Does anyone own "The Tiger Tank and Allied Intelligence: Capabilities and Performance" by Bruce Newsome?

[Stuart Galbraith]

IIRC, tigers had the ability to fit ice cleats, not grousers.

[alejandro_]

I asked the administrator of panzer-elmito.org and he was able to provide an answer:

The first tracks for the Tiger and Panther consisted of links with a smooth contact surface, and the grip was indeed quite poor, as can be read in various reports on the Tiger:

https://www.panzer-elmito.org/tanques/tiger_i/informes/tiger_i_14_04_1943_E.html

As a quick fix, so-called "Eisstollen" (literally translated as "ice studs") were introduced. Sometimes they were called "Gleitschutzstollen" (anti-slip studs). These studs, which had been used since 1939, were mounted on the links and improved the grip of the track for a short period of time, as they wore out and were lost very quickly (interesting reports on the problems of these studs on Pz-I/II/III/IV:

https://www.panzer-elmito.org/tanques/tiger_i/informes/tiger_i_14_04_1943_E.html
https://www.panzer-elmito.org/panzertruppe/blitzkrieg/informes/5_PzDiv_100140_E.html

With the introduction of the new tracks for the Tiger and Panther, which incorporated anti-slip ribs on the contact surface, the problems of slipping on ice significantly improved. I don't recall seeing these studs used on the Tiger with the improved tracks, but on the Panther they were used until the last winter of the war.

[Stuart Galbraith]

Remarkably, this seems to be one of the few things modellers arent able to get hold of. I read about them somewhere, but I honestly think thats the first photo ive seen of them fitted.

[alejandro_]

35 minutes ago, Stuart Galbraith said:

Remarkably, this seems to be one of the few things modellers arent able to get hold of. I read about them somewhere, but I honestly think thats the first photo ive seen of them fitted.

Me too, I have always come across the "transport" and "field tracks, but I was not aware of this feature. 

[Stuart Galbraith]

I cant remember if it was in the Bruce Culver Tiger 1 book, the Jentz book, or even in the old Squadron profile book I got when I was a kid, but it was certainly written someplace. But as said, nice to see a picture of them at last. Be even nicer to fit them to my Tamiya 1-16 model for when it snows around here.

 

[old_goat]

BTW, did the soviets use ice cleats or something similar on T-34s? The grip of its tracks was atrocious at best.

[Stuart Galbraith]

I had to look it up, which was stupid of me, because I remember glueing them on my last T34 model.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185069934609?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-153316-527457-8&mkcid=2&itemid=185069934609&targetid=4584757337008487&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=431353847&mkgroupid=1298523655396099&rlsatarget=pla-4584757337008487&abcId=9301942&merchantid=87779&msclkid=e96eabad80f61cd246f3cdd3367b1858

 

Edited June 28, 2024 by Stuart Galbraith

[old_goat]

57 minutes ago, Stuart Galbraith said:

I had to look it up, which was stupid of me, because I remember glueing them on my last T34 model.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185069934609?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-153316-527457-8&mkcid=2&itemid=185069934609&targetid=4584757337008487&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=431353847&mkgroupid=1298523655396099&rlsatarget=pla-4584757337008487&abcId=9301942&merchantid=87779&msclkid=e96eabad80f61cd246f3cdd3367b1858

 

Thanks! Very interesting!

BTW, as for ice cleats in Tiger models. I may be wrong, but I think Rye Field Model should include those in their kits. At least I got some in my Panther, and also for Pz III/IV tracks...

[Stuart Galbraith]

Hmm, I bought a book on their models when I was doing up the Tiger, I shall have to have a look through it. Thanks for the thought.