The FReeper Foxhole TreadHead Tuesday - German Remote Controlled Demolition Vehicles-Mar 30th, 2004

FUNKLENK PANZERTRUPPEN ^ | AFV NEWS, Sept-Dec. 1986, Volume 21, No.3 | Thomas L. Jentz

[SAMWolf]

Lord,

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.

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...................................................................................... ...........................................

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Funklenk Panzertruppen And
Mine Clearing Vehicles

The German Army, after Poland, realized a need to clear gaps in minefields by a method other than by hand. They looked at using a remote control vehicle. One was developed by the time of the Battle for France in May 1940. This was the Sd Kfz 300 "Minenraumwagen" which weighed 1.5 tons, was radio controlled, and which towed mine detonating rollers. Fifty were made. This was the early version. A "B2" version at 2.3 tons was made and issued to the Minenraum Abteilung 1 (Mine Clearing Battalion would be a rough translation). However, it apparently wasn't deployed in either France in 1940, nor Russia in 1941.



A third vehicle was developed. This was the Sprengladungstrager (Sd Kfz 301) B IV which weighed 3.5 tons and was powered by a 49 horsepower engine. It carried a crew of one and a 500 kg (that's 1100 pounds!) explosive charge. The crewman drove the vehicle to its assembly position for the attack, then dismounted and closed the hatches. The vehicle could then be controlled by radio for a distance of approximately 800-1000 meters. This was half the design range of 2000 meters. The 500 kg charge was on the sloped glacis plate of the vehicle, and could be released by remote control, and the vehicle pulled back before the charge exploded. The main use of the vehicle was against minefields. A B IV would be driven into a minefield and exploded, the over pressure of the explosion setting off all the mines in the immediate area. A second or third or as many B IV as was needed would be moved one at a time past the cleared area to the next part of the minefield, and set-off. This would clear a path through the field. The vehicle could also be used against fixed fortifications and against stationary enemy units.



Control Vehicles: There were three different control vehicles used in Funklenk units (Fkl). They were the Mark III, both 50/L60 and 75/L24 versions (Pz IIIJ-M and Pz IIIN); the StuG IIIG, and the Tiger I.

Organizations and deployment is given below.

Pz Abt (battalion)(Fkl) 300, May 42, was assigned to Heeres Gruppe (H-G) Sud. It had three companies. Total strength was: 7 Pz III/L60, and 15 B IV (each company had 2 Pz III, and 5 B IV). BN HQ has 1 Pz III/L60. In Sep 42 Pz Abt (Fkl) 300 was renumbered Pz Abt (Fkl) 301 and transferred to H-G Nord. It was withdrawn in Dec 42.

Pz Abt (Fkl) 300 was withdrawn to refit in late 1943.

Pz Abt (Fkl) 301 was assigned to H-G Mitte with three new companies, 312, 313, and 314. These units were first employed in July at Kursk. Instead of Pz III they had StuG III, and were short StuG so they had only 1 StuG III model and 5 B IV models per company.

Pz Company (Fkl) 312 was attached to sPz Abt 505 equipped with Tiger I (6 models) and Pz IIIL60 (3 models).

Pz Company (Fkl) 313 was attached to II Abt/sPz Jgr 656 which had 44 Elefants (9 models).

Pz Company (Fkl) 314 was attached to I/Abt/sPz Jag 656 with 45 Elefants (9 models).

Pz Company (Fkl) 311 which missed Kursk went to H-G Sud in August 43 and stayed there until May 1944 when it went back to Germany to refit. It was deployed at full strength so it had 2 StuG III and 5 B IV.

In Aug 43 two new companies (Fkl) were formed, 315 and 316, with StuG III.



By Dec 31 1943 the following units were training in Germany (number of vehicles are models.)

• Pz Abt (Fkl) 301 had 6 StuG III, 15 B IV.
• Pz Companies (Fkl);
  • 311 had 2 StuG III, 5 B IV;
  • 312 had 1 StuG III, 2 B IV;
  • 313 had 2 Pz IIIN, 5 B IV;
  • 314 had 1 StuG III, 2 B IV;
  • 315 and 316 had 2 StuG III and 5 B IV each.

Note: B IV quantity is based on 12 B IV per 5 control vehicles.



In Dec/43 sPz Abt 508 was assigned 313 Company (Fkl). sPz Abt 504 received the 314th Company (Fkl) and Panzer Lehr Division received the 316th Pz Company (Fkl). All three of these Fkl companies were converted to Tiger I control vehicles, prior to transfer (and became the 3rd Tiger Company in the case of the two Tiger battalions).

