History 14/02/20 Mines “Goliath”: the most useless weapon Hitler
In the classic sense of a military man, the concept of a mine refers to an explosive device disguised in the ground or water, but usually motionless. This view of mine tried to change the Germans during the Second World war, creating an explosive device moving on tracks with a great name “Goliath”.
the Miracle of technology
the First samples of the weapons referred to in military journals as remotely operated wedgies “Goliath” was born in 1939 in the beginning of the Second world war. It should be noted that the plan was initially to use them for a fairly noble purpose: clearance of mined areas. Really, why endanger the life of a soldier with a mine detector when you can send in a minefield remotely manageable wedge heel. The production of this mechanism has instructed the company “Borgward”. Soon, however, the German command decided that the “Goliaths” is much more effective to use in an offensive war. Soon it was decided to change the design of the device, by mounting powerful explosive device, for later use against tanks, self-propelled devices and fortifications of the enemy.
the Infernal machine
it should be noted that the remotely operated wedgies were relatively easy to manufacture, easy to manage, could almost silently approach the object that was required to blow. But, the main thing was that their use significantly save the manpower of the Wehrmacht soldiers. Moved “Goliath” on the tracks, whose drives were propelled by two electric motors. As a payload of a remotely operated wedge carrying batteries and explosives. The back of the case “Goliath” is attached to a coil with three wire cable. During movement of the device he unwound and letYal using a special remote control to control the movement of the “Goliath”. The operator is responsible for guidance of remotely operated wedgies on the target using the three buttons on the control panel easily directed deadly device. When you press right or left button, “Goliath” was turned in the right direction. The Central button is responsible for undermining it. During the Second world war, mass production was adopted two models of Goliath. First of them worked from two batteries “Varta”, which ensured the smooth operation of the device for 40-50 minutes. The second modification of the tank-the torpedo had moved with the aid of the internal combustion engine. Its application allowed not only to significantly increase the time of “Goliath,” but to mount on it explosive device weighing 75 and sometimes 100 lbs. To the front line “Goliaths” were delivered on trucks, but directly on the battlefield moved on special carts, which are “harnessed” two to four soldiers.
the Test battle
However, despite the attractiveness of the idea to use on the battlefield, remote-controlled tankettes, they showed themselves far better. The culprit was the wire, which was ruled by “Goliath”. It can kill, blow up, the wire is continuously entangled in the trees, the shrubs, the fortifications of the enemy. However, during the war, the Germans produced about 7,500 such devices. Remotely operated wedgies “Goliath” was composed of 811-815 th and th armored engineer company, and also 600 motorised engineering battalion of the reserve command “Typhoon”. But in actual battles they were used little. The Soviet soldiers are easily pierced 5-10 mm armor, “Goliaths”, moving at a snail’s pace 10 – 11,5 km/h. Yes, to achieve the purpose of this device was extremely difficult due to the uncomfortable wired device management and complex terrain. Relatively effectively, it was possible to apply the “Goliaths” only at the storming of the fortifications of the enemy at night. However, the high cost of these devices (about 1000 REICHSMARK) and low inefficiency in battle forced the Germans to withdraw them from production.
© Russian Seven
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