Manned Droptanks

[GrauGeist]

The charge attached to the dog's back was called an "explosive saddle." The dog had to drop it near the target, and the explosion was delayed so that the dog had time to run away.
But it remains a mystery to me how it would find its target. Would it be dropped together with a saboteur? Or would it be designed to blow up certain types of targets, such as tanks? The Soviets used dogs against tanks, training them by hanging meat under the tank's undercarriage.

The detaching saddle was abandoned in favor of a contact explosive, which was fatal to the dog.

There were serious issues with the training, too...since the dogs trained with Soviet tanks, they most often sought out their own instead of German AFVs.

Another major issue, was that when the Germans fired at the dogs, they became frightened and ran back to their own lines, killing and wounding Red Army soldiers as they jumped into the trench and detonated.

 

[MiTasol]

a perfect example of unintended consequences.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

a perfect example of unintended consequences.

... and karma, too.

 

[bf109xxl]

... and karma, too.

I feel very sorry for the dogs that were sent to their deaths. But when thousands and millions of people were dying around me, I suspect that my heart would have hardened to an extent unknown to me. In Soviet society, not only dog lives but also human lives were of extremely little value, which, in fact, is still the case today.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

I feel very sorry for the dogs that were sent to their deaths. But when thousands and millions of people were dying around me, I suspect that my heart would have hardened to an extent unknown to me. In Soviet society, not only dog lives but also human lives were of extremely little value, which, in fact, is still the case today.

I hear you, my sentiment is irrational, but still, as the owner of a loving dog, it hurts to think about.

 

[bf109xxl]

a perfect example of unintended consequences.

Indeed, all the critical reviews of the effectiveness of anti-tank dogs refer to the initial period of their use. Later, dog training was improved, and in 1942-1943 there were cases of very successful use of dogs against tanks.

 

[GregP]

More information about the maned drop tanks please! I've seen many comments about being used as an air ambulance but I don't see how you're going to shove a wounded man inside one. I'm more on the side of an observation point.View attachment 855287

Use Vaseline ...