What's With the Logs on Soviet Tanks? | Koala Explains: Tanks - Tracks and Traction
2020 ж. 11 Жел.
2 127 911 Рет қаралды
Tracks allow tanks to make short work of even harsh terrain, by spreading out the vehicle's weight evenly over a wider surface area. However, sometimes even these tracked all terrain fighting vehicles can get bogged. The Soviet Union came up with a very simple, rudimentary way of dealing with this issue...
═════════════════════════════════
◄► Support the channel on Patreon!
/ armorcast
═════════════════════════════════
◄► Koala's Channel
/ thescottishkoala
◄► Twitter!
/ sc0ttishkoala
◄► Merch!
teespring.com/stores/thearmory
Unfortunately it's not a cheap spoiler for extra speed...
Soviets use the log as a status symbol.
What if the R3 would get a spoiler? :P
Downforce drift bmp
I thought it was environmental friendly era
The Log Is Clearly More Armor And a Symbol of Status
Soviet engineers: "Sometimes my genius is almost frightening"
*log smashes bmp commander viewport
I came here specifically for that reference
@@AdelantadoCL BMP Driver: Oh MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!
272 likes and still underrated comment. Deserves more.
Perfect when you get your tank stuck in the South American jungle mud ;)
The Log is camouflage, makes the enemy think its a mobile forest.
You see Ivan, when put wood on tank you need no worry: enemy not know if you tank or forest
why did i read this in a russian accent xd
@@olekzajac5948 you see ivan, when you put log on tank and then go submarine hunting the enemy will have no idea how to attack us. and will never know what hit them as thre are no forests underwater
make them uncertain if it's babushka's house, or your tank.
@@m.m.124 lol
Actually, tank crews were told that they must keep a log, but they were too lazy to write down stuff like fuel, oil and ammo expenditures, maintenance, etc, every single day. Too boring. This is how they got around the regulations. Soldier's ingenuity!
It's upsetting how long it took me to get this...
Just don't use the Captains log.
I had to read this two and a half times before I understood. I am a stupie boi. You, however, are clever! xD
so basicly, they're log in or log out?
🤣👍
"Help me step tank, I am stuck" "Don't worry, my huge log can help you"
That sounds sus
pepescoots
NATO: we have specialised armoured recovery vehicles to rescue our vehicles in difficult terrain Russia: *sticc*
Simple and effective
Very simple and ergonomic. And Economicaly cheap. Well done Russia.
@@doctorchaotic3415 it also faster.
But who will rescue the recovery vehicle when it gets stuck?
@@trololoev and easily replaceable
My fish tank doesn't have tracks, so it's actually a fish armored car
the 'humor' of you lot is actually saddening
@@GRaToMiC ok boomer
@@GRaToMiC yet you're still here
@@GRaToMiC atleast it exist unlike yours
Lol
I love how from the very first tanks, we already perfected unditching procedures and technology: shove a log under the tracks.
Its self recovery. While stationed in Germany we used our tie-down chains (all long distance moves are made by rail so we had 4 tie-down chains per vehicle on the outside) hooked to the track and anchored around trees. Hoenfels is a training area for maneuvers and sees so much use the tank trails turn to mud bogs.
Behold the anti-mud stick!
1 like eh this comment gonna blow edit: oh god the tsar gonna blow!
It isn't (currently)
Go back and make hardbass
Our slav god scorpo!
Sup Scorpo
The log is clearly an advanced anti-tank weapon
But is it as advanced as the American Anti Tank Rock
@@floridachess9328 or the german anti tank sock
No no no, it’s for down force
KGB want your curent Location
Stand it up and its anti air
Absolutely love the content… answering so many questions! Keep it up!
Just found this channel, very informative especially the video on how the bulges in the gun is a bore for gases from firing to be expelled. Good stuff!!! Keep em coming👏
"no, the bulldozer is not a tank" killdozer: not with that attitude lad.
He was an absolute madlad Chad!
Chad
The killdozer is such a Chad he sat in a store and nobody noticed
Killdozer would be considered a combat engineering vehicle, not a tank. It was equipped with armament in the form of rifles through the armor, but these were secondary - it's primary action was to use it's bulldozer blade.
Killdozer was a technical, technically.
