10-22-2020, 07:06 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Feb 2014
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Major advantage of a half track?
Is it a tank? no! , is it a truck? no!. So what's the major advantage or edge that a half track brings to a battle in WW2?
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10-22-2020, 10:35 AM | #2 |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: MO, U.S.A.
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Re: Major advantage of a half track?
Generally, cheaper than a tank, although not by much, more off road capable than a truck. The US model was likely the cheapest effective one, they just replaced the two rear axles with tracks on a truck, and bolted some armor on. The German ones were more capable off road, but more tank like and expensive, at least by the late war period.
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Xenophilia is Dr. Who. Plus Lecherous is Jack Harkness.- Anaraxes |
10-22-2020, 10:38 AM | #3 |
Join Date: Jan 2014
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Re: Major advantage of a half track?
Easier for someone who already knows how to drive a truck, performs better in mud and ice. Some replace wheels with skis.
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10-22-2020, 10:39 AM | #4 |
Join Date: Sep 2007
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Re: Major advantage of a half track?
More armored than a truck as well as better off-road mobility. That helps when it comes to small arms, shell and grenade fragments, and machine guns. Armor's not always about stopping main tank guns cold. Halftracks generally mounted weapons, as well. Not that you can't do that with a truck, but it wasn't generally standard issue as opposed to a field expedient.
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10-22-2020, 10:42 AM | #5 |
Join Date: Feb 2014
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Re: Major advantage of a half track?
So they were effectively used in an urban combat role?
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10-22-2020, 10:54 AM | #6 |
Join Date: Nov 2004
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Re: Major advantage of a half track?
Another advantage is that they can be driven by anyone who can drive a regular truck, you don't need special training like tracked vehicle drivers do.
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10-22-2020, 11:00 AM | #7 | |
Join Date: Jul 2006
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Re: Major advantage of a half track?
Quote:
But yes, the half-track had most of the cross country capability of a tracked vehicle without the expense and complexity of steering a tracked vehicle. |
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10-22-2020, 11:18 AM | #8 |
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Berkeley, CA
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Re: Major advantage of a half track?
Though the concept has largely died out, so it presumably also has some unique drawbacks (I am not sure off-hand what those things are).
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10-22-2020, 11:34 AM | #9 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Re: Major advantage of a half track?
Urban combat? Where are you getting that?
The main frontline halftrack role was a lightly-armored, open-topped cross-country personnel carrier. That's not something that is well-suited to urban combat - the open top means top attacks and grenade attacks are more dangerous, and generally infantry in urban combat want to be dismounted and moving on foot rather than loaded into a big boxy target. If your opposition lacked any sort of anti-armor standoff weaponry then any vehicle that's armored against small arms fire can provide a helpful mobile base of fire, and that would have applied to some urban combat in WWII. Most halftracks would only have machineguns, which are somewhat less than ideal for smashing up buildings that enemy troops are dug into, though there were some with small cannons and possibly even flamethrowers that would be more helpful. Reducing expense and complexity tends to be less of a priority for everyone since the end of WWII.
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10-22-2020, 11:55 AM | #10 |
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Re: Major advantage of a half track?
That's probably maintenance on the tracks and their general vulnerability. That's the usual reason given why the latest light ground combat vehicles tend to be built on the "Big wheels and lots of'em!" plan.
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Tags |
halftrack, wwii |
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