KV / IS track question

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by George Blake, Mar 28, 2020.

  1. George Blake

    George Blake Member

    Hi guys,

    I've recently completed this set of KV / IS track and have been thinking about the 'split' links (bottom of the pair). Many examples of these tanks I have seen use entirely 'horned' track links (top of the pair) but a couple have the 'split' links alternately. Is there any information as to why this is? Is it an economic measure? Easy to repair? Is it just a particular model / manufacturer?

    Any information would be very welcome.

    Thanks.

    kv set 1.JPG kv set 2.JPG kv set 3.JPG
     
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  2. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    I hope you don't mind, George, but after half an hour digging into my Sov armour books & drawing a blank, I tweeted your query, tagging one chap in particular with a Russian armour specialism.
    WW2Talk on Twitter

    My first thought is it's going to be a production/casting size issue, as if of some technical benefit it might be more common on other machines.
    Fingers crossed somebody knows for sure as I'm very intrigued.
     
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  3. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

  4. George Blake

    George Blake Member

    Thank you both for your help with this, especially the twitter aspect (something that is still beyond me!)

    Weight saving was something that I had not considered so...

    Activity #347 for Virus Lockdown - Remove pins on Russian tank track set and weigh constituent parts....

    Using a basic luggage scale, the 'horned' link and pin came in at 19.5 kg whilst the complete 'split' link and pin is 19 kg. That would be a saving of 450 kg across a set of 180 links.
     
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  5. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    There must have been a cost in terms of increased strain on the track pins given the loss of rigidity of the split links.
     
  6. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    It pleases me immensely that amongst all this strangeness, sensible people are out there weighing tank tracks. :)
     
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  7. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

    First things first!
     
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  8. Don Juan

    Don Juan Well-Known Member

    You can find translations of original Soviet test documents, and much else on this site, George:

    Tank Archives

    The IS-2 articles are here:

    Tank Archives: IS-2
     
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  9. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Tagged Mr Samsonov into that Twitter post.
    Deffo a go-to for Russki stuff lately.
     
  10. Don Juan

    Don Juan Well-Known Member

    I checked for that and didn't see it!

    I may be coming down with early symptoms of the ague....
     
  11. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

    Wirklich ganz Famos!
    For these links you´re really a "Don", many thanks
    best regards
    Olli
     
  12. Orwell1984

    Orwell1984 Senior Member

    I've uploaded the 5 pages from Neil Stokes' work:
    [​IMG]
    That deal with KV tracks. Hope they're of use.
     

    Attached Files:

  13. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Nice one.
    'inconclusive', but possible reasons make sense.

    (Realised I never got around to buying that book, so went to have a look.
    Backed away nervously. Think I may just have to list that under 'ones that got away'... :unsure: )
     
    Chris C likes this.
  14. George Blake

    George Blake Member

    Excellent, thank you very much.

    Now to get another 4 bits to complete the set of split links!
     

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