I especially like how they kept the log, but started using carved and smooth ones after a certain point. Like someone at some point thought "this is very useful, but a bit ungainly..." and decided to make a gourmet log.
_tactical log_
Fancy log
“Engravings give you no tactical advantage whatsoever”
*Imagine if the Soviet Union trained beavers to fight in tanks for the Motherland*
@@atomicspartan131 But they might provide the troops with something to do while they are stationed somewhere waiting for something to happen at last. Guys, the crew with the coolest log gets one day off downtown!
Loving the vids! Keep it up. Although I’ve studied most everything about armored vehicles, there is surely always more to learn.
Thank you for getting right to the interesting bit and not dragging it out. I learned something today about tanks. Thank you again.
You are forgetting a crucial part of this method. The log is not only just put in front of the tracks, it is also attached to the tracks as you can clearly see in the footage. The log will become trapped in the mud under the tank which will allow for the tanks to use it as an anchor point from which it will be able to project itself forward. If the log is not attached the tracks will simple graze the log and chew it to bits. This also means the tank can only move forward until the log reaches the back end of the track because it can not travel further. If the tanks is still bogged down the log will have to be removed from the back end and be reattached to the front. It is a crude, but very successful and low-cost way to get your tank unbogged.
Everyone who plays war thunder knows thats the anti-everything shield.
That's how the Russians get stalinium.
Because loginium came first, Stalinium is just tinkered version of it.
@@user-sn5cx1yt6v turns out soviet armour is just spray painted logs
Lol not really, I died many times in my bmp's because something explosive hit the log, making the overpressure kill my entire crew/vehicle. Without log the round would have missed and cause 0 damage
@@TheTryingDutchman russian bias was not in your favor.
I remember seeing this on some old WWII tanks in the history books. I believe those were to help somehow replace a thrown track or get unstuck if bogged down
Actually something I had never given any thought to but this has been illuminating. I do tend to keep a few scraps of lumber in the back of my car because I have found them very useful on occasions of getting stuck in snow, especially on unpaved or poorly maintained rural roads.
so thats how fury bounced a side shot from a tiger. shoulda known it was the log
@ M1a1 Abrams I still remember the day, when RedEffect made a video on all your flaws and weaknesses and you got exposed son =D
They didn't "bounce" the shot. The Tiger used HEAT against the Fury. It penetrated but only damaged the transmission and nothing else. The wood softened the impact, acting as spaced armor
@Ivan that tiger vs fury scene is very messed up
@Ivan Fury had a 76mm gun, it could have easily penetrated the front of the Tiger.
@@No-xv1fp Not really sure there's many factors on it armor plates can take more than their straight comparison of the thickness vs the size of the enemy gun angle and ammo type has lot to do here and it depends what model of Tiger it was if I remember right it was King Tiger I'm more surprised that they didn't tried to shoot it between the hull and the tower even tho they drove around it on hand distance they could had jammed the Tigers tower maybe even explode the ammo inside but mostly just get easy shots on it afterwards but I guess it wasn't so common knowledge back then btw the Sherman they had and called Fury was Firefly model
Clear, concise, informative. Great clip. This is how to make quality content.
Like the American space pen. Cost zillions to make. Soviets brought a pencil and a sharpener. Cost a nickle !
Great vid. Thx for your work!
I didn't realise they continued this method for so long. I think this is when the phrase 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' comes into play
cost of tank recovery vehicle versus cost of 10 foot long log - cheap enough to have a log for each tank, but not a tank recovery vehicle - I doubt setting the log under your tank would be much fun if you were under fire though
@@richardhockey8442 then you would lose both tank and recovery vehicle, as both will be under fire.
@@ceu160193 also they both can stuck because recovery vehicle it's basically same tank but with crane instead of gun.
@@MegaSmouke they got far less armor and a lot more torque and what not.
Compared to the cost of the tank itself, the log is practically free, so why not keep it.
Russians: the best at solving complex problem using simple solutioms
Just add more log
America developed a pen that would work in zero gravity space and it cost over 1 million dollars. The Russians took a pencil.
@@hades0572 yes, but that wasn't just an ordinary pencil either ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ And aslo the Soviet Union at some point bought 100 of those American space pens.
@@Langermar это были самые обычные восковые карандаши, которые и по сей день продаются в магазинах. И пользовались ими 10 лет. Другой вопрос, что до изобретения этой ручки американцы летали с фломастерами и не потратили на изобретение ручки ни цента.
