KV-2 in chains

Maybe they were running trials and needed to add weight?  They are running it over a bridge.  Maybe they needed to simulate something heavier than what the KV-2 normally carried.

The weight makes sense, especially in context of the bride. Maybe testing the roadbed to see how it held up under the weight? 

That's the only thing that makes sense to me...some kind of weight/load trial exercise. The way they have it piled up on the rear deck in particular would be the give-away...it's not possible to rotate the turret and the chain is also blocking the engine air-intake vents. No way the vehicle could operate like that for very long and certainly not in a combat situation.

Why are tracks on many russian tanks so loose? They have a lots of sag compared to Germans.

Cheers...

Russians used "dead" tracks same as the Germans but  had the sprockets at the rear, so the tension points are different in the overall design, producing more sag over the return rollers. The tracks are also heavier and wider by design so when you compare say a T34 to a Pz IV track, they are very different beasts. HTH.

wbill76

Russians used "dead" tracks same as the Germans but  had the sprockets at the rear, so the tension points are different in the overall design, producing more sag over the return rollers. The tracks are also heavier and wider by design so when you compare say a T34 to a Pz IV track, they are very different beasts. HTH.

Like Bill said, with the sprocket in the rear, the entire dynamic of the track changes and makes it possible to run loose and therefore less friction and less horsepower lost in the drivetrain.  Loose tracks don't get stuck with mud and ice so easily..

Another perfect example of the Soviet way is the AK... the guns clearances are so loose it wont even jam in the sand.

just my ... Itis a whole different theory on bullding something...it is SUPPOSED to be that way , it not sloppy.

Also as Bill said the Soviet tracks were wider resulting in a lower ground pressure level so again there is a better use of horsepower and higher speed and agility .

sorry I am rattling on

tread

Any chance this could have had abything to do with providing extra protection, sort of like placing spare bits of track in vulnerable areas to provide a bit more armour?

Steve.

Thinking way out of the box now..... How about 'We captured your new KV-2 in perfect condition',,,, now you shall suffer the chains of physical and psychological enslavement'....works for me....

tread

Pretty sure they aren't blowing it up (for one it looks like they're building the bridge...). Hard to make out the detail in the second pic, but in the first that's a standard KV fender stowage box (my Trumpy kit has like three).

I'm pretty convinced it has something to do with the bridge. But whether it's weighting, or it's going to be used to yank on something, or it's just pack-muling the chains (which doesn't make sense as it could just drag them then...), I can't say.

Definitely a great brain teaser though.

Adding weight to test the bridge makes sense to me, but for what. Is this tank Pz Grey or Russian Green. What weight is the KV-2 compared to German tanks pre Tiger I.

Its Camoflauge....no one would suspect a giant tank hiding under an inordinate amount of chain.....

Otherwise, maybe its being used to tow something. Or aid in completing the length of the bridge, which appears unfinished based on the second picture.

If I'm not mistaken, the KV-2 and the Tiger 1 were of similar weight, 53 or so tons compared to upper 50's to 60 tons, respectively. Would they really go through that much trouble adding so much chain to get the weight correct to test the bridge? Of course, I'm speculating that they'd be comparing it to a Tiger, I just figured that's the biggest German tank that would have fit on the bridge....

Speaking of which, the Tiger is wider than a KV-2 is it not? That bridge appears to be a tight squeeze for a KV-2 let alone anything much bigger....

Is there any speculation on the site you pulled the pics from about this?

In the end, are we sure that its actually a chain and not links of bratwurst??

No speculation whatsoever. Which is frustrating!

I wasn't thinking so much "match the weight of a Tiger" - keep in mind this looks like "not winter" and if the KV-2 is indeed painted Panzer Gray that probably limits the time range of this photo to 1941 through autumn 1942. And the first Tigers didn't start appearing until October or November '42 I believe. So the Tiger may not even be an issue. I was thinking more of a stress test. Load up the heaviest thing we can find with more weight and if the bridge doesn't collapse, it's cool.

SO??? Where are the WIP pics?

wing_nut

SO??? Where are the WIP pics?

Over in Ostfront. 

But here's a taste...

And here I was thinking I was being a real smart @$$.

Are you gonna do it with the chains?  That will be very cool.

wing_nut

And here I was thinking I was being a real smart @$$.

 

Are you gonna do it with the chains?  That will be very cool.

I'm...weighing...it

The kit markings (who are we kidding - two german crosses barely constitute markings) are for a tricolor that looks pretty slick. But the chains are so unique. It'd be cool to do up a bridge dio even. 

I've got time to decide. Just building tanks to the paint stage at the moment since the rest of the bench is getting packed away for the move.