The skirts on the Pz III, IV and, StuG III were originally introduced primarily to defeat Russian anti-tank rifle fire not HEAT type weapons. The particular vehicles (and others that had similar skirts including the Pz V, Jgpz IV etc) had them placed were their side armor was sufficently thin that without the skirts penetrations by AT rifles in use by the Soviets most likely would occur. In fact, to some extent, these skirts would have actually improved some HEAT type weapons performance by providing stand-off distance, allowing the jet to form more fully before penetration occured.
Zimmerit was originally devised to stop magnetic mines believed in use by the Soviets. However, Zimmerit was found to be flammable and was unnecessary as neither the Soviets or Western Allies made any widespread use of magnetic anti-tank mines so it was discontinued.
Both the Soviets and US tried experiments and field improvisations for use aganist HEAT rounds, particularly the panzerfaust. The US tried both plastic armor and a hedgehog of steel spikes on the M-4. Both worked but neither was adapted. The plastic was too heavy while the spikes picked up dirt and brush along with being just plain weird on the tank.
The Soviets improvised screens of chain link fence and bed springs on their vehicles late in the war.
The Germans likewise switched to steel screens on the Pz IV and some other vehicles very late in the war as HEAT defense came to out weigh the need to defeat AT rifle fire.
[ 09. March 2004, 04:53 PM: Message edited by: T. A. Gardner ]
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