@@Nobrain567 а, спасибо за информацию. Я не помнил что за карандаши были, помнил только, что графитовые использовать нельзя.
You rarely saw an unditching beam on a German tank in WW 2. What you did see a lot of, were towing cables, a practice among most western tanks, still used to this day. They have the advantage over the unditching beam in that an experienced crew can have a tow cable attached in less than a minute and the tank that’s stuck back in operation just as quickly. In addition, should the problem be mechanical in nature, such as an engine or transmission failure, or the tank simply ran out of fuel, by taking the other tank in tow with a still operational tank, you can avoid the potential loss of a mostly serviceable tank in the event you have to withdraw. You can’t always count on an ARV being there when you need it and sometimes you only have minutes, rather than hours, to recover your tank. BTW, I once witnessed an entire chain of tanks being used to get one tank unstuck (3 to tow 1). It worked.
If you dig around you will find a lot of pictures of Soviet tanks with the cables as well. But the point for having that log is that if you are moving a group of tanks from one point to another in a hurry, you can't really afford having three tanks pulling one out, when they are needed to support an advance or defence or whatever. Plus, in real combat situation, with possible air attack, having four tanks tied up like that... Let's say it's just a waste of four perfectly good tanks
Soviets had towing cables too, lol. This is on top of that method. Imagine coping this much.
Learn something new every day.... This proves it!! I'd always seen but never thought about it. Thanks for Sharing
3:35 Wargamers everywhere start arguing on whether to paint camo on logs or not.
Yes.
If it is American paint it green if it is Russian keep it wooden if it is German apply pea dot camo :))))
Modern- yes, cold war-paint it green, ww2 -no
That piece of wood is sticking out too much so let's paint it with woodland camo so that the wood will blend in with the wood better.
You Can also cut off small chips on the ends for fuel in a samovar, to make some tea during the snowy days))
american spy detected
lmao
@@BadRussian77 Bri'ish*
@@lunatic_nebula9542 That's even worse.
@@BadRussian77 *Scottish
Awesome videos, Koala! Very enjoyable!
Thanks for the short concise video!!
Americans: oh shit, the tank is stuck, quickly, let's call in the armored recovery vehicle Soviets: Blyat, stuck again, Ivan, help me get the tactical L O G edit: this shit aged like milk lmao
What does L O G stand for?🤔
@@entertoby6698 Large Organic Ground-substitute
@@Langermar 😂
@@Langermar u nailed it bro😂😂😂😂
@@Langermar 140 I.Q
That's what they want you to think Koala. We all know the logs are used as advanced disguised ERA.
I know nothing about tanks, what’s ERA?
@@ms2h294 Explosive Reactive Armor. Basically a little explosion to detonate explosive warheads on the rounds, if you have enough it can slow down kinetic rounds as well
Not even British HESH or HEAT round could pass that log defense
Excellent info. Learn something every day....
Tanks for the information comrade DUDE.
It's not a Russian tank unless there's a log behind it
@@phantomsloyer Meanwhile.... A friendly tank who happened to be there and just want to test the Russian theory about tank and log. Over the radio: "Friendly fire! Friendly fire!"
You mean it's not a spare barrel?
Loza's Sherman tank have a log
@@phantomsloyer its a snorkle to go through high water.
It's not a proper Soviet T-34-85 unless: it has at least one log with bark, a spare transmission & other spares from a destroyed T-34 chained to it, it is missing more than a few unnecessary parts, the crew has an average Blood Alcohol Level of 0.28%, and they are kicking the Wehrmacht A$$ & Killing Nazis all the way to Berlin!!!
"Bulldozers are not tanks" Tell that to Marvin Heemeyer and his Komatsu D355A.
That would be more of a combat engineering vehicle. It did have rifles through the armor, but they were a secondary weapon, it's primary action was to knock stuff over with the bulldozer blade.
Or the Israeli armoured dozers... with guns.
Logs work on getting vehicle unstuck if you are careful. Great info & video - look 👀 forward to more !
I really enjoy your channel.
Jeremy Clarkson: It's a tank's handbrake *"Sometimes my genius is... it's almost frightening"*
i've been finding this comment for quite some time xD
That's the comment I was looking for!
