Dead tracks vs live tracks

Like many tank tracks, those on the Panther tank were made up of interlocking steel track links connected by steel pins, which did not have bushings. Tank tracks connected by steel pins without bushings are referred to as “dead track.” Tank tracks held together with steel pins covered by rubber bushings are called live track. The Sherman tank employed live tracks and the Russian T-34 tank series used dead tracks.

The big advantage of dead track is that it is easier to repair. Torsional stiffness of the cast steel track with steel track pins was also a plus when it came to track retention in comparison to more resilient rubber bushed tracks that were often used by the Sherman tank. Sherman tanks also used all steel tracks.

The tracks on each side of the Panther tank were made up of 86 individual track links weighing 46 lbs (21 kg) each and were 26 inches (66 cm) wide. The tracks on the Panzer IV medium tank were 16 inches (41 cm) wide while the combat tracks on the Tiger Ausf. E heavy tank were 28.5 inches (72 cm) wide and 32 inches (81 cm) wide on the Tiger Ausf. B heavy tank. The tracks on the first-generation Sherman tank were only 17 inches (43 cm) wide. The second-generation Sherman tank had tracks that were 23 inches (58 cm) wide. The tracks on the T-34 tank series were 20 inches (51 cm) wide.

[…]

Ice cleats could be attached to the center of every fifth or seventh track link on the Panther tank for operating on ice and snow. When the ice cleats were fitted to a Panther tank’s tracks, the vehicle could not be driven at speeds greater than 9 mph (15 kph). Panther tanks were supposed to be equipped with forty individual ice cleats each weighing about 9 lbs (4kg).

Extrait de: Panther: Germany’s Quest for Combat Dominance, p. 217-218

Couleurs

De quelles couleurs étaient les chenilles des chars de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale? Étaient-elles toutes noires? Pouvaient-elles vraiment rouiller? Les surfaces cognant sur le sol révèlaient-elles un brillant gris métallique?

The base colour of armour plate and cast armour was always a dark metallic brown: it could not possibly be otherwise. The only variation was that face-hardened plate and castings were somewhat darker than rolled homogeneous plate (RHA), the latter being much preferred by Germany. It did not (and could not possibly) wear to a silvery colour, but did develop a polished sheen from wear. Because of the other elements in the alloy it did not rust readily and I applaud you for not being tempted to spatter it with rust spots or rusty areas. Mild steel fittings and other parts would rust of course, and cause rust runs down the paint, and would wear to a bright metal colour. The sheen on worn armour plate and track naturally catches the light in photos and this glint is commonly mistaken for it being a bright colour. And many people assume that all steel is inherently a silvery colour.

German tracks all had a manganese content, decreasing as the war progressed. This means they were never and could never be bright silvery metal or graphite/metallic grey, even on the wear points. Their native colour was initially a mid metallic goldy-brown, but by later in the war this had become a somewhat browner colour as the manganese content decreased. Again they developed a polished sheen in use but this was not silvery or graphite in colour. The same is true for the guide horns and wear areas on the inside faces. There isn’t an easy match for that colour that I have found thus far Manganese tracks also did not rust easily, because of their inherent corrosion-inhibiting properties. Initially their oxide was a mid grey-brown, later changing to a very dark brown. Orange and red tones of rust would not be seen. Shiny silver mild steel tracks would be a complete waste of time and have an incredibly short life, which is why no-one used them.

Source: Das Abteilung, britmodeller.com

Bibliographie

• GREEN, Michael & Gladys (2012) Panther Germany’s Quest for Combat Dominance. Osprey, 289 p.

Webographie

• The correct colour of WWI tank tracks (2022-01) forums.kitmaker.net [forum]
• Painting tank tracks (2021-04) forums.kitmaker.net [forum]
• WW2 german track colour (2018) britmodeller.com [forum]