caragan1970

Does anyone have a photos of Panzer IIIs with these kind of tracks installed?

http://www.rctank.de/product_info.ph...roducts_id=354

elhhss

it's called the "WinterKetten"....Winter Tracks....
it was used primarily in the Eastern Front (Russian Front) , because its original tracks' small width, it will sink into the snow during winter.
This is how the real thing looks like


And this is how the model will look like


Interestingly, from some of the real battle records, the winterketten had its own limitations. There were records that if the tanks did too quick a turn, the tracks will snap

Russians knew about this, that is why their tanks' tracks are wider.

ETO and Custom RC Model are also promoting these tracks

Red_Rabbit

Hello

I have been looking those pictures too and this is only one, that I have found so far:

Elhhss : You have very nice model there! By the way, do You have any other picture of that real thing?

RR

elhhss

the 'real thing' is as in my earlier reply. The first picture is showing the Winterketten

Here is another one, with a 'shoe' on one of the link


You can see more from the recently unearthed Stug III with the winterketten
http://www.detektorweb.cz/index.4me?...2988&mm=1&vd=1

or which real thing are you referring to?

Red_Rabbit

Thanks for quick reply.

I meant, more pictures of that real tank wearing Winterketten.
Your link was answer to that - and what kind of pictures - that Stug looks like it has just gone to battle!
Even the toolbox and tools looks brand new.

Yours,

RR

wackywheelz

Only problem with that recovered Stug is it was parked in a local park on display and all the tools and externals were stolen. [:@]

brel

where was the Stug found

wackywheelz

Demyansk I think, which is near Leningrad.

100,000 Germans were encircled for 2 months by Russians, hence "Demyansk Pocket". They eventually opened a small corridor out and escaped, losing "only" 13,335 men in the process

caragan1970

Hi GUys,

THanks for the pictures, got an email from Bob from ETO, will email him
back to ask to cost of a pair.

So this track is solely used in the Eastern Front??? Did they used this in Africa??
I was thinking this would give them better tractions in desert sand conditions.
Actually thinking about this for the RC Panzer 3 I'm getting...

Patrick C.

elhhss

Yes, the winterketten was used only in the Eastern Front at Russia.

There is another 'wide' track called Ostketten, East Tracks. Also used only in the Eastern Front, primarily during spring and autumn.

There had been many hobbyists discussions about the Winterketten and OstKetten. Some was rather confusing as the pictures were pointing to the wrong names.

Here is a forum that had some discussions on:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=79855

Captain Nemo12

I found a nice video of this track system in action, albeit on flat ground...

[link=http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=eRHtI_AaiiQ]Winterketten[/link]

That poor pink *******...

mizuinu

i thought i read somewhere in the forum about rocks flying to any tank painted pink

caragan1970

LOL, POOR PANZER 3 maybe it has a lady TC!!

EugeniRUS

This STUG was found in the south of Russia, near the city of SARATOV, where it is displayed now.
Demiansk is the wrong place. Do not trust that website.

wackywheelz

I've scoured my hard drive and can't for the life of me find pics of that StuG III after it had been stripped by looters... will keep looking

fsciorelli

I'm considering building up an HL PZIII H or L for winter service with winterketten, but I've seen some conflicting dates about when winterketten (vs ostketten) were first put in service. One source says that

Winterketten were developed in 1942 for use in winter conditions on the Eastern Front. These were basically a normal track with track extensions that protruded from the ends of the tracks. These are recognizable by the long triangular extensions. These were usually found on the PzKpfw III, PzKpfw IV and StuG III but could also be seen on Hummel, Hornisse and other vehicles

Does this mean the winter of 41-42 or 42-43?

Also Red Rabit's post has a photo with a caption of a PZIIIL in winter. The caption says it has osketten (s/b winterketten?), but doesn't have a date for the picture.

Any help clarifying?

thomasjohnmurphy

Here's my Panzer IV with winterketten


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsdU_4mUP08

the tank runs great

laz2428

Heres a great piccy I found on the net of winter tracks

fsciorelli

Cool

An Ausf L with smoke ejectors
19th panzer division

must be winter of 42-43? I forgot what year the L came out.

laz2428

According to my bits & bobs the PIII L entered production in June 1942 until December 1942.

TXtanker

Is this it Wacky

philipat

Headlight positions suggest it should be an Ausf M...but, there was a lot of mix and match going on.

fsciorelli

Philipat,

I agree that it could be an M. That would correlate with the smoke ejectors on the side of the turret. I believe the M was the first model with smoke ejectors mounted on the side of the turret. I was merely ready the fine print caption that said it was an L.

swathdiver

Caption is wrong, it's an M.