Super informative video. I personally don't mind the short length, being clear and concise is great. Thanks for the excelent content.
Only when I saw the question did I think about it. A log? I worked out why myself. You confirmed it. Love your vids.
Thanks for the tank tricks!
Tracks doesn't mean it's a tank Every farmer with a tractor: I got a tank
There tank with wheel the idea that tank only have track is like calling a SBD dive Bromber a fighter because it small
is bob semple a tank? no? ok then it shouldnt be in war thunder
@Tristan Burke so is bmp and bradley yet here we are. wanna tell me why a toyota truck is even in the game?
The guy who built the armored bulldozer: I got a tank
@Dr Disconect oh really? i have 16k wins and didnt know war thunder had air. also, bob semple never saw combat :). if u even knew wut google was, u wouldnt even be typing
Ah the recovery log. Learned about these during Vehicle ID classes in the Army. Absolutely genius idea, I learned to use large rocks in this manner to surprising results. Also used said rock trick to pop track back on an M113A3 that threw track.
so your armored vehicle had itself a pet rock did it?
some wheeled units also do something similar by carry wooden planks for such occasions, in my country we have conscription and i used planks quite often in muddy terrain to get unstuck when driving around wheel combat vehicles, especially when low range and deflating the tires doesnt help get unstuck. much faster than calling a recovery vehicle that takes hours to get there.
Good one! Informative.
That's not ordinary log Tovarish, that is Stalinwood, harvested from stalinium rich soil, or side product from Stalinium mine
And I thought Stalin wood is what Stalin have every morning.
@@kazedcat hahah lol🤣🤣
I really like where this channel is going with its interesting contents. Keep it up!
Is nae enough. I just love it. It's been a while since my visit to Islay, I miss it.
I have wondered about the logs... nice channel...
Sad to see that the T-14 is losing a piece of Russian tradition
Times just changing nonstop
so nowadays T-14 is only experimental and small series vehicle, mass production start in 2022 and i guess it will be with log, it is cheap equipment to unstuck vehicle from mud, if it brakes, you just go and cut new one
They will be replaced by virtual log in the future.
i think there are log inside
@@Stormidze ага, складное
great video! so many people forget that most of a tank's (and soldier's) life is spent getting from fight to fight.
tanks on railway tank transporter carriages and tanks on tank transporters trucks
Pretty interesting, always learning something new
I learn something today !! Thx!
When he was talking about tracks at the beginning i knew exactly what the logs use was for.
You are stunningly gorgeous in your profile pic.
Logs also provide a means to get higher elevation or depression of the main gun by lifting the front or back end if the tank a s needed. Soviet and Russian tanks have historically had poor range of elevation/depression for their main guns.
That would make you immobile as fuck, and not used much
@@doobas2171 Except in ambush. For instance, last week when Russian troops were withdrawing from around Kyiv, a lone Ukrainian tank laid in hiding, to ambush one of their columns. Rather than using speed and maneuver to protect them, they used the cover of buildings to protect them.
I like the way this video narrated, start by answering the question then more interesting question added on the back end. You can make other related video besides tanks and I will watch it
nice video , answers the thumbnail and title in 30 seconds, then explains the details in the rest of the video +1 sub
While I was aware of this already, it's great to see some footage of Russians using the logs. It's also interesting to see more modern vehicles utilise this low-tech approach to unbogging.
If it works, it works, and should log break, just cut some tree and you have another log.
Look at old history books, they carried logs on tanks in WWII
Meanwhile in Ukraine
15 seconds in and Marvin Heemeyer is already rolling in his grave
I did always wonder if it was armor or to get unstuck. Know i no. Thank you for the great video! 😁👍
Great video. Ive known about the logs for quite some time. I would sure love a colorized photo of Panzerkampfwagen 1, T-34-85, or an M4A3E8
Tank: I'm stuck Steptank: Let me HELP!!!
Love it when a blog makes it look like the Russians have all these great ideas. American armor crewmen are trained in this technique for self recovery when stuck. Sure we have recovery vehicles but they aren't always handy. Good crews are self reliant whenever possible.
Did you guys rock a chainsaw?
As a kid I made a t48 I thought it was so cool with the tanks at the back. Thanks for sharing.
You giving away the reason so fast makes me (and I’m sure others) bail after 50seconds.
