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klinemar 
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Location: Michigan
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 Posted: 19 Aug 2021 at 9:01pm |
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Yes, I read about Russians using dogs as anti tank weapons. They fed the dogs under a tank so that they would crawl under one looking for food while carrying a satchel charge harnessed to their back with a trigger extending up to make contact with the tanks underside. The project didn't work as some dogs crawled under Russian tanks and the Germans shot any dog they saw. The U.S. had an experimental program to release bats covered with a fire starter that ignited when the bat hung upside down for sleeping. The idea was to drop canisters of bats,have them fly into Japanese wooden homes and start fires burning cities down. The Air Force figured Napalm would be more reliable!
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klinemar
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Location: Michigan
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Posted: 19 Aug 2021 at 9:16pm |
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The WWII German Army was 80% Horse drawn.
The bulk of the German Army—the dough feet of the normal infantry divisions—moved on shank's mare. The rifle companies' transport consisted of three-horse wagons, on which the troops loaded their packs.
Not many people know that the greatest use of horses in any military conflict in history was by the Germans in WWII: 80% of their entire transport was equestrian. Despite all the propaganda about Blitzkreig, formidable German R&D, industrial design and production, the day to day mechanics of that fighting force involved an average of 1.1 million horses throughout the war. Of the 322 German divisions in the middle of the war - 1943 - only 52 were armored or motorized.
The great bulk of the German combat strength—the old-type infantry divisions—marched into battle on foot, with their weapons and supply trains propelled almost entirely by four-legged horsepower. The light and mountain divisions had an even greater proportion of animals, and the cavalry divisions were naturally mainly dependent on the horse.
The allies by comparison enjoyed the strategic advantage of the USA's ability to mass produce motorized vehicles, with low unit cost and rapid quantity production, coupled with relatively easy access to fuel worldwide.
Edited by klinemar - 19 Aug 2021 at 9:18pm
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LouSWPA
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Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Clinton, Pa
Points: 24033
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Posted: 19 Aug 2021 at 9:44pm |
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I read one account that the German soldiers, upon the allied arrival on D day was shocked that the allies were all mechanized!
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I am still confident of this;
I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Ps 27
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JTOOL
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Joined: 28 Feb 2021
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Posted: 19 Aug 2021 at 10:00pm |
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@klinemar; The thing that I recall is that the Soviets trained the dogs around their diesel powered tanks and then in actual combat the dogs would seek THEM out instead of the gasoline powered panzers. Who knows? But that is what makes this all interesting right? I have never heard of the U.S. bat plan. I'll have to look into that. Thanks.
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Tad Wicks
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Posted: 20 Aug 2021 at 9:30am |
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Yep, the bat plan, it was going great until they released a bunch of bats in a trial run and they burnt down some of their own buildings, end of bat plan. I guess it worked.
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klinemar
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Posted: 20 Aug 2021 at 11:24am |
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Same problem with the Russian Anti Tank Dogs!
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klinemar
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Posted: 20 Aug 2021 at 11:39am |
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With this thread I got carried away with both my sarcasm and anger and for that I sincerely apologize. I have adopted Military History as my hobby for over 60 years. I have read countless books and articles and watched Documentaries. I am no expert but I do research a subject. When statements are made that this particular military weapon or machine is the best or invulnerable I have to chuckle. Man has invented over time many machines or weapons that have since been so called replaced! Some that come to mind are Castles which were defeated by undermining or cannon. The French in the period between WW1 and WW2 built the Maginot Line to keep the Germans out. The United States developed the Atomic Bomb to end WW2 and we have fought conventional and unconventional wars since. The United Nations was formed as a place for Nations to avert War and that has not come to pass. War is as old as Cain and Able. And I see no end in the foreseeable future!
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klinemar
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Posted: 20 Aug 2021 at 1:26pm |
Here is a video from an English man about a battle between German Tiger 1's and US Halftracks. https://youtu.be/0Y2-5rNENTA
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klinemar
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Posted: 20 Aug 2021 at 1:34pm |
Here is a video by the same Man on a duel between an American M8 Greyhound Armored Car and a German King Tiger. Much like David and Goliath! https://youtu.be/jx8InfzkHYI
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LouSWPA
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Posted: 20 Aug 2021 at 4:40pm |
 klinemar wrote:
With this thread I got carried away with both my sarcasm and anger and for that I sincerely apologize. I have adopted Military History as my hobby for over 60 years. I have read countless books and articles and watched Documentaries. I am no expert but I do research a subject. When statements are made that this particular military weapon or machine is the best or invulnerable I have to chuckle. Man has invented over time many machines or weapons that have since been so called replaced! Some that come to mind are Castles which were defeated by undermining or cannon. The French in the period between WW1 and WW2 built the Maginot Line to keep the Germans out. The United States developed the Atomic Bomb to end WW2 and we have fought conventional and unconventional wars since. The United Nations was formed as a place for Nations to avert War and that has not come to pass. War is as old as Cain and Able. And I see no end in the foreseeable future! It will only end with the second coming of Jesus Christ! |
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I am still confident of this;
I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Ps 27
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Tad Wicks
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Joined: 27 Mar 2011
Location: Shandon, CA
Points: 2160
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Posted: 20 Aug 2021 at 5:58pm |
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Well Lou, The second coming of Christ will be the beginning of the largest and the last war known to mankind, a war to end all wars and it aint going to be pretty, as I recall, something about, the blood will flow as high as a horses bridle.
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