New Type98/99 MBT thread

[SteelBird]

That's not correct. If you have a driving wheel its not going to work with tracks either, because tracks only point to one direction. Tanks do not have wheels that steer directionally. They steer instead by increasing the speed on one set of wheels over the other.

Well, I think your idea and mine has no conflict. My idea is that a tank cannot move on its own power without tracks installed (like those in factory in the photos above) because their driving wheels are off-ground. In most tanks I've seen, none has driving wheels (front or rear) that touch the ground.

I think I made a mistake pressing the edit button instead of the quote button and deleted some parts by mistake when I tried to answer your post---crobato. Sorry. Feel free to restore the original material. I agree its a combination of brakes and transmission gear that changes the speed of the tracks.

Never mind, I can't remember exactly what I wrote here any way

 

[Infra_Man99]

Tanks may use a combination of brakes and at least one differential or an equivalent to allow opposing tracks to accelerate and decelerate at different rates.

 

[jackbh]

Some tanks can have one side of track move forwards and the other side of track move backwards, so this has nothing to do with brakes.

 

[crobato]

Well, I think your idea and mine has no conflict. My idea is that a tank cannot move on its own power without tracks installed (like those in factory in the photos above) because their driving wheels are off-ground. In most tanks I've seen, none has driving wheels (front or rear) that touch the ground.

I see what you mean. I think you meant the drive sprocket. The tanks on the factory floor has to move and they maybe towed instead.

 

[eckherl]

Todays tanks cannot move without tracks, exception being if you have one track on it is possible to rely on the tracked spocket to move the tank forward or in reverse at a slow pace, other stipulation is that the tank needs to be on firm ground to prevent the untracked side roadwheels from digging into the earth. This is how tankers fix broken or thrown track out in the field. When a tank makes a turn depending if it is right or left hand the oppisite tank final drive with sprocket will supply the power needed for the turn. One of the most successful tanks that could move with either roadwheel or track came from the Russia before and during WW2, the tank was called the BT series, the first set of roadwheels would actually steer the vehicle when the tracks were not installed, and it was fast to with either tracks or roadwheels.

 

[SteelBird]

I see what you mean. I think you meant the drive sprocket. The tanks on the factory floor has to move and they maybe towed instead.

Sorry for my poor English. Yes, I meant the drive sprockets. You know I've been imagine like this: Tracks are a strong point of a tank but is also a weakest point of a tank. No matter how tough a tank is, an RPG can always cut its tracks and disable it (maybe the crews survive). If we replace the tracks with two rows of all driving wheels (the wheels will be made of metal and smaller than those found on APCs, so that more wheels can be installed), in this case the RPG can cut one or two wheels, the tank can still run with other left. Just my imagination any way.

 

[Pointblank]

Sorry for my poor English. Yes, I meant the drive sprockets. You know I've been imagine like this: Tracks are a strong point of a tank but is also a weakest point of a tank. No matter how tough a tank is, an RPG can always cut its tracks and disable it (maybe the crews survive). If we replace the tracks with two rows of all driving wheels (the wheels will be made of metal and smaller than those found on APCs, so that more wheels can be installed), in this case the RPG can cut one or two wheels, the tank can still run with other left. Just my imagination any way.

Problem is that it adds weight, and adds complexity. The Russians loved to do this with their BT series tanks before World War II, but they found they never needed it under wartime conditions.

 

[SteelBird]

Problem is that it adds weight, and adds complexity. The Russians loved to do this with their BT series tanks before World War II, but they found they never needed it under wartime conditions.

Well, this is different according to where you use your tank. In battle field where you engage enemy tanks from long distance, your statement is true. But in urban fight, things are different, enemies are very near to you. Looks how coalition tanks suffer from insurgent's RPG in Iraq. RPG is no way to penetrate modern MBT (everybody knows this, right?), but they are so effective to cut tracks.

However, it's just my own opinion, currently, no MBT have designed that way.

 

[Pointblank]

However, it's just my own opinion, currently, no MBT have designed that way.

Um, yes... the World War II era tanks that utilized the Christie suspension were capable of operating without their tracks.

 

[eckherl]

Um, yes... the World War II era tanks that utilized the Christie suspension were capable of operating without their tracks.

Really, which ones besides the BT series.