I have noticed that on a lot of German tanks from the second world war there are roughly six cylinders (three on each side) on the turret of the tank.
Can anyone tell me what the purpose of them was?
I suspect that maybe they were used to store additional ammunition?
Thank you.
2006-12-07 01:03:06 · 5 answers · asked by Dellian 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
These are small cylinders stacked 3 up on each side of the turret... Probably the width of a baseball bat?
And yes I am more than aware that ammunition on the outer-part of a tank is by no means a smart move. = D
2006-12-07 01:13:48 · update #1
So far.... I'll put more detailed ones as I find them.
http://www.lonesentry.com/articles/ttt_tigervulnerability/ttt_tiger_vulnerability.jpg
2006-12-07 01:36:33 · update #2
http://www.wartoyz.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/TC10131-Tiger-1-Eastern-Front-450.jpg
2006-12-07 02:10:45 · update #3
Sources please... For all I know you are making this up.
2006-12-07 02:35:04 · update #4
Those are smoke dischargers. They used them to screen the tanks from observation, so that they could move to new positions. Most modern tanks still use them, but the technology has naturally progressed.
They are not S-Mine dischargers; S-Mines were larger in diameter than the smoke grenades in the three-tube discharger. Also, S-Mine dischargers were mounted on the hull of the Tiger I heavy tanks, three on each side; all four corners and one each midway down both sides adjacent to the turret. They stopped using S-Mines because their follow-on infantry could be injured by the mines, which were intended to clear attacking infantry off the tank.
Check out this link, since I must be making this all up...
http://www.tigertank-h-e-181.com/12_Turret_Exterior_.htm
Here's another one:
http://www.tigertank-h-e-181.com/15_%20Technical_Information_.htm
2006-12-07 02:04:01 · answer #1 · answered by grenadier8408 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Not sure of your source -- on modern tanks, they have smoke grenade projectors on both sides of the turret that will make a smoke screen very rapidly that hide the tank so it can get out of danger.
But I've looked at a bunch of photos of WW2 German tanks, and I'm not seeing what you describe. Have you got a URL for one of the photos you're talking about? If so, I could confirm . . .
2006-12-07 09:32:31 · answer #2 · answered by Dave_Stark 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
These are actually smoke grenade launchers and this can be found on many modern tanks. They would fire smoke grenades to cover themselves and move out of a bad situation. They could also be used to fire flares to light up a target at night.
2006-12-07 12:58:14 · answer #3 · answered by brian L 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
they are not only used as smoke discharges but they where also used to fire anti personnel charges ( something like the S mine ) to protect the tank in close combat against anti tank crews
2006-12-07 13:41:24 · answer #4 · answered by general De Witte 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fuel and/ or oil. Ammo on the exterior= suicide. Its a tank, they get shot at.....
Diesel has a smaller flash fire rate than ammo...less likely to explode if hit.
Oh...those cylinders...doh! sorry, they might have been either for tools or small parts...maybe coiled up barbed wire...not sure.
2006-12-07 09:04:59 · answer #5 · answered by Diadem 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