|
|
|||||||
| Notices |
| Land Warfare Armor, semi-tracked vehicles, soft skinned vehicles, artillery and specialty heavy weapons |
 |
|
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools |
May 16th, 2008, 10:35 PM
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
Schwimmwagen
Literally "floating/swimming car" designed and built by VW in two models, 128 and 166. These amphibious, four wheel drive, off road vehicles were very useful on the Eastern Front, especially during the twice annual mud seasons, but also for crossing streams and off road terrain.
__________________
You must be the change you wish to see in the world. Mohandas K Gandhi     
|
| Sponsored Links |
|
May 16th, 2008, 10:48 PM
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
Re: Schwimmwagen
hwrd1456.jpg Soldiers of the 100th Infantry Battalion of the 442nd RCT in a captured Scwimmwagen, July 1944, Castellina Sector, Italy.
__________________
You must be the change you wish to see in the world. Mohandas K Gandhi
|
|
May 19th, 2008, 07:49 PM
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
Re: Schwimmwagen
I saw a model of that, and was amazed. I had never seen a picture or model of that before. Honestly, it kinda looks like a clown car!
__________________
"The Golden Rule of War, Speed - Simplicity - Boldness" "YOU ARE NOT BEATEN UNTIL YOU ADMIT IT. HENCE, DON'T..." -- General George S. Patton, Jr
|
|
May 19th, 2008, 08:02 PM
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
Re: Schwimmwagen
A guy at a reenactment had a real one. No, it doesn't look like a real car, but I'd like one!
|
|
May 19th, 2008, 08:32 PM
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
Re: Schwimmwagen
Good Heaven's....how on earth do you scrounge something like that up!?? I mean, were that many of them around after the war?
__________________
"The Golden Rule of War, Speed - Simplicity - Boldness" "YOU ARE NOT BEATEN UNTIL YOU ADMIT IT. HENCE, DON'T..." -- General George S. Patton, Jr
|
|
May 19th, 2008, 11:02 PM
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
Re: Schwimmwagen
I have a couple more. These are brand new VW-Schwimmwagen. These photos are from June 1944 after Army Group South had been pushed back into Romania. The "Totenkopf" Division was supplied with new vehicles and are training in the Carpathians. Note in the second photo that the tires on the first and second vehicles are different in width and design. By this point in the war, Germany was suffering from a severe lack of raw materials. Multiple manufacturers made standardization difficult at best.
tot-schwimmwagen-carpathians-6-44.jpg tot-schwimmwagen-carpathians2-6-44.jpg
__________________
You must be the change you wish to see in the world. Mohandas K Gandhi
|
|
May 20th, 2008, 06:08 PM
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
Re: Schwimmwagen
I noted that you mention they are 4-whele drive.....how did they actually fare in mud? Did they really have good pulling power in the kind of mud faced on the Eastern Front? And what was it's primamry function...recce?
I am finding this an extremely interesting vehicle!
__________________
"The Golden Rule of War, Speed - Simplicity - Boldness" "YOU ARE NOT BEATEN UNTIL YOU ADMIT IT. HENCE, DON'T..." -- General George S. Patton, Jr
|
|
May 20th, 2008, 11:42 PM
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
Re: Schwimmwagen
It was a pretty capable vehicle and was used for mechanized infantry I think. Look at the photos above.
Here is a photo of the propeller, which could be engaged to cross deeper water: VW_Schwimmwagen_3.jpg As you can see it can be folded up when not in use.
__________________
You must be the change you wish to see in the world. Mohandas K Gandhi
|
|
May 23rd, 2008, 06:54 PM
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
Re: Schwimmwagen
Awesome pics, Jim O!
__________________
Battles are dangerous affairs... Wang Hsi
|
|
May 24th, 2008, 10:28 PM
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
Re: Schwimmwagen
That's so cool...I love the simplicity of it's design.
__________________
"The Golden Rule of War, Speed - Simplicity - Boldness" "YOU ARE NOT BEATEN UNTIL YOU ADMIT IT. HENCE, DON'T..." -- General George S. Patton, Jr
|
|
| Bookmarks |
| Thread Tools | |
|
|
Similar Threads
|
||||
| Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
| Shige's Schwimmwagen | razorboy | Master's Showcase | 5 | April 7th, 2008 07:11 PM |
