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Яusso-Soviэt Forum: Cold War Soviet Armor
For discussions related to cold war era Russo-Soviet armor.
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Russian tank question.
Shift911
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: December 17, 2007
KitMaker: 192 posts
Armorama: 185 posts
Posted: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 - 02:59 PM UTC
Well, this may be a silly question to just about anybody here, but I'll go ahead and embarrass myself anyway. Straight to the point, why do (most) Russian tanks have a log strapped to the back? Thanks in advance!

Jacques
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Minnesota, United States
Joined: March 04, 2003
KitMaker: 4,630 posts
Armorama: 4,498 posts
Posted: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 - 03:10 PM UTC
It is a unditching beam. You attach it to the tracks with chain on the front and when it pulls through, it gets a tank unstuck. Generally you have these problems in soft soils (think wet or tossed up by lots of artillery) or else if the tank "hangs up" on a tree stump.

Not a dumb question at all.
PantherF
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Indiana, United States
Joined: June 10, 2005
KitMaker: 6,188 posts
Armorama: 5,960 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 02, 2008 - 12:03 AM UTC
That is an excellent question. You see similar items on top of WWI tanks as well.
Shift911
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: December 17, 2007
KitMaker: 192 posts
Armorama: 185 posts
Posted: Friday, October 03, 2008 - 02:26 AM UTC
Thanks for clearing that up guy's I appreciate it!

Regards
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