How do tanks turn?

most modern tanks use a hydrokenetic transmission.like the abrams uses an allison hydrokenetic,4 forward and 2 reverse speeds.my guess is it the same idea as abobcat tractor.they use hydralic pressure to rotate an axle foward or reverse.....

Maj Grov. is right. Pivot steer is where one track stops and you pivot on that track. A neutral steer is where one track moves forward and the other back.... the vehicle is actually in neutral when you do this (that's why even a stopped tank with this capability is dangerous). An M113 or others with laterals can only pivot, I've never driven an M113A3, so I don't know if it can neutral steer, but the ones with laterals cannot. Neither can most SP Howitzers.
An older tank, such as a Sherman has a very hard time pivoting. This is because you really have to haul back on the steering brake (lateral) in order to do this and the engine really boggs down. I may be wrong, but I think Panthers and Tigers had neutral steer capabilty and that the US started with the M46, or was it the M48's cross drive tranny?

My two cents.

Ron

What kind of transmission does modern tanks use?

Are they mechanical (gear/chain, like a car or bike) ? electrical (generator/motor, like a locomotive)? hydraulic ?

Thanks.

The principle is the same as how my daughter turns her play stroller. The crew get out, put their shoulders to the tank, and push it sideways in the direction desired. Then they get back in the tank and continue on their way.

Just kidding. The real answer is that God does not want us to know how tanks turn.

Okay everybody, I know this one. I used to build tanks for a living. Let's take the M1 for a good example. Detroit Diesel Allison is the tranny manufacturer. The transmission is designed with variable speed reduction clutches (for steering and braking), which are hydraulically actuated in response to driver input throu a steering cable, and a brake cable. These clutches are nothing more than a series of pressure plates,controlled by bearing interfaces to slow/stop the drive/power shaft /gear for each final drive. They will work in both forward and reverse. When the driver presses the brake pedal, the series of plates on both sides will compress into one another, thereby creating friction and braking the vehicle evenly. When the driver turns the T-bar, one side or the other will progressively brake, turning the vehicle. To acheive pivot steer, the T-bar must be pulled either right or left to its full travel limit, which will fully lock one track or the other. To perform a Neutral steer, the transmission must be shifted into Neutral, the T-bar cranked right or left, which actually makes both tracks work in opposition to one another, this is controlled in the transmission valve body and involves no braking function. I hope this helps everyone!

Steve

Just to clarify - "pivot steer" is when the tracks move in OPPOSITE directions allowing the vehicle to "pivot" in one spot with no forward or rearward movement. Any other type of turn is a neutral turn or simply just turning. Most tracked vehicles have this capability but, at least for M113s, they aren't used very often, requires more maintenance on the tracks. The most often used method, and the only other method, is for one track to slow down or stop while the other track keeps moving in the direction of travel allowing the vehilce to turn in the direction of the slower moving or stopped track. There is no way for a "linear track" to curve or turn individually, at least not that I know of. Bulldozers turn much the same way as military tracked vehicles (except I don't think bulldozers can do pivot steering, not the ones I've operated), so if you get a chance, visit a construction site and watch the dozer operators.

Good input ! "Pivot steer" a tank , one track is " Locked " , and the other moves .A "neutral turn ", means that the tracks , rotate in opposite directions, literaly allowing the tank to rotate on on a dime. The good old " Cent" could do this . On the Leopard , when the transmission , is in neutral , and the driver moves the steering yoke , this will cause the tracks to move in opposite directions, thus greating a " Neutral Turn ". Hence we have a locking device , on the steering yoke.
Frank.

hunter + digger, you are both thinking of relatively old tanks and/or construction vehicles.
Most modern tanks can run their tracks at different speeds; the easiest way to achieve that is simply applying brakes to one side ('course, there has to be a differential in use, too).
The great benefit is that they can now actually drive curvens, rather than stop-turn-go-stop-turn-go...

Hou-ge 2000,I think what you want to know is how it locks up one side while the other is moving.Well this is simular to and 18 wheeler with twin screw or as knowen as to drives.You have a differencail gear simular to a truck in that on a truck you flip a switch to engage your 2nd set of drives.Your drve shaft to your 2nd drives is always turning and once you flip the switch,the axle gear is pushed into the drive shaft gear within the differincail.The axle gear is on a slide or what is called free moving all this is done by air.Now on a tank it is the same principle but is hydorilicly driven differ.So when a tank turns the differ.is unlock or disingaged so the axle comes to a stop.A tank uses two differ.one for each side.So if you need more info try your sreach for heavy eqip.like bulldozzers and ect...The tank runs off these same pricilples.Digger
p.s.pardon my spelling.

When the tank is turned, the transmission slows the drive sprocket on one side and speeds up the sprocket on the other side. The tank turns towards the slower turning track.

Tanks can also do a maneuver called "neutral steer" or "pivot steer". This is done from a stop to make sharp turns, kind of like when you are parking a car. During pivot steers, the tank only turns one track. The opposite track stays locked in place. This allows a tank to turn 180° much like a basketball player who pivots on his planted foot.

Older tanks and some modern vehicles like the M113A2 actually have laterals. These are a pair of control levers that the driver uses to steer. When the levers are pushed forward, the vehicle goes forward. As the driver wants to turn, he pulls the lever of the side he wants to turn back towards him. It locks that side track slightly and the tank turns in the direction of the locked track.

Real simple stuff.

Tanks turn by one of two ways normally or by whats called a pivot steer. normally one track keeps moving forward and the other track stops or slows down. so to turn left, the right track keeps moving and the left stops. also for really tight turns one track goes one way and the other goes the other way this is called a pivot steer. this enables the tank to pretty much turn in 180 degrees with no forward movement or "turn on a dime" literally, this is the reason most tanks use two control bars to steer instead of a steering wheel. i hope this helps a little. it really helps to see it to understand. im sure others could explain the actual mechanics of the process.

wes