Each Schwerer Panzer Company "Tiger" (Fkl) had 2 Tiger, 5 B IV (HQ: 2 Tiger, 2 platoons each 4 Tiger and 9 B IV, plus 9 B IV in reserve). Tigers could be either Tiger I or II, although the two companies assigned to the Tiger Abteilung used Tiger I.

sPz Abt 508 was deployed to Anzio, Italy in Feb 44 while sPz Abt 504 went to Italy in June 44. They were pulled out in October 44.



The Panzer Lehr Regiment had its company with it on D-day. It had 1 Tiger I and 2 StuG III as control units. They were pulled out in July to form Pz Abt (Fkl) 302. Panzer Lehr's Fkl company also had 5 Tiger II as control vehicles, these being from the first production batch with the Porsche turrets. They were mechanically unsound and were destroyed when they couldn't be moved back to Germany.

Pz Abt (Fkl) 301 had four companies. Pz Company (Fkl) 312 was added to it and the entire battalion assigned to 2nd Panzer Division in Normandy. Organization of the companies was 2 StuG III and 2 B IV each. There were an additional 3 B IV in reserve. (Actual: 2 StuG III in HQ, 2 platoons each 4 StuG III, 1 251/1, and 12 B IV. 12 B IV in reserve.) Battalion strength would have been: 1 Pz III, 1 251/1 in BN HQ; 8 StuG III and 29 B IV.


Borgward IV Ausf.A captured by the British in Normandy

Pz Abt (Fkl)301 was withdrawn from France and reorganized in Aug/44. It re-equipped with 2 Tiger I in the Abteilung HQ, and three companies each with 10 Tiger I and 36 B IV. SH strength would be 6 Tiger I and 21 B IV's. It was deployed in the Ardennes with H-G B.

Pz Abt (Fkl) 302 was formed in June 44. It had 4 companies formed from the Pz Companies (Fkl) 311, 315, 316, and 317. It went to H-G Mitte on the Eastern Front in Aug 44 with 3 Pz IV, 40 StuG III, and 144 B IV (or SH 1 Pz IV, 8 StuG III, and 29 B IV). It surrendered in East Prussia in 1945.

Pz Company (Fkl) 319 was formed September 44 with 10 StuG III and 36 B IV (SH would be 2 StuG III and 7 B IV). It was in the Ardennes with H-G B.


On the left you can see a photo from "Goliath" on the way to action. Carried on the above mentioned two wheeled trailer, pulled by two soldiers. This photo was taken on operations in Warsaw in 1944.

Late in the war Pz Abt (Fkl) 303 was organized using the 301, 302, and 319 Fkl Pz Companies. On Feb 17 1945 it was issued 31 Pz IV/L48, named Pz Abt "Schlesien" and deployed on the eastern front as a regular tank battalion.

The last Fkl unit formed was Pz Platoon (Fkl) 303 with 4 StuG III and 12 B1V (SH 1 StuG III and 2 B IV). It was attached to the 35th PzGr Div with H-G Mitte.

The overall worth and effectiveness of these Funklenk units in the closing months of the war was minimal.

---

During the invasion of France in 1940, a new mine clearing / destruction of bunkers method was worked out by using a PzKpfw. I Ausf. B fitted with special equipment to place explosive charges instead of sacrificing the entire vehicle. 10 modified PzKpfw. I Ausf. B were used by 1. Panzer Division - Pioniereeinheits 3. Pionierekompanie. One found this very interesting and ordered the development of special purpose vehicle. In October 1941, Borgward was order to develop the B III VK 302 to a schwere ladungsträger - B IV SdKfz. 301 and from the experiences with the B I and B II a leichter ladungsträger Goliath SdKfz. 302.


Sd.Kfz.300 Borgward BII

Known as B IV it was designated by the Waffenamt as Sprengladungsträger (SdKfz. 301). Borgward IV SdKfz. 301 measured 3.65m in length, 1.8m in width and 1.19m in height. It weighed 3.6 tons and used the same engine as VK 302 giving it a maximum speed of 38km/h. It had a one-man crew, which drove the vehicle to the launch spot before engaging the enemy. Thereafter the 8mm protection plates around the driver was folded down to protect the radio and then the vehicle was radio-controlled towards the target. When engaging a 500kg explosive charge carried on the frontal armor plate was offloaded. The vehicle backed away and the explosive charge was set off with delayed detonation. Some 12 experimental vehicles were built in April 1942. Series production began in May 1942 and approx. 616 Borgward IV Ausf. A were built until June 1943, the Ausf. B being built in 260 examples until November 1943 and some 305 Ausf. C were built from December 1943 to September 1944. The Ausf. B only differed a little from Ausf. A, it weighed 400kg more, the radio antennae was moved and the radio-equipment had been improved. Borgward IV Ausf. C weighed 4.85tons, measured 4.1m in length, 1.83m in width and 1.25m in height. It carried thicker armor and used new tracks. The drivers position were moved from right to the left side. It also used a more powerful Borgward engine, providing some 78hp.


