PING!

Anyone any idea what it was like being in a tank when it took a hit from an AT round that failed to penetrate? Could the crew temporally incapacitated or was it a case of:
Mack: "Joe, did you hear something?"
Joe: "Nope."

 

I guess it would be terrifying, if the insides of a tank echo as much as the insides of any other metal body...

Mr. Chester?

 

Depends. In some cases non penetrating hits cause spalling (steel fragments break off the inside of the plate and fly into the inside of the vehicle)and can cause injuries/deaths.
Some accounts are more like the ping you describe and some are more like ringing a large bell( with your head in the bell).

 

I´ve read accounts about how Sherman ( 75mm ) crews would fire away at Germans tanks they knew their gun couldn´t penetrate. Apart from hoping to destroy the German tank´s optics or jam the turret, there was always the chance that the crew would panic and abandon the tank.

I´ve also read claims that say a hit from the Soviet 152mm gun could effectively knock out the crew without actually penetrating the tank´s armour. The shock wave would do the trick.

 

This is true !

The Tiger-I over at Bovington-Tank-Museum was defeated in this way.

And eventhough the U.S. 75mm M3 is considderet a weak tankgun, the forces involved in blows from one are still enormous enough to shake a tanks gun loose from its turret !

KBO

 

post subject

Further to the above posting, a report from Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, June 25th 1944,
"The SRY had an extrordinary field on their advance to Rauray, one and a half miles beyond Fontenay.Fontenay had been thoroughly cleared-or had it?Major John Semken, OC "A" Sqd. squeezed his tank past his CO's in the narrow high street, turned the next corner and came face to face (60yds) with a Tiger tank.His gunner belted out six AP shells which all bounced off but one shot hit the turret ring and the Tigers crew baled out.The tank was captured - intact!
On the same day Sgt. George Dring of the SRY knocked out two Panthers and two Mk IV's. with his tanks 17pdr.
George died last year and was credited with 13 kills, George was a "Tank-Ace", he survived N.Africa and Europe, died last year in late 80's.
On the 27th, SRY had a bad day,only seven tanks servicable at end of day, but when 4/7th RDG finally cleared Rauray the found nine abandoned German tanks, including a Tiger and a Panther which they towed back in triumph.
(as this is my 150th. posting I humbley request NO MICKY MOUSE promotion, perlease! I'm ashamed at reaching the dizzy heights of Cpl.
so, no more, give it to the young lions who crave it!)
(PS. Sgt. George Dring MM and Bar was also credited with two Tigers)

 

Re: post subject

Please, Merlin, behave a little bit more mature here. This forum uses American rank symbols as side pictures for its members. There is nothing you can do about it but ignore them and move on. We've already granted you the special rank of "trooper" once, we're not going through this again. It's not an actual promotion, and the majority of the members don't even seem to care about the ranks at all. Why should you.

 

Re: post subject

Certain soldiers earn ranks or work in a field whereby rank is important (not always the higher ranks are sought after). In the Royal Corps of Signals we have some troops who are part of the SAS Signal Squadron, some even make it into the Regiment. One story goes that while on a Sergeants course, a Royal Signals Sgt had been serving with the SAS and if you serve with them you start at the rank of Trooper, so this Sgt was a Royal signals Sgt or SAS Trooper. Getting back to the story on the coured you have to , at times, shout out you Number Rank and Name in a very loud and proud voice, This man gave his number then rank of Trooper then name. He had earned both ranks vut was more proud of the rank Trooper then Sgt. Some people like rank some like what they have earned.

Please tell me if I am wrong merlin, are you proud of being a trooper or just been a pain. :lol:

 

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Thanks GP for the PM's, pleased to see that serving members and ex-members of the Best Army in the World are on the same wave length.
Pity no one saw the posting re. the SRY and the tank busting!
Sgt. (slap my wrist) Merlin.

 

I enjoyed that story very much, merlin, not in the least because it supported my thoughts.

Thanks.

 

Hey everyone,

I was wondering if an AFV would be able to continue operating if penetrated by lets say a sabot shell wich managed to go clean through the other side of the tank? I imagine the tank would not blow up and there would perhaps be little damage on the hull except for two huge hulls on the chassis. Other than the harrowing experience of such an event, can the tank ever survive and continue fighting under such circumstance?

 

It would depend on several factors, but I doubt it. The heat generated Would be extreme (imagine when you hit a nail with a hammer the nail becomes hot. multiply that effect due to the hardness of armour and the sabot round, then multiply the speed). The shock wave and vacuum left would dislodge many loose items, causing possible damage to the instruments and occupants.


To start with.

If however, it was a softskinned vehicle then the effects maybe not as great.

IMHO

 

The thicker the armor penetrated the more energy in the form of heat, light and mechanical effects (fragments being accellerated) is released.
It would depend where the penetration occurred. If in the crowded turret or forward part of the hull it is likely that there would be casualties and the accepted doctrine (in most all armies- though not written) was to evacuate as soon as possible. Many if not most tanks burn in a situation like that. Molten metal fragments , fuel and ammuntion don't mix together well. Nobody wants to burn to death so you bail out and try and recover the tank later. Even Wittman and his crew bailed out of disabled or severely dmaged vehicles.

 

He did it once, but not before knocking out every enemy tank in sight of his bogged Tiger.

But yes, if your tank is hit and penetrated, usually it is best to just get out in a hurry !

If penetrated by an APCBC round, then theres going to be very little chance anyone survives, as the large increase in pressure will set off the ammunition and probably blow the turret clean of the chassis. (this happened alot in WW2)

KBO

 

one example

while not WWII i once talked with a desert storm tanker that got into a hairball with T-72s. 3 MIAIs vs 5 T-72s. when it was all over the score was M1s 5 - T72s 0. when the M1s stopped to refuel and rearm he discovered they had taken a direct main gun hit on the turret and had never realized it. tough tank!

 

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Please don't make me laugh.....

 

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Well done that man, only took 13 days to get a bite, you're improving!!!
Sgt.(Gone fishing) Merlin

 

The Allies used to complain about the Italian tanks in the desert, they would hit them with AP rounds which would pass directly in, through and then out causing little effect to the outside observer.

FNG

 

Re: post subject

\

Merely a question of priorities..Had better things to do old bean, like taking out the trash...

tululu-

(ex Staff Sgt) Scaramouche-USMC

 

FNG wrote:

That can happen if the vehicle is thinly armored. Happens with trucks and so forth sometimes. All you have to do in that situation is switch to HE or HEAT. The Brits were undersupplied in those types of ammo early in the war however.