" C " hooks. I have seen them on our German model tanks and in historical pix.


What are they used for?

Any historical pix of one being used?

Just wondering.

Thanks.</p>

They're tow hooks. One end attaches to a shackle and the other end with the tow cable, there's usually a middle piece in the clamp to close the gap keeping the tow cable and shackle in place.

OOOHHHH.  That explains the lack of hooks on the cables on my tanks.

Those are big.  Two guys to carry it?

 Did they use those to change tracks too?  Or just to tow other AFV.

<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; ">Not really sure, to be honest. I believe those were primarily used in urgent cases, such as the option to move a stuck or broken tank before the enemy could get to it. Anything else was for actual tow and support tanks. Some of the stuff I've read makes it unlikely that tank crews did heavy maintenance like that, if they didn't have to. German tankers were treated like prima donnas, not with out good reason as well besides it not being their job. Not anyone can jump into these machines and endure what they do, much like you would expect of aPilot whose job is to fly, not providemaintenance.</div>

Yep.       They fit on my new tiger tow shackles, now I need those cool upscale tow cables.

The list never gets shorter, always adding things faster than I can scrach them off.

I had a chance to handle one of those C hooks last year in Normandy. It is heavy but one man can handle it. In rough/muddy terrain the crews often left the cable/hooks coupled to the front of the tanks. The tag ends were slung over the top of the hull out of the way and secured towards the rear. The small, thin, longer cable was used to thread the tracks on during maintenance or repairs, not the large ones. They crews were strickly forbidden to tow each others tanks and tried to use multiple "prime movers' AKA Famos, Bergepanzers etc.... But when you are stuck you are dead and one tank often broke their gearbox trying to get a stranded commrade back in the game. The drive trains were strained enough just moving themselves without doubling the weight by towing another panzer. Extra tow cables, jacks, blocks and C hooks were often the first items pilfered fom a knocked out tank by a passing Panzer crew.

Bob, thecommandernj

I have seen photos where they were used to chain down tanks to a flat car for rail transport.

Here is my pic of my use for C hooks, my 1/25 scale Bergepanther, no spade
or winch, I have done her up as a tow vehicle and used the c hooks to link
the tow bars to the shackles to the front of the Jagdpanther. Yes the Berge
actually tows the Jag even with the tracks locked!


I'm interested if anyone may know of the german name for these "C Hooks"?

Pic of Bergepanther, she is a Tamiya 1/25th Panther A. The reason I didn't
build the spade or winch, take off the Berge platform refit the turret and she
goes back to being a Panther.