ok... so got this trumpeter's 1/72 famo (great kit!) and i was wondering what vehicle can a single famo tow using the y-shaped towbar?

apart from a panzer III or a panzer IV, is a ferdinand or elefant within the famo's towing capabilities?

if the famo is towing a nashorn or hornisse by its front, wouldn't the barrel of the 88 gun overhang the famo's cargo area and hinder the vehicle's movement? or can the SPGs be towed backwards?

could the famo tow a captured t-34?

thanks!

Hi, it took six Famo's to tow the Ferdinand or Elefant, SPGs it would probably tow backwards, it could tow the StuG III or StuG IV, but it would take 3 Famo's to tow the Tiger I!

ok.. so the tiger tank is a no-no... but 6 famos for a ferdinand... yikes!

mmm... i'll probably stick with the nashorn then...

You can have a FAMO pull a Cullemyer heavy trailer. Here is a link to picture of one pulling the Hauler Cullemyeer trailer with Jagdtiger

http://www.wingsntreads.com/pages/HaulerCulymeyer.php

moJimbo

As I suspected, I thought up to 3 Famos were used to tow heavy German tanks as stated in this link:- I quote:

Tanks like Pz.Kpfw III and IV could be towed by only one FAMO, but the heavy tanks like the Panther and Tiger, required at least 3 FAMOs.

For this French site translation go to:

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://mythicpanzers.jexiste.fr/Files/Vehicles/08-Halftracks/Zugkraftwagen/Zugkraftwagen_03.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2Bpicture%2B%2522Famo%2Btowing%2B%2522%26start%3D20%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN%26as_qdr%3Dall

Original French website:
http://mythicpanzers.jexiste.fr/Files/Vehicles/08-Halftracks/Zugkraftwagen/Zugkraftwagen_03.htm

Other websites:-

http://www.autogallery.org.ru/m/famof3.htm
http://tamiya.com/english/products/35239famo/famo.htm
http://tamiya.com/english/products/35246famo&sd.ah.116/famo&sd.ah.116.htm
http://e-carzone.com/famo/f3_sd._kfz._9_1939-1945/1.shtml
http://groups.msn.com/Famohalftrack18tSdKfz9
http://tanxheaven.com/jg/FamoBeltring05/famobeltring05jg.htm

Good luck. Regards, John-B

I am not sure on the Tiger II number, but it was correct for a Tiger I and that was on the Russian Steppes without any big hills to climb.

The FAMO was replaced by the Bergepanther in the case of Tiger I's, Panthers, Jagdpanthers and even the Ferdinands, which had their own special recovery vehicle the Bergepanzer(P). Once the disabled track was recovered from the shooting it would have been loaded on a FAMO trailer for easier moving, if it did not weigh too much or on a railcar for return to depot.

If you have the Concord Arnhem book, you'll see a photograph (and coloured drawing) of a Famo with a disabled Schwimwagen jammed under the tarp.

It's not towing but it's certainly an interesting subject.

As for the number of Famos required for towing, three for a Tiger 1 was recommended and there are several photos showing this in action.

However, the Bergepanther was severely under-powered for its role and there is at least one photo showing two Bergepanthers linked together to tow another Panther.

David

thanks for the replies guys.... wingsntreads, John-B ... thanks for the links!

on the question of towing a disabled tank, would it be easier if the tracks are removed first, or would it really didn't matter?

How about this one:

I don't think that towing a disabled heavy tank with tracks on is a problem as long as its drive train was able to be set to roll freely. If a drive sprocket or transmission were damaged, I've also see where the tracks were taken off the drive sprocket, shortened and re-attached, bypassing the stuck or damaged sprocket.

If one side's suspension were damaged, requiring the removal of the tracks in order to tow it, then the other would be removed as well because the mis-match of tracked and non-tracked sides would cause problems in the towing. Probably for short distances this problem could be tolerated but over longer distances, it'd cause too many problems. I'd guess.

Slightly , but I bought both the Trumpeter and Revell Famo. In Canada the Trumpeter is twice the cost of the Revell and is only marginally superior - a detailed engine, which is not visible anyway, and a slightly more detailed winch system. On my Trumpeter Famo part of the chassis was warped leaving gaps to be filled between the engine compartment and the cab. Other detailing for the two kits, except for the above mentioned, was pretty much identical. I too, was planning a diorama with two Famos towing a Tiger l, but for the price consideration, I would choose the Revell version.