Why wood planking on Shermans?

ridleusmc

Member since
July 2003
From: Cincinnati, Ohio

Why wood planking on Shermans?

Posted by ridleusmc on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 5:58 AM

Why did US Marines put wood planking on sherman tanks during the Island Hopping Campaigns in the Pacific Theater of WWII? Just wondering.

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Rob Gronovius

Member since
December 2002
From: Fort Knox

Posted by Rob Gronovius on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 6:20 AM

Same reason why Germans used the zimmerit paste, to prevent magnetic mines from being attached by fanatical infantrymen.

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nmayhew

Member since
July 2003
From: Kent, England

Posted by nmayhew on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 6:30 AM

i didn't think it was because of magnetic mines; i thought it was jap suicide attackers packed with explosives throwing themselves on top of the bogies, just underneath the upper hull.
confirmation anyone?
regards, Smile [:)]

nick

Kind regards, Nicholas

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 7:32 AM

Sorry Nick, Major Rob is correct.

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nmayhew

Member since
July 2003
From: Kent, England

Posted by nmayhew on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 8:03 AM

thanks claymore, Smile [:)]

yet another reference book to trash i guess Disapprove [V]

(osprey's "modelling the sherman" book...)oh well.
thanks for the correction.
Rob Gronovius Bow [bow]

regards,
nick

Kind regards, Nicholas

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shermanfreak

Member since
January 2003

Posted by shermanfreak on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 12:21 PM

Nick - don't throw the book away yet. I believe there is still an element of truth to what you are referring to. I believe Major Rob is refering to the planks that were attached to the sides of the hull, but in some cases there was planking extended to cover a large portion of the running gear. This may be what the author is speaking of.

Happy Modelling and God Bless Robert

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 12:58 PM

Side-plankin' was the spaced armor of the day...Japanese 've used some antitank mines...A conical shaped hollow charge encased in steel container with " legs " to provide proper stand-off distance...The wooden planks were used to " break " it to annihilate the hollow charge effects !
Cement was sometime poured between the hull and the plankin'....

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 1:00 PM

Ewww! The thought of wedging one's self into the bogies of a tank! Hope that explosive has a short, short fuse! Crunch, mangle, pain.
Although neglibible, I'd imagine that the thick lumber also helped slow some AP rounds from the smaller AT weapons before they hit the plating. Notice, I said Negligible. Yes, the Major is correct.

Ron

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 1:03 PM

I started my reply before class and finished it after, some good replies from Robert there also!

Ron.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 1:07 PM

I knew about robs way, but I never thought about it being used as skirt armor... whoda thunk. I guess it makes sense though. thanks for the info all.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 1:33 PM

I was referring to the planking bolted to the hull and I forgot that planking was used for skirts (I've seen a pic), sorry for any confusion.

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nmayhew

Member since
July 2003
From: Kent, England

Posted by nmayhew on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 1:49 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by shermanfreak

Nick - don't throw the book away yet. I believe there is still an element of truth to what you are referring to. I believe Major Rob is refering to the planks that were attached to the sides of the hull, but in some cases there was planking extended to cover a large portion of the running gear. This may be what the author is speaking of.

yes sherm, that is what the author was referring to: Smile [:)]

'osprey modelling manual:m4 sherman' by rodrigo hernandez cabos and john prigent

p27...
"5th marine tank battalion...during the iwo jima campaign suffered a number of suicide attacks...the japanese now began throwing themselves between the wheels holding grenade belts and explosives. crews that survived these immediately started to cover the sides of their tanks with planks attached to the three suspension bogies..."

apologies to all when i didn't express myself more clearly earlier.
regards,
nick

Kind regards, Nicholas

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 4:59 PM

Cool i didn't think that the japs had magnetic mines but o
also would it add enough protection to stop maybe a anti tank round app like the british 3 lb er???/ from mama cat i am over at a friend s house
Blindfold [X-)]

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ridleusmc

Member since
July 2003
From: Cincinnati, Ohio

Posted by ridleusmc on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 9:43 PM

Golly, now I know. Magnetic mines and suicide bombers. I wonder who got picked for those jobs. Was it the fastest runners, the ones who loved the Emperor the most, or the guys that nobody liked?
Thank you all for your insight,
Chris