t..."Especially in late war models with the new tracks which were held together by removable center guides as well as two end connectors."<br /><br />If you mean HVSS suspensions, I have never seen one of those with extended end connectors (duckbills). All Sherman tracks had two end connectors though - one on each side. The HVSS tracks were essentially the same with regard to end connector design. <br /><br /> <br />"Indeed variations of this general design of track is still in use today."<br /><br />Definitely true and really remarkable considering the 'start from zero' nature of US tank design and production in WW2. Pretty much all western tanks have tracks that follow closely on the basic designs used on the M3 and M4 tanks in 1942. And that design originated in the 1930s light tanks. Dat34https://www.blogger.com/profile/05191197983174208313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-38274566571858651292018-04-30T01:15:42.091-04:002018-04-30T01:15:42.091-04:00No question without the extra road wheels the wide...No question without the extra road wheels the wider tracks lack support causing all sort of problems ranging from slippage to breaking. I noticed no one did teat to see how these tracks worked on rocky terrain when tank crews lacked the time to switch back. M-4 Sherman models with Duck Bills were more successful. Especially in late war models with the new tracks which were held together by removable center guides as well as two end connectors. Indeed variations of this general design of track is still in use today. Thanks for the article about tracks. Most tankers spend more time maintaining tracks than any other part of a tank. Sager ,William A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06830369127449299646noreply@blogger.com