Borgward IV Ausf.A

Some 56 Borgward IV were rebuilt to panzerjäger Wanze armed with six 8.8cm Panzerbüchsen 54 and used at the final stages of the war. At least single Borgward IV Ausf. B were rebuilt and tested with rudder, propeller and floating bulbs for swimming purposes. In 1943 single Borgward IV was fitted with a TV-camera with the purpose to sit in the control-tank and watch a simple TV-screen to see how one drove.

Mineräumwagen Sd.kfz.300 Borgward BI und BII


Sd.Kfz.300 Borgward BI

The BI designed in 1939 was a remotely controlled vehicle charged to destroy the mines. It was equipped with a suspension and a belly able to resist to the explosion which it caused. From 1939 to May 1940, 50 Sd.Kfz.300 BI were produced. In April 1940, a new version, the BII was ordered.

Sd.Kfz.300 Borgward BI


Sd.Kfz.300 Borgward BII "Ente" (amphibian version)

The production of 100 specimens was to start in July 1940. The broader BII was propelled by one 6 cylinders. Only two prototypes were delivered and used in Mineraeum-Kompanie. An amphibian version was also produced, known under the name of "Ente" (Duck). Only prototypes were manufactured. BI, never exceeded to it the stage of the tests in Minenraeum-Kompanie. The control of these machines was done starting from Kleiner Panzer Befehlswagen I (Sd.Kfz.265).

Kfz.301 Borgward IV


Borgward IV Ausf.B

During the invasion of France in 1940, PzKpfw. I Ausf. B was equipped with special equipment to place explosive loads. This system made it possible not to sacrifice the whole vehicle. In October 1941, Borgward accepted the order to develop a vehicle layer of loads using this kind of equipment.


Borgward IV Ausf.C

Borgward IV or Sprengladungsträger (SdKfz. 301) was 3.65 m long, 1.8 m broad and 1.19 m in height. The machine weighed 3.6 tons and was equipped with the same engine as the VK 302, which allowed it a maximum speed of 38 km/h. Borgward IV was controlled to the zone of operation by a pilot. However the vehicle was generally controlled remotely to reach its target, the plates of 8 mm around the driver were then folded up downwards to protect the radio. Borgward IV could transport one explosive load of 500 kg. The delayed detonation made it possibleto the vehicle to be escape at good distance. Approximately 12 experimental vehicles were built in April 1942 and the series production began in May 1942. On the whole, 616 Borgward IV Ausf.A (until June 1943), 260 Ausf.B (until November 1943) and some 305 Ausf.C (from December 1943 to September 1944) were built. Ausf.B weighed 400 kg of more than Ausf.A and the radio antennas laid out differently whereas the radio station was improved. Borgward IV Ausf.C A weighed 4.85 tons, measured 4.1m of length, 1.83 m broad and 1.25 m in height. The shielding of Ausf.C was thicker and it was equipped with new tracks. On Ausf.C the station of driver was placed on the left. This version was also equipped with a more powerful engine developing 78 hp.

Approximately 56 Borgwards IV were converted by the panzerjäger Wanze. These conversions were armed with 6 X 8.8 cm Panzerbüchsen 54 and and were used at the end of the war. Borgward IV Ausf. B amphibious was also tested, it was equipped with buoy and a propeller. In 1943 experimental Borgward IV was equipped with a camera-video to make it possible to the pilot via a screen to better direct remotly its vehicle.


Sd.Kfz.304 Springer

Borgwards were versed in Funklenk units. They were employed at the origin with of Pz.Kpfw. III 5 cm then later with of Pz.Kpfw III Ausf.N 7.5 cm. Panzers III were replaced later by of StuG III Ausf. F/G. After 1943, Borgwards IV were used in the schwere Pz.Abteilungen with the Tigers (14 Tigers and 45 Borgwards IV).

Mittlere Ladungsträger "Springer" Sd.Kfz.304


Sd.Kfz.304 Springer

Springer was created to replace Goliath and Borgward IV. Product by NSU, it included many equipment (running gear, engine...) of Kleines Kettenkraftrad Sd.Kfz.2. From October 1944 at February 1945, 50 specimens only were built. The machine was operated by a man to the target zone, there it left its vehicle and directed it using radio equipment. One thought to use Springer as a basis for Kleinpanzer Wanze armed with 105 mm IG (without recoil).

Alkett Räumgerät


Alkett Raümgerät

This design was carried out by Alkett, Krupp and Mercedes-Benz and its construction finished in 1942. The body of this strange machine built on the mounting of a heavy gun with a cabin including the compartment of combat, the engine compartment and which was surmounted by a turret of Panzer I (2 MG34). The shielding varied from 20 to 40 mm on the body of the machine. The lower part to be able to resist to the mines was of 80 mm. The direction was done using the small wheel located at the back, two larger wheels supplemented the suspension. The steel wheels were provided with steel shoes similar to those used by the German heavy guns at the time of the First World War. The wheels come from Caterpillar trucks. They were in theory to resist the explosive loads of the mines. The test showed that its low speed and its imposing size made a target of choice of it.