“A bulldozer is not a tank” Bob Semple tank: “ Am I a joke to you?” Every other tank: “Yes”
"No a bulldozer is not a tank" killdozer reference?
I'd argue Killdozer, in both design and function, was more a combat engineering vehicle than a tank. Had guns but it's main purpose is to knock stuff over with it's bulldozer blade.
I liked this video very informative .
Thank you I learned something new today
Interestingly, I remember an American training video on tank hunting mentioning how you can use a lug to get the treads of a tank stuck when jammed in the right spot. Sadly, the log was quite a bit smaller than these in the demonstration, and I'm not sure one this large could possibly work. Certainly a fun idea to think about, though, stealing a log only to use it against them :0
Yeah, ive seen that one, "get the tank" or "stop that tank" or something like that. Would be very hard though in combat, with balls big enough to get that close to enemy armour no doubt getting in the way!
@@dunxy Yeah, a more realistic expectation is for them to fire one rocket from whatever range they spot the tank at, and then to run away! :P
Armor Cast: No, a bulldozer is not a tank Killdozer: Are you sure about that?
I'd argue Killdozer, in both design and function, was more a combat engineering vehicle than a tank. Had guns but it's main purpose is to knock stuff over with it's bulldozer blade.
My father built country roads in the 40's&50 with Cat D7&D8s . Dad spoke of using this technique often. It works incredibly well. Many time you had to attach and detach the log several times a you could only move the length of the dozer (or tank)
outstanding content.
its clearly a spoiler to create downforce for extra traction xDD
Soviet trams also have them for the same reason.
Very interesting. Thank you.
Nicely done
If their turret is blown off by the enemy, the crew can quickly replace the tank's cannon with the log.
comment could have been funny if better written and a better punch line. Right now it is a failed joke
@@Jartran72 Is that comment supposed to be funny, or do you mean to educate? In any case: you failed in both. 🤣🤡🤓😇
no the log is armour, they actually use the troops to get the tank out from the mud.
Yes, my hip can confirm.
Yes, my foot can confirm
Yes, my knee can confirm
My head can confirm
Yes, my сock can confirm
If I had to do it over again.... I would strongly consider being part of a Tank crew.... as it is, I am a retired flight medic but have always loved tanks.... Just found your channel. Thanks for all of the great research! SKOL! 🤘
I have bought a number of plastic tank model kits {well 2} one was used to build a 1:24 scale armoured railway shunter and the other was at the time a destroyed tank in a model railway after a battle. Nither kit came with a log, not to worry thou as I did not need a plastic log, but at least I now know how they were used, Thanks for that. Tony Australia
Koala: a bulldozer is not a tank. Marvin Heemeyer would like to have a word.
I'd argue Killdozer, in both design and function, was more a combat engineering vehicle than a tank. Had guns but it's main purpose is to knock stuff over with it's bulldozer blade.
when you run out of ammo just yeet the thing at the enemy
When Russian starts ending tank crews to Scotland to take part in the Highland Games Caber tossing event
or you can use your field knife to make spears out of it 🤣🤣🤣
@@Techie1224 Or you can just sit on that log, when having a camp fire.
Wonder if you could whittle it down to the right size and shoot it out of the main gun?
@@quillmaurer6563 if you have extra propellant charges why not 😁
Man... I just LOVE your scottish accent, sounds so cool :D Nice video as well, keep it up ;)
Loved this video.
They maybe a stick in the mud when talking about the overall tank aesthetic, but they are hella cool!
The log itself has 100mm armor on War Thunder LOL
It's 100mm of wood which isn't equal to steel in wt. Like you have 60mm of armored glass and it will be ecfective as 13mm of steel.
Good Work, Chao !
Sweet info thx!
We're seeing the Soviet military has a lot more problems than just logs
Came her to find out what are the logs for, half of the video in and I learned about the history of tank tracks
Great content
i used to run big earth movers, called scrappers.. big chain like tracks pulled the material into the bed. sometimes the tracks would jump a tooth. this is where the log comes in. we would wedge in the log and turn the chain slowly and it would jump back into place.
The logs are for protection, soviet wood > western steel
The log is for intimidation purposes speak softly but carry big stick.
tank: *stuck in ditches* also tank: what are you doing, step log?
LOGS! thank you that was very informative in case I get stuck.