Special Purpose Panzers.

[CharlesBronson]

It would be useful to clear the way...8)

 

[HealzDevo]

Was that a recreation of something? It bears a resemblance to that German robot that they used to clear mines, what was its name? Can't remember. Would this have been similarly robotic or not?

 

[GrauGeist]

HealzDevo, go back in this thread to post #17, they're called "Goliath"

http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/special-purpose-panzers-17604-2.html#post482238

 

[HealzDevo]

That's the name I was wracking my brains trying to think of. It and the Goliath certainly bear a resemblance don't you think? It definitely looks like a German Robot and if it is a total fake, then it is a very convincing fake don't you think?

 

[GrauGeist]

...It definitely looks like a German Robot and if it is a total fake, then it is a very convincing fake don't you think?

Not a fake, it's the real deal...here's some footage from the Wochenschau archive of it in action:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY5hPndPq58

And here's an Allied soldier having a little fun with a captured one:

 

[HealzDevo]

I was referring to the lookalike that was carrying the rockets. I knew about the tank-destroyer packed with explosives but not about the Goliath rocket-launcher...

 

[CharlesBronson]

I was referring to the lookalike that was carrying the rockets. I knew about the tank-destroyer packed with explosives but not about the Goliath rocket-launcher...

Can you specify in wich post is the "lookalike" so we can be more accurate in our discussion ? thanks.

Gepanzerter-Munitions Zugkraftwagen MCG

Armored munition carrier. A tipical german rebuild vehicle, based on the trusty Somua 5 ton halftrack. The chassis and cabin were fully covered with 8mm chrome-moly steel plate. A total of 48 build in 1943 and used to support the 75 mm pak self propelled tank-hunters of the panzer-sturmbrigade 200 operating in the defensive front of the Atlantic Wall, north of France.

 

[HealzDevo]

Post 93 and 94 had that remote rocket-launcher that put me in mind of a Goliath.
They look like they could be from the same family.

 

[CharlesBronson]

The Chenillete UE, hmm well it might but only with a superficial on it, the suspension is diferent and of course is a manned vehicle.

 

[GrauGeist]

I don't recall ever hearing of a Goliath based rocket launcher. The Goliaths were all (both gas and electric) remote controlled machines used as mobile mines for anti-armor or bunker busting...

Not saying there was never any made, just that I haven't seen mention of a rocket launcher version in any documents.

 

[Shortround6]

They would have pretty useless.
The real rocket carriers could carry the rockets a number of miles before firing them.
The Goliaths had to transported themselves to where they would be used. That and they would have a capacity of about one rocket. The Germans might as well have loaded a single rocket launcher on a hand cart and moved them that way.

 

[CharlesBronson]

There were no rockets carring goliaths, that is clear, the concept of it might be interesting but surely difficult to use in actual combat.