Alkett Raümgerät

The losses incurred in the rows of the panzers by the Soviet mines are at the origin of the development of such a machine. Its role was to consist to open a way in the minefields for the panzers. It proved quickly that reconverted ordinary tanks were much more practical and this AFV (Armored Fighting Vehicle) was abandoned. 10 of these German AFV were discovered by the Russians at Kummersdorf in 1945. In 1947, the Russians tested them, but the tests were distorted by the deplorable state of the mechanics of the machines.

Krupp Raumer S (Selbstrantrieb) Schwerer Mineräumfahrzeug


Krupp Raumer S

In 1944, Krupp constructed the prototype of a super heavy mines destroyer. This monster of 130 t was articulated in its center, and was suspended on 4 wheels out of steel of 2.7m covered with shoes. Each part of Raümer S was propelled by Maybach HL90. The prototype of Räumer S was captured at the end of the war by the U.S. Army.

Thanks to FReeper Colonel_Flagg for the idea and research on this thread

[SAMWolf]

Light demolition carrier "Goliath"

(Sd.Kfz.302/303a/303b)



In the year 1940 a small demolition carrier, which was developed by the french manufacturer Kegresse, was sunk in the Seine and recovered by the germans, who explored it detailed. Already in November 1940 the order to develop a small, remote controlled, fully tracked vehicle, which should carry at least 50kg of explosives, was given to Borgward. The idea behind that was to destroy enemy bunkers, fortified positions and even tanks from a safe distance with the help of this vehicle. Because the explosive charge was fixed to the vehicle, the whole vehicle was blown up at the target. It was intended to look like that enemy positions were discovered, then engineers, sitting in secure position, drove "Goliath" with remote control to the enemy and there the "Goliath" was blown up.

The prototype got four large wheels and was driven by two electric-motors, which were fed by two batteries. The production vehicle then got smaller roadwheels, fixed to leaf-springs, what led to two enough space between the tracks for battery-carrying sponsons on each side. That brought more space for the explosive charge, which was now 60kg! The track was guided above the sponsons by three return rollers and the idler wheel was made as disc-type, which all can be seen on the next picture.



So this was the "leichter Ladungsträger" (light demolition carrier) Sd.Kfz.302 - E-Motor (Electric engine) or even known as "Gerät 67". From April 1942 to January 1944 the manufacturers Borward and Zündapp produced 2650 of this type. It was propelled by two Bosch MM/RQL 2500/24 RL2 electric-motors, each giving 2.5kW. Two batteries gave the energy for the motors. With the overall weight of 370kg a maximum speed of 10kph could be achieved. The driving-range was about 1.5km on streets and 800m cross country. For longer transports there was a two wheeled trailer, on which "Goliath" was brought to the battle zone. At the rear of the vehicle the drum, which carried the wire, was located. It was a three strand wire, where two strands were for driving the vehicle and one for detonating the charge. The "Goliath" was 1.5m long, 0.85m wide, 0.56m high and the hull was made of 5mm steel. The tracks were 16cm wide and made of 48 links each. With a ground clearance of 11.4cm and a track ground contact length of 73cm it was enabled to cross trenches of 60cm width.


Disabled German remote controlled "Goliaths" (filled with explosives) being examined by 2d NBB personnel, Utah Beach, June 6-7, 1944

The first "Goliath" E-Motor vehicles were given to Panzerpionierkompanien (Goliath) 811-815, which belong to Heerespionierbataillon(mot) zbV600 (Taifun). Also the Pioniersturmbrigade 627 got some of the first "Goliath". Only a few "Goliath" E-Motor came into action, because the charge was too small to make big success and also the price of a Sd.Kfz.302 was about 3000,-RM (Reichsmark), which was expensive and was one of the main reasons to discontinue the production by January 1944 and to speed up the development of a cheaper carrier with a combustion engine. in March 1945 there were 2527 Sd.Kfz.302 ready for action, what shows that the use of this vehicle was very little.

As said before the "Goliath" should become better and cheaper. Already in November 1942 a demolition carrier was demanded, which could carry bigger charges over longer distances. The manufacturers Zündapp and Zachertz built a successor with the base of a "Goliath", which got a combustion engine. The designation was "Leichter Ladungsträger (V-Motor)", "Goliath", Sd.Kfz.303a respectively Sd.Kfz.303b or "Gerät 671" respectively "Gerät 672".

