Hey guys. I'm working on an IS-2. My question is, did the Soviets load up their tanks with stowage like the US did?




Kenny

Kenny,
Most period photos I've ever seen show Soviet vehicles pretty much devoid of any personal equipment. They, as a rule, didn't seem to require much in the way of bed rolls, tents or tarps.

Later,
Mike

Kenny,

I'm going to echo what Mike said; after looking through a few of my reference books, perhaps about 3 or 4% of the pictures show gear of some sort or another at the sides of the hull on the fenders. And those that do have things there appear to be tarps....nothing at all looking like kit bags or things of that nature.

Were you to decide to add "gear," I'd only add one or two tarps at the most and strap them on the fenders....none of the combat pictures showed any "stuff" on the front or rear of the hull.

HTH some.

Mike

Here you are Kenny, some pics down this page with combat JS2s and some stowage

http://www.battlefield.ru/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=33&Itemid=44

I agree. However... There are exceptions. The Polish units formed by the Russians seem to have gone against this 'minimalist' practice. I've got a stack of photos of Polish T-34s loaded with personal gear - not quite as much as an M4 crew would have, but a damned sight more than a Soviet crew...

Jim,
Very good point, pardner! I'm just wondering ..... the Allies tended to bivouac away from, or at least out of, their tanks when possible. Obviously, this required all the essential tarps, tents, etc. Perhaps the Soviet doctrine was to not do so, instead remaining inside or on their vehicles during "at ease" periods?

Mike

Thanks for the quick replies mates. I always wondered if packing everything but the kitchen sink was only an American thing. I know in OIF, the Brits called the Yanks ninja turtles because of the gear they pack. :-) Erin, thanks for the link. Boy, those tanks had the heck beat out of them. Looks like I need to do some mods.

Kenny

Items of stowage often seen on Russian tanks were one or more med-ium diameter logs, presumably used as an aid to unbog the tank or corduroy difficult areas.