XBradTC

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XBradTC

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Tanks drifting on snow

Which, it looks like great fun. But in truth, its a flaming pain to operate tracks on packed snow or ice. Fun going downhill, but almost impossible to get back uphill.  Tanks and other tracked vehicles have heavy steel tracks, of course, but in reality, they ride upon heavy, hard rubber track pads bolted to…

Which, it looks like great fun. But in truth, its a flaming pain to operate tracks on packed snow or ice. Fun going downhill, but almost impossible to get back uphill.  Tanks and other tracked vehicles have heavy steel tracks, of course, but in reality, they ride upon heavy, hard rubber track pads bolted to the track shoes. And these rubber pads provide absolutely no traction at all on ice. 

As you watch the video, you'll see a brief snippet of the crew working on the tracks. What they're doing is removing every fourth track pad or so. That gives much better traction on snow and ice, and still keeps most of the track from getting beat up, or tearing up any roadbeds. On the other hand, removing every fourth track shoe is time consuming, and physically demanding work. 

 

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Responses to “Tanks drifting on snow”

  1. John in Philly

    Very good video, the Navy does not usually operate in areas of frozen water. I think that is more the Coast Guard.
    My wife and I were watching a parade some years ago and an M-60 tank cruised by. The tank stopped near us, lowered the tube to point at a small child and then did a 360 while the tube stayed in place. Way cool.
    That was a large chunk of metal and very impressive.

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  2. Esli

    Ahhh, love the sound of an M1 Abrams. I miss having my very own. While not fully intentional, I have done powerslides in wet grass before.
    The missing track pads are very evident in the close up shots of the track spinning.
    I recently saw the Germans using a spike that they attach to every eighth track for snow traction on their Leopards. Following their tracks in snow or mud, they were readily apparent. I think there is one for the Abrams, but have never seen it, and would have had a mutiny on my hands if I’d directed them to be installed.

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  3. Captain Ned

    I’m assuming the the track pads are peacetime-only devices. no?

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  4. Xbradtc

    No, the rubber pads are there to protect the steel track shoes. That they also reduce wear and tear on roads is just an added bonus.

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  5. timactual

    Terrain & weather can be full of surprises. I can remember watching M113s slither around trying, unsuccessfully, to climb a muddy hillside. Along comes a jeep mounting a 106 mm RR and it goes right up the hill. Another time, the tracks cross some ice (slowly) and the jeep breaks through.
    Ahhh, I love the smell (and sound)of diesel.

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  6. Dutchman

    It’s interesting to note that the Russian AKA (Soviet) tanks and other armored vechicals are made with winter weather in mind and do not use, until recently, hardened rubber pads for their tracks.
    With the Armata family that has changed somewhat, I do wonder at why the change in design philosophy.
    Sincerely
    A layman.

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  7. Xbradtc

    The Russians didn’t usually operate their tanks nearly as many miles per year as we did.

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  8. Esli

    We’ve had Slovenian M84s (a T72 variant) operating at JMRC lately, as part of the OPFOR, and their tracks really tear up the road where they pivot to go into the MILES warehouse.

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