The first version (Sd.Kfz.303a / Gerät 671) was built from April 1943 to September 1944 in a number of 4604. This vehicle could carry a 75kg charge. A Zündapp SZ7 two cylinder, two-stroke-engine with 703cm³ gave 12.5bhp and speeded the 370kg heavy vehicle to 10kph. The petrol tank, located at the rear, contained 6 litre, so the maximum range of 12km on streets or 6-8km cross-country was given. The hull was made of 10mm steel and the vehicle hat a length of 1.62m, a width of 0.84m and a heigth of 0.6m. In contast to the electric-motor version, this version got a new designed spoked idler, only two return rollers, a raised air-intake cowl on hull top and the roadwheels were suspended by swingarms and coil springs. The tracks weighted 25.5kg and were made of 48 links each.

Of the following version Sd.Kfz.303b / Gerät 672 were 325 produced from November 1944 on. This version now could carry a 100kg charge and can be distinguished from version "a" by the dimensions. The length now was 1.63m, the width 0.91m and the height 0.62m. Despite of increased weight of 430kg it could achive a speed of 11.5kph with the same engine. The other technical data is the same as for Sd.kfz.303a.

The sponsons on each side carried now two batteries, the control unit and air filters. At the front of the hullt the charge was placed, while the engine was in the middle compartment. At the rear the wire-drum, which carried 650m of wire, was placed as well as the petrol tank as mentioned before. The ground clearance was 16.8cm which allowed a wade depth of 22cm. The trench crossing abilty of the Sd.Kfz.303a was 85cm and of Sd.Kfz.303b even 1.00m. The grade climbing ability was 70°.


Trailer for carrying the German "Goliath" Sd.Kfz. 302 Sprengpanzer

To produce a "Goliath V-Motor" about 542kg of unalloyed and 10kg alloyed iron was needed. The price of this type of "Goliath" was only 1000,-RM, which was more cheap than the "Goliath" with electric motor. Nevertheless this version also wasn't very successful und also not often used in combat. Of all, nearly 5000 produced Sd.Kfz.303, were 3797 still waiting for action in January 1945!

[SAMWolf]

Borgward B IV Ausführung mit Raketenpanzerbüchse 54

The last battle of the schwere Ladungsträger SdKfz. 301 Borgward IV was as the conversion, known as Wanze (Borgward B IV Ausführung mit Raketenpanzerbüchse 54), armed with a battery consisting of six 8.8cm Raketenpanzerbüchse 54/1. This was undoubtly one of the characteristic vehicles created by combination of new arms with already existing chassis. This resulted in more or less exotic "interim solution" vehicles, created by the desperate situation and the lack of resources Germany suffered from in early 1945. Wanze was clearly an "interim solution" vehicle, built for the remaining ill-equipped troops of the German army. The basis for developing such vehicle was a small and easy maneuvered panzerjäger which were to be issued to the troops defending industrial areas and cities classified by Hitler as "festungs" - fortresses. These were to be sent out against the never stopping masses of enemy armor advancing towards Berlin in the last months of the war. There was always a shortage of running panzerjägers, e.g in February of 1945 the kommandant of Festung Breslau (Wroclaw) had only single Jagdpanzer IV, eight StuG IIIs and few PzKpfw IIs in his first kompanie der Panzerjäger Abteilung Breslau. The second, third and forth companies were exclusively equipped with Panzerschreck and Panzerfausts.


Probably SdKfz.301 Borgward IV Ausf. C Wanze, abandoned near Brandenburger Tor, Berlin, 1945.

The Raketenpanzerbüchse 54/1 was a 8.8cm recoiless rocket launcher and with its 3.3kg rocket, it was able to penetrate 220mm of armour up to 200 meters. As bombed out and shreded buildings often blocked streets and thereby made movement very difficult, sometimes not even PaK guns could be brought up where the enemy threatened to breakthrough, the only effective weapons carried by the infantry were panzerschrecks and panzerfausts. Movement, however was not quicker than the infantry would move, and something had to be done. Standard automobiles were rebuilt with benches for the infantry and captured Universal Carriers were fitted with three panzerschrecks mounted over the engine compartment.

In February / March of 1945, it was realized that one needed a light panzerjäger, but the production of a new vehicle was not an option. One mounted six Raketenpanzerbüchse 54 to one unit and ordered this to be mounted on a wheeled or tracked vehicle. This vehicle were from a protective position to point its turnable battery on the target and then fire all six rockets simultainously. The VW Kübelwagen was a good alternative and was eventually chosen as the wheeled vehicle, although selecting a tracked vehicle was more difficult. At first one tried to adopt the PzKpfw. I, which at the time either stood in depots worn down, or used as Fahrschulausbildungspanzer. Also, Renault UE(f) were tested, they had previously been rebuilt as Munitionsschleppers.


Captured Wanze in use by the Russians in Berlin, 1945.

