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.
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.
Perhaps of help https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP81-01044R000100070001-4.pdf ENGINEERING ANALYSIS OF THE RUSSIAN T34/85 TANK, 463 pages FOIA | CIA FOIA (foia.cia.gov)
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.
There must have been a cost in terms of increased strain on the track pins given the loss of rigidity of the split links.
It pleases me immensely that amongst all this strangeness, sensible people are out there weighing tank tracks.
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
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'... )