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Яusso-Soviэt Forum: WWII Soviet Armor
For discussions related to WW2 era Soviet armor.
T-34 Ice Cleats-Used? Not Used? Carried?
Chinook2014
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Alabama, United States
Joined: December 14, 2014
KitMaker: 12 posts
Armorama: 12 posts
Posted: Saturday, February 07, 2015 - 12:48 AM UTC
So I've been jumping around a bit with a t-34 build, and I'm approaching the point where I'll have to make some real decisions here. Originally started with the idea of modeling a Kharkov 1942 T-34, but the 1941 model would doubtfully be there. So... I bought a 42 model. Still going to do that, or convert it to a STZ. We'll see. The one on my bench has become a T-34 from the Battle of Moscow and afterwards.
I decided on this because the Dragon kit leaves enough parts for a second turret, so I ordered the PanzerArt 57 mm barrel, so I can have alternate whichever turret I want for display.

Anyways, so here I am, and I'm currently fiddling with all the fiddly PE, and I guess I'm trying to find a way out of having to fit the ice cleats onto the fenders. I found this old old thread( https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/30209&page=1) but I wanted to know if anyone could update the information on the use of the ice cleats?

My thought is that for a tank around Moscow in the winter of 41/42, Ice cleats would be appropriate, and the likelihood of hitting a paved road in Russia, in the winter, would be low.

So what do you guys think? Can I get away with fixing the Ice cleats on my tracks and stay accurate? Were they only fitted on every third track without a guide horn?

Also, did tanks in the summer carry them? Or just throw them in the ditch as junk?
GeraldOwens
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Florida, United States
Joined: March 30, 2006
KitMaker: 3,736 posts
Armorama: 3,697 posts
Posted: Saturday, February 07, 2015 - 02:39 AM UTC

Quoted Text

So I've been jumping around a bit with a t-34 build, and I'm approaching the point where I'll have to make some real decisions here. Originally started with the idea of modeling a Kharkov 1942 T-34, but the 1941 model would doubtfully be there. So... I bought a 42 model. Still going to do that, or convert it to a STZ. We'll see. The one on my bench has become a T-34 from the Battle of Moscow and afterwards.
I decided on this because the Dragon kit leaves enough parts for a second turret, so I ordered the PanzerArt 57 mm barrel, so I can have alternate whichever turret I want for display.

Anyways, so here I am, and I'm currently fiddling with all the fiddly PE, and I guess I'm trying to find a way out of having to fit the ice cleats onto the fenders. I found this old old thread( https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/30209&page=1) but I wanted to know if anyone could update the information on the use of the ice cleats?

My thought is that for a tank around Moscow in the winter of 41/42, Ice cleats would be appropriate, and the likelihood of hitting a paved road in Russia, in the winter, would be low.

So what do you guys think? Can I get away with fixing the Ice cleats on my tracks and stay accurate? Were they only fitted on every third track without a guide horn?

Also, did tanks in the summer carry them? Or just throw them in the ditch as junk?


They are often missing on tanks photographed in summer conditions (whether they were ditched, or just stowed in a military depot somewhere, I couldn't say). They'd be useful in snow or heavy mud, but a real nuisance on hard ground or paved roads (much like the grousers issued to Sherman tanks, which were almost never fitted). The number stowed on the fenders would be inadequate to attach to every perforated link, so one every three links makes sense. Of course, in summer, the stowage points for the grousers were often used for spare track links, instead.
Chinook2014
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Alabama, United States
Joined: December 14, 2014
KitMaker: 12 posts
Armorama: 12 posts
Posted: Saturday, February 07, 2015 - 02:58 AM UTC
Great! I think, because this is a tank operating in the winter, I will go with the grousers on the tracks. But with my other T-34 kits, (And an SU-85 that I'm extremely excited about starting!) I will leave the grousers off entirely.
KurtLaughlin
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Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: January 18, 2003
KitMaker: 2,402 posts
Armorama: 2,377 posts
Posted: Monday, February 09, 2015 - 05:43 AM UTC
There are plenty of photos of wrecked tanks in the summer and fall of 1941 with cleats on the fenders.





KL
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