The vehicle that was available in sufficient numbers and in such condition that a reconstruction could be considered was the schwere Ladungsträger SdKfz. 301 Borgward IV Ausf. C. Including the Ausf. A and B, there were some 318 held in reserve plus another 79 vehicles serving in combat units as of January of 1945. (They were built as offensive weapons, not really of any good use in the defensive battles of 1944/45). The SdKfz. 301 Borgward IV was accepted, and approx. 56 were rebuilt to Panzerjäger Wanze. The vehicles were rebuilt in slightly different ways. In Borgward IV Ausf. B, one built in an extra seat for the gunner to the left of the driver, protected by an armored plate in the front. The rocket unit was then mounted to the left of the gunner. This rocket unit could be turned by the gunner through a shoulder support. On the rocket barrels a plate was attached to protect the gunner from shrapnel whirled up by the rockets when fired. Ausf. Cs were rebuilt in the same manner, with the exception for the driver being seated to the extreme left.

All Wanzes had three smoke dischargers attached to their front plates, and these played an important roll when attacking as the panzerjägers first rolled out from their hide-outs eg. a street corner to get a free line of fire and then quickly targeting and firing at the enemy and finally retreat whereby the smoke grenades were launched in order to protect the vehicle and hide its movement phase. Well back in protection, one could reload everything for a new action. In April of 1945, a panzerjäger-versuchs abteilung fighting was in Berlin. Its equipment consisted partially of VW Kübelwagen and Borgward IV equipped with Raketenpanzerbüchse 54/1. Any larger massed operation were never made. There is photo evidence of abandoned Borgward IV in the area held by 11. SS Freiwilligen Panzergrenadierdivision "Nordland" in central Berlin. In Wilmersdorf, there were VW Kübelwagen with Raketenpanzerbüchsen in combat with enemy armor of the Soviet 9th Mechanized Regiment and caused some casualties. After that, the traces of an "interim soultion" disappear in the mess of shot up vehicles in the rubbles of Berlin, where after some time everything was cleaned up and scrapped. Even though, Soviet special units were looking for new technical solutions, the only evidence of a follow-up is the American M-50 "Ontos", armed with 6 recoiless rocket launchers and issued to the USMC in 1955, who used it in the early stages of the Vietnam war.

Additional Sources:

www.strange-mecha.com
mythicpanzers.jexiste.fr
ww2photo.mimerswell.com
wilk.wpk.p.lodz.p
www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/1167
users.skynet.be

[SAMWolf]

Photo of the construction of a "Goliath (V-Motor)":

1. wire-drum carrying 650m three-stranded control-wire
2. Petrol-tank for combustion engine containing 6 liter petrol
3. 2-cylinder two-stroke combustion engine with 703cm³.
4. engine cooling ventilator; air supply through air-intake cowl on hull top.
5. room for explosive charge 75kg / 100kg
   
   

   ---

   
   Sdkfz.302 Goliath (E-Motor)
   
   
   
   Type : Expendable Remote-Controlled Tracked Demolition Charge
   Length : 1.5m
   Width : 0.85m
   Hight : 0.56m
   Weight : 370Kg
   Engine : Bosch MM/RQL Electric Motor (2.5Kw) X 2
   Max Speed : 10Km/h
   Range : 1.5Km
   Armament : 60Kg explosive charge
   

[SAMWolf]

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[archy]

The first version (Sd.Kfz.303a / Gerät 671) was built from April 1943 to September 1944 in a number of 4604. This vehicle could carry a 75kg charge. A Zündapp SZ7 two cylinder, two-stroke-engine with 703cm³ gave 12.5bhp and speeded the 370kg heavy vehicle to 10kph.

A 700-cc. 2-cycle engine? Wow. I can't think of but a couple of 500-cc 2-stroke twin motorbikes. I wonder if that engine was air-cooled ot liquid.

[The Mayor]

Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, . . . for I have not found your works perfect before God. —Revelation 3:2

To keep your heart from growing cold, stay on fire for God.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Thanks for the plug, Sam, but you're far too kind. You did the heavy lifting on this thread as you always do. Wonderful work on a subject I think not too many people know about.

Hope you're having a great day!

[Samwise]

I hope Hubby doesn't see this thread. We have enough RC airplanes in the garage. I certainly don't want him to build a tank. :^)

[Samwise]

G'morning, bentfeather!

[CholeraJoe]

Morning Sam and snippy. I've been offline for about a week due to heavy travel and computer problems. Just catching up on foxhole threads. Great threads on Higgins and McAuliffe.

[U S Army EOD]

That would be an interesting item to disarm. Just think off all the money you could make selling inert items to other units for souvenirs.

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning Samwise.

