Track Bashing

 Changing tracks on T-34 and T-34-85 tanks at the Museum of National Military History

As the saying goes, there is no such thing as a light tank. Many operations that seem quite simple are actually very difficult to perform on a machine weighing several dozen tons. Many vehicles from the Great Patriotic War era were anything but light, and servicing them requires a lot of effort.

Changing tracks is a routine but difficult procedure.

The vehicles at the Museum of National Military History are not empty boxes, but rather fully functional military vehicles. This includes the museum's T-34 tanks. Both of them are used in various events. This involves swapping out the tracks from the stock ones to special parade tracks and back. This article will cover the details of this process.

Parade tracks with rubber pads.

The T-34's running gear went through a series of changes. A model 1941 tank (sent into service in February of 1942) was recently added to the museum's collection. It serves as a good example of just how much the tank changed. This also applies to the tracks. Early T-34 tracks didn't have well developed grousers, which was an issue.

The T-34's stock tracks wait their turn.

The track links changed as the tank evolved. A track link with chevron grousers was developed for the T-34M in 1941. These tracks were also used in T-34 tanks built at factory #183 both in Kharkov and after evacuation to Nizhniy Tagil. It was replaced by a track link that earned the nickname "waffle" for its distinctive texture.

First, the idlers are loosened.

The track links were unified and used on late T-34s, T-34-85s, and the SU-100. This was a very good track link design, but with some nuances. One problem is that these tracks chew up asphalt, which was demonstrated in June of 2020 during the Victory Day parade rehearsal. Instead of dropping off the T-34-85 and SU-100 at the start of Tverskaya Street, they were sent to drive on their own through Pushkin Square. Road repair crews will not forget this show any time soon. 

The T-34 and early T-34-85 needed the front fenders to be removed before the tracks could be changed.

This is a solved issue, at least for vehicles that take part in parades. T-34 tracks with special rubber pads have already been developed. At least one production batch was completed, and yet the T-34-85s continue to rattle along on their stock tracks. No one knows why, although it's possible that the key is in the cobblestones. The rubber pads are flat and don't have great traction, especially in wet weather.

The T-34-85 doesn't need to have anything removed.

The parade tracks still found a use. They are used on T-34 tanks from at least two museums: the Museum of National Military History and the Vadim Zadorozhniy Technical Museum. In both cases, the parade tracks are only used for special events. Their lifespan is not infinite and they do not look authentic.

Track pins from the front and rear of the tracks are removed.

It seems that swapping the tracks would be no problem, right? Maybe in theory, but not in practice. The tank itself weighs 30 tons and moving it around is a challenge. The tracks themselves are not light either. A track without a guide horn weighs 10 kilograms, and one with a guide horn weighs 12. This means that swapping tracks requires either a lot of workers or application of mechanization. The Museum of National Military History chose the second route and only three workers are needed to complete the procedure.

You can take off the tracks by hand, but it's easier to do it with a forklift.

The idlers have to be loosened in order to remove the track. The T-34's idlers can be adjusted using a port in the front of the tank. A cap covering the port must first be unscrewed. The front fenders also have to be removed, or else there is a chance that they will be damaged. Fenders are a useful thing to have, but they get in the way when swapping tracks, although a special opening exists in the fenders to knock out the track pins without removing them.

Laying out a replacement track.

This issue was known, but usually ignored. However, this was still an impediment in combat conditions. As a result, the T-34-85 received a new type of angled fender. They could now be flipped up without removing them entirely. The T-44 and subsequent Soviet tanks returned to the curved fender, but retained the ability to flip up.

The fender has an opening in it to knock out the track pins.

The procedure to replace the tracks can vary. It depends on the number of people involved and their preferences. Some prefer to take the track off in one piece, others do it in sections. The Museum of National Military History first disconnects the top half of the track. A forklift takes it to the warehouse and a replacement track is laid in front of the tank.

The tracks are on, all that's left is to connect them.

The installation process can also vary. The museum uses the simplest method. A complete track is unrolled in front of the tank and is temporarily attached to the old track. The tank drives up on the new track and the old track segment is disconnected. The new track is looped around the top of the road wheels and to the front of the tank. All that's left is to link up the two ends of the track. There is a tool for this, but the Museum of National Military History uses the forklift. It's not as authentic, but it's faster.

The track is connected and needs to be tightened.

The time it takes to swap tracks also depends on the process. In battle this is done much faster, but on average the museum takes an hour and a half to two hours. In this case, extra time is spent to take the tracks to the warehouse.

The tank is ready to take its place in the tank building. The parade tracks are in the warehouse, awaiting the next Victory Day parade.

These operations take place at least twice a year: before the Victory Day parade and after. These tanks are back on display next to the T-34 1941 production tank. 

Original article by Yuri Pasholok.