Soviet tanks as far as the eye can see

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Either which would be somewhat more effective than the shoot-straight-up-with-rifle approach.

I don't know Charlie was pretty good with those rifles...

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

I don't know Charlie was pretty good with those rifles...

Really must watch that film...

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by August

Truth be told though an MBT wouldn't be my first choice of campsite AFV's. I'd much rather have a M113 or even a BMP which has some cabin room inside.

My favorite AFV turned camping vehicle would be the M577 Carrier Command Post.



Amphibious, on board 5kw generator, roomy interior, TOC extension. The ultimate camping vehicle!

You can't go wrong with the shoebox, it's a proven design.

[August]

Originally Posted by Oberon

You can't go wrong with the shoebox, it's a proven design.

It's retro!

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by August

It's retro!

my eyes!
I see your ugly car and raise you one.

[Stealhead]

The only good use for those two vehicles would be for them to carried aloft in a cargo plane and then get pushed out the ramp at 12,000ft over the desert with no chutes.

An older AMTRACC like the kind they used in the 60's would make a very good camping vehicle all terrain and very roomy.

An uncle of mine up in Kentucky had a full size DUKW that he drove around on his property all the time after so many years it developed so many holes in it that it would have sunk if you tried to drive it in water.We had some fun with that thing though once we ran over a dog laying in the mud sleeping by accident he had blended in with the mud it came out unharmed though it just got mashed down into the mud.

[Halgarre]

Our 577 looked like a Gypsy wagon with all the gear, packs, camo netting, coolers, and spare road wheel. I do miss the smell and that blue/green interior lighting. Might be because I've been out 11 years...hmm

[August]

Originally Posted by Halgarre

Our 577 looked like a Gypsy wagon with all the gear, packs, camo netting, coolers, and spare road wheel. I do miss the smell and that blue/green interior lighting. Might be because I've been out 11 years...hmm

Yep ours was always loaded too. I had a huge bag of canvas tie down straps and could (and did) attach nearly anything to the top.

This one was mine:

[Kongo Otto]

Originally Posted by August

Yep ours was always loaded too. I had a huge bag of canvas tie down straps and could (and did) attach nearly anything to the top.

This one was mine:

Let me guess: Grafenwöhr?

[August]

Originally Posted by Kongo Otto

Let me guess: Grafenwöhr?

That's the right country but i'm pretty sure it's not Graf. Not nearly enough mud.

I took the picture over 30 years ago so the memory is a bit fuzzy but I think it was just a regular field exercise.

[Penguin]

I checked out a little more about the bushwhacking in Nomandy:

I found only one page that mentioned the Sherman Crab clearing out the Bocage

The hedges had such a strong roots they had to be removed by explosives (you can see the drawings of "bocage warfare" here: [link] ). Massive flails were just enough to destroy them.

http://wormwoodthestar.deviantart.co...Crab-165575242
However this is a model builder site, so not the best source.

Another page I found is this one - a great resource for anyone interested in sapper tanks, terrible design, but informative as hell.
They write extensively about the Crab and about warfare in the bocage, but nothing is said to suggest it was used to clear the hedges.
Another problem mentioned is that there seem to have been just not enough pioneer vehicles coming along with the inward forces, so they didn't even had enough bulldozers.

Modern flails seem to use no chains but edged plates to cut through hedges - so it would also be questionable if the chain attachment would be stong enough to cope with the resistance hedges give or even the massive stone/earth foundation.

So lucky for the US that I haven't been a commander in WW2: "Captain Penguin, after we have wasted 20 Crabs trying to cut through the bushes, may I suggest we use the 'fork ram' idea from the neighbor company?"

[August]

Originally Posted by Penguin

So lucky for the US that I haven't been a commander in WW2: "Captain Penguin, after we have wasted 20 Crabs trying to cut through the bushes, may I suggest we use the 'fork ram' idea from the neighbor company?"

A good American Sergeant would have said:

"Captain Penguin the crab thing didn't work but we tried another idea called a "fork ram" that got the job done. Shall I equip the rest of our tanks with it? And a really good sergeant would anticipate his CO's approval and already have assembled the all materials, tools and work details to install them.

He might even have the tank he'd already equipped crewed and standing by in front of a piece of hedgerow so he could quickly demonstrate it's effectiveness if the boss should ask for it.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by August

A good American Sergeant would have said:

"Captain Penguin the crab thing didn't work but we tried another idea called a "fork ram" that got the job done. Shall I equip the rest of our tanks with it? And a really good sergeant would anticipate his CO's approval and already have assembled the all materials, tools and work details to install them.

He might even have the tank he'd already equipped crewed and standing by in front of a piece of hedgerow so he could quickly demonstrate it's effectiveness if the boss should ask for it.

hehe, though I am a draft-dodger I am familiar with this concept from the private sector: A terrible idea comes from the bosses, so prepare for an alternative solution. After the failure of the first concept, and success of the new idea the boss will claim that the latter has always been the original plan...