[Valin]

On This Day In History


Birthdates which occurred on March 30:
1135 Maimonides [Moses Ben Maimon] Còrodoba Spain, philosopher/physician
1432 Mehmed II [Fâtih] Sultan of Turkey (1451-81)
1672 Peter I "the Great" Romanov great tsar of Russia (1682-1725)
1674 Jethro Tull agricultural writer (Basildon), baptised
1719 Sir John Hawkins England, wrote 1st history of music
1746 Francisco Jose de Goya Fuendetodos Spain, painter/etcher (Naked Maja)
1790 Joseph Smith Rear Admiral (Union Navy), died in 1877
1804 Salomon Sulzer composer
1823 Joseph Farmer Knipe Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1901
1824 Innis Newton Palmer Brevet Major General (Union volunteers)
1825 Samuel Bell Maxey Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1895
1836 Karl Freiherr von Stumm-Halberg German industrialist/politician
1842 John Fiske [Edmund Fisk Green] US historian/philosopher
1853 Vincent van Gogh Zundert Netherlands, artist who always lent an ear (Irises)
1880 Sean O'Casey Ireland, playwright (Playboy of the Western World)
1886 Stanislaw Lesniewski Poland, logician/mathematician
1888 Anna Q Nilsson Ystad Sweden, actress (Shenandoah, Uncle Tom's Cabin)
1894 Sergei Ilyushin Russian airplane builder (Ilyushin)
1913 Frankie Laine [Frank Paul LoVecchio] Chicago IL, singer (Hey, Good Lookin', That's My Desire)/ actor (Frankie Laine Show, Rawhide)
1913 Richard Helms CIA head (1966-73)
1914 Sonny Boy Williamson [John Lee] blues musician (Down & Out Blues)
1919 McGeorge Bundy Boston MA, national security adviser under JFK
1926 Ray McAnally Buncrana County Donegal Ireland, actor (My Left Foot, Empire State, Sicilian)
1930 David Staple joint president (Council of Churches for Britain & Ireland)
1930 Peter Marshall [Pierre LaCock] Huntington Long Island NY, TV game show host (Hollywood Squares)
1931 Aleksey Vasilyevich Sorokin Russian cosmonaut
1937 Warren Beatty Richmond VA, actor (Bonnie & Clyde,Shampoo, Dick Tracy)
1940 Astrud Gilberto Brazil, singer (Girl From Ipanema)
1940 Jerry Lucas Middletown OH, NBA center (New York Knicks, NBA rookie of year 1964, Olympics-gold-60)
1945 Eric Clapton [Eric Patrick Clapp] Ripley England, legendary guitarist/singer (Yardbirds, Cream, Tears in Heaven)
1948 Dave Ball rocker (Procul Harum)
1948 Jim Dandy Mangrum vocalist (Black Oak Arkansas-Jim Dandy)
1957 Yelena Vladimirovna Kondakova Russian cosmonaut (Soyuz TM 20, STS 84)
1962 M C Hammer [Stanley Kirk Burrell] Oakland CA, rapper (U Can't Touch This)
1964 Tracy Chapman US singer/songwriter (Freedom Now, I Got a Fast Car)
1968 Celine Dion Québec Canada, singer (I'm Your Woman)
1970 Secreteriat race horse, triple crown (1973)
1973 Caroline Ramagos Miss Mississippi-USA (1996)

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Deaths which occurred on March 30:
0988 Arnulf II count of Flanders (965-988), dies
1202 Joachim Van Fiore Italian religious founder (Joachimism), dies
1547 François I of Valois-Angoulême King of France (1515-47), dies at 52
1840 George (Beau) Brummell Dandy, dies
1873 Benedict Augustin Morel psychologist (dementia praecox), dies at 63
1910 Jean Moréas [Y Papadiamantopoulos], Greek/French poet, dies at 53
1926 Feliks E Dzerzjinski Lithuanian organizer (KGB), dies at 48
1948 Mahatma Gandhi assassinated in New Delhi
1950 Léon Blum French premier (People's Front Govt), dies at 77
1961 P J Melotte discovered Jupiter's 8th satellite Pasiphae, dies
1966 Maxfield Parrish US painter, dies at 95
1979 Airey Neave British MP (Conservatives), killed by terrorist bomb
1981 Dewitt Wallace US founder (Reader's Digest), dies at 91
1986 James F Cagney actor (Public Enemy, Angels With Dirty Faces, Yankee Doodle Dandy), dies at his Stanfordville NY farm at 86
1994 Albert Goldman rock biographer (Elvis, John Lennon), dies at 66
2004 Alister Cook journalist (Letters from America)

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Reported: MISSING in ACTION

1968 CICHON WALTER A.---FARMINGDALE NJ.
1969 LATIMER CLARENCE A.---DUE WEST SC.
1972 CROSBY BRUCE A. JR.---SPRINGVILLE NY.
1972 FINCH MELVIN W.---FORT BELVIOR VA.
[DIED QUANG BINH SEP 72 REMAINS RECOVERED 08/14/85]
1972 WESTCOTT GARY P.---POMONA CA.

POW / MIA Data & Bios supplied by
the P.O.W. NETWORK. Skidmore, MO. USA.

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On this day...
0239 -BC- 1st recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet
0804 Liudger becomes 1st bishop of Münster
1282 Furious inhabitants of Palermo attack French occupation force
1456 Prince Louis of Bourbon elected bishop of Liege
1492 King Ferdinand & Queen Isabella sign decree expelling Jews from Spain
1533 Henry VIII divorces his 1st wife, Catherine of Aragon
1533 Thomas Cranmer becomes archbishop of Canterbury
1603 Battle at Mellifont: English army under Lord Mountjoy beats Irish
1814 Britain & allies march into Paris after defeating Napoleon
1822 Congress combined East & West Florida into Florida Territory
1842 Ether was used as an anaesthetic for 1st time by Dr Crawford Long (Jefferson GA)
1856 Russia signs Peace of Paris, ending the Crimean War
1858 Pencil with attached eraser patented (Hyman L Lipman of Philadelphia)
1864 Skirmish at Mount Elba AR
1865 Battle at 5 Forks Virginia
1867 US purchases Alaska from Russia for $7,200,000 (2¢ an acre-Seward's Folly)
1870 15th Amendment passes, guarantees right to vote regardless of race
1870 Texas becomes last confederate state readmitted to Union
1889 John T Reid opens 1st US golf course (Yonkers NY)
1912 French protectorate in Morocco established
1919 Gandhi announces resistance against Rowlatt Act
1925 Stalin supports rights of non-Serbian Yugoslavians
1932 Amelia Earhart is 1st woman to fly solo cross the Atlantic
1935 Newfoundland changes time to 3½ hours W of Greenwich, repeats 44 seconds
1942 1st RSHA-transport from France arrives in camp Birkenau
1942 SS murders 200 inmates of Trawniki labor camp
1945 289 anti-fascists murdered by Nazis in Rombergpark Dortmund
1950 Phototransistor invention announced, Murray Hill NJ
1953 Einstein announces revised unified field theory
1961 NASA civilian pilot Joseph A Walker takes X-15 169,600' (51,690 meter)
1963 France performs underground nuclear test at Ecker Algeria
1964 Astronaut John Glenn withdraws from Ohio senate race
1966 Barbra Streisand stars on "Color Me Barbra" special on CBS
1967 Cover picture of Beatles' "Sergeant Pepper" is photographed
1970 Miles Davis Bitches Brew released
1973 Ellsworth Bunker resigns as US ambassador to South Vietnam

1981 President Reagan shot & wounded by John W Hinckley Jr

1984 US ends participation in multinational Lebanon peace force
1987 Vincent van Gogh's "Sunflowers" sells for record £22.5M ($39.7 million)
1990 Jack Nicklaus made his debut in the "Seniors" golf tournament
1991 William Kennedy Smith allegedly rapes a woman (found not guilty)

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Holidays
Note: Some Holidays are only applicable on a given "day of the week"

Alaska : Seward Day (1867) (Monday)
US Virgin Island : Transfer Day (1917) (Monday)
US : Starry Night
National Feminine Empowerment Month

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Religious Observances
Roman Catholic : Commemoration of St Leonard Murialdo, Italian priest/educator

---

Religious History
1135 Birth of Moses Maimonides, medieval Jewish scholar. Considered the foremost Talmudist of the Middle Ages, his most important writing was "Guide to the Perplexed" (1190), in which he tried to harmonize Rabbinic Judaism with the increasingly popular Aristotelianism of his day.
1492 The Jews were expelled from Spain by Inquisitor_General Tom's Torquemada (Spanish Inquisition).
1771 English founder of Methodism John Wesley wrote in a letter: 'Suffer all, and conquer all.'
1863 Ownership of Wilberforce University in Ohio was transferred to the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The school had been founded seven years earlier by the Methodist Episcopal Church.
1917 All imperial lands, as well as lands belonging to monasteries, were confiscated by the Russian provisional government.

Source: William D. Blake. ALMANAC OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1987.

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Thought for the day :
"Consciousness: That annoying time between naps"

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Newspaper Headlines in the Year 2035...
Authentic year 2000 "chad" sells at Sotheby's for $4.6 million.

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New State Slogans...
Wisconsin: Come Cut The Cheese

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Female Language Patterns...
I heard a noise REALLY MEANS,
I noticed you were almost asleep.

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Male Language Patterns...
"I do help around the house," REALLY MEANS,
"I once threw a dirty towel near the laundry basket."

[stand watie]

MPs don't have tanks, BUT we do sometimes have ARMORED cars & GUNtrucks!

so a V-100 BUMP to all!

free dixie,sw

[Professional Engineer]

Cool, RC tanks!