Half tracks...

[Seeker]

Why were they?

Or..

Why arent they any more?

What I mean is; we still use; in the 21 .st century; all the weapons systems of WWII; albeit in vastly upgraded form.

We still use planes, tanks, artillery, missiles etc. etc.

Except half tracks.

I've never really understood what half tracks were for (I just can't see what the advantage was in sticking a couple of wheels on a track laying vehicle was; and a pair of motor cycle forks on that little german one? please!) and they seem to have dissapeared from the world's inventory.

So: What where they good for; and what's replaced them; and why wasn't the replacement used in WWII?

[SMIDSY]

the half track was developed for two reasons:
1. more surface area in contact with the ground makes for more traction.
2. you dont get as many flat tires.


the motorcycle thingy is the kettenkrad. was used like a kubelwagen by the army in situations that the kuby could not have enough traction for. the luftwaffe used it to tow aircraft with tricycle landing gear.

[Seeker]

Originally posted by SMIDSY
the half track was developed for two reasons:
1. more surface area in contact with the ground makes for more traction.
2. you dont get as many flat tires.


the motorcycle thingy is the kettenkrad. was used like a kubelwagen by the army in situations that the kuby could not have enough traction for. the luftwaffe used it to tow aircraft with tricycle landing gear.

Sure; a track layer has less ground pressure than tyres; and sure; you get less punctures with tracks.

So why add wheels?

[mora]

I believe that a half track was much cheaper to manufacture than a "full track" as it didn't need as complex drivetrain.

[Sketch]

Originally posted by Seeker
Sure; a track layer has less ground pressure than tyres; and sure; you get less punctures with tracks.

So why add wheels?

The wheels added in for easier steering control, so it wouldn't have the hard movements of the tanks for example...

[Seeker]

Originally posted by ChristCAF
The wheels added in for easier steering control, so it wouldn't have the hard movements of the tanks for example...

I've heard this before; but have a hard time imagining that two skinny WWII crossply tyres could have a measureable effect on two three quarter length tracks running straight a head. The side forces on the tyres would induce such a slip angle that on tarmac you'd simply pull the tyres off and on soft ground they'd be ineffective.

Therefore the tracks must steer (differentialy) too; and if they do; what advantage does adding road wheels give?

I'm curious because most of my working life has been in construction; which offers many of the same terrain challenges armies face; and most of the transport solutions are similar.

But I've never seen a half track on either a building; motorway; bridge or dam site.

[mora]

http://mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk/tanks/UnitedStates/unarmored-halftracks/unarmored-half-tracks.html

[StarOfAfrica2]

Seeker, have you ever seen the ones they use on farm tractors?  You swap em out with the regular wheels for times when its too muddy for tires.  I have seen guys only put 2 on.

[Sketch]

Seeker, just watch an old Clint Eastwood movie, "Kelly's Hero's".
They use an actually one in the movie, and you see it drive thru some brush and turn onto a road.... shows a good example.

As for Star's example, he is correct.  Was born in Northeast Iowa farming area... seen those old tractor tires alot being put to good use!

[Seeker]

Thanks for the link; interesting!

But the point is... no one uses them anymore; do they?

So what ever solution they offered has been overcome by either conventional wheels or modern track layers.

I just wondered why

[Nilsen]

If they were just abit cheaper than fulltracks then that would save alot of money given the number of units made in war. Every resource you save is valuable on a hard-pressed military industry.

In "peacetime" you have the need for far fewer units and can afford getting fulltracks.

Just a thought..


On a side note..

I wonder for how long you could sustain a third world war (conventional) given the extremly long time it takes to replace planes and tanks etc..

First of all it takes a long time to make them and then you usually only have one easy-to-hit factory that makes the units. Bang-bang and both sides are out of their front line units, then you have a few more days with second rate stuff and then? rifles, handgrenades and bayonettes?

[Ack-Ack]

This is from the Military Museum of Texas.

A consideration of primary importance in developing strategy for land warfare is the ability to move personnel and implements of war successfully across varying terrain. To this end, the Half-Track was designed to improve cross-country performance over wheeled scout cars and supplement other essential operational considerations. The Half-Track was used as a personnel carrier, prime mover and carriage for various howitzer configurations. A central use of the Half-Track was a platform from which armored columns could develop 'eyes and ears' while also conducting a reconnaissance in force in advance of the maneuver unit.

In All, the Half-Track served the Allied cause honorably and well. Within the US force structure, the Half-Track gave way to full-tracked APC's with increased armored personnel protection and increased cross country speeds.

ack-ack

[Bodhi]

I know a lot about the halftrack.  My guys and I restored a WW2 M2 that was converted to an M2A1 Halftrack a couple of years ago.

The Tracks are driven by a common heavy duty White differential by a standard heavy duty White Truck drivetrain.  The only difference is positioning and the brake drum set up to attach the sprocket.   The forward wheels do indeed turn the vehicle, and they do it quite well, albeit the lack of power steering makes the weight on the front end just a bit hard on the arms.

The biggest problem I can see with the US halftrack is that the tracks are rubber coated 1" by 12" flat lags connected by two strands of SS cable.  They have the tendancy to stretch after heavy usage.  That is why most US halftrack owners today use Israeli tracks that were designed for their converted power diesel halftracks.

All in all they are fun, and you can get quite the looks when you drive one down a crowded street!

[Tails]

Originally posted by Bodhi
All in all they are fun, and you can get quite the looks when you drive one down a crowded street!

I thought half-tracks and full tracked vehicles weren't street legal? Something about tearing up the concrete.

[rabbidrabbit]

Originally posted by Tails
I thought half-tracks and full tracked vehicles weren't street legal? Something about tearing up the concrete.

think rubber track pads.  Still is not kind